Vietnam is one of Southeast Asia's most rewarding destinations — a country of astonishing contrasts where ancient temples sit beside French colonial architecture, where emerald karst islands rise from silver-grey bays, and where the street food alone is worth the airfare. For Indian travellers, Vietnam ticks every box: an e-Visa you apply for online, excellent value for money, direct flights from major Indian cities, and enough variety to satisfy solo backpackers, honeymooners, and families alike.
Yes. Indian passport holders need a visa, and the simple route is the Vietnam e-Visa, which you apply for online before you fly. Do not plan on sorting the visa out at the airport. The details below are from the Vietnam Immigration Department's own e-Visa portal, read in October 2026.
Pro Tip: You can apply up to one year before your trip, so do it as soon as your dates are fixed. The Immigration Department also recommends filling in its pre-arrival form at prearrival.immigration.gov.vn before you land. If you plan to leave Vietnam and come back, for example for Cambodia, pick the multiple-entry e-Visa.
The best connections to Vietnam from India are via hub airlines. IndiGo and Air Asia operate direct/near-direct routes from Delhi and Mumbai to Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City, often via Bangkok or Kuala Lumpur. Return flights typically cost ₹18,000–₹35,000 depending on season and advance booking. December–January is peak season; book 3–4 months ahead for best prices.
A UNESCO World Heritage Site and one of the world's most iconic seascapes, Ha Long Bay features over 1,600 limestone karst islands topped with rainforest. The best way to experience it is on an overnight cruise (₹8,000–₹25,000 per person depending on the vessel). Kayak through sea caves, watch sunsets from the deck, and swim in emerald lagoons.
Vietnam's capital rewards slow exploration. The 36 streets of the Old Quarter buzz with street food vendors, silk shops, and ancient guild-trade lanes. Visit Hoan Kiem Lake, the Temple of Literature (Vietnam's first university, founded 1070 CE), the Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum, and the Hoa Lo Prison Museum. Don't leave without eating bun cha at a pavement stall.
Hoi An is arguably Vietnam's most photogenic town — a perfectly preserved UNESCO trading port of yellow-washed merchants' houses, Japanese covered bridge, and lantern-lit streets. It's also the tailor capital of Southeast Asia: get a custom suit or dress made within 24 hours for ₹3,000–₹8,000. The white-sand beaches of An Bang are just 4 km away.
Vietnam's dynamic south is a city of contrasts: war museums soberly document the American War while gleaming skyscrapers house rooftop bars serving craft cocktails. Visit the Cu Chi Tunnels (the 250 km underground network used by Viet Cong fighters), the Reunification Palace, Ben Thanh Market, and the stunning Jade Emperor Pagoda. The Bui Vien walking street is Southeast Asia's most energetic nightlife strip.
Home to the world's largest cave — Son Doong — and dozens of other extraordinary cave systems, Phong Nha is Vietnam's most spectacular natural wonder. Paradise Cave (7 km long, 150 m wide in places) is accessible without special permits. The adventure-grade Son Doong expedition costs USD 3,000 and is worth every rupee for those who can afford it.
A 10-day mid-range Vietnam trip costs about ₹60,000 to ₹90,000 per person from India, including return flights. A backpacker-style trip can be done for less: our Vietnam budget guide adds up 10 nights at ₹47,000 to ₹65,000 all-in. The list below shows where the money goes.
Add the e-Visa to this list: USD 25 per person for single entry, which our budget guide counts as about ₹2,100. Three things move the total most:
Travelling alone? Our solo travel guide puts Vietnam at ₹2,000 to ₹3,500 a day per person, before flights.
Ten days is the comfortable length for a first trip from north to south. Our budget guide lays it out like this:
With less time, choose one end of the country. Hanoi and Ha Long Bay make a short northern trip. Hoi An and Ho Chi Minh City make a warmer southern one. Our long weekend guide lists Vietnam for the Dussehra break.
Vietnam's climate varies dramatically by region. November to April is generally best for the south and central regions (Ho Chi Minh City, Hoi An). October to April is optimal for the north (Hanoi, Ha Long Bay). The monsoon runs June–September in the north and May–November in the south — still visitable but prepare for rain. January–March is the sweet spot for the entire country.
December works well too. Our December destinations guide notes that central and south Vietnam are dry at 25–28°C that month, while Hanoi and Ha Long Bay are cooler at 15–18°C but clear.
Vietnam offers excellent value across all categories. In Hanoi, the Old Quarter has excellent $20–$40/night boutique hotels (₹1,600–₹3,200). In Ho Chi Minh City, the Pham Ngu Lao backpacker area has comfortable guesthouses from ₹800/night; District 1 boutique hotels run ₹3,000–₹8,000. In Hoi An, the best stay is a boutique villa with pool — available from ₹4,000/night.
Yes, and Hoi An is the place to base it. Our honeymoon packages guide lists Hoi An at ₹65,000 to ₹90,000 as a budget honeymoon, for its lantern-lit streets and private pool villas near An Bang Beach. Add an overnight Ha Long Bay cruise and you have a honeymoon that feels very different from a beach resort.
Curate Your Vacation plans Vietnam from two offices in South India:
We do not sell a fixed-price Vietnam package today, so we will not show you one. Every Vietnam trip we plan is quoted for your dates and your city, with each hotel named before you pay. Our current packages page lists only the trips we hold at a fixed price.
Tell us your travel month, how many nights and who is travelling. We check the best flight routing from Bangalore or Coimbatore for those dates and send back a day-by-day plan with flights, named hotels, the train or internal flights, the Ha Long Bay cruise and help with the e-Visa form.
Plan on the e-Visa instead. Indians apply online on the official portal, evisa.gov.vn, before flying. It costs USD 25 for single entry or USD 50 for multiple entry and is valid for up to 90 days.
The Vietnam Immigration Department lists the e-Visa at USD 25 for a single entry and USD 50 for multiple entries. The fee is paid online and is not refunded if the visa is refused.
About ₹60,000 to ₹90,000 per person for a mid-range trip, including return flights, hotels, food, trains and a Ha Long Bay cruise. A budget trip with guesthouses and a Ha Long Bay day trip comes to ₹47,000 to ₹65,000.
Yes, Hoi An in particular. Our honeymoon guide lists Hoi An at ₹65,000 to ₹90,000 for its lantern-lit streets and private pool villas near An Bang Beach.
It takes some care, because many dishes use fish sauce. Ask for no meat and no fish, and look for Buddhist vegetarian restaurants, which are signed Com Chay.
Yes. Our Coimbatore office at P N Pudur (9994042247) and our Bangalore office (9945534012) both plan Vietnam trips, with flights, hotels, trains and the Ha Long Bay cruise quoted for your dates.
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