Blog · 25 October 2026
Vietnam from India: a route that works, how many days, and what a trip costs
Vietnam has become one of the most popular trips from India, and it's easy to see why. There are direct flights from several Indian cities, the food is excellent, and hotels and local travel cost much less than in Singapore or Dubai. The country is long and narrow, so the main thing to plan is how much of it you try to cover.
How many days do you need?
Plan on seven to ten days for a first trip. A week covers the north: Hanoi, an overnight or day cruise on Ha Long Bay, and Ninh Binh. With ten days you can fly down to Da Nang for Hoi An and the beaches, then finish in Ho Chi Minh City for the Cu Chi tunnels and the Mekong Delta. Two weeks lets you add Sapa in the northern hills. Internal flights are short and cheap, so fly between regions rather than taking long overnight trains.
What a trip costs
For a couple flying from Delhi and staying in a midrange hotel, a 4-day Vietnam trip in December comes to about ₹1,38,400, or ₹69,200 per person. That covers return flights, internal travel between cities, the hotel, food, local transport, the attractions we pick for you, the e-visa, travel insurance and a 10% buffer. Day-to-day costs are low, so flights are a large share of the total, and the month you travel changes it the most.
You can change the dates, travellers, hotel, cities and attractions on our Vietnam trip cost page and see every line update.
Trips worth paying for
- Ha Long Bay day cruise with kayaking: about ₹4,080 per adult. An overnight cruise costs more but avoids four hours on the road each way in one day.
- Ninh Binh day trip (Trang An boats and Tam Coc): about ₹4,760. Many people like it more than Ha Long Bay.
- Old Quarter street food tour in Hanoi: about ₹2,380. It's a good first evening, and vegetarians can ask for a meat-free tour.
- Water puppet show in Hanoi: about ₹510, and children love it.
- Ba Na Hills and the Golden Bridge near Da Nang: about ₹3,230, including the cable car.
- Hoi An lantern boat ride in the evening: about ₹510.
- Cu Chi tunnels tour from Ho Chi Minh City: about ₹2,720, and Mekong Delta day trip: about ₹3,740.
Free and cheap things to do
Walk Hanoi's Old Quarter and around Hoan Kiem Lake, which is closed to traffic at weekends. Sit at a street café with a Vietnamese coffee, wander Hoi An's old town after dark when the lanterns are lit, and spend a beach afternoon at My Khe in Da Nang. The War Remnants Museum in Ho Chi Minh City costs about ₹136.
When to go
Vietnam has different weather in the north, centre and south, so some part of it is always pleasant. For a full north-to-south trip, March and April are the best balance: mild in Hanoi, dry in the centre and south. November is also good. December and January are cool in Hanoi (around 15°C at night) but lovely in the south. May and June are hot. September to November brings storms to the central coast around Hoi An. Tet, the Lunar New Year in January or February, is the most expensive time, and many places close for a few days.
Visa for Indians
Indian passport holders need a Vietnam e-visa. It costs US$25 for a single entry, is valid for up to 90 days, and you apply online on the official government site. Allow at least a week, and use only the official site, because look-alike agency sites charge much more.
Tips that save money
- Book one-way internal flights (Hanoi to Da Nang, Da Nang to Ho Chi Minh City) early; they're often cheaper than a long train.
- Use Grab for taxis and bikes, so you pay the shown price.
- Carry some US dollars to change in town; airport rates are poor.
- Indian restaurants are easy to find in Hanoi, Hoi An and Ho Chi Minh City if you want a break from noodles.
Want the numbers for your own dates and group? Plan your Vietnam trip and send it to us for live flight and hotel prices.