I've been to SE Asia 5x now and almost every person I've met along the way has said Vietnam was their favorite. I beg to differ though, I love Philippines for the adventure. Vietnam wins in SE Asia for the food though!
Prices (USD):
Food: $1-$10 meal (breakfast is usually included with hostel room+board)
Beer: $1-$3 local domestic
Stay: $10-$15 for a dorm in a hostel or $25+ for a private in a hostel
Flight: $~700-850 from NYC <> HAN/SGN typically. Upwards of $1,500 in peak season (July)
Internet (SIM Card): $4-$10, different plan packages for phone, text, data. I suggest getting it done at the airport. We had issues doing it locally because of the language barrier in setting it up. Many places have WiFi as well.
Domestic Flights: $35-$80 one way (DAN, HAN, SGN, DLI). Unlike Philippines and Bali, these prices seem to actually fluctuate.
Hanoi
Stay
Friends Inn & Travel $25/night for a private. It looks nothing like the pictures, the place looks decades older IRL but they're amazing with the breakfast offerings and booking travel.
Do
Free Walking Tours of the War Sites & Old Quarter. These are led by local students to help them practice English. Ask them anything and please tip them! You can book a day in advance.
Street Train Road for beer & food. High speed trains drive by within inches of you, many of the cafes will have the train schedule for times.
Night Market for shopping and street food!
Eat
Banh Mi 25 $1 Banh Mi (the best!)
Bia 20 Put this in google maps to find a long street of outdoor food, drinking plus bars with dancing
Ha Long Bay
Stay
Friends Inn & Travel $25/night for a private. It looks nothing like the pictures, the place looks decades older IRL but they're amazing with the breakfast offerings and booking travel.
Do
Free Walking Tours of the War Sites & Old Quarter. These are led by local students to help them practice English. Ask them anything and please tip them! You can book a day in advance.
Eat
Banh Mi 25 $1 Banh Mi (the best!)
Bia 20 Put this in google maps to find a long street of outdoor food, drinking plus bars with dancing
Sapa Mountains
Stay
Friends Inn & Travel $25/night for a private. It looks nothing like the pictures, the place looks decades older IRL but they're amazing with the breakfast offerings and booking travel.
Do
Free Walking Tours of the War Sites & Old Quarter. These are led by local students to help them practice English. Ask them anything and please tip them! You can book a day in advance.
Eat
Banh Mi 25 $1 Banh Mi (the best!)
Bia 20 Put this in google maps to find a long street of outdoor food, drinking plus bars with dancing
Hoi An
Stay
Friends Inn & Travel $25/night for a private. It looks nothing like the pictures, the place looks decades older IRL but they're amazing with the breakfast offerings and booking travel.
Do
Free Walking Tours of the War Sites & Old Quarter. These are led by local students to help them practice English. Ask them anything and please tip them! You can book a day in advance.
Eat
Banh Mi 25 $1 Banh Mi (the best!)
Bia 20 Put this in google maps to find a long street of outdoor food, drinking plus bars with dancing
Da Nang
Stay
Friends Inn & Travel $25/night for a private. It looks nothing like the pictures, the place looks decades older IRL but they're amazing with the breakfast offerings and booking travel.
Do
Free Walking Tours of the War Sites & Old Quarter. These are led by local students to help them practice English. Ask them anything and please tip them! You can book a day in advance.
Eat
Banh Mi 25 $1 Banh Mi (the best!)
Bia 20 Put this in google maps to find a long street of outdoor food, drinking plus bars with dancing
HCMC
Stay
Friends Inn & Travel $25/night for a private. It looks nothing like the pictures, the place looks decades older IRL but they're amazing with the breakfast offerings and booking travel.
Do
Free Walking Tours of the War Sites & Old Quarter. These are led by local students to help them practice English. Ask them anything and please tip them! You can book a day in advance.
Eat
Banh Mi 25 $1 Banh Mi (the best!)
Bia 20 Put this in google maps to find a long street of outdoor food, drinking plus bars with dancing