By aussiematesvietnam 
Budget Travel Secrets from Locals in Vietnam
G’day fellow travellers! Aussie Mates here with my wife Tracy. After calling Vietnam home for nearly two decades, we’ve picked up a thing or two about stretching your dong (that’s Vietnamese currency, mind you – get your head out of the gutter!). While the younger backpacker crowd might be happy sleeping in 12-bed dorms and surviving on instant noodles, I reckon us Boomers deserve a bit more comfort without breaking the bank. Today I’m sharing the insider knowledge that only comes from befriending locals and living like one yourself.
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Why Vietnam is Perfect for Budget-Conscious Aussie Boomers
Before we dive into the nitty-gritty, let me tell you why Vietnam should be top of your travel list. The exchange rate is bloody fantastic for us Aussies – your dollar goes much further here than in Europe or Japan. Plus, the locals are genuinely friendly (not just the “I want to sell you something” kind of friendly), the food is to die for, and the country offers everything from pristine beaches to misty mountains.
Tracy and I have hosted dozens of our Aussie mates over the years, and they’re always gobsmacked at how affordable a quality holiday can be. One couple we know budgeted $5,000 for a two-week trip and went home with nearly half unspent – and they weren’t exactly roughing it!
Transportation Hacks Only Locals Know
When you first arrive in Vietnam, the traffic looks like absolute chaos. Motorbikes zooming everywhere, horns honking, it’s enough to make you want to hide in your hotel. But there’s method to the madness, I promise.
- Skip the tourist taxis at the airport. Download the Grab app (Southeast Asia’s version of Uber) before you arrive. You’ll pay about half what the airport taxis charge.
- For travelling between cities, use the sleeper buses if you’re on a tight budget. For about $15-20, you get a reclining seat that’s actually long enough for us taller Aussies. Tracy was skeptical at first but now she’s a convert.
- Consider domestic flights for longer journeys. Vietnam Airlines and VietJet often have sales where you can fly from Hanoi to Ho Chi Minh City for under $50.
- Rent a motorbike for daily transportation in smaller cities like Hoi An or Dalat. It costs about $5-7 per day, and you’ll feel like a local. Just make sure your travel insurance covers it!
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One time, Tracy and I needed to get from Hue to Hoi An. The tourist buses were charging $25 each, but our Vietnamese neighbor told us about a local bus that cost just $4 and was actually faster. Sure, there was a chicken in a basket next to us, but that’s part of the adventure, isn’t it?
Accommodation: Comfort Without the Cost
Forget what you know about budget accommodation being synonymous with dodgy hostels. Vietnam offers incredible value when it comes to places to stay.
In major cities like Hanoi or Ho Chi Minh City, skip the international hotel chains. Instead, look for boutique hotels run by local families. For $30-40 a night, you can get a clean, comfortable room with breakfast included, often in charming converted colonial buildings.
Even better, use Airbnb to find apartments. Tracy and I recently helped our mates find a beautiful two-bedroom flat in the heart of Hanoi’s Old Quarter for $35 per night. It had a balcony overlooking the street life below, air conditioning (a must in Vietnam!), and even a washing machine.
Eat Like a Local, Not a Tourist
If you’re eating at restaurants with English menus out front and staff calling you in from the street, you’re paying tourist prices for watered-down versions of Vietnamese cuisine. Let me show you how to eat like a king for peanuts.
- Follow the crowds of locals, especially early in the morning or around lunchtime.
- Look for plastic stools – the smaller they are, the more authentic (and usually delicious) the food will be.
- Learn a few basic food words in Vietnamese. Even simple phrases like “Cám ơn” (thank you) will earn you smiles and sometimes extra portions.
- Street food is generally safe if it’s cooked fresh in front of you and the place is busy.
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My mate from Brisbane visited last year and was hesitant about street food until I took him to my favorite bún chả place – a tiny stall where an elderly woman has been making the same dish for 30 years. He ended up going back three times in one week! Total cost? About $2 for a meal that would set you back $25 in an Australian Vietnamese restaurant.
Shopping Without Getting Fleeced
Souvenir shopping in Vietnam can be a minefield if you don’t know what you’re doing. The old “buy one get one free” trick has separated many tourists from their dong.
Tracy has become a negotiating ninja over the years. Her top tip? Walk away. Nine times out of ten, the seller will chase after you with a better price. Start by offering 40% of the asking price and work your way up from there. And always shop with a smile – keeping it friendly goes a long way.
For quality souvenirs, skip the tourist markets in favor of places like:
- Craft villages outside major cities (we love Bat Trang for ceramics near Hanoi)
- Social enterprise shops that support disadvantaged communities
- Department stores where prices are fixed but reasonable (Saigon Square in HCMC is fantastic)
Experience Vietnam Without Emptying Your Wallet
The best experiences in Vietnam often cost little or nothing. Tracy and I love taking our visiting friends to these hidden gems:
- Free walking tours run by university students eager to practice English
- Early morning Tai Chi sessions with locals in public parks
- Hidden coffee shops where Vietnamese people socialize
- Local festivals that tourists rarely hear about
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Last year, we took our neighbors from Melbourne to a local wedding after our Vietnamese friend invited us along. It was the highlight of their trip – endless food, karaoke, and so much laughter despite the language barrier. You can’t buy that kind of cultural exchange.
Timing is Everything: When to Visit
Vietnam has distinct high and low seasons, and your experience (and budget) will be dramatically different depending on when you visit.
The shoulder seasons (April-May and September-October) offer the best balance of good weather and lower prices. You’ll find hotels offering 30-40% discounts compared to peak times, and popular attractions won’t be crawling with tour groups.
Avoid Tet (Vietnamese New Year, usually in late January or early February). While it’s culturally fascinating, many businesses close, and transport gets booked solid as Vietnamese people travel home to their families.
Saving on Tours and Experiences
Those fancy day tours advertised in hotels and tourist agencies? They’re marking them up by 30-50%. Tracy and I have found several ways around this:
- Book directly with local operators online before you arrive
- Join Facebook groups for expats in Vietnam to find recommendations
- Consider DIY versions of popular tours
For example, instead of taking a $65 organized tour to Ha Long Bay, we helped our friends arrange their own trip for about $35 each. They caught a public bus to Hai Phong, then a ferry to Cat Ba Island, and joined a half-day boat tour from there. Not only was it cheaper, but they avoided the crowded tourist routes.
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Cash is Still King
While Vietnam is modernizing rapidly, cash remains the preferred payment method in many places. Some money-saving tips:
- Bring new, crisp USD notes for exchanging (they give better rates for $50 and $100 bills)
- Use ATMs attached to banks rather than standalone ones to avoid extra fees
- Always choose to be charged in local currency if given the option on card payments
I once made the mistake of changing money at the airport when I first arrived years ago. The rate was about 15% worse than what I could have gotten in the city. Lesson learned!
A Final Word from an Old Hand
After nearly 20 years in Vietnam, Tracy and I have watched this country transform from a budget backpacker destination to a sophisticated travel hot spot. Prices have risen, but Vietnam still offers incredible value if you know where to look.
The key to budget travel here isn’t about pinching pennies until they scream – it’s about spending smartly on what matters to you. Maybe that’s a nicer hotel but cheaper meals. Or perhaps you splurge on that cooking class but save on transportation.
Vietnam rewards travelers who venture beyond the obvious tourist trail. Chat with locals, accept invitations, try the food that doesn’t come with an English description. Not only will your wallet thank you, but you’ll come home with stories that can’t be bought on any tour.
Until next time, this is Aussie Mates signing off from Hanoi. If you see Tracy and me sipping bia hoi (fresh beer) on plastic stools in the Old Quarter, come say g’day – first round’s on us!
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