Days traveling: | |
Average per day: | |
excluding
and
Flights
:
Luxury activities
|
Lots of mixed feelings in my last full day in Southeast Asia. I decided to take it slow, going back to a couple of places that I loved, and to a couple of new ones that were recommended. Finally, I couldn't think of a better way to say goodbye to Hanoi than cheering with 5k beers.
Food
|
Breakfast (incl. in hostel) |
₫0.00
$0.00
|
Groceries
|
Bottled water (x2) |
₫22,000.00
$0.87
|
Food
|
Egg coffee at "Giang Cafe" |
₫25,000.00
$0.99
|
Groceries
|
Fresh fruit at "Hom Market" |
₫20,000.00
$0.79
|
Food
|
Lunch at "Bun Cha Huong Lien" |
₫90,000.00
$3.56
|
Food
|
Coffee at "OTree Coffee" |
₫30,000.00
$1.19
|
Food
|
Coffee at "Tranquil Books & Coffee" |
₫55,000.00
$2.17
|
Food
|
Dinner at "Pho Thin" |
₫50,000.00
$1.98
|
Food
|
Pastries |
₫30,000.00
$1.19
|
Alcohol
|
Beers at "Bia Hoi Corner" (5k each) |
₫20,000.00
$0.79
|
Accomodation
|
Little Hanoi Hostel |
$20.00
$20.00
|
TOTAL | $20.00 + ₫342,000.00 |
TOTAL (USD) | $33.51 |
Sa Pa town is no longer the cute hill village it used to be. Because of its recent tourist boom, new tall hotel buildings are built every day, polluting Sa Pa's skyline. I recommend staying in town only long enough to catch your bus to Hanoi or your transportation to your homestay.
Food
|
Breakfast (incl. in homestay) |
₫0.00
$0.00
|
Food
|
Coffee |
₫30,000.00
$1.19
|
Groceries
|
Bottled water |
₫15,000.00
$0.59
|
Urban transport
|
Moto taxi to Sa Pa town |
₫100,000.00
$3.95
|
Food
|
Lunch |
₫30,000.00
$1.19
|
Intercity transport
|
Bus to Hanoi |
₫250,000.00
$9.88
|
Food
|
Snacks |
₫53,000.00
$2.09
|
Accomodation
|
Little Hanoi Hostel |
$20.00
$20.00
|
TOTAL | $20.00 + ₫478,000.00 |
TOTAL (USD) | $38.89 |
When staying in small towns and rural areas mostly devoted to tourism, I usually try to spend my money in as many different businesses as possible. Most likely the hostel or homestay will also serve you as restaurant/supermarket/coffee shop, but instead I try eating lunch, buying my bottled water and having my coffee somewhere else. Am I really helping the local economy? Not sure, but it doesn't hurt trying.
Food
|
Breakfast (incl. in homestay) |
₫0.00
$0.00
|
Food
|
Coffee |
₫30,000.00
$1.19
|
Groceries
|
Bottled water |
₫20,000.00
$0.79
|
Food
|
Lunch |
₫50,000.00
$1.98
|
Food
|
Iced coffee |
₫20,000.00
$0.79
|
Food
|
Sweet potato fries |
₫35,000.00
$1.38
|
Food
|
Dinner |
₫80,000.00
$3.16
|
Alcohol
|
Glass of homemade rice wine |
₫25,000.00
$0.99
|
Accomodation
|
The Little Hmong House |
₫100,000.00
$3.95
|
TOTAL | ₫360,000.00 |
TOTAL (USD) | $14.22 |
Sa Pa was on my itinerary pretty much since I started this trip. Every traveler that mentioned Vietnam, mentioned Sa Pa as well. When you think of Sa Pa, think of valleys filled with rice fields, misty mountains, and friendly homestays. Do yourself a favor and stay at least 2 nights here. It's worth it.
Urban transport
|
Moto taxi to homestay |
₫100,000.00
$3.95
|
Food
|
Breakfast at "The Little Hmong House" |
₫30,000.00
$1.19
|
Food
|
Lunch |
₫50,000.00
$1.98
|
Groceries
|
Bottled water |
₫15,000.00
$0.59
|
Food
|
Snacks |
₫56,000.00
$2.21
|
Food
|
Coffee |
₫20,000.00
$0.79
|
Food
|
Dinner |
₫60,000.00
$2.37
|
Accomodation
|
The Little Hmong House |
₫100,000.00
$3.95
|
TOTAL | ₫431,000.00 |
TOTAL (USD) | $17.03 |
Remember my whole rant back when I was in HCMC about big cities and how quickly I get tired of them? Well, Hanoi is different. It feels like a big city but at the same time it doesn't. It has a perfect mix of everything: culture, food, tourist attractions, nightlife, nature. I'm a big fan of Hanoi. I could not have picked a better city as last stop in Vietnam.
Food
|
Breakfast (incl. in hostel) |
₫0.00
$0.00
|
Others
|
Laundry |
₫57,000.00
$2.25
|
Groceries
|
Bottled water (x2) |
₫20,000.00
$0.79
|
Tourist attractions
|
Entrance fee to "Temple of Literature" |
₫30,000.00
$1.19
|
Tourist attractions
|
Entrance fee to "Ho Chi Minh Complex" |
₫40,000.00
$1.58
|
Urban transport
|
Moto taxi |
₫22,000.00
$0.87
|
Food
|
Lunch at "Xoi Yen" |
₫63,000.00
$2.49
|
Food
|
Coconut coffee at "Cafe Nola" |
₫45,000.00
$1.78
|
Gifts and souvenirs
|
Flag patches (x7) |
₫100,000.00
$3.95
|
Shopping
|
New backpack |
₫200,000.00
$7.90
|
Food
|
Dinner at "Mien Xao Luon" |
₫50,000.00
$1.98
|
Intercity transport
|
Sleeper bus to Sa Pa |
₫250,000.00
$9.88
|
TOTAL | ₫877,000.00 |
TOTAL (USD) | $34.65 |
Back in Hanoi for a couple days. I was going to head straight to Sa Pa after Halong Bay but I realized that if I did that, I would miss the famous Hanoi night market, which happens only on weekends. And if there's something you know about me at this point is that I'm a BIG fan of night markets. Hanoi goes all out with its night market. A bunch of streets in the Old Quarter are closed to traffic, and they become a festival of music, sports, and delicious food.
Food
|
Breakfast at "Cua Hang Banh Goi" |
₫33,000.00
$1.30
|
Tourist attractions
|
Entrance fee to "Ngoc Son Temple" |
₫30,000.00
$1.19
|
Groceries
|
Bottled water (x2) |
₫21,000.00
$0.83
|
Food
|
Lunch at "Banh Mi Hanoi" |
₫26,000.00
$1.03
|
Food
|
Snacks |
₫30,000.00
$1.19
|
Entertainment
|
Ticket to "Hanoi Water Puppet Show" |
₫150,000.00
$5.93
|
Food
|
Dinner at "New Day Restaurant" |
₫80,000.00
$3.16
|
Shopping
|
USB charger |
₫100,000.00
$3.95
|
Food
|
Ice cream |
₫8,000.00
$0.32
|
Accomodation
|
Chien Hostel |
₫113,000.00
$4.46
|
TOTAL | ₫591,000.00 |
TOTAL (USD) | $23.35 |
There's something about sleeping on a boat that I really enjoy. It might be the rocking movement of the water, the quietness of the night, or just the novelty of it. Either way, I slept like a baby. The second day was again full of activities: kayaking, swimming, visiting caves, and lots of chill time.
Luxury activities
|
Halong Bay cruise (day 2/2) |
$60.00
$60.00
|
Food
|
Dinner at "Cua Hang Banh Goi" |
₫48,000.00
$1.90
|
Food
|
Egg coffee at "Giang Cafe" |
₫25,000.00
$0.99
|
Groceries
|
Bottled water |
₫11,000.00
$0.43
|
TOTAL | $60.00 + ₫84,000.00 |
TOTAL (USD) | $63.32 |