Vietnam emerges as hub for Indian high-net-worth weddings

The trend has gained momentum following a high-profile billionaire's wedding in 2019 and has since spread across several key destinations, from island resorts to coastal cities and heritage sites.

Vietnam’s growing appeal in the luxury wedding segment first gained attention in March 2019, when Indian billionaire couple Kaabia Grewal and Rushang Shah hosted an extravagant ceremony in Phu Quoc, a popular resort destination, booking out an entire five-star resort for around 700 guests and more than 100 performing artists.

At the time, Phu Quoc was an island district in southern Kien Giang Province. Following a nationwide administrative restructuring that took effect on July 1, 2025, under which Kien Giang was merged into An Giang Province, it has become the Phu Quoc Special Zone.

Since the 2019 wedding, the country has steadily strengthened its position on the global luxury wedding map.

In early February 2026 alone, Ha Long Bay in northern Quang Ninh Province hosted three consecutive luxury Indian weddings, each drawing between 400 and 500 guests.

In Phu Quoc, a separate seven-day celebration brought together more than 1,100 guests, with the couple booking an entire luxury resort, including private beaches, convention halls, and outdoor pools.

Da Nang has also become a regular host of similar large-scale events, with five-star hotels often fully booked as wedding parties take up hundreds of rooms.

The appeal extends beyond the ultra-rich, as Vietnam’s value-for-money offerings and English-speaking hospitality workforce have attracted a broader segment of Indian travelers.

In Indian culture, weddings are not only personal milestones but also major social occasions through which families affirm status and influence, often involving hundreds or even thousands of guests over several days.

The surge in ‘wedding tourism’ has coincided with a rise in Indian arrivals to Vietnam, which reached around 750,000 in 2025, up nearly 50 percent from 2024.

India is now one of Vietnam’s six largest source markets for international tourism, according to the Vietnam National Authority of Tourism.

Among those who have chosen Vietnam as a wedding destination is Gaurav Patil, who organized a wedding for around 300 guests in Quy Nhon in 2019.

At the time, Quy Nhon was a coastal city that served as the capital of Binh Dinh Province, which was later merged into Gia Lai Province under the national administrative restructuring.

Patil said he recommends Vietnam to friends in India as an ideal destination for large-scale weddings.

He noted that costs are significantly lower than in India for comparable luxury offerings, while service standards at resorts and hotels remain high.

“Resorts in Vietnam are truly worth the money. The service quality always matches what you pay for,” Patil said.

He also highlighted the strong English communication skills of hospitality staff, saying they made planning and coordination seamless.

“In Phu Quoc and similar destinations, most staff speak English, so communication has never been an issue,” he added.

Beyond cost efficiency and service quality, Vietnam’s natural scenery and cultural heritage have become key draws, turning weddings into combined celebration-and-travel experiences.

Ha Long Bay, in particular, has emerged as a favored choice for high-end clients seeking distinctive ceremonies set against the backdrop of a UNESCO World Natural Heritage Site.

Improved connectivity has further supported the trend, with direct flights from New Delhi taking around five hours. 

Vietnam’s 90-day e-visa policy, along with a 30-day visa exemption for direct arrivals to Phu Quoc, has also made travel arrangements more convenient.

Jyoti Mayal, former president of the Travel Agents Association of India, said Vietnam and India share historical parallels in their struggles for independence, fostering a sense of cultural familiarity that makes Vietnam feel like a ‘second home’ for many Indian travelers.