Vietnam on a budget

Cheapest months to go

Peak is March, April, May, November. The weeks either side of that window usually carry most of the weather with much less of the price.

Getting around for less

Realistic options in Vietnam:

• Cheap domestic flights make the long north–south axis practical on a two-week trip
• The north–south railway is slow but scenic, with sleeper services between the main cities
• Sleeper and day coaches connect almost everywhere, including mountain routes
• Ride-hailing apps and metered taxis are the easy option inside cities
• Boats matter for Ha Long Bay, the Mekong Delta and island transfers

Where to base yourself

Fewer bases means fewer paid transfers. Hanoi, Ha Long Bay, Ninh Bình cover a lot between them.