Discover the real daily budget for solo travel in Ho Chi Minh City! From $18 – $120 per day breakdown for independent travelers, including food, accommodation, transport, sights, and how to save with Vietnam Tours group activities. Plan your Vietnam Travel now!
$1.50 breakfast – solo travel heaven! (Source: Internet)Written by Tony Bùi, with over 20 years of experience in the travel industry, personally guiding and organizing tours for over 100,000 travellers across Southeast Asia. This guide draws from firsthand insights, guest feedback from Legend Travel Group surveys, and Legend Travel Group’s expertise in Vietnam and Cambodia. Legend Travel Group since 2008. Information based on the latest data; verify before travel.
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New friends on a Legend Travel Group tour (Source: Internet)Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon) remains one of Southeast Asia’s most affordable and exciting cities for solo travelers. Whether you’re backpacking on $18–$30/day or traveling mid-range on $40–$80/day, the city offers incredible value: street food from $1, dorm beds from $6, and world-class sights for under $10. Legend Travel Group helps solo travelers stretch their budget further by joining small-group day trips (Cu Chi Tunnels, Mekong Delta, city highlights) at shared costs — deposit only 10% and pay the balance 30 days before departure for complete peace of mind.
This guide gives you the exact daily breakdown for solo travel in Ho Chi Minh City — updated for current prices and proven by thousands of Legend Travel Group guests.
|
Category |
Backpacker |
Mid-Range |
Comfort |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Accommodation |
$6–$12 |
$18–$45 |
$60–$120 |
|
Food & Drinks |
$6–$12 |
$15–$30 |
$35–$70 |
|
Local Transport |
$2–$5 |
$5–$12 |
$15–$30 |
|
Sights & Activities |
$5–$15 |
$15–$40 |
$40–$80 |
|
Miscellaneous |
$2–$5 |
$5–$10 |
$10–$20 |
|
Total per day |
$21–$49 |
$58–$137 |
$160–$320 |
→ Most solo travelers spend $35–$65/day comfortably.
|
Type |
Price/Night (USD) |
Notes & Recommendations |
|---|---|---|
|
Hostel dorm (6–12 beds) |
$6–$12 |
Clean, social, free Wi-Fi – District 1 & Bùi Viện |
|
Private hostel room |
$12–$22 |
En-suite bathroom, great for light sleepers |
|
Budget hotel / homestay |
$18–$35 |
Air-con, hot water, breakfast included |
|
Mid-range boutique hotel |
$35–$70 |
Rooftop pool, central location |
|
4–5 star hotel |
$80–$200+ |
Rooftop bar, spa – ideal for occasional splurge |
→ Solo favorite: Book hostels in District 1 (Pham Ngu Lao or Bùi Viện area) for easy walking to everything.
|
Meal Type |
Price (USD) |
Solo Traveler Tip |
|---|---|---|
|
Bánh mì / phở / cơm tấm |
$1–$2.50 |
Best breakfast or lunch |
|
Street stall rice/noodle dish |
$1.50–$4 |
Try cơm gà, bún bò Huế |
|
Local draft beer (bia hơi) |
$0.40–$1 |
Cheapest happy hour in the world! |
|
Coffee (cà phê sữa đá) |
$0.80–$2 |
Must-try Vietnamese iced coffee |
|
Mid-range restaurant meal |
$6–$15 |
Air-con, English menu |
|
Rooftop bar cocktail |
$6–$12 |
Sunset views over Bitexco Tower |
→ Daily food budget: $8–$20 is realistic and delicious.
|
Option |
Price (USD) |
Best For |
|---|---|---|
|
Walking |
Free |
District 1 is very walkable |
|
Public bus |
$0.25–$0.50 |
Cheap but slow |
|
Grab Bike (motorbike taxi) |
$0.80–$2 |
Fastest & most fun way around town |
|
Grab Car |
$2–$6 |
With luggage or late at night |
|
Traditional cyclo (1 hour) |
$5–$10 |
Fun tourist experience |
|
Bicycle rental (per day) |
$2–$5 |
Explore Districts 2, 7, Bình Thạnh |
→ Solo travelers average $3–$10/day on transport.
|
Attraction |
Solo Price (USD) |
Notes |
|---|---|---|
|
War Remnants Museum |
$2 |
Must-visit, very powerful |
|
Reunification Palace |
$2 |
Historic 1975 tank crash site |
|
Notre-Dame Cathedral & Post Office |
Free |
Iconic French colonial buildings |
|
Ben Thanh Market / Binh Tay Market |
Free |
Bargaining essential |
|
Bitexco Tower Skydeck |
$9 |
Best city view |
|
Cu Chi Tunnels (group day trip) |
$25–$40 |
Legend Travel Group small-group tour |
|
Mekong Delta (group day trip) |
$25–$50 |
Includes boat, lunch, villages |
|
A O Show or Teh Dar (cultural show) |
$25–$60 |
Amazing acrobatics & storytelling |
→ Most solo travelers spend $10–$40/day on activities.
SIM card + 30 GB data: $6–$10 (Viettel or Mobifone)
Laundry (per kg): $1–$2
Bottled water (1.5 L): $0.30
Sunscreen / insect repellent: $3–$6
Small souvenirs: $1–$10
$6 cocktail with million-dollar views (Source: Internet)|
Style |
Daily Avg |
7 Days Total |
Includes |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Shoestring |
$25 |
$175 |
Dorm, street food, walking/Grab bike, main sights |
|
Comfortable |
$55 |
$385 |
Private room, mix of street & restaurant food, group tours |
|
Mid-Range Plus |
$90 |
$630 |
Boutique hotel, rooftop bars, private day trips |
All budgets exclude international flights.
Eat like a local for $35 with new friends (Source: Internet)Eat where locals eat — follow the crowds at lunch time.
Use Grab (Uber of Southeast Asia) — always cheaper than taxis.
Join Legend Travel Group day trips — shared cost makes Cu Chi Tunnels or Mekong Delta much cheaper than private.
Buy a local SIM on arrival — unlimited data for $8/month.
Stay slightly outside District 1 (District 3 or 5) — 30–50% cheaper but only 10 minutes away.
Drink bia hơi (draft beer) — $0.40–$1 vs $3–$6 in bars.
Book tours with Legend Travel Group — deposit only 10%, pay balance 30 days before departure.
$2 ride, endless adventure (Source: Internet)|
Activity |
Solo Price (USD) |
Group Price (Legend Travel Group) |
Saving |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Cu Chi Tunnels Half-Day |
$40–$60 |
$25–$35 |
40%+ |
|
Mekong Delta Full-Day |
$60–$100 |
$30–$50 |
50%+ |
|
Ho Chi Minh City Highlights (full day) |
$50–$80 |
$25–$40 |
50% |
|
Foodie Night Tour by Motorbike |
$50–$70 |
$35–$45 |
35% |
All tours include English-speaking guide, transport, lunch, and entry fees.
Designed especially for solo travelers who want company without paying single supplements:
Ho Chi Minh City Highlights Group Tour – $35/person
Cu Chi Tunnels & City Combo – $45/person
Mekong Delta 1-Day Group Adventure – $40/person
3-Day Saigon & Mekong Delta Solo-Friendly Package – $149/person (shared twin room, no single supplement)
Deposit only 10% today → Pay balance 30 days before departure → Travel with peace of mind!
Book now at → https://www.legendtravelgroup.com
$8 bed in the heart of the city (Source: Internet)Passport valid 6+ months
Vietnam e-visa or visa exemption proof
Travel insurance (highly recommended)
Lightweight modest clothing + scarf for temples
Reusable water bottle & sunscreen
Grab app + local SIM on arrival
Small USD & VND cash (ATMs widely available)
Booking confirmation from Legend Travel Group (if joining a tour)
Average solo traveler spends $40–$70 per day in Ho Chi Minh City and still eats like a king, stays in great locations, and sees everything — all while making new friends on shared group activities.
Ready to experience Ho Chi Minh City the smart way?
Join thousands of happy solo travelers with Legend Travel Group — deposit only 10% today!
https://www.legendtravelgroup.com
Sources:
Legend Travel Group internal pricing & guest feedback
Direct on-the-ground research in Ho Chi Minh City
