Last updated 10 October 2026. The European Central Bank does not publish a dong rate, so figures use a market rate of about VND 25,863 to the US dollar on 10 October 2026, which moves daily. The flight fares are from the Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City searches I ran on 7 October 2026 for a late-October trip.
Trekking in Nepal from Vietnam: the short answer
The price of 12 days to Everest Base Camp: USD 1,399 Budget, USD 2,499 Standard, USD 4,999 Luxury, per person, parties of one to four. At today's rate that is about VND 36,200,000, VND 64,600,000 and VND 129,300,000, and 2027 departures cost the same. Vietnamese passport holders buy the visa on arrival. There is no nonstop from Hanoi or Ho Chi Minh City, and the cheapest returns in my search were USD 965 and USD 999. Ask me anything on WhatsApp, +977 9810351300, and I will answer myself.
From Fansipan to Gorak Shep
Fansipan, Vietnam's highest peak, is just over 3,100 metres. Gorak Shep, the highest night on the Everest route, is 5,164, and Lukla, where the walking starts, is 2,860. You will walk five to seven hours on most days, with two rest days among the 12, and the trail is long rather than technical. Stairs and long loaded walks are the best training. If you want to test yourself first, Annapurna Base Camp (4,130 metres) is a good step up from Fansipan, and Poon Hill (3,210) is a gentle one.
Treks for Vietnamese travellers, with live prices
Per person. You pay in US dollars or euros; the dong figures are a guide, rounded to the nearest hundred thousand.
| Trek | Budget | Standard | Luxury |
|---|---|---|---|
| Everest Base Camp, 12 days | USD 1,399 about VND 36,200,000 | USD 2,499 about VND 64,600,000 | USD 4,999 about VND 129,300,000 |
| Annapurna Base Camp, 9 days | USD 499 about VND 12,900,000 | USD 799 about VND 20,700,000 | USD 1,400 about VND 36,200,000 |
| Manaslu Circuit, 12 days | USD 799 about VND 20,700,000 | USD 1,599 about VND 41,400,000 | USD 2,099 about VND 54,300,000 |
| Ghorepani Poon Hill, 6 days | USD 499 about VND 12,900,000 | USD 749 about VND 19,400,000 | USD 1,235 about VND 31,900,000 |
| Poon Hill from Pokhara, 4 days | USD 450 about VND 11,600,000 | USD 695 about VND 18,000,000 | USD 1,215 about VND 31,400,000 |
| Langtang Valley, 8 days | USD 365 about VND 9,400,000 | USD 650 about VND 16,800,000 | USD 1,000 about VND 25,900,000 |
Small print: Poon Hill, 6 days: table prices are for two to four trekkers; one trekker on their own pays USD 960 Standard, USD 1,930 Luxury; Poon Hill in 4 days from Pokhara: table prices for two to four, with solo prices of USD 770, 980 and 2,020; on Langtang, one trekker pays the table price, whereas two to four pay USD 320, USD 570 or USD 800.
Everest Base Camp needs 12 days on the trail plus travel. Annapurna Base Camp takes nine and has no mountain flight. Poon Hill and its four-day version from Pokhara suit a short leave. Langtang is the closest of the big valleys to Kathmandu. Manaslu is a restricted-area circuit with a pass at 5,160 metres, for people who have trekked at height before, so a licensed guide and an agency permit are compulsory.
Tier by tier. Budget: carry your own bag, share a room, buy meals on the trail. Standard: meals included, your own room, and a porter shared between two trekkers. Luxury: a porter dedicated to you, a deluxe room with a bathroom, and on Everest a helicopter instead of the Lukla flight. Solo on Standard, the guide carries up to 10 kg. Please budget separately for Kathmandu hotels, as no tier covers them; at our homestay it is USD 15 per person a night. The down jacket, sleeping bag and duffel are free to use on all three.
Flights from Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City
Hanoi (HAN) and Ho Chi Minh City (SGN) were searched separately, for one adult in economy with a checked bag, leaving on Sunday 25 October 2026 and returning on Wednesday 11 November, on one ticket with up to one change each way. Hanoi returned 15 itineraries from USD 999 to USD 1,193 and Ho Chi Minh City 15 from USD 965 to USD 1,267. None was nonstop. From Hanoi the cheapest, USD 999, was IndiGo out through Mumbai and Sichuan Airlines home through Chengdu; China Eastern out through Kunming, reaching Kathmandu at 15:05 the same day, was USD 1,020. From Ho Chi Minh City the cheapest, USD 965, went through Chengdu with an overnight wait and took about 49 hours in all, while Cathay Pacific through Hong Kong out (about 11 hours) with Sichuan Airlines home was USD 1,100. A spring 2027 trip will be priced differently, so repeat the search once you know your dates. The sums are in the Everest Base Camp cost guide for Vietnam.
Visa for a Vietnamese passport
Nepal exempts only diplomatic and official Vietnamese passports, and Vietnam is not one of the twelve countries that must apply beforehand, so an ordinary passport gets the visa on arrival. The three lengths are 15 days for USD 30, 30 days for USD 50 (about VND 1,300,000) and 90 days for USD 125. There is also an online route. See the visa on arrival guide and the e-visa guide.
Holidays and clocks for 2027
Lunar New Year (Tet) 2027 begins on 6 February, which is deep winter at altitude, so use Tet for a lower trek such as Poon Hill and keep Everest for April, May or the autumn. Nepal is 1 hour 15 minutes behind Vietnam all year. On the Nepali side, the expected 2027 dates are Dashain from about 6 to 10 October and Tihar from about 29 to 31 October. Government offices close for them, so allow for the 48 working hours a permit needs. See the festival calendar.
Insurance
Buy a travel policy before you go. What to look for: a ceiling of at least 6,000 metres, helicopter evacuation, and sickness cover. Many plans stop at 3,000 or 4,000 metres, and a helicopter bill is USD 3,000 to USD 5,000, roughly VND 77,600,000 to VND 129,300,000. Send me the policy and I will read it. See helicopter cover to 6,000 metres.
Language, food and who to call
Treks run in English. I cannot promise a Vietnamese-speaking guide, so ask me and I will answer plainly for your dates. Dal bhat, noodles and soup are the staples, rice is everywhere, and vegetarian is easy. The Vietnamese embassy in New Delhi is accredited to Nepal, so keep its contact details with your papers. A licensed guide comes with every booking, in line with the rules on most Nepali routes.
Paying us from Vietnam
Here is the deal in plain terms. Put down 10 per cent to reserve. Pay the remainder in Kathmandu, in dollars or euros, by cash with no charge or by card with 3.5 per cent added; we do not take Vietnamese dong or Nepali rupees. The deposit does not come back if you cancel, and nothing else does either. You can, however, change the date for free to anywhere within twelve months if you give 72 hours (seven days for restricted areas). When we are unable to operate, the refund equals your payments less taxes, bank and card charges and money we have already spent.
Check us before you pay
Here is how to check us. Ask the company registrar, TAAN (member 1586), the tourism licence office and the forex certification. All four will confirm us. They do not prove that any operator behaves well, because licensed firms have been involved in scams, so book a video call with me first. Our 300-plus reviews on TripAdvisor, Google and Trustpilot are public too. The Nagarjun Learning Center is supported by part of each booking.
Frequently asked questions
Do Vietnamese citizens need a visa for Nepal?
Yes. It is issued on arrival at the airport in Kathmandu. Fees are USD 30, USD 50 and USD 125 for 15, 30 and 90 days, and you should carry one photo.
How much does Everest Base Camp cost from Vietnam?
The trek is USD 1,399, 2,499 or 4,999 per person by tier, about VND 36,200,000, VND 64,600,000 and VND 129,300,000. In my October 2026 search a return from Hanoi or Ho Chi Minh City was USD 965 to USD 1,267, and insurance, tips and Kathmandu hotels come on top.
Is there a direct flight from Vietnam to Kathmandu?
Not in my search. All 30 itineraries had one change each way, through cities such as Mumbai, Kunming, Chengdu, Hong Kong or Delhi.
Is Fansipan good training for Everest Base Camp?
It shows how you cope with a long climb, but it is far lower. The Everest route needs 12 days of slow walking, so back-to-back long days with a pack are better practice.
Can I trek over Tet?
Yes, but not Everest. Tet 2027 begins on 6 February, which is very cold at altitude. Poon Hill or Mardi Himal suit that break.
When is the best time to go from Vietnam?
March to May and October to November. In 2027 Dashain is expected around 6 to 10 October and Tihar around 29 to 31 October.
Can I pay in dong?
No, only US dollars or euros. If you pay the balance by card, 3.5 per cent is added; cash has no charge.
What insurance do I need?
A policy for high-altitude trekking: 6,000 metres, helicopter rescue and illness included. Send it to me and I will read it.
Is there a Vietnamese embassy in Kathmandu?
The Vietnamese embassy in New Delhi is accredited to Nepal.
Can I trek alone?
Yes. Choose a private departure for yourself, or sign up for a fixed group date if you would like company.
Read next
- Everest Base Camp trek cost from Vietnam
- Monthly weather on the Everest trail
- The cost of a Poon Hill week
- Single supplement and solo Everest
- Altitude and acclimatisation
Your next step
Ready when you are. WhatsApp +977 9810351300 or email [email protected], with a trek, a month and a headcount. I will come back with a real price and no pressure. Tell me how many days of leave you have and I will suggest a trek.
Shreejan Simkhada, CEO. The Everest Holiday has been registered since 2016 and my family has been guiding for three generations. TAAN 1586.
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