Vietnam is one of the best-value international trips an Indian traveller can take in 2026. A complete 7-day Vietnam itinerary from India — return flights, hotels, a Ha Long Bay cruise, and food — costs between ₹61,000 and ₹95,000 per person when booked smart. The dong has weakened against the rupee since 2023, street food is outstanding, and the country packs extraordinary range into a single week.
This guide gives you a real day-by-day Vietnam itinerary from India with hard ₹ figures so you know exactly what to budget before you book a single flight.
Quick Verdict
| Category | Budget per person | Mid-range per person |
|---|---|---|
| Return flights (Mumbai/Delhi) | ₹26,000 | ₹35,000 |
| Hotels (7 nights) | ₹12,000 | ₹22,000 |
| Ha Long Bay 2-day cruise | ₹8,500 | ₹15,000 |
| Food (7 days) | ₹5,000 | ₹8,000 |
| Internal transport | ₹3,500 | ₹5,000 |
| Activities & entrance fees | ₹4,000 | ₹7,000 |
| e-Visa fee | ₹2,100 | ₹2,100 |
| Total per person | ~₹61,000 | ~₹94,000 |
Flights from India to Vietnam
There are no direct flights. Every route from India to Vietnam involves one stop. Common connections in 2026:
| Route | Airlines | Stopover | Return price |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mumbai → Hanoi (HAN) | IndiGo / VietJet via Kuala Lumpur | 2–4 hrs | ₹26,000–₹36,000 |
| Delhi → Hanoi | Air India / IndiGo via Singapore | 2–5 hrs | ₹28,000–₹42,000 |
| Mumbai → Ho Chi Minh City (SGN) | IndiGo / AirAsia via KUL | 2–3 hrs | ₹24,000–₹34,000 |
| Bangalore → Da Nang (DAD) | VietJet via KUL | 3–5 hrs | ₹27,000–₹38,000 |
Book 6–10 weeks ahead. Avoid Indian public holidays and Christmas–New Year; fares spike 50–70%. October–November is peak demand from India due to Diwali season.
Search Vietnam flights from Mumbai and Delhi →
The most efficient routing for a north-to-south trip: fly into Hanoi, exit from Ho Chi Minh City. Many airlines allow open-jaw (fly in/out of different cities) at no extra cost.
Vietnam e-Visa for Indians (2026)
Vietnam no longer offers visa-on-arrival as a standalone option. Since August 2023, all nationalities including Indians apply for a 90-day e-visa online.
- Fee: $25 USD (~₹2,100) — single or multiple entry
- Processing time: 3 business days; apply 7–10 days before travel
- Official portal: evisa.xuatnhapcanh.gov.vn
- What you upload: Passport bio page scan, passport photo, travel dates, hotel address
Apply directly on the government portal to avoid inflated agent fees. The form is in English and straightforward.
Get help with the Vietnam e-visa application → — iVisa charges a small service fee but reviews your form before submission.
Unlike Thailand, Vietnam is not visa-free for Indians. Check the full visa-free countries list for Indian passport holders if you’re planning a multi-destination Southeast Asia trip.
7-Day Vietnam Itinerary from India
This itinerary assumes you fly in to Hanoi and exit from Ho Chi Minh City. Reverse it if cheap fares dictate.
Day 1–2: Hanoi
Arrive Hanoi morning after an overnight flight. The Old Quarter is navigable on foot: 36 narrow streets of street food, lacquerware, and French-colonial architecture within walking distance of each other.
Day 1 priorities:
- Hoan Kiem Lake and Ngoc Son Temple — ₹0 entry, go at dusk
- Old Quarter walk — eat bun cha for ₹120, banh mi for ₹60, ca phe trung egg coffee for ₹90
- Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum complex if you arrive early (opens 8am, closed Monday/Friday)
Day 2 options: Ninh Binh day trip (2 hrs south — limestone karsts, rowboat through caves, Trang An UNESCO site). Shared day tours cost ₹1,200–2,500 per person including transport.
Book Hanoi tours and day trips →
Hotels in Hanoi Old Quarter: Budget guesthouses ₹1,000–1,800/night (clean, AC, breakfast often included). Mid-range 3-star ₹2,500–3,800/night. Search Hanoi hotels →
Day 3–4: Ha Long Bay Cruise
A 2-day/1-night cruise is the most time-efficient way to experience the bay. Budget for these boat tiers:
| Tier | What you get | Price per person (2D/1N) |
|---|---|---|
| Budget (shared cabin) | Basic cabin, set meals, kayak | ₹7,000–10,000 |
| Mid-range | Private en-suite, kayaking, sundeck | ₹14,000–20,000 |
| Premium | Luxury cabins, gourmet meals, fewer passengers | ₹25,000–45,000 |
Cruises depart from Ha Long City or Tuan Chau Marina, 3.5 hours from Hanoi by shuttle. Most cruise operators include the Hanoi–bay transfer in the price.
Book 2–4 weeks ahead in peak season (October–April). Halong and nearby Lan Ha Bay have both been recognised as UNESCO World Heritage Sites — Lan Ha is less crowded and costs similar.
Day 5: Hanoi → Da Nang / Hoi An
Option A — Fly: VietJet or Bamboo Airways fly Hanoi to Da Nang in 50 minutes. Fares ₹1,500–3,500 booked in advance.
Option B — Night train: The Reunification Express runs overnight from Hanoi to Da Nang (14 hours, departs ~6pm, arrives ~8am). Soft sleeper berths cost ₹2,500–3,500 and you save a hotel night.
Book the Hanoi → Da Nang train on 12Go Asia → — trains from ₹1,400 (hard seat) to ₹3,500 (soft sleeper). The sleeper is worth ₹1,000 extra: saves a hotel night, arrives fresh.
Hoi An is 30 minutes from Da Nang by taxi (~₹280). The Ancient Town is UNESCO-listed: silk lanterns, tailor shops, Japanese merchant houses. Hire a bicycle for ₹120/day — best way to cover it.
Tailor tip: Hoi An tailors turn around shirts in 24 hours (₹2,000–4,000) and suits in 48 hours (₹12,000–20,000 fully fitted). Reputable shops on Tran Hung Dao St give you 2 fittings.
Day 6: Hoi An — Marble Mountains & My Son
- Marble Mountains (15 min north of Da Nang): multi-level limestone hills with Buddhist shrines inside caves. Entry ₹400, add ₹80 elevator if knees are an issue.
- My Son Sanctuary (45 min from Hoi An): 4th–13th century Cham temple ruins, UNESCO. Entry ₹900. Go in the morning — afternoons get hot and tour groups arrive.
- Evening: A cooking class in Hoi An (₹1,500–2,500/person) is worth it — you start at the market, buy ingredients, cook 5 dishes.
Day 7: Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon)
Fly HCMC from Da Nang (1 hour, ₹1,500–3,500). Most India-bound flights depart HCMC in the morning — check your return flight time before booking the Da Nang connection.
Half-day circuit in HCMC:
- War Remnants Museum (entry ₹300) — confronting, essential, plan 2 hours
- Ben Thanh Market for last-minute shopping and banh mi
- Grab bike across the city — ₹80–200 per short trip, faster than tuk-tuks
Stay overnight near the airport if your return flight is early morning — saves an early start.
Hotels near HCMC airport: Clean 2-star options ₹1,200–1,800/night within 10 minutes.
Getting Around Vietnam
Vietnam’s domestic transport is fast and cheap:
| Mode | Route | Cost |
|---|---|---|
| Domestic flight | Hanoi → Da Nang | ₹1,500–3,500 |
| Night train (sleeper) | Hanoi → Da Nang | ₹2,500–3,500 |
| Sleeper bus | Hanoi → Hoi An (direct) | ₹900–1,500 |
| Grab bike (3–5 km) | Within any city | ₹80–150 |
| Grab car | Airport → city centre | ₹200–500 |
Book Vietnam trains and buses on 12Go Asia → — English booking, instant confirmation, seats fill fast in peak season.
eSIM for Vietnam
Your Indian SIM roaming in Vietnam costs ₹600–1,200/day. Skip it entirely. An Airalo eSIM gives you 3 GB of local data for ₹500–700, activates the moment your plane lands in Hanoi or HCMC.
Get a Vietnam eSIM on Airalo → — works on any unlocked dual-SIM Android or iPhone (XR and newer). Install it before you board in India.
Airport Transfers
- Hanoi Noi Bai (HAN): 35 km from Old Quarter. Grab car ₹350–500 (45–60 min). Minibus ₹120 (slower, 75–90 min).
- Da Nang (DAD): 3 km from city centre. Grab car ₹150–250 (10 min).
- Ho Chi Minh City Tan Son Nhat (SGN): 7 km from centre. Grab car ₹200–350 (20–40 min depending on traffic).
Pre-book your Vietnam airport transfer → for a fixed-price pickup — recommended when arriving late night or with luggage.
Best Time to Visit Vietnam from India
Vietnam’s north, centre, and south have distinct climates:
| Region | Best months | Avoid |
|---|---|---|
| Hanoi & north | October–April (dry, 15–25°C) | June–August (hot, typhoon risk) |
| Hoi An / Da Nang | February–May (dry, sunny) | September–November (flooding) |
| HCMC & south | December–April (dry season) | May–October (monsoon) |
Sweet spot for a north-to-south trip: November–March. The whole country is manageable and the north is pleasantly cool (10–18°C); HCMC stays warm at 28–32°C.
Indian travellers flying from Mumbai or Delhi should note that flights are 40–80% cheaper in January–March than during Diwali or Christmas–New Year.
Plan the Numbers
Before you book, run the currency and planning tools:
- Search Vietnam flights from Mumbai / Delhi →
- Compare Vietnam hotels →
- Convert INR to Vietnamese Dong →
- Build your full Vietnam itinerary with the AI planner →
- Explore Vietnam tours and experiences →
Vietnam stacks well with Cambodia (fly Saigon → Siem Reap, ~1 hr, ~₹5,000) or Thailand if you have 10–14 days. But for a first international trip from India, 7 days in Vietnam is a complete, self-contained experience — one of the best-value weeks you can spend outside India in 2026.
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