10-Day Vietnam Itinerary From India: 2026 Budget Plan
10 days, 4 cities, Rs 75-90k all-in from India. Vietnam in 2026 is still one of the best value international trips you can do.
Vietnam is the trip I send first-time international travellers on most often. Easy e-visa, cheap, dense with experiences, and the food is incredible.
## Cost snapshot (May 2026, per person)
| Item | INR | |---|---| | Flight DEL/BLR → HAN, SGN → DEL/BLR | 28,000 – 38,000 | | E-visa | 2,100 | | Hotels 9 nights (3-star) | 14,500 | | Internal flights (2 sectors) | 4,500 | | Trains/buses | 2,800 | | Food | 9,000 | | Tours + entries | 7,000 | | Total | ~70-80k |
Live: VND to INR.
## The route
Day 1-3: Hanoi. Land at Noi Bai. Stay in Old Quarter (Hang Bac St). Walking tour, Train Street (Tran Phu, 7 PM passes), bun cha at Huong Lien (the Obama one), egg coffee at Cafe Giang.
Day 4-5: Ha Long Bay overnight cruise. Book a mid-tier boat (Indochina Sails, Paradise Elegance, ~Rs 9,000/pp). Sea kayaking, Sung Sot cave, sunrise tai chi on deck.
Day 6: Fly Hanoi → Da Nang (Vietjet, Rs 2,000). Grab to Hoi An (40 min, Rs 800). Stay in Old Town.
Day 7-8: Hoi An. Lantern town at night, get a tailor-made suit/dress (delivery in 24 hours), An Bang beach day, cooking class (Rs 2,000).
Day 9: Fly Da Nang → Ho Chi Minh City (Rs 2,500). Bui Vien at night.
Day 10: HCMC. War Remnants Museum (heavy, but essential), Cu Chi tunnels day trip, Banh Mi Huynh Hoa for the airport.
## E-visa for Indians
Vietnam's e-visa was extended to 90 days, multiple-entry, USD 25 in Aug 2023, and is still active in 2026. Apply at evisa.xuatnhapcanh.gov.vn (official, NOT the dozen scam clones in Google ads).
Process: 3-5 working days, fully online. See Vietnam visa.
## Scam warnings
- Hanoi taxi scam — only use Mai Linh (green) or G7 (yellow-green) branded taxis, or Grab. Others rig meters. - Train Street fake "tickets" — Train Street is free to walk into. If anyone asks for money, it's a scam. Buy a coffee at a track-side cafe — that's the legitimate gateway. - Halong Bay "discount" — boats advertised at Rs 2,500/night are the floating equivalent of OYO. Spend Rs 9k+ or skip Halong entirely and do Cat Ba. - Cyclo rickshaw — agree the price in writing on your phone before getting in. They quote VND 50,000 (Rs 175), then demand VND 500,000 (Rs 1,750) at the end. - Money changer — only use Ha Trung Street in Hanoi or banks. Hotel changers lose you 4-6%.
## Money
Vietnam is cash-heavy outside Hanoi/HCMC/Hoi An tourist zones. Carry VND 3-4 million (~Rs 10-14k) in cash. Withdraw from Vietcombank or Techcombank ATMs (VND 1.5 lakh / Rs 530 fee but high limit). Avoid Citibank ATMs — Rs 250 extra fee.
Forex card (Niyo/Scapia) works at chain restaurants and big hotels.
## Connectivity
eSIM: Nomad VN 5GB / 7 days, Rs 460. Or Viettel SIM at Noi Bai (legit, not airport rip-off), Rs 700 for 30 days unlimited.
## Veg food
Vietnamese cuisine has strong Buddhist veg tradition. Look for "com chay" (vegetarian rice plate) restaurants — most cities have 2-3.
## From your city
Delhi to Hanoi, Bangalore to Hanoi, Mumbai to Ho Chi Minh City.
Plan your Vietnam route with the architect.
Source: Personal Vietnam trip (1st international, Hanoi → HCMC, 12 days, 2022); current 2026 prices cross-checked via Skyscanner, Booking, Vietjet May 2026.