🥭 How much does it cost to live in Vietnam?
Prices for food, household chemicals and alcohol in Da Nang , Hanoi , Ho Chi Minh City and Nha Trang
Why is Vietnam a budget paradise?
Vietnam attracts tourists and expats not only with the sea and sun, but also with prices that will not make your wallet thinner. Want mango for pennies or beer cheaper than water? You've come to the right place! I looked into the Big C Go hypermarket in Da Nang and collected current prices for 2025, adding insights from the markets of Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City and Nha Trang. Spoiler: you can save 2-3 times at the markets if you know how to bargain. LetFind.me reveals how much it costs to live in Vietnam so you can plan your budget without surprises. 😎
🍎 Fruits: From Strawberries to Durian
Vietnam is a fruit paradise, where mango and dragon fruit are available all year round. Here are the prices at Big C Go (Da Nang):
- Strawberry (250g) - 89 VND
- Apples (kg) - 69-000 VND
- Watermelon (kg) - 19 VND
- Mango (kg) - 19 VND
- Durian (kg) - 75 VND (an acquired taste!)
- Avocado (kg) - 35 VND
Insight: At Han Market in Da Nang or the Nha Trang Night Market, strawberries cost just 25,000 VND for 250 g—3,5 times less! But check for freshness and haggle: Vietnamese respect those who knock 10–20% off the price. In Hanoi, mangoes are cheaper in May (15,000 VND/kg) due to the season.
🥕 Vegetables: The Basis of Vietnamese Cuisine
Vegetables are the heart of local soups and salads, and the prices in supermarkets are pleasing to the eye:
- Tomatoes (kg) - 29 VND
- Iceberg lettuce - 13 VND
- Cabbage (kg) – VND 7
- Carrots (kg) - 15 VND
- Onion (kg) - 12 VND
- Potatoes (kg) - 20 VND
- Sweet potato (kg) – VND 28
- Lime (kg) - 20 VND
Lifehack: At Ben Thanh Market in Ho Chi Minh City, cabbage can cost 5,000 VND/kg if you go in the morning. In Nha Trang, buy limes at the night market—they're fresher and 30% cheaper. Smile at the vendor, and the discount is yours!
🍖 Meat, fish and seafood
Meat and fish in Vietnam - from budget chicken to premium salmon. Prices at Big C Go:
- Beef (kg) - 248 VND
- Pork neck (kg) - 145 VND
- Chicken breast (kg) - 89 VND
- Sea bass (kg) - 99 VND
- Salmon fillet (kg) - 522 VND (import!)
- Shrimp (250g, frozen) - 99 VND
Insight: In Ho Chi Minh City, fresh shrimp at Tan Dinh Market costs 80,000 VND per 250 g, while in Da Nang, you can buy grouper from fishermen on My Khe Beach for 70,000 VND per kg. Avoid imported salmon—local fish like pangasius are delicious and five times cheaper.
🥛 Dairy and baby products
Dairy products are not so popular in Vietnam, but everything you need is there:
- Milk (1 l) - 28 VND
- Yogurts (4 pcs.) — 19 VND
- Processed cheese (120 g) - 24 VND
- Butter (180g) - 82 VND
- NAN OptiPro Baby Formula (can) - VND 517
- Huggies diapers (size M) - 170 VND
Lifehack: In Hanoi, look for dairy products at Co.opmart—they have a wider selection, and yogurts are sometimes on sale (15,000 VND for 4 yogurts). Baby products in Nha Trang are cheaper at the markets, but check expiration dates—counterfeits are common.
🍚 Grocery and prepared foods
Rice, noodles and eggs are the basis of the Vietnamese diet, and the prices are a pleasant surprise:
- Rice (1 kg) – VND 29
- Eggs (dozen) – 26 VND
- Sausages (280g, beef/pork) - 26 VND
- Bacon (200g) - 68 VND
- Pasta (500g) - 16 VND
- Rice noodles (200g) - 12 VND
Insight: In Da Nang, rice at Con Market costs 20,000 VND/kg, and in Ho Chi Minh City, try the local "farm" eggs at the markets—they're fresher and only 22,000 VND per dozen. Buy sausages from supermarkets—street ones can be of questionable quality.
🍺 Alcohol and drinks
In Vietnam, beer is sometimes cheaper than water, and wine pleasantly surprises with its price:
- Pepsi (1,5 l) - 15 VND
- Heineken (0,33 l) – 19 VND
- Still water (1,5 l) - 9 VND
- White wine (750ml) - VND97
- Vodka (0,5 l) - 82 VND
Lifehack: In Nha Trang, Saigon beer on tap at bars costs 15,000 VND for 0,5 liters—cheaper than at Big C! In Hanoi, look for deals on wine at VinMart, especially Chilean wine (from 80,000 VND). Beware of counterfeit vodka at markets—buy only from supermarkets.
🧼 Household chemicals and cosmetics
Shampoos and washing gels in Big C Go - for every taste and budget:
- Washing gel (4,1 l) - 184 VND
- Pantene shampoo (650 ml) – VND 129
- Pantene conditioner - 153 VND
- Colgate Toothpaste (150g) - VND46
Insight: In Ho Chi Minh City, household cleaning products are cheaper at Lotte Mart (laundry detergent from 150,000 VND). In Da Nang, look for local shampoo brands (such as Thorakao) – they cost 50,000–80,000 VND and do a great job. Avoid counterfeit cosmetics in Nha Trang markets – Pantene logos are often copied.
Living in Vietnam is cheap and tasty!
Vietnam is a budget paradise, where mangoes cost less than water and beer is cheaper than coffee. Fruits, vegetables, meat and seafood at the markets of Ho Chi Minh City or Nha Trang will save you a ton of money if you bargain with a smile. Imported goods like salmon or baby food are pricey, but local analogues are just as good. Want to eat on a budget and enjoy life? Visit the markets, stock up on cash and save LetFind.me — with us you are not just a tourist, but a real local! 🌴
