$1.25 in Your Vietnam Budget for Travel

25,000 dong sounds like a great sum of money. And it is for your Vietnam budget! Here’s what it gets you in one of the world’s best value destinations: Vietnam. (20,000 dong = 1 US dollar)

The ubiquitous bowl of pho in Vietnam

A bowl of Pho!

Yum. This famous big bowl of beef noodle needs little introduction. Pile on the fresh herbs and greens and eat it almost anywhere in Vietnam, from north to south, street stalls to cafes.

Getting a shave in Vietnam. Photo credit: Juno Kim

Two shaves at the barber shop!

This is the man’s version of a going for a facial or manicure. Go to the barbershop even if you don’t need a haircut. You get the most thorough and smooth shave you ever had. Don’t worry, they use a new razor. A shave ranges from 10,000-20,000 dong.

Getting my ears cleaned by the barber in Na Trang, Vietnam Photo credit: Juno Kim

An ear cleaning!

It’s really weird to have all the different instruments shoved into your ear, but hey, it feels good! And it seems to have cleaned my ears too! In Vietnam you usually get your ear cleaned by the barber, as opposed to the special traveling ear cleaner in China.

Buying mangos at the market in Vietnam

1 kilo of mangos

It depends on the season, but 25 grand should get you three or four decent-sized mangos.

A sandwich (banh mi) street cart in Vietnam

2 sandwiches!

Banh Mi, as they’re called, makes an excellent street snack on incredibly fresh French bread—crispy on the outside, soft in the inside. Get chicken or pork or pate or eggs inside along with greens and fish sauce and soy sauce.

My brother on a motorbike taxi in the Mekong Delta town of Vinh Long, Vietnam

A moto-taxi ride

Three kilometers in a taxi, or 7 km on the back of a moto-taxi. Granted, a taxi ride is not very exciting, but a moto-taxi is a sometimes exhilarating, near-death experience. It’s an extreme adrenaline rush for anyone who’s not an adrenaline junkie. Try it!

Get a glass of draft beer in Vietnam for the equivalent of fifteen cents.

8 Draft beers!!!

Ok, to be fair, a draft, or “fresh” beer usually goes for 5,000 dong, but I’ve put one back for 3,000 dong per glass a few times. Either way, you’re still getting multiple beers for a dollar!

Crossing the river on a ferry in the Mekong Delta

50 rides across the River

The passenger fee for the river ferry in Vinh Long is 500 dong. In the Mekong Delta water is the landscape’s dominant feature and pedestrians and motorcyclists use the river ferry service non-stop.