Far East on £5 a day: The wonders of Vietnam

Ho Chi Minh City

It is within such examples of American cinema that many a person’s entire knowledge of Vietnam sits; an unfortunate consequence of the looming shadow cast over the world by the war with America and its inevitable trivialisation by Hollywood.

When discussing South East Asia as a travel destination, many get blinded by the beckoning bright lights and beaches of Thailand. However, Vietnam is emerging as the region’s premier attraction, and this is due to its accessibility, friendliness and sheer majesty that Hollywood and the world has sadly overlooked.. Be it a heavenly beach, a bustling city or a dense mountain forest you seek, you will emerge spellbound by the transcendence and variation of Vietnam’s natural setting.

The vertical linear structure of Vietnam means that most tourists arrive in either the capital Hanoi in the North or Ho Chi Minh City in the South, and make their way up or down the country .

An open bus ticket costs about £12 - this allowed me to travel in one direction between the two cities, stopping as and when I pleased in intervening cities along the way. All that was needed was the notification of the bus office one day before I intended to depart. For what turns out to be roughly 30 hours travelling, it is amazing value.

North Vietnam - Hanoi

Hanoi

Hanoi as a starting point serves a great introduction to Vietnam’s historical and spiritual past. Our days were easily passed admiring the French colonial architecture, visiting the pagodas and temples, and tasting some of the best (and cheapest) food Asia has to offer.

Start the day with a steaming hot bowl of noodle soup (pho) for 30p, tuck into barbequed meat with vermicelli and vegetables (bun cha) for 60p at lunchtime, and for dinner try some rice crepes filled with minced pork, shrimp and mushrooms (banh cuon), also for 60p. A typical day’s eating in the country’s relatively expensive capital, all for £1.50! Also, be sure to join the crowds in queuing to see the preserved body of Ho Chi Minh at his mausoleum, seeing such veneration of an idol is a truly fascinating occurrence and one that will not cost you a penny in Hanoi.

Ha Long Bay

For arguably the quintessential Vietnam experience, and another example of Vietnam in popular cinema, we forked out roughly £25 (our greatest extravagance of the whole holiday, with all meals included!) for the privilege of spending 3 days and 2 nights on a junk boat in Ha Long Bay.

This represents immense value for what is one of Asia’s most spectacular natural sites. One may recognise the bay from the end of Tomorrow Never Dies, where James Bond visits the Ha Long Bay area to take down the villainous Elliot Carver. This World Heritage Site is an awe-inspiring seascape consisting of thousands of limestone islets, it is an absolute privilege to swim and ride among these pillars of splendour.

Moving South

Hoi An

The strikingly beautiful Hoi An’s well preserved architecture reflects Vietnam’s trading history, where local and foreign influences created a unique townscape that today shows little sign of decay despite its 500 year heritage.

What to do? Hit a Bia Hoi! Bia Hoi (fresh beer) is delivered in kegs daily to small shops throughout the country, where locals pull up a stool and drink fresh locally brewed pilsner to the tune of only about 6p a glass. They are a great way to meet locals and pass time in a fun local environment. So equipped with nothing but a pack of cards and a pound each in local currency, we proceeded to drink ourselves into an afternoon daze, safe in the knowledge that this was cheaper and (probably) safer than drinking water!

Nha Trang

Moving down again, we hit the coastal beach city of Nha Trang, which is a fabulous place to relax during the day and hit the bars at night. Fantastic from a monetary perspective, it costs nothing to sit along the ample kilometres of beach all day, and it (potentially) costs next to nothing to have a fun night out!

To get customers inside, bars offer complimentary drinks upon entrance, and there is no obligation to buy anything once you are in there. The most tight-fisted could easily have the booziest of weekends spending no more than £3-4 a day on food and accommodation, and this makes it a great place to soak up some sun and party whilst consolidating the budget.

Ho Chi Minh City

Ho Chi Minh City is positively elating; the economic capital throbs with markets, cafes and vendors. £50 tailored suits, £1 communist military hats and 50p DVDs are some of the bargains for shoppers, whilst history buffs will find themselves in socialist heaven.

The War Remnants Museum, Reunification Palace and a day trip to the world famous Cu Chi Tunnels offer great insight into Communism and just how proud the Vietnamese really are. The £3 day trip to the tunnels is an essential price one must pay to see the immense underground network the Vietcong constructed.

Later, we even got to play Rambo, paying 65p a bullet to fire the AK47, M16 and M60.

One will find that the Vietnamese experience is often centred on atmosphere, and soaking this is does not cost a thing. Taking a day to just stroll around wherever you are gives glimpses into history - be it colonial, dynastical or political – and a myriad of opportunities to interact with locals

It’s difficult to place Vietnam purely within the context of price. The fact that five-star tourist facilities exist indicate that people are willing to pay top dollar to see this magnificence, whilst the country’s wonders may also be enjoyed on a restricted budget.

So start saving or alternatively beg your relatives for a flight ticket as a present, because that will be your only big expense. Vietnam is easily one of the most rich, striking, and enticing lands on the planet.

Add Comment

You must log in to submit a comment.