Vietnam is one of the easiest Southeast Asian countries for Indians to visit — a straightforward e-visa, direct flights from Delhi and Mumbai, and a country that runs cleanly north to south so your itinerary almost plans itself. Here's what you actually need to know before booking: the visa process, a realistic daily budget, and how to structure the trip.
This guide covers Ha Long Bay, Hanoi, Hoi An, and Ho Chi Minh City — the core route most first-time visitors from India follow.
Do Indians need a visa for Vietnam?
Yes. Indian nationals need an e-visa, applied for online in advance through Vietnam's official e-visa portal. The government e-visa fee is USD 25 for a single entry or USD 50 for multiple entries, with official processing taking 3–7 business days (expedited processing is available through agencies for a few hours' turnaround if you're booking late). The e-visa is valid for up to 90 days, single or multiple entry. Apply at least a week before departure to avoid rush fees.
Best time to visit Vietnam
Aim for March–April or September–November. Vietnam runs the length of the country, so weather varies a lot between Hanoi in the north and Ho Chi Minh City in the south — these shoulder-season windows give you mild weather in both. Summer (June–August) is hot and humid, especially down south, and is also when Ha Long Bay sees the most boat traffic.
How much does a Vietnam trip cost?
Budget for a mid-range trip runs ₹3,500–6,000 per person per day, covering hotels, food, and local transport. The one line item worth planning separately: a Ha Long Bay overnight cruise, which runs ₹6,000–12,000 per person per night depending on the boat class — this is usually the single most memorable (and most photographed) part of the trip, so it's worth not cutting corners here.
Flights from Delhi: Direct to Hanoi or Ho Chi Minh City, roughly 5–5.5 hours; or one stop via Bangkok, Singapore, or Kuala Lumpur.
From Kanpur/Lucknow: Connect via Delhi or Mumbai, then onward — budget 9–11 hours door to door.
From Mumbai: Direct or one-stop options also run.
A simple north-to-south itinerary
Most first-time visitors follow the geography rather than jumping around:
Hanoi (2 days): The Old Quarter, street food, and a base for Ha Long Bay.
Ha Long Bay (1–2 nights): An overnight cruise through the limestone karsts is the highlight of most Vietnam itineraries — one night is enough for most travellers, two if you want to reach the quieter parts of the bay.
Hoi An (2 days): The ancient town, lantern-lit evenings, and tailoring shops if you want clothes made to order.
Ho Chi Minh City (2 days): The Mekong Delta day trip and the city's war history sites round out the trip before flying home.
Is Vietnam good for a honeymoon?
Yes — it's become one of the more popular international honeymoon picks for Indian couples precisely because of the Ha Long Bay cruise: private balcony cabins, a slower pace than a city-hopping trip, and scenery that doesn't need much editing in photos. If that's the goal, we'd bias the itinerary toward two nights on the water in Ha Long Bay and Hoi An's old town over cramming in extra cities.
Planning your Vietnam trip with AdventurePedia
We run this as a full curated package from Kanpur — flights, the Ha Long Bay cruise, hotels, and a day-by-day itinerary handled for you, not a checklist you have to assemble yourself.
Browse our Vietnam tour packages, including the Vietnam Highlights Explorer (7N/8D) and the Romantic Vietnam Honeymoon package, or WhatsApp us at +91-9044-489-940 to build a custom itinerary.
