Vietnam is Southeast Asia's most rewarding bargain — ancient temple towns, UNESCO coastlines, and some of the world's best street food, all accessible on a straightforward Indian e-visa. This 6-day itinerary takes you from Hanoi's French-colonial boulevards to Hoi An's lantern-lit Ancient Town, finishing in the electric chaos of Ho Chi Minh City. North to south in six days: it's tight, but it captures Vietnam's full personality.
Visa: Vietnam e-visa costs $25 (≈₹2,100). Apply at evisa.gov.vn — approval in 3–5 working days. Valid 90 days, multiple entry. Apply 2 weeks before travel to be safe.
Days 1–2: Hanoi — Old Quarter, Egg Coffee & Ha Long Bay
Day 1 — Hanoi Arrival & Old Quarter
Morning: Arrive at Noi Bai Airport (Grab car to Old Quarter ≈₹1,000, 40 min). Walk Hoan Kiem Lake at dawn — locals do tai chi on the shore. Cross the red Huc Bridge to the 15th-century Ngoc Son Temple on a lake island.
Afternoon: Ba Dinh district — Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum complex (Tue–Thu + Sat–Sun mornings, free), One Pillar Pagoda, and the Temple of Literature (₫30,000 / ₹110), Vietnam's first university founded in 1070 — one of the best-preserved traditional Vietnamese architectural complexes anywhere.
Evening: Get lost in the Old Quarter's 36 streets. Dinner at Bun Cha Huong Lien — the "Obama restaurant" where the US President ate in 2016 (₫80,000 / ₹300). Egg coffee at Cafe Giang (Nguyen Huu Huan St) — thick whipped egg yolk over espresso, ₫30,000. End at Ta Hien Beer Corner for bia hoi (fresh draught beer, ₫5,000 / ₹18 a glass).
Hanoi tip: Grab app is essential — motorbike Grab across the Old Quarter costs ₹110–220. Never take unmetered taxis from the airport.
Day 2 — Ha Long Bay Day Cruise
Depart Hanoi 7:30am by tourist shuttle (₹800–900 one way, book through hotel). 3.5-hour drive to Ha Long Bay. Board a day cruise — UNESCO limestone karsts rising 200m from emerald water, kayaking through sea caves at Luon Cave, swimming at a floating fishing village, lunch onboard (spring rolls, grilled fish, morning glory), visit Sung Sot Cave (Cave of Surprises). Return Hanoi by 7:30pm.
Ha Long Bay day cruise: ₹2,500–5,000 per person including lunch and cave entry. Overnight cruises are more relaxed but this itinerary uses the day version to save a night.
Full Hanoi guide: top attractions, best restaurants, neighbourhoods and budget breakdown.
Read moreDays 3–4: Hoi An — Ancient Town, Lanterns & Tailors
Day 3 — Arrival in Hoi An
Morning: Fly Hanoi → Da Nang (1 hr, ₹1,500–4,000 on VietJet / Bamboo, book 4–6 weeks ahead). Grab to Hoi An (45 min, ₹800). Check in near the Ancient Town.
Afternoon: Hoi An Ancient Town (UNESCO). Entry combo ticket ₫120,000 (₹440) covers 5 sites: iconic 400-year-old Japanese Covered Bridge, Tan Ky Old House (Japanese-Chinese fusion architecture), Fujian Assembly Hall, and two more heritage buildings. Walk the riverside promenade.
Evening: Hoi An at night is one of Asia's great experiences — hundreds of silk lanterns glow above the Ancient Town streets, the Thu Bon River shimmers with floating candle boats. Buy a paper lantern (₹110), light it, float it. Dinner: Banh Mi Phuong (world-famous banh mi, ₹90) and a sit-down meal at Mango Rooms on the riverside.
Order tailor-made clothing on Day 3 morning, collect Day 4 evening. Yaly Couture and A Dong Silk are the most reliable — custom ao dai ₹2,500–4,500, custom suit ₹5,000–9,000.
Day 4 — Cooking Class, Coconut Forest & Beaches
Morning: Hoi An cooking class (₹1,800–2,500 including a guided Thu Bon riverside market visit). Learn cao lau noodles (made only with water from Hoi An's 1,000-year-old wells), white rose dumplings (banh vac), and banh xeo crispy pancakes. Lunch is what you cook.
Afternoon: Basket boat (coracle) tour at Cam Thanh Coconut Village (₹1,100). Circular woven bamboo boats navigate a dense water-coconut forest; your guide spins the boat. Includes crab fishing and fresh coconut water.
Evening: Collect tailor order. Stroll Ancient Town one last time. Street food binge: cao lau (₹180), white rose (₹150), fresh spring rolls (₹90). Board the night train or early morning flight to Ho Chi Minh City.
Days 5–6: Ho Chi Minh City — War History, Street Food & Mekong
Day 5 — HCMC: War History & Colonial Circuit
Morning: Fly Da Nang → HCMC (1.5 hrs, ₹1,500–3,500). Go directly to the War Remnants Museum (₫40,000 / ₹150, 2–3 hrs) — three floors of photographs, US military equipment, and Agent Orange documentation. One of the most powerful war museums in the world, presented from the Vietnamese perspective.
Afternoon: District 1 colonial circuit — all within 500m: Reunification Palace (where the Vietnam War ended on 30 April 1975, tanks crashed through these gates), Saigon Central Post Office (Eiffel's team designed it, still operating), Notre-Dame Cathedral. Ben Thanh Market for souvenirs at local prices.
Evening: Rooftop bar sunset — Chill Sky Bar (49th floor, ₹730 cover), or EON Heli Bar at Bitexco Tower. Then Nguyen Hue Walking Street for the city's evening crowds.
Day 6 — Cu Chi Tunnels + Departure
Morning: Cu Chi Tunnels day trip (departs 8am, returns 2pm, ₹1,800–2,800 including transport). The 250km Viet Cong underground tunnel network used during the Vietnam War — you can crawl through original tunnels, see booby trap demonstrations, and fire an AK-47 at the shooting range. Return to HCMC by 2pm.
Afternoon: Final wander around Ben Thanh Market for last-minute gifts. Bui Vien Walking Street for HCMC's most chaotic and colourful street food evening. Then Tan Son Nhat Airport (6km from District 1, Grab ≈₹360, allow 2–3 hours before flight).
Return flights: IndiGo, VietJet, and Air India fly HCMC–India (Mumbai, Delhi, Chennai, Bengaluru). Book 6–8 weeks ahead for under ₹12,000 one-way.
Full Ho Chi Minh City guide: day trips, restaurants, nightlife and what to skip.
Read moreVietnam 6-Day Budget (Per Person from India)
| Expense | Budget ₹ | Mid-range ₹ | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Return flights from India | 18,000–30,000 | 28,000–45,000 | Book 6–8 weeks ahead |
| E-visa | 2,100 | 2,100 | Fixed, same for everyone |
| 2 internal flights | 2,500–6,000 | 5,000–10,000 | Hanoi→Da Nang + Da Nang→HCMC |
| 6 nights accommodation | 3,600–6,000 | 9,000–18,000 | Hostel vs boutique hotel |
| Food (6 days) | 2,700–4,500 | 5,400–9,000 | Street food vs restaurants |
| Activities & day trips | 4,500–8,000 | 8,000–14,000 | Ha Long Bay, cooking, Cu Chi |
| TOTAL | ≈₹33,000–57,000 | ≈₹57,000–98,000 | Per person return |
Essential Tips for Indians
- ›Currency: Vietnamese Dong (VND). ₹1 ≈ ₫294. Carry cash for street food and markets — ATMs available everywhere.
- ›SIM card: Buy Viettel or Mobifone tourist SIM at airport for ₹400–600. 4G data for 30 days.
- ›Best time: November–April. Avoid June–September (rainy season). Hoi An floods significantly in October–November.
- ›Vegetarian: Say "chay" for vegetarian or "không thịt" (no meat). Most pho shops can do a veggie version.
- ›Safety: Vietnam is one of Southeast Asia's safest countries. Watch for bag-snatching by motorbike in HCMC.
Vietnam country page: all cities, visa info, best time, and complete travel planning.
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