DIY Vietnam Guide: How I Saved Thousands on Visa & Flights for an 8-Person Family Trip
Planning an international trip for a large family can be exciting, but booking everything through travel agents can also become expensive very quickly.
When our family group of eight people planned our Vietnam trip, we contacted travel agents for visa assistance and were quoted around ₹4,500 to ₹7,500 per person for the visa process.
Instead of paying a large agent fee, I decided to handle the process myself. With some research and step-by-step guidance from Google Gemini, I successfully completed the Vietnam E-Visa applications and booked our flights on my own.
Now that our Vietnam trip is complete and I have returned to India, I want to share exactly what I did, what challenges I faced, and how much we were able to save.
📄 Step 1: Applying for the Vietnam E-Visa Myself
When I started researching the Vietnam E-Visa, I discovered that the official government visa fee was much lower than the amount being quoted by travel agents.
For our applications, the official E-Visa fee was US$25 per person, with additional payment-related charges applicable during the transaction.
If you want to understand the Vietnam E-Visa process, required documents and application steps in more detail, you can also read my Vietnam E-Visa Guide for Indian Citizens. Vietnam E-Visa Guide for Indian Citizens (2026)
Our Approximate Cost Per Person
- Travel agent quotes: ₹4,500–₹7,500
- Official E-Visa fee: US$25
- Payment/tax-related charges: approximately ₹400
- Our approximate DIY cost: around ₹2,500 per person
For eight people, doing the applications ourselves helped us save a significant amount compared with the agent quotations.
Depending on the agent and final fee quoted, our approximate saving was in the range of ₹16,000 to ₹40,000 for the family.
Important: Visa fees, exchange rates and payment charges can change. Always check the latest official Vietnam E-Visa information before applying.
🛠️ The Photo & Application Challenges I Faced
I had never personally completed an international visa application online before, so the first application was definitely a learning experience.
1. Getting the Photograph Right
One of the trickiest parts for me was preparing the photograph according to the required specifications.
The photograph needed to meet specific requirements regarding the background, face/head positioning and file size. Getting everything correctly formatted took some trial and error.
2. How Google Gemini Helped Me
Whenever I was confused about a requirement, photograph specification or a particular field in the application, I used Google Gemini to understand the instructions step by step.
It helped me understand what information was being requested and made the process much easier for me.
However, I still checked the official requirements before submitting the applications. AI was a guide for me—not a replacement for the official visa instructions.
3. I Tested the Process With One Application First
Since we had eight applications to complete, I didn't want to make mistakes on all eight.
So, I first completed the E-Visa application for my husband.
Once the application and payment went through successfully, I felt much more confident. I then completed the remaining seven applications one by one.
⏱️ How Long Did Our Visa Take?
This was one of the happiest moments of our preparation.
In our case, the E-Visa approval arrived on the 3rd day.
I received the official approval email, and seeing that confirmation in my inbox gave me a huge sense of relief and satisfaction.
Keep in mind that processing times can vary, so my experience should not be taken as a guaranteed three-day processing time for every applicant.
✈️ Step 2: How I Booked Flights for 8 People
After completing the visa process, the next big task was booking flights for eight people.
I compared prices across different options, including airline websites such as IndiGo, VietJet Air and Vietnam Airlines, as well as online travel platforms.
For our travel dates, we found the best final fare through Expedia.
Our Flight Cost
We booked our complete Delhi–Ho Chi Minh City return journey for approximately ₹36,000 per person.
Of course, flight prices change depending on travel dates, availability, airline and booking time, so this was the price we found for our particular trip.
Why I Chose Expedia for Our Booking
The main reason I liked Expedia was that, during our booking, it clearly showed the final fare and made it easy for me to compare the total cost.
For our dates, the final price we found there was better than the alternatives I checked.
For a family of eight, even a difference of a few thousand rupees per person can make a big difference to the overall trip budget.
🧳 Our Airline & Baggage Experience
Our journey involved two different airlines, and the baggage allowances were useful for a family travelling with luggage.
Onward Journey – Air India
For our onward flight, we travelled with Air India.
Our baggage allowance included:
- 25 kg check-in baggage
- 7 kg cabin baggage
Return Journey – Vietnam Airlines
For our return journey to India, we travelled with Vietnam Airlines.
Our allowance included:
- 23 kg check-in baggage
- 10 kg cabin baggage
That gave us a total allowance of 33 kg per person on the return journey.
For us, this was particularly useful because we had shopping and other belongings to bring back from Vietnam.
🍱 Our Vietnam Airlines Food Experience
We also had an opportunity to experience the in-flight meals on Vietnam Airlines.
Personally, I found the food decent and hygienic.
The flavours were lighter and less spicy than the Indian food we are accustomed to. If you prefer strong Indian spices, you may find the meals comparatively mild.
Overall, though, our flying experience was comfortable.
🏨 Hotel Booking & Travel Insurance
Hotel booking was another important part of our Vietnam trip planning.
We booked our Ho Chi Minh City accommodation through Agoda and kept our hotel confirmation with our travel documents.
If you are planning a Vietnam trip, you can compare Vietnam hotels and prices on Agoda according to your travel dates and location.
Compare Vietnam hotels on Agoda
Note: If your personal Agoda affiliate URL is different from this standard Agoda link, use your affiliate URL here instead so your tracking remains active.
I also arranged travel insurance for our trip. Travel insurance is worth considering for an international trip, but always read the policy coverage, exclusions and conditions carefully before purchasing.
Check SafetyWing travel insurance options
Affiliate disclosure: Some links in this article may be affiliate links. If you make a purchase through an affiliate link, I may earn a small commission at no additional cost to you.
💡 My Top 3 Lessons From Planning Our Vietnam Trip
1. Don't Automatically Depend on a Travel Agent
For a straightforward Vietnam E-Visa application, you can consider applying yourself instead of automatically paying a large agent service fee.
The important thing is to carefully read the official requirements and enter every detail correctly.
2. Compare the Final Flight Price
Don't look only at the initial fare displayed on a booking website.
Compare the final payable amount, baggage allowance, flight timings and other important conditions before making your decision.
For our particular travel dates, Expedia gave us the best final fare among the options I compared.
3. Check Baggage Allowance Before Booking
This is especially important if you are travelling to Vietnam for shopping.
A slightly cheaper flight isn't necessarily better if it comes with a very low baggage allowance and you later have to pay a lot for additional luggage.
In our case, the baggage allowance on our return flight was very useful.
❤️ Final Thoughts: I Did It Myself!
Before this trip, I had never personally handled an international visa application for a family of eight.
Initially, I was nervous about making a mistake.
But once I completed my husband's application successfully, I realised that I could manage the remaining applications too.
From completing the E-Visas to comparing flights and finally travelling with our family, the entire experience taught me that you don't always need to depend on an agent for every part of an international trip.
With proper research, patience and careful checking of official information, many travellers can handle straightforward parts of their trip themselves.
For me, the biggest satisfaction wasn't only the money we saved—it was the confidence I gained from successfully planning these important parts of our Vietnam journey on my own.
If you are planning a Vietnam trip from India, I hope my real experience helps you save money, avoid common mistakes and plan your own journey with more confidence.
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