Cost per day · Vietnam
Ho Chi Minh City on $25, $75 or $250 a day
How much does Ho Chi Minh City cost per day? Budget travellers get by on about $25 a day, mid-range trips run around $75, and luxury starts near $250 — accommodation, food, transport and activities included.
That makes Ho Chi Minh City the 8th cheapest of 82 cities for a mid-range trip — see all 82 ranked.
Ho Chi Minh City — still called Saigon by most who love it — is Vietnam's restless engine of growth. A city of roaring motorbikes, French colonial architecture, world-class street food, and extraordinary war history, it pulses with energy 24 hours a day. The contrast between its chaotic streets and rooftop sky bars captures Vietnam in miniature.
Ho Chi Minh City is one of the world's great budget travel destinations. A bowl of pho for $1, a beer for $0.50 at a plastic-stool street bar, motorbike taxi rides for $1, and everything else to match. The chaos is part of the appeal — just cross the road slowly and confidently.
✈️ How to Get There
🗺️ What to Do
Historic 1960s presidential palace, frozen in time, fascinating
Get tickets on Tiqets →Boat through the fertile delta, coconut candy factories, local life
Get tickets on Tiqets →Private after-hours Cu Chi tour with an expert military historian
Get tickets on Tiqets →🏨 Where to Stay
Well-run backpacker hostel in De Tham area, roof terrace
Check prices on Klook →Budget-friendly in District 1, clean dorms near Ben Thanh Market
Excellent social hostel on Bui Vien Street, lively common areas
Sample 3-Day Itinerary
Day 1: War & Markets ~$18
Day 2: Saigon Streets ~$18
Day 3: Cholon & Coffee ~$18
Eat pho and bánh mì only at street stalls — they're better and a tenth of the price of restaurants. Grab motorbike taxis (Grab or Xe Om) for under $1 anywhere. Stay in Bui Vien or De Tham Streets for the backpacker scene. The War Remnants Museum is the most important $2 you'll spend in Vietnam. A day trip to the Cu Chi Tunnels is $15 all-in.
Mid-range HCMC is exceptional value. French-colonial boutique hotels in District 1, rooftop bars with city views, excellent Vietnamese fine dining, and day trips to the Mekong Delta and Cu Chi make for a rich experience at a fraction of comparable Asian city costs.
✈️ How to Get There
🗺️ What to Do
Boat through the fertile delta, coconut candy factories, local life
Get tickets on Tiqets →Underground Viet Cong tunnel network, one of Vietnam's top experiences
Get tickets on Tiqets →Market visit and cooking class in a traditional Saigon kitchen
Get tickets on Tiqets →🏨 Where to Stay
Modern boutique hotel near Ben Thanh, excellent rooftop pool
Check prices on Klook →Historic 1959 hotel at the heart of downtown, rooftop bar famous
Check prices on Klook →Art deco boutique hotel, rooftop pool and bar with skyline views
Check prices on Klook →Sample 3-Day Itinerary
Day 1: History Day ~$60
Day 2: Food & Culture ~$65
Day 3: Mekong Delta ~$70
Stay in District 1 near the Opera House for the best location. The Caravelle Hotel's Saigon Saigon rooftop bar is a must. Dinner at Cục Gạch Quán is the quintessential Saigon experience. The Mekong Delta day trip is best done as a 2-day overnight tour. Book a Vietnamese cooking class — excellent value at $25–40.
Luxury Saigon is superb value by global standards. The Park Hyatt and Caravelle's best suites, Michelin-recommended fine dining, private Mekong cruises on traditional wooden boats, and helicopter tours over the Mekong Delta are all remarkable and far cheaper than comparable Asian destinations.
✈️ How to Get There
🗺️ What to Do
Private after-hours Cu Chi tour with an expert military historian
Get tickets on Tiqets →Two-day private cruise on the Mekong on a traditional wooden junk
Get tickets on Tiqets →Boat through the fertile delta, coconut candy factories, local life
Get tickets on Tiqets →🏨 Where to Stay
Contemporary tower with skyline views, excellent Metropolitan Spa
Check prices on Klook →The finest hotel in Vietnam, elegant colonial style on Lam Son Sq
Check prices on Klook →Baroque-Italian opulence atop the Times Square building, dramatic
Check prices on Klook →Sample 3-Day Itinerary
Day 1: Private Saigon ~$250
Day 2: Cu Chi Premium ~$320
Day 3: Mekong Private ~$300
The Park Hyatt Saigon is the finest hotel in Vietnam. Book a table at The Deck for the best riverfront dining in the country. A private helicopter tour of the Mekong Delta at dawn is one of Southeast Asia's most striking experiences. Arrange a private overnight Mekong cruise on a traditional junk boat. Spa treatments at the Park Hyatt or Caravelle are world-class at half the Singapore price.
About Ho Chi Minh City
Tropical with two seasons. The dry season (Dec–Apr) brings hot, sunny days (32°C); the rainy season (May–Nov) has sticky humidity and short, heavy afternoon downpours. Always warm.
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
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| 26° | 28° | 29° | 30° | 30° | 29° | 28° | 28° | 28° | 27° | 27° | 26° |
| 1d | 1d | 2d | 5d | 17d | 20d | 22d | 21d | 22d | 21d | 12d | 6d |
| high | high | high | high | mid | low | low | low | low | mid | mid | high |
A river of motorbikes. There's no metro yet (Line 1 opening). Grab is cheap and easy, including Grab-bikes; agree fares with green/white taxis or use apps. District 1 is walkable but crossing roads takes practice.
The French cathedral and post office, the book street, the reunification palace and the central market.
The Chinese quarter, its temples and wholesale market, and the museum that explains the rest of the country.
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 colonial heart: the Notre-Dame Cathedral, Saigon Opera, the central post office and Ben Thanh market. Most hotels and the iconic landmarks.
Best for midrangeSaigon's backpacker street: cheap hostels, neon bars and the loudest phở stalls in town.
Best for budgetQuieter colonial blocks with the city's best bánh mì and phở stalls — the local insider's pick.
Best for budgetThe expat enclave across the river: cafés, galleries, international restaurants and a calmer pace.
Best for midrangeSaigon's sprawling Chinatown: herbal markets, ornate Cantonese temples and dim sum.
Best for budgetThe planned modern district with luxury malls, towers and the cleanest streets in the city.
Best for luxury- ✓Cross roads at a slow, steady pace — let the motorbikes flow around you
- ✓Dress modestly at temples and pagodas — cover shoulders and knees
- ✓Use Grab for fixed, fair fares (Mai Linh and Vinasun taxis are also trustworthy)
- ✓Bargain politely at markets — start around half the asking price
- ✓Try the street stalls — Saigon's food is its joy
- ✓Carry small notes; large dong bills frustrate street vendors
- ✗Drink the tap water — stick to bottled
- ✗Discuss the war or politics with locals you've just met
- ✗Photograph military or government buildings
- ✗Touch anyone's head, including children's
- ✗Leave bags or phones on motorbikes or open windows — snatch-and-grab is real
- ✗Wear shoes inside temple inner halls
Travel Insurance for Ho Chi Minh City
Travel insurance is strongly recommended for any trip to Ho Chi Minh City. Safety is rated Generally safe — motorcycle bag-snatching and pickpocketing in tourist areas are the main hazards. — 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: Most visitors need a visa — an e-Visa is available online for most nationalities for up to 90 days.. Some countries require proof of travel insurance as part of the visa application.
Get travel insurance for Ho Chi Minh City →FAQ: Ho Chi Minh City Travel Questions
Is Ho Chi Minh City safe to visit? ▾
Generally safe — motorcycle bag-snatching and pickpocketing in tourist areas are the main hazards.
When is the best time to visit Ho Chi Minh City? ▾
December – April (dry season) Tropical with two seasons. The dry season (Dec–Apr) brings hot, sunny days (32°C); the rainy season (May–Nov) has sticky humidity and short, heavy afternoon downpours. Always warm.
How much does a trip to Ho Chi Minh City cost per day? ▾
- budget: $25–$50/day
- midrange: $75–$140/day
- luxury: $250–$480/day
- business: $110–$230/day
Do I need a visa to visit Vietnam? ▾
Most visitors need a visa — an e-Visa is available online for most nationalities for up to 90 days.
How do I get around Ho Chi Minh City? ▾
A river of motorbikes. There's no metro yet (Line 1 opening). Grab is cheap and easy, including Grab-bikes; agree fares with green/white taxis or use apps. District 1 is walkable but crossing roads takes practice. Taxi base fare ~$1. Day pass ~$1.
Is tipping expected in Ho Chi Minh City? ▾
Not traditional, but increasingly appreciated — round up taxis and leave small tips for guides and great service.
What currency is used in Vietnam? ▾
The local currency is VND (₫), and the official language is Vietnamese.