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Mekong River trip budget: how much to plan, country by country

Laos, Cambodia, the Vietnamese delta and the Thai bank don't cost the same, and you don't pay in the same currency. Here are the prices recorded in 2026, each with its source and date: transportation along the river, lodging, food, entrance fees, exchange rates and ATMs.

By Pierre-Marie Coupry · updated · sources

Cambodian riel banknotes fanned out

Photo by Leonid Danilov on Pexels

Daily budget in Laos?
$25 to $35 Backpacker; $50 to $75 for more comfort.
The slow boat?
400,000 kip Huay Xai to Luang Prabang, over 2 days.
Train to Luang Prabang?
360,000 kip From Vientiane, 2nd class, April 2026.
Currency in Cambodia?
Dollar and riel Riel for anything under $5.
ATM fee in Laos?
30,000 kip BCEL, per withdrawal, foreign card.

How much does a Mekong River trip cost per day?

We don't calculate averages: the budgets below are those published by well-known guides, with their date and in their own currency.

Daily budget per person, according to the guides that publish one
CountryBudgetMore comfortableSource
Laos$25 to $35$50 to $75Nomadic Matt, February 2026[1]
Vietnam$40 to $70not publishedLonely Planet, October 2025[2]
Cambodia$50$100Nomadic Matt, October 2026[36]
Thailand1,750 baht3,100 bahtNomadic Matt, September 2026[3]
Amounts as published, in their currency, with no conversion on our part. For Cambodia, the items are also listed below.

For Cambodia, Lonely Planet gives no total but lists the items: $5 to $15 a night in a hostel, $10 to $15 in a guesthouse, $1 to $4 for a meal at a local restaurant[4].

Mekong River transportation prices in 2026

Trips along the river, from upstream to downstream
RoutePriceRecorded
Slow boat Huay Xai – Luang Prabang (2 days)400,000 kip; 200,000 kip for one legTravel accounts, 2026[5][6]
Train Vientiane – Luang Prabang360,000 kip in 2nd class, 569,000 kip in 1stFares since April 1, 2026[7]
Sleeper bus Vientiane – Pakse$19 to $34GoAsia, March 2026[8]
Pakse – 4,000 Islands (Don Det), minivan and boat$9 to $16GoAsia, October 2026[9]
Don Det – Kratie, minivan$20 to $36 depending on the optionGoAsia, March 2026[10]
Kratie – Phnom Penh, minivan or busabout $9 to $14GoAsia, March 2026[11]
Speedboat Phnom Penh – Chau Doc1,580,000 dong (1,640,000 the other way)Official fare, June 2026 – June 2027[12]
Approximate prices per person. GoAsia notes that its prices are not real-time quotes; prices in kip change fast (see below).

The slow boat ticket is sold at the pier, and it is priced in kip in all three 2026 accounts we read[5][6]. Guesthouses and agencies resell it for a little more. On the train, the April 2026 increase was about 9% across all classes and routes[7].

How much does a night cost in Laos, Cambodia and Vietnam?

Price of a night, by country
CountryDorm bedBasic room or guesthouseSource
Laos105,000 kip400,000 kip, private room with bathroomNomadic Matt, February 2026[1]
Cambodia$5 to $15$10 to $15 in a guesthouseLonely Planet, October 2025[4]
Vietnam$5 to $10$10 to $20 for a double roomLonely Planet, October 2025[2]
Thailand275 to 550 baht420 to 1,200 baht, guesthouse or budget hotelNomadic Matt, September 2026[3]
National ranges: no dated source publishes ranges by city. Prices for the places we recommend, checked on Booking every month, are on each stop guide.

Food prices in Laos, Cambodia and Vietnam

Meals and drinks
CountryStreet or local mealBeerSource
Laos22,000 to 30,000 kip; 41,000 at a local restaurant25,000 kipNomadic Matt, February 2026[1]
Cambodia (Phnom Penh)$4 at an inexpensive restaurant$0.99 for half a literNumbeo, September 2026[13]
Vietnamfrom $0.70 for a banh mifrom $1 in a barLonely Planet, October 2025[2]
Thailand30 to 100 baht for a street dish60 to 120 bahtNomadic Matt, September 2026[3]

Entrance fees: Angkor, Kuang Si, Vat Phou and more

The most common entrance fees along the way
SitePriceRecorded
Angkor temples (Siem Reap)$37 for 1 day, $62 for 3 days, $72 for 7 daysOfficial site, October 2026[14]
Kuang Si Falls (Luang Prabang)60,000 kip for foreignersTourist office[15]; April 2026 account[16]
Vat Phou (Champasak)50,000 kip, shuttle and museum includedFebruary 2025 account[17]
Cai Rang floating market (Can Tho)100,000 dong per person, standard visitPrices posted by the city, August 2026[18]
Royal Palace, Phnom Penh$10GoAsia, October 2026[19]
For the Khone Falls and the dolphin boats at Kratie, we found no reliable recent price.

Which currency to use in Laos, Cambodia and Vietnam

In Laos, the kip has been the only currency allowed for most purchases since a central bank decision took effect on January 3, 2025. The exceptions mainly cover lodging booked online, international transportation, travel agencies and visas[20]. US dollars are still useful to pay for a visa on arrival, and baht at the Thai borders[21].

In Cambodia, the official currency is the riel, but the dollar is used everywhere: you pay in dollars above $5, and change often comes back in riel[4][22]. In Vietnam and Thailand, you pay in dong and baht.

Official exchange rates
CurrencyPer $1Source
Lao kip22,376Bank of the Lao PDR, buying rate, October 8, 2026[23]
Cambodian riel4,066National Bank of Cambodia, October 8, 2026[24]
Vietnamese dong25,730Vietcombank, cash buying rate, October 8, 2026[25]
Thai baht33.69Calculated from ECB euro rates, October 7, 2026[26]
Rates on the day they were recorded. The rate you get at an exchange office or ATM is less favorable.

Withdrawing cash: ATM fees

Withdrawal fees with a foreign card
CountryFee per withdrawalLimit per withdrawalSource
Laos (BCEL)30,000 kip2,000,000 kipBCEL official schedule, February 2025[27]; limit from a January 2026 account[21]
Cambodia (ACLEDA, Canadia…)$5$500February 2026 account[22]
Vietnam (VPBank, ACB)no fee3 to 10 million dongJanuary 2026 account[28]
Thailand220 to 350 baht20,000 to 30,000 bahtYOU, July 2026[29]
Your own bank may add its fees. Apart from the BCEL schedule, these amounts come from travelers and comparison sites, not from the banks.

Cards are rarely accepted in Laos, often with a 2 to 3% surcharge[21]. In Cambodia, they work mainly in large hotels, restaurants and supermarkets[22]; in Vietnam, Visa and Mastercard are widely accepted[28]. At the ATM and the card terminal alike, decline the conversion into dollars and pay in the local currency[29].

Why prices change so fast in Laos

Inflation in Laos reached 31% in 2023 and 23% in 2024, before falling to 7.7% in 2025[30]. It still averaged 7.9% in the first half of 2026[31]. In March 2026, the fuel crisis led Vientiane to set a special fare on some bus lines[32]. That's why every price in kip on this page carries its date: expect increases from one year to the next.

Questions about budget and money

How much is a SIM card in Laos?
With Unitel, the SIM card costs about 20,000 kip, and the 8 GB plan valid for 10 days costs 25,000 kip (prices checked in September 2026).
And a SIM card in Vietnam?
A SIM card costs 50,000 to 60,000 dong. The Viettel SD120 plan, with 2 GB a day for 30 days, costs 120,000 dong (February 2026).
Should I bring US dollars?
Yes, some. They are used in Cambodia, where the dollar circulates everywhere and ATMs dispense dollars by default, and to pay for a visa on arrival in Laos.

Sources

  1. Nomadic Matt, “The Cost of Traveling Laos” , updated February 3, 2026
  2. Lonely Planet (Joe Bindloss), “Vietnam on a budget” , October 24, 2025
  3. Nomadic Matt, “Thailand Travel Guide” , updated September 21, 2026
  4. Lonely Planet (Nick Ray), “How to visit Cambodia on a budget” , October 8, 2025
  5. Explorer Tom, “Mekong Slow Boat nach Luang Prabang” (travel account) , March 24, 2026
  6. Backpack Moments, “Slow boat in Laos” (travel account) , updated June 17, 2026
  7. Tourism Laos (from The Laotian Times), “Laos-China Railway Raises Fares Across All Routes Starting 1 April” , April 1, 2026
  8. GoAsia, “How to Get from Pakse to Vientiane” , updated March 8, 2026
  9. GoAsia, “How to Get from Pakse to Don Det” , updated October 3, 2026
  10. GoAsia, “How to Get from Don Det to Kratie” , updated March 8, 2026
  11. GoAsia, “How to Get from Kratie to Phnom Penh” , updated March 8, 2026
  12. Hang Chau Tourist (official site), Phnom Penh – Chau Doc speedboat fares , fares for June 2026 to June 2027
  13. Numbeo, “Cost of Living in Phnom Penh” , updated September 7, 2026
  14. Angkor Enterprise (official site), “Available tickets” , accessed October 8, 2026
  15. Tourism Luang Prabang (tourist office), “Kuang Si Waterfall” , undated page, accessed October 8, 2026
  16. The Restless Beans, “Kuang Si Falls” (travel account) , April 13, 2026
  17. Backpack Moments, “Visiting Vat Phou from Pakse” (travel account) , updated February 2, 2025
  18. Tuoi Tre News, “Southern Vietnam's iconic floating market posts public prices to give tourists peace of mind” , August 30, 2026
  19. GoAsia, “Royal Palace Phnom Penh: Cambodia's Glittering Seat of Power” , updated October 5, 2026
  20. Tilleke & Gibbins, “New Regulations on Foreign Currency in Laos” (Bank of the Lao PDR decision No. 11/BOL of January 3, 2025) , 2025
  21. Backpack Moments, “Money in Laos” , updated January 14, 2026
  22. Backpack Moments, “Money in Cambodia” , updated February 8, 2026
  23. Bank of the Lao PDR, “Exchange Rate” , rates of October 8, 2026
  24. National Bank of Cambodia, “Exchange Rate” , rates of October 8, 2026
  25. Vietcombank, posted exchange rates , October 8, 2026
  26. European Central Bank, euro reference rates (USD and THB) , October 7, 2026
  27. BCEL, “International Card Service Fees” (official schedule) , February 2025
  28. Backpack Moments, “Money in Vietnam” , updated January 13, 2026
  29. YOU, “Thailand ATM withdrawal guide” , July 2026
  30. FRED (Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis, World Bank data), inflation in Laos (FPCPITOTLZGLAO) , updated July 7, 2026
  31. The Star, “Global financial bodies warn of slower growth, higher inflation for Laos in 2026” , July 12, 2026
  32. KPL (Lao News Agency), “Vientiane Introduces 10,000 Kip Bus Fare on Selected Routes Amid Fuel Crisis” , March 23, 2026
  33. internetlaos.com, “Unitel Laos data package prices 2026” (prices checked against Unitel) , September 24, 2026
  34. Vietnam Découverte, “Carte SIM Vietnam” , updated February 7, 2026
  35. YOU, “Cambodia ATM withdrawal guide” , May 12, 2026
  36. Nomadic Matt, “Cambodia Travel Guide” , updated October 8, 2026

Pierre-Marie Coupry

Editor-in-chief of the French travel site Bon Plan Voyage, where he has published since 2012. He checks every practical detail against official sources and proofreads everything before it goes live.

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