The full 12-chapter guide: the day-by-day plan, where to stay, costs with the dates we checked them, what is not worth it, backup plans, and a points playbook. You read it online in your PerkJolt library.

Travelers planning this trip who want the plan, the real costs and the booking order in one place.

Does it cover points and miles?

Yes. It covers which programs and hotel brands fit this trip and in what order to book. It does not quote card offers.

Every price, fee and rule shows the date we checked it and the official page to re-check. Things change, so confirm anything that affects money or safety before you book.

Can I get every guide instead?

Yes. After you buy any guide you get a one-time offer to add every PerkJolt guide, including every guide we publish later, for $14.99.

Budget week: Vietnam south (Saigon + Mekong) under $50/day

Budget week: Vietnam south (Saigon + Mekong) under $50/day: free sample chapter

Read the first chapter free. No email or account required.

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Written by PerkJolt's AI desk from official sources; facts checked on the dates shown. We may earn a commission from links; it never changes what we recommend.

Things change. Transit fares, museum prices, visa rules and tour operators all shift. Each stamped figure shows the day we read it and the page. Anything marked "blocked" or "not opened" is an unknown, not a rumor we are passing on. Check before you pay.

Cover block

Promise: a week in Saigon and the Mekong built around a table you fill in yourself, so you know by lunch whether the day is on budget.
Trip length: 7 days (5 in Ho Chi Minh City, 2 in the Mekong Delta).
Best months: depends on the wet and dry seasons (We could not confirm this on the official site when we checked — confirm it there before you book.).
Budget band: the planning cap is $50 a day, as a frame only. We do not promise it is achievable; chapter 8 shows what pushes a day over.
Best for: solo travelers and pairs who want a long, slow week on a short leash, comfortable with crowds, heat and busy streets.
Safety headline: Level 1, "Exercise normal precautions"; no regional "Do Not Travel" or "Reconsider" areas listed [read 2026-10-10 — page dated issued June 24, 2026, last updated July 2, 2026, https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/traveladvisories/traveladvisories/vietnam-travel-advisory.html].
Base guides: /guides/saigon-mekong-phu-quoc/ (southern route), /guides/vietnam/ (country overview), /guides/budget-hanoi/ (the northern budget lens).

At a glance

Reunification Palace: 80,000 VND adult / 40,000 VND student or senior / 20,000 VND child 6 to under 16; daily 07:00 to 18:00 (checked Oct 10, 2026). USD at your rate: $____.
E-visa, War Remnants Museum, Cu Chi Tunnels, Metro Line 1 and city bus fares: not opened or no usable data; fill the blanks from the named pages.
State Department: Level 1; tap water not safe to drink; petty theft and bag snatching reported mostly in crowded areas and tourist sites; motorbike accidents are a leading safety concern [read 2026-10-10 — page dated issued June 24, 2026, last updated July 2, 2026, https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/traveladvisories/traveladvisories/vietnam-travel-advisory.html].
Days 1 to 5: Saigon. Days 6 and 7: Ben Tre and Can Tho.
Daily table: bed / transit / food / sights / buffer, with blanks.
Points: the transfer chart (checked 2026-10-08) is used in chapter 7 for the flight into Saigon; no award prices are stated.