Escape, the Australian newspaper specializing in travel advice, has just given many reasons why Vietnam is Asia's top value destination and advises tourists to travel to Vietnam right now.
According to the World Bank, Vietnam has the fastest growing economy in Southeast Asia with GDP forecasted to reach 7.2% this year. It is this factor, along with countlesslt other advantages that have contributed to keeping low inflation, making the cost of living in Vietnam much lower than in Australia.
Low inflation in Vietnam and a stronger Australian dollar against other Asian currencies are great reasons for those wanting to travel to Vietnam today. Not only can you find cheap direct air tickets from Australia, but you can also find many reasonably priced hotels, affordable food and drink…
Here are 7 services, food and drinks that play a key role in your trip in Vietnam that will surprise you:
Coffee
The Vietnamese have perfected coffee culture to the point that it can be compared with many famous cities for this special drink such as Melbourne or Milan. A basic Vietnamese coffee, with the addition of sweetened condensed milk, only costs AU$1.60 (about VND 25,000). But a famous Hanoi one is "egg coffee", which consists of the yolk of an egg being beaten by machine with milk, then poured over a glass of Americano, ranging from AU$2 - 3 (about VND50,000). For more interesting experience, you may try Lacaph Espresso Bar in Ho Chi Minh City, with espresso, lemon zest-infused soda and kaffir infused honey, AU$3.
Beer
Drinking cheap 'beer' on a Hanoi street corner became popular with tourists when former US President Barack Obama and famous chef Anthony Bourdain went to a Bun Cha restaurant in Old Quarter in 2016. This type of beer is loved by both locals and tourists for only 11,000 - 13,000 VND a glass. Even a pint of craft beer from a more upscale brewery in Ho Chi Minh City costs only AU$ 4 - 5 (less than 100,000 VND).
Airline
With Bamboo Airways flying directly from Vietnam to Australia, fares have become cheaper. A round-trip direct flight between Sydney and Ho Chi Minh City in March 2023 starts at AU$700. In the same month, flights from Hanoi to Ho Chi Minh City was only from AU$97. Other domestic flights of Vietnam's low-cost airlines are also reasonably priced.
Road
Equivalent to Uber in other countries, Grab is a popular technology car company in Vietnam. Most people use Grab by two-wheeler, which is surprisingly cheap. A trip around Hanoi Old Quarter on a Grab (with helmet) will cost you around AU$2 - 3.
Food
The average price for a hot, delicious bowl of pho is around AU$2.50 in Hanoi. While the price of a banh mi (bread) ranges from about AU$1.50 to AU$1.50. There are hundreds of bread shops around the city, you just need to see a place that is “right to your eyes” and you can visit and buy it.
Hotel
You don't have to spend a lot to live like a king or queen in Vietnam. If you are planning to visit this country in March - April next year, a night at a 5-star hotel in Hanoi's Old Quarter is only AU$160 for a night including breakfast. If looking for a cheaper but high-quality place, it's at most AU$29 per night.
Beauty care
It wouldn't be a trip to Southeast Asia if you didn't give yourself a break. Services like facials, nail, massages and shaving are all part of the experience. For AU$70, you can enjoy herbal footbath, nail care, facial, massage and sauna for two hours at reputable spa facilities. For men, services like haircut, shampoo, and shoulder massage costs about AU$8 at reputable hair salons in Ho Chi Minh City.
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