I remember sending YF a link on facebook, which lists the cheapest destinations for a quick holiday. He was totally on board my hint and said “you can choose a place, we go!” Three months into our relationship, we embarked on our first vacation as a couple! Marking the start of a multitude of #backviewsofmyboyfriend photos. Check out our youtube video here:
We went to the South of Vietnam, namely Ho Chinh Min (Saigon) and Mui Ne (a three hour bus ride away from the city)
Over the course of 6 days, we spent a total of less than S$500, inclusive of all flights, accoms and expenses. Here’s how we did it:
1. Accommodations
Stay in the backpacker street for cheapest accommodations of hostels or guest houses.
We stayed at Thao Nhi Hotel. Any guest house/low end hotel in that area is affordable for backpackers.
Cost: Approx $10 per night
On days we splurge, we spent double the money for a larger room with better view and amenities, but far away from the city.
Mui Ne Hills Budget Hotel:
2. Bargains
Learn how to bargain on street markets! Don’t buy products if you don’t think its worth it. And ask around different stalls.
Cost: Fake Under armour shirts for S$4, elephant pants for S$4
3. Try new food
Try to eat from road side stalls. These are not only cheap but very delicious! (But be warned, some are have not very high hygiene standards and some stomachs may not be suitable for eating it!!) We tried a huge variety of food from different classes of stores:
We had pizza from The Pizza Company
And Pho from Pho 2000, a franchise store:
And Bahn Mi (Vietnamese sandwich) from a road side stall
And we tried dried banana pieces from a street vendor
4.Local tour groups
Don’t book online, book at the hotels/hostels/local tour agency! Compare prices and go to offices instead of roadside vendors, they offer more reliable and haggle-free prices. We went to The Sinh Tourist. We booked for Cu Chi tunnels tour and a bus to and from Mui Ne at a very good price from this agency.
5. Transport
Book an Uber instead of a local cab (especially from the airport). Get a sim card from the airport and download uber. Register the new account and start riding! Uber prices are fixed and for us, we felt it was relatively safe. Super cool the uber driver that sent us home from airport on the first day also sent us back to the airport on the last day.
Read our 6-day super chill slow-paced South Vietnam itinerary here!