Deccan Herald: Indian tourists show interest in Vietnam

According to details given by the newspaper, people who have made multiple trips to the more popular travel destinations, such as Indonesia, Thailand, Singapore, and Malaysia, are now looking at heading to Vietnam. 

“To many, Vietnam is still unexplored territory. It is also an easy travel experience for Indians, with its visa on arrival option,” says Karthik Marathe, who runs Nesara Tours in Nagarabhavi.

Marathe added that over the past six months he has been getting 60 to 70 bookings for tourists going to the nation every month. In contrast, before that there had only been one to two bookings a month from Bengaluru, with groups of four to eight now making the trip.

Furthermore, Deccan Herald quoted Rajiv Mehrotra, executive director of Holiday Concierge, as sayings that on a weekly average his company receives 10 to 12 enquiries from customers seeking Vietnamese destinations.

He added that November to April is the best time to visit Vietnam as after April it can get very hot.

“The country offers everything from beaches and mountains to city life,” said the tour operator.

According to the newspaper, several industry experts have said that compared to other Southeast Asian countries, a trip to Vietnam is at least 10% to 15% cheaper.

“For the same amount you would spend in Indonesia or Thailand, you get better services in Vietnam. Hence it is quite popular among 25- to 35-year-olds,” says Karthik. 

“An eight-days-nine-nights Vietnam tour comes to about Rs 1.10 lakh, including flight tickets, while a five-days-six-nights Thailand trip comes to about Rs 1.35 lakh,” he elaborates.  

In November, Vishnu K Nair, an Indian wealth manager, told Deccan Herald that he went on a 23-day trip to Vietnam.

“My wife and I like to travel. We were looking for a place that is less exposed. Vietnam is full of culture and less crowded landscapes,” he noted.

Deccan Herald also revealed that travel influencers and bloggers from across India are starting to promote Vietnam as a budget-friendly destination for youngsters.