Vietnam Travel Guide for Indians: 11 Tips for an Amazing Beginner’s Handbook
Why Vietnam is most popular destination among Indians in 2025? If you are wondering what Vietnam offers, then get ready with a notepad and pen. As highlighted in this Vietnam Travel Guide for Indians Because Vietnam is a budget-friendly country, and it is becoming first international destination instead of Thailand among many Indians.
Your Ultimate Vietnam Travel Guide for Indians
If you plan it properly, you can travel to Vietnam cheaper than a 5-day trip to Goa. Apart from this, the rainy season is from May to October, but if you want to bargain, then May to October would be the cheapest time to go to Vietnam. Here you will get very good hotel deals and flights will also be very cheap.
Also read:
How to go to Vietnam
Flights to Vietnam
| Destination | Duration | Cost |
|---|---|---|
| Hanoi | 3 days | $200 |
| Ho Chi Minh City | 4 days | $250 |
| Da Nang | 2 days | $180 |
The most convenient way to go to Vietnam will be by flight. You can also go by driving, it is a little difficult but not impossible. And if you want to go by sea, then swimming is the only option from India to Vietnam.
If you book your flight at least 3 months in advance, then you can get a one-way ticket from any major city like Delhi or Kolkata for between Rs.5,000 to 6,000. And round trip sometimes comes in offers between Rs. 12,000 to 14,000.
I would suggest you to take Vietnam Airlines or VietJet Air because these two are direct flights there. If you take any Indian carrier, then you will get a layover and your time will be wasted for no reason.
And Viet jet vs Vietnam Airlines also tells you a major difference. VietJet allows you only 7 kgs of hand carry, no type of baggage is allowed in it, neither meals or drinks are served vs Vietnam Airlines, which is their national carrier, allows you 20 to 25 kgs of baggage allowance, as well as meals and alcohol are served.
So for this, you can spend a little more than Rs. 1,000 to 2,000 and prefer a full-service airline to go to Vietnam.
Getting Vietnam E-Visa
Okay, so you will need a visa to go to Vietnam because there was a breaking news that this visa will be free and on arrival for Indians. But as of writing this article on January 2024, there is no such news, so you will have to get a visa to go to Vietnam. And getting a Vietnam visa is very easy, this is an e-visa for Indians and you get a visa in 3 working days.
The website that I am putting the link below, is the only government website, which is the official website here.
Apart from this, don’t trust any third-party website, agents will extra charge you, there is a direct process here, you just have to go, register here, you have to fill in all the details of your passport, which is very simple, and you have to pay a fee, which is only $25 or in Indian currency, Rs. 2,080 in today’s time.
If you fill this online, you will get a visa via email in 3 working days. And you get this visa for 30 days.
| Type of Visa | Details |
|---|---|
| Visa Required? | Yes (for Indian passport holders) |
| Application Process | E-Visa via the official website |
| Processing Time | 3 working days |
| Fee | $25 (₹2,080 approx.) |
| Validity | 30 days |
| Tips | Avoid third-party agents and apply directly on the government website. Print your visa approval before travel. |
Vietnam Immigration
You just have to go to Vietnam, show its printout in Immigration, and you immediately get a stamp of Immigration, and you can enjoy in Vietnam for 30 days.
Daily budget to travel in Vietnam
The daily budget of Vietnam will look something like this, whether you are a solo traveler, you are going in a group of friends, or as a couple, Vietnam is not an expensive destination, you can spend a week there for a very low price, without any problems.
The Vietnamese Dong has a large denomination; for instance, Rs. 300 is roughly equal to 100,000 VND, It is a little difficult to get Vietnamese Dong in India, it is not widely available and accepted.
So people do this, when they go from India, they do a simple thing, they exchange US Dollars and take it. The big advantage of this is that whenever you take US Dollars from here, they exchange it at a much higher rate than what you bought in Vietnam, because US Dollars are valued a lot in Vietnam.
| Category | Estimated Cost (Per Day) |
|---|---|
| Accommodation | ₹300–₹2,500 |
| Food | ₹200–₹500 per meal |
| Local Transport | ₹350–₹650 for bike rental or ₹50–₹150 for Grab rides |
| Sightseeing | ₹300–₹1,000 (depends on activities) |
| Total (Per Day) | ₹1,000–₹2,500 (depending on lifestyle) |
ATM in Vietnam
If you want to withdraw cash via ATM, I would suggest you to use Agribank, this is a government bank, and it has a wide network. The big advantage of this is that its withdrawal fee is very low, they charge you around Rs. 75-80 per transaction.
Yes, remember that this ATM has a limit of 30,000,000 Dong, which means you cannot withdraw more than Rs. 10,000-11,000 per day, but that should cover your expenses in a very good way.
Apart from this, if you want to swipe a card, forex card, debit card, etc, then you have a very good news that in Vietnam, cards are used and accepted everywhere. And you do not have to pay any transaction charge in most of the places.
Accommodation in Vietnam
In Vietnam, you will not have any problem to stay, because you get all types of hotels at any price point. For example, if you are a solo traveler and you like to stay in a hostel, then you get the best hostel for Rs. 300 onwards, and in Rs.800-900, you get very luxurious options as well. Apart from this, if you want private rooms, then in 2-star and 3-star hotels, anywhere between Rs. 1200-2500, you get very good rooms, in which your breakfast is also included.
| Type | Price Range | Features |
|---|---|---|
| Hostels | ₹300–₹800 per night | Affordable dormitories; good for solo travelers |
| Budget Hotels | ₹1,200–₹2,500 per night | Includes breakfast; 2–3-star options |
| Luxury Hotels | ₹4,000+ per night | Premium amenities and locations |
Sample Itinerary for Vietnam
And you should have a sample itinerary of a week like this. You will start in Hanoi, which is the capital city of Hanoi, and spend 2 nights there. There you can do local sightseeing.
You can check out the unique sights of Train Street or take out a whole day and explore the cruise of Halong Bay, which is a must-do thing in Vietnam, and book it through Travel agent.
Checkout our detailed Hanoi Train Street Guide here:
Apart from this, if you have time, you can add a day and go to Sa Pa in Northern Vietnam. And if you have a little more sense of adventure, you can also do a 2 nights and 3 days motorbike adventure trip in Ha Giang.
After this, you can book 2 nights and 3 days for Da Nang and Hoi An. Da Nang is a beach town, but there are a lot of things to see and do here.
There is a tour of Marble Mountains, as well as Linh Ung Pagoda and the tallest statue of Vietnam. In the evening, you must go to see the light and sound show of Dragon Bridge, which is held on weekends after 8 pm. And you must also check out the night market of Da Nang Marina and the very famous Da Nang near it.
You can spend a full day in Hoi An’s Ancient City, where you can enjoy a coconut boat ride in the morning, and enjoy a beautiful evening in Hoi An’s Ancient City in the evening. You can enjoy a romantic boat ride, light a candlelight lantern, as well as explore Lantern Street.
| Day | City/Region | Activities |
|---|---|---|
| Day 1–2 | Hanoi | Train Street, Halong Bay Cruise, and optional visit to Sa Pa or Ha Giang motorbike adventure tour. |
| Day 3–4 | Da Nang & Hoi An | Marble Mountains, Dragon Bridge, Hoi An Lantern Street, and coconut boat rides. |
| Day 5–6 | Ho Chi Minh City | Cu Chi Tunnels, Mekong Delta, Ben Thanh Market, and District 1 nightlife. |
| Day 7 | Departure | Wrap up shopping and explore remaining sights if time permits. |
After all this, I would suggest you to add Ho Chi Minh City for 2 nights. It is a very vibrant city and there are a lot of activities to do here. You should definitely do a tour of Cu Chi Tunnel and Mekong Delta. Apart from this, you must also do a Mekong Luxury Dinner Cruise. I did it and I really liked it. And after that, check out the vibrant nightlife of District-1.
And if you are fond of shopping, then you should definitely visit the Ben Thanh Market at Saigon Square. The full length videos of all these things are available on my channel. You can check out the entire playlist by clicking on the i button above. Now let’s talk about the nightlife of Vietnam.
Vietnam Nightlife
The nightlife of Vietnam is very amazing. In fact, I rate it more than Thailand. The reason being that there is not a lot of work to do here. There is also a red light district there. District 1, Bui Vien, in Ho Chi Minh City. And even if you are standing on the road near Beer Street in Hanoi, a lot of people will keep bothering you there. If you want to enjoy the nightlife, go with your friends. You won’t have any problems there.
| City | Popular Nightlife Spots | Details |
|---|---|---|
| Hanoi | Beer Street | Lively bars, pubs, and nightclubs; no cover charge; beers start at ₹45. |
| Ho Chi Minh City | Bui Vien (District 1) | Vibrant scene with affordable bars and clubs; stays open till 5 AM. |
And if you want to enjoy the nightlife, I would suggest you to go to Bui Vien, in District 1, Ho Chi Minh City. It is equivalent to the walking street there. And it is a very amazing scene. You will find pubs, bars, nightclubs, everything in both places. It is very cheap. It is moderately priced as well as very safe Even women can chill and hang out there And it runs till 5 in the morning So this is a big advantage of this beer And majorly, you don’t have to pay any type of cover charge to go anywhere.
Secondly, if you are going to Hanoi Then the most famous place there is the Beer Street in Hanoi is amazing And as the name suggests, it is very famous for this beer. It is a small street, but on the left and right You will see many nightclubs, pubs and restaurants It is a very narrow street, but it is fun.
There are many clubs and beer starts from Rs. 45. You will hardly find it in many places And here, in every nightclub, as in Ho Chi Minh City. There is no cover charge, Just don’t forget to behave yourself and be respectful to the others. Because you are representing India, so don’t do anything wrong.
I have seen many people there, not just Indians, but many people who have been thrown out of the club, Because they couldn’t handle the drinks and misbehaved
Bike rentals in Vietnam
Okay, now let’s talk about the bike rental, internal transportation, state-to-state and inter-state travel arrangements in Vietnam So let’s start with motorbike rental Motorbike rentals are very easy to get there, just like Thailand You will have to pay a tariff of Rs.350 to Rs. 650 per day for renting a bike.
You will have to keep your passport as a deposit. And in some cases, Rs. 2,000 to Rs. 3,000 as a deposit they ask in local currency in cash Keep in mind that whenever you go there, you will have an international license, So your life will be very easy.
Because they sometimes stop you at different places And then you have to pay a bribe of Rs.200 to Rs. 500, equivalent to a Vietnamese dong. So if you have an international license, your life will be very easy.
| Mode of Transport | Cost | Details |
|---|---|---|
| Motorbike Rentals | ₹350–₹650 per day | Requires an international license. Deposit may be required. |
| Grab/Gojek Rides | ₹50–₹150 per ride | Convenient for short distances; no need for cash if paired with a card. |
| Interstate Buses | ₹1,200–₹1,500 per journey | Overnight buses with basic amenities. |
| Trains | ₹1,200+ (Sleeper Class) | Comfortable but slightly more expensive than buses. |
| Flights (Domestic) | ₹2,500–₹5,000 per sector | Faster but may face delays; VietJet is affordable but lacks punctuality. |
Apart from this, because I was traveling alone, I was using Grab or Gojek. You can easily book a bike, taxi, actual taxi from that app And if you download it from India and take it by pairing your card, then the bill will be deducted from your credit card So you won’t have to pay cash again and again.
And if you want to travel interstate, the easiest way is to catch a bus Buses run at a very high frequency. You will generally have to travel 8 to 10 hours point to point because Vietnam is a big country. You will be charged anywhere between Rs. 1200 to Rs. 1500 for a bus service.
There are trains too, but the rates are not that good And I also found them a bit expensive I have made a vlog on that as well, you can watch it if you want The services are decent and basic, but you will have to pay at least Rs.1200 from India to get a ticket for the sleeper category.
The fastest way to go anywhere is by flight VietJet’s airlines flights are very cheap But there is a big downside to that, if you ask me, my review is not good Because every time I was catching a flight, the flight was running on a delay for 1 to 1.5 hours And there is basically nothing to do at the airport, and you don’t even get to eat.
Food and Drinks in Vietnam
Alright, so let’s talk about eating and drinking Because as an Indian, this is a very important segment Vietnam does not yet have a fully developed tourist infrastructure tailored for Indian visitors. But do not worry, there are many Indian restaurants, Jain restaurants as well as pure veg restaurants. They are available at every price point, and by and large, they are cheaper than other countries like Thailand.
| Category | Price Range | Details |
|---|---|---|
| Local Food | ₹200–₹300 per meal | Authentic but often includes pork or beef; not ideal for strict vegetarians. |
| Indian Restaurants | ₹300–₹500 per meal | Available in major cities like Hanoi, Da Nang, and Ho Chi Minh City. |
| Alcohol | ₹40–₹100 (beer in stores) | Affordable; widely available in supermarkets and convenience stores. |
Local food is good there, but you have to keep in mind that they use pork or beef in everything So if you are eating local food, only if you can adjust, don’t eat it If you have any such dietary preference, then please avoid the local food Because no matter how much you try, the broth or stock is going to be non-veg. Apart from this, alcohol prices are very reasonable.
Read out detailed Hanoi Food Guide:
In Vietnam, you can get beer from any supermarket for Rs.40 to Rs.100, If you go to a store called Circle K, you can get alcohol there and enjoy it easily.
All in all, if you are eating local food, it will cost you Rs. And if you are eating Indian food, it will cost you anywhere between Rs. 300 to Rs. 400 per meal Alcohol prices are different, so it’s up to you Okay, let’s talk about scams and safety So let me tell you that if you are going in a group of girls or as a solo female traveler Vietnam is absolutely safe for you.
Scams and Safety Tips
It’s 100% safe at any hour of the day or night. Just follow your precautions, which you would do anywhere Apart from this, I haven’t seen any major scams in Vietnam Like in other countries like Thailand and Bali, So you don’t have to worry about that In terms of safety.
I would say that Whenever you rent a car or bike, make sure that the traffic is on the opposite side of the road Like in India, if the traffic is on the left side, it’s on the right side So it takes time for the car to adjust to the turnings.
| Situation | Precaution |
|---|---|
| Traffic | Traffic flows on the opposite side compared to India; be cautious while driving. |
| Bike Rentals | Always carry an international license to avoid fines or bribes. |
| Petty Theft | Keep your belongings secure, especially in crowded markets or nightlife areas. |
| Behavior in Nightclubs | Stay respectful to avoid trouble; misbehavior can lead to removal from clubs or fines. |
And that’s when accidents happen And in Vietnam, the two-wheeler traffic is very infamous It can come from anywhere, so you have to be very careful Drive cautiously for the first couple of days to familiarize yourself with the traffic patterns before planning longer trips.
And finally, let’s talk about your average expenses for a week’s trip to Vietnam So as you can see on the screen This is your average expense Adjust it according to your needs So this was the whole video I hope you liked this all-comprehensive tour guide And you got a lot of valuable information.
Weekly Trip Cost Summary (Approximation)
| Category | Cost for 7 Days |
|---|---|
| Flights | ₹15,000–₹18,000 |
| Visa | ₹2,080 |
| Accommodation | ₹3,500–₹14,000 |
| Food | ₹5,500–₹8,500 |
| Local Transport | ₹1,500–₹3,000 |
| Activities | ₹5,000–₹7,000 |
| Total | ₹33,580–₹52,580 |
Vietnam is an incredible destination for Indian travelers, offering a perfect blend of cultural richness, breathtaking landscapes, and affordability.
From bustling cities like Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City to the serene beaches of Da Nang and the enchanting streets of Hoi An, Vietnam has something for everyone.
By following this beginner’s handbook, you’ll be well-prepared to navigate the country, enjoy authentic experiences, and make the most of your trip.
Whether it’s trying local delicacies, cruising Halong Bay, or exploring the Cu Chi Tunnels, Vietnam promises unforgettable memories. So pack your bags, plan your itinerary wisely, and get ready for an adventure that’s both exciting and budget-friendly. Safe travels!
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