It’s groundhog day and we have a heck of an idea.

Phil?  Phil Connors?

We’re going to run you through how much we spend in a typical day here.  So, yesterday we kept track of every penny we spent.  EVERY PENNY.  Keep in mind that $1 = 20,500 Vietnamese Dong-ish.  Here is the run down:

270,000 Dong ($12.91) – Hotel Room in Da Nang City (A/C, hot water, cable TV, nice bed)

60,000 Dong ($2.87) – Breakfast (I had rice w/ pork and veggies and Meg had rice.  Tea to drink for both of us)

36,000 Dong ($1.72) – Coffee x2 (We splurged and went to a hip coffee shop.  How hip, you ask?  They serve their coffee in martini glasses).

400,000 Dong ($19.13) – Taxi (We took a taxi to a new city 30 km away.  I bargained and this was the best price I could get).  Isn’t that dirt cheap for a 30km taxi ride.  I can hardly get home from the Crown and Anchor for that price….

369,000 Dong ($17.65) – Lunch (We really splurged here.  Lunch at the upper scale “Streets Restaurant”.  Jason’s meal:  Banana shake, coffee, grilled panini sandwich, and bread pudding for dessert.  Megan’s meal:  Coffee, summer rolls (shared), and noodle salad bowl w/ chicken.  Nom nom nom…..

40,000 Dong ($1.91) – Pedal bike rental for that day (both of us).

40,000 Dong ($1.91) – Drinks while chilling out on the beach (rum and coke for Jason, tea for Megan (yes, tea).

260,000 ($12.44) – Dinner (This was delicious.  Appetizers:  Spring rolls,  Main Course:  Jason – 2 meals (roasted duck w/ potatoes and sweet and sour pork with steamed rice), Megan – Sauted vegetables and steamed rice.  Drinks:  2 “fresh beers” (who the hell knows what a fresh beer is?  It was questionable).

GRAND TOTAL = $70.54 (for both of us)

Not to mention that on a typical day we wouldn’t have to pay for a 30 km taxi ride…..

Being in a cheap country is …

Excellent