Our friend of us were asking about the trip expenses from our previous trip to Vietnam. So herewith the new category of this blog : Trip Expenses. Hopefully it will be useful for our readers.
Airline
We took Air Asia flight from Kuala Lumpur to Hanoi. This trip was last minutes decision, thus the fare was little bit expensive. Total for 3 passengers was 1,941 MYR, booked 25 days prior the trip. This include the meals for all of us without check in baggage. Few days prior departure we added 20kg + 25 kg check in baggage which was cost us MYR 115. So the total was 685 MYR per person, return.
Hotel
Usually we stay in budget hotel, but for several reasons we want to make this trip special and H’Mong Sapa Hotel was chosen. This is a nice hotel with Fanxipan view, price per night is USD 65 for superior double room, breakfast included. My suggestion is to contact the hotel directly to have a good price and more personal correspondence. We stayed for 2 nights in H’Mong Sapa.
We had very short transit in Hanoi prior our flight back to KL and decided to stay in the hotel near Hoan Kiem Lake. No reservation at all but we were so lucky. The taxi driver took us to the Hang Hanh Street, and I was literally knocking the door one by one to find available room. Not easy, but less than 10 mins we found a room in Hanoi Artisan Boutique Hotel. The receptionist guy was so kind, although it was 4:30 AM he seems very happy to prepare the room for us. 1 Executive City view room for USD 40, breakfast included for 2 persons, extended check out until 5:00 PM. I would say this is a great deal. My daughter can took a shower after a long night bus, the room was pleasant, breakfast was very good, also walking distance to the Hoan Kiem Lake and shopping center.
Airport Transfer
Noi Bai Airport is quite far from Hanoi City Centre, approximately 45 min driving if no traffic. Airport to Hanoi, we were sharing taxi with 2 new friends that we met in the airport. Mai Linh Taxi – Innova car, 400k Dong. The taxi was great, but our taxi driver couldn’t speak English at all. Then we should show them the train station address in Vietnam language. Back to the airport – we use airport transfer service from Artisan, 18 USD for 1 car.
Hanoi – Sapa – Hanoi
Hanoi to Lao Cai, we took a night train and bought the ticket from the “agent” in the train station, 10 mins prior departure . Royal Express Carrier VIP Class for 2 persons costs us 2,000K Dong with 50 k Dong as a bonus for the agent’s friend. Kid in the same bed. Lao Cai to Sapa was free, using hotel’s pick up service. Return to Hanoi, we took a night sleeper bus, SAOVIET for USD 15 per person.
Meals
Free and delicious breakfast from hotel, and only vegetarian or seafood meals for lunch and dinner. Difficult to find halal food in street vendor, thus we always went to the restaurant. Vietnam’s Restaurant are very cheap, especially in Sapa. In average we spent IDR 150,000 – 200,000 per meals for 3 persons. Happy
Souvenir
We only bought magnet in Hanoi for 20k Dong per pcs. Very cheap.
That’s all, for anything don’t hesitate to contact me.