Vietnam Under ₹60,000: 12 Best Places to Visit on India's Cheapest International Trip (2026)
Vietnam is fast becoming India's favourite budget escape, and once you see the full range of places to visit in Vietnam, from limestone islands to lantern-lit old towns, it's easy to understand why. A direct flight from Delhi or Mumbai takes under six hours, the e-visa takes a few working days, and a week-long trip can realistically come in under ₹60,000 per person if you travel smart. This guide covers the twelve destinations worth building an itinerary around, plus the practical details: when to go, how to fly there, what it costs, and how the e-visa works for Indian passport holders.
Quick Answer
Visa: e-visa required for all Indian citizens (limited exemption for Phu Quoc only)
E-visa cost: Approx. ₹2,200, single entry
Flights from India: From approx. ₹18,000 return, booked in advance
Total trip budget: Approx. ₹55,000–58,000 per person, 7 days/6 nights, twin-sharing
Updated: 27 August 2026
12 Best Places to Visit in Vietnam
Before you start ticking off things to do in Vietnam, here's the full list of destinations worth building your route around, running roughly north to south.
Ha Long Bay
No list of places to visit in Vietnam is complete without Ha Long Bay, usually the first image that comes to mind when people think of the country. Thousands of limestone karsts rise out of emerald-green water, and the best way to see it isn't a rushed day trip; it's an overnight cruise, with kayaking, cave visits, and a swim off the deck, waking up surrounded by the same karsts at sunrise. Most Ha Long Bay cruises depart from Hanoi, a two-and-a-half to three-hour transfer away. Budget overnight cruises start from around ₹4,000–5,000 per person, cabin and most meals included.
Hanoi
Vietnam's capital rewards slow wandering more than any checklist. The things to do in Hanoi start with the Old Quarter, thirty-six narrow streets once named for the guilds that traded there, now packed with street-food stalls, coffee shops, and motorbikes weaving past colonial shophouses. Beyond it, Hoan Kiem Lake makes a good anchor point, Train Street is a genuinely unusual photo stop, and the Temple of Literature offers a quieter side of the city. Food is arguably the strongest reason to base a few nights here: bun cha, egg coffee, and pho all originated in or around Hanoi, and a food walking tour is one of the better-value things to do in Hanoi. Among all the places to visit in Vietnam, Hanoi rewards staying longest.
Da Nang
Da Nang sits on the central coast and works well as a beach base with city conveniences attached. The Marble Mountains, Dragon Bridge, and My Khe Beach are the headline things to do in Vietnam here, and it's also the easiest jumping-off point for Hoi An and Hue.
Hoi An
Hoi An's Ancient Town is small enough to cover on foot in an afternoon: yellow shopfronts, silk lanterns, and a covered Japanese bridge dating to the 1590s. Evenings are the highlight, when lanterns light the riverfront, and tailors can turn around custom-made clothing within a day or two.
Ninh Binh
Often called this region's answer to the country's most famous limestone bay, Ninh Binh is best explored by rowing boat through the Trang An or Tam Coc waterways, past rice paddies and limestone caves. It's a full-day trip from Hanoi, and one of the more peaceful things to do in Vietnam.
Sapa
Up in Vietnam's northern mountains, Sapa is trekking country: terraced rice fields, mist valleys, and homestays in Hmong and Dao villages. Among cooler-climate places to visit in Vietnam, it's the standout, so pack layers even in summer.
Phu Quoc
Vietnam's largest island sits in the Gulf of Thailand and leans firmly towards relaxation, with white-sand beaches, a night market, and resorts across every budget tier. Among low-effort things to do in Vietnam, it's an easy add-on to the end of a longer trip.
Ho Chi Minh City
The country's largest city moves fast: the War Remnants Museum and Reunification Palace cover recent history, while Ben Thanh Market and its rooftop bars cover the present day.
Hue
Vietnam's former imperial capital is quieter and more historic than either big city, built around the Imperial Citadel and royal tombs along the Perfume River, among the more underrated things to do in Vietnam. It pairs naturally with a stop in Da Nang, a few hours away by road or rail.
Mui Ne
A small coastal town known for its red and white sand dunes, making it a good spot for kitesurfing and a pause between busier legs.
Da Lat
Sitting at altitude in the Central Highlands, Da Lat has a cooler climate, French colonial architecture, and pine forests, popular with domestic tourists escaping the coastal heat. It's among the more underrated places to visit in Vietnam, with coffee farms and waterfalls nearby filling two or three days easily.
Cat Ba
Vietnam's largest island, in the same archipelago as its most famous bay, Cat Ba is a quieter, cheaper alternative for karst scenery and boat trips without the crowds. Cat Ba National Park adds hiking trails and a chance of spotting the endangered Cat Ba langur.
Best Time to Visit Vietnam
The honest answer to when is the best time to visit Vietnam is that it depends on which half of the country you're heading to, since it's long enough to have two distinct climates at once. The north has four proper seasons, and the best time to visit Vietnam's northern half is October to December or March to April, when temperatures are mild and skies stay mostly clear. The south only has two seasons, dry (December to April) and wet (May to November), so the best time to visit Vietnam's southern regions is during the dry stretch. The centre sees its wettest months between September and November, worth avoiding if your route leans that way. If one window has to cover the whole country, most agree the best time to visit Vietnam overall is February to April, when the north is comfortable, the south is dry, and the centre has cleared its wet season.
Flights to Vietnam from India
Direct flights to Vietnam from India run out of Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata, and Ahmedabad, mostly landing in Hanoi or Ho Chi Minh City, with flight time averaging four to five hours. Vietnam Airlines, VietJet, IndiGo, and Air India operate these routes, and booking six to eight weeks ahead on a budget carrier tends to bring fares down. Compare and book flights to Vietnam from India directly once you've settled on dates. Fares start from roughly ₹15,000–18,000 on the cheapest routes, though ₹22,000–28,000 is more typical from major metros in peak months. Indirect flights via Bangkok or Singapore can occasionally undercut direct fares.
Vietnam Trip Cost from India
Working out the Vietnam trip cost from India comes down to five line items: flights, accommodation, food, local transport, and the e-visa, none of which need to be expensive. A realistic Vietnam trip cost from India for a week, mid-range rather than backpacker-tight, lands around ₹55,000–58,000 per person, keeping this itinerary defensibly under ₹60,000 even after an overnight bay cruise. It's worth sorting Vietnam travel insurance before you lock in dates too, since medical costs abroad add up and it isn't included below.
Category | Estimated Cost (₹) | Notes |
Return flights | ₹18,000 | Booked 6–8 weeks ahead |
Accommodation (6 nights) | ₹10,500 | Budget-to-mid-range, twin-sharing |
Food & drink (7 days) | ₹8,400 | Street food plus occasional restaurant meals |
Local transport | ₹6,500 | Buses, trains, ride-hailing |
Activities & entry fees | ₹10,000 | Includes one overnight cruise |
Vietnam e-visa | ₹2,200 | Single entry |
Total | ≈ ₹55,600 | Per person, excluding shopping |
Vietnam e-Visa for Indians
Every Indian citizen needs a visa to enter Vietnam, and the e-visa is by far the simplest route for most travellers. The Vietnam e-visa for Indians costs approximately ₹2,200 for single entry and roughly double for multiple entry, processed through the official government portal. Processing typically takes three to five working days, so apply a week or two ahead. Once approved, the Vietnam e-visa for Indians is valid for 90 days from issue, covering a single stay of that length. You'll need a passport valid for six months beyond arrival, a scanned passport photo page, and a passport-style photo. If the process feels fiddly, e-visa assistance is available through Visa Roots. Our Vietnam e-visa guide covers the full application walkthrough.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does the Vietnam e-visa cost for Indians?
A single-entry e-visa costs approximately ₹2,200, and multiple-entry costs roughly double. The fee is paid online and is non-refundable, even if the visa isn't approved.
What is the best time to visit Vietnam?
It depends on the region: October–April suits the north, December–April suits the south, and central Vietnam is best avoided between September and November. February to April is the safest single window overall.
What is the flight price from India to Vietnam?
Round-trip fares start from around ₹15,000–18,000 on the cheapest routes, with ₹22,000–28,000 more typical from major cities in peak season. Booking weeks ahead brings fares down.
What is the Vietnam trip cost from India in rupees?
A week-long trip covering flights, stays, food, transport, activities, and the e-visa comes to around ₹55,000–58,000 per person, keeping a full itinerary defensibly under ₹60,000.
How many days in Vietnam are enough?
Seven to ten days is a comfortable minimum for covering a handful of the best places to visit in Vietnam without rushing, ideally the north, one central stop, and one southern stop.
Conclusion
Vietnam manages something few destinations do: a genuinely varied trip, from limestone bays to imperial cities to island beaches, that fits under ₹60,000 per person. With so many places to visit in Vietnam packed into one narrow country, the harder part is choosing which twelve make your itinerary, not affording the trip. If you'd rather have the visa, flights, and route sorted for you, talk to Visa Roots and get the whole trip planned in one conversation.
Disclaimer
Visa fees, flight prices, and trip costs are based on information available at the time of writing (August 2026) and may change. Always check the official portal and current flight/hotel prices, or consult an authorised travel agent, before booking or travelling.
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