Cambodia vs Vietnam: Which one is Cheaper to Visit?

Cambodia and Vietnam are among the leading tourist destinations in Southeast Asia. Attractions of both countries are popular among travelers throughout the world. And what is nothing less important, it would surprise you how affordable they are. Regardless of how much this statement is true, the definition of affordability differs from one traveler to another. In the light of this fact, we have gathered and compared some general costs in both countries. This article allows you to estimate which destination, Vietnam or Cambodia, will cost you less for a trip. Check for more information about Cambodia and Vietnam tour.

Angkor Wat Cambodia

Traveling costs in Cambodia and Vietnam Each

Travel expenses are the basis of every trip. And both Vietnam and Cambodia are cheap in this regard. Unless you dispose of a very tight budget, you should be able to afford to fly between top tourist destinations in both countries. Let's take Phnom Penh and Siem Reap in Cambodia, and Ho Chi Minh and Hanoi in Vietnam as such.

For example, return flights from Phnom Penh to Siem Reap cost $60 and over in November. Flying from Ho Chi Minh to Hanoi is the least expensive in January, starting from $90. Traveling between these destinations in September is the most expensive. The cost of a flight between the Cambodian cities this time of year rises up to $150. As for the Vietnamese cities, related expenses increase up to $180.

Furthermore, you can get between the cities by bus. In general, the bus ticket in one direction for getting between Phnom Penh and Siem Reap costs approx. $10. Total expenses for getting between the mentioned Vietnamese cities by bus are usually up to $40. Considering these facts, it is obvious that Cambodia beats Vietnam considering travel expenses.

Cost of Visiting top tourist attractions in Vietnam and Cambodia

Both countries have many outstanding tourist attractions. And visiting those is another important thing to consider while planning the budget. The Angkor Archaeological Park and the Royal Palace are some key attractions in Cambodia. Among atrractions in Vietnam, the Halong Bay and the Mekong Delta are among top tourist hotspots. So, what are the standings of this Vietnam vs Cambodia contest?

The Angkor Pass entitles you to visit the temples of the Angkor Archaeological Park. There are three passes available, with the validity period of 1, 3 and 7 days. The 1-day pass, which is the most affordable, costs $37.The price of the 3-day pass is $62, while the 7-day Angkor Pass will set you back $72.

For a meaningful visit to the Royal Palace and the adjacent Silver Pagoda in Phnom Penh, you should hire a guide. And both the entry and the guide should cost around $15 or $20, depending on whether you intend to use the camera. So, let's say that you need to plan between $50 and $60 at least for the essential sightseeing in Cambodia.

Halong Bay

The Halong Bay is a natural marvel you should visit while you are in Hanoi, Vietnam. To that end, organizing an individual trip or joining a guided tour are both possible.Either way, the price of this excursion shouldn't cost you less than $100, if that, if it's a proper one. Cruising the Mekong Delta near Ho Chi Minh is among the most popular tourist activities in the area. And the prices of these activities vary to a large extent. Among other variables, it depends on whether you choose cheaper boats or board sightseeing ships. And the related expenses could range anywhere from a few dozen $ to a few hundred $. Hence, touring top tourist attractions in Vietnam should cost you at least $150 one way or another.

Now, we could state that Cambodia beats Vietnam 2-0 at this point.

Is accommodation cheaper in Vietnam or Cambodia?

Lodging costs are usually among the highest expenses in the traveler’s budget. Fortunately, this may not be entirely true for the destinations such Cambodia and Vietnam are. If you travel on a budget, finding an accommodation that wouldn't cost you over $5 per night is possible in Cambodia. If visiting neighboring Vietnam is on your priority list, prepare up to $10 per night for a budget lodging.

Mid-range travelers pay around $10 per night for a bed in Cambodia. In general, mid-range accommodation in Vietnam costs approx. $20 per night.

Finally, tourists preferring luxury could count on the lodging expenses starting from $30 in Cambodia. As for Vietnam, you should prepare to spend around $60 for an upscale accommodation, in general.

Cambodia vs Vietnam: 3-0.

Dining expenses

At last, some good news for fans of Vietnam.

According to certain statistics, budget travelers spend less on food in Vietnam than in Cambodia. The cost of dining in Cambodia is around $5 per day. In Vietnam, however, it is possible to keep these expenses under $4.

Vietnam Pho

The situation is similar with the travelers spending more on food. If you happen to be a mid-range tourist, you could do with the $11 budget for food per day in Cambodia. In Vietnam, spending $10 per day on food is a commonplace.

Even if you don't mind spending a lot for a meal, $20 or $30 per day should sufficein Cambodia. You can say pretty much for Vietnam, as well.

Vietnam against Cambodia: 1-3.

How much unplanned expenses cost tourists in Cambodia and Vietnam?

We can say that both countries are very safe for tourists. Even the fact that many residents of Cambodia live in poverty doesn't change that. You can travel far and wide accompanied by the locals without having the slightest discomfort. So, if you practice basic safety measures, inconveniences should escape you.

Yet, wherever tourists appear, scammers show themselves, too. And scams are the most frequent type of crime travelers face in Vietnam and Cambodia.Fortunately, the chances of a significant loss on your part are extremely low, even if you become a victim of a cheater. In Cambodia, such "costs" aren't likely to exceed $2 or $3. In Vietnam, unplanned expenses imposed by scammers typically range up to $5.

Therefore, mistakes cost less in Cambodia than in Vietnam. 4-1.

Cambodia vs Vietnam final count

With everything elaborated so far, we are able to conclude the following: Cambodia is a significantly cheaper destination than Vietnam. With the budget-conscious approach, keeping daily expenses under $30 shouldn't be a challenge here. For traveling Vietnam, plan a somewhat higher daily budget - up to $40.