Vietnam low cost of living and vibrant culture
17 min read
Hồ Chí Minh
Hô Chi Minh is located in the southwest in Vietnam, it`s a very nice town with modern infrastructure. We can believe that the cost for a hotel or small apartment can be expensive to get excellent quality, but it`s not the case at all. In 2024, I rent a room with a sharing kitchen and nice pool for $37 us per night for 2 days in a nice area of the District Binh Tranh close to the Opera, Reunification Palace, City Hall, Post Office or the Notre-Dame Cathedrale that is the vestige of the French colonialism in Vietnam. In addition, the cost of a meal in a restaurant is also cheap, you can get a good breakfast with a very good French-style latte for around $5.80 USD or 150,000 dong, that’s the price of a single Grande cappuccino almost anywhere in North America or Europe actually.
Here are some interesting architectural buildings in Ho Chi Minh City and as well as motorbikes with their green Grab vests, which are both delivery drivers and taxis thanks to the Grab app, which is the Uber of Asia.
There is a lot of things to see in this town but the best one is without a doubt, the Mekong Delta tour that unveil not only the beauty of the Mekong River but all the history behind the war of resilient Vietnamese against the French colonialism. The early incursion was from 1857 to 1867 at Da Nang, the establishment of French Indochina in 1887, and during World War II, Japan occupied French Indochina creating a complex political landscape. After the World War II, the Japan’s surrender and France attempted to reassert its control, leading to the First Indochina War between 1946 to 1954. Vietnamese resistance to French rule was a persistent feature throughout the colonial period, ultimately culminating in the defeat of the French at the Battle of Dien Bien Phu and the subsequent Geneva Accords, which led to the division of Vietnam into North and South.
Following French colonial rule in Vietnam, the United States became heavily involved in the country, particularly in South Vietnam, to counter the spread of communism. This involvement escalated into the Vietnam War, where the US directly fought against the communist North Vietnamese forces and their allies, the Viet Cong.
While the capture of American pilots and the subsequent treatment of prisoners of war was a significant factor and a key element in the war’s narrative, the conflict concluded with the Paris Peace Accords in 1973, which led to the withdrawal of US forces and ultimately the reunification of Vietnam under communist rule. Despite the Paris Peace Accords, fighting continued between North and South Vietnam until the fall of Saigon in 1975.
Good morning, Vietnam was a box office sensation starring Robin Williams as Adrian Cronauer, that highlighting the irreverent humor and the impact of his radio show on the morale of American soldiers.
Back on the Mekong Delta circuit after this interesting story of Vietnam’s conflict period, you can enjoy a sampan ride through the scenic river canals, enjoy traditional music, visit the coconut farm and Vinh Trang Pagoda, and have a Vietnamese lunch for less than USD 20.
According to Vietnamese tradition the Snake Wine is an alcoholic beverage made by infusing whole snakes, often venomous cobras and scorpion in a rice wine. While the venom is broken down by the alcohol, making it safe to consume. it’s also known for its strong, earthy flavor. The Snake Wine have medicinal property that boost vitality, improving circulation and relieving pain. I tried it, and I can assure you that it has an incredibly potent flavor.
Nha Trang
Jumping in the plane to go directly to the unbelievable beach of Nha Trang, where the cost of living is still a little be cheaper than in Hò Chi Minh. I rented a beautiful, fully furnished apartment for 12 days, located on the 44th floor, right across from the beach, with all the nice, inexpensive restaurants within walking distance, for only US$18.50 per night. What’s more, the taxi from the airport was included in the price. It couldn’t have been better. As you can imagine, if you rent on a monthly basis, you can reduce the cost even further. The only thing that wasn’t included this time was the beautiful outdoor pool, which was empty when I tried it and costs 70,000 dong, or US$2.65. That’s very expensive compared to the cost of the apartment per day. but I think they want to reserve it for those who rent a room, as the pool was included for them. But the good news, instead you can enjoy exploring the ABH beach coffee to grab a large cappuccino or any refreshing drink for just $1.80 USD and use their gorgeous pool or dive into the ocean. You should bear in mind that anything you eat or drink in a bar or restaurant on the beach is, of course, the most expensive in Vietnam.
You get AC, WIFI, Taxi from airport, Washing Machine, Towel and Toilet Paper all included.
The quality of food is very good throughout Vietnam, and Nha Trang is no exception. An average meal will cost between 150,000 and 250,000 dong (between US$5.75 and US$9.55) per person, including drinks. In addition, you can go snorkeling ($20 US), visit Buddhist temples or Pagoda, visit the Nha Trang market and the monkey island or simply rent a scooter or motorbike, as the Vietnamese call it, for $3.70 US per day and feel free to go wherever you want. It’s a great way to immerse yourself in the local culture and live like a Vietnamese person. You can use too, the Grab App, similar to Uber in Vietnam to call motorbike or car taxi for a very cheap price. As you can see, even the activities are much cheaper than in Florida for the same enjoyment, if not better, because the atmosphere is completely different there.
This unbelievable meal including beer at the Miss Bamboo restaurant just cost me 250000 dong ($10 US)
This is the kind of seafood and spring roll meal with a latte that you can get at the many surrounding restaurants for only 150,000 dong ($6 US).
In addition, I had a very interesting experience with my new Vietnamese friend from Nha Trang, who introduced me to a local restaurant where we ate delicious, typical Vietnamese spring rolls that we rolled ourselves for only 125,000 dong ($5 US) for two adults.
Here are other photos from Nha Trang.
Scenic mountain motorbike road trip from Nha Trang to Dalat
Another exciting activity is to embark on a three-hour (134 km) motorcycle adventure (rental for only US$3.70 per day with an international driver’s license) from Nha Trang to Dalat, or a round trip, to admire the majestic scenic route through the Vietnamese mountains to the city of eternal spring. This nice town often referred to be the “City of Flowers,” or “Little Paris” (due to its French colonial architecture and temperate climate), is a truly unique destination in Vietnam’s Central Highlands. Unlike the sweltering heat found in much of the rest of the country, Dalat enjoys mild, spring-like weather year-round, making it a refreshing escape.
Dalat City
The Crazy House & Pagoda
Here are some activities that you can do in Dalat:
1. The Climate and Scenery:
- The consistently cool and pleasant weather, averaging 14-23°C (57-73°F), is a welcome change from Vietnam’s tropical heat. You can experience four seasons in one day.
- Lush Landscapes: Dalat is surrounded by misty pine forests, rolling hills, and picturesque lakes. The air is fresh and crisp, often with a pleasant scent of pine. This natural beauty provides a serene and romantic backdrop for your visit.
- Flowers Galore: True to its “City of Flowers” nickname, Dalat is a major agricultural hub for temperate flowers. You’ll find vibrant flower gardens (like Dalat Flower Park), blooming cherry blossoms (in season), and wildflowers like marigolds and mimosa covering the hills. It’s a photographer’s paradise.
2. Unique and Quaint Attractions:
- The Crazy House (Hang Nga Guesthouse): This is a must-see! It’s an extraordinarily whimsical and surreal piece of architecture, resembling a giant tree with caves, spider webs and animal sculptures. You can explore its winding staircases and interconnected rooms, feeling like you’ve stepped into a fairytale. You can even stay overnight!
- Dalat Railway Station: An iconic landmark with French colonial architecture, it’s the oldest and highest railway station in Indochina. While not fully operational for long-distance travel, you can take a charming short ride on a vintage train to Trai Mat Village, home to the unique Linh Phuoc Pagoda.
3. Adventure and Outdoor Activities:
- Waterfalls: Dalat is home to several beautiful waterfalls. Datanla Waterfall is particularly popular, offering thrilling activities like canyoning (abseiling down waterfalls), ziplining, and the exhilarating alpine coaster (one of the longest in Southeast Asia). Elephant Falls (Lieng Rewoa Waterfall) is another impressive and powerful cascade.
- Canyoning: For the truly adventurous, Dalat is considered one of the best places in Southeast Asia for canyoning, involving rappelling, sliding, and jumping down waterfalls.
4. Culinary Delights and Local Experiences:
- Dalat Night Market: A vibrant hub after sunset, offering an incredible array of local street food, fresh produce (especially strawberries!) coffee, local wines, and souvenirs. Trying the famous “Banh Trang Nuong” (grilled rice paper pizza) is a must.
- Coffee Culture: Vietnam is famous for its coffee, and Dalat, with its ideal climate, is a major coffee-growing region. You can visit coffee plantations (like Cau Dat Tea Hill or Me Linh Coffee Garden) to learn about the process and sample fresh, delicious brews, including the famous weasel coffee.
- Fresh Produce: Thanks to its cool climate, Dalat supplies a vast amount of fresh vegetables, fruits (like avocados, strawberries, and persimmons) and flowers to the rest of Vietnam. Enjoy the fresh, crisp produce in local dishes.
- Unique Local Dishes: Beyond street food, try local specialties like Dalat’s famous hotpot, various types of bánh (savory cakes), and unique fruit preserves (mứt).
In summary, the most enjoyable aspects of Dalat come from its distinct departure from the typical Vietnamese experience. It offers a refreshing climate, a whimsical charm, opportunities for both serene relaxation and thrilling adventure and a delightful culinary scene, all wrapped in a picturesque mountain setting. It truly feels like a different corner of Vietnam.
Hanoi
What about northern Vietnam, with Hanoi, the most famous city in Vietnam and the world? This multicultural city is impressive with restaurants of all type: Italian, French, Korean, Japanese, Chinese, Thai, Indian, Malaysian, etc., not to mention street food, both traditional and modern.
In the Hanoi`s old Quarter, the population is very dense and everything is very compact. You can feel the air pollution with all the scooters that riding in all directions without any structure mixed with few cars and the icon of Hanoi’s culture that represent Vietnamese women street vendors that carrying twin baskets suspended from shoulder poles.
However, Hanoi’s Old Quarter boasts beautiful murals and a distinctive Railway Street, where a railway line runs directly through the nearby buildings. One might think this railway line is no longer in operation and is simply a tourist attraction. However, it still operates, connecting Hanoi to the rest of Vietnam. The locals’ ability to adapt to the twice-daily train frequency is a testament to their resilience and adaptability.
If you’re planning to rent a motorbike to explore Hanoi’s Old Quarter, be aware that traffic in Vietnam can be chaotic, especially in Hanoi. Therefore, it’s crucial to be vigilant and drive carefully. That’s what I did and it went very smoothly without any problems, so don’t hesitate and dare to explore.
A funny Track Train Street video with my own musical creation.
Here is an excellent meal I enjoyed accompanied by an incredibly tasty wine from Dalat. In one of Hanoi’s 1,001 restaurants, for less than US$10.
Vietnam is the world`s second-largest coffee exporter specializing in Robusta coffee. The industry is a significant component of the Vietnamese economy. As the French introduced coffee to Vietnam and their dark roast, chicory-blended coffee became a staple, influencing Vietnamese coffee culture and leading to the popularity of coffee like that served at New Orleans’ Café Du Monde. Traditional Vietnamese coffee is brewed using a phin filter and is often mixed with sweetened condensed milk and ice, creating a unique and creamy drink known as Cà Phê Sữa.
Here is a short video of the chaotic traffic in Hanoi’s old quarter, where there are no traffic lights or rules, but everything works perfectly thanks to everyone’s respect for each other. There are pedestrians, motorcycles, bicycles, cars, buses, and finally, at the end of the video, we see the cyclo-pousse arriving smoothly. Vietnamese drivers honk their horns only to warn you that they are surrounding you, not to tell you how to manage your own trajectory.
Outside of the Hanoi’s old quarter or not, Hanoi ranked 13th on a list of the most polluted major cities in 2025 according to IQAir, a Swiss air monitoring company. The fog hanging over Hanoi isn’t just pollution; it’s a byproduct of growth that has lifted Vietnam’s economy while fueling its environmental struggles. Vietnam’s gross domestic product grow at an average of 5% to 7% per year, far more than larger economies such as the United States and China, due in part to its infrastructure boom. Constructed almost entirely from concrete, one of the greatest sources of pollution on our planet actually. According to Vietnamese media, traffic accounts for more than 50% of Hanoi’s air pollution, followed by industrial activity at 30% and construction at 10%–15%. Concrete is embedded in all three. Their grow will continuous because Asian nation are an attractive alternative for companies shifting production from China such as Apple and Nike, turning it into a regional manufacturing hub.
But good news, Vietnamese Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh has ordered Hanoi to ban all fossil fuel motorbikes and mopeds from the city’s inner Ring Road 1 starting July 1, 2026 until 2030 for Ring Roads 2 and 3, as part of a sweeping new effort to tackle worsening pollution. Here is the view of the west Lake surrounded by motorbikes and a milky sky.
There are several things to see in Hanoi, such as the Ho Chi Minh Museum, dedicated to the life of this late Vietnamese leader, his revolutionary struggle against foreign powers, and his relentless quest for Vietnam’s independence. In addition, there is Hoa Lo Prison, used by French colonists in Indochina to exercise their political power, and later by North Vietnam to hold American prisoners of war during the Vietnam War. Of course, you can easily visit all these places by motorbike, and many more if you dare to embark on this adventure.
Minh Binh and Ha Long Bay`s
Ha long Bay’s unique geological and geomorphological features have been recognized by UNESCO, leading to its designation as a World Heritage site. In essence, Ha long Bay’s formation is a testament to the power of geological processes over millions of years, resulting in a breathtaking landscape of limestone islands and islets sculpted by the forces of nature and easily evokes a fantastical world dominated by primeval creatures like Kong in the Skull Island movie.
Obviously, Ha Long Bay and Minh Binh are two very popular tourist attractions in Vietnam and this somewhat spoils this impressive moment of discovery since tourists contribute to plastic pollution, sewage discharge and general littering, especially with a high flow of visitors and the countless boats that ply Ha Long Bay.
Ninh Binh, another similar nature but inside the country instead to be in the ocean, has witnessed tremendous growth in tourism thanks to its exposure in films like Kong: Skull Island. Following this global success, the province saw a dramatic increase in visitor numbers from 1.4 million in 2016 to 9.1 million in 2025. Before that, the 1992 Oscar-winning movie Indochine also featured scenes filmed in Ninh Binh.
Minh Binh & Ha Long Bay
Danang
Once again, another beautiful beach here in Danang where you can play beach volleyball with Vietnamese people and other foreigners who have been living in Vietnam for several years. In Danang, you will find very good restaurants on the beach where you can enjoy a refreshing sea breeze while enjoying a delicious meal and a drink. Of course, the prices will obviously be higher than those charged two blocks away. Here are some photos of the beach at night and during the day:
There is a Dragon Bridge in Da Nang that puts on a fire and water show around 9 p.m. on weekends. It gets very crowded, so it’s best to go to the rooftop of a nearby bar or restaurant to get a better view.
Moreover, to fully enjoy the wonderful surrounding nature, you should rent a motorbike to make a road trip in the Hai Van Pass where is the Monkey Mountain, also known as Son Tra Mountain, It’s known for its rich biodiversity, including the rare red-shanked douc langur and beautiful landscape view all around. It`s a one-day experience.
Hôi Ann
In Vietnam, once again, there is no better way to explore a new site or city than by renting a motorbike. All you need is an international driver’s license. It is very difficult, if not impossible, to rent a car, as there are virtually no car rental agencies in Vietnam that cater to tourists who want to drive themselves. The Vietnamese police often do not recognize international driver’s licenses, especially those from countries such as the United States, Canada, and Australia, making it illegal to drive independently. The usual way to rent a vehicle is to hire a car with a local driver. It is therefore preferable to rent a motorcycle, which is more user-friendly and allows you to reach old Hoi An from Danang in less than an hour (less than 30 km).
Hôi Ann is one of the most beautiful cities in Vietnam with its market bursting of life and all the lanterns that makes its city unique charm and has been described as Vietnam’s most atmospheric and picturesque town. Hội Ann’s old town has been registered as a UNESCO World Heritage since 1999 and is recognized as a well-preserved former site of a once-thriving Southeast Asian trading port dating from the 15th-19th century. The town’s buildings and street plan reflect a blend of indigenous Vietnamese and foreign influences. Prominent in Hội Ann’s old town is the Japanese Bridge dating to the 16th–17th century.
So, I hope you enjoyed your journey through my article and that you now have a better idea of what to expect if you plan to travel to this extraordinary Asian country. As with any country you visit, the more you dare to immerse yourself in their culture, the more you will enjoy your experience.
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