A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers Mount Everest vs. Hanoi for Vacations, Tours, and Honeymoons

Should you visit Mount Everest or Hanoi?

Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?

Which city should you visit? Read on to compare the activities as well as the prices of travel for Mount Everest and Hanoi. We'll break down costs for accommodation, food, transportation and more to help you learn more about these two destinations. Then, you can figure out if either of these two places are accessible based on your travel budget, schedule, and interests. So, let's dig into it.

Where Should I go: Mount Everest or Hanoi?

Mount Everest

More commonly known as Mount Everest, Qomolangma is the highest mountain in the world with a peak reaching 8,848 meters above sea level. Pilgrims trek long distances to worship its divine aura, climbing enthusiasts run great risks to challenge its high altitude, and visitors from all over come to see where the tallest reaches of earth meet the heavens.

Hanoi

Hanoi is the chaotic capital of Vietnam, and it serves as a great introduction to the country for many travelers. It's the second largest city in the country after Saigon and is an interesting combination of East meets West. There's traditional Vietnamese culture with subtle influences brought by the French. The city continues to grow and change rapidly and it's easy to get lost amidst the chaos.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best One-Week (7-Day) Tours from Kathmandu, The Best One-Week (7-Day) Tours from Pokhara, The Best Adventure Tours to Vietnam, and The Best Eco Tours in Vietnam.


Which place is cheaper, Hanoi or Mount Everest?

These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.

The average daily cost (per person) in Mount Everest is $40, while the average daily cost in Hanoi is $49. These costs include accommodation (assuming double occupancy, so the traveler is sharing the room), food, transportation, and entertainment. While every person is different, these costs are an average of past travelers in each destination. What follows is a categorical breakdown of travel costs for Mount Everest and Hanoi in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Mount Everest $6.84
    Hanoi $25
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Mount Everest $14
    Hanoi $50
Compare Hotels in Mount Everest and Hanoi

Looking for a hotel in Mount Everest or Hanoi? Prices vary by location, date, season, and the level of luxury. See below for options and compare which is best for your budget and travel style.

Hotels in Mount Everest


Hotels in Hanoi


Kayak helps you find the best prices for hotels, flights, and rental cars for destinations around the world. Compare prices for multiple destinations when planning your next trip.


Our Analysis
We've analyzed the average and typical hotel prices based on guest reviews, star ratings, and hotel amenities here: Hanoi Hotel Prices.

Local Transportation
  • Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    Mount Everest -
    Hanoi $6.89

Typical Local Transportation Prices in Hanoi

Below are a few samples from actual travelers for transportation costs in Hanoi:


  • Taxi to Bus Station
    $1.20
  • Shuttle Bus From Airport (for Two)
    $3.20
  • Local Bus Ride (for Two)
    $0.40
  • Short Taxi Ride
    $1.36
  • Short Motorbike Ride (10 Minutes)
    $0.80

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Hanoi

Some specific examples of transportation prices in Hanoi:

  • Hanoi Private Car Airport Transfer To Hotel: $7.18
  • Noi Bai Airport transfer to Hanoi Center and more: $8.00
  • Noi Bai International Airport Private Transfer: $8.21
  • Hanoi City Center to Noi Bai Airport - Private Transfer: $8.43
  • Noi Bai Airport Transfer Service: $8.54
  • Hanoi Airport Departure Shared Transfer: $10
  • Private Noi Bai International Airport Transfer: $11
  • One Way Transfer From hotel to airport or vice versal: $13
  • Hanoi Airport Transfer: $13
  • HaNoi City to Noi Bai Airport transfer by private car: $13
  • Hanoi Airport: Private Transfer: $14
  • Private Noi Bai International Airport Transfer: $14

Is it cheaper to fly into Mount Everest or Hanoi?

Prices for flights to both Hanoi and Mount Everest change regularly based on dates and travel demand. We suggest you find the best prices for your next trip on Kayak, because you can compare the cost of flights across multiple airlines for your prefered dates.





Food
  • Food Meals for one day
    Mount Everest $26
    Hanoi $13

Typical Food Prices in Hanoi

Below are a few samples from actual travelers for food and meal costs in Hanoi:


  • High End Dinner (for Two)
    $12
  • Casual Lunch (for Two)
    $4.39
  • Bowl of Pho
    $0.80
  • Italian Dinner (for Food)
    $6.19

Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Hanoi

Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Hanoi.

  • Street Food Tour (Group/Individual): $5.13
  • (Group/Individual) HANOI STREET FOOD TOUR : $5.13
  • Hanoi Street Food Tour Visit Train Street Add Old Quarter: $19
  • Hanoi Walking Street Food Tour: $20
  • Hanoi Street Food Tour: $22
  • Hanoi Street Food Tour: $23
  • Ngon ngon & Authentic Hanoi Food Tour: $23
  • Mad Monkey Hoi An Cooking Class & Bamboo Boats: $23
  • Vietnamese Street Food Tour with a Local Guide: $24
  • Vietnamese Street Food Tour with Local Guide: $24
  • Walking Street Food Tour Small Group with Local Guide: $24
  • Guided Half-Day Hanoi Street Food Tour: $25

Entertainment
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    Mount Everest $18
    Hanoi $8.51

Typical Entertainment Prices in Hanoi

Here are a few typical costs in Hanoi for activities, ticket prices, and tours that come from previous visitors:


  • Puppet Theater
    $1.60
  • The Hanoi Hilton Entrance
    $1.60
  • National History Museum
    $1.60
  • Puppet Theater Ticket
    $2.80

Tours and Activities in Hanoi

Here are a few actual costs in Hanoi for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:

  • Bus Ticket Cat Ba - Hanoi ( Bus+ Ferry ) - Best Selling: $0.02
  • Hanoi Old Quarter Half-day Private Walking Tour : $5.00
  • Private Walking City Tour in Hanoi : $5.00
  • Private Hanoi Street Food Walking Tour: $5.00
  • Hanoi Street Food Experience: $5.00
  • Half-day Private Walking Tour of Hanoi's Old Quarter: $5.00
  • Sightseeing Walking Tour in Hanoi: $5.00
  • Street Food Walking Tour in Hanoi: $5.00
  • Private Walking Tour of Hanoi City: $5.00
  • Craft Village Tour (Quang Phu Cau, Bat Trang,...): $5.13
  • Early Morning Tour | Free Private Tour Guide: $5.13
  • Culture Exchange with Free Private Tour Guide: $5.13

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Mount Everest -
    Hanoi $7.70

Sample the Local Flavors in Hanoi

Also in Hanoi, these are the prices for nightlife and alcohol related activities from various tour providers:

  • Hanoi Beer and Brewery Tour: $48
  • Half-Day Guided Tour Australian Beef with Wine Tasting & Rickshaw in Hanoi: $106


When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Mount Everest and Hanoi, we can see that Hanoi is more expensive. And not only is Mount Everest much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Mount Everest would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Mount Everest and be able to afford a more luxurious travel style by staying in nicer hotels, eating at more expensive restaurants, taking tours, and experiencing more activities. The same level of travel in Hanoi would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Hanoi than you might in Mount Everest.

If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Mount Everest Expensive? and Is Hanoi Expensive?.