I am standing at an ATM in Ho Chi Minh City Vietnam scooping up tens of thousands of Dong, the Vietnamese currency. It feels as if I have just hit the jackpot in Vegas. I try to stuff the paper currency into my wallet but it is so fat that it won't close.

I feel rich. That is until I figure out what the 50,000 Dong I just pulled out of the machine is worth in dollars. About three dollars. The exchange rate for 1 USD is worth about 16,000 Dong. Oh, well. I have three dollars to spend. How far will it get me?

What Can You Buy with a Vietnamese Dong?

The good news is that in Vietnam, 50,00 Dong will get you a lot. A taxi ride across town, a few local beers or a bowl or two of noodles. Vietnam is one of the most affordable travel destinations out there. And I have comparision shopped, having just returned from a four month voyage circumnavigating the globe on a ship with visits to 11 different ports on four continents.

Rand, Rupee, Yen, Yuan, Ringgit, Real, Dong, Dollars, - I've spent them all. Though I'm not the most frugal traveler, I know a bargain when I see one. And travel in Vietnam IS a bargain.

Affordable Transportation in Vietnam

Let's start with transportation. The Vietnamese manage to get around quite well on all manner of vehicles from mopeds, to oxcarts, cyclos, rickshaw, bicycles and foot. My cyclo ride around Ho Chi Minh City was the most cost effective travel adventure of my entire four-month journey. A cyclo is a pedal powered vehicle with a low seat in front for the passengers and a bicycle type saddle in back for the driver. The average cost is 50 US cents per kilometer. (Taxis average 45 US cents per kilometer while it costs about 1 USD to rent a bike for a day).

I was advised to pay the equivalent of about 6 USD for a one-hour ride around the city. Though my driver was willing to accept 100,000 Dong or 6 USD I decided to pay him 160, 000 Dong or 10 USD. He pedaled me all around the city in hot, sticky weather, pointing out sights and stopping wherever I asked him to stop. He even posed for photos and videos. In the end I tipped him an extra 100,00 Dong. It was worth every penny.

Affordable Shopping in Vietnam

Shopping is also an affordable adventure. One of the best buys is clothing. There are many dressmaking and tailor shops where travelers can get measured and have suits and dresses hand made. The quality is excellent and the turn around time can be less than a day.

The Ao Dai, the traditional Vietnamese silk tunic and matching pants for women can be hand tailored for about 15 to 30 USD. Seamstresses will also copy high fashion styles from magazines at bargain prices. Shoes are also a great deal. My favorite pair of pink bejeweled heels cost about 12 USD at a truck stop shop. Mens' suits can be hand tailored for 80 to 100 USD. One young man I know had three suits tailored-two for job interviews and one bright yellow suit for fun.

Other items of clothing:

*Silk ties cost 3 to 7 USD
*T shirts cost 8 to 15 USD

Good Food in Vietnam for Every Taste

Now for food. Of all the food in the 11 ports I visited, Vietnamese food wins hand down, both for taste as well as cost. "Eating opportunities" vary, from street stalls to cafes and family restaurants.

Dishes range from traditional Pho noodles which cost about 1 USD to more complex seafood and vegetarian meals that can range from 4 USD in a cafe to 6 USD in a local restaurant. In Hanoi, a city with a heavy French influence, meals are prepared with fresh ingredients and French flair and can range from 10 to 20 USD.

Other food items:

*Vietnamese coffee costs about 40 US cents
* Soft drinks cost 50 US cents
* local beer cost 25 US cents

So, if you're looking for an exotic and affordable Asian adventure, get to Vietnam before the prices go up.