How much should an Australian prepare for a trip to Vietnam

Amazing cuisine, friendly people, breath-taking scenes with beaches, ancient towns and a lot of natural wonders are those Vietnamese things which attract people from every part of the world including Australians. So, if you are wondering some questions regarding “how much to prepare for a trip to Vietnam”, we are here for some help.

Below, we list some basic costs that you must prepare to your Vietnam trip.

1. Vietnam visa for Australians

A Vietnam tourist visa is required for all Australian passport holders visiting Vietnam on leisure trip regardless of length of their stay in the country. Depending on the visa type, equivalent to length of stay and number of entries, costs are variable. You can get a Vietnam visa by applying for a Vietnam visa on arrival which has been widely used by a lot of travelers in the world. It is well-known for convenience, simplicity, fast processing and time saving. With this option, you will need to complete an online form to get a visa approval letter beforehand and then get visa stamped upon arrival at Vietnam airport. You also need to pay 2 kinds of fee: service fee and stamping service.

Cost of Vietnam tourist visa for Australians

Here is the link to apply for visa on arrival: Online Vietnam visa form.

There is also another way to get Vietnam visa for Australians. In case you wish to learn in details, you can refer to Vietnam visa for Australian citizens here.

In case you wish to spend some more money to get assistance at Vietnam airport and picked up at Vietnam airport and taken to your hotel in downtown, we can also help you. We have fast-track service, with which you will be assisted to get Vietnam visa stamped upon at Vietnam airport without any hassle on queuing with others for your turn. We have airport transfer with which there will be our driver waiting for you at Vietnam airport and taking  you to your hotels.

2. Vietnam Transport cost

Public transport like buses are popular in Vietnam, it will cost you about VND 6,000 –30,000 each round depending on your destinations. It will definitely be cheaper than going by taxi or Grab.

If you want to go around, exploring the city on your own, you can hire a motorbike for a day. It often cost around $7 – 10 to hire a bike for the whole day. However, you should remember to check the vehicle’s brakes, signal lights, and fuel before jumping in.

If you are unable to ride a bike, you can book Grab car, or Go-Viet which is much cheaper. Finally, there are a lot of bike riders on the streets, but you should also make bargain to avoid overcharging.

3. Vietnam accommodation cost

The price of accommodation varies based on what types of hotel/hostel you choose. In general, the double room will cost you $10 at least.

You can go online to some booking website like Traveloka, Agoda, etc. to look for the suitable rooms. Sometimes, during special events, promotion schemes are applied and therefore, you can have a room with discount.

4. Vietnam food cost

The advice is always stick to street food, simply because it is cheap and delicious. Vietnam is also known as street food paradise, so why don’t you immerse yourself in the endless street food. With $10, you can stuff tons of food into your mouth.

1. Banh Mi (~$1)

There are many varieties of this specialty, but the basic one starts with crusty baguette sliced in a half (scissors can be used) then stuffed with layers of pork, luncheon meats, pate, mayonnaise, Vietnamese pickles, sliced cucumbers, cilantro, and finally, fresh pounded chilies.

2. Pho ($2 – 5)

A little more expensive than “banh mi”, pho is the harmonious combination of rice noodles and broth, normally eaten with either beef or chicken – both are extremely delicious.

The while noodles are boiled until soft, topped with meat depend on your choice, and finished with a sprinkle of chopped onions and sweet onions in some places. It is usually served with a plate of fresh herbs, including saw tooth, mint, along with home-made chili sauce, you can also add cider or lime juice to make it more flavorful.

5. Vietnam attraction entrance fee

The admission fee to many attractions in Vietnam is quite low, ranging around US$1 – 20.

Following are some, among many other:

1. Hanoi attraction admission fee:

• The Imperial Citadel of Thang Long: VND 30,000/person.
• Temple of Literature (Van Mieu Quoc Tu Giam): VND 20,000 /person.
• Quan Thanh Temple: VND 10,000 /person.
• Ngoc Son Temple: VND 20,000 /person.
• Hoa Lo Prison: VND 20,000 /person.
• Ho Chi Minh Museum: VND 15,000 /person.
• Museum of Fine Arts: VND 20,000 /person.
• Vietnam Museum of Ethnology: VND 40,000 /person.
• Vietnam Military History Museum: VND 30,000 /person.
• Vietnam History Museum: VND 20,000 /person.
• Thang Long Water Puppet: VND 60000 – 100000 co-location options.
• Huong Pagoda: VND 50,000 /person.
• Boat Tours: VND 40,000 /person (Round – trip Ticket)
• Huong Son Mountain: VND 85,000 /ticket.
• Ba Vi National Park: VND 40,000 /person.
• Ao Vua: VND 120,000 /person.
• Long Lake: VND 100,000 /person.
• Thu Le Park: VND 10,000 /person; 2,000 /child.

2. Ninh Binh attraction admission fee

• Van Long: 45.000 VND/ person.
• Trang An: 150,000 VND/ person.
• Le Dinh Temple: 10,000 VND/ person.
• Cuc Phuong: 40,000 VND/ person.
• Tam Coc: 120,000 VND/ person; 60 000 VND/ children
• Tam Coc Boat: 150,000 VND/ boat.

3. Hue Attraction admission fee

For adults:

• Hue’s Imperial Citadel and Antiquities Museum: VND 105,000
• Tomb of Minh Mang; Tu Duc and Khai Dinh: VND 80,000
• Hue Royal Antiquities Museum, An Dinh Palace, Hon Chen Palace, Tomb of Thieu Tri: VND 40,000

For children from 7 to 12 years old:

• Hue’s Imperial Citadel and Antiquities Museum: VND 20,000
• Tomb of Minh Mang, Tu Duc and Khai Dinh: VND 20,000

We here also would like to recommend you some must-see places in Vietnam. Australian tourists can pay a visit to places from North to South or vice versa, it depends on the airport that you land first. If you first set foot on Noi Bai airport (Ha Noi), you can visit some ancient places here such as Hoan Kiem lake, the Hanoi Old Quarter with free charge of entry. You also indulge in the dynamic lifestyle of Vietnamese young generation by walking on the walking streets and don’t forget to enjoy street food. Indeed, street food is very delicious and very cheap as well. With 6-7$, you can taste almost all the kinds of snacks or drinks here. Especially, with 3$, you have a chance to try the most Vietnamese remarkable dish, Pho. Believe us, you will certainly eat it more than once.

Then, you also move to other provinces in Vietnam such as Ninh Binh, Hue, Hoi An, Ho Chi Minh city. And continue your trip. Hope you will enjoy the trip in Vietnam.