Planning your first trip from India to Vietnam can feel like a maze of flight routes, visa portals, and airport codes. The good news: getting from India to Vietnam in 2026 is more straightforward than most travelers expect, with direct flights from three Indian cities and a visa process that takes as little as three working days. In this guide, Viet Dan Travel walks you through every practical step, from choosing your route to landing at the right Vietnamese airport, so you can move from planning to booking with confidence.
1. How to Go to Vietnam from India
| Question | Quick Answer |
| Fastest way to Vietnam from India | Direct flight from Delhi, Mumbai, or Kolkata (4–6 hours) |
| Nearest Vietnamese airports | Noi Bai (Hanoi, HAN) or Tan Son Nhat (Ho Chi Minh City, SGN) |
| Visa required? | Yes, e-Visa from USD 25, no visa-free entry for Indian passport holders |
| Distance | Approximately 3,194 km (1,985 miles) |
| Average one-way flight cost | USD 160–330 (direct); connecting flights can be cheaper |
2. Flight Options from India to Vietnam
Air travel is by far the most practical way to reach Vietnam from India. There are no direct trains and the overland route is impractical for most travelers (more on that below). You have two main choices: direct flights or connecting flights through a regional hub.
2.1. Direct flights
Direct flights currently connect Indian and Vietnamese airports without a stopover, cutting total travel time to roughly 4–6 hours.
| Departure city (India) | Arrival city (Vietnam) | Airlines operating the route | Approx. flight time |
| Delhi (DEL) | Hanoi (HAN) | Vietnam Airlines, VietJet Air, IndiGo, Air India | ~4–5 hours |
| Delhi (DEL) | Ho Chi Minh City (SGN) | Vietnam Airlines, VietJet Air, Air India | ~5–5.5 hours |
| Mumbai (BOM) | Hanoi (HAN) / Ho Chi Minh City (SGN) | Vietnam Airlines, VietJet Air | ~5.5–6 hours |
| Kolkata (CCU) | Hanoi (HAN) | IndiGo, VietJet Air | ~4 hours |
Direct routes currently serve only Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City. There is no direct flight from India to Da Nang, so travelers heading straight to Central Vietnam will need a connection through one of these two cities or a Southeast Asian hub.
For a deeper breakdown of live fares, booking windows, and how to catch the cheapest fares by season, see our dedicated guide: Flights to Vietnam from India.
2.2. Connecting flights
If a direct route doesn’t fit your travel dates or budget, connecting flights via Bangkok, Singapore, Kuala Lumpur, or Dubai are widely available on carriers such as Thai Airways, Singapore Airlines, Malaysia Airlines, Emirates, and Qatar Airways. Total travel time typically runs 8–12 hours depending on layover length, and fares can sometimes undercut direct tickets. This is a worthwhile trade-off for budget-conscious travelers or those willing to turn the layover into a mini stopover trip.
3. Which Vietnam Airport Should You Fly Into?
Your choice of arrival airport should match your itinerary, not just your cheapest fare:
- Noi Bai International Airport (HAN), Hanoi: Best entry point if your trip starts in Northern Vietnam (Hanoi Old Quarter, Ha Long Bay, Sapa).
- Tan Son Nhat International Airport (SGN), Ho Chi Minh City: Best entry point for Southern Vietnam and the Mekong Delta, and typically the busier of the two for international traffic.
- Da Nang International Airport (DAD): No direct India connection yet, but a convenient second stop if your itinerary includes Hoi An or Hue, reached via a short domestic flight from Hanoi or Ho Chi Minh City.
Many multi-city itineraries fly into one airport and out of the other (an “open-jaw” ticket), which avoids backtracking across the country.
4. Vietnam Visa for Indian Travelers
Indian passport holders do not have visa-free access to Vietnam, so securing your visa is a mandatory step before booking activities.
| Visa type | Fee | Processing time | How to apply |
| E-Visa (single entry) | USD 25 | 3–5 working days | Online at evisa.gov.vn |
| E-Visa (multiple entry) | USD 50 | 3–5 working days | Online at evisa.gov.vn |
| Visa on Arrival | USD 25–50 + stamping fee | 3–5 working days for approval letter, plus airport processing | Pre-approval letter from a licensed agency, then stamped at the airport |
| Embassy/Consulate visa | Varies by category | 5–7 working days | Vietnam Embassy (New Delhi) or Consulate General (Mumbai) |
Note: fees above are the standard government rates as commonly cited by visa service providers; confirm current pricing on the official portal before applying, as government fees can be revised.
The e-Visa is valid for up to 90 days and works for both single and multiple entries, making it the most convenient option for most Indian leisure and business travelers. You’ll need a passport valid for at least 6 months beyond your arrival date with two blank pages, a recent passport-style photo, and a scan of your passport’s data page. Apply at least 7–10 days before departure to allow a buffer for peak-season delays, particularly around Tet (Vietnamese Lunar New Year).
Read this latest update about e-arrival and flights from India to Vietnam:
- Flight to Vietnam from India: Airlines, Routes, Prices & Booking Tips
- New Entry Declaration Regulations at Tan Son Nhat International Airport
- Hanoi Pre-Arrival Declaration: What Travelers Need to Know
- Phu Quoc Pre-Arrival Registration 2026: Step-by-Step Guide
Alternative Routes: Overland and Sea Travel
While flying is the standard choice, a small number of travelers combine their Vietnam trip with an overland Southeast Asia journey:
- Via Myanmar or China (land): Reaching Vietnam by road involves flying to a neighboring country first (such as Kunming, China), then continuing by bus or train to a Vietnam border crossing, a multi-day journey best suited to travelers who see the overland route itself as part of the adventure.
- Via Cambodia or Laos (land): Vietnam shares three border crossings with Cambodia and six with Laos, often used by travelers already touring the Mekong region.
- By sea: No direct sea route exists from India, but cruises from Singapore to Ho Chi Minh City (roughly 9–10 days) or river ferries from Cambodia along the Mekong Delta are options for travelers extending a regional trip.
For a first trip focused purely on Vietnam, flying remains the fastest and most reliable choice.
5. Best Time to Fly from India to Vietnam
Vietnam’s long, narrow geography means weather varies significantly by region:
- Northern Vietnam (Hanoi, Sapa, Ha Long Bay): October to April, cooler and drier — ideal for sightseeing.
- Central Vietnam (Hoi An, Da Nang, Hue): February to August, warm and dry.
- Southern Vietnam (Ho Chi Minh City, Mekong Delta): December to April, dry season with lower humidity.
If your itinerary spans north to south, November to April offers the best overall balance of weather across regions. However, it’s also peak season, so fares and hotel rates run higher.
6. Estimated Cost Breakdown
| Item | Estimated cost |
| One-way direct flight (Delhi–Hanoi) | Starting from USD 160–200 (advance booking) |
| Round-trip direct flight | Starting from USD 300–350 |
| E-Visa (single entry) | USD 25 |
| Average 7–10 day trip budget (excluding flights) | Starting from INR 60,000–100,000 per person |
Pricing is indicative and estimated based on publicly available fare data; actual costs vary by season, booking window, and airline. Always verify current fares directly with airlines or a travel partner before finalizing your budget.
7. Planning Tips from a Vietnam Ground Operator
A few insider points that generic booking sites often miss:
- Booking window: Fares to Vietnam are typically most competitive 3–4 months ahead of travel; May is often cited as one of the cheaper months to fly.
- FIT travelers: An open-jaw ticket (into Hanoi, out of Ho Chi Minh City, or vice versa) saves both time and money on domestic backtracking.
- Group and MICE travel: For conferences, incentive trips, or family groups, coordinating arrival airports and visa batches through a local DMC avoids the common bottleneck of mismatched e-Visa entry ports, since your entry port is fixed on your approved e-Visa and cannot be changed after issuance.
- First-time visitors: Immigration queues at Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City airports can run 45–120 minutes during peak arrival hours; building in buffer time for your first activity is worth it.
Looking for a reliable DMC in Vietnam to turn this itinerary into a seamless, on-ground experience for your travelers? Viet Dan Travel is a Vietnam-based destination management company specializing in private FIT journeys, group tours, and MICE programs for international markets. From visa coordination and airport meet-and-greet to custom multi-city routing across Hanoi, Da Nang, and Ho Chi Minh City, our local team handles the details so you can focus on your clients. Partner with Viet Dan Travel, your trusted DMC in Vietnam to design tailor-made tours backed by real ground expertise.
8. Frequently Asked Questions
Are there direct flights from India to Vietnam?
Yes. Vietnam Airlines, VietJet Air, IndiGo, and Air India operate direct flights from Delhi, Mumbai, and Kolkata to Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City, with flight times of roughly 4–6 hours.
Do Indian citizens need a visa for Vietnam?
Yes. Indian passport holders must obtain a visa before travel. There is no visa-free entry. The e-Visa (USD 25 for single entry, USD 50 for multiple entry) is the most common choice, with 3–5 working days for processing.
How far is Vietnam from India?
The distance is approximately 3,194 km (1,985 miles), which translates to a direct flight time of about 4–6 hours depending on departure city.
Which Vietnam airport should I fly into first?
Fly into Noi Bai (Hanoi) if your itinerary starts in the north or Tan Son Nhat (Ho Chi Minh City) if you’re starting in the south. There is currently no direct flight from India to Da Nang.
What is the cheapest way to travel from India to Vietnam?
Connecting flights via Bangkok, Singapore, or Kuala Lumpur are often cheaper than direct flights, though they add 3–6 hours of total travel time.
