Hoi An Budget Guide 2026

How much does Hoi An really cost? Daily budgets from $20/day with prices in VND and USD

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Exchange rate: 1 USD = 25,500 VND | Last verified: 2026-05-20 (Vietcombank mid-market rate)

Hoi An is a remarkably cheap destination for the quality of experience it delivers. A backpacker can explore this UNESCO World Heritage town on 500,000-800,000 VND ($20-31 USD) per day, while a midrange traveler spending 1,200,000-2,000,000 VND ($47-78 USD) per day gets boutique hotels with pools, cooking classes, and riverside restaurant dinners. Even at the luxury tier of 3,000,000+ VND ($120+ USD) per day, Hoi An represents extraordinary value compared to similar heritage towns in Europe or Japan.

The secret to Hoi An's affordability is that the best experiences are free: cycling through rice paddies, walking the lantern-lit Ancient Town at night, An Bang Beach, and the Full Moon Festival. Street food is world-class at prices that feel almost absurd — a bowl of the acclaimed Cao Lau costs 35,000 VND ($1.37) at the Central Market, and the banh mi that Anthony Bourdain called "the best in the world" costs just 25,000 VND ($0.98). Most hotels provide free bicycles, eliminating transport costs entirely. This guide breaks down every cost category with exact 2026 prices in both Vietnamese Dong and US Dollars.

Daily Budget Breakdown by Traveler Type

All prices verified May 2026 | 1 USD = 25,500 VND

Category	Backpacker	Midrange	Luxury
Accommodation	200,000-350,000 VND $8-14 (hostel dorm)	600,000-1,200,000 VND $24-47 (hotel with pool)	2,000,000-8,000,000 VND $78-314 (boutique/resort)
Food (3 meals)	100,000-180,000 VND $4-7 (street food only)	300,000-500,000 VND $12-20 (mix of street + restaurant)	600,000-1,500,000 VND $24-59 (restaurants + fine dining)
Transport	0 VND Free hotel bicycle	50,000-100,000 VND $2-4 (bicycle + occasional Grab)	200,000-500,000 VND $8-20 (Grab/private driver)
Activities	50,000-100,000 VND $2-4 (mostly free activities)	200,000-500,000 VND $8-20 (cooking class, boats)	500,000-2,000,000 VND $20-78 (private tours, spa)
Miscellaneous	30,000-50,000 VND $1-2 (water, snacks)	50,000-100,000 VND $2-4 (coffee, drinks, souvenirs)	200,000-500,000 VND $8-20 (cocktails, shopping)
Daily Total	$20-31/day 500,000-800,000 VND	$47-78/day 1,200,000-2,000,000 VND	$120+/day 3,000,000+ VND

Backpacker

$20-31/day

500,000-800,000 VND

•Hostel dorm: 200,000-350,000 VND ($8-14)
•Street food: 100,000-180,000 VND ($4-7)
•Transport: Free (hotel bicycle)
•Activities: 50,000-100,000 VND ($2-4)
•Misc: 30,000-50,000 VND ($1-2)

Midrange

$47-78/day

1,200,000-2,000,000 VND

•Hotel with pool: 600,000-1,200,000 VND ($24-47)
•Mix street + restaurant: 300,000-500,000 VND ($12-20)
•Bicycle + Grab: 50,000-100,000 VND ($2-4)
•Cooking class, boats: 200,000-500,000 VND ($8-20)
•Coffee, drinks: 50,000-100,000 VND ($2-4)

Luxury

$120+/day

3,000,000+ VND

•Boutique/resort: 2,000,000-8,000,000 VND ($78-314)
•Fine dining: 600,000-1,500,000 VND ($24-59)
•Private driver: 200,000-500,000 VND ($8-20)
•Tours, spa: 500,000-2,000,000 VND ($20-78)
•Shopping: 200,000-500,000 VND ($8-20)

Tourist Trap vs Local Prices

The same dish can cost 2-3x more at tourist restaurants in the Ancient Town compared to local stalls and Cam Nam Island. Here's what you should actually pay.

Item	Local Price	Tourist Price	Markup
Cao Lau	35,000-50,000 VND ($1.37-1.96)	100,000-150,000 VND ($3.92-5.88)	2-3x
Com Ga (Chicken Rice)	35,000-50,000 VND ($1.37-1.96)	90,000-180,000 VND ($3.53-7.06)	2-4x
Banh Mi	15,000-25,000 VND ($0.59-0.98)	40,000-60,000 VND ($1.57-2.35)	2x
White Rose Dumplings	35,000-50,000 VND ($1.37-1.96)	70,000-120,000 VND ($2.75-4.71)	2-3x
Iced Coffee	15,000-20,000 VND ($0.59-0.78)	40,000-80,000 VND ($1.57-3.14)	2-4x
Beer	10,000-15,000 VND ($0.39-0.59)	40,000-80,000 VND ($1.57-3.14)	3-5x
Cooking Class	600,000-900,000 VND ($23.53-35.29)	1,000,000-1,500,000 VND ($39.22-58.82)	2x
Basket Boat Ride	150,000-200,000 VND ($5.88-7.84)	300,000-500,000 VND ($12-20)	2x

How to pay local prices: Eat at the Central Market food stalls instead of the tourist restaurants on Tran Phu Street. Cross the bridge to Cam Nam Island where prices drop 30-50%. Book cooking classes and tours through your hostel or directly with the operator, not through hotel tour desks which add a commission. The same Cao Lau that costs 35,000 VND ($1.37) at a market stall costs 100,000 VND ($3.92) at a tourist restaurant 200 meters away.

Complete Hoi An Price List (2026)

Street Food & Drinks

Banh Mi (baguette sandwich)15,000-25,000 VND ($0.59-0.98)
Cao Lau (Hoi An signature noodles)35,000-55,000 VND ($1.37-2.16)
Com Ga (chicken rice)35,000-55,000 VND ($1.37-2.16)
White Rose dumplings35,000-55,000 VND ($1.37-2.16)
Mi Quang (turmeric noodles)30,000-45,000 VND ($1.18-1.76)
Hoanh Thanh (wontons)30,000-45,000 VND ($1.18-1.76)
Pho (noodle soup)25,000-40,000 VND ($0.98-1.57)
Ca phe sua da (iced coffee)15,000-25,000 VND ($0.59-0.98)
Fresh fruit juice20,000-30,000 VND ($0.78-1.18)
Local beer (bia)10,000-20,000 VND ($0.39-0.78)
Bottled water (1.5L)10,000 VND ($0.39)

Activities & Transport

Ancient Town ticket (5 sites)180,000 VND ($7.06)
Cooking class600,000-900,000 VND ($23.53-35.29)
Basket boat ride (Cam Thanh)150,000-250,000 VND ($5.88-9.80)
Thu Bon River sunset cruise100,000-200,000 VND ($3.92-7.84)
My Son Sanctuary tour300,000-500,000 VND ($12-20)
Cham Islands day trip500,000-800,000 VND ($20-31)
Floating lantern10,000-20,000 VND ($0.39-0.78)
Bicycle rental (per day)20,000-30,000 VND ($0.78-1.18)
Grab to An Bang Beach20,000-30,000 VND ($0.78-1.18)
Da Nang Airport Grab transfer250,000-350,000 VND ($9.80-13.73)
Silk lantern souvenir30,000-80,000 VND ($1.18-3.14)

Sample 3-Day Budget

What a typical 3-day trip to Hoi An actually costs, based on real spending.

Backpacker

$75-93

1,900,000-2,400,000 VND for 3 days

3 nights hostel dorm
Street food every meal
Free bicycle everywhere
Ancient Town ticket + 1 paid activity
Free: beach, rice paddies, lanterns

Midrange

$165-234

4,200,000-6,000,000 VND for 3 days

3 nights hotel with pool
Mix of street food + restaurant meals
Cooking class + basket boats
My Son Sanctuary tour
Custom tailored shirt or dress

Luxury

$450+

11,500,000+ VND for 3 days

3 nights boutique riverside hotel
Fine dining every evening
Private cooking class
Custom tailored suit
Cham Islands private tour

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 (3 km) or along the river toward Cam Thanh (3 km). The golden afternoon light on the paddies is extraordinary.

Iconic

Lantern-Lit Evening Walk

Every evening, thousands of silk lanterns illuminate the Ancient Town streets. Walking through this landscape is completely free. Cross the bridge to An Hoi Island for the best river views. The Full Moon Lantern Festival (14th day of each lunar month) switches off all electric lights — the most unforgettable free experience in Vietnam.

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 VND ($0.78-1.18). Sunbeds at beach bars are often free with a drink order. Swimming, sunbathing, and sunset watching cost nothing.

10 Money-Saving Tips

Cycle everywhere for free. Most hotels provide free bicycles. Hoi An is flat and compact — cycling is faster and free versus Grab at 20,000-50,000 VND ($0.78-1.96) per ride.

Eat Banh Mi daily. At 15,000-25,000 VND ($0.59-0.98), Hoi An's celebrated banh mi is the world's best budget meal. One for lunch saves your budget for a proper dinner.

Eat at the Central Market. A bowl of Cao Lau at a market stall costs 35,000 VND ($1.37). The same dish at a tourist restaurant on Tran Phu Street costs 100,000-150,000 VND ($3.92-5.88).

Cross to Cam Nam Island. Cross the bridge from the Ancient Town and prices drop 30-50%. Riverside restaurants serve the same quality food with views back at the illuminated old town.

Drink local coffee. Ca phe sua da from a street vendor costs 15,000-20,000 VND ($0.59-0.78). Western-style cafes charge 60,000-80,000 VND ($2.35-3.14). Vietnamese coffee is stronger and cheaper.

Book tours through your hostel. Hostel group tours to My Son Sanctuary cost 200,000-300,000 VND ($8-12) vs. 400,000-500,000 VND ($16-20) through hotel tour desks.

Compare tailor prices. With 400+ tailors in town, prices are competitive. Get quotes from 3-4 tailors. Shops further from the Japanese Bridge charge 20-40% less for equivalent quality.

Visit during shoulder season. February-April and September have good weather with lower accommodation prices. Peak season (December-January) doubles hotel rates.

Drink local beer. Local beer costs 10,000-15,000 VND ($0.39-0.59) at street-side spots. Tourist bars charge 40,000-80,000 VND ($1.57-3.14) for the same drink.

Carry VND cash. Many restaurants and street stalls are cash-only. Withdraw from Vietcombank ATMs (lowest fees). Avoid airport currency exchange — rates are 5-10% worse.

Hoi An Budget Travel FAQs

How much does it cost to visit Hoi An per day in 2026?

A backpacker spending carefully can explore Hoi An on 500,000-800,000 VND ($20-31 USD) per day. This covers a hostel dorm (200,000-350,000 VND/$8-14), three street food meals (100,000-180,000 VND/$4-7), free bicycle transport, and free activities like An Bang Beach, rice paddy cycling, and the lantern-lit evening walk. A midrange traveler spending 1,200,000-2,000,000 VND ($47-78) per day gets a private hotel room with pool, restaurant meals, a cooking class, and paid activities. Exchange rate: 1 USD = ~25,500 VND as of 2026-05-20.

What is the cheapest area to stay in Hoi An?

The area between the Ancient Town and An Bang Beach offers the best budget accommodation, with hostels from 200,000 VND ($8) per night and budget hotels from 250,000-400,000 VND ($10-16) including breakfast and free bicycle use. Cam Thanh village also has affordable homestays from 200,000-400,000 VND ($8-16). The Ancient Town itself is pricier. Many budget accommodations include swimming pools and bicycles.

How much should I budget for food in Hoi An?

Street food and market meals cost 20,000-50,000 VND ($0.78-1.96) per dish. A banh mi costs 15,000-30,000 VND ($0.59-1.18). A bowl of cao lau at a local stall runs 35,000-55,000 VND ($1.37-2.16). Mid-range restaurant meals cost 80,000-200,000 VND ($3.14-7.84). You can eat exceptionally well on 100,000-180,000 VND ($4-7) per day eating at markets and street stalls, or 300,000-500,000 VND ($12-20) per day mixing street food with restaurant meals.

Is Hoi An cheaper than Da Nang or Hanoi?

Yes. Hoi An is significantly cheaper than both Da Nang and Hanoi for accommodation and food. A hostel dorm in Hoi An costs 200,000-350,000 VND ($8-14) versus 200,000-400,000 VND in Hanoi. Street food is 20-30% cheaper in Hoi An. Transport is essentially free with hotel bicycles. The main expense unique to Hoi An is the Ancient Town ticket at 180,000 VND ($7.06). Overall, a budget traveler saves 100,000-200,000 VND ($4-8) per day compared to Hanoi.

What free things can I do in Hoi An?

The best experiences in Hoi An cost nothing. Cycling through rice paddies is free (most hotels lend bicycles). Walking the lantern-lit Ancient Town every evening is free. An Bang Beach has no entrance fee. Watching the Full Moon Lantern Festival (14th day of each lunar month) is free. Cycling to Tra Que Vegetable Village and Cam Thanh is free. Sunrise at the Japanese Covered Bridge is free. The river promenade walk is free.