Vietnam Trip From India: A Complete Planning Guide

Vietnam is an excellent choice for Indian travellers who want more than a beach holiday: one trip can combine Hanoi's old quarter, a night on Halong Bay, the lantern-lit lanes of Hoi An and the energy of Ho Chi Minh City. Plan five to seven nights for a first visit, choose two regions rather than three, and travel between March and May or September and November if you want reasonable weather across the country.

Vietnam is long and narrow — about 1,650 kilometres from north to south — so the biggest planning mistake is trying to see everything in a week. This guide covers who Vietnam suits, how to choose your regions, the entry checklist, flights from India, food for vegetarians, budget levers and a sample route.

Who Vietnam suits

If Vietnam is your first international trip, it is still very doable with a planned route; our guide to your first international group trip covers the basics.

North, centre or south

• North — Hanoi, Halong Bay, Ninh Binh, Sapa: the old quarter, French-era architecture, limestone bays and karst landscapes. Cooler from November to March.
• Centre — Da Nang, Hoi An, Hue: beaches, the Golden Bridge in the Ba Na Hills, Hoi An's old town and imperial Hue. Best from about February to August.
• South — Ho Chi Minh City, the Cu Chi Tunnels, the Mekong Delta, Phu Quoc: a fast-moving city, war history, river life and island beaches. Dry from December to April.

A first trip usually pairs Hanoi and Halong Bay with either the centre or the south. Our Hanoi, Da Nang and Ho Chi Minh City guides go deeper on each base.

When to go

Halong Bay cruises can be cancelled during storm warnings, which are most likely between roughly July and October. Build a buffer day into any itinerary with a cruise.

Entry checklist for Indian passport holders

Indian passport holders need a visa for Vietnam. Most travellers apply for an e-visa online before they fly. Apply only through the official Vietnam e-visa portal, where you can check the current validity, entry options and requirements; many lookalike sites charge extra for the same service.

• A passport valid for at least six months beyond your arrival date, with blank pages.
• Your e-visa approval printed and saved on your phone, with details matching your passport exactly.
• Your entry airport and dates as stated on the application.
• Return or onward flight bookings and hotel confirmations.
• Travel insurance with medical cover.

Flights from India

Direct flights link several Indian metros, including Delhi and Mumbai, with Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City, and routes have been expanding; connections via Bangkok, Singapore or Kuala Lumpur fill the gaps. Flying into Hanoi and out of Ho Chi Minh City (or the reverse) saves you a full day of backtracking. Domestic flights between Hanoi, Da Nang and Ho Chi Minh City are frequent and short, typically one to two hours.

Food for Indian travellers

Vietnamese food is fresh, herb-heavy and rarely very spicy. Non-vegetarians will enjoy pho, banh mi and fresh spring rolls. Vegetarians should look for restaurants marked "chay" — Buddhist vegetarian kitchens found in every city — and ask ordinary restaurants to avoid fish sauce ("nuoc mam"). Indian restaurants operate in Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City and Da Nang, and many hotels will prepare vegetarian meals with notice. Halong Bay cruises can usually cater for vegetarian and Jain guests if told when you book.

Budget levers

• Season: shoulder months offer good weather with lower hotel rates than December and Tet.
• Open-jaw flights: fly into one city and out of another to avoid paying for a return domestic leg.
• Cruise class: Halong Bay cruises vary widely; an overnight on a mid-range boat is often the best balance.
• Fewer bases: each extra city adds flights, transfers and a lost half-day.
• Cash and cards: carry a forex card and some US dollars or dong for markets and small restaurants.

A sample seven-night route

This is close to our north-to-south trip. Prefer beaches? Swap the south for Da Nang, Hoi An and Ho Chi Minh City, or add Phu Quoc with our Phu Quoc, Hanoi and Halong Bay route. Short on leave? The 4-night Hanoi and Halong break fits a long weekend.

Money and connectivity

Vietnam's currency is the dong, and prices run into large numbers, so take a moment with each note. Cards are accepted in hotels, malls and many restaurants, but street food, markets and taxis are cash-first. A forex card plus a small amount of US dollars to exchange covers most needs. Local SIM cards and eSIMs are inexpensive and give fast data in cities.

Practical tips

• Use Grab for taxis and motorbike taxis in cities; agree prices for cyclos in advance.
• Crossing the road: walk slowly and steadily so motorbikes can flow around you.
• Cover shoulders and knees at pagodas and the Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum.
• Buy a local SIM or eSIM for maps and translation.

Vietnam rewards travellers who choose depth over distance. Pick two regions, give each enough nights, and let a planner handle the cruises, domestic flights and vegetarian requests, with WhatsApp support throughout.

Your questions, answered

How many days are enough for Vietnam from India?

Five nights covers Hanoi and an overnight Halong Bay cruise. Seven nights lets you add either Ho Chi Minh City or Da Nang and Hoi An. Ten nights or more is needed to travel north, centre and south without rushing.

Do Indians need a visa for Vietnam?

Yes, Indian passport holders need a visa for Vietnam, and most apply for an e-visa online before travel. Use only the official Vietnam e-visa portal and check the current validity and requirements there before you book.

When is the best time to visit Vietnam from India?

There is no single best month because the north, centre and south have different weather. Broadly, March to May and September to November work well for a north-to-south trip; February to August suits the central coast; and December to April is the dry season in the south.

Is Vietnam good for vegetarian Indian travellers?

Yes, with some planning. Vietnam has a strong Buddhist vegetarian tradition (look for "chay" restaurants), and Indian restaurants operate in Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City and Da Nang. Ask for no fish sauce in ordinary restaurants.