Hanoi is one of Southeast Asia’s most affordable capitals but prices vary a lot depending on where you eat, where you sleep, and how you get around. A solo backpacker can survive comfortably on $25 a day. A couple after a bit more comfort will spend $80-$120. Someone who wants good hotels, restaurant meals, and a reliable airport transfer will land closer to $150-$200 per day.
This guide breaks it all down by category accommodation, food, and transport with real 2026 prices and a sample budget table for 3, 5, and 7-day trips.
Quick Answer: What Does Hanoi Cost?
- Budget traveller: $25-$40 per day (dorm bed, street food, Grab rides)
- Mid-range traveller: $60-$120 per day (private hotel room, mix of restaurants, occasional taxi)
- Higher-comfort traveller: $150-$250+ per day (boutique hotel, restaurant dining, private transfers)
Hotel Costs in Hanoi
Hanoi’s Old Quarter is the most popular base walking distance to Hoan Kiem Lake, food streets, and the main sights. Tay Ho (West Lake) is quieter, better for longer stays, and popular with expats. Ba Dinh suits business travellers.
| Accommodation type | Price per night (USD) | Style | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hostel dorm | $8-$15 | Shared bathrooms, social vibe | Solo backpackers |
| Budget private room | $20-$40 | Simple en-suite, Old Quarter | Couples, light travellers |
| Mid-range hotel | $50-$120 | Pool, breakfast, city views | Most travellers |
| Boutique / luxury | $150-$400+ | French colonial design, spa | Special trips, comfort seekers |
Prices rise 20-40% during Tet (late January/early February) and major Vietnamese public holidays. Book at least 3-4 weeks ahead for those periods.
Local tip: Streets closest to Hoan Kiem Lake (Dinh Tien Hoang, Hang Khay) tend to price 15-20% higher than streets one or two blocks back. Same quality, better value.
Where to Stay in Hanoi: The Ultimate Hotel & Area Guide
Food Costs in Hanoi
Hanoi rewards travellers who eat where locals eat. The city’s street food is genuinely excellent, not a scaled-down tourist version and you can eat extremely well for very little.
Street Food and Local Restaurants
The backbone of the Hanoi food scene. Pho and bun cha are the headline dishes, but don’t overlook banh cuon (steamed rice rolls), xoi (sticky rice), and bun bo Nam Bo (dry noodle salad). Most street vendors open early and close when the food runs out usually by 9-10am for breakfast spots.
Mixed Eating
A practical approach for most travellers: street food for breakfast and lunch, a sit-down restaurant for dinner. This keeps daily food costs between 200,000-400,000 VND ($8-$16) while letting you enjoy a comfortable evening meal with a drink or two.
Western Food and Dining Out
Tay Ho and the Hoan Kiem lakefront have the highest concentration of Western restaurants, wine bars, and cafes. Expect 200,000-500,000 VND ($8-$20) per main course. Fine dining goes higher.
| Dish | Price (VND) | Price (USD) | Where to try |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pho | 40,000-60,000 | $1.60-$2.40 | Pho Gia Truyen, 49 Bat Dan [Map] |
| Bun cha | 40,000-65,000 | $1.60-$2.60 | Bun Cha Huong Lien, 24 Le Van Huu [Map] |
| Banh mi | 20,000-35,000 | $0.80-$1.40 | Banh Mi 25, 25 Hang Ca [Map] |
| Com binh dan (rice plate) | 30,000-50,000 | $1.20-$2.00 | Any neighbourhood canteen |
| Egg coffee | 45,000-75,000 | $1.80-$3.00 | Cafe Giang, 39 Nguyen Huu Huan [Map] |
| Bia hoi (draught beer) | 5,000-10,000 | $0.20-$0.40 | Corner of Ta Hien & Luong Ngoc Quyen [Map] |
| Mid-range restaurant meal | 100,000-200,000 | $4-$8 | Ba Dinh, Tay Ho, Hoan Kiem |
| Western restaurant meal | 200,000-500,000 | $8-$20 | Hoan Kiem / Tay Ho lakeside |
Local tip: Restaurants on the Hoan Kiem lakefront (Dinh Tien Hoang street) charge 20-30% more than the same food one street back you’re paying for the view. Worth it for a special evening, not for every meal.
Local tip: Currency tip: change money at gold shops (tiem vang) in the Old Quarter rather than hotel lobbies or airport counters. Rates are typicall y 2-4% better. Look for signs with “MUA BAN NGOAI TE” (foreign exchange).
Where to eat in Hanoi: Top 10 must-eat local dishes
Getting Around Hanoi
Hanoi’s Old Quarter streets are narrow and traffic is heavy during rush hour (7-9am and 5-7pm). For most travellers, Grab covers everything it’s cheap, reliable, and the price is shown before you book.
| Option | Cost | Best for | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| GrabBike | 8,000 VND base + 12,000-14,000 VND/km | Solo travellers, short hops | Fastest in traffic |
| GrabCar | 15,000 VND base + 15,000-18,000 VND/km | Groups, luggage | Book via app for metered price |
| City bus | 7,000-9,000 VND | Budget travellers | Slow but ultra-cheap; Bus 86 goes to airport |
| Motorbike rental | 100,000-150,000 VND/day | Experienced riders | Freedom to explore; bring your licence |
| Metered taxi (Mai Linh, G7) | 10,000-12,000 VND/km | Late night, comfort | Only use official taxis with meters |
Local tip: Download and set up the Grab app before you arrive in Hanoi. You’ll need a local SIM or active roaming to use it getting a SIM at Noi Bai Airport is the simplest option.
Avoid cyclos (three-wheeled bicycle taxis) around Hoan Kiem unless you’ve agreed a written price in advance. The standard tourist price is 200,000-300,000 VND for a short circuit, but some drivers charge far more at the end of the ride.
Arrival Hanoi Fast Track Immigration Lane USD $35
No Dedicated Agent with Standard Package
Getting From Noi Bai Airport to the City
Noi Bai International Airport (HAN) is about 35km north of Hanoi’s Old Quarter. Under normal traffic conditions the drive takes 35-60 minutes allow 90 minutes during peak hours or when there are road works.
| Option | Cost | Journey time | Best for | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bus 86 | 45,000 VND (~$1.80) | 45-90 min | Budget travellers | Runs 5am-11pm; stops at Old Quarter |
| Grab (app) | 350,000-450,000 VND ($14-$18) | 35-60 min | Most travellers | Fixed price shown before booking |
| Official metered taxi | 400,000-500,000 VND ($16-$20) | 35-60 min | Late arrivals, families | Mai Linh or G7 only |
| Private transfer | 500,000-700,000 VND ($20-$28) | 35-55 min | Groups, heavy luggage | Pre-book for smooth pickup |
Local tip: Buy a local SIM card inside the arrivals hall before leaving the airport (Viettel, Mobifone, and Vietnamobile all have counters). A tourist SIM with 10-15GB of data costs 100,000-150,000 VND (~$4-$6) and means you can use Grab immediately when you step outside.
Important: only use official metered taxis (Mai Linh green cars, G7 white cars) or book via the Grab app. Drivers who approach you in the arrivals hall offering “fixed price” rides are typically unlicensed and will charge 2-3x the going rate.
If you want to skip the immigration queue entirely and get from plane to taxi in under 20 minutes, Fast Track Vietnam handles the full arrival process at Noi Bai. A dedicated agent meets you at the aircraft, escorts you through fast track immigration and customs, and takes you to your transport.
See how Noi Bai fast track works | Fast track vs. regular immigration: what’s the difference?
Sample Trip Budget by Travel Style
Budget Style
Hostel dorm or cheapest private room. Street food and local canteens. GrabBike and city bus.
| Category | 3 days | 5 days | 7 days |
|---|---|---|---|
| Accommodation | $24-$45 | $40-$75 | $56-$105 |
| Food | $15-$24 | $25-$40 | $35-$56 |
| Transport (in-city) | $9-$15 | $15-$25 | $21-$35 |
| Estimated total | $48-$84 | $80-$140 | $112-$196 |
Mid-Range Style
Private hotel room with breakfast. Mix of street food and sit-down restaurants. GrabCar and occasional taxi.
| Category | 3 days | 5 days | 7 days |
|---|---|---|---|
| Accommodation | $150-$360 | $250-$600 | $350-$840 |
| Food | $45-$75 | $75-$125 | $105-$175 |
| Transport (in-city) | $18-$30 | $30-$50 | $42-$70 |
| Estimated total | $213-$465 | $355-$775 | $497-$1,085 |
Higher-Comfort Style
Boutique or upmarket hotel. Restaurant dining most nights. Private car transfers and metered taxis.
| Category | 3 days | 5 days | 7 days |
|---|---|---|---|
| Accommodation | $450-$1,200 | $750-$2,000 | $1,050-$2,800 |
| Food | $90-$150 | $150-$250 | $210-$350 |
| Transport (in-city) | $45-$75 | $75-$125 | $105-$175 |
| Estimated total | $585-$1,425 | $975-$2,375 | $1,365-$3,325 |
These figures cover accommodation, food, and in-city transport. Add airport transfers (see table above), entrance fees (most Hanoi sights cost 30,000-100,000 VND), and spending money for shopping.
Local Tips That Most Guides Skip
Hoan Kiem Lake at dawn (5:30-7am) is one of Hanoi’s best free experiences. Locals do tai chi, run laps, and play badminton on the paths around the lake. It is calm, quiet, and genuinely off the tourist radar at that hour.
Dong Xuan Market (north end of the Old Quarter) sells the same items as the tourist shops on Hang Gai and Hang Non streets for 30-50% less. It is a wholesale market, so staff are less patient with browsers, but the prices reflect it.
Train Street (Ngo 224 Le Duan and nearby lanes) is worth visiting, but go early morning or late afternoon on weekdays rather than weekend evenings when it is crowded and vendors have raised prices accordingly.
Free experiences: the streets around Hoan Kiem on weekend evenings (pedestrianised, with street performers and food vendors), Long Bien Bridge at dusk, and the exterior of the Temple of Literature cost nothing and are some of the most memorable parts of a Hanoi trip.
Explore Things to see and do in Hanoi
Start the Trip Without the Airport Queue
The most stressful part of arriving in Hanoi for most travellers is the immigration queue at Noi Bai, which can run 45-90 minutes during busy international arrivals. Everything else in this guide the food, the old streets, the lake at dawn is easy once you’re in the city.
Fast Track Vietnam’s airport assistance service handles arrival and departure at Noi Bai (Hanoi), Tan Son Nhat (Ho Chi Minh City), and Da Nang. A dedicated agent meets you at the aircraft, escorts you through a separate fast track immigration lane, assists with customs, and delivers you to your transport typically in under 20 minutes from landing.
Book Noi Bai fast track service
Arrival Hanoi
Fast Track Immigration Lane
No Dedicated Agent with Standard Package
USD $35
Final Thoughts
Hanoi is one of the few cities where the cheapest option is eating on plastic stools, riding a GrabBike through the Old Quarter, sitting by the lake with an egg coffee is often the best option. The budget version of this city is excellent.
Use the tables in this guide to build a realistic budget before you go, factor in the airport transfer, and you should arrive without any financial surprises.