Backpacking Vietnam (베트남 / 越南 / ベトナム) on $30–40 a day is doable if you skip hotel upsells, eat where locals eat, and use overnight transport to save on accommodation. This seven-day loop covers the classic north-central-south route: Hanoi's street food and colonial architecture, Hue's imperial tombs, Hoi An's lantern-lit old town, and Saigon's energy. Expect hostels, street food, and long travel days—but you'll see the bones of the country without breaking the bank.
Day 1 — Hanoi Arrival & Old Quarter
Land at Noi Bai airport (30 km north). Grab a shared minibus to the Old Quarter for 50,000 VND (~$2), or negotiate a taxi for 250,000–350,000 VND (~$10–14). Avoid Grab surge pricing on arrival day.
Stay at Old Quarter View Hanoi or Hanoi Old Quarter View (15–22 USD/night for a dorm). Both sit on Tran Hung Dao or nearby, loud but central. Drop your bag and walk to Hoan Kiem Lake—it's free and gives you a feel for the city. Grab lunch at a "com tam" stand near your hostel: jasmine-rice plate with grilled pork, egg, and pickled vegetables runs 25,000–40,000 VND (~$1–1.50).
Afternoon: wander Hang Buom and Hang Gai streets. Hit Tran Quoc Pagoda (free entry) on the north shore of Hoan Kiem if energy permits. Dinner: "pho" from any streetside vendor in the Old Quarter, 30,000–50,000 VND (~$1.25–2). Skip tourist restaurants on Luong Nhan; eat where taxi drivers eat.
Day 2 — Hanoi Walking Tour & Street Food
Book a free walking tour (join Old Quarter Hanoi (하노이 / 河内 / ハノイ) or Hanoi Free Walking Tour, tips-based, ~100,000 VND expected). These run 2–3 hours and cover Temple of Literature, Ba Dinh Square, and colonial architecture—without the hostel markup. Afterward, explore Bat Trang ceramics market (if time; 30 min bus ride south, but skip if budget-tight).
Lunch: "banh mi" from a cart near Dong Xuan Market, 20,000–35,000 VND (~$0.80–1.40). Afternoon: visit Ben Thanh market's northern equivalent, Dong Xuan, for fresh fruit, coffee, and chaos.
Evening: street "ca phe sua da" (iced milk coffee) at a plastic-stool cafe, 15,000–25,000 VND (~$0.60–1). Dinner: "bia hoi" (fresh beer) at a corner stand with grilled pork skewers and vegetables, 40,000–60,000 VND (~$1.60–2.40) total. Sleep at the same hostel.
Day 3 — Night Train to Hue
Spend the morning visiting One Pillar Pagoda (free) or strolling Long Bien Bridge on foot (no entry fee). Lunch: "bun cha"—grilled pork with rice noodles, herbs, and dipping sauce—from a Hanoi institution like Bun Cha Ta or a streetside stand, 35,000–50,000 VND (~$1.40–2).
Head to Hanoi Station (Ga Ha Noi) by 4 p.m. for an overnight train to Hue. Book a soft sleeper (4-berth cabin) 2–3 days ahead via 12go.asia or the station directly: ~300,000–450,000 VND (~$12–18). Cheaper hard sleepers exist (6-berth) for ~200,000 VND, but soft sleeper is worth the extra $5 after two days of walking.
Board at 6 p.m., arrive Hue at 5:30 a.m. the next morning. Many backpackers skip dinner and sleep through; pack snacks (instant noodles, bread) or eat the train's basic rice boxes (50,000 VND).
Image by Cheong. Original uploader was Cheong Kok Chun at en.wikipedi via Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA)
Day 4 — Hue Imperial City & Tomb
Arrive early. Stash your bag at a hostel (book ahead: Hue Backpackers Hostel or Sunflower Hanoi Hue, 12–18 USD) and wash up. Grab breakfast "banh hoai" or "hu tieu" from a Hue street stand, 30,000–45,000 VND.
Visit the Imperial Citadel (180,000 VND entry, ~$7). Spend 2–3 hours exploring the thick walls, Forbidden City ruins, and gates. Lunch: "bun bo Hue"—spicy beef and rice noodles, Hue's signature dish—at a local place like Bun Bo Thanh Huong, 35,000–55,000 VND (~$1.40–2.20).
Afternoon: hire a bike taxi or motorbike for a half-day tour of royal tombs. Tomb of Tu Duc is the most intact (entrance 150,000 VND). Negotiate a motorbike driver for 150,000–200,000 VND (~$6–8) for 3–4 hours including multiple tombs. Dinner: street "banh chung" or a rice plate with vegetables, 30,000–50,000 VND. Return to hostel.
Day 5 — Sleeper Bus to Hoi An
No need to rush. Spend the morning at a cafe or revisit the Citadel. Catch a midday minibus or sleeper coach south to Hoi An (3.5 hours, ~150 km). Book the night before: Sinh Tourist or Futa offer semi-sleepers for 150,000–250,000 VND (~$6–10). Arrive late afternoon.
Check into Hoi An Backpackers or Cosy Hanoi Hotel Hoi An annex (12–16 USD dorm). Walk the lantern-lit Old Town immediately—it's free to roam and magical at dusk. Dinner: "cao lau"—noodles with pork, herbs, and crispy croutons, eaten wet or dry—at any Old Town restaurant. Prices jump in the tourist zone, but 50,000–70,000 VND (~$2–2.80) for tourist-quality portions. Eat off-main-street for 35,000–50,000 VND.
Day 6 — Hoi An & Countryside
Wake early and grab "banh mi" from a cart outside the Old Town for 20,000 VND. Visit Hoi An Old Town Museum (100,000 VND, includes entry to 5 historic buildings) or skip and wander free. The Japanese Bridge, Assembly Halls, and ancient shophouses are best seen on foot.
Hire a bicycle (20,000–40,000 VND/day) and pedal to nearby villages: Tra Que herb village (30 min south), or simply ride the back roads toward rice paddies. Lunch in a farming hamlet: rice and vegetables, 25,000–40,000 VND.
Return by 4 p.m. Afternoon: sit at a riverside cafe with egg coffee or hot coffee. Evening: "goi cuon"—fresh spring rolls with peanut sauce—from a street vendor, 20,000–30,000 VND (~$0.80–1.20). Sleep in Hoi An.
Image by CEphoto, Uwe Aranas via Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA)
Day 7 — Sleeper Bus to Saigon
Final breakfast in Hoi An: "banh hoai" (crispy pancake with shrimp and pork, Hoi An's other signature) from a cart, 30,000–45,000 VND. Check out and head to the bus station (2 km west, local bus 1 or 3, 5,000 VND; or walk 25 min).
Catch an afternoon or early-evening sleeper bus to Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon): 12 hours, ~650 km. Futa, Sinh Tourist, or Kumho offer semi-sleepers (250,000–400,000 VND, ~$10–16). Book the night before. Arrive in Saigon around 6–7 a.m. the next morning.
If you have a hard deadline and must stay Day 7, skip the bus: spend a second night in Hoi An (12–16 USD), and take a day bus to Saigon on Day 8. Either way, you'll arrive in Saigon ready for street food and the chaos.
Budget Breakdown ($30–40/day)
- Hostel dorm: 12–18 USD/night (6 nights) = 72–108 USD
- Food: 8–12 USD/day (7 days) = 56–84 USD
- Transport: Train Hanoi–Hue (12 USD), minibus Hue–Hoi An (6 USD), sleeper bus Hoi An–Saigon (13 USD) = ~31 USD
- Attractions: Imperial Citadel Hue (7 USD), royal tombs motorbike (8 USD), Hoi An buildings (3.50 USD), misc. = ~20 USD
- Contingency/coffee/tips: 15–20 USD
Total: ~215–260 USD (7 days), or ~31–37 USD/day. Many backpackers trim this by skipping paid attractions or bunking in cheaper dorms.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does it cost to get from Noi Bai airport to the Old Quarter?
A shared minibus from Noi Bai airport to Hanoi's Old Quarter costs 50,000 VND (about $2). A negotiated taxi runs 250,000–350,000 VND ($10–14). The airport is 30 km north of the city center. Avoid Grab on arrival day due to surge pricing.
What does a typical street food meal cost in Hanoi?
Street meals in Hanoi run 20,000–60,000 VND ($0.80–2.40) depending on the dish. A com tam plate with grilled pork and egg costs 25,000–40,000 VND, pho from a streetside vendor is 30,000–50,000 VND, and a banh mi from a cart near Dong Xuan Market is 20,000–35,000 VND. Eat where taxi drivers eat, not at tourist restaurants on Luong Nhan.
When should you book the overnight train from Hanoi to Hue?
Book 2–3 days ahead via 12go.asia or directly at Hanoi Station (Ga Ha Noi). A soft sleeper in a 4-berth cabin costs 300,000–450,000 VND ($12–18); hard sleepers in a 6-berth cabin are around 200,000 VND. The train departs around 6 p.m. and arrives in Hue at approximately 5:30 a.m., saving a night of accommodation costs.
Practical Notes
Book trains and sleeper buses 2–3 days ahead via 12go.asia or at ticket offices; overnight travel saves accommodation costs and gets you distance. Hostels offer daily breakfast, so you save on Day 1–2 and Day 5. Street food is always cheaper than tourist restaurants; eat where locals queue. Vietnam is safe for solo backpackers; use common sense with valuables in crowded buses and markets. Hue in summer is brutally hot; May–October are rainy.
Last updated · May 29, 2026 · independently researched, never sponsored.
