Sat on Vietnam’s central coast is Hội An (Hoi An), a beautiful city known for its well-preserved Ancient Town and Thu Bon River which weaves its way through the buildings. This year, it has also been named the “best value for money” destination in the world thanks to new research from Post Office Travel Money.
In their research, the Post Office Travel Money said: “Topping the chart for the first time is Vietnam, where a 14.4 per cent price fall in Hoi An has been achieved through a combination of lower charges in restaurants and bars and a sizeable drop in the value of the Vietnamese dong.
“At £51.18 for the barometer basket, Hoi An has leapfrogged last year’s leaders to rise from sixth to first place in the worldwide barometer and has done so because it is one of only eight destinations to combine a reduction in local prices with falling currency values.”
At the time of writing, £100 is worth roughly 31,345 VND. As such, the experts found that your holiday money can go extremely far. Based on the findings from The Post Office Travel Money, it was determined that two people can enjoy a three-course evening meal with a bottle of wine for less than £40, coming in at £39.20.
A bottle of local beer or larger, meanwhile, will cost just £1.16 and a single medium glass of wine is just £3.62.
When compared to the cost of the average pint or glass of wine in the UK, there’s a noticeable difference. According to data from Finder.com, the average cost of a pint in the UK is £4.21, and this price rises up to £5.90 on average in London.
A glass of wine in the UK costs £4.96 on average as of February 2024, based on data from the Office of National Statistics.
If you want a soft drink, such as a Coca-Cola or Pepsi, you can expect to pay less than £1, with the average price in Hoi An a mere 72p. A bottle of water will set you back just 43p and a cup of filter coffee was found to cost £1.30.
Food and beverages aren’t the only things that the Post Office found to be cheap in the Vietnamese city, however. They also pointed out that the average price of a bottle of suncream is £3.70 and a 50ml container of insect repellent is just £1.05.
There is plenty to do in Hoi An, with the city known best for its atmospheric presence and unique scenery, as well as stunning architecture. Exploring the city via its waterway is one of the most popular experiences for tourists, whether that is on foot or if you manage to hop into a local boat.
According to data from Expedia, some of the top-rated and cheapest stays start for less than £30, many of which offer swimming pools and lush green surroundings.
One of the best-reviewed properties is Hoi An Holiday Villa, with a near-perfect 9.8 out of 10 rating. Stays here will set you back just £30 per night, at the time of writing, and there is a swimming pool to enjoy, as well as the option to add on breakfast.
