The renowned British travel magazine, Time Out, has highlighted the most budget-friendly countries for travelers based on the firsthand experiences of journalist Lola Mendez. After 5 years of traveling through Southeast Asia, Mendez champions the region for budget-conscious explorers. From £12 a day (approximately 420,000 VND), visitors can enjoy delicious food, comfortable accommodation, and enriching exploration.
Vietnam secured the second spot on the list, with an average daily cost of £15 (approximately 520,000 VND). “Vietnam has the cheapest beer. Draught beer is often less than 20,000 VND per glass. A filling banh mi meal costs less than 25,000 VND at street food stalls. Travelers can also find comfortable accommodation in highly-rated dorms or hostels (8+ on Booking.com) starting from 80,000 VND per night," Mendez wrote.
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Draught beer and street food are perfect for backpackers. Photo: NickM |
Draught beer and street food are perfect for backpackers. Photo: NickM
Mendez described Vietnam as offering "amazing experiences". Beyond the basic costs, Time Out also highlighted Vietnam's rich cultural experiences, with water puppet shows costing around 100,000 VND, and many temples and museums offering free admission. In Da Nang, admission to the Nui Than Tai hot springs park costs a little over 40,000 VND.
Transportation is convenient and affordable, with public transport costing under 13,000 VND. Rides through apps like GrabBike are generally under 30,000 VND, while train tickets from Hanoi to Hue cost upwards of 700,000 VND.
Laos topped the list as the cheapest Southeast Asian country, with a daily cost of £12 (approximately 420,000 VND). Accommodation in Luang Prabang and Vientiane starts from 110,000 VND per night, while in Vang Vieng, prices can be as low as 50,000 VND. Street food, like sticky rice with grilled pork, typically costs around 20,000 VND or less, and Lao beer is available for under 25,000 VND.
The magazine also suggested Cambodia as another budget-friendly option, with costs comparable to Vietnam. Meanwhile, Singapore and East Timor were identified as the most expensive countries in Southeast Asia.
Tam Anh (Time Out)
