Vietnam in 2026: 90-Day E-Visas, $1 Meals, and the Best Value Trip in Asia

Vietnam now offers a 90-day e-visa to citizens of every country in the world for $25, making it one of the easiest and cheapest countries in Asia to visit in 2026. Budget travelers can get by on $20 to $35 per day, mid-range travelers on $45 to $95 per day, and street food meals start under $1. The country runs the length of Southeast Asia's coastline, offering everything from neon-lit cities to terraced rice fields to one of the most photographed bays on the planet.

Vietnam surprised me more than any other country I have been to in Asia. I arrived expecting somewhere similar to Thailand and found a place with its own completely distinct personality. Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City feel like entirely different countries despite being in the same one. The food culture is arguably the most interesting in Southeast Asia, not just pho and banh mi but dozens of regional specialties you will not find in Vietnamese restaurants back home. And the value is extraordinary, even by Southeast Asian standards.

*Images are illustrative and may differ from actual locations. Prices are approximate, based on publicly available data as of early 2026, and fluctuate with the Vietnamese dong exchange rate. Always verify visa requirements with the official Vietnam e-visa portal before booking.

Getting In: The 90-Day E-Visa

Vietnam's e-visa system was expanded to cover every country in the world in 2023, then extended to allow stays of up to 90 days. This is one of the most accessible visa systems in Southeast Asia. You apply online, pay $25, and get your approval within 3 working days.

Cost: $25 USD for a single-entry 90-day visa, paid through the government's official e-visa portal
Processing time: 3 working days for standard processing. Express options are available at a higher cost if you are in a rush
Entry points: 33 international checkpoints including 8 airports (Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City, Da Nang, Phu Quoc, Cam Ranh, and others), 16 land crossings, and 7 seaports
Passport requirements: At least 6 months validity remaining from your date of entry
Visa exemptions: Citizens of 26 countries get visa-free entry ranging from 14 to 90 days. Check the current exemption list before paying for an e-visa you may not need

One important note: apply directly through the official government portal at evisa.gov.vn. There are many third-party websites that charge inflated fees for the same service. The real government fee is $25, and anything significantly higher is a markup from a middleman.

When to Go

Vietnam is long and narrow, spanning about 1,000 miles from north to south, which means the north and south have completely different climates at any given time. Planning your trip around the regional weather matters more here than in most countries.

North (Hanoi, Ha Long Bay, Sapa): Best from October to April when the weather is cool and dry. December and January can be genuinely cold in the mountains. May to September brings heat and heavy rain.
Central (Hoi An, Da Nang, Hue): Best from February to May. June to August is very hot. September to January is the rainy season with occasional typhoons.
South (Ho Chi Minh City, Mekong Delta, Phu Quoc): Dry season runs November to April. Wet season from May to October brings short, heavy afternoon rains rather than all-day downpours.

If you want to see the whole country in one trip, February to April is the sweet spot because all three regions have reasonable weather.

Where to Go

Hanoi (3 to 4 days)

Hanoi is the cultural capital. The Old Quarter is a maze of narrow streets where each block historically specialized in a different trade, and you can still see the legacy in street names and shop types. Hoan Kiem Lake sits at the center of the city. The food scene is phenomenal, with bun cha, pho, and egg coffee all being Hanoi specialties worth seeking out. A street food tour on your first day is the best way to orient yourself. Accommodation in the Old Quarter ranges from $7 dorm beds to $80 boutique hotels.

Ha Long Bay (1 to 2 nights)

Ha Long Bay is famous for a reason. Over 1,600 limestone karsts rise out of emerald water in a seascape that genuinely looks like a painting. The best way to experience it is on an overnight cruise from Hanoi, which includes meals, a cabin, kayaking, cave visits, and activities. A decent 2-day, 1-night cruise costs $130 to $180 per person. Budget options start around $100 to $150. Splurge cruises with private balconies and spa treatments can run $300 or more.

If you want to avoid the main Ha Long Bay crowds, Bai Tu Long Bay and Lan Ha Bay offer similar scenery with fewer boats. Cat Ba Island is another base that tends to be cheaper than cruising directly from Ha Long City.

Hoi An (3 days)

Hoi An is the most charming town in Vietnam. The UNESCO-listed old town is car-free, lantern-lit at night, and filled with tailor shops, riverside restaurants, and colonial architecture. The town is famous for custom clothing, so you can have suits, dresses, or shirts made to measure in 24 to 48 hours at prices far below what a tailor would charge anywhere in the West. The beaches just outside town (An Bang and Cua Dai) are relaxed and uncrowded. Cost of living here runs 20 to 35 percent lower than Hanoi or Ho Chi Minh City.

Ho Chi Minh City (2 to 3 days)

Ho Chi Minh City (still called Saigon by many locals) is the commercial heart of Vietnam, and it feels like it. Busier, more modern, and more chaotic than Hanoi. The War Remnants Museum is one of the most impactful museums in Southeast Asia. The Cu Chi Tunnels day trip is a fascinating look at the tunnel networks used during the war. District 1 is the main tourist area; District 2 is more expat-oriented with trendy cafes and restaurants. The nightlife is the best in Vietnam by far.

Mekong Delta (1 to 2 days)

South of Ho Chi Minh City, the Mekong Delta is a network of rivers, canals, and floating markets. Day trips from HCMC give you a taste, but an overnight stay in Can Tho lets you see the Cai Rang floating market at sunrise, which is the real attraction.

Other Highlights

Sapa: Mountain region in the far north with terraced rice fields and hill tribe villages. Best visited October to April
Phong Nha: Home to some of the largest caves in the world, including Son Doong (the world's largest cave by volume, though access is restricted and expensive)
Da Nang: Modern beach city with good infrastructure, now a popular digital nomad base
Phu Quoc: Vietnam's largest island, with beach resorts and snorkeling. Easier to reach than many Thai islands

What Things Actually Cost

Food

Vietnam might be the best country in the world for food value. A bowl of pho from a street vendor costs 30,000 to 60,000 dong ($1.20 to $2.40). A banh mi sandwich runs 15,000 to 40,000 dong ($0.60 to $1.60). Local restaurants charge 80,000 to 200,000 dong ($3 to $8) for a full meal. Even mid-range restaurants rarely exceed 300,000 dong ($12) per person. Vietnamese coffee, which deserves its own paragraph but will not get one here, is $1 to $3 at most cafes.

Accommodation

Hostel dorm: 150,000 to 300,000 dong ($6 to $12) per night
Budget private room: 300,000 to 600,000 dong ($12 to $24)
Mid-range hotel: 800,000 to 2,000,000 dong ($32 to $80)
Boutique or luxury: 2,500,000+ dong ($100+)

Transportation

Grab is the dominant ride-hailing app in Vietnam, covering both cars and motorbikes. GrabBike (the motorbike option) costs $1 to $3 for most city trips and is the fastest way to get around in traffic. Domestic flights on Vietnam Airlines, VietJet, and Bamboo Airways connect major cities for $30 to $70 round-trip if booked in advance. Overnight sleeper trains and buses are popular for longer routes, costing $20 to $40 and saving a night of accommodation.

Two-Week Budget Breakdown

Backpacker ($25 to $40/day = $350 to $560 total): Hostel dorms, street food, public transport and sleeper buses, free attractions. Vietnam is one of the cheapest countries in the world to travel on this budget
Mid-range ($60 to $100/day = $840 to $1,400 total): Budget hotels or private hostel rooms, mix of street food and sit-down restaurants, domestic flights between regions, Ha Long Bay cruise, occasional tours
Comfortable ($120 to $200/day = $1,680 to $2,800 total): Boutique hotels, restaurant meals, premium Ha Long Bay cruise, private drivers, custom tailoring in Hoi An, spa treatments

International flights to Vietnam from North America typically run $600 to $1,200 round-trip, with the cheapest routes connecting through Tokyo, Seoul, Taipei, or Hong Kong. Vietnam Airlines, EVA Air, and Korean Air offer solid options. See our guide on when to book flights.

Practical Tips That Matter

Always withdraw in Vietnamese dong, not USD. ATMs will offer you the choice. Taking dong gives you the actual exchange rate. Taking USD gives you a bad one. ATM fees are 40,000 to 100,000 dong ($1.70 to $4) per withdrawal, so pull out larger amounts
Negotiate at markets and with informal taxis. Prices at tourist-facing markets often start 2 to 3 times the real price. Smile, counter with half, and settle somewhere in the middle
Use Grab instead of street taxis. Vinasun and Mai Linh are the legitimate metered taxi companies, but Grab eliminates the uncertainty completely and shows you the fare upfront
Tipping is not expected. This is a genuine difference from North America. You can round up or leave small change at restaurants, but there is no pressure to tip 15 to 20 percent
Buy a local SIM or use an eSIM. Viettel and Vinaphone sell tourist SIM cards at airports for 200,000 to 400,000 dong ($8 to $16) with generous data allowances. Alternatively, use an eSIM from Airalo or Holafly
Cross streets confidently. Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City traffic is famous for being chaotic. The trick is to walk at a steady, predictable pace and let motorbikes flow around you. Do not stop or dart. It works, I promise
Travel insurance is important. Medical care in Vietnam is improving but expensive for foreigners without insurance. Many credit cards with travel benefits include emergency medical coverage

Airport Lounges in Vietnam

Vietnam's international airports have decent lounge options, particularly through Priority Pass:

Tan Son Nhat International (SGN) in Ho Chi Minh City is Vietnam's busiest airport. It has multiple lounges accessible through Priority Pass, Vietnam Airlines' own Lotus Lounge for business class passengers, and several third-party options. See all Ho Chi Minh City airport lounges.

Noi Bai International (HAN) in Hanoi has Priority Pass lounges in both the international and domestic terminals. The Song Hong Business Lounge is one of the better options for Priority Pass members. See all Hanoi airport lounges.

Da Nang International (DAD) is smaller but still has a couple of lounges, which is useful given that Da Nang is becoming a more popular international destination. See Da Nang lounges.

A credit card with lounge access is particularly valuable for Vietnam because connections through Asian hubs like Singapore, Hong Kong, Bangkok, or Tokyo often involve 2 to 4 hour layovers. Having somewhere comfortable to wait, eat, and freshen up makes a long journey significantly more tolerable.

Sample Two-Week Itinerary

Days 1 to 3: Hanoi (Old Quarter, street food, Hoan Kiem Lake, street food tour)
Days 4 to 5: Ha Long Bay overnight cruise
Day 6: Fly Hanoi to Da Nang
Days 7 to 9: Hoi An (tailoring, old town, An Bang Beach, cooking class)
Day 10: Fly Da Nang to Ho Chi Minh City
Days 11 to 13: Ho Chi Minh City (War Remnants Museum, Cu Chi Tunnels day trip, District 1 and 2 exploration, Mekong Delta day trip)
Day 14: Fly home from Ho Chi Minh City

This itinerary balances the north, center, and south without feeling rushed. If you have three weeks, add Sapa after Hanoi or Phu Quoc after Ho Chi Minh City.

Information is reviewed periodically. Prices, visa policies, and travel conditions change. The Vietnamese dong exchange rate fluctuates, so all USD conversions are approximate. Always verify current visa requirements with the official Vietnam e-visa portal at evisa.gov.vn and check your government's travel advisories before booking.