Although our arrival in Vietnam was rough, because getting a fair price was genuinely difficult, over our month in the country we gradually got the hang of it and found ways to pay a reasonable amount.
The classic tourist mistake is to order, eat, and then ask how much you owe. In a country like Vietnam, you ask the price first, then order.
But a system that works even better is to order, wait for it to be prepared, pay what you've observed other people paying for something similar, and eat in peace. Every time I used this trick I paid the local price without any fuss.
If we have no idea what something costs and there's no other customer around to gauge from, we can still use the same principle. Depending on our rough sense of local prices, we can hand over a small note that we think should cover it, then read the seller's face to decide whether to ask for change or assume we've got it right. The other option is to ask directly — but always before consuming the product.
With this system — paying once it's been prepared but before you eat — you're in a stronger position for once. If the seller won't sell at the right price, their food goes to waste. Compare that to the classic tourist scenario: eat first, then pay whatever they ask, with a better or worse expression on your face.
Another tip, fairly obvious, is to get away from tourist areas. Prices are much higher there, and the quality is often no better.
If you still want the English menus and table service, never forget to bargain. A discount is almost always possible. Walk into any establishment, look at the prices, say it's a bit over your budget and that you don't have much money — and there's a good chance they'll immediately offer you a better deal.
On public transport, find out the real fare in advance and be completely firm about it. They'll often insist the price is much higher, or come up with excuses about your luggage, but if you hold your ground they'll eventually accept the real amount.
These same tips apply in many other places around the world, but in Vietnam they're essential — thanks to the guerrilla spirit that runs through Vietnamese culture. For a broader version of this trick, see the definitive trick to paying local prices. And if you want to know exactly what we spent, here's our Vietnam spending breakdown.
