A Vietnam trip cost from India comes down to a few big choices: when you fly, where you sleep and how much you move around inside the country. Only a handful of charges are fixed by the Vietnamese and Indian governments, so start with those. Every Indian visitor needs an e-visa, which costs USD 25 for a single entry or USD 50 for multiple entries on the official portal. If you plan a day on Ha Long Bay, the bay’s management board sets a sightseeing fee per person. Book a package through an Indian agent and tax collected at source (TCS) applies too. Everything else you can price live for your own dates, and this guide shows how.
Know before you go
- E-visa: USD 25 single entry or USD 50 multiple entry, valid up to 90 days.
- Ha Long Bay fee: VND 250,000 per person on the popular day routes 1 and 2.
- TCS on packages: the Union Budget 2026 proposed 2% on overseas tour packages.
- Biggest variables: flights, hotels, domestic flights or trains, cruises.
- Last checked: 4 November 2026.
In this Article
Fixed costs every Indian traveller pays
These charges stay the same whatever your travel style. Multiply each one by the number of people in your group.
| Charge | Amount | Who sets it |
|---|---|---|
| E-visa, single entry | USD 25 per person | Vietnam Immigration Department |
| E-visa, multiple entry | USD 50 per person | Vietnam Immigration Department |
| TCS on an overseas tour package | 2% of package value, as proposed in Budget 2026 | Government of India |
The e-visa fee is paid online and is not refunded if the visa is refused. The government portal runs on two addresses, evisa.gov.vn and thithucdientu.gov.vn. Lookalike sites charge a service fee on top, so check the address before you pay. Our Vietnam visa guide for Indians walks through the form and photo rules.
TCS is tax collected in advance, and you can claim it against your income tax when you file your return. You still pay it up front with the package, so keep it in the budget.
Ha Long Bay sightseeing fees
Ha Long Bay is on most first trips to Vietnam, and it has its own fee table. The Ha Long Bay Management Board lists these charges per person per visit on its official page, last updated on 31 March 2025.
| Route | What it covers | Fee per person |
|---|---|---|
| Route 1 | Thien Cung cave, Dau Go cave, Dog Rock, Incense Burner and Fighting Cocks islets | VND 250,000 |
| Route 2 | Soi Sim beach, Ti Top island, Sung Sot cave, Me Cung cave and nearby caves | VND 250,000 |
| Route 3 | Cua Van floating culture centre, Tien Ong cave, Ba Ham lake | VND 200,000 |
| Route 2 with one night on the bay | Day route plus overnight stay | VND 550,000 |
| Route 2 with two nights on the bay | Day route plus two nights | VND 750,000 |
Most cruise companies fold this fee into their ticket price, so ask whether it is included before you compare two cruises. The cruise itself is a much bigger cost than the fee, and it varies a lot with boat class and the number of nights.
Costs that change with your choices
Flights from India
The return flight is usually the largest single cost. Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City both have international airports, and Da Nang is a useful third gateway for the centre of the country. Fares move with the season, the day of the week and how early you book. Flying into Hanoi and out of Ho Chi Minh City saves you from doubling back, though an open jaw ticket can cost more than a simple return. Compare both options for your dates.
Domestic flights and trains
Vietnam is long and thin, and the distance from Hanoi to Ho Chi Minh City is too far to cover comfortably by road in a short trip. Domestic flights save the most time. The north to south railway is slower but lets you skip a hotel night if you take a sleeper berth. Ha Long Bay is about 160 km by road from Hanoi, so price the transfer or the shuttle that comes with your cruise.
Accommodation
Stays run from hostels and family guesthouses to boutique hotels and beach resorts. The Old Quarter in Hanoi and District 1 in Ho Chi Minh City are central and have a wide range of prices. Beach resorts near Da Nang and Hoi An push the budget up quickly. Two people sharing a room pay much less each than a solo traveller, which is why couple budgets look cheaper per head.
Food
Street food is the cheapest way to eat well in Vietnam. A bowl of pho, a banh mi or a plate of broken rice from a small shop costs far less than a restaurant meal. Vegetarians should learn the word chay, which marks vegetarian food, since many broths use meat or fish sauce. Indian restaurants exist in the larger cities but are among the more expensive choices.
Activities and entry fees
Paid activities add up fast. A Ha Long Bay cruise, the Ba Na Hills cable car near Da Nang, a Mekong Delta day trip and a cooking class are the common extras. Our guide to Ba Na Hills and the Golden Bridge explains what that day involves. Walking around Hoi An old town, Hoan Kiem Lake and the city markets costs little, so mix the paid days with free ones.
Budget planner for your trip
Use this table to shape your own estimate. Fill in live prices for your dates and group size, then add the fixed costs above.
| Item | Budget style | Mid range style | Comfort style |
|---|---|---|---|
| Flights | Sale fare, one stop, booked early | Direct or short connection | Flexible fare, better times |
| Getting around | Sleeper trains and buses | One or two domestic flights | Domestic flights and private cars |
| Stay | Hostel or guesthouse | 3 to 4 star hotel | Resort or boutique hotel |
| Food | Mostly street food | Street food and cafes | Restaurants |
| Ha Long Bay | Day cruise | One night cruise | Two night cruise, higher class boat |
| Fixed charges | E-visa, bay fee, TCS if a package | Same | Same |
For a couple or two people
Double the per person lines: flights, e-visa, bay fee and cruise berths. Rooms, private cars and taxi rides are shared, so they do not double.
For a family of four or three people
Multiply the per person lines by the group size and check family rooms or connecting rooms, which can cost less than two separate rooms. For three people, ask about a triple room. Private car transfers become better value as the group grows, since one car carries four people for the same price.
Money tips
Vietnam uses the dong, and prices carry a lot of zeroes, so read each figure twice before you pay. Hotels and larger shops take cards, but street stalls and small shops want cash. Tell your bank before you travel and check its foreign transaction charges. Our Vietnam itinerary for 10 days groups sights by city, which keeps transport costs down.
When Vietnam costs less
Flights and rooms usually cost more around Tet, the Lunar New Year, as well as Christmas, New Year and Indian school holidays. Weather differs a lot between the north, centre and south, so the cheapest month in one region can be the wettest in another. Our guide to the best time to visit Vietnam sets out the seasons region by region.
FAQ
What is the Vietnam trip cost from India for a couple?
It depends on flight dates, hotels and how you travel inside the country. Start with the fixed costs for two people: two e-visas at USD 25 each for single entry, and two Ha Long Bay fees if you go there. Then price flights, rooms, transfers and meals for your dates.
How should a family of 4 budget for Vietnam?
Count four e-visas, four flight tickets and four bay fees, then look for family rooms and private car transfers, which are shared costs. Booking domestic flights early helps most for a larger group.
Is the Ha Long Bay fee included in a cruise ticket?
Often it is, but not always. Ask the cruise company whether the sightseeing fee set by the Ha Long Bay Management Board is part of the price.
Do I pay TCS if I book flights and hotels myself?
TCS on overseas tour packages applies when you buy a package from a seller in India. Separate bookings are treated differently, so check with your bank or a tax adviser for your own case.
Which is the most expensive part of a Vietnam trip?
For most Indian travellers it is the return flight, followed by hotels and any overnight cruise.
Official resources: Vietnam e-visa portal; Vietnam e-visa portal, second domain; Ha Long Bay Management Board: sightseeing fees; PIB: Union Budget 2026 TCS changes
Photo credits
Featured image: lumoplank / Wikimedia Commons, CC0; Ha Long Bay sightseeing fees: Shyamal L. / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0; Domestic flights and trains: RG72 / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0; Accommodation: Richard Mortel from Riyadh, Saudi Arabia / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 2.0; Food: Codename5281 / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0; Food: Nguyenandi.vn / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0; Activities and entry fees: Christophe95 / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0; For a family of four or three people: Bahnfrend / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0.
