Vietnam Trip Budget in INR: 7-10 Day Backpacker Cost Breakdown
✅ Last verified on-the-ground: 2026-07-18
A 7-10 day Vietnam trip from India costs between ₹28,000 (~$290.45) and ₹38,000 (~$394.18) per person on the ground (excluding flights). For a complete Vietnam budget in INR breakdown, including flights and visa, read on. See also our South East Asia Backpacking Hub for regional cost comparisons.
Quick Answers
| What | Answer | Price (INR) |
|---|---|---|
| 7-10 day budget backpacker (excl. Flights) | Hanoi to HCMC loop, dorms, street food, buses | ₹28,000-₹38,000 (~$290.45-$394.18) |
| 7-10 day mid-range (excl. Flights) | Private rooms, mix of restaurants, some tours | ₹55,000-₹85,000 (~$570.52-$881.71) |
| 7-10 day luxury (excl. Flights) | 4-star hotels, fine dining, private transfers | ₹150,000-₹250,000 (~$1,555.96-$2,593.26) |
| Vietnam e-Visa fee | 90 days, multiple entry, online | ₹2,410 (~$25) |
| Round-trip flights from India (Delhi/Mumbai) | Economy, low-cost carriers, booked 4-6 weeks out | ₹18,000-₹35,000 (~$186.71-$363.06) |
| Hostel dorm (Hanoi Old Quarter) | Per bed, per night | ₹737-₹1,289 (~200,000-350,000 VND or ~$7.64-$13.37) |
| Vietnam budget in INR (7-day backpacker, on-the-ground, excl. Flights) | Hanoi to HCMC loop | ₹28,000-₹38,000 (~$290.45-$394.18) |
| Street food meal (pho, banh mi, com) | Per dish | ₹92-₹184 (~25,000-50,000 VND or ~$0.96-$1.91) |
| Sleeper bus (Hanoi to Da Nang, ~12 hours) | Open-bus ticket | ₹1,289-₹1,842 (~350,000-500,000 VND or ~$13.37-$19.10) |
| Local SIM (Viettel/Mobifone, 30 days, 5GB/day) | With registration | ₹737-₹1,105 (~200,000-300,000 VND or ~$7.64-$11.46) |
| Daily budget (backpacker, excluding accommodation) | Food + transport + misc | ₹2,210-₹3,315 (~600,000-900,000 VND or ~$22.92-$34.38) |
Budget vs Mid-Range vs Luxury: What Each Tier Pays For
This Vietnam budget in INR guide compares three tiers across the standard Hanoi to Ho Chi Minh City loop. The difference between ₹30,000 (~$311.19) and ₹200,000 (~$2,074.61) for the same 10-day trip is not about how much further you go. It’s about where you sleep, where you eat, and how you move between cities.
Budget Backpacker (₹28,000-₹38,000 (~$290.45-$394.18) for 7-10 days on the ground)
This is the tier most Indian backpackers end up in, and it works. Dorms cost ₹737-₹1,289 (~200,000-350,000 VND or ~$7.64-$13.37) a night. A bowl of pho at a street stall runs ₹92-₹147 (~25,000-40,000 VND or ~$0.96-$1.53). The Hanoi to Ho Chi Minh City open-bus ticket (FUTA or The Sinh Tourist) costs ₹2,946-₹4,420 (~800,000-1,200,000 VND or ~$30.56-$45.84) for the full stretch, which works out cheaper than point-to-point if you’re stopping in Hue, Hoi An, and Da Nang. Entry to most temples and museums is ₹110-₹184 (~30,000-50,000 VND or ~$1.15-$1.91), with a few exceptions (Hoi An’s old town pass is ₹442 (~120,000 VND or ~$4.58); the Imperial City in Hue is ₹737 (~200,000 VND or ~$7.64)).
A realistic day in this tier looks like ₹2,578-₹3,315 (~700,000-900,000 VND or ~$26.74-$34.38) total, which is roughly ₹1,900 (~$19.71) to ₹2,500 (~$25.93) per day on the ground. The full 10-day math, verified against traveller reports from June 2026:
- Hostel dorms (9 nights): ~₹9,944 (~2,700,000 VND or ~$103.15)
- Food (3 meals, mostly street): ~₹16,574 (~4,500,000 VND or ~$171.92)
- Inter-city buses: ~₹4,420 (~1,200,000 VND or ~$45.84)
- Local transport (Grab, walking, short xe om): ~₹3,683 (~1,000,000 VND or ~$38.20)
- Entry fees: ~₹1,842 (~500,000 VND or ~$19.10)
- SIM card: ~₹921 (~250,000 VND or ~$9.55)
- Misc (laundry, water, coffee): ~₹1,842 (~500,000 VND or ~$19.10)
- Total: ~₹39,224 (~10,650,000 VND or ~$406.87)
You can cut this further by eating only at local stalls (no restaurants) and sticking to overnight buses, but ₹28,000-₹38,000 (~$290.45-$394.18) is the honest range for someone who still wants to see the main sites.
Mid-Range (₹55,000-₹85,000 (~$570.52-$881.71) for 7-10 days on the ground)
This is the comfortable-but-not-fancy tier. A private double room in a 3-star guesthouse runs ₹2,210-₹4,420 (~600,000-1,200,000 VND or ~$22.92-$45.84). You eat half your meals at proper restaurants (₹295-₹552 (~80,000-150,000 VND or ~$3.06-$5.73) per dish) and half at street stalls. You take a couple of guided day tours (Halong Bay cruise, Hoi An cooking class, Cu Chi Tunnels), which cost ₹2,946-₹9,208 (~800,000-2,500,000 VND or ~$30.56-$95.51) each. Internal flights (Hanoi to Da Nang, or Da Nang to HCMC) replace some long bus rides at ₹2,946-₹5,524 (~800,000-1,500,000 VND or ~$30.56-$57.31) one way with VietJet or Bamboo.
A day in this tier lands at ₹5,524-₹9,208 (~1,500,000-2,500,000 VND or ~$57.31-$95.51), or roughly ₹4,000 (~$41.49) to ₹6,800 (~$70.54) per day. The full 10-day total, with one internal flight and two paid tours:
- Private rooms (9 nights): ~₹33,147 (~9,000,000 VND or ~$343.84)
- Food: ~₹25,781 (~7,000,000 VND or ~$267.43)
- Inter-city transport (1 flight + 2 bus legs): ~₹12,890 (~3,500,000 VND or ~$133.71)
- Local transport: ~₹5,524 (~1,500,000 VND or ~$57.31)
- Tours (Halong day cruise + cooking class): ~₹12,890 (~3,500,000 VND or ~$133.71)
- Entry fees: ~₹2,210 (~600,000 VND or ~$22.92)
- SIM card: ~₹921 (~250,000 VND or ~$9.55)
- Misc: ~₹2,946 (~800,000 VND or ~$30.56)
- Total: ~₹96,310 (~26,150,000 VND or ~$999.03)
This is where most Indian couples and solo travellers who are not strictly backpacking end up. The jump from budget to mid-range is real, but the jump from mid-range to luxury is where costs go non-linear.
Luxury (₹150,000-₹250,000 (~$1,555.96-$2,593.26) for 7-10 days on the ground)
A 4 or 5-star hotel in Vietnam runs ₹11,049-₹29,464 (~3,000,000-8,000,000 VND or ~$114.61-$305.63) per night, depending on city (Hanoi and HCMC cost more than Da Nang or Hoi An). Fine-dining dinners are ₹1,842-₹5,524 (~500,000-1,500,000 VND or ~$19.10-$57.31) per person. Private airport transfers, private Halong Bay overnight cruises (₹18,415-₹44,196 (~5,000,000-12,000,000 VND or ~$191.02-$458.45)), and guided heritage tours push the daily total to ₹14,732-₹25,781 (~4,000,000-7,000,000 VND or ~$152.82-$267.43).
The floor for a genuinely comfortable luxury week in Vietnam is around ₹1,50,000 on the ground. The ceiling, with overwater bungalows in Phu Quoc or a high-end Halong overnight cruise, crosses ₹250,000 (~$2,593.26) easily. This tier is not the focus of this guide, but the comparison makes the budget math easier to read.
Day-by-Day Cost Breakdown (7-Day Budget Backpacker Itinerary)
This is the most common Vietnam route for Indian backpackers: Hanoi to Ninh Binh to Halong Bay to Hue to Hoi An to Da Nang to HCMC. Seven days, on the ground, budget tier, no flights.
| Day | Location | Spend (VND) | Spend (INR) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Hanoi arrival, Old Quarter walk, street food dinner | 650,000 | ~₹2,405 (~$24.95) |
| 2 | Hanoi city (Hoan Kiem Lake, Temple of Literature, street food) | 700,000 | ~₹2,590 (~$26.87) |
| 3 | Ninh Binh day trip (Trang An, Mua Cave) by bus | 900,000 | ~₹3,330 (~$34.54) |
| 4 | Halong Bay day cruise | 1,400,000 | ~₹5,180 (~$53.73) |
| 5 | Overnight bus to Hue | 500,000 | ~₹1,850 (~$19.19) |
| 6 | Hue Imperial City + bus to Hoi An | 800,000 | ~₹2,960 (~$30.70) |
| 7 | Hoi An old town + flight/train to HCMC | 950,000 | ~₹3,515 (~$36.46) |
| 8-10 | HCMC (War Remnants, Cu Chi, street food, Ben Thanh) | 2,400,000 | ~₹8,880 (~$92.11) |
| Total | 10 days on the ground | ~8,200,000 | ~₹30,340 (~$314.72) |
The breakdown above includes the e-Visa fee (~₹2,410 (~$25)) spread into the per-day total. It does not include round-trip flights from India, which we cover separately below.
Subodh’s Pro Tip: The cheapest way to see Halong Bay is a day cruise from Hanoi, not an overnight. The day cruise from Tuan Chau is ₹4,420-₹5,524 (~1,200,000-1,500,000 VND or ~$45.84-$57.31) including lunch, kayak, and cave entry. An overnight on a mid-range boat is ₹12,890-₹18,415 (~3,500,000-5,000,000 VND or ~$133.71-$191.02), almost triple the cost for one extra night and the same limestone karst views.
The Big Cost Categories: What You’re Paying For
Accommodation (Hostels and Guesthouses)
Budget tier dorms in Hanoi’s Old Quarter, HCMC’s District 1, and Hoi An’s old town run ₹737-₹1,289 (~200,000-350,000 VND or ~$7.64-$13.37) per bed, per night. Verified against Hostelworld listings as of 2026-07-18.
Private double rooms at budget guesthouses (3-star equivalent) start at ₹1,842 (~500,000 VND or ~$19.10) outside Hanoi’s centre and ₹2,946 (~800,000 VND or ~$30.56) in the centre.
Food
Vietnam is one of the cheapest countries in Southeast Asia for Indian travellers, and the food is good enough that you don’t need to fall back on Indian restaurants every day. A realistic day of three meals at street stalls costs ₹368-₹552 (~100,000-150,000 VND or ~$3.82-$5.73) total. The staples you’ll eat:
- Pho (beef or chicken noodle soup): ₹110-₹184 (~30,000-50,000 VND or ~$1.15-$1.91) a bowl
- Banh mi (baguette sandwich): ₹55-₹110 (~15,000-30,000 VND or ~$0.57-$1.15)
- Com tam (broken rice with grilled pork): ₹129-₹203 (~35,000-55,000 VND or ~$1.34-$2.10)
- Bun cha (grilled pork with noodles, the dish Obama ate in Hanoi): ₹147-₹221 (~40,000-60,000 VND or ~$1.53-$2.29)
- Banh xeo (savoury crepe): ₹147-₹258 (~40,000-70,000 VND or ~$1.53-$2.67)
- Vietnamese coffee (ca phe sua da): ₹55-₹92 (~15,000-25,000 VND or ~$0.57-$0.96)
- Bia hoi (fresh draft beer, Hanoi only): ₹18-₹26 (~5,000-7,000 VND or ~$0.19-$0.27) a glass
For a proper sit-down meal at a restaurant, expect ₹295-₹552 (~80,000-150,000 VND or ~$3.06-$5.73) per dish. Vietnamese Soul Food and NGON Da Nang are reliable local picks. For when you need a guaranteed vegetarian or Indian-style meal, MẸT Vietnamese Restaurant & Vegetarian Met 2, De Tham Restaurant, and A Taste Of Saigon - Old Market in Ho Chi Minh City cover the strict-veg Indian palate.
Subodh’s Pro Tip: Strict vegetarians should know that most Vietnamese “vegetarian” dishes use fish sauce. The three spots listed above (MẸT, De Tham, A Taste Of Saigon) are the ones that don’t. Everywhere else, you have to ask: “Can you make this without nuoc mam?” Travellers report this works about 70% of the time.
Inter-City Transport
The sleeper bus and open-tour bus network is the backbone of budget travel in Vietnam. FUTA Phuong Trang and The Sinh Tourist are the two main operators.
| Route | Mode | Duration | Cost (VND) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hanoi to Ninh Binh | Local bus | 2 hours | 80,000, 120,000 |
| Hanoi to Halong Bay | Shuttle / day cruise pickup | 3 hours | 200,000, 350,000 |
| Hanoi to Hue | Sleeper bus | 12-14 hours | 350,000, 500,000 |
| Hue to Hoi An | Local bus | 4 hours | 150,000, 200,000 |
| Hoi An to Da Nang | Local bus / Grab | 45 min | 50,000, 100,000 |
| Da Nang to HCMC | Sleeper bus | 18 hours | 450,000, 700,000 |
| Hanoi to Da Nang | Domestic flight (VietJet, Bamboo) | 1.5 hours | 800,000, 1,500,000 |
| Da Nang to HCMC | Domestic flight | 1.5 hours | 700,000, 1,400,000 |
Book Hanoi to Da Nang on 12go and Book Da Nang to Ho Chi Minh on 12go for the main legs. The open-bus ticket (Hop On Hop Off, valid 30 days) is the best value for budget travellers, since it covers the full stretch and you can break it up.
Local SIM and Data
Physical SIMs from Viettel or Mobifone with 5GB/day for 30 days cost ₹737-₹1,105 (~200,000-300,000 VND or ~$7.64-$11.46). You’ll need your passport for registration, which takes 10-15 minutes at the airport counter or any Viettel/Mobifone shop. For a no-physical-SIM option, Get Nomad eSIM before you fly.
Coverage is strong in cities and along the main tourist routes. The hills around Sapa and the Mekong Delta have weak 4G; you’ll fall back to 3G or no signal. Don’t rely on data for navigation in those areas.
Entry Fees and Activities
Most of Vietnam’s main attractions are cheap. The Imperial City in Hue (₹737 (~200,000 VND or ~$7.64)), the Hoi An old-town pass (₹442 (~120,000 VND or ~$4.58)), the War Remnants Museum in HCMC (₹147 (~40,000 VND or ~$1.53)), and the Temple of Literature in Hanoi (₹110 (~30,000 VND or ~$1.15)) are the headline ones.
Paid day tours are where activity costs spike:
- Halong Bay day cruise: ₹4,420-₹5,524 (~1,200,000-1,500,000 VND or ~$45.84-$57.31)
- Trang An / Mua Cave (Ninh Binh): ₹737-₹1,289 (~200,000-350,000 VND or ~$7.64-$13.37) entry + ₹552 (~150,000 VND or ~$5.73) bus
- Cu Chi Tunnels (HCMC): ₹921 (~250,000 VND or ~$9.55) entry + ₹737 (~200,000 VND or ~$7.64) bus
- Hoi An cooking class: ₹2,946-₹4,420 (~800,000-1,200,000 VND or ~$30.56-$45.84)
- Mekong Delta day trip (HCMC): ₹2,578-₹4,420 (~700,000-1,200,000 VND or ~$26.74-$45.84)
For more on activity costs across the main stops, see our Vietnam activities cost guide.
Visa: The e-Visa Process and Fee
Indian passport holders need an e-Visa before arrival. There is no visa-on-arrival for Indians, despite what some older travel blogs say. Apply directly at the official portal: https://evisa.xuatnhapcanh.gov.vn. The fee is ₹2,410 (~25 USD) for a 90-day, multiple-entry visa. Processing takes 3 working days, though travellers report 1-2 days in practice. For the full step-by-step, see the Vietnam 90-day e-Visa guide and the Vietnam e-visa application walkthrough.
Flights From India
Round-trip economy from Delhi, Mumbai, or Bangalore to Hanoi or HCMC ranges from ₹18,000 (~$186.71) to ₹35,000 (~$363.06). Prices spike in November-January and during Tet (late January or early February). For a comparison of direct vs one-stop and the best booking windows, see Vietnam airport rules.
Money, ATMs, and Forex: How to Pay in Vietnam
The Vietnamese Dong is a cash-heavy currency. Cards work in hotels, big restaurants, and chain stores in cities, but street food, local buses, and small shops are cash-only. The cleanest setup for Indian travellers, verified against the Vietnam money guide:
- Carry ₹19,281 (~200 USD) to ₹28,921 (~300 USD) in USD cash as a backup, exchanged at a gold shop or bank on arrival for a better rate than airport counters.
- Withdraw VND from ATMs in cities (Vietcombank, BIDV, Techcombank). Most Indian bank cards work; expect a ₹74-₹203 (~20,000-55,000 VND or ~$0.76-$2.10) fee per withdrawal, plus your home bank’s forex markup.
- A zero-markup debit card (Fi, Niyo) on the 20% TCS exemption slab saves 2-3% over a traditional forex card.
- Avoid Dynamic Currency Conversion (DCC) at ATMs. Always choose “without conversion” and let your home bank do the math.
For the full breakdown on ATM fees, withdrawal limits, and the best Indian bank cards for Vietnam, see the linked guides.
Safety and Scams to Budget For
The good news: violent crime against tourists is rare. The bad news: petty scams are common enough that every budget line should leave room for a 5-10% over-run.
- Bag snatching on motorbikes in HCMC. Don’t sling a bag across your body while walking. Hold phones away from the road.
- Overcharging tuk-tuks and xe om in Hanoi. Agree on the price before you get in, or use Grab.
- Fake SIM cards at the airport. Buy from the official Viettel or Mobifone counters inside the terminal, not from touts outside.
- ATM skimmers are rare but exist. Use ATMs attached to bank branches, not standalone machines in convenience stores.
- Currency confusion. Vietnamese Dong has a lot of zeros (₹737 (~200,000 VND or ~$7.64) = ~₹740 (~$7.68), not ₹200 (~$2.07)). The first day, double-check every note.
For more on common traps, see Vietnam bank scams and the Hanoi vs HCMC nightlife comparison if your budget includes evenings out.
The 7-10 Day Total: What to Save
| Tier | On-the-ground (7-10 days) | Flights from India | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| Budget backpacker | ₹28,000-₹38,000 (~$290.45-$394.18) | ₹18,000-₹35,000 (~$186.71-$363.06) | ₹46,000-₹73,000 (~$477.16-$757.23) |
| Mid-range | ₹55,000-₹85,000 (~$570.52-$881.71) | ₹18,000-₹35,000 (~$186.71-$363.06) | ₹73,000-₹120,000 (~$757.23-$1,244.77) |
| Luxury | ₹150,000-₹250,000 (~$1,555.96-$2,593.26) | ₹40,000-₹80,000 (~$414.92-$829.84) | ₹190,000-₹330,000 (~$1,970.88-$3,423.11) |
The budget backpacker tier is where most Indian first-timers land, and ₹50,000 (~$518.65) to ₹75,000 (~$777.98) all-in is a realistic and honest target. Add 10% buffer for surprises, and you’re looking at ₹55,000 (~$570.52) to ₹82,000 (~$850.59) for the full trip.
Safety Alert: Before you go, check the current Indian government travel advisory at mea.gov.in for Vietnam. Border regions and political demonstrations can see periodic tension, and conditions change. The advisory is updated more often than any blog post.
Subodh’s Take
The honest version is that Vietnam rewards people who eat at the same stall three nights in a row and take the 14-hour sleeper bus instead of the 1.5-hour flight. The moment you start treating it like a five-country European trip, the math stops working. The country is built for budget travel, not mid-range. If ₹75,000 all-in is your ceiling, you’ll have a better time than someone spending ₹150,000 (~$1,555.96) and rushing from one guided tour to the next. Stay longer in fewer cities. Eat the pho. Take the bus.
FAQ
Is Vietnam cheaper than Thailand for Indian travellers?
Yes, on the ground. Street food and hostels in Vietnam run 20-30% below Bangkok and Chiang Mai prices in INR terms. Flights from India to both countries are similar. The main catch: Vietnam’s sleeper buses are longer, so budget travellers spend more time in transit.
How much cash should I carry from India for Vietnam?
Carry ₹19,281 (~200 USD) to ₹28,921 (~300 USD) in USD as a backup. The rest, withdraw from ATMs in Vietnam using a debit card. Airport exchange counters in Hanoi and HCMC give worse rates than city gold shops or bank branches.
Is ₹50,000 (~$518.65) enough for a 7-day Vietnam trip from India?
Yes, if you stay in dorms, eat at street stalls, and take sleeper buses. That’s ₹28,000-₹38,000 (~$290.45-$394.18) on the ground + ₹18,000-₹25,000 (~$186.71-$259.33) for a budget round-trip flight. Leaves room for entry fees, SIM, and a Halong day cruise.
Do I need to pay the 20% TCS if I spend under ₹7 lakh in a year?
Yes, the 20% TCS applies to all forex card loads and certain remittances above ₹7 lakh per financial year under the LRS scheme, but even smaller amounts can attract TCS at lower rates depending on the transaction type and the RBI’s latest rules. The ₹7 lakh figure refers to the LRS annual limit, not a TCS threshold. Check with your bank or a CA before relying on a flat number.
What is the cheapest month to fly to Vietnam from India?
March, April, and September are the cheapest, with round-trip economy from Delhi or Mumbai at ₹16,000-₹22,000 (~$165.97-$228.21). November through February and the Tet window (late January to mid-February) are 30-50% more expensive.
Can I extend my Vietnam visa once I’m in the country?
Yes, you can extend a tourist e-Visa once for an additional 30 days at the Vietnam Immigration Department in Hanoi or HCMC. The extension fee is around ₹4,820-₹5,784 (~50-60 USD) and takes 5-7 working days.
Are credit cards accepted everywhere in Vietnam?
No. Cards are fine in hotels, big restaurants, and chain stores in Hanoi, Da Nang, and HCMC. Street food, local buses, xe om, and most small shops in the Mekong Delta, Sapa, and rural areas are cash-only. Carry VND for daily spending.
