Vietnam: May 2007 - June 2007

We cycled through the central highlands of Vietnam and found it to be the cheapest area of Southeast Asia. Rooms with only a fan were rare, but a room with air-conditioning and an ensuite bathroom ran around US$6 to $US9. Food was close to free. A big bowl of beef pho was US$0.50 and a cup of strong Vietnamese coffee was US$0.25. The only time we felt like we got ripped off in Vietnam was on public transport where we would pay US$20 to US$40 for rides that were very cheap for locals.

*We classify food, lodging, and miscellaneous costs as daily costs. Food and Lodging are pretty obvious. The only thing to mention is that beer is included in the Food category. Miscellaneous costs include toiletries, internet cafes, stamps and postage, haircuts, laundry, gasoline, phone calls, and any other small costs we need to keep us going on a daily basis.

**We categorize our non-daily costs into the following categories. Gear is the maintenance of our existing gear as well as new purchases. Maps and guidebooks are also included in this category. Fees, Fines, and Tolls includes visas, banking fees, and any other official fees we are required to pay. Entertainment is used for park and museum entry fees, guided tours, movies, books, and any other activities we do which require payment. The Transportation category includes bus, train, taxi, subway, and ferry rides including any fees we have to pay for the bicycles. Health includes trips to the doctor and medications as well as any immunizations boosters we need.