Indian man travels to Vietnam for MacBook, saves Rs 36,500 and enjoys a full 11-day trip

Macbook air

Why pay more when you can pay less and take a vacation? That’s exactly what one clever Reddit user from India did and now, his story has gone viral for all the right reasons.

Posting in the popular r/macoffer subreddit, he shared how he flew all the way to Vietnam with one simple goal: to buy a MacBook at a cheaper price than in India. But what started as a money-saving plan turned into an 11-day adventure through Hanoi, complete with remote work, sightseeing, and a brand-new MacBook in hand.

“MacBooks and iPhones are just too expensive in India,” he explained. “You’re basically paying for import duties and GST.” So he booked the cheapest round-trip flight he could find, landed in Hanoi, and got to work—both professionally and as a bargain-hunter.

In Vietnam, Apple devices are noticeably more affordable, and thanks to the country’s VAT refund policy for tourists, he managed to save big. The MacBook he had his eyes on was priced at Rs 1.85 lakh in India (with card offers). But in Vietnam, after carefully choosing a store that offered proper VAT documentation and handling the refund process at the airport, he got the same MacBook for Rs 1.48 lakh. That’s a saving of Rs 36,500, nearly the price of a round-trip ticket!

And here's the kicker: including the cost of the laptop, his total trip cost around Rs 2.08 lakh. After the tax refund, it came down to Rs 1.97 lakh. Subtract the MacBook, and the entire Vietnam vacation, flights, food, accommodation, and more cost him just Rs 48,000.

"Basically, I got myself a vacation and a MacBook, for less than what it would’ve cost me to buy just the MacBook in India," he said.

The post struck a chord online, with others chiming in about doing the same some even planning to shop for the upcoming iPhone or Apple gadgets in places like Dubai or Vietnam. One user summed it up best: “That’s crazy but now totally on my to-do list.”