Forbes has included northern Vietnam in a list of 21 low-cost travel destinations for 2017.
“Vietnam is known as a budget destination, but the region north of Hanoi along the Chinese border often gets overlooked by travelers,” the magazine said in a recent report.
Bordering Laos and China, the mountains of northern Vietnam are well-known for their sensational scenery and culture. Travelers often return home with amazing shots of rice terraces, towering mountains, twisting roads and ethnic minority peoples, the magazine noted.
Travelers can find private accommodation for US$10-15 a night while dorm beds cost $5 on average.
Meals cost $0.50-2 and transportation between towns runs to just a few dollars.
In July, for a third year in a row, the 2016 Trip Index report by TripAdvisor named Hanoi as the least expensive of 20 popular tourist cities surveyed.
Forbes also recommended Palawan in the Philippines (8th) and Luang Prabang in Laos (13th).