Hong Kong Travel Experience on a 15 Million VND Budget

Sharing insights from my Hong Kong journeys over the past year, I strive to provide detailed yet concise guidance for those yet to explore Hong Kong, helping them envision and plan their trips.

Hong Kong Travel Experience on a 15 Million VND Budget

Despite not knowing Chinese, communication was a breeze as the majority of Hong Kong residents speak excellent English. The city boasts a modern and efficient transportation system.

Mandatory Expenses:

1/ Visa: 100 USD per person (approximately 2.25 million VND).

For the airfare, it's a steal at 3.6 million dong per person for a round trip from Ho Chi Minh City to Hong Kong. I made sure to book both the hotel and flight a month in advance for the best deal.

As for accommodation, it's a reasonable 850,000 dong per person per day, totaling 2.55 million dong for the three-day stay.

Picking up a 4G phone SIM for 88 HKD, approximately 255,000 dong, it comes with a generous 1.5 GB data limit lasting up to 5 days. Quite a deal!

To navigate the city, I got an Octopus card for 150 HKD, around 445,000 dong, valid for the subway and buses (sorry, no taxis).

In total, it sums up to 9.1 million dong per person for the 4-day, 3-night trip—a mandatory expense.

The remaining budget covers food, shopping, and entertainment. I estimate around 2 million dong per day. The more, the merrier, and the cheaper it gets when splitting costs among friends.

In summary, you can absolutely embark on a 4-day, 3-night solo trip to Hong Kong for 15 million dong per person, ensuring a comfortable and adventurous experience.

Preparations and Procedures

1. Is a Visa Required for Hong Kong?

The first crucial step is securing a visa for Hong Kong. Allocate 3-4 weeks for document preparation. The cost is relatively affordable, around 100 USD per person.

2. Flight Tickets to Hong Kong

If departing from Hanoi, consider Hongkong Airlines as an additional option. For flights from Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam Airlines is your go-to. I booked my round-trip ticket two months in advance for a super affordable 3.6 million dong per person. Current prices still seem quite reasonable, ranging from 4-5 million dong. Plan ahead 1-2 months, and you might snag a great deal.

3. Booking Hotels in Hong Kong

Hong Kong boasts numerous districts, each vibrant with exciting activities. However, I find Causeway Bay more convenient than Tsim Sha Tsui (home to Harbour City and the Avenue of Stars). Accommodations and dining in Causeway Bay are also more budget-friendly compared to the affluent Tsim Sha Tsui.

I've stayed at 4 hotels in Hong Kong, with 3 being sensible choices for both budget and convenience, close to subway stations, shopping areas, and dining spots.

The top pick is the 3-star Mini Causeway Bay (8 Sun Wui Road), situated in a bustling commercial area next to Times Square, Sogo, and Lee Garden. Within a 500m radius, you'll find a variety of brands from high-end to affordable. The room rate is 1.7 million dong per night for 2 people.

The only drawback is the lack of a fridge in the room. However, considering the price, it's challenging to find a hotel in Hong Kong that is as clean, convenient, and centrally located. The room is compact but smartly designed, making the most of the space. The bed is spacious, with storage, cleanliness, a beautiful view, and a tranquil atmosphere despite being in the city center.

The other two hotels come with double the cost. The rooms are more spacious, centrally located but require a 1 km walk, not the 200-300m proximity of the first hotel.

– Twenty One Whitfield: This isn't just a hotel but a multifunctional building with daily room service. The interior is exquisite and spotless.

– Regal Hongkong Causeway Bay: Closer in proximity, this hotel offers beautiful rooms. Perfect for honeymooners, combining elegance with affordability.

A crucial point to note: no one stays in a hotel all day in Hong Kong; most are out exploring from early morning till late night. Therefore, it's wise not to splurge on an expensive hotel, as 4-5-star hotel rooms in Hong Kong are as compact as 3-star rooms in Vietnam. There are plenty of 5-6 star hotels, but they are simply a waste as nobody visits Hong Kong for a resort experience. Hong Kong is all about hitting the streets.

4/ Getting Around and Communication

Upon arriving at Hong Kong airport, head left to find the Customer Service counter for Airport Express. Here, you can purchase the Octopus card for the subway and a phone SIM. Opt for the 5-day option at 88 HKD (250,000 dong), offering 1.5 GB for unrestricted use. Utilize functions like FaceTime, live streaming, and photo uploads worry-free.

The Octopus card is a convenient electronic card usable for most transportation modes (bus, Airport Express, ferry, MTR subway, and even the tram) but not for taxis.

Moreover, the Octopus card serves as a payment method in supermarkets and 24/7 convenience stores. Even at attractions like the Peak Tram or the Peak Tower observation deck, swiping your Octopus card is hassle-free.

There are various card options, but I recommend the Standard Octopus card priced at 150 HKD (approximately 430,000 dong), inclusive of 100 HKD for usage and 50 HKD as a deposit. Why the deposit? The card issuance fee is 30 HKD, and the deposit ensures you won't get stuck if your funds run out during transit. Note, however, that each card can only go negative once.

Upon purchase, the card already has 100 HKD. If you're an avid explorer opting for walking and MTR subway over taxis, it might not be sufficient. When the balance runs low, the machine displays a red warning, prompting you to top up.

To add funds to your Octopus card: MTR subway stations have top-up machines. Insert your card following the instructions, insert money, press the button, and you're done. You can check your card balance on the spot. If machines aren't your thing, visit any convenience store like 7/11, Watson, Circle K, buy something, hand over the money to the staff, and they'll add funds for you.

Refunding excess Octopus card funds: Don't hesitate to top up. If you don't spend it all, you'll get a refund. Head to the Customer Service counter at MTR stations, request a refund, and you'll receive a full refund, including the deposit. You'll only incur a 9 HKD refund fee. When leaving Hong Kong and returning to Vietnam, visit the Customer Service counter at the Airport Express (where you initially purchased the card) to return the card. The staff will refund your deposit.

You'll only lose 9 HKD in refund fees, and when departing from the airport back to Vietnam, go to the Customer Service counter at Airport Express (where you first purchased the card) to return the card. The staff will refund your deposit.

After purchasing the SIM card, you have two options to get back to your hotel: take a taxi or use the MTR (subway). Personally, I recommend the taxi as MTR isn't significantly cheaper, and maneuvering with luggage on the subway can be cumbersome. MTR costs around 100 HKD (approximately 300,000 dong per person), but it only takes you to the Central station. From there, getting to your specific hotel might involve extra walking, line changes, and navigating stairs, which isn't very convenient.

Taking a taxi to the city center costs around 350-380 HKD (about 1 million dong), but when shared among 4-5 people, it's both economical and convenient. The journey from the airport to the city takes about 45 minutes, covering a considerable distance. So, plan your hotel check-out and airport departure at least 3 hours in advance.

Guide on using the MTR subway in Hong Kong

Download the MTR app on your smartphone, and it will locate which station you're at. The app provides clear directions on how to reach your destination. Utilizing the MTR is the most efficient way to move around Hong Kong, given the city's notorious traffic congestion and expensive taxis.

For each destination, pre-search the quickest route on Google. Pay attention, as going to the wrong station or exiting from the wrong exit can lead to confusion and unnecessary walking.

Use the MTR app to identify your current station, line color (blue, red, purple, or orange), making it easier to find the right train when changing lines.

When finding the train of the right color, pay attention to the arrows indicating the direction of each platform. This isn't trivial; boarding the wrong train in the opposite direction can be quite inconvenient if you need to travel in that specific direction.

For instance, at the central Tsim Sha Sui station, when arriving at the platform, ensure you locate the correct exit. If it's exit A1, you'll head towards the Harbour City station, the clock tower, and a short walk to the Avenue of Stars. Meanwhile, exit P1 leads to the 6-star Peninsula Hotel, and exit B goes to another location. Exiting the wrong way can lead to a long walk. Therefore, when heading anywhere, always remember two things: first, get to the right MTR platform, and second, exit through the correct exit.

(To be continued)

Source: Zing News

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Reference: Mytour Travel Guide