How much cash should I bring to Hanoi?
Budget 400,000–600,000 VND/day (16–24 USD) for food, coffee, and local transport as a mid-range traveler. Street food meals run 30,000–65,000 VND each, GrabBike trips 25,000–55,000 VND, and a sit-down lunch 80,000–150,000 VND. Bring 3–4 days of cash and reload at Vietcombank ATMs.
Hanoi is one of the cheapest capital cities in Southeast Asia for a visitor. The question isn’t whether you can afford it — it’s how much cash to carry day-to-day.
Daily budget breakdown (2026)
| Expense | Budget | Mid-range | Comfortable |
|---|---|---|---|
| Breakfast | 25,000–35,000 | 40,000–60,000 | 80,000–120,000 |
| Lunch | 40,000–55,000 | 80,000–150,000 | 200,000–350,000 |
| Dinner | 40,000–55,000 | 100,000–180,000 | 250,000–400,000 |
| Coffee | 20,000–35,000 | 40,000–65,000 | 60,000–90,000 |
| Transport (GrabBike) | 25,000–55,000 | 35,000–70,000 | 55,000–90,000 |
| Daily total | 150,000–235,000 | 295,000–525,000 | 645,000–1,050,000 |
| In USD | 6–10 | 12–21 | 26–42 |
These are food and local transport only — accommodation and day trips are separate.
How much to carry
Carry 500,000–700,000 VND (two 500k bills broken into smaller denominations) for a normal day out. Vendors rarely have change for 500,000 VND notes, so break large bills at convenience stores (Circle K, WinMart) first.
For a 5-day trip, bringing 4–5 million VND in cash and refilling at Vietcombank ATMs as needed is a practical approach. The ATMs in central Hanoi dispense a maximum of 2,000,000–3,000,000 VND per transaction.
What doesn’t need cash
Hotels, upscale restaurants, shopping malls, and larger tour operators accept Visa and Mastercard. Smaller guesthouses may add a 3% surcharge for card payments. Always ask before paying by card.
Street food, local buses, Grab (if not paying through the app), markets, and day-trip ticket counters at destinations like Perf Pagoda are cash-only.