Thailand, Vietnam and Bali from India: visas, seasons and doing them well

When is the best time to visit Thailand, Bali, Vietnam, Singapore and Malaysia?

November to April suits most of South-East Asia, with two exceptions that favour the Indian summer holidays: Bali is at its best from May to September and Koh Samui from January to August. Phuket and Krabi are dry from November to April. Vietnam runs on three climates, so March and April are the months when north, centre and south all work. Singapore is a year-round city.

• Christmas and New Year carry the highest rates everywhere, with minimum stays of five to ten nights.
• June to August is the season for Bali and Samui, and brings lower rates in Phuket.

Is Thailand visa free for Indians now, and for how many days?

Yes. Indian passport holders enter Thailand visa free for tourism for up to 30 days. The Royal Thai Embassy in New Delhi confirms that the 30-day exemption took effect on 15 September 2026, replacing the earlier 60 days, and remains in force until further announcement. For a longer holiday, apply online for a single-entry tourist e-visa, which allows a stay of 60 days and costs ₹3,000.

• Submit the Thailand Digital Arrival Card online within the three days before arrival; the official site charges no fee.
• Tourist e-visas are applied for only at thaievisa.go.th.
• Carry your return ticket and hotel confirmations in case immigration asks for them.

Source: Royal Thai Embassy, New Delhi: visa informationSource: Thailand Immigration Bureau: Thailand Digital Arrival Card

Do Indians need a visa for Malaysia and Singapore?

Malaysia is visa free for Indian passport holders for stays of up to 30 days, but only until 31 December 2026; no extension had been announced by 11 November 2026, so check before a 2027 trip. Singapore requires a visa before travel, applied for through an authorised visa agent, with a processing fee of S$30 (about ₹2,190) plus the agent's charge. Both countries also ask for an online arrival card.

• Malaysia's Digital Arrival Card (MDAC) is filed online before arrival.
• Singapore's SG Arrival Card must be submitted within three days before arriving.
• Singapore does not accept visa applications at its immigration counters.
• The two pair well: three nights in Singapore, then Langkawi or Kuala Lumpur.

Source: Immigration Department of Malaysia: visa requirement by countrySource: Immigration and Checkpoints Authority, Singapore: visa guidelines

How does the Vietnam e-visa work for Indians, and what is a good 10-day route?

Indians need an e-visa for Vietnam: US$25 (about ₹2,350) for a single entry of up to 90 days, applied for on the official portal evisa.gov.vn and usually issued in three to five working days. For ten days, travel north to south: two nights in Hanoi, one on a private boat in Lan Ha or Ha Long Bay, three in Hoi An and three in Ho Chi Minh City with the Mekong Delta.

• A multiple-entry e-visa costs US$50, which you need if you add Cambodia and come back.
• March and April are the months when all three regions have good weather.
• From November to April, swap Ho Chi Minh City for Phu Quoc for a beach ending.
• Apply two weeks ahead and use only the government portal.

Source: Vietnam National Authority of Tourism: visa requirementsSource: Vietnam National Electronic Visa system

What does a private pool villa in Bali cost, and which area should we stay in?

A one-bedroom private pool villa at a good five-star Bali resort costs about ₹35,000 to ₹65,000 a night for two, and often ₹75,000 or more at the top addresses in Ubud and Uluwatu; rates move sharply by season, so check the current rate. Split the stay in two: Ubud for jungle, rice terraces and wellness, then Uluwatu or Jimbaran for cliffs and sea. Seminyak suits dining and shopping; Nusa Dua has the calmest beach for children.

• A staffed villa of three to five bedrooms with a chef suits two families; rates vary widely by villa and season.
• A floating breakfast is a paid extra almost everywhere.
• July, August and 20 December to 5 January are peak weeks with minimum stays.
• Road traffic is slow, so two bases work better than day trips across the island.

Phuket, Krabi or Koh Samui: which is better?

Choose by month first. Phuket and Krabi sit on the Andaman coast and are best from November to April; Koh Samui, off the opposite coast, is driest from January to August, which makes it the pick for May and June holidays. Then choose by style: Phuket has the widest choice of luxury villas and resorts, Krabi the limestone scenery and quiet, and Samui the slower resort stay.

• Phuket and Krabi are about three hours apart by road, so they combine well; Samui needs a flight.
• Samui is at its wettest from October to December.

Where should we go for a luxury Thailand trip beyond Phuket?

Four places carry a luxury Thailand trip beyond Phuket: Bangkok for river hotels and food, Chiang Mai and the Golden Triangle for temples, hills and ethical elephant camps, Koh Yao Noi or Krabi for a quieter Andaman coast, and Koh Kood for a private-island finish. A nine-night shape that works is three nights in Bangkok, three in the north and three on an island, linked by short internal flights.

• In Bangkok, Mandarin Oriental, Capella and The Siam all sit on the river.
• In the north, Four Seasons Tented Camp Golden Triangle and Anantara Golden Triangle are the elephant-country stays.
• Six Senses Yao Noi and Soneva Kiri on Koh Kood are the quiet island choices.
• November to February is the coolest, driest time for Bangkok and the north.

Is Vietnam easy for vegetarians and Jains?

Vietnam is one of the easier countries in South-East Asia for vegetarians, and manageable for Jains with advance notice. Buddhist vegetarian cooking, called chay, is found in every city, and the larger cities, Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City among them, have Indian restaurants. The catch is fish sauce, which goes into most Vietnamese dishes, so say 'an chay' and ask for no fish sauce every time you order.

• Five-star hotels will cook Jain meals without onion, garlic or root vegetables if briefed in writing before arrival.
• On an overnight boat in Ha Long or Lan Ha Bay, order vegetarian or Jain menus when booking.
• A private guide who can speak to the kitchen matters more here than a restaurant list.

Is the Philippines visa free for Indians?

Yes. Since 8 June 2025 Indian nationals can enter the Philippines without a visa for 14 days for tourism, on showing a passport valid for six months beyond the stay, a confirmed hotel booking, proof of funds and a return or onward ticket. Indians holding a valid US, Japanese, Australian, Canadian, Schengen, Singapore or UK visa or residence permit get 30 days. Neither stay can be extended.

• Longer stays need a visa from a Philippine embassy or consulate before travel.
• Fourteen days is enough for Manila and Palawan: El Nido for lagoons, Coron for lakes and wrecks.
• Amanpulo, on its own island, is the country's best-known private-island resort.
• December to May is the dry season.

Source: Philippine Department of Foreign Affairs: visa policy for Indian nationals

Do Indians need a visa or a K-ETA for South Korea?

Indians need a visa for South Korea; the K-ETA is not open to them. K-ETA is an online travel authorisation for nationalities that already enter Korea without a visa, and India is not on the official list of eligible countries. Indian passport holders apply for a short-term visit visa through the Korea Visa Application Centre before booking non-refundable travel. Check the current fee and processing time with the centre.

• Seoul pairs well with Japan, a short flight from Tokyo or Osaka, with a separate visa for each country.
• April for cherry blossom and late October to early November for autumn colour are the best months.
• Allow five nights: three in Seoul and two in Busan or Jeju.

Source: K-ETA, Republic of Korea: eligible countries