Vietnam vs Sri Lanka.
Direct comparison for Indian travellers, visa, cost, best months, sights. Vietnam ended its 30-day visa-free for Indians in 2026; mainland now needs a paid 90-day e-Visa ($25). Only Phu Quoc island keeps a 30-day visa-free exemption. Meanwhile in Sri Lanka: Sri Lanka ETA is FREE for Indians through 2026 (April 2026 Cabinet extension; further extension widely expected), apply only at eta.gov.lk; clone sites charge $50+ for the same free service.
| 🇻🇳 Vietnam | 🇱🇰 Sri Lanka | |
|---|---|---|
| Visa for Indian passport | paid e-Visa 90 days (visa-free for Phu Quoc only, 30d) | FREE ETA 30 days double-entry (extended through 2026) |
| Visa cost (per person) | ₹2,100 | Free |
| Round-trip flight (Chennai) | ₹16k | ₹14k |
| Daily mid-range cost | ₹2.5-5.0k | ₹2.0-4.5k |
| Best months | Oct-Apr | Dec-Mar (south); Apr-Sep (east) |
| Top city | Hanoi | Colombo |
- 1. Halong Bay
- 2. Hoi An old town
- 3. Saigon street food
- 4. Phu Quoc beach
- 1. Sigiriya
- 2. Ella train ride
- 3. Galle fort
- 4. Yala safari
For first-time Indian travellers Vietnam is the cheapest paid e-Visa to clear ($25 / ₹2,100) and pho-and-banh-mi food costs sit at ₹150-300 a meal, half what you'd pay in Thailand post-tourism-hike. Pair it with the /architect Vietnam plan for a 7-day Hanoi→Hoi An→Saigon route.
Cheapest INR-per-day budget destination on this list at ₹2-4.5k and the visa is the only one that's been FREE for Indians since 2024, confirmed through 2026. The 9-hour train Kandy→Ella is one of Asia's iconic journeys. See /journal/sri-lanka-free-eta-indian-passport-2026 for the booking shortcut.
Vietnam or Sri Lanka for first-time Indian travellers?
Sri Lanka has the simpler visa for Indian passport (FREE ETA 30 days double-entry (extended through 2026)). Sri Lanka has cheaper flights from India (~₹14k). If budget is the constraint, pick the one with the lower combined visa+flight cost.
Which is cheaper to travel daily, Vietnam or Sri Lanka?
Sri Lanka is cheaper at mid-range (₹2k/day baseline vs ₹3k). The gap is biggest on stays + food; transit costs are roughly similar.
When should I visit Vietnam vs Sri Lanka?
Vietnam is best in Oct-Apr. Sri Lanka is best in Dec-Mar (south); Apr-Sep (east). Different windows means you can do both as a multi-country trip if windows align.