Destination · October 2026
Thailand vs Bali vs Vietnam for an Indian Wedding: Venues, Flights, Visas and Which Wins
In short
At the venue, Vietnam and Bali: two days with 100 rooms and four meals ran about ₹30 lakh–1.9 crore in Vietnam and ₹25–70 lakh in Bali, against ₹50 lakh–1.3 crore in Thailand, in resorts' quotes to our team. In the air, Thailand: about ₹60–70 lakh of return flights for 200 guests, against ₹95 lakh–1 crore to Bali and ₹55 lakh–1.4 crore to Vietnam's beach cities.
Three countries take most of the Indian weddings that leave the subcontinent for south-east Asia, and families usually shortlist two of them. This is the comparison we give them, built from the quotes resorts sent our team in September 2026 for the same brief, 200 guests with 100 rooms over two days, and from published prices for everything around the venue.
The venue
The venue. Vietnam is the best-priced coast in Asia: nine resorts gave us full figures, from about ₹30 lakh at a Da Nang city hotel to ₹1.9 crore at the peninsula resort, with most between ₹40 lakh and ₹80 lakh. Bali's resorts ran ₹25–70 lakh across Kuta, Seminyak and Jimbaran. Thailand's five-stars ran ₹50 lakh–1.3 crore, with Bangkok city hotels at the low end and Phuket's beach resorts from about ₹1 crore. All three price Indian buffets at roughly ₹2,500–5,700 a head, below an Indian five-star.
The flights
The flights. Thailand wins outright: non-stop from Delhi and Mumbai in four to five hours, with return fares of ₹29,000–35,000 in the 2026 calendars, about ₹60–70 lakh for 200 guests. Bali has no non-stop; fares ran about USD 510 return via Singapore or Kuala Lumpur, ₹95 lakh–1 crore for 200. Vietnam's beach cities need a connection in Ho Chi Minh City, Hanoi, Bangkok or Singapore, and fares ran USD 295–750, so ₹55 lakh–1.4 crore and a long travel day.
| Thailand | Bali | Vietnam | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Venue, two days | ₹50 lakh–1.3 crore | ₹25–70 lakh | ₹30 lakh–1.9 crore |
| Flights for 200 | ₹60–70 lakh, non-stop | ₹95 lakh–1 crore, one stop | ₹55 lakh–1.4 crore, one stop |
| Visa | Free, 30 days | On arrival, about ₹3,500 | e-visa USD 25–50 |
| Tax on hotel quotes | About 17.7% | 21% | 15% |
| Season | Nov–Feb | Apr–Oct | Feb–May / Nov–Apr |
The entry
The entry. Thailand is visa-free for 30 days. Bali gives a visa on arrival at about ₹2,665 plus the ₹800 tourist levy, payable online. Vietnam needs an e-visa at USD 25 single-entry or USD 50 multiple, with Phu Quoc visa-free for direct arrivals only. None of the three will marry two Indian tourists in practice, so the wedding is the ceremony and the registration happens in India.
The kitchen and the rules
The kitchen and the rules. Thailand's big hotels have cooked hundreds of Indian weddings and most quote an Indian buffet without being asked. Bali has Indian restaurant groups that cater at IDR 312,500–375,000 a head and a village fee of IDR 3.5–8 million on every wedding. Vietnam's resorts quote international buffets with Indian dishes and allow an outside Indian caterer for a fee. All three end outdoor music at 22:00, and most forbid fireworks.
The recommendation
The recommendation. Thailand for a 200-guest wedding where the guest list is fixed and the family wants the easiest flights, no visas and a hotel that has done this before. Vietnam for the family that leads with the budget and will accept a connection, with Da Nang the natural base. Bali for the smaller wedding, 80 to 120 guests, where the setting matters more than the airfare and a Hindu island is part of the appeal.
Common questions
Which is cheaper for an Indian wedding, Thailand, Bali or Vietnam?+
At the venue, Vietnam and Bali: two days with 100 rooms and four meals ran about ₹30 lakh–1.9 crore in Vietnam and ₹25–70 lakh in Bali, against ₹50 lakh–1.3 crore in Thailand, in resorts' quotes to our team. In the air, Thailand: about ₹60–70 lakh of return flights for 200 guests, against ₹95 lakh–1 crore to Bali and ₹55 lakh–1.4 crore to Vietnam's beach cities.
Which is more beautiful, Bali or Thailand?+
Bali for cliff-top and rice-terrace drama and a Hindu island that understands a mandap; Thailand for turquoise beach resorts with bigger ballrooms and more Indian-ready kitchens. Vietnam sits between: Da Nang's bay and the Son Tra peninsula are as striking as either, with fewer Indian weddings so far.
Which has the easiest entry for Indian guests?+
Thailand: visa-free for 30 days, with four-to-five-hour non-stop flights from Delhi and Mumbai. Bali needs a visa on arrival (about ₹3,500 with the tourist levy) and a one-stop flight of eight to ten hours. Vietnam needs an e-visa at USD 25–50 and a connection to reach Da Nang or Phu Quoc; only Phu Quoc is visa-free for direct arrivals.
Can Indians legally marry in any of the three?+
In practice, no. Thailand does not marry two tourists, Vietnam's rules for two foreigners are slow and disputed, and Bali marries only couples of the same religion through a religious ceremony and the civil office. Families hold the ceremony there and register the marriage in India under the Hindu Marriage Act or the Special Marriage Act.
When is the best season in each?+
Thailand: November to February on both coasts. Bali: April to October, with May to September most reliable. Vietnam: February to May in Da Nang and Hoi An, November to April in Phu Quoc. All three stop outdoor music at 22:00 or soon after, and most resorts refuse fireworks.
