In February, we wrapped up our time in Vietnam, marking the end of a slow and steady chapter of our trip. This fourth month on the road shows how our costs evolved as we settled into a slower pace of travel.

If you’re new here, our first budget post explains our approach and what’s included in these numbers.

Currency note: All amounts below are shown in Canadian dollars (CAD) and reflect conversions at the rate used by our card providers at the time of purchase.

Where we were

• 25 days in Hoi An
• 3 days in Da Nang

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At a glance

• Total spent: CAD 2,199.09
• Monthly budget: CAD 4,000.00
  • Under budget by: CAD 1,800.91

All expenses below are for two people.

Compared to previous months, this month had the lowest total spend so far. However, our daily average was slightly higher than in January due to the shorter month. This is a good reminder that monthly totals can be misleading—daily averages often tell a more accurate story.

Running trip total (November 2025–February 2026)

• Total spent: CAD 11,541.68
• Total budget : CAD 16,000.00

After four months on the road, we are already 28% under budget, with CAD 4,458.32 remaining.

Expense breakdown for February

Accommodation — CAD 975.28 (44%)

• Average per night: CAD 34.83
  • 25 nights in Hoi An — CAD 862.00
    • CAD 34.48 / night
  • 3 nights in Da Nang — CAD 113.28
    • CAD 37.76 / night

February accommodation costs were slightly higher than in January but still lower than in the earlier months.

Food

• Eating out — CAD 259.18 (12%)

• Groceries — CAD 297.34 (14%)

Overall grocery costs were similar to January, but eating out was almost 25% lower. During Lunar New Year, many local eateries were closed for extended periods, which naturally reduced how often we ate out.

Flights (regional) — CAD 0 (0%)

No flights this month, which helped keep overall costs down.

Shopping (non-food) — CAD 177.72 (8%)

Tailored pants and custom sandals I had made in Hoi An.

Entertainment — CAD 152.13 (7%)

A new category this month, including tickets for two performance shows in Hoi An.

Sightseeing & activities — CAD 175.93 (8%)

Includes entry fees and tours. Overall sightseeing costs were lower than in January.

Other expenses — CAD 110.23 (5%)

• Transportation: CAD 50.72
  • Grab rides and a transfer to Da Nang
• Health & Care: CAD 76.15
  • Massages and a facial
• Coffee: CAD 12.60
  • Still made fillter coffee at home most of the time
• Fees and charges: CAD 22.04
  • Vietnam e-visas.

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What stood out this month

• Accommodation costs were comparable to January but slightly higher, as Hoi An and Da Nang have more tourist-oriented pricing than Hue—though still significantly cheaper than Hanoi.
• Food costs were a surprise, coming in as the lowest so far. We ate out less frequently in Hoi An, which significantly reduced overall food spending.
• Transportation expenses were also the lowest of the trip so far. With only one inexpensive transfer from Hoi An to Da Nang and minimal Grab use, we mostly got around on foot.
• Shopping (non-food) was the highest of the trip so far, as I ventured into custom tailoring in Hoi An—a fun but clearly one-off expense for us.
• Sightseeing costs were relatively low, even with one private tour, though we chose to spend more on two performance shows instead.

Travel style observations

Pace & stay duration

This was our slowest month. We had only one transfer between locations, spent 25 nights in one place, and didn’t take any overnight side trips. The holiday period also contributed to a slower pace.

Spending nearly a month in one place made this feel less like travel and more like temporary living.

Transportation & local logistics

With no long-distance travel and walking almost everywhere in Hoi An, transportation costs stayed very low.

Accommodation & food

This was the most cooking we did on the trip. Having a kitchen made it much easier to maintain our routine during this period.

Final thoughts

February was another very budget-friendly month, confirming how affordable Vietnam can be—even in more touristy destinations.

Visiting Hoi An for just a few days during Lunar New Year would likely feel hectic and limiting. Spending a full month there—before, during, and after the holiday—offered a much more relaxed and immersive experience.

With our time in Vietnam coming to an end, the next question is how our budget will adjust in a new country starting in March.