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Asia travel experts TransIndus have crunched the numbers to find the cheapest city for money for budget-conscious travellers looking to save money

Hanoi may not be the first destination that springs to mind for Brits seeking a budget-friendly holiday but research suggests that Vietnam’s capital could be one of the best-value cities on the planet.

Asia travel specialists TransIndus have put together a basket consisting of three supermarket beers, a 5km bike taxi ride, and a McDonald’s combo meal and it adds up to £5.60 in Hanoi, so much cheaper than it would be in the UK.

A spokesperson for TransIndus said: “People understandably want their holiday money to go further in 2026 – but the smartest approach is to plan with a few simple ‘anchor’ costs in mind.

“A short ride, a casual meal, and a couple of drinks are the sort of everyday purchases many travellers make in the first 24 hours. If those are low, it’s a strong sign the city is going to feel great value overall.”

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So, what does a cheap evening in Hanoi look like?

• McDonald’s combo meal (Big Mac Meal or similar): £3.14.

• Domestic beer (0.5L) from a supermarket: £0.42 each (so £1.26 for three).

• Bike taxi ride (5km estimate): about £1.20 – based on common fares for motorcycle taxis booked on local ride-hailing apps.

This brings the total to £5.60 for the complete basket.

Researchers looked at typical local prices reported by travellers and expats who currently live there. But Hanoi isn’t the only Asian destination where visitors can enjoy themselves for less.

Other Asian cities to consider visiting include:

• Yogyakarta, Indonesia: approximately £8.07 for the identical basket.

• Manila, Philippines: approximately £8.38.

• Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam: approximately £9.29.

Vietnam is certainly a cheap place to enjoy yourself – a recent Post Office Money report highlights how Hoi An – 479 miles south – is 10% cheaper than it was in 2023.

The town is an exceptionally well-preserved example of a South-East Asian trading port dating from the 15th to the 19th century.

In the evenings the lights from the yellow painted buildings and orange sun reflect off the water making it look magical. Thanks to an Unesco decree, more than 800 buildings have been preserved, meaning the village still looks like it did several centuries ago.

Travle blogger Travel Lush recommends cycling around the city. “Wandering aimlessly around the Ancient Town is easily one of the best things to do in Hoi An.

“And sure, it is very touristy, but I always love marveling at the old buildings, snapping photos of the postcard-perfect alleyways, sampling street snacks and popping into all of the little shops – you honestly never know what gems you’ll stumble upon in Hoi An’s historic center. The people-watching is pretty great too!

“Getting the chance to take in Hoi An’s magical scenery from a bicycle is one of my all-time favorite Hoi An activities. Cycling is big in Hoi An and most hotels here offer complimentary bicycles. It’s an incredible way to check out all of the city’s beautiful temples, emerald rice paddies and everyday street scenes.”

The weathers not bad either – throughout the year the Vietnamese city enjoys temperature of around 29C on most days. However, it does have a long rainy season, from November through to January, so it may be wise to visit before, during the autumn, or from February. And while it’s cheap once you get there flights from the UK will set you back around £780.

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Dec. 19 (Asia Today) — A South Korean civic group said most retired National Assembly officials subject to post-employment screening were cleared to take private-sector jobs, calling the results evidence of a serious revolving-door problem involving major companies, supervised agencies and law firms.

The Citizens’ Coalition for Economic Justice said at a news conference Thursday that it analyzed employment screening decisions involving retired National Assembly officials from 2020 to 2025. The group said the review covered lawmakers, aides and National Assembly Secretariat staff.

South Korea’s post-employment screening system is designed to determine whether a retired public official’s new job is closely related to their former duties and whether it should be approved. The purpose is to prevent improper collusion between public officials and private institutions.

CCEJ said 427 of 438 National Assembly cases, or 97.5%, received decisions allowing employment, either as “employment possible” or “employment approved.” The group said “employment possible” applies when the new position is deemed unrelated to the official’s previous duties, while “employment approved” applies when there is a connection but authorities find grounds for a special approval.

CCEJ said more than half of those cleared, 239 people, joined private companies. By major corporate groups, the group said Coupang hired the most, with 16 people, including 15 aides and one policy research fellow. LG followed with 11, SK with 10, Samsung with nine and KT with eight.

CCEJ said the National Assembly holds significant powers, including legislation, budgeting and state audits. It argued that when former officials move directly into jobs at audited agencies, major corporations or law firms tied to their prior duties, it can lead to collusion between politics and business and preferential treatment for former officials.

The group called for stronger requirements for approving post-retirement employment tied to the National Assembly, tighter reviews of job relevance and disclosure of specific reasons when screening results are announced.

– Reported by Asia Today; translated by UPI

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