By eight in the morning, our laptops are open. There are videos to edit, blogs to write, clients to meet and businesses to run. Around two, we usually make time for friends or an activity. Dinner is around six or seven. Most evenings, we are in bed by ten.
That is the version of Mũi Né we want to explain.
If you are researching the cost of living in Vietnam, the useful question is whether your budget can support an ordinary month here, including the work and routines you intend to keep.
We arrived in Ho Chi Minh City on August 11, 2026, and travelled straight to Mũi Né. More than two months into our second visit, we have found a rhythm that suits us.
Here are the costs behind that routine, the practical checks we would make before booking, and why we could see ourselves staying longer.
Our cost of living in Vietnam — the starting numbers
Our Elephant House rate is US$20 a day for two people, equivalent to US$600 for 30 nights.
Adding groceries, one scooter rental and insurance for both of us gives the following planning illustration.
| Category | Amount | Basis |
|---|---|---|
| Elephant House accommodation | US$600 | US$20 × 30 nights |
| Groceries | US$400 | Our reported monthly household budget |
| Scooter rental | US$40 | One monthly rental |
| Health insurance | US$200 | US$100 per person, per month |
| Subtotal for these four categories | US$1,240 | Not our complete monthly spending |
This subtotal excludes eating out, mobile plans, petrol, activities, personal spending, travel between destinations and any separately billed utilities.
It combines a 30-night accommodation calculation with our reported monthly recurring costs. It is a planning illustration, rather than a reconciled monthly invoice.
These figures describe our particular arrangements. They are not a national average or a current quotation for another traveller.
All dollar amounts in this article are US dollars. Prices supplied in Vietnamese đồng remain in VND.
Why we returned to Mũi Né
We came back because a business opportunity had been offered to us. We decided not to pursue it.
During this stay, though, we kept returning to another question: could we see ourselves living here for longer?
Our answer is yes.
Because this was our second visit, we understood where we were coming and had realistic expectations. The local character, expat community and ability to maintain a working routine have mattered to us.
Our budget reflects that way of travelling. We spend most of our time in one place and continue working. A short holiday with frequent restaurant meals and travel between destinations will have different expenses.
Where we stayed and what the rent covered
We began at Gem’s House before moving to Elephant House.
| Accommodation | Dates | Our reported rate for two |
|---|---|---|
| Gem’s House | August 11–27, 2026 | US$25 per night |
| Elephant House | August 27–October 19, 2026, with checkout planned | US$20 per day |
Our first stay covered 16 nights. If we leave Mũi Né on October 19 as planned, the two stays will total 69 nights.
We paid for our accommodation and did not receive a hosted stay. No deposit was required for our arrangements.
At Elephant House, water, internet and laundry were included in the arrangement we reported. When comparing rentals, ask for electricity and every other inclusion to be itemised in writing.
Before committing to several weeks, check:
- How electricity is charged and whether meter readings are recorded.
- What cleaning and laundry services are included.
- Whether there is a deposit and how it is returned.
- Whether the kitchen supports the meals you intend to prepare.
- What the room and surrounding street sound like during working and sleeping hours.
A room can photograph well and still be awkward for two people taking calls or spending several hours at their laptops.
Groceries, eating out and everyday expenses
Our groceries run at about US$400 a month.
We also eat out and visit bars, so groceries alone do not represent our full food budget. Keeping those expenses separate makes the final numbers more useful.
For your own stay, think about how often you genuinely want to cook. Check the fridge, cooking equipment and preparation space before choosing a rental on the assumption that you will eat at home.
Some smaller prices from our stay show the everyday choices available.
| Item | Reported price | Unit |
|---|---|---|
| Mobile data plan | US$8 | One 30-day SIM plan, advertised as 6 GB daily |
| Gym | US$13 | Monthly membership price |
| Yoga | Approximately US$5 | Per session |
| Pickleball | 200,000 VND | Per hour |
| Massage | US$8 | Per person |
| Manicure and pedicure | US$15 | Hands and feet |
| Haircut and grooming | US$15 | Haircut, beard shave, ear cleaning and face massage |
These are individual price examples. They should not be added together and presented as monthly spending.
Our mobile plan is also a specific example. Compare the operator, allowance, expiry and hotspot terms rather than assuming every seller offers the same package. If you intend to work using mobile data, test it at your accommodation.
Our scooter rental costs US$40 a month, with petrol tracked separately. If you do not ride, build your budget around the transport you would actually use.
Insurance and occasional healthcare costs
Our health insurance costs US$100 each per month, or US$200 for the two of us.
That is our premium. Another traveller’s price and coverage may differ.
Other prices we reported include US$35 per person for blood tests and US$8 for teeth cleaning. These are individual examples, not quotations or assessments of the services another person might need.
Keep occasional appointments separate from recurring monthly expenses. The frequency, scope and cost matter when you build your own budget.
What working online in Mũi Né looks like
We work from home or a café.
At our accommodation, we have observed internet speeds above 100 Mbps for both upload and download. That describes our connection, rather than a guarantee for every property or time of day.
Our work includes filming, editing, publishing, writing blogs, reviewing analytics, Zoom meetings, merchandise orders, online shop reviews and client meetings.
That makes upload speed useful. It also makes a practical workspace and somewhere to speak without disturbing each other important.
| Time | Our usual routine |
|---|---|
| Around 5 am | Coffee, world news and social media analytics |
| From around 8 am | Laptop work, production, publishing and meetings |
| Around 2 pm | Friends, social plans or activities |
| 6–7 pm | Dinner |
| 9–10 pm | Bed |
This routine suits our current workload. If your clients need you online at different hours, check how that schedule would affect sleep and your time together.
Before paying for a longer stay, try a video call from the room. Upload the kind of file you normally work with. Check your mobile backup.
A speed test measures the connection. Doing your actual work helps you assess the whole setup.
For a broader approach, read our guide to researching destinations without getting lost in online noise.
Making room for local life
The people we have met are one reason Mũi Né feels like somewhere we could stay longer.
During the heavy rain, we helped deliver meals, water and milk to families in a village near Phan Thiết. We also took part in a local beach cleanup.
Staying longer gives you time to learn what people are doing and where help is useful. Follow the people organising the work and contribute in the way they request.
We mention these experiences because they were part of our time here. They are not activities included in the travel project introduced below.
There is also value in ordinary afternoons: meeting friends, sharing a meal and having time for a conversation without immediately needing to leave for the next destination.
The construction deserves an honest mention
Our main frustration has been construction on the main road and how long it is taking. We have noticed the frustration among local business owners too.
At the same time, the amount of housing and development has surprised us.
For a prospective long stay, the exact address matters. Ask for a current video showing the approach to the property and the street outside. Check access and noise for your own dates.
Phan Thiết airport is part of the wider development story. A Vietnamese government update published on June 12, 2026 listed it among airports planned to enter service by 2030 and described the civilian facilities as being developed.
That does not establish an opening date for your trip. Plan your arrival around confirmed services.
Who this kind of stay suits
Based on our experience, Mũi Né is worth considering if you want a coastal base, are comfortable organising your own day, and enjoy getting to know a place through ordinary routines.
It may suit couples, slow travellers and mobile professionals who can bring their work with them and make the time zone work.
It may be a weaker fit if you need an environment without construction disruption, want every day organised for you, or depend on particular services you have not checked locally.
Age alone does not decide the fit. Your working hours, mobility, social preferences, budget and tolerance for disruption will tell you more.
For anyone considering a longer commitment, a temporary stay gives you a chance to test those needs.
For us, the answer is yes: we could see ourselves staying here. The details in this article should help you decide which parts of our routine resemble the life you want to try.
How to build your own Vietnam budget
Start with your accommodation quote for the exact number of nights. Then add the expenses your ordinary life requires.
| Budget line | What to include |
|---|---|
| Accommodation | Agreed rent for the actual dates |
| Utilities and connectivity | Charges not already included in the rent |
| Food | Groceries plus meals and drinks out |
| Local transport | Rental or rides, petrol and relevant additional charges |
| Insurance | Your own premium for everyone travelling |
| Activities and personal spending | Price per visit multiplied by the number you expect |
| Travel between destinations | Flights, transfers, city stays and applicable entry costs |
| Cash buffer | An amount you choose for changes and unexpected expenses |
If you want to compare recorded spending over 30 days, use:
Spending ÷ number of days covered × 30
Only apply that calculation when you know the period the spending covers. A trip total cannot become a reliable monthly average without those dates.
Our current plan is to leave Mũi Né on October 19, spend time in Ho Chi Minh City and continue to Cambodia around October 24.
We will close the wider spending report after that travel, keeping our Mũi Né living costs separate from the city stop and onward journey.
A first look at Vietnam, Unpacked
Our time here is also shaping a project we have been working on: Vietnam, Unpacked by OG Trotter.
We want our readers and followers to hear about it first.
The project centres on a 29-night, 30-day base in Mũi Né, with accommodation options at Gem’s House or Cargo Remote.
The current plan includes accommodation in the confirmed room category, 29 breakfasts, 29 lunches, a welcome orientation, scheduled check-ins and practical hosting support, with time to build your own routine.
Optional experiences could take you around Mũi Né and Phan Thiết or farther afield. Activities such as yoga and golf would be additions you choose, rather than automatic inclusions.
We will share the project properly on November 1, 2026, including how the stays will work and what comes next.
That is the announcement date. Arrival dates, availability and booking details will be explained in the project information.
Disclosure: We are developing Vietnam, Unpacked with accommodation collaborators, including Gem’s House and Cargo Remote. Our personal accommodation costs in this article are separate from the future hosted-stay offering.
Dreaming of Vietnam? Get the next chapter
If you can picture yourself spending longer in Vietnam, join the OG Trotter newsletter.
Receive our next firsthand Vietnam story and the November 1 announcement for Vietnam, Unpacked, with practical details to help you decide whether a longer stay belongs in your plans.
Follow our journey from Mũi Né to Ho Chi Minh City and Cambodia, and find out what we are preparing for travellers who want time to settle in and get to know a place.
Send Me the Vietnam Updates
Stay longer. Notice more.
Leave a Reply