Hoi An Budget Guide

Hoi An Budget Guide

How to experience the best of Hoi An on 500,000 VND per day — street food, free cycling, beach days, lantern-lit evenings, and money-saving secrets

Hoi An is one of the world's best-value travel destinations, and budget travel here is not only possible — it is genuinely extraordinary. With hostel dorms from 150,000-300,000₫/night, legendary street food including Cao Lầu from 30,000₫ and Bánh Mì from 15,000₫, free bicycle use from most hotels, and dozens of free activities, you can explore Hoi An on 500,000-800,000₫ per day without missing any of the highlights.

The secret? Hoi An's best experiences are completely free. Cycling through emerald rice paddies in the golden afternoon light, walking the lantern-lit Ancient Town streets at dusk, watching the sunrise at the Japanese Covered Bridge, spending a day at An Bang Beach, and experiencing the Full Moon Festival — these moments cost nothing yet they are what make Hoi An unforgettable.

Budget Tiers

Budget

500K-800K VND/day

Hostel dorms, street food, free bicycle, beach days, Ancient Town evening walks. The backpacker experience at its finest.

Mid-Range

1.2-2M VND/day

Budget hotel with pool, restaurant meals, cooking class, basket boats, Old Town ticket, occasional Grab rides.

Luxury

3M+ VND/day

Boutique riverside hotel, fine dining, private tours, spa treatments, Cham Islands day trip, custom tailoring.

Daily Budget Breakdown (Backpacker)

Accommodation (hostel dorm)
150,000-300,000 VND
Food (street food & local restaurants)
100,000-180,000 VND
Transport (bicycle — free from hotel)
0-50,000 VND
Activities (free + 1 paid/2 days)
50,000-100,000 VND
Miscellaneous (water, snacks, drinks)
30,000-50,000 VND
Daily Total330,000-680,000 VND

Free Activities in Hoi An

Must Do

Cycling Through Rice Paddies

Borrow a free bicycle from your hotel and ride through the emerald rice paddies surrounding Hoi An. The flat terrain is effortless. Head toward Tra Que Vegetable Village or along the river toward Cam Thanh. The golden afternoon light on the paddies is extraordinary — one of the most beautiful free experiences in all of Vietnam. No map needed; the town is small enough to explore freely.

Iconic

Lantern-Lit Evening Walk

Every evening, hundreds of silk lanterns illuminate the Ancient Town's narrow streets. Walking through this magical landscape is completely free. Cross the bridge to An Hoi Island for the best views of the lantern-strewn riverfront. The reflection of coloured lanterns on the Thu Bon River is one of Vietnam's most photographed scenes. Best experienced from dusk (around 6 PM) onward.

Beach

An Bang Beach

Hoi An's beautiful beach has no entrance fee. Cycle the 4 km from the Ancient Town (free) or take a Grab for 20,000-30,000₫. Bring your own towel and you can spend the entire day for free. Sun loungers at beach bars are often complimentary with a drink order (from 30,000₫). Swimming, sunbathing, and sunset watching are all free. The gentle waves make it perfect for swimming.

Festival

Full Moon Festival

On the 14th day of each lunar month, the Ancient Town switches off electric lights and is illuminated by silk lanterns and candles. Traditional performances, dragon dances, and floating lanterns create a magical atmosphere. Attending is completely free. Paper lanterns to release on the river cost just 10,000-20,000₫. Check the lunar calendar and time your visit to experience this unforgettable night.

Nature

Tra Que Vegetable Village

Cycle to this traditional farming village just 3 km from the Ancient Town and walk through the herb gardens where farmers grow the vegetables and herbs that make Hoi An's cuisine so distinctive. The cycle ride through rice paddies is beautiful. Free to visit and photograph (formal tours with farming experience cost 200,000-300,000₫). Best in the early morning when farmers are working.

Riverside

Thu Bon River Promenade

The riverfront promenade on both sides of the Thu Bon is beautiful for morning walks or evening strolls. Watch fishing boats, see artisans at work, and enjoy the views of the Ancient Town reflected in the water. The Japanese Covered Bridge at sunrise (free to view from outside, 120,000₫ ticket for interior) is one of Hoi An's most iconic images. Free and accessible at any time.

Food Prices

Hoi An Street Food Prices

  • Bánh Mì (baguette sandwich)15,000-25,000 VND
  • Cao Lầu (Hoi An noodles)30,000-40,000 VND
  • White Rose dumplings25,000-35,000 VND
  • Crispy wontons (hoành thánh)20,000-30,000 VND
  • Phở (noodle soup)25,000-40,000 VND
  • Cơm gà (chicken rice)25,000-40,000 VND
  • Cà phê sữa đá (iced coffee)15,000-25,000 VND
  • Bia (local beer)10,000-20,000 VND

Money-Saving Food Tips

  • Eat where locals eat. The Central Market food stalls and street vendors along Tran Phu outside the old town serve the cheapest, most authentic food. A full meal for 20,000-40,000₫.
  • Bánh Mì for lunch. At just 15,000-25,000₫, a Bánh Mì is the ultimate budget meal — crispy, filling, and delicious. Banh Mi Phuong and Madam Khanh are the most famous but local stalls are just as good and cheaper.
  • Avoid Ancient Town tourist restaurants. Restaurants with English menus on the main tourist streets charge 2-3x local prices. Walk one block outside the old town and prices drop dramatically.
  • Drink local coffee. Skip Western-style cafes (80,000+₫) and drink cà phê sữa đá from street vendors or local cafes for 15,000-25,000₫. Vietnamese coffee is stronger, cheaper, and more authentic.
  • Breakfast at your hotel. Many budget hotels and homestays include breakfast. Take advantage of this to save one meal per day. A typical included breakfast is pho or banh mi with coffee.

Transport Prices

Getting Around Cheap

  • Bicycle (free from hotel): Most hotels provide free bicycles — the cheapest and best way to explore Hoi An
  • Bicycle rental: 30,000-50,000₫/day if your hotel does not provide one
  • Motorbike rental: 100,000-150,000₫/day for day trips to the countryside or beaches further afield
  • Grab: Available for local rides (20,000-50,000₫) but less used than in cities due to cycling culture
  • Walking: The Ancient Town is compact and entirely walkable — no transport needed within the old town

Activity Prices

  • Old Town ticket: 120,000₫ for 5 heritage sites — valid 24 hours. Choose wisely (Japanese Bridge + 4 others)
  • Cooking class: 400,000-700,000₫ per person including market visit and lunch
  • Basket boat ride: 150,000-200,000₫ per person in Cam Thanh
  • Lantern-making workshop: 100,000-150,000₫ per person
  • Cham Islands day trip: 500,000-800,000₫ per person including transport, lunch, snorkeling
  • My Son Sanctuary tour: 300,000-500,000₫ per person including transport and guide

Budget Accommodation

Best Value

Hostels

150,000-300,000 VND/night

Tribee Bana, Under the Coconut Tree, and Cucina Hostel offer clean dorms with air conditioning, lockers, free Wi-Fi, and free bicycle use. Private rooms available from 350,000-500,000₫. Most hostels include social events, tours, and common areas for meeting fellow travelers. Exceptional value with the free bicycle alone.

Budget Hotels

Budget Hotels & Homestays

400,000-600,000 VND/night

Hoi An offers extraordinary value in budget hotels and homestays. Private rooms with en-suite bathroom, air conditioning, swimming pool access, breakfast included, and free bicycle use — all from 400,000-600,000₫. This level of accommodation in most countries would cost 3-5x more. Booking.com has hundreds of options. The area between the old town and An Bang Beach has the best concentration.

10 Money-Saving Tips

1

Cycle everywhere for free. Most hotels provide free bicycles. Hoi An is flat and compact — cycling is faster, more fun, and free compared to Grab or motorbike rental.

2

Eat Bánh Mì daily. At 15,000-25,000₫, Hoi An's legendary Bánh Mì is the world's best budget meal. Fresh, filling, and utterly delicious. One for lunch saves your budget for a proper dinner.

3

Enjoy the free experiences. Rice paddy cycling, lantern-lit walks, An Bang Beach, sunrise at the Japanese Bridge, and the river promenade are all free and constitute Hoi An's best experiences.

4

Bargain at the night market. The An Hoi Night Market across the bridge has lanterns, souvenirs, and clothing. Start at 40-50% of the asking price and negotiate. Walk away if needed — vendors often call you back.

5

Choose your Old Town ticket sites wisely. The 120,000₫ ticket covers 5 out of 22 heritage sites. The Japanese Covered Bridge is a must. Research which assembly halls and old houses interest you most before choosing.

6

Drink local beer. Local beer (bia) costs just 10,000-20,000₫ at street-side spots. Tourist bars charge 40,000-80,000₫ for the same drink. The local beer scene is social and fun.

7

Book tours through your hostel. Hostel-organised group tours to My Son Sanctuary and Cham Islands are significantly cheaper than private tours. Typical savings: 200,000-400,000₫ per person.

8

Compare tailor prices. With 400+ tailors in town, prices are competitive. Get quotes from 3-4 tailors before committing. Avoid the most tourist-facing shops near the Japanese Bridge — prices drop as you walk further.

9

Visit during shoulder season. February-April and September have good weather with lower accommodation prices. Avoid peak season (December-January) when hotel prices can double. The rainy season (October-November) offers the lowest prices but comes with flood risk.

10

Carry cash (VND). Many small restaurants, street stalls, and market vendors are cash-only. Withdraw from ATMs in the old town — Vietcombank has the lowest fees. Avoid currency exchange shops with poor rates.

Hoi An Budget Travel FAQs

Absolutely. Hoi An is one of the most affordable destinations in Southeast Asia. You can explore on 500,000-800,000 VND per day. Stay in hostel dorms (150,000-300,000 VND), eat incredible street food (15,000-40,000 VND per meal), cycle everywhere for free (most hotels provide bicycles), and enjoy free attractions including the beach, rice paddy cycling, and lantern-lit evening walks. Hoi An's best experiences — cycling through rice paddies, walking the Ancient Town streets at lantern time, and An Bang Beach — cost nothing at all.
The area between the Ancient Town and An Bang Beach offers the best budget accommodation, with hostels from 150,000 VND per night and budget hotels from 250,000-400,000 VND including breakfast and free bicycle use. Cam Thanh village also has affordable homestays from 200,000-400,000 VND. The Ancient Town itself tends to be pricier. Many budget accommodations include swimming pools and bicycles — exceptional value by any standard.
Street food is extraordinarily cheap in Hoi An. Cao Lau costs 30,000 VND, Banh Mi from 15,000-25,000 VND, White Rose dumplings from 25,000-35,000 VND, and a bowl of pho from 25,000-40,000 VND. Vietnamese iced coffee is 15,000-25,000 VND. If you eat at street stalls and local restaurants, budget 100,000-180,000 VND per day for three meals. Tourist restaurants in the Ancient Town charge 100,000-300,000 VND per meal.
The best things in Hoi An are free. Cycling through rice paddies costs nothing. Walking the Ancient Town streets and admiring the lanterns every evening is free. An Bang Beach has no entrance fee. Watching the Full Moon Festival is free. Cycling to Tra Que Vegetable Village and Cam Thanh coconut palm area is free. Sunrise photography at the Japanese Covered Bridge is free. The river promenade walk is free. Hoi An rewards budget travelers generously.
Street food is so cheap that cooking is rarely worth the effort. A filling Banh Mi costs just 15,000-25,000 VND (about $0.60-1 USD). A bowl of Cao Lau is 30,000 VND. Three street food meals per day cost 60,000-120,000 VND. Even local restaurants are affordable at 50,000-100,000 VND per meal. Self-catering only saves money if you are feeding a family over a long stay.

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