How Much Does It Cost to Rent a Local Friend in Vietnam? (2026)

Price is usually the first thing people ask about, and that makes sense. Day to day, Vietnam can feel inexpensive, so it is fair to wonder what an hourly rate is for. Here is the whole picture in one place, whether you will be in Da Nang or Ho Chi Minh City: the rate, what it covers, what it doesn't, and how paying works.

The base rate

Time with a Crew member is from $25 per hour, with a 4-hour minimum, so a booking starts from $100. It works the same way in Da Nang and in Ho Chi Minh City. The exact amount is confirmed in the chat before you pay, and that is the amount you pay.

Want more time? You can extend by the hour, on the day itself, as long as your Crew member is free too. A long dinner or one more coffee happens more often than you would think, so there is no need to fix the length of the day in advance.

What the fee covers

The fee pays for one thing: your Crew member's time and company. That means a local friend who lives in the city, speaks English, and spends those hours with you. Someone who knows how ordering works at a street food stall, how to cross a road full of motorbikes, and which small place is worth sitting down in.

It is not a package. You are not paying for a fixed route or a list of stops. What you do together is decided between the two of you, in the chat before the day and as you go on the day itself.

What it doesn't cover

Day-of costs are separate: food, drinks, tickets and rides. When you are out together, travelers usually cover their Crew member's share as well, the same way you would treat a friend who is showing you their part of the city. Keep that in mind when you think about your budget for the day.

Coming with friends or family?

Small groups are welcome. Just tell us how many people are coming when you message. For groups, the amount is agreed in the chat before you pay, so everyone knows the number before anything is charged.

Booking and payment

Booking happens by message on the site. Tell us roughly when you will be in Vietnam, which city you will be in, and what you are curious about. Together we settle a date, a start time and how many people are coming. Once that is settled, you pay upfront through a PayPal link, and you are set.

• Read the refund rules in the Terms before you pay, so you know where you stand.
• Check that the date, start time, group size and amount in the chat all match.
• If something changes on your side, message us as soon as you can.

Read the refund rules in our Terms

Message early if you have a date in mind

If you have a specific date in mind, message early. Each Crew member has their own schedule, in Da Nang and in Ho Chi Minh City. If nobody is free that day, we tell you straight away, before you pay anything. We would rather say no quickly than keep you waiting.

So, is it worth it?

That depends on what you want from Vietnam. Plenty of people have a great trip on their own, with Grab for rides and a translation app for menus. What a few hours with a Crew member adds is a person: someone to ask, someone to decide things with, someone who can read the menu and the room. If that sounds like the part your trip is missing, it is worth it. If not, you will be fine on your own, and we would rather say so honestly.

Rent a Local Friend in Da Nang: How It Works and What It Costs

Rent a Local Friend in Ho Chi Minh City: How It Works and What It Costs

Do I Need to Speak Vietnamese in Vietnam?