Indian Man Flies To Vietnam To Buy MacBook, Saves Rs 36,000 And Gets An 11-Day Vacation
Buying duty-free goods during international trips is a popular hack among luxury shoppers. Recently, a Reddit user went viral for sharing how he managed to buy a new MacBook at a significantly lower price, while also enjoying an 11-day vacation in Vietnam. Surprisingly, the total cost of his trip plus the laptop turned out to be less than what he would've spent on just the MacBook in India.
Sharing a breakdown of the expenses, the Redditor noted that the high cost of Apple devices in India is caused by expensive import tariffs, Goods and Services Tax (GST), and Apple's premium pricing scheme. But his plan saved him a lot of money despite getting a premium quality product. 'If you're planning to buy a MacBook or iPhone worth Rs 2 lakh+ in India, trust me, it's worth making a short trip to Vietnam. You'll get the device cheaper and squeeze in a mini vacation," he wrote on Reddit.
According to the post, the traveller booked the cheapest round-trip flight to Hanoi, worked remotely during his stay, and spent his free time exploring the city. Determined to get the best deal, he visited around 15 stores in search of the lowest price. His strategy was to take advantage of Vietnam's reduced Apple prices and tourist-friendly VAT refund policy.
He wrote, 'Always ask: 'Do you provide VAT refund documents for the airport?' Some stores won't."
In India, the desired MacBook would cost approximately Rs 1,85,000, even with card incentives. However, by purchasing it in Vietnam from a store that produced the correct VAT documentation and claiming the return at the airport, he was able to obtain the same model for approximately Rs 1,48,000. This transaction alone saved him Rs 36,500, approximately the cost of his flight.
What makes the strategy even more astounding is the total expense. The vacation cost approximately Rs 2,80,000, which included the MacBook, flight tickets, accommodation, meals, and other activities. After the VAT refund was processed, his total cost decreased to around Rs 1,97,000. After subtracting the cost of the MacBook, the total cost of the Vietnam trip was only Rs 48,000.
Here's How Social Media Users Reacted
The post immediately went viral, eliciting a range of reactions from other users.
A person wrote, 'I have travelled to Vietnam twice in past and I just loved the country. Probably will be travelling again for work later this year, and I am definitely inspired by you."
While another asked, 'Can you share with me the full list, where to stay, from where you board the flight in India, and how to manage to get the refund at the airport?"
'Such a great post. Although I just got my Mac your post really made me wanna visit Vietnam for no reason," wrote another one.
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Someone else commented, 'Congrats on your MacBook and hope you had an amazing vacation. Even I was thinking of visiting Vietnam, maybe I will take a vacation there next year. Your post will definitely be helpful for many people planning to do a vacation as well as hunt for a Mac."
Would you go this far to save on your next big tech purchase?Keywords-
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First Published:
August 07, 2025, 08:31 IST
News viral Indian Man Flies To Vietnam To Buy MacBook, Saves Rs 36,000 And Gets An 11-Day Vacation
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