So my cousin called me last month, totally panicking because she and her fiancé couldn't decide on a honeymoon spot. Everyone was pushing them toward the usual suspects – Maldives, Bali, Thailand (again). And she's like, "I want something different but not weird-different, you know?"
That's when I told her about Vietnam. And honestly? Best advice I ever gave.
Look, I'm gonna be real with you – I wasn't sold on Vietnam honeymoon tours at first either. When my friend Priya went there for her honeymoon two years ago, I remember thinking it was kind of a random choice. But then she showed me her photos and I was like... wait, WHAT? This place looked insane. And not expensive-insane, just genuinely gorgeous.
Here's What Actually Sold Me on Vietnam
The thing about Vietnam is it's got this perfect mix of everything without trying too hard. You've got beaches that look like screensavers, cities that buzz with energy, and these little moments that just hit different when you're with someone you love.
I think what makes it special for honeymoons specifically is that it doesn't feel like a honeymoon factory, if that makes sense? Like, you're not surrounded by 500 other couples doing the exact same Instagram poses at the exact same spots. It still feels a bit... undiscovered? Even though obviously tons of people go there.
When I was looking at online (because yes, I got obsessed after Priya's trip), I noticed something interesting. Most packages were way more affordable than I expected – we're talking around ₹80,000 to ₹1,20,000 for two people for a solid 7-8 day trip. That's including flights, decent hotels, and activities. Compare that to Maldives where you're dropping that much just on accommodation.
The Ha Long Bay Thing (It's Not Overrated, Fight Me)
Okay, so everyone talks about Ha Long Bay. And I know what you're thinking – "If everyone goes there, it must be touristy and lame." Wrong. So wrong.
My cousin ended up booking one of those Vietnam honeymoon packages that included an overnight cruise on Ha Long Bay, and she literally texted me at like 2 AM (their time) saying "I get it now."
Picture this: you're on a traditional wooden boat, surrounded by these massive limestone cliffs jutting out of emerald water, and it's just... quiet. You can have dinner on the deck under the stars, wake up to sunrise over the karsts (that's what those rock formations are called – learned that recently), and basically feel like you're in your own private world.
The best part? Most Vietnam honeymoon tour operators include kayaking through caves and swimming in hidden lagoons. It's romantic without being cheesy, which is hard to pull off.
Food is Gonna Be A Problem (In the Best Way)
Wait, let me back up and talk about food because this deserves its own section.
Vietnamese food is seriously underrated. Like, everyone knows pho and banh mi, but that's just scratching the surface. When you're actually there, eating becomes this whole experience.
In Hoi An (which I'll get to in a second), there are these cooking classes that a lot of Vietnam honeymoon tours include. You go to a local market in the morning, pick out ingredients with a chef, then learn to make stuff together. It's kinda perfect for couples because you're doing something interactive, and honestly, it's hilarious watching your partner try to roll spring rolls for the first time.
My friend Priya said one of her favorite memories was sitting on tiny plastic stools on a random Hanoi street corner at 11 PM, eating bun cha and drinking local beer that cost like ₹50. That's the thing about Vietnam – some of your best moments happen in the least "honeymoon-y" settings.
Hoi An Will Ruin Other Towns For You
Okay, here's where I get a bit ranty. Hoi An is stupidly beautiful. Like annoyingly so.
It's this ancient town with lanterns everywhere – and I mean EVERYWHERE. The whole place glows at night. There are tailors on every corner who can make you custom clothes in 24 hours (my cousin got three dresses and two suits made for around ₹15,000 total). The riverside is perfect for evening walks. And the architecture is this cool mix of Japanese, Chinese, and French influences.
But here's the thing nobody tells you: go in the shoulder season (like February to April or September to November). We... well, my cousin didn't listen to this advice and went in peak summer. It was hot. Like, stupidly hot. Still amazing, but she was melting in her cute sundresses kinda hot.
Most Vietnam honeymoon packages I saw included at least two nights in Hoi An, and honestly, I'd push for three if you can. The town is small enough to explore easily but there's something about the pace there that just makes you want to slow down and actually be present with each other.
The Mekong Delta is Weird But Worth It
So this is gonna sound random, but hear me out – the Mekong Delta tour was something my cousin almost skipped, and it ended up being one of their favorite parts.
You're basically going through floating markets and tiny canals, seeing how people actually live and work on the water. It's hot, it's humid, you're on small boats, and it's nothing like the polished beach resort vibes you might expect from a honeymoon.
But that's exactly why it works? You're experiencing something real together, having these moments of "okay this is actually crazy" and laughing about it later. Plus the fruit you eat there – dragon fruit, rambutans, mangosteen – tastes better than anywhere else. Don't ask me why, it just does.
The Budget Thing (Let's Be Honest)
Look, I'm not gonna sit here and pretend money doesn't matter. For a lot of couples, the honeymoon budget is tight because weddings are expensive as hell.
Vietnam gives you this luxury experience without the luxury price tag. A really nice hotel in Ho Chi Minh City or Hanoi costs around ₹4,000-7,000 a night. That same quality in Europe or the Maldives? You're looking at double or triple that.
When I was comparing different Vietnam honeymoon tour options for my cousin, I noticed that even the "premium" packages were pretty reasonable. Around ₹1,50,000 could get you business class flights, 4-star hotels throughout, private transfers, and some really special experiences like a private dinner cruise or a couples' spa day.
And here's the kinda sneaky part – because things are affordable, you can actually splurge on experiences without feeling guilty. Want to book that fancy French-Vietnamese fusion restaurant in Saigon? Go for it. It'll cost like ₹3,000-4,000 per person for an amazing meal, which is less than a mediocre dinner in Goa these days.
Things I Wish Someone Had Told Me (Well, My Cousin)
The weather matters more than you think. Vietnam is long – like really long – so the north and south have different climates at the same time. Do some basic research on this.
Visa is super easy. You can get it on arrival or online. Don't stress about this part.
Learn like five basic Vietnamese phrases. It makes such a difference in how people respond to you. "Xin chào" (hello) and "Cảm ơn" (thank you) will get you far.
Bargaining is expected at markets but not at restaurants or established shops. My cousin felt awkward about this at first but got into it (maybe too much – she tried to bargain at a fixed-price store and it was embarrassing).
The Vibe is Just Different
I think what I'm trying to say is that Vietnam doesn't try to be a honeymoon destination. It just... is a great place that happens to be perfect for couples.
You're not staying in some isolated resort bubble where everything is manufactured romance. You're actually traveling together, figuring things out, experiencing a place that's vibrant and alive and sometimes chaotic and sometimes peaceful.
My cousin told me that looking back, she loved that their vietnam honeymoon tour included both the calm moments (sunrise at Ha Long Bay) and the crazy ones (crossing streets in Hanoi where traffic rules are suggestions). It felt like they were having an adventure together, not just lounging around.
Honestly, I'm kinda jealous. I've been trying to convince my partner that we need to go, maybe for our anniversary or something. Because after hearing everyone's stories and seeing the photos... yeah, I get the hype now.
If you're on the fence about it, just book it. Worst case scenario, you have an amazing time in a beautiful country for way less money than other options. Best case? It becomes one of those trips you talk about forever.