Should Indians travel to Vietnam to buy a cheaper MacBook? We did the maths
'Free Trip' Breakdown
Before booking tickets, understand that the "free trip" concept relies on very strict budgeting. The widely reported trip was a budget one, which isn't for everyone. The man's ~ ₹4,000 for 11 days stay (about ₹350 per night) suggests a hostel. If you're not comfortable sharing a room, a decent hotel in Hanoi will cost at least ₹2,500 per night, significantly increasing the cost. A 10-day hotel stay alone would be ₹25,000.
Budget flights are another factor. A return trip from New Delhi to Hanoi might be advertised for about ₹20,000, but there's a catch. These fares often exclude checked baggage. Exceeding the typical 7 kg cabin limit can lead to hefty fees, easily pushing you to spend more.
Food can also be a challenge, especially for vegetarians. While vegetarian food is available in Southeast Asia, it can be rare and more expensive than non-vegetarian street food. This might limit you to pricier restaurants, further increasing your trip's cost.
Finally, consider the significant discounts available in India. On Amazon, a MacBook M4 Pro listed for ₹1.83 lakh can have over ₹9,000 in card discounts, bringing the total saving to about ₹25,000 off the MRP. Similarly, the base M4 Pro model can see discounts of about ₹20,000. With local discounts of ₹20,000 to ₹30,000, the Vietnam plan becomes less compelling.
Let's Compare The Costs
A comfortable 10-day trip, budgeting for hotels ( ₹25,000), flights with baggage ( ₹25,000), food/activities ( ₹20,000), and a visa (about ₹2,200), would cost approximately ₹70,000. Add the ₹1.48 lakh MacBook, and the total comes to over ₹2.20 lakh.
Note: Apple sells the MacBook Pro M4 Pro for 49.089.000đ in Vietnam, which works to around ₹1.64 lakh. You may have to look for discounts.
In contrast, a tight budget trip might cost around ₹40,000 ( ₹19,000 for basic flights, ₹5,000 for hostels, ₹10,000 for food/activities, plus visa). The total with the MacBook Pro (M4 Pro chip) would be about ₹1,88,000. This is often still more expensive than buying the same MacBook with available discounts in India.
Ultimately, it's your call. If you are happy to spend a little more to include a trip to Vietnam with your purchase, it could be a worthwhile experience. But, it isn't going to be exactly 'free,' especially if you are not comfortable doing a budget, backpacker-style trip.
Category
India (with Discount)
Vietnam (Budget Trip)
Vietnam (Comfortable Trip) MacBook M4 Pro Price ~
₹ 1,75,000 (after discount)
₹ 1,48,000 (after refund)
₹ 1,48,000 (after refund) Flight (Return) –
₹ 19,000
₹ 25,000 Accommodation (10 nights) –
₹ 5,000 (hostel)
₹ 25,000 (hotel) Food, Activities –
₹ 10,000
₹ 20,000 Visa Fees –
₹ 2,300
₹ 2,300 Total Estimated Cost
₹ 1,75,000
₹ 1,84,300
₹ 2,20,300 Extra Cost – About
₹ 9,000 About
₹ 45,000 Cheaper Than India? – Slightly more expensive Much more expensive View All
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