Our Vietnam journey finally began from Mukerian, Punjab, with a mix of excitement, tiredness, and a little nervousness. We were travelling as a family, and this was not just a holiday for us—I also wanted to experience Vietnam personally and explore the country for my clothing business research.

Before the trip, I had already spent a lot of time planning our Vietnam travel, including visa, flights, hotels, currency, transportation and expenses.

If you are planning your own Vietnam trip from India, you may first want to read my detailed guides:

Vietnam E-Visa Guide for Indian Travelers

And if you are confused about the difference between tourist and business visas, read:

Vietnam Tourist Visa vs Business Visa Guide

But now, let me share what actually happened on our Day 1—from Mukerian to Saigon (Ho Chi Minh City).

Starting Our Journey from Mukerian

Our journey started from Mukerian Railway Station at around 8:00 PM.

We had to catch the Jammu Mail for Delhi. With luggage, family members and all the excitement of travelling internationally, the railway station already felt like the beginning of our Vietnam adventure.

We boarded the train and travelled overnight towards Delhi.

After travelling through the night, we reached Old Delhi Railway Station at around 4:30 AM.

We didn't have much time to relax because our international flight was from Delhi Airport Terminal 3.

From Old Delhi to Delhi Airport Terminal 3

From Old Delhi, we decided to use the Delhi Metro to reach Terminal 3.

It was early morning, and we had our luggage with us, but the journey was manageable.

We eventually reached Delhi Airport Terminal 3, where our Air India flight to Vietnam was scheduled for 12:55 PM.

Our boarding time was around 11:55 AM, so after reaching the airport we had enough time to complete the airport formalities and prepare for the flight.

An Unexpected SIM Offer at Delhi Airport

While we were at Delhi Airport, a representative named Rohit approached us regarding a Vietnam SIM card.

We purchased a physical SIM for around ₹1,150, which was offered with unlimited 5G data.

One useful thing I learned was that after inserting the SIM, sometimes you may need to turn Airplane Mode ON and OFF so that the network activates properly.

This was a small thing, but when you arrive in another country, having working internet can make a big difference.

For more practical information about SIM cards, immigration, currency exchange and airport transfers, you can also read my detailed:

Vietnam Airport Guide for Indian Travelers 2026

Flying from Delhi to Ho Chi Minh City

Finally, it was time to board our Air India flight.

After all the planning, packing and preparation, sitting inside the aircraft gave us that real feeling:

We were finally going to Vietnam!

The flight was comfortable, and after travelling for several hours, we finally arrived at Tan Son Nhat International Airport in Ho Chi Minh City.

When we landed, it was raining lightly.

That first view of Vietnam—especially arriving in the evening with light rain—was something I will remember for a long time.

Vietnam Immigration Experience

After landing, we proceeded towards immigration.

Honestly, our immigration experience was quite smooth.

We completed the required formalities and collected our luggage.

If you are travelling to Vietnam for the first time, I would recommend keeping your passport, visa/e-visa and important travel documents easily accessible rather than keeping them somewhere deep inside your luggage.

For detailed airport procedures, immigration information and arrival tips, my Vietnam Airport Guide can be useful:

Read: Vietnam Airport Guide for Indian Travelers 2026

Our First Currency Exchange in Vietnam

After leaving the airport area, we needed Vietnamese currency.

We exchanged our USD into Vietnamese Dong.

At that time, we received approximately 25,800 VND for 1 USD.

Of course, exchange rates can change, so this was simply the rate we experienced during our trip.

Vietnamese currency can initially look confusing because the numbers are much larger than Indian rupees.

For example, prices may be written in hundreds of thousands of Vietnamese Dong.

Before travelling, I recommend understanding the currency properly.

You can read my complete guide here:

Vietnam Currency Guide for Indians 2026

Taxi from Ho Chi Minh City Airport: Our Experience

This was one of the first places where we realised that bargaining and comparing prices can save money in Vietnam.

After coming out of the airport, we were quoted around 1.3 million VND for a taxi.

Then another quote came down to around 1 million VND.

But we did not agree immediately.

After bargaining, we finally managed to get a taxi for around 250,000 VND.

This was a big difference.

Later, when we travelled back towards the airport, we used Grab, and our return trip cost approximately 93,000 VND.

So our first-day experience taught us something important:

Don't accept the first taxi price you hear. Compare options first.

If you want to know more about saving money while planning a Vietnam trip, you can read:

DIY Vietnam Guide: How I Saved Thousands

And for more information about airport transfers, my Airport Guide is also useful:

Vietnam Airport Guide for Indian Travelers 2026

Our First Hotel in Ho Chi Minh City

We had already booked our hotel before arriving in Vietnam.

We stayed at White Lion Hotel in Ho Chi Minh City.

There were 8 people in our group, so we booked 4 rooms.

Our room cost was approximately 890,000 VND per room per night.

We had booked the hotel through Booking.com, and this was our actual booking experience.

Hotel prices can vary significantly depending on the location, season, room type and booking dates.

If you are planning your own Vietnam trip, I have also written a detailed guide on hotel costs:

Vietnam Hotel Prices 2026: How Much Does a Hotel Cost in Vietnam?

Check Vietnam Hotel Deals on Agoda

You can compare available hotels, prices and room options before booking.

Travel Insurance for Vietnam

For an international family trip, travel insurance is something worth considering, especially when you are travelling with multiple family members.

I also recommend checking the coverage details carefully rather than choosing a plan only because it is cheap.

Check SafetyWing travel insurance options

Our First Dinner in Vietnam

After checking into the hotel, everyone was tired after the long journey from Mukerian to Delhi and then Delhi to Ho Chi Minh City.

We decided to have dinner near the hotel.

We ordered chicken and rice for the family.

For myself, I preferred something simple, so I had plain rice with spinach soup.

It was not a fancy first dinner, but after such a long journey, sitting together and finally eating our first meal in Vietnam felt special.

Sometimes the simplest moments become the best travel memories.

What Did We Learn on Our First Day?

Our first day taught us several practical things that you may find useful if you are travelling from India to Vietnam.

1. Keep your important documents accessible

Don't bury your passport, visa and travel documents inside your main luggage.

2. Arrange internet connectivity

A working SIM/eSIM is extremely useful for maps, Grab, communication and hotel navigation.

3. Don't accept the first taxi price

Compare prices and consider Grab where practical.

4. Understand Vietnamese currency before arriving

The large VND numbers can initially be confusing.

5. Book your hotel in advance

Especially when travelling as a family or a larger group, advance booking can make the arrival much easier.

6. Keep some flexibility in your budget

Unexpected transportation costs, food, SIM cards and small purchases can quickly add up.

If you want to estimate the overall budget before your own trip, read:

Vietnam Trip Cost from India 2026

Why This Vietnam Trip Was Different for Me

This trip was not only about sightseeing.

Along with travelling with my family, I wanted to experience Vietnam personally because I was also interested in Vietnam's wholesale clothing markets and sourcing opportunities.

I wanted to see the markets myself, understand prices, quality, variety and the overall shopping experience.

For anyone interested in buying clothes from Vietnam, I have already written a detailed guide:

Vietnam Wholesale Clothing Markets: Complete Guide

My upcoming experiences from Vietnam will make these guides even more practical because I will be sharing what I actually saw and experienced there.

Was Day 1 Easy?

Honestly, it was a long day.

We started from Mukerian in the evening, travelled overnight to Delhi, reached the airport early in the morning, took an international flight, completed immigration, arranged currency, found transportation and finally checked into our hotel in Ho Chi Minh City.

But despite the tiredness, there was a lot of excitement.

We had finally reached Vietnam.

And this was only Day 1.

The real Vietnam experience was just beginning.

Final Thoughts: From Mukerian to Saigon

Looking back, our first day was a mixture of long travel, family time, small challenges, money-saving lessons and excitement.

From boarding the train at Mukerian Railway Station to seeing Ho Chi Minh City for the first time, every part of the journey became a memory.

If you are planning your Vietnam trip, don't worry too much about making everything perfect.

Plan the important things in advance—visa, flights, hotel, money, internet and airport transfer—but leave some room for real experiences.

And if you're still deciding when to visit Vietnam, you may also like my guide:

Best Time to Visit Vietnam: Month-by-Month Guide

Our Day 1 journey from Mukerian to Saigon was complete.

Tomorrow would be a completely different Vietnam experience—and that is where the real adventure begins.

More Vietnam Guides

Vietnam E-Visa Guide for Indian Travelers

Vietnam Tourist Visa vs Business Visa

Vietnam Airport Guide for Indian Travelers

Vietnam Currency Guide for Indians

Vietnam Hotel Prices 2026