8 Amazing Days in Vietnam: The Complete Travel Guide with Real Costs Starting ₹49,999
Okay, so picture this. I'm at my friend Neha's wedding last December, and her cousin starts going on and on about this incredible trip to Vietnam he just took. I'm thinking, sure, another travel brag story," but then he shows me his photos. Holy crap.
Two months later, I'm sitting in a cramped Delhi café with my sister Priya, frantically googling "Vietnam travel costs because we'd just impulsively decided to blow our Diwali bonus on this trip. Best. Decision. Ever.
I mean, I'll be honest here - I knew literally nothing about Vietnam except what I'd seen in movies (and let's face it, those aren't exactly travel guides). But sometimes you just gotta jump, right?
Vietnam Visa for Indians: Not the Nightmare I Expected
So here's where I almost chickened out. My mom kept forwarding these horror stories about visa rejections, and I was convinced we'd mess something up. But get this - the Vietnam visa for indians process is actually pretty chill.
We did the e-visa thing online. Took maybe 30 minutes to fill out, uploaded our passport photos (had to retake mine three times because apparently my bathroom lighting wasn't "professional" enough), and waited.
Four days later APPROVED. ₹2,100 each. That's it.
The funny part? When we landed in Hanoi, I had this whole folder of printed documents, backup emails, the works. The immigration guy looked at our passports for like 5 seconds, stamped them, and we were through. All that stress for nothing!
Pro tip, though their photo requirements are pretty specific. My friend Arjun's application got delayed because his background was cream instead of pure white. Such a random thing to get stuck on.
Vietnam Tour Packages India vs Winging It: What Actually Worked
This was our biggest debate. Should we book one of those Vietnam tour packages that Indian travel companies sell, or just figure it out as we go?
We ended up doing this weird hybrid thing. Booked hotels for the first three nights through a package (safety net, you know?), Then, I kept everything else flexible.
Best decision ever. Like, the structured beginning gave us confidence, but the free days? That's where the magic happened.
In Hoi An, we were supposed to do this touristy cooking class thing. Instead, we got lost looking for it and ended up in this tiny family restaurant. The grandma there didn't speak a word of English, but somehow taught us to make these insane spring rolls while her granddaughter translated via Google. Spent the whole afternoon there, just laughing and eating. No tour package gives you that.
Group Tour Packages: The Good, Bad, and Hilarious
Real talk about group tour packages, they're great for some stuff, terrible for others.
The Ha Long Bay cruise we did with a group? Absolutely perfect. Met this family from Gurgaon, and their 8-year-old daughter basically adopted us for the entire trip. Kids are the best icebreakers, seriously.
But then there were times in Ho Chi Minh City when we just wanted to sit at a street café for hours, trying different coffee styles and people-watching. Group schedules don't really vibe with that lazy traveler energy.
My sister's a slow eater (like, painfully slow), and those timed group meals stressed her out completely. She ended up taking photos of her food to finish later, just to keep up with everyone.
Our Vietnam Vacation Schedule (The Real Version)
Everyone keeps asking about our itinerary, so here's the actual breakdown messy parts included:
Days 1-3: Ho Chi Minh City
Stayed in District 1 because I read it was central (it was). The motorbike traffic is absolutely insane; crossing streets felt like playing Frogger in real life. But man, the energy! And the food. Oh my god, the food.
Days 4-5: Hoi An
This place ruined me for other cities. Those lantern-lit streets, the river views, the tailors on every corner. We probably bought way too many custom clothes here. No regrets.
Day 6: Da Nang
Honestly, just needed beach time after all that walking. The Ba Na Hills thing was touristy but fun - felt like being in some fantasy movie.
Days 7-8: Hanoi
Completely different vibe from Ho Chi Minh City. More chill, older feel. Got lost in the Old Quarter for hours and loved every minute of it.
Domestic flights saved us so much time. Yeah, ₹6,500 per person seems steep, but when you compare it to 12-hour bus rides? No contest.
International Tour Packages vs DIY: What I Actually Think
Look, international tour packages are perfect if you're the type who likes everything planned out. My parents would definitely go that route - they want to know exactly where they're sleeping each night and what they're eating for breakfast.
But if you're like us and get excited about random discoveries, then planning your own stuff gives you that flexibility. Some of our best memories happened because we took wrong turns or talked to random people.
The sweet spot? Book your flights, first few nights' hotels, and maybe one or two big activities. Leave everything else open. Trust me on this.
The Ha Giang Loop Tour We're Definitely Doing Next Time
Okay, the biggest regret is that we didn't have time for the Ha Giang loop tour. But we met these backpackers from Chennai who'd just finished it, and their stories were incredible.
Four days on motorbikes through mountain roads that look like they're from another planet. Rice terraces, tiny villages, homestays where you sleep on floors and wake up to roosters. One guy said it was simultaneously the most beautiful and most terrifying thing he'd ever done.
The altitude gave him headaches for days, but he wouldn't stop showing us photos of sunrises over mountain peaks. Next Vietnam vacation, this is happening for sure.
Finding a Good Vietnam Travel Agency Support
Here's something nobody talks about - having a reliable Vietnam travel agency backup is clutch when things go sideways (and they will).
Our Da Nang to Hanoi flight got delayed four hours because of storms. Having someone local to call who could reschedule our hotel pickup and dinner reservations? Lifesaver.
Don't just look for the cheapest option. Find someone who actually picks up the phone when you're panicking in a foreign country at 11 PM. Trust me, it's worth paying extra for that peace of mind.
What We Actually Spent: Vietnam from Delhi Budget Breakdown
Time for the money talk. Here's our real spending for two people, eight days, everything included:
Flights to Vietnam from Delhi: ₹32,000 per person (booked way ahead)
Places to sleep: ₹18,000 total (mix of nice and budget spots)
Food: ₹10,000 total (ate like absolute kings)
Getting around: ₹8,000 total (taxis, local buses, domestic flights)
Fun stuff: ₹13,000 total (tours, entrance fees, activities)
Shopping and random expenses: ₹7,000 total
Total per person: Around ₹49,000
The food costs will shock you - Vietnamese street food is ridiculously cheap and amazing. We're talking ₹120-250 for incredible meals that would cost ₹800+ in Delhi. Restaurant dinners were ₹400-700 max.
Could we have done it cheaper? Sure, if we'd stayed in hostels and taken buses everywhere. Could we have spent way more? Obviously, luxury hotels and private tours add up fast.
Getting Travel Help in Delhi NCR
Living in Delhi NCR, we've got tons of travel agents to choose from. But finding one who actually knows Vietnam (not just generic Asia packages) makes a huge difference.
What worked for us was finding someone who asked about our travel style instead of just pushing the most expensive package. When we said we wanted great food experiences but didn't need fancy hotels, they got it and adjusted everything accordingly.
Also, make sure they give you local emergency contacts. Google Translate is fine for ordering pho, but if you lose your passport or need urgent help, having actual people to call is essential.
Would I Tell You to Book Vietnam Tomorrow? Hell Yes.
Would I go back to Vietnam right now if someone bought me a ticket? In a heartbeat. Was everything perfect? Not even close.
I got food poisoning in Ho Chi Minh City from some questionable street cart (worth it, the food was incredible). We missed our train to Hoi An because traffic was even worse than in Delhi (didn't think that was possible). My sister lost her favorite sunglasses in a taxi and cried about it for an hour.
But you know what? Those messy, imperfect moments made it feel real. Vietnam completely surprised me, it's this amazing mix of old and new, chaotic but somehow peaceful, and the people are genuinely warm once you figure out basic politeness in their culture.
Priya still talks about that spring roll lesson with her grandmother every time someone mentions cooking. I still buy Vietnamese coffee beans online because regular coffee just tastes bland now.
Thinking about planning your own Vietnam adventure?
Look, I get it, the research phase is overwhelming. I spent literally months watching YouTube videos and reading blog posts before we finally just booked our flights.
If you want some honest advice about budgeting, planning, or what's actually worth doing versus tourist traps, just ask. I love helping people avoid the mistakes we made and find those amazing experiences we stumbled onto.
Whether you need help with day-by-day planning, money-saving tricks, or realistic expectations about what eight days can cover, I'm always up for chatting about it over coffee (Vietnamese, obviously).
For solid Vietnam packages that actually understand what Indian travelers want, check out Book this tour. They know how to balance must-see spots with authentic local experiences without the tourist trap nonsense.
Those eight days gave us stories we're still telling six months later. And honestly? That's what makes travel worth every rupee you spend.