How Much Does a Vietnam Trip Cost? (2026, USD/GBP/AUD)
Last updated: July 19, 2026
The big picture: a private Vietnam trip typically costs less than travellers expect once the flight is separated from the land tour — and knowing the real numbers in your own currency makes planning far less stressful.
Your vietnam trip cost comes down to four line items: the private land tour, the international flight, the visa (if you need one), and day-to-day extras. Once those are broken out in USD, GBP and AUD, the total is usually more affordable than the headline “Asia holiday” number suggests. Here is the full 2026 breakdown, plus three sample budgets to plan against.
Quick answer: for a private, tailor-made trip, land costs (hotels, guide, driver, most meals) typically start around US$120–200 / £95–160 / AU$180–300 per person per day, before flights. Add international airfares (from roughly US$900–1,400, £800–1,200 or AU$900–1,400 return in economy, depending on your home market). Americans and Australians also need a Vietnam e-visa (US$25–50); British and most EU passport holders enter visa-free for 45 days. A comfortable 10–14 day trip typically totals US$1,200–4,600 for land costs alone, before flights, across comfort, deluxe and luxury levels.
- Private land tour: US$120–200 / £95–160 / AU$180–300 per person/day
- Return flights (economy): from ~US$900 (US) / ~£800 (UK) / ~AU$900 (Australia)
- Visa: US & Australian travellers need an e-visa (US$25 single / US$50 multiple, up to 90 days); UK & most EU passports are exempt for 45 days
- Ideal trip length: 10–14 days for a first visit
In this guide: Cost by category · Land tour · Flights · Visa · Sample budgets · FAQs
How much does a Vietnam trip cost, by category?
Here is every major line item side by side, in US dollars, British pounds and Australian dollars. Flight figures are typical return economy fares from each home market, not currency conversions of one another — routes and carriers differ by country.
| Cost item | USD | GBP | AUD |
|---|---|---|---|
| Private land tour (per person/day) | US$120–200 | £95–160 | AU$180–300 |
| Return flight (economy, per person)* | US$900–1,400 (from the US) | £800–1,200 (from the UK) | AU$900–1,400 (from Australia) |
| E-visa — single entry (US & AU travellers) | US$25 | ≈£19 | ≈AU$36 |
| E-visa — multiple entry (US & AU travellers) | US$50 | ≈£37 | ≈AU$72 |
| Visa for UK & most EU passports (stays up to 45 days) | Free | Free | — |
| Daily extras (meals, tips, local transport) | US$15–30/day | £11–22/day | AU$22–43/day |
*Deals occasionally run lower, especially with budget carriers. GBP/AUD e-visa figures are approximate currency conversions of the fixed USD government fee at July 2026 rates — the fee is charged in Vietnamese dong at the time of payment, so the exact amount can shift slightly.
How much does a private Vietnam tour cost per day?
Land costs cover your hotel, private guide, driver, transport between cities and most meals — everything except your international flight. A well-run private tour typically starts around US$120–200 per person per day (£95–160 / AU$180–300), depending on hotel category:
- Comfort: well-located 3–4-star hotels, private car and guide — the most popular level for first-time visitors.
- Deluxe: 4–5-star hotels and more inclusions, still fully private throughout.
- Luxury: 5-star and boutique resorts, top-rated guides, premium dining and transfers.
Group tours and backpacker-style trips can run cheaper, but you lose the flexibility of a private itinerary — see how tailoring works on our Vietnam private tours page.
How much do flights to Vietnam cost from the US, UK and Australia?
Your flight is usually the single biggest cost, and it depends entirely on where you fly from:
- From the US: return economy fares typically run US$900–1,400, with occasional deals from around US$800. San Francisco has the only nonstop route to Ho Chi Minh City; most other cities connect once. Full detail in our Vietnam tours from the USA guide.
- From the UK: Vietnam Airlines’ new nonstop London Heathrow routes to Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City start from roughly £787–799 return, though typical economy fares run £800–1,200. See Vietnam tours from the UK.
- From Australia: nonstop flights from Sydney and Melbourne to Ho Chi Minh City typically cost AU$900–1,400 return, with budget-carrier promotions occasionally dropping under AU$500. More in Vietnam tours from Australia.
How much is the Vietnam visa in 2026?
Not everyone pays for one. British passport holders — along with citizens of France, Germany, Italy, Spain and a further 15 European countries — can enter Vietnam visa-free for up to 45 days for tourism, under the exemption scheme running to 14 August 2028. For a standard two- or three-week holiday, that line of your budget is simply zero.
American and Australian travellers do need a visa, and the e-visa is the simplest route: apply online at the official government portal, choose single entry (US$25) or multiple entry (US$50), and you can stay up to 90 days. Processing takes 3–5 working days. Converted at current rates that is roughly £19 or £37, or AU$36 or AU$72 — though the government charges the fee in dong, so the exact amount moves slightly with exchange rates. British and EU travellers planning to stay longer than 45 days can apply for the same e-visa.
Skip agency mark-ups where you can — some third-party sites charge US$50–100+ on top of the government fee for the same e-visa. Apply direct at the official portal, or ask us for the current link when we send your quote.
Ready to see real numbers for your dates? Get a free, no-obligation itinerary and price within 24 hours — priced in your currency, not a generic package rate.
Sample Vietnam trip budgets: comfort, deluxe and luxury
Putting land-tour costs together over a typical first-trip length, here is what 10 and 14 days typically start around (land only — add your flight from the table above):
| Tier | 10 days (land only) | 14 days (land only) |
|---|---|---|
| Comfort | US$1,200 / £900 / AU$1,730 | US$2,100 / £1,570 / AU$3,020 |
| Deluxe | US$1,600 / £1,200 / AU$2,300 | US$2,900 / £2,170 / AU$4,180 |
| Luxury | US$2,600 / £1,950 / AU$3,740 | US$4,600 / £3,450 / AU$6,620 |
Your exact number depends on hotel category, season (December–February and Lunar New Year run higher) and any add-ons like a Ha Long Bay overnight cruise or a cooking class. We map this to a real day-by-day plan in our Vietnam itinerary guide — these are typical starting ranges, not a fixed package price; every quote we send is built for your actual dates.
Vietnam trip cost: know before you go
- Currency: day-to-day spending is in Vietnamese dong; USD is widely accepted for tour payments, and ATMs are easy to find in every city.
- Tipping: not compulsory, but a few dollars/pounds a day for your guide and driver is customary and appreciated.
- Cash vs card: carry some cash for markets, street food and rural stops; cards work fine at hotels and restaurants in bigger cities.
- Book early for peak season: flights and hotel rates rise for December–February and around Lunar New Year.
- E-visa timing: if you need one, apply 3–4 weeks before departure, and keep both a digital and printed copy. Visa-exempt travellers still need a passport valid for six months with two blank pages.
Vietnam trip cost FAQs
How much does a Vietnam trip cost per day?
For a private, well-run tour, land costs typically start around US$120–200 per person per day (£95–160 / AU$180–300), covering hotels, a private guide, driver and most meals — before international flights.
How much should I budget for a 10-day Vietnam trip?
A comfort-level 10-day private trip typically starts around US$1,200 (£900 / AU$1,730) for land costs alone. Deluxe and luxury levels run higher — add your return flight, and an e-visa if your passport needs one.
Is Vietnam expensive for American, British or Australian travellers?
No — Vietnam offers strong value against Western prices. The biggest cost is usually the international flight, not the time spent in the country.
Do British travellers need a Vietnam visa, and what does it cost?
No — British passport holders enter visa-free for up to 45 days for tourism, at no cost, under the exemption running to 14 August 2028. For longer stays, the e-visa costs US$25 single entry or US$50 multiple entry (about £19–37).
What is the single biggest cost in a Vietnam trip?
For most American, British and Australian travellers, the international flight is the largest single expense — often more than the entire land tour combined.
Why the real Vietnam trip cost surprises people
The number that surprises people is never the one they expect. Most travellers come to me braced for the tour price and barely glance at the airfare — then find the flight is the larger half of the trip, and that two weeks on the ground in Vietnam costs less than a long weekend somewhere closer to home. I have watched that realisation push plans in both directions: some people trim the itinerary to protect the budget, others add four days once they see how far the land cost stretches. My advice is to fix what you can control first. Lock in the land tour and the visa, because those numbers hold steady; leave the flight flexible, because that is where the season moves you. Then judge the trip on the total, not on the headline.
— Ly, My Viva Tour
See Vietnam with My Viva Tour
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Travel notes fact-checked: July 2026. Exchange rates, fares and visa rules move often — we review this page every six months (next check: January 2027).
