If we could only recommend one country to a first-time budget traveler from India, it's Vietnam. The food is a religion, the sleeper-bus network makes internal flights pointless, and ₹2,500 a day buys you a genuinely great time.
Where to Go
Hanoi Old Quarter
Organized chaos, egg coffee, and pho for breakfast on tiny plastic stools. Let yourself get lost.
Ha Long / Lan Ha Bay
Book a Cat Ba-based cruise into Lan Ha Bay — same limestone drama, fraction of the crowds and cost.
Hoi An
Lantern-lit old town, tailor shops, and the best cao lầu noodles. Rent a bicycle to the beach.
Ha Giang Loop
3–4 days by motorbike through the north's karst mountains. The single best thing we did in Asia.
Budget Reality
Banh mi from ₹60, hostel beds from ₹400, sleeper buses between major cities ₹700–1,200. Grab (the app) keeps taxi haggling out of your life. Withdraw large, fees are per-transaction.
Visa for Indian Passport Holders
e-Visa for Indian passport holders
- Apply on Vietnam's official government e-visa portal — beware lookalike agent sites charging triple.
- e-Visa is now up to 90 days, multiple entry, fee around $25 (single) / $50 (multiple).
- Processing is typically 3–5 working days; apply at least a week before flying.
- Print the e-visa approval — airlines at Indian airports asked for the physical copy at check-in.