The Aussie dollar has some real muscle here and that equates to serious savings.

According to the World Bank, Vietnam has the fastest-growing economy in all of Southeast Asia with its Gross Domestic Product forecasted to climb 7.2 per cent this year. It’s this sort of number, coupled with a multitude of geopolitical factors (including the tensions between China and the USA) which have been contributing to keeping inflation and the cost of living in the country at an enviable rate compared to what’s happening in Australia. 

Lower inflation in Vietnam and a stronger-than-usual Aussie dollar against Asian currencies are a good confluence of events for those wanting to travel to Vietnam. Not only can you nab some incredible deals on budget direct flights from Australia, but there’s also a tonne of distressed accommodation rates due mostly to the country’s strict Covid-19 lockdowns which brutalised their tourism industry for over two years. 

I’ve always measured the affordability of a place based on the price of its beer and coffee. While this is by no means a scientific method to analyse the cost of goods and services of a country (or an appropriate way to measure the effect of global inflation on a tourism economy) these two products represent a tangible yardstick for across-the-board affordability. So here are seven real-life examples that will have you dreaming of your next Vietnamese getaway:

Drinking cheap ‘Bia Hoi’ on a Hanoi street corner was made ubiquitous for tourists when former US President Barack Obama joined celebrity chef Anthony Bourdain in an Old Quarter noodle shop in 2016. You should expect that from midday, on any given day, glasses of this local lager are enjoyed by both locals and tourists from as little as AU0.20 to 0.50 cents a glass. Even a pint of craft beer from a premium brewery like East West in Ho Chi Minh City will set you back just AU$4-5.

Where?  Bia Hoi Corner, 14 P. Đông Thái, Hàng Buồm, Hoàn Kiếm, Hà Nội

The Vietnamese have perfected coffee culture to a point where it rivals even Melbourne or Milan. A basic Vietnamese coffee, with the usual (welcome) addition of sweetened condensed milk, will set you back just AU$1.60. But a popular Hanoi delicacy is an ‘Egg Coffee’ which is the yolk of an egg, machine-whisked with milk, then poured over an Americano. Depending on where you are, this will range from AU$2-3. For a coffee experience like no other, try Lacaph Espresso Bar in Ho Chi Minh City where they’ve concocted a double espresso, lemon rind-soaked soda water, and kaffir lime-infused honey. Trust us, it’s worth every bit of the AU$3.

Where?  Lacaph Espresso Bar, 151 Đồng Khởi, Bến Nghé, Quận 1, Thành phố Hồ Chí Minh

With the introduction of the new international and domestic carrier Bamboo Airways, flights between Australia and Vietnam have become even cheaper. The carrier has not just put pressure on competitors Jetstar and Vietnam Airlines, their domestic flights are incredibly affordable too. Pick up a direct, return flight between Sydney and Ho Chi Minh City in March 2023 from AU$700. In the same month, fly between Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City from just AU$97 per person.

Vietnam’s Uber equivalent, Grab, is not only ridiculously cheaper, it’s also way more efficient. That’s because most of the ridesharing is done on the back of a scooter or motorbike. A trip across the entire Old Quarter of Hanoi on the back of a Grab (with a helmet supplied) will set you back about AU$2-3.

The average price for a bowl of steaming, hot, delicious phố (pronounced “fuh”) is about AU$2.50 in Hanoi. While the price of a bánh mì ranges from about AU0.50 cents to AU$1.50. There are hundreds of bánh mì shops around the city, but you can tell a joint is popular just by looking at the lunch lines. Most Vietnamese sleep during the hot part of the afternoon and then hunt out lunch after that. Bánh Mì 25 is the place to be in Hanoi’s Old Quarter.

Where?  Bánh Mì 25, 25 P. Hàng Cá, P, Hoàn Kiếm, Hà Nội

You don’t have to spend much to live like a King or Queen in Vietnam. If you’re looking ahead to March or April next year, a night at the five-star Peridot Grand Luxury Boutique Hotel in Hanoi will set you back just AU$160 including breakfast. Looking for something even cheaper? The Mayflower in Hanoi is a very affordable AU$29 per night.

Where?  Peridot Grand Luxury Boutique Hotel, 33 Đường Thành, Cửa Đông, Hoàn Kiếm, Hà Nội

It isn’t a trip to Southeast Asia without a pampering session. Facials, pedicures, massages, and cut-throat shaves are all part of the experience. You can get a two-hour spa package from Serene Spa in Hanoi from AU$70 which includes a herbal foot soaking, manicure, pedicure, facial, massage, and sauna experience. For the blokes, a basic haircut, wash, cutthroat, local beer and head and shoulders massage will set you back AU$28 at Brothers Boutique in Ho Chi Minh City. That’s a bargain.

Where?  Brothers Boutique Men’s Salon, 151 Đồng Khởi, Bến Nghé, 1st Floor, Thành phố Hồ Chí Minh

20 things everyone needs to do in Hanoi.

10 foods you need to try in Vietnam.

Inside Vietnam’s gold-plated hotel.

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