Vietnam
Hanoi on a shoestring: real budget breakdown
Plan €1205 for 7 nights in Hanoi, return flight from London included, or €562 travelling cheap. On the ground that works out at €126 per person per day in comfort, €41 travelling cheap.
Hanoi - estimate transport, lodging, and meals before you book.
- From
- €41/day
- vs. London
- 46%
- Best month
- Mar
Your trip to Hanoi
Set the length, the number of travellers and the comfort level: the figures recompute here.
€1,205
per person, flight included
- on the ground
- €882
- flight from London
- €323
- per person per day, on the ground
- €126
In short, where the money goes
- The heaviest line
- Food43 % of the trip
- The strongest lever
- Food€210 less travelling cheap
- Seven nights on the ground
- €882excluding flights
Food
€378
Accommodation
€217
Transport
€126
Activities
€98
Extras
€63
Over seven nights, food accounts for 43 % of what you spend. The line where travelling cheap changes the bill most is food, a €210 gap. The others are worth discussing, that one decides.
Basis: 24 hotel addresses surveyed for a 15 October 2026 arrival, 7 of twelve months of airfares, surveyed on 23 September 2026. The total excludes flights, insurance, personal shopping and any lodging split between several people.
InstantTripCost estimate
Full 7-night budget breakdown
Per-person estimate including flights from London, split across the six expense categories.
per person · Comfort
| Category | Budget | Comfort | Luxury |
|---|---|---|---|
| Flights | €275 | €323 | €485 |
| Hotel | €28 | €217 | €308 |
| Food | €168 | €378 | €945 |
| Transport | €56 | €126 | €315 |
| Activities | €21 | €98 | €378 |
| Misc | €14 | €63 | €231 |
| 7-night total | €562 | €1205 | €2662 |
Flight from London (annual median).
Unit prices
comfort
Enough to check the total yourself, line by line, at the comfort level you picked.
- €8
- Breakfast
- €15
- Lunch
- €31
- Dinner
- €6
- City ride
- €14
- Site admission
- €126
- A full day
Orders of magnitude derived from our measured ranges, not surveyed venue by venue. Prices vary by neighbourhood and season.
Real budget
What a trip to Hanoi actually costs
Let's break it down. Lodging: a hostel dorm or entry-level hotel runs around €4 per night, a well-rated 3-star around €31, and 4 to 5-star around €44. Food: around €8 a day eating local, €18 mixing canteens and restaurants, €45 if you sit down for dinner every evening.
Local transport: roughly €8 a day on public transit, €18 adding a few taxi rides. Activities: about €18 a day at a normal sightseeing pace, €45 if you stack paid entries and day trips.
On a 5-to-7-day trip, lodging accounts for roughly 35-45 % of total budget, food 15-20 %, flights 20-30 % depending on the booking window, with the remainder split between local transport, activities, and miscellaneous (visa, insurance, tipping, SIM card). A Hanoi trip that goes over budget is almost always because the hotel is oversized for the rest, rarely because of activities.
Practical info
Language, currency, and logistics in Hanoi
Language: Vietnamese, English is understood in most hotels and restaurants in tourist areas. Currency: Dong (₫) - plan €50-100 in cash for the first days and use a fee-free card for the rest.
The three tiers
What a budget traveller, a comfort traveller and a premium traveller typically spend.
Budget
€41
per day, approx
- Hotel / night
- €4
- Food / day
- €24
- Transit / day
- €8
- Sights / day
- €3
- Extras / day
- €2
Comfort
€126
per day, approx
- Hotel / night
- €31
- Food / day
- €54
- Transit / day
- €18
- Sights / day
- €14
- Extras / day
- €9
Luxury
€311
per day, approx
- Hotel / night
- €44
- Food / day
- €135
- Transit / day
- €45
- Sights / day
- €54
- Extras / day
- €33
When to go, and what the month changes
Average temperatures and conditions by month in Hanoi.
Mildest monthMarch
Where to sleep in Hanoi
The hotels we measured
Accommodation picks by price range.
Old Quarter Hostel 71 Hàng Đào
Hostel, decent (7/10) from 151 reviews.
Luxury Hanoi Hotel
Hotel, very well rated (8.8/10) from 311 reviews.
Ben's Premier Hotel & Apartment - Hanoi Center
Hotel, well rated (8/10) from 332 reviews.
Moon Hotel Cau Giay
Hotel, decent (7.9/10) from 186 reviews.
Viet Hotel
Hotel, rated excellent (9.6/10) from 428 reviews.
Alan Lumière Boutique Hotel Hanoi
Hotel, rated excellent (9.4/10) from 125 reviews.
Du Palace Hotel & Travel
Hotel, rated excellent (9/10) from 1,720 reviews.
All observed hotels in Hanoi
24 of 24 surveyed properties shown, the cheapest in each tier. Nightly rate for a 2-night stay arriving 15 October 2026.
| Hotel | Category | Rating | From / night |
|---|---|---|---|
| Green Homestay | Budget | ★ 7 | €3 |
| Hanoi New Comb Hostel | Budget | ★ 6.4 | €3 |
| Green Hostel Hanoi | Budget | ★ 9.9 | €3 |
| 3Bt home | Budget | ★ 8 | €3 |
| Hanoi Station Budget Backpackers - LushStay | Budget | ★ 6.9 | €4 |
| Old Quarter Hostel 71 Hàng Đào | Budget | ★ 7 | €4 |
| Coco0n Old Quarter Hotel | Budget | ★ 5.5 | €4 |
| Station View Hostel - LushStay Hanoi | Budget | ★ 7.2 | €4 |
| Hanoi Loopers Hostel & Rooftop Bar | Luxury | ★ 8.5 | €8 |
| The Alley House 90 Trần Nhật Duật | Mid-range | ★ 10 | €13 |
| Golden Villa | Mid-range | ★ 9.1 | €15 |
| Luxury Hanoi Hotel | Mid-range | ★ 8.8 | €17 |
| Moon Hotel Cau Giay | Mid-range | ★ 7.9 | €17 |
| Victoria Ha Noi Hotel | Mid-range | ★ 8.8 | €18 |
| Urban Nomad Living 1BR City Apartment - Stay 24 hours - Flexible Check-in time | Mid-range | ★ 8.9 | €22 |
| Nomad Living Hub Hanoi | Mid-range | ★ 8.2 | €23 |
| A89 West Lake Hotel | Luxury | ★ 8.8 | €25 |
| Ben's Premier Hotel & Apartment - Hanoi Center | Mid-range | ★ 8 | €26 |
| Golden Sail Hotel & Spa | Luxury | ★ 8.2 | €29 |
| Du Palace Hotel & Travel | Luxury | ★ 9 | €31 |
| Viet Hotel | Luxury | ★ 9.6 | €31 |
| Sora Hotel Hanoi | Luxury | ★ 9.6 | €34 |
| Hanoi Silk Classy Hotel & Travel | Luxury | ★ 8.7 | €34 |
| Alan Lumière Boutique Hotel Hanoi | Luxury | ★ 9.4 | €35 |
What sightseeing costs in Hanoi
Recommended activities and tours.
Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum
The President Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum (Vietnamese: Lăng Chủ tịch Hồ Chí Minh, Lăng Bác) is a mausoleum which serves as the resting place of Vietnamese revolutionary leader and President Ho Chi Minh in Hanoi, Vietnam. It is a large building located in the center of Ba Đình Square, where Ho, Chairman of the Workers' Party of Vietnam from 1951 until his death in 1969, read the Declaration of Independence on September 2, 1945, establishing the Democratic Republic of Vietnam.
Monument
Van Mieu, Temple of Literature
Văn Miếu (Vietnamese: Văn Miếu, [vɐn˧ miew˧˥], chữ Hán: 文廟), literally translated as Temple of Literature, is a temple dedicated to Confucius in Hanoi, northern Vietnam. The temple was founded and first built in 1070 at the time of Emperor Lý Thánh Tông, and it hosted the Imperial Academy (Quốc Tử Giám, 國子監), Vietnam's first national university, from 1076 to 1779.
Monument
Hỏa Lò Prison
Hỏa Lò Prison (Vietnamese: [hwâː lɔ̀], Nhà tù Hỏa Lò; French: Prison Hỏa Lò) was a prison in Hanoi originally used by the French colonists in Indochina for political prisoners, and later by North Vietnam for U.S. prisoners of war during the Vietnam War. During this later period, it was known to American POWs as the "Hanoi Hilton".
Museum
Ba Ðình Square
Ba Đình Square (Vietnamese: Quảng trường Ba Đình) is the name of a square in Hanoi where president Ho Chi Minh read the Proclamation of Independence of the Democratic Republic of Vietnam on September 2, 1945. It is named after the Ba Đình Uprising, an anti-French rebellion that occurred in Vietnam in 1886 - 1887 as part of the Cần Vương movement.
Square
Long Bien Bridge
Long Biên Bridge (Vietnamese: Cầu Long Biên) is a historic cantilever bridge across the Red River that connects two districts, Hoàn Kiếm and Long Biên of the city of Hanoi, Vietnam. It was originally called Paul Doumer Bridge.
Bridge
Vietnam National Museum of Fine Arts
The Vietnam National Museum of Fine Arts (Vietnamese: Viện Bảo tàng Mỹ thuật Việt Nam; French: Musée des Beaux-Arts du Viêt Nam) is located in Hanoi, Vietnam. It is a museum showcasing Vietnam's fine arts from a range of historical periods.
Art museum
Co Loa Citadel
Cổ Loa Citadel is an ancient fortified city and archaeological site in present-day Hanoi's Đông Anh District, roughly 17 kilometers north of Hanoi, in the upper plain north of the Red River. Relics of the Bronze Age Phùng Nguyên culture and Đông Sơn culture have been found in Cổ Loa.
Archaeological site
Ho Chi Minh Museum
The Ho Chi Minh Museum is located in Hanoi, Vietnam. Constructed in the 1990s, it is dedicated to the late Vietnamese leader Ho Chi Minh and Vietnam's revolutionary struggle against foreign powers.
History museum
Nhật Tân Bridge
The Nhật Tân Bridge (or Vietnam - Japan Friendship Bridge) is a cable-stayed bridge crossing the Red River in Hanoi, inaugurated on 4 January 2015. It forms part of a new six-lane highway linking Hanoi and Noi Bai International Airport.
Bridge
Ham Long Church
Hàm Long Church (Vietnamese: Nhà thờ Hàm Long, French: Église Hàm Long), officially Church of St. Anthony of Padua (French: Église Saint-Antoine-de-Padoue), is a Roman Catholic church in the center district Hoàn Kiếm of Hanoi, Vietnam.
Church
Places referenced on Wikidata. Admission prices vary by season - check each venue's official site.
Paying less in Hanoi
What moves the needle
What each decision takes off the €1283 total, strongest lever first.
- − €595
Travel cheap rather than mid-range
Hostel or entry-level hotel, local canteens, public transport. Accommodation is where the gap opens up.
- − €252
Stay five nights instead of seven
Two fewer nights also removes two days of meals, transport and sightseeing.
- − €108
Travel as a pair
The room is shared, nothing else is. Travellers themselves name this as the strongest lever.
Differences computed from our own measurements, for a 7-night mid-range stay, excluding flights.
FAQ
FAQ - Hanoi
- How much should I budget for a trip to Hanoi?
- For a 7-day trip to Hanoi, expect roughly €562 - €2662 per person depending on your travel style, flights included. The budget profile (hostels, local food, public transit) sits at the lower end ; mid-range comfort sits in the middle ; luxury (premium hotel, fine dining) approaches the top.
- When is the best time to visit Hanoi?
- The best value is in March, with pleasant temperatures and usually cheaper flights than during peak tourist season. This window combines moderate crowds and lower airfare.
- How do I get around in Hanoi?
- Local transport (metro, bus, taxi) costs an average of €8 - €45 per day depending on your style. Public transit stays the cheapest option ; a day or weekly pass usually pays off after just two rides per day.
- How can I do Hanoi on a budget?
- For a cheap trip to Hanoi, target around €41 - €126 per day per person excluding flights: a hostel or budget hotel, meals at local eateries, public transit, and 1-2 free activities per day. Across a week, plan to land below the lower bound of the global range.
- What's the budget for a weekend in Hanoi?
- For a 3-day / 2-night weekend in Hanoi, plan around €464 - €779 per person, flights included. Booking 6 to 8 weeks ahead and flying out Thursday evening / back Sunday evening cuts the total by 10-20 % on average.
- Is Hanoi an expensive or affordable destination?
- At 36 % of our reference index, Hanoi ranks among the most affordable destinations we track. In practice, a daily budget about 64 % below the average destination we track.
- How many days do you need in Hanoi?
- Plan 4 days for the essentials. A full week lets you add the surroundings without rushing, for roughly €378 more per person. Beyond ten days the cost grows linearly: each extra night adds about €126, lodging and daily spending included.
- Do you need a car in Hanoi?
- Our estimates assume public transport, which covers the centre and its near surroundings. Rental, fuel, parking and tolls are not included: if your route leaves the served area, add them as a separate line.
- How much cash should you bring to Hanoi?
- Bring €50 to €100 for the first days, until you see where cards work. When paying or withdrawing, decline the conversion into your home currency that terminals offer: it applies its own rate, consistently worse than your bank's.
At a glance
Wikidata, Wikipedia and Open-Meteo data
- Population
- 8.7M
- Area
- 3,360 km²
- Elevation
- 16 m
- Language
- Vietnamese
- Currency
- ₫
- Time zone
- UTC+07:00
- Founded
- 1010
- Avg. July temp.
- 29°
- Avg. Jan. temp.
- 16°
- Rainy days / year
- 162
inhabitants
Dong
26° - 32°
14° - 20°
About
Hanoi in brief
Hanoi is the capital and second-most populous municipality of Vietnam. It encompasses an area of 3,358.6 km2 (1,296.8 mi2), and as of 2025 has a population of 8,807,523. Hanoi had the second-highest gross regional domestic product of all Vietnamese provinces and municipalities at US$48 billion in 2023, behind Ho Chi Minh City. It hosts 78 foreign embassies, the headquarters of the Vietnam People's Army (VPA), its Vietnam National University system, and other governmental organizations. Hanoi had 18.7 million domestic and international visitors in 2022.
Source: Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 4.0)
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