The most common question we get in tour inquiries isn’t about sights — it’s “how much does this cost?” Fair enough. Prices are the part of planning everyone dances around, and most guides online give ranges so wide they’re useless.
So here’s a concrete 2026 price guide from a local operator. We’re quoting our own tour prices — actual numbers you can book today, in USD per person, with the VND equivalent where it helps.
Saigon Half-Day Tours: $25-71
This is the sweet spot for most first-timers — a half day, one focus, back to your hotel by lunch or dinner.
| Tour | USD | ~VND | Duration |
|---|---|---|---|
| Saigon Unseen Motorbike | $25 | ~630k | 4 hrs |
| Saigon Cyclo Tour | $29 | ~730k | 3 hrs |
| Saigon Food Tour by Scooter | $39 | ~980k | 3.5 hrs |
| HCMC Sightseeing Highlights | $39 | ~980k | 4 hrs |
| Private Saigon Jeep Tour | $71 | ~1.8M | 4 hrs |
Rule of thumb: scooter and cyclo experiences sit at $25-30. Anything with a private car or a vintage vehicle (jeep) climbs to $39-71. The jeep isn’t a “better” tour — it’s a different vehicle and a different vibe, and you’re paying for the wheels.
Cu Chi Tunnels: $29-39
Cu Chi is the most-booked half-day trip out of Saigon. The price split is simple: group vs private.
| Option | USD | What you get |
|---|---|---|
| Daily Group Tour | $29 | Shared minibus, fixed stops, English guide |
| Private + Rice Paper Village | $39 | Private car, flexible pace, extra village stop |
| Cu Chi + Mekong Full Day | $69 | Two icons in one day, private |
Mekong Delta: $47-69
Full-day trips into the delta run $47-69. The variation is mostly group size, boat type, and how “touristy” the route is.
- Ben Tre, not-touristy day tour: $47 — smaller boats, fewer stops aimed at souvenir shops.
- Private My Tho-Ben Tre full day: $55 — private car, more flexibility.
- Cu Chi + Mekong combined: $69 — the classic “two icons” day.
Special-Interest Tours: $29-179
- Battle of Long Tan: $59 — 5 hours, battlefield history, Australian-focused.
- Farm Tour & Cooking Class: $39 — half day out of HCMC.
- Saigon Lotto Tour: $29 — food, beer, and a Vietnamese lottery show.
- Phu Quoc Jeep Tour: $69 — island exploring by jeep.
- Ha Giang Loop from Hanoi: $179 — 2-3 day motorbike loop, the big one.
- Paragliding Da Nang: $79 — a city tour with an actual flight.
What’s NOT in the Tour Price
Every operator’s “from” price hides something. Here’s what to ask before you book:
- Entrance fees: some tours quote transport + guide only, then charge park tickets separately (Cu Chi, temples).
- Lunch/drinks: food tours usually include tastings; city tours often don’t include lunch.
- Tipping: not mandatory in Vietnam, but guides appreciate it. A fair guide tip is $5-10/person for a full day.
- Personal spending: the shooting range at Cu Chi, souvenirs, extra drinks.
At AN Tours, our listed prices are all-in for what’s on the itinerary — transport, guide, and the inclusions named on the page. If an entrance fee applies, it’s stated in the tour description, not slipped in later.
How to Compare Prices Honestly
- Compare the itinerary, not the headline. A $10 cheaper tour with a 45-minute shopping stop is more expensive in time and boredom.
- Check group size. “Group tour” can mean 8 people or 40. Bigger groups are cheaper for a reason.
- Look for all-in pricing. The best sign of a transparent operator is the word “included” followed by a list.
- Ask about cancellation. If it rains, can you reschedule free? That’s worth money in monsoon season.
Full-Day & Port Tours: $59-78
If your itinerary includes a cruise stop or a full day with more distance, prices climb but stay reasonable.
- Vung Tau Shore Excursion from Phu My Port: $59 — designed for cruise passengers, 6 hours, port pickup.
- Private HCMC Tour from Phu My Port: $78 — port to city highlights and back.
- Private Can Gio Tour by Speedboat & Car: $59 — mangrove forest, monkeys, beach time.
Port tours are a category of their own: you’re paying for the port logistics and the tight timing around your ship’s schedule. If your cruise stops at Phu My, book a tour designed for that — generic city tours often don’t account for the 2-hour drive between the port and Saigon.
Multi-Day & Destination Tours: $49-179
Vietnam isn’t just Saigon. If you’re combining cities, here’s the range you’ll see for quality tours elsewhere:
- Hanoi Sightseeing & Food by Jeep: $49 — 4 hours, capital highlights + food stops.
- Hoi An Countryside Tour: $49 — 4.5 hours by jeep or vespa.
- Hoi An City Tour: $49 — the lantern town’s best bits.
- Hoi An Food Tour: $29 — hidden gems on foot.
- Hoi An Cooking Class: $29 — 6 hours, market + kitchen.
- Phu Quoc Snorkeling Tour: $39 — 5.5 hours, speedboat + coral reefs.
- Ha Giang Loop from Hanoi: $179 — the 2-3 day motorbike loop, Vietnam’s most epic ride.
See the pattern? Half-day experiences in any city cluster at $29-49. Multi-day and special logistics (ports, remote regions) run $59-179. If a “full-day tour” quote comes in under $25, ask what’s being cut — it’s usually the quality of the vehicle, the guide’s English, or the lunch.
Inter-City Transport: Budget This Separately
Tours cover the day, but getting between cities is a separate cost travelers forget. Options range from $15 bus tickets (slow, cramped) to $100+ private cars (fast, comfortable, door-to-door). For families and couples, a private airport transfer is worth the small premium — it removes the most stressful part of arrival.
If you’re moving Saigon → Da Nang → Hoi An → Hanoi, expect to spend $40-80 per leg for private inter-city transport, or budget for flights on the longer legs (Da Nang-Hanoi is a quick 1.5-hour flight).
The VND Reality: What Your Dollar Buys on the Ground
Tour prices are quoted in USD, but your day-to-day spending in Vietnam is in VND. For reference, in August 2026, $1 is roughly 25,000 VND. That means:
- $29 tour ≈ 725,000 VND — less than a nice dinner for two in downtown Saigon.
- $39 tour ≈ 975,000 VND — about what a short taxi ride costs in Sydney.
- $69 combined day ≈ 1.7M VND — two full experiences, private transport, guide, and lunch.
When you frame it that way, the “expensive” private tour in Vietnam is usually cheaper than a casual night out in a Western city. The perceived cost is the problem, not the actual number.
Vietnam vs. Neighboring Countries: The Price Reality
Travelers often ask whether Vietnam is actually cheaper than Thailand or Bali. For tours specifically, yes — by a noticeable margin. A private half-day food tour in Bangkok runs $50-70; the same in Saigon is $39. A full-day private Mekong trip at $55 compares to $80-100 for a similar day in Thailand’s floating markets region.
What you’re not paying for in Vietnam: forced shopping stops (common in Thailand’s budget tours), resort taxes, and long transfer times. The day is denser with actual experience per dollar.
When Prices Change: Seasonality, Holidays, and Exchange Rates
Three things move tour prices in Vietnam:
- Peak season (Dec-Feb, Jul-Aug): transport costs rise 10-20%, and operators sometimes add a peak surcharge. Book early to lock prices.
- Vietnamese holidays (Tet, National Day): guides and drivers get limited days off; expect higher prices or waitlists during Tet especially.
- Exchange rate: quotes in USD shield you from VND swings, but a strong USD makes everything cheaper in practice. Check the rate before you budget.
The honest advice: prices quoted today are usually honored for bookings 1-3 months out. Beyond that, ask for a written confirmation of the price when you book — it protects both sides.
Sample Budgets: What a Trip Actually Costs
Let’s put it together with three real budget scenarios for a 5-day Saigon-focused trip (tours only, not flights or hotels):
Budget traveler: ~$142/person
- Daily Cu Chi group tour: $29
- Local night walking food tour: $29
- Mekong Delta group day: $47
- Cyclo tour: $29
- Remaining days free: $0
Mid-range: ~$203/person
- Saigon food tour by scooter: $39
- Private Cu Chi + rice paper: $39
- Private Mekong full day: $55
- HCMC sightseeing highlights: $39
- Walking food tour: $29
Comfort: ~$300+/person
- Private jeep tour: $71
- Private Cu Chi + Mekong combined: $69
- Private sightseeing: $39
- Private food tour: $39
- Private Mekong My Tho-Ben Tre: $55
- Long Tan battlefield: $59
Notice the spread: a solid 5-day tour program runs $140-300 per person depending on privacy level. That’s less than one night at a mid-range resort in the Maldives, for five full days of guided experiences. Vietnam remains one of the best value tour markets in the world — if you book smart.
Not sure which tour type fits you? Our private vs group comparison and how to choose a Vietnam tour guide cover the decision from both angles.
FAQs: What Travelers Actually Ask
Is Vietnam cheap for tours?
Yes, by international standards. A private half-day tour in Saigon costs roughly what a meal for two costs in Sydney or London. The same tour in Thailand or Bali typically runs 30-50% more.
Should I pay in USD or VND?
Our tours are quoted in USD; you can pay by card or cash in either currency. For general spending, carry some VND — street stalls don’t take cards.
Are there hidden fees?
Read the inclusions. At AN Tours, if an entrance fee isn’t included, it’s written in the tour page. Ask before booking if you’re unsure — any operator who dodges that question is a red flag.
Do prices change by season?
Peak season (Nov-Apr) can add 10-20% for transport, especially inter-city. Half-day city tours usually hold their price year-round.
And if you see a deal that looks too good — a full-day private tour for $15, a “luxury” package at budget prices — run the math on what has to be cut. Vehicles cost money. Guides cost money. Fuel costs money. The only way a $15 full-day tour exists is if someone else is paying for you along the way, usually through commission-heavy shopping stops. The cheapest tour is rarely the cheapest trip.
Budget travelers, here’s your real hack: pick one “spend” tour you genuinely care about and book it private (for us, that’s usually the food tour or the jeep tour), then fill the rest of the trip with group tours and free wandering. You get one memorable, personalized experience plus the savings everywhere else. That hybrid approach gives most people the best of both worlds.
The Short Version
Budget roughly: $25-40 per person for half-day Saigon experiences, $40-70 for full days out of town, and $70-180 for multi-day or special experiences. That covers the real market range for quality tours in Vietnam in 2026.
If you’re planning a trip and want a straight answer on what fits your budget, browse our tours or message us on WhatsApp at +84 70 6666 520. We’ll tell you honestly what’s worth the money and what isn’t.
