Vietnam Food Trip: Hanoi, Hoi An & Ho Chi Minh City in 6 Days

This foodie itinerary is budgeted around $600 to $970 per person excluding international flights. Street meals are inexpensive, so most of the spend goes on internal flights, a mid-range hotel and the occasional sit-down restaurant or cooking class. Carry cash for markets and small vendors.

Choose busy stalls with high turnover, watch food cooked to order, and drink bottled or filtered water. Ice is generally safe in cities but be cautious in remote areas. Carry oral rehydration salts and give your stomach a day to adjust before trying very spicy or fermented dishes.

November to April gives comfortable eating weather in Hanoi, Hoi An and Saigon at once, with Hoi An's driest stretch running into August. Avoid the hottest, wettest months if you plan long walks between markets. Tet, in late January or February, closes many family-run eateries for days.