Which place is cheaper, Vang Vieng or Ho Chi Minh City?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations. These travel costs come from the actual spending of real travelers.
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Should you visit Ho Chi Minh City or Vang Vieng?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Which city is more affordable and which is best for your travel style? If you're trying to figure out where to go next, comparing the travel costs between Ho Chi Minh City and Vang Vieng can help you decide which place is right for you.
Where Should I go: Ho Chi Minh City or Vang Vieng?
Ho Chi Minh City
Ho Chi Minh City, formerly Saigon, is the largest city in Vietnam. It previously served as the capital of the Republic of Vietnam (South Vietnam). The metropolitan area, including Ho Chi Minh City, Thu Dau Mot, Di An, Bien Hoa, and other surrounding towns, has a population of more than 9 million people and continues to grow.
Vang Vieng
Vang Vieng is a town in the Vientiane province of Laos that sits along the banks of the Nam Song River. With its beautifully carved karst topography cliffs towering over the winding river, the area has become very tourist-oriented for those seeking to explore the outdoor wonders. People from all over come to engage in the unique landscape-mountain biking, trekking, kayaking, caving, swimming, and rock climbing, amongst others.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best 2-Week Tours from Ho Chi Minh City, The Best Family-Friendly Tours to Vietnam, The Best Adventure Tours to Laos, and The Best Budget Tours to Laos.
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Ho Chi Minh City Prices
Vietnam PricesVang Vieng Prices
Laos Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayHo Chi Minh City $87Vang Vieng $19
The average daily cost (per person) in Ho Chi Minh City is $87, while the average daily cost in Vang Vieng is $19. These costs include accommodation (assuming double occupancy, so the traveler is sharing the room), food, transportation, and entertainment. While every person is different, these costs are an average of past travelers in each destination. What follows is a categorical breakdown of travel costs for Ho Chi Minh City and Vang Vieng in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personHo Chi Minh City $48Vang Vieng $4.25
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomHo Chi Minh City $96Vang Vieng $8.50
Compare Hotels in Ho Chi Minh City and Vang Vieng
Looking for a hotel in Ho Chi Minh City or Vang Vieng? Prices vary by location, date, season, and the level of luxury. See below for options and compare which is best for your budget and travel style.
Kayak helps you find the best prices for hotels, flights, and rental cars for destinations around the world. Compare prices for multiple destinations when planning your next trip.
Our Analysis
We've analyzed the average and typical hotel prices based on guest reviews, star ratings, and hotel amenities here: Ho Chi Minh City Hotel Prices and Vang Vieng Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Ho Chi Minh City $14Vang Vieng $3.11
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Ho Chi Minh City
Here are some examples of typical transportation prices from actual travelers in Ho Chi Minh City:
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Short Taxi Ride$1.33
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Taxi From Airport$7.58
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Cyclo Ride (One Hour)$1.52
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Ho Chi Minh City
Also for Ho Chi Minh City, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Private Taxi transfer from Phnom Penh to Ho Chi Minh City: $358
- Ho Chi Minh to Nha Trang - Private Transfer: $259
- Private Transfer from Tan Son Nhat (SGN) Airport to Phang Rang Thap Cham: $257
- Private Transfer from Tan Son Nhat (SGN) Airport to Ca Mau: $249
- Private Transfer from Tan Son Nhat (SGN) Airport to Ha Tien Pier: $249
- Ho Chi Minh Airport (SGN) to Mui Ne - Round-Trip Private Transfer: $237
- Ho Chi Minh Airport (SGN) to Vung Tau Round-Trip Private Transfer: $222
- Private Transfer from Tan Son Nhat (SGN) Airport to Soc Trang: $216
- Private Transfer: Ho Chi Minh City Center to Mui Ne: $196
- Private Transfer from Ho Chi Minh City Hotels to Phu My Port: $192
- Private Transfer from Ho Chi Minh Airport (SGN) to Phu My Port : $192
- Private Transfer from Tan Son Nhat (SGN) Airport to Chau Doc: $184
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Vang Vieng
Also for Vang Vieng, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Shared transfer from Vang Vieng to Luang Prabang city: $20
Is it cheaper to fly into Ho Chi Minh City or Vang Vieng?
Prices for flights to both Vang Vieng and Ho Chi Minh City change regularly based on dates and travel demand. We suggest you find the best prices for your next trip on Kayak, because you can compare the cost of flights across multiple airlines for your prefered dates.
Food
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Food Meals for one dayHo Chi Minh City $23Vang Vieng $11
Typical Food Prices in Ho Chi Minh City
Here are some examples of typical meal expenses from previous travelers to Ho Chi Minh City:
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Street Food Dinner (for Two)$4.06
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Pizza$4.93
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Sweet Rice$1.14
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Pork Sandwich$0.57
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Casual Lunch (for Two)$6.43
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Western Lunch (for Two)$11
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Ho Chi Minh City
For Ho Chi Minh City, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- Vietnamese Cooking and Craft Workshop by the Lake: $12
- Saigon Food Tour & Culture Explore Ho Chi Minh City Walking Tour: $15
- Mekong Delta 4 Islands, TukTuk, Boat, Try Khot Cake Local Cooking: $24
- Saigon Street Food Tour with Local Guide: $25
- Pu Luong Cooking Class at Traditional Stilt House: $25
- Ho Chi Minh City Street Food Tour With Students: $27
- Saigon - Tasty Food Tour By Scooters: $28
- Private Half-Day Ho Chi Minh Food Tour with Local Students: $29
- Ho Chi Minh Private Half Day Street Food Tour with Local Students: $29
- Ho Chi Minh Street Food Tour With Young Local (Safe & Authentic): $29
- The Coolest Vegan Food Tour in Ho Chi Minh City: $29
- Super Niche Walking Street Food Tour in Ho Chi Minh City: $29
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Ho Chi Minh City $19Vang Vieng $4.76
Typical Entertainment Prices in Ho Chi Minh City
For Ho Chi Minh City, here are some examples of average entertainment and activity prices from previous travelers:
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Massage$5.31
Tours and Activities in Ho Chi Minh City
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Ho Chi Minh City.
- 8-Hour City Tour: Hidden Gems, Local Life & Modern Saigon: $46
- A O Show - Included: Tour guide, Car Pick Up And Drop Off : $65
- Cu Chi Tunnels and Sai Gon City Tour : $64
- Cu Chi Tunnels half day tours: $39
- From Ho Chi Minh to Mui Ne 3 Days Tour | 4 Star Beach Resort : $170
- Half Day Private Tour in Ho Chi Minh City: $54
- Ho Chi Minh City Bus Tour Experience: $100
- Street Food Walking Tour with 12 Tastings: $30
- Jeep tour Sai Gon Private half day culture and history tour: $100
- Mekong Delta Discovery Day Tour - My Tho - Ben Tre: $46
- Non-Touristy Mekong Delta with Biking in Ben Tre Private Tour: $113
- Private Ho Chi Minh 30 minutes Experience by Electric Cart: $9.71
Tours and Activities in Vang Vieng
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Vang Vieng.
- 1 Day Guided Tour in Cave from Vang Vieng: $175
- Get Your Laos–China Train Ticket Fast – No Waiting, No Worries: $30
- Laos: Jungle Zipline and Caving Tour: $58
- Nam Xay Viewpoint Hike & Blue Lagoon 1 Tour in Vang Vieng: $180
- Nam Xay Viewpoint Hike and Blue Lagoon Tour: $79
- One Day Guided Tour: Kayaking, Zipline & Tubing In The Cave from Vang Vieng : $50
- Vang Vieng 1-Day Cave Exploration Tour with Guide: $175
- Vang Vieng Ballooning Adventures: $260
- Vang Vieng Bike Tour: $49
- Vang Vieng Day Tour - Longtail boat, Paragliding: $175
- Vang Vieng Hot Air Balloon Experience and Longtail Boat: $137
- Vang Vieng Hot Air Balloon Kayak Zipline,Blue lagoon1 Tour: $148
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayHo Chi Minh City $7.57Vang Vieng $1.11
Typical Alcohol Prices in Ho Chi Minh City
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for alcohol and nightlife costs in Ho Chi Minh City:
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Beer$0.38
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Ho Chi Minh City and Vang Vieng, we can see that Ho Chi Minh City is more expensive. And not only is Vang Vieng much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Vang Vieng would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Vang Vieng and be able to afford a more luxurious travel style by staying in nicer hotels, eating at more expensive restaurants, taking tours, and experiencing more activities. The same level of travel in Ho Chi Minh City would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Ho Chi Minh City than you might in Vang Vieng.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Ho Chi Minh City Expensive? and Is Vang Vieng Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Ho Chi Minh City or Vang Vieng?
Ho Chi Minh City has a larger population, and is about 140 times larger than the population of Vang Vieng. When comparing the sizes of Ho Chi Minh City and Vang Vieng, keep in mind that a larger population does not always imply the destination has more attractions or better activities. So, always research the type of place that you want to visit along with the activities and attractions that interest you.
Budget Your Trip is all about finding out how much everything costs so that you can travel cheaper and longer. Created by avid travelers Laurie and Bryan, our goal is to help you plan your next trip on the right budget. With average daily travel costs that are calculated from the budgets of real travelers, plus an analysis of hotel and tour prices, you can find out how much money you need to plan your next adventure. We also have plenty of travel advice, accommodation reviews, and activity suggestions.