Is Ho Chi Minh City expensive to visit?
While Ho Chi Minh City is a popular place for travelers, it is also somewhat affordable and less expensive to visit. The average daily cost is $82, which is one of the many reasons for its popularity with tourists. When compared to other destinations in Asia, many visitors find it to be a moderately priced destination. It's in the top 50% of places in Asia for its travel costs, and our cost analysis found it to be comparable to Siem Reap and Osaka.
Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam
How expensive is Ho Chi Minh City?
For a trip to Ho Chi Minh City, travelers spend on average $82 per day (U.S. Dollars). This is according to our calculations from previous visitors. As this is an average cost, your individual spending may vary, especially since there's a wide range of accommodation, food, transportation, and entertainment options here. If you stick to moderately-priced hotels and restaurants, as well as take advantage of some of free things to do in the area, you can stick close to the average budget. See more travel costs for Ho Chi Minh City here to see how all of the average spending costs pan out.
How expensive is a weekend trip (three days) to Ho Chi Minh City?
On average, a weekend trip to Ho Chi Minh City costs about $246 per person. This is based on the previous expenses of actual travelers, and includes accommodation, food, activities, local transportation, and more. For two people, a weekend trip costs $492.
How expensive is a one week (7-day) trip to Ho Chi Minh City?
A one week trip to Ho Chi Minh City costs about $574 per person on average, based on the previous expenses of other travelers. This includes accommodation, sightseeting activities, transportation, food, and nightlife. For two people, a one week trip costs $1,148.
Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon), Vietnam
Is it expensive to backpack in Ho Chi Minh City?
Ho Chi Minh City has a very limited selection of hostels and budget accommodation, so it's not the first place that comes to mind for backpackers looking for social and cheap accommodations. This makes it hard at times to travel here as a backpacker, so you'll have to be resourceful to travel on a tight budget here. Low-cost hotels are always an option, as are guesthouses or couch surfing options. The difficulties in finding budget accommodation are especially tough for solo travelers who might need to pay for the full price of a hotel room on their own. Otherwise, you can save money here by finding free activities, eating at low-cost restaurants or cooking your own food, and using public transportation when available.
Are hotels expensive in Ho Chi Minh City?
When we look at our analysis of hotel prices in Ho Chi Minh City, we find them to be very expensive in comparison to the rest of the world. The average nightly cost for a hotel room here is approximately $31. The area boasts about 29 five-star hotels with an average rate of $111 per night. For those seeking a balance between comfort and affordability, three-star hotels offer an average rate of $37 per night, while two-star hotels provide an even more budget-friendly option at $22 per night.
Hotels by star rating in Ho Chi Minh City
| Rating | Number of Hotels | Average Hotel Price |
|---|---|---|
| 5 stars | 29 | $111 |
| 4 stars | 72 | $57 |
| 3 stars | 250 | $37 |
| 2 stars | 229 | $22 |
| 1 star | 41 | $15 |
| No rating | 7 | $58 |
How expensive are sightseeing activities in Ho Chi Minh City?
In Ho Chi Minh City, the cost of activities and things to do can vary by the type of activity, its length, and the location. To provide an estimate of what to expect during your visit, below are several popular activities that are common in the area. On average, previous travelers have spent around $20 per day on sightseeing and entertainment, which is more than the country's average of $13.
- Street Food And City Tour By Motorbike with local student: $27
- Saigon Unseen City Tour on Scooters - Explore Hidden Gems: $35
- Private Tour To Mekong Delta 1 day from Ho Chi Minh City: $119
- Ho Chi Minh City Private Tour With A Local Expert: $125
- Tra Ang excursion 1 day tour: $89
- Private Scooter 4-hour Non-touristy Hidden City Tour In Ho Chi Minh: $39
- Private Sunrise Photography Tour - Down in Chinatown: $69
- Cu Chi Tunnels and Mekong Delta - Private Tour: $110
Is food expensive in Ho Chi Minh City?
In Ho Chi Minh City, the cost of food can vary by the type of restaurant and food options available. To save money, eat at less expensive restaurants, try street food, or cook your own meals when possible. On average, previous travelers have spent around $14 per day on food, which is more than the country's average of $14.
- Saigon Evening Walking Street Food Tour : $49
- Super Niche Saigon Food Tour With Zero Tourist Insight: $55
- Private Iconic Local Street Food Tour Adventure on Motorbike in Ho Chi Minh City: $49
- Private Vegan Food Tour in Ho Chi Minh City By Motorbike: $38
- Street Food Tour on 2 wheels: $36
- Saigon Street Food Tour: $65
Is transportation expensive in Ho Chi Minh City?
Exploring local transportation in Ho Chi Minh City shows that the price can vary greatly by the type of transportation used. On average, previous travelers have spent $15 per person per day, which is more than the country's average of $12. If you want to save money, use public transit as it's much cheaper than taxis or private drivers.
More for Ho Chi Minh City
If you're planning a trip to Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam, check out these other informative travel guides.
We've been gathering travel costs from tens of thousands of actual travelers since 2010, and we use the data to calculate average daily travel costs for destinations around the world. We also systematically analyze the prices of hotels, hostels, and tours from travel providers such as Kayak, HostelWorld, TourRadar, Viator, and others. This combination of expenses from actual travelers, combined with pricing data from major travel companies, gives us a uniqe insight into the overall cost of travel for thousands of cities in countries around the world. You can see more here: How it Works.
Budget Your Trip is all about finding out how much everything costs so that you can travel cheaper and longer. Created by avid travelers Laurie and Bryan, our goal is to help you plan your next trip on the right budget. With average daily travel costs that are calculated from the budgets of real travelers, plus an analysis of hotel and tour prices, you can find out how much money you need to plan your next adventure. We also have plenty of travel advice, accommodation reviews, and activity suggestions.