Cost per day · Vietnam
Hanoi on $15, $50 or $200 a day
How much does Hanoi cost per day? Budget travellers get by on about $15 a day, mid-range trips run around $50, and luxury starts near $200 — accommodation, food, transport and activities included.
That makes Hanoi the cheapest of 82 cities for a mid-range trip — see all 82 ranked.
Hanoi is a sensory overload in the best possible way — motorbikes swarm ancient French-colonial streets, phở simmers on every corner, incense drifts from Buddhist temples, and the Old Quarter's 36 streets each still specialise in a single trade.
Hanoi is one of the world's cheapest cities to travel. Phở costs $1, bia hơi (fresh beer) is $0.25, hostel dorms are $5, and local transport is absurdly cheap. The best food is on tiny plastic stools on the pavement.
✈️ How to Get There
🗺️ What to Do
Two thousand limestone towers rising from jade water — why the overnight boat beats the day trip, and how to choose among 500 cruises.
Read guide → Get tickets on Tiqets →The world's best street-food city, decoded — phở at dawn, bún chả at plastic stools, egg coffee up hidden stairs, and the Old Quarter by Vespa after dark.
Read guide → Get tickets on Tiqets →"Ha Long Bay on land" — rowed sampans through river caves at Tràng An, 500 steps to the dragon ridge at Mua Cave, and Vietnam's old capital between.
Read guide → Get tickets on Tiqets →🏨 Where to Stay
Clean hostel with lake views, great breakfast included
Check prices on Klook →Hostel accommodation with dorm beds and, usually, a few private rooms.
Check prices on Klook →Hostel accommodation with dorm beds and, usually, a few private rooms.
Check prices on Klook →Sample 3-Day Itinerary
Day 1: Old Quarter & Hoan Kiem ~$12
Day 2: Ho Chi Minh & Temple of Literature ~$16
Day 3: Ha Long Bay Day Trip ~$20
Eat where locals eat — the busier the stall, the better the food. Grab app works for rides. Bún chả near Lê Văn Hưu is the Obama lunch spot. Cross the street confidently — walk at a steady pace and motorbikes will flow around you.
Mid-range Hanoi unlocks beautiful boutique hotels in the Old Quarter, cooking classes, Ha Long Bay overnight cruises, and proper Vietnamese restaurants. At these prices, you're living like royalty by local standards.
✈️ How to Get There
🗺️ What to Do
Two thousand limestone towers rising from jade water — why the overnight boat beats the day trip, and how to choose among 500 cruises.
Read guide → Get tickets on Tiqets →The world's best street-food city, decoded — phở at dawn, bún chả at plastic stools, egg coffee up hidden stairs, and the Old Quarter by Vespa after dark.
Read guide → Get tickets on Tiqets →"Ha Long Bay on land" — rowed sampans through river caves at Tràng An, 500 steps to the dragon ridge at Mua Cave, and Vietnam's old capital between.
Read guide → Get tickets on Tiqets →🏨 Where to Stay
Consistently top-rated boutique hotel, exceptional staff
Check prices on Klook →Four-star chain hotel, reliably comfortable rooms and full service without luxury pricing.
Check prices on Klook →Four-star chain hotel, reliably comfortable rooms and full service without luxury pricing.
Check prices on Klook →Sample 3-Day Itinerary
Day 1: Colonial Hanoi & Fine Vietnamese ~$60
Day 2: Ha Long Bay Overnight Cruise ~$80
Day 3: Ninh Binh Day Trip ~$70
Stay in the Old Quarter for the full experience. Book Ha Long Bay 2-day/1-night cruises through your hotel. Maison Vie is the best mid-range boutique. The Hanoi Social Club is perfect for coffee and brunch.
Luxury Hanoi is extraordinary value compared to anywhere else in Asia. The Sofitel Legend Metropole is one of the world's great heritage hotels, private Ha Long Bay cruises are unforgettable, and Vietnamese fine dining is exceptional.
✈️ How to Get There
🗺️ What to Do
Two thousand limestone towers rising from jade water — why the overnight boat beats the day trip, and how to choose among 500 cruises.
Read guide → Get tickets on Tiqets →The world's best street-food city, decoded — phở at dawn, bún chả at plastic stools, egg coffee up hidden stairs, and the Old Quarter by Vespa after dark.
Read guide → Get tickets on Tiqets →"Ha Long Bay on land" — rowed sampans through river caves at Tràng An, 500 steps to the dragon ridge at Mua Cave, and Vietnam's old capital between.
Read guide → Get tickets on Tiqets →🏨 Where to Stay
French-colonial gem next to the Opera House, MGallery collection
Check prices on Klook →Intimate luxury hotel inspired by 1920s Hanoi opera scene
Check prices on Klook →Legendary 1901 hotel, Graham Greene wrote here, wartime bunker
Check prices on Klook →Sample 3-Day Itinerary
Day 1: Private Hanoi ~$350
Day 2: Halong Bay Private Cruise ~$600
Day 3: Ninh Binh & Farewell ~$400
The Metropole is the only hotel in Hanoi — period. Book the Heritage wing. Private Ha Long Bay cruises on Orchid or Heritage Line are worth every dollar. La Maison 1888 in Da Nang is worth the side trip for the Michelin stars.
About Hanoi
Hanoi has a distinct four-season climate rare in Southeast Asia. October-April is the dry and cooler season: October-November (25-28 degrees C, dry, perfect) and December-February (15-20 degrees C, occasionally chilly - bring a layer; the winter drizzle creates an atmospheric mist over the Old Quarter). March-April warms up again before the summer heat. May-September is hot and humid (33-38 degrees C) with heavy rain and occasional typhoons. The Tet festival (Vietnamese Lunar New Year, usually January-February) is the most culturally significant time to visit - the city empties as families reunite, then erupts in fireworks and flower markets. Many restaurants close for 1-2 weeks around Tet.
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 17° | 18° | 21° | 24° | 28° | 30° | 30° | 29° | 28° | 25° | 22° | 19° |
| 8d | 11d | 13d | 12d | 14d | 14d | 16d | 17d | 14d | 10d | 6d | 6d |
| mid | mid | mid | mid | mid | low | low | low | mid | high | high | high |
Hanoi is best navigated by Grab (the Southeast Asian Uber - use exclusively; taxi scams are common; Grab shows the price upfront and the driver is tracked). A typical city ride costs 30,000-80,000 VND ($1.20-3 USD). The city bus is cheap (9,000 VND) but complex for tourists. Cyclos (cycle rickshaws) are available for scenic Old Quarter rides but negotiate the price strictly beforehand. The airport is 40km north - Grab costs 250,000-400,000 VND (45-60 min). The Hanoi-Ho Chi Minh City overnight train is a great experience ($30-50 USD for a 4-berth sleeper). Motorbike taxis (xe om) are faster for short trips but riskier.
The lake and its island temple, the thirty-six guild streets around it, the cathedral and the market.
The mausoleum, the one-pillar pagoda, the first university and the oldest pagoda on the lake.
A travel eSIM gets you online the moment you land in Vietnam — data plans start at $4 — no roaming bill, no queue for a local SIM, and nothing to swap in and out of your phone. Install it before you fly.
The 36 guild streets of medieval Hanoi: each street was historically dedicated to a single trade (Hang Bac - silver, Hang Gai - silk, Hang Ma - paper offerings) and the pattern partially survives. The streets are narrow, motor scooters share the pavement with pedestrians, and every facade is a shop front. Hoan Kiem Lake (the Sword Lake - the giant turtle of legend returned the sacred sword here, free) is the civic heart of the city: the red Huc Bridge and the Ngoc Son Temple (50,000 VND) are the iconic image of Hanoi. The Weekend Walking Street (Friday-Sunday evening, free) closes the lake area to traffic.
Best for budgetThe political district west of the Old Quarter: the Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum (free, Tue-Thu and Sat-Sun 8-11am - the preserved body of Ho Chi Minh in a granite structure; dress respectfully, no cameras inside, queue can be 90 minutes but moves fast). The Ho Chi Minh Museum (40,000 VND) and the One Pillar Pagoda (the 1000-year-old wooden pagoda built on a single stone pillar rising from a lotus pond, free). The Presidential Palace garden (the yellow colonial mansion where Ho Chi Minh refused to live, free grounds).
Best for midrangeThe French colonial city south of the lake: the Opera House (1911, modelled on the Paris Garnier, exterior free, interior tours available), the Sofitel Metropole (the colonial grande dame of Hanoi, worth a coffee in the courtyard at $4 USD, the finest hotel building in Vietnam), and the broad tree-lined boulevards of the French planning grid. The Vietnam Museum of Ethnology is in this direction (40,000 VND - the finest museum in Vietnam, covering the 54 ethnic minorities). The best restaurants and boutique hotels are concentrated here.
Best for midrangeThe neighborhood around the largest lake in Hanoi: Tay Ho is where Hanoi's expat community concentrates - international schools, international supermarkets, specialty coffee shops, and restaurants serving food from every country. The Tran Quoc Pagoda (free exterior - the oldest pagoda in Hanoi, built 544 AD, on a small island in West Lake connected by a causeway) and the Quan Thanh Temple (10,000 VND) are both here. The best cafe culture in Hanoi is around the West Lake shore.
Best for midrangeThe northern edge of the Old Quarter: Dong Xuan Market (the largest covered market in Hanoi, free entry - clothing, electronics, food, and household goods at wholesale prices; negotiate everything). The streets around it have the cheapest food in central Hanoi - bun cha (Vietnamese grilled pork and noodles, 40,000-60,000 VND) and banh mi (Vietnamese baguette sandwich, 25,000-40,000 VND) from street stalls. The Long Bien Bridge (the 1902 French railway bridge, free to cross - motorbikes and pedestrians share it with freight trains; the view over the Red River from the bridge is the most authentic Hanoi experience).
Best for budgetThe central district west of Hoan Kiem Lake: Hoa Lo Prison (50,000 VND - the "Hanoi Hilton" where American POWs were held during the Vietnam War, built by the French for Vietnamese political prisoners; the exhibits from both eras are sobering and fascinating). The Lotte Tower observation deck (100,000 VND - the 65-floor tower with the finest view over Hanoi's lakes and skyline).
Best for midrange- ✓Cross roads at a slow, steady pace — let motorbikes flow around you
- ✓Try every street stall — the food is the city
- ✓Dress modestly at temples and pagodas
- ✓Remove shoes before entering temple inner halls and homes
- ✓Use Grab for fixed, fair fares
- ✓Use both hands to pass items to elders
- ✗Touch anyone's head, including children's
- ✗Point with your finger — gesture with your whole hand
- ✗Discuss the war or politics with locals you've just met
- ✗Photograph military or government buildings
- ✗Drink the tap water — bottled only
- ✗Wear shoes inside temple inner sanctums
Travel Insurance for Hanoi
Travel insurance is strongly recommended for any trip to Hanoi. Safety is rated Generally safe for tourists. Watch for motorbike bag snatchers (wear bags on the side away from traffic), taxi scams (use Grab app exclusively), and aggressive souvenir sellers. The Old Quarter at night is lively and safe. — even in safe destinations, unexpected medical emergencies or trip cancellations can be costly. Make sure your policy covers emergency medical treatment, hospitalisation, trip cancellation, and emergency evacuation.
Visa note: E-visa required for most nationalities ($25 USD, 90 days, apply online at evisa.xuatnhapcanh.gov.vn - takes 3 working days). Visa-free for some ASEAN countries and a few others (check current list). Always verify before travel as rules change.. Some countries require proof of travel insurance as part of the visa application.
Get travel insurance for Hanoi →FAQ: Hanoi Travel Questions
Is Hanoi safe to visit? ▾
Generally safe for tourists. Watch for motorbike bag snatchers (wear bags on the side away from traffic), taxi scams (use Grab app exclusively), and aggressive souvenir sellers. The Old Quarter at night is lively and safe.
When is the best time to visit Hanoi? ▾
October - April Hanoi has a distinct four-season climate rare in Southeast Asia. October-April is the dry and cooler season: October-November (25-28 degrees C, dry, perfect) and December-February (15-20 degrees C, occasionally chilly - bring a layer; the winter drizzle creates an atmospheric mist over the Old Quarter). March-April warms up again before the summer heat. May-September is hot and humid (33-38 degrees C) with heavy rain and occasional typhoons. The Tet festival (Vietnamese Lunar New Year, usually January-February) is the most culturally significant time to visit - the city empties as families reunite, then erupts in fireworks and flower markets. Many restaurants close for 1-2 weeks around Tet.
How much does a trip to Hanoi cost per day? ▾
- budget: $15–$30/day
- midrange: $50–$90/day
- luxury: $200–$400/day
- business: $80–$180/day
Do I need a visa to visit Vietnam? ▾
E-visa required for most nationalities ($25 USD, 90 days, apply online at evisa.xuatnhapcanh.gov.vn - takes 3 working days). Visa-free for some ASEAN countries and a few others (check current list). Always verify before travel as rules change.
How do I get around Hanoi? ▾
Hanoi is best navigated by Grab (the Southeast Asian Uber - use exclusively; taxi scams are common; Grab shows the price upfront and the driver is tracked). A typical city ride costs 30,000-80,000 VND ($1.20-3 USD). The city bus is cheap (9,000 VND) but complex for tourists. Cyclos (cycle rickshaws) are available for scenic Old Quarter rides but negotiate the price strictly beforehand. The airport is 40km north - Grab costs 250,000-400,000 VND (45-60 min). The Hanoi-Ho Chi Minh City overnight train is a great experience ($30-50 USD for a 4-berth sleeper). Motorbike taxis (xe om) are faster for short trips but riskier. Taxi base fare ~$1. Day pass ~$3.
Is tipping expected in Hanoi? ▾
Not traditionally expected but increasingly appreciated. 10% at tourist restaurants is generous. Round up for taxi (through Grab, no cash tip needed). Tip tour guides and hotel staff 50,000-100,000 VND for good service.
What currency is used in Vietnam? ▾
The local currency is VND (D), and the official language is Vietnamese (northern dialect - tonal, with 6 tones; English widely spoken in tourist areas).