Vietnam rated among 10 cheapest destinations for Australians

Tourists join boat tours of Tam Coc-Bich Dong, a major draw in the northern province of Ninh Binh. Photo by Shutterstocks/hoangan

Vietnam has always been popular among budget-conscious travelers, and with 2019 almost upon us, it is worth going back to a country where the best meal costs only US$2.

The website says: "That’s what’s on offer in Vietnam, not just on one rare occasion, but every time you sit down for breakfast, lunch or dinner. The food here is just so good and so cheap."

Traveller also recommends that Australian tourists should head to the Mekong Delta, famous for boat tours, to explore mangroves, cajuput forests, floating markets, and fruit orchards.

The Central Highlands town Da Lat, with its charming French colonial heritage, is also a must-visit place in 2019. It has gained popularity both as a romantic place for lovers and an oasis that offers cool climate in a country that usually sweats all year round, Traveller tells its readers.

The remaining countries in the list are Indonesia, South Africa, Georgia, Bulgaria, Italy, India, Bolivia, Mexico, and Turkey.

Booking data from Webjet, the largest online travel booking site in Australia, last October showed that Vietnam has overtaken Bali to become the most favourite travel destination for Australian tourists.

Volcano eruptions and earthquakes have deterred Australian tourists from returning to Bali, and the number of tours to the beautiful island has reduced significantly, news.com.au quoted Webjet's managing director John Guscic as saying.

Recently Australian news website Nine listed three destinations in Vietnam, Nha Trang, Da Lat and Hanoi, among its 10 cheapest locations for a budget journey.

Meanwhile, with the cost of living in Vietnam for expatriates ranging from US$700 to US$1,400 per month, the country is among the most affordable places for foreigners to settle down, according to a recent report by global cost of living database compiler Numbeo.