Top 10 Ways to Save in Vietnam

To most travelers to Vietnam it is an extremely cheap country to visit. Tourist traps abound, though, as the Vietnamese are catching on to the beauty of the foreign dollar. Here are a few ways to stretch your Œ·ng from coast to coast when you're traveling in Vietnam.

10. Hire motorbike drivers by the hour, not the kilometer. If you’re doing a lot of intercity travel in Vietnam and are pressed for time, it can be far cheaper to hire drivers by the hour than by the individual trip. This also allows you a great chance to get to know your Vietnamese motorbike driver—one of the easiest ways to get in touch with Vietnam’s friendly people.

9. Buy all of your clothes in Hµi An. Because, honestly, it’s incredibly cheap and incredibly good quality. A silk suit of the same fabric would be five times more expensive at home and would take twice as long to make. You’d be a fool to buy anywhere else.

8. Steer clear of Vietnamese cities’ tourist centers. Everything in the tourist center is more expensive: transportation, food, Vietnamese hotels, shopping. If you must go to see some attractions, walk a few blocks from the main sights in Vietnam  before hiring a driver to take you home.

7. Buy food at local Vietnamese markets. For a taste of real Vietnamese cuisine, head to the markets and buy your own food. This is also a great idea for picnic lunches and snacks for daytrips.

6. Agree on a price beforehand when traveling in Vietnam. Once you’ve finished bargaining with motorbike or bus drivers, make sure to write down the agreed-upon price. Never just hop on and haggle later—this leads to serious overcharging and arguments.

5. Bargain for EVERYthing. Unless you see set, tagged prices and witness Vietnamese locals paying without negotiating, assume that the given prices are flexible.

4. Skip Nha Trang. Though tourist agencies tout this Vietnamese beach city as a must-do on every open-tour route, other beaches on the Southern Central Coast are just as breathtaking and a lot less expensive.

3. Use Vietnamese public transportation. For long distances, public buses are the way to go. Be prepared to wait, as schedules are erratic.

2. Walk everywhere else. The best way to get to know Vietnam is by spending time face-to-face with its people. Plus, walking is far less scary than motorbiking.

1. Eat on the street. Though they seem inherently shady to Westerners, streetside vendors offer some of the tastiest—and cheapest—eats in the city. Ironically, Vietnamese street food is less likely to get you sick than Western-style food in restaurants.