Under $100: Hanoi

Start your day in Hanoi’s Old Quarter on Ngo Hang Hanh, home to numerous coffee shops. Get a caffeine fix and load up on traditional banh or pho for just a few dollars from a street vendor, or a little more for a full Western breakfast at a sit-down cafe. Either way, plan on around $4 for breakfast.

Get ready for a packed day of sightseeing! For a brief history lesson, visit the Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum and Museum, but be sure to get there early. Visitors are only welcome between 9 a.m. and noon daily. Other museums nearby include the Museum of the Vietnamese Revolution and the Museum of Vietnamese History, both worth a visit to learn more about the country. From there, head to the Temple of Literature, a beautiful temple of Confucius founded in 1070 and home to the Imperial Academy. Budget about $10 total for admission costs to cover fluctuating currency rates.

Save time by finding a busy vendor stall for lunch. Choose from banh mi sandwiches, rice crepes stuffed with minced pork and mushrooms, pho or any other offerings favored by locals. Budget about $5 for lunch, which will cover a wide range of choices and portion sizes.

After lunch, explore the Old Quarter’s colonial streets and check out the shopping. Scarves, souvenirs and silver line the walls of stalls, while the streets teem with locals and tourists alike. Then, head over to Hoan Kiem Lake to see the iconic red bridge and explore the large pagoda on Ngoc Son Island. People watching and relaxing will be a calm way to spend the afternoon following your busy morning!

For dinner, head to Hai San Ngon and treat yourself to some amazing seafood. It’s a step up from street food, but still true to Vietnam’s cuisine. Prawns, crabs, squid and various other dishes will set you back about $5, but budget about $10 if you want to sample widely.

Spend the evening enjoying the Thang Long Water Puppet Theatre for about $4 per ticket. The traditional Vietnamese show features stories told with puppets over a pool of water and it’s a favorite for visitors! Then, head back into the Old Quarter for bai hoi, the local brew of choice. The corner of Ta Hien and Luong Ngoc Quyen serves as the nightly watering hole for those looking for a glass of beer, so mingle and enjoy the bustle! For $1, you’ll be able to tip back a few, but have a few dollars handy for snacks to go with your beer.