There was a time when Indians would flock to Thailand in huge numbers and taking a flight to Bangkok was the new aspiration for the Indian traveller. A stellar combination of reasonable travel and proximity to India was a win-win for a quick getaway. While Thailand continues to remain popular with Indians, its vibrant neighbour – Vietnam – is giving it stiff competition when it comes to luring tourists from India.
Vietnam has emerged as one of the top travel destinations for Indian tourists in recent times. In 2022, as the tourism industry recovered from COVID-related travel restrictions, India ranked 9th out of 10 countries with the highest number of visitors to Vietnam. This number is expected to triple in 2023.
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[1]. So, what pulls us Indians towards Vietnam as a holiday destination?
Economics 101
In the pre-COVID world, China was the biggest contributing source to Vietnam’s tourism. [2] With its major market still grappling with restrictions and disease mitigation, it’s no surprise that Vietnam was looking to expand its tourist clientele. Favourable relations between our countries led to measures that eased travel for Indians to Vietnam. Major cities in India now offer direct flights to the two major cities in Vietnam – Ha Noi and Ho Chi Minh. On the other hand, visa for USA and Europe became hard to reach for Indians, leaving them to scout for other destinations. Perhaps we are silent pawns of a game of demand and supply?
Ease of Travel
Who doesn’t love to land in a foreign destination on a direct flight of about only 5 hours? The ease of travel extends beyond flights to visa procurement. Indians can avail of an e-Visa to Vietnam in as less as a week’s time. This potent mixture of short, direct flights and convenient visa is a bait tasty enough for the hungry, deprived, post COVID Indian traveller.
Affordability
That’s another thing we Indians love. A trip to Vietnam doesn’t burn a hole in our pockets. One can even afford to stay in luxury hotels and resorts without having to dip deep into their wallets. The cost of food and local transportation is quite similar to what we pay back home, if not lesser. Oh, and the cherry on top, affordable shopping. From the malls to the street markets, Vietnam offers a variety of lucrative things to pick up – clothes, jewellery, handicraft and the world-famous Vietnamese Coffee.
Ha Long Bay
Food
Speaking of food, Indians can never go hungry in Vietnam. Yes, even the strict vegetarians will be happy with the vast range of vegan and Indian restaurants the country has to offer. Vietnam graciously acknowledges the food preferences of Indians. Don’t be surprised to find hot puris in their hotel buffets. Vegetarians can also savour the local Vietnamese cuisine. The quintessential Vietnamese version of the French baguette, or the Banh Mi, is a must try. My favourite local dish was the vegetarian Tom Yum Hot Pot I tried in Đồng Hới.
Vietnam is paradise for all coffee lovers. The 100% Robusta coffee mixed with condensed milk – hot or over ice – will keep you energised for hours at a stretch.
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History & Culture
Vietnam has a rich history and the war stories will keep any traveller hooked to dig deeper. Vietnam fought hard against the French and Americans for its independence. This country is a delight for all history lovers and its museums boast of their heritage and culture. The basket boat rides, the traditional Vietnamese hat in the form of a cone are some of their quintessential cultural elements.
Vietnam is safe, and friendly to tourists and welcome them with open arms. I was personally blown away by their hospitality when at a hotel I requested for some glue to mend the broken strap of my shoe, and they sent an engineer to my room to get it back in shape. Vietnam is great to travel with kids, making it a popular among Indians as a destination to travel with family.
The Temple of Literature, Ha Noi
Attractions
Regardless of where the tourist comes from, Vietnam has hordes of attractions to engage them. From beautiful temples in Ha Noi to cruising along the Ha Long Bay; from the newly discovered caves in Phong Nha to the Cu Chi tunnels near Saigon, you can never run out of things to do in Vietnam.
So, if you’ve had enough of checking others’ travel stories on Instagram, it may be time to rid the FOMO and see what the fuss about Vietnam is all about. What I can promise, you won’t regret sailing along the beautiful coastline and hiking in the lush green forests.
Phong Nha Ke Bang National Park
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Author Bio: Shreya Kejriwal is the Founder and Editor-in-Chief at Wander Smartly. She has visited over 25 countries in the world while maintaining a regular career and life back home. Her passion of traveling the world and seeking new experiences led her to share her stories and experiences which others can draw from. Shreya is an avid writer and a published author. She has high attention to detail and a drive to help others around her.
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