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

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!