Published 6 Oct 2026 · Updated 11 Oct 2026
Vietnam has become the trip Indians recommend to each other: direct four-hour flights, an online visa, and a country that packs a limestone bay, a lantern-lit old town and two very different big cities into one week. This route flies north to south, so you never backtrack.
Visa and entry rules for Indians
You need an e-visa, applied for online before you fly. Apply only at the official portal, evisa.gov.vn.
- Fee: US$25 for a single entry or US$50 for multiple entries, paid by card online. It is not refunded if the visa is refused.
- Stay: up to 90 days. The visa’s dates are fixed, so enter your real arrival date and port.
- Processing: usually three to five working days. Apply two to three weeks ahead to be safe.
- Documents: a passport valid for at least six months from arrival, a passport-style photo and a scan of your passport’s photo page.
Print the approval PDF and carry it with your passport; there’s no stamp or sticker in advance.
Dozens of agency sites look official and charge two or three times the fee. If the address isn’t evisa.gov.vn, it isn’t the government.
What it costs in rupees
Per person, sharing a double room, mid-range:
| Item | Approx. cost |
|---|---|
| Flights: India to Hanoi, Saigon to India | ₹20,000 – ₹32,000 |
| E-visa (single entry) | ₹2,200 |
| Domestic flights: Hanoi–Da Nang, Da Nang–Saigon | ₹6,000 – ₹10,000 |
| Ha Long Bay overnight cruise (shared cabin) | ₹9,000 – ₹15,000 |
| Hotels, 6 nights (half a double room) | ₹9,000 – ₹18,000 |
| Food, about ₹1,000 – ₹2,000 a day | ₹8,000 – ₹14,000 |
| Grab rides, tours, entry fees, SIM | ₹5,000 – ₹8,000 |
| Total | ₹60,000 – ₹95,000 |
Everything is priced in dong with a lot of zeros: ₹1 is about 300 VND. Cash is still king at street stalls; cards work in hotels and malls.
Day-by-day itinerary
Days 1–2: Hanoi
Stay in the Old Quarter. Walk around Hoan Kiem Lake, see the Temple of Literature, and have egg coffee at a café up a narrow staircase. On day 2, watch the trains squeeze through the houses on Train Street (check whether it’s open to visitors), then take a cooking class or a food tour in the evening.
Day 3: Ha Long Bay (or Lan Ha Bay)
Take a transfer to the bay (about 2 h 30 m on the expressway) for an overnight cruise among nearly 2,000 limestone islands: kayak through caves, swim off the boat, and wake up to the karsts in the mist. Lan Ha Bay, next door, has fewer boats and is worth asking your operator about.
Days 4–6: Hoi An
Fly Hanoi to Da Nang and drive 45 minutes to Hoi An. The old town is a UNESCO World Heritage site of yellow merchant houses, and at night the river and streets glow with silk lanterns. Get clothes tailored in 24 hours, cycle out to An Bang beach, and take a day trip to the My Son temple ruins or the Marble Mountains.
Days 7–8: Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon)
Fly Da Nang to Ho Chi Minh City. See the War Remnants Museum, the post office and Notre-Dame cathedral, then eat your way through District 1 and District 4 by motorbike on a guided street-food tour. On the last morning, take a half-day trip to the Cu Chi tunnels or the Mekong Delta before your flight home.
Best time to visit
February to April is the best compromise for a north-to-south trip: mild in Hanoi, dry in Hoi An, hot but bearable in Saigon. Avoid October to December in central Vietnam (heavy rain and typhoons in Hoi An). December to February is cold and grey in the north. Bring a jacket for a Ha Long cruise.
Getting there from India
IndiGo, VietJet and Vietnam Airlines fly direct from Delhi and Mumbai (and some other metros) to Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City in about four to five hours. Book an open-jaw ticket, into Hanoi and out of Saigon, so the itinerary never doubles back. If you want to add Cambodia’s temples, see our Angkor Wat and Siem Reap plan.
Frequently asked questions
Do Indians need a visa for Vietnam?
Yes. Apply for an e-visa online at evisa.gov.vn. It costs US$25 for a single entry or US$50 for multiple entries, allows stays of up to 90 days, and usually takes three to five working days.
Can Indians get a visa on arrival in Vietnam?
Not in the sense of turning up at the counter. 'Visa on arrival' offers online are agency services that sell you a pre-approval letter. The government e-visa is cheaper and simpler.
How much does an 8-day Vietnam trip cost from India?
About ₹60,000 to ₹95,000 per person for a mid-range trip, including return flights, two domestic flights, a one-night Ha Long Bay cruise, hotels shared between two, and food.
Is Vietnam good for vegetarians?
Better than you'd think. Buddhist vegetarian restaurants (look for the words 'chay' or 'quán chay') are in every city, and they're cheap and excellent. Ask for 'không thịt, không cá' (no meat, no fish) elsewhere.
What is the best time to visit Vietnam?
February to April suits the whole north-to-south route. The north is cool and grey in winter, while central Vietnam (Hoi An) gets heavy rain and occasional typhoons from October to December.
