Flights, hotels, cruises, food and guides — a transparent breakdown of what a Vietnam holiday really costs from Europe, with sample budgets for 10 and 14 days.
Short answer: Excluding international flights, a comfortable two-week holiday in Vietnam with 4-star hotels, private transfers, a Ha Long Bay cruise and some guided tours costs roughly €1,600–2,400 per person (sharing). Add €700–1,200 for return flights from Europe in economy. Luxury trips start around €3,500 per person.
"How much will it cost?" is one of the first questions every traveller asks, and one of the hardest to answer honestly online. Prices depend on the season, hotel category and how much you want organised. In this guide we share the realistic ranges we see every day when planning trips for European travellers — no teaser prices, no hidden extras.
All figures are indicative per person, in euros, based on two people sharing, and can vary with season and exchange rates.
1. International flights from Europe
| Route | Economy (return) | Business (return) |
|---|---|---|
| Frankfurt / Paris / London – Hanoi or Saigon (direct) | €800–1,300 | €3,000–5,000 |
| Amsterdam, Brussels, Zurich, Vienna – Vietnam (1 stop) | €700–1,100 | €2,500–4,000 |
| Nordic & Baltic capitals – Vietnam (1 stop) | €750–1,200 | €2,600–4,200 |
Book three to six months in advance for the best fares. Christmas, Easter and the summer holidays are the most expensive periods; May, June and September are usually cheapest.
2. Accommodation
| Category | Price per room per night | What to expect |
|---|---|---|
| Good 3-star / boutique | €35–70 | Clean, central, breakfast included |
| 4-star | €70–140 | Pool, spacious rooms, excellent service |
| 5-star / luxury resort | €150–450+ | International brands, private beaches, villas |
Vietnam offers outstanding value at the 4-star level. Hotels that would cost €250 a night in Southern Europe are often a third of that here.
3. Ha Long Bay or Lan Ha Bay cruise
An overnight cruise on a quality boutique boat costs roughly €150–400 per person including meals, activities and transfers from Hanoi. Luxury boats with balcony suites can cost more. A day cruise is around €60–120. Read our cruise guide to choose the right one.
4. Domestic flights and transfers
- Domestic flights (Hanoi–Da Nang, Da Nang–Saigon): €50–120 per flight including luggage.
- Private airport transfer with driver: €20–40.
- Private car with driver for a full day: €70–120.
- Grab (ride-hailing app) in cities: usually €2–6 per ride.
5. Guides, tours and entrance fees
| Item | Typical price |
|---|---|
| Private English-speaking guide, full day | €50–90 (per group) |
| Private German, French or Spanish-speaking guide | €70–120 (per group, subject to availability) |
| Street-food tour | €35–60 per person |
| Cooking class in Hoi An | €30–55 per person |
| Entrance fees (museums, Hue citadel, old town) | €3–10 each |
| Mekong Delta day trip | €60–110 per person |
6. Food and drinks
Eating well in Vietnam is inexpensive. A street-food meal costs €2–4, dinner in a good local restaurant €8–15 per person, and a fine-dining menu €35–70. A local beer is €1–2, a cocktail in a rooftop bar €6–10, and a glass of imported European wine €5–9 (wine is heavily taxed). Budget around €25–50 per person per day for food and drinks at a comfortable level.
Sample budgets (per person, excluding international flights)
| Trip | Comfort (3–4★) | Premium (4–5★) | Luxury (5★) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10 days: Hanoi, Ha Long, Hoi An | €1,100–1,500 | €1,600–2,200 | €2,800+ |
| 14 days: north to south | €1,600–2,100 | €2,200–2,900 | €3,800+ |
| 14 days + beach (Phu Quoc) | €1,900–2,500 | €2,600–3,400 | €4,500+ |
These estimates include hotels with breakfast, private transfers, domestic flights, one overnight cruise, several guided excursions and entrance fees. They exclude international flights, most lunches and dinners, drinks, tips and insurance.
Hidden costs to plan for
- Tips: not obligatory, but customary for guides (€5–10 per day per person) and drivers (€3–5).
- Travel insurance: €40–100 per person for two weeks, depending on cover.
- Visa: many Europeans are exempt; the e-visa fee applies otherwise.
- Peak-season supplements: Christmas, New Year and Tet.
- Laundry, SIM card and souvenirs: modest but worth including.
How to save without losing quality
- Travel in May, June, September or early December.
- Book an open-jaw flight to avoid backtracking.
- Mix categories: splurge on the cruise and the beach resort, choose a boutique hotel in the cities.
- Eat where locals eat for lunch, and reserve fine dining for special evenings.
- Book as a package with a European-focused DMC — you benefit from local contract rates and support on the ground.
Why booking with a local DMC can cost less
Large online platforms add commissions on every hotel and excursion. A destination management company based in Vietnam works directly with hotels, boats and guides, so you pay local contract rates and receive help in your time zone during the trip. Our article Why work with a Vietnam DMC explains the benefits.
Money in Vietnam: practical tips
- Currency: the Vietnamese dong (VND). Notes have many zeros, so check carefully before paying — the 20,000 and 500,000 notes look similar.
- Cards: Visa and Mastercard are accepted in hotels, larger restaurants and shops. Small stalls and markets are cash only.
- ATMs: widely available in cities. Use machines inside banks and check your European bank's foreign transaction fees.
- Contactless and mobile payments: increasingly common in cities.
- Always pay in dong when a card machine offers to charge you in euros — the conversion rate is usually worse.
Comparison: Vietnam versus a European city break
To put the numbers into perspective, here is what you might pay for similar things in Vietnam and in a large Western European city:
| Item | Vietnam | Western Europe |
|---|---|---|
| Coffee | €1–3 | €3–5 |
| Local beer | €1–2 | €5–7 |
| Two-course dinner, mid-range restaurant | €8–15 | €30–45 |
| 4-star hotel, double room | €70–140 | €150–280 |
| Full-body massage (60 min) | €15–35 | €70–110 |
| Private guide, full day | €50–90 | €250–400 |
Booking independently or with a specialist?
You can of course book everything yourself, and many travellers do. The real difference is not always the price but the time and the risk. Booking a dozen hotels, two domestic flights, a cruise, guides and transfers takes many hours, and if something goes wrong — a cancelled cruise, a delayed flight — you sort it out alone. A specialist with a local team often obtains similar or better rates and handles the problems for you.
Payment security for European travellers
When booking a package, ask who the contracting company is, how payments are protected and what the cancellation terms are. Packages sold by organisers established in the EU are covered by the Package Travel Directive, which includes insolvency protection. Whichever way you book, pay by credit card where possible for additional protection, and never transfer money to individuals or unverified accounts.
Peak versus low season prices
Hotel and cruise prices can vary by 30–50% between seasons. Christmas, New Year, Tet and European summer holidays (for central Vietnam) are peak periods. The best-value months are generally May, June and September, with good weather in at least one region. If your dates are flexible, ask us to compare prices for two or three possible travel windows.
Frequently asked questions
Is Vietnam expensive for Europeans?
No. Apart from flights, Vietnam is excellent value — especially for 4- and 5-star hotels, private guides and food.
Should I bring euros or US dollars?
Use cards and ATMs to get Vietnamese dong. Euros and dollars can be exchanged in banks and gold shops in cities, but dong is needed for daily spending.
Is a 10-day trip worth the flight from Europe?
Ten days is the minimum we recommend. Two weeks lets you see the three regions comfortably.
How much cash should I bring to Vietnam?
Very little. Use ATMs on arrival and withdraw as needed. Keep around €50–100 in euros as a back-up.
Are tips included in package prices?
Usually not. We give every guest a tipping guideline so they know what is customary.
Want an exact quote? Send us your dates and travel style and we will prepare a transparent price — no obligation.
