Is Singapore or Vietnam cheaper?

Vietnam is the cheaper of the two: roughly $65–130+/day in Singapore versus under $35–130/day in Vietnam.

When is the best time to visit Singapore vs Vietnam?

Singapore is at its best in February, March, July; Vietnam peaks in February–April, October, November.

Is Singapore or Vietnam better in August?

Singapore is the better of the two in August. Singapore has the edge in June, July, August, Vietnam in April, October, November, and both are at their best in February, March.

How long do you need in Singapore vs Vietnam?

Plan 1–1 weeks for Singapore and 2–6 for Vietnam.

Should I choose Singapore or Vietnam?

Pick Singapore if you want somewhere stronger for city, more urban / city-focused. Pick Vietnam if you want somewhere cheaper across the board, stronger for culture, more off-the-beaten-path. Both deliver on food, so on those either works.

Singapore vs Vietnam

Two strong destinations, different in important ways. Here's the side-by-side, then a verdict on which suits which traveler.

Southeast Asia

Singapore

The best two days you can spend between flights — or on their own.

Best time to visit

January: fine
February: peak
March: peak
April: fine
May: fine
June: fine
July: peak
August: fine
September: fine
October: fine
November: fine
December: fine

Peak Fine Avoid

Southeast Asia

Vietnam

The best food in Southeast Asia, remarkable scenery, a long coastline.

Best time to visit

January: fine
February: peak
March: peak
April: peak
May: fine
June: avoid
July: avoid
August: avoid
September: fine
October: peak
November: peak
December: fine

Peak Fine Avoid

Read our full guides about Singapore and Vietnam.

Side by side

Emphasised where they differ. Muted rows are much the same either way.

	Singapore	Vietnam
Best time	February, March, July	February–April, October, November
Climate	warm	warm
Budget	Mid-range – Premium · $65–130+/day	Backpacker – Mid-range · under $35–130/day
Trip length	1–1 wks	2–6 wks
Visa	Visa-free for most Western passports (30-90 days).	E-visa available for most nationalities (90 days). Verify before travel.
Currency	SGD (Singapore Dollar), roughly 1.35 SGD ≈ 1 USD.	VND (Dong). Roughly 25,000 VND ≈ 1 USD.
Language	English is official, alongside Mandarin, Malay, and Tamil.	Vietnamese. Limited English outside major cities and tourist spots.
Tap water	Tap water safe.	Tap water not safe.
Safety	Among the safest cities in the world; laws are strict, so read up.	Safe. Traffic and pickpocketing are the main concerns.

General guidance — visas, safety, and health change, so check your government's travel advisory and the official sources before you go.

Singapore or Vietnam, month by month

Which of the two is the better bet for each month of the year, scored on how well the season suits each place.

Which to choose

Choose Singapore if:

You want somewhere stronger for city.
You want somewhere more urban / city-focused.

Choose Vietnam if:

You want somewhere cheaper across the board.
You want somewhere stronger for culture.
You want somewhere more off-the-beaten-path.

Both deliver on food — so on those dimensions either works.

Common questions

Is Singapore or Vietnam cheaper?: Vietnam is the cheaper of the two: roughly $65–130+/day in Singapore versus under $35–130/day in Vietnam.
When is the best time to visit Singapore vs Vietnam?: Singapore is at its best in February, March, July; Vietnam peaks in February–April, October, November.
Is Singapore or Vietnam better in August?: Singapore is the better of the two in August. Singapore has the edge in June, July, August, Vietnam in April, October, November, and both are at their best in February, March.
How long do you need in Singapore vs Vietnam?: Plan 1–1 weeks for Singapore and 2–6 for Vietnam.
Should I choose Singapore or Vietnam?: Pick Singapore if you want somewhere stronger for city, more urban / city-focused. Pick Vietnam if you want somewhere cheaper across the board, stronger for culture, more off-the-beaten-path. Both deliver on food, so on those either works.