Budget/Backpacker Travel Guide: Halong

Accommodation

$8-25 per night

Dorm beds in hostels, basic guesthouses, budget hotels with shared facilities

Food & Dining

$5-15 per day

Street food stalls, local markets, Vietnamese pho shops, self-catering from markets

Transportation

$3-10 per day

Public buses, shared minivans, walking, bicycle rentals for short distances

Activities

$8-25 per day

Free temple visits, basic day cruises, cave entrance fees, budget group tours

Eat at local markets and street stalls instead of tourist restaurants (typically 60-80% cheaper)

Book overnight cruise packages that include accommodation and meals (usually 20-40% savings vs separate bookings)

Use public buses and shared transport instead of private taxis (typically 70-85% cheaper)

Visit during shoulder seasons for accommodation discounts of 25-50%

Book multi-day packages that bundle activities rather than individual tours (generally 15-30% savings)

Stay in Halong City rather than Cat Ba Island for lower accommodation costs (typically 30-50% cheaper)

Bring water bottles and snacks for day trips to avoid inflated cruise prices (can save $10-20 per day)

Only eating at hotel restaurants and tourist areas instead of exploring local food scenes (typically costs 150-300% more)

Booking last-minute accommodation during peak season without comparing options (can cost 100-200% more than advance booking)

Taking taxis for all transportation instead of using public buses and shared transport (typically 400-600% more expensive)

Booking single-day activities separately rather than multi-day packages (usually 20-40% more expensive)

Not negotiating prices at markets and for services where haggling is expected (can overpay by 50-100%)