Vietnam or Thailand: where is the best vacation spot in 2021?

Which is better - Thailand or Vietnam? We compare from personal experience: cost, weather, cleanliness and beauty of beaches and entertainment.

It is difficult, very difficult to find two more similar countries. They are located close to each other, adore rice and speak a language that we do not understand. Why, even when my friend and I began to share our impressions after the vacation (she was in Vietnam, I was in Thailand), we seemed to be talking about the same country.

But there are differences. And the first one:

• 🇹🇭 In 2019, 1.4 million tourists from Russia rested in Thailand,
• 🇻🇳 in Vietnam - about 550 thousand.

Accordingly, there are some reasons that induce to choose Tai or Vietnam with such a margin. This article is just about them. True, in 2021 there are no such attendance figures yet, it is clear why.

Where to look for tours?

Muscovites have a road everywhere - both to Thailand and to Vietnam 🙂 But for those from the regions, there may be no room for choice. Agree that one of the main wishes for rest comes down to a direct flight from the nearest airport.

Thailand is more variable in this respect - in winter charters fly from 42 cities of Russia. Vietnam is more modest, with only 22 cities connected by air. Hence the advantage of the former in the share of tourists.

You can find out if there is a departure from your city or at least from a neighboring large one on any tour aggregator:

• Travelata
• Level.Travel
• Onlinetours

They also show the current prices for tours to Vietnam and Thailand directly from tour operators. I like that there is no need to leave home and even go from site to site to compare the cost of vouchers - everything is collected in one place.

Visa differences

By the way, how long can you rest?

• Thailand - allows you to stay without a visa for a period up to 30 days... I flew to another country in the morning (for example, to Malaysia), in the evening I returned to Thailand - another 30 days went.
• Vietnam - sets the condition that you can stay without a visa up to 15 days... Moreover, there should be one entry into the country, and the second entry should not be earlier than after 30 days. That is, you will not be able to visit neighboring Cambodia with an excursion; you will need a pre-issued visa.

Flight and distance to resorts

Flight time to Vietnam or Thailand is about 9-10 hours... Recently I learned an interesting detail - the duration of the flight also depends on the direction of the wind. If it is passing, we fly faster, "with a breeze." 🙂

Regarding the bus transfer after arrival:

• 🇹🇭 In Thailand, the most problematic resort is Samui. Because even the transfer included in the tour implies a 4-5-hour bus from Phuket to the pier, 1-2 hours by ferry to the island, 1 hour to the hotel.
• 🇻🇳 In Vietnam, a time-consuming resort - Mui Ne (Phan Thiet). Since there is no own airport here, tourists fly to Kamrani or Ho Chi Minh City, and then take a bus 3-4 hours.

How long does the airport transfer take:

Vietnam or Thailand - where is the weather better? Seasons

Despite the fact that the countries of Southeast Asia have a favorable climate - eternal summer! - and the sea is warm all year round, it is necessary to take into account the change from dry to wet season. Otherwise, there is a risk not to leave the hotel (because it pours incessantly) or never to swim (because the water is pleasant, but the waves are harsh).

When is the best time to relax in Thailand?
High season for popular resorts - Pattaya and Phuket - lasts from November to May. Then Phuket goes on a stormy vacation, and Pattaya, although not so rainy, turns up the humidity to the maximum - which makes the usual temperatures feel too hot.

Average air temperature: + 29 ° С… + 30 ° С.
Average water temperature: + 28 ° С… + 29 ° С.

For islands Koh Samui and Phangan the “reverse season” works: from February to August - the weather is good, from September to January - the low season.

When is the best time to relax in Vietnam?
Dry season for Mui Ne, Phan Thiet and Fukuoka starts in November and ends in May. As in Thailand.

Average air temperature: + 30 ° С… + 33 ° С.
Average water temperature: + 28 ° С… + 29 ° С.

Vietnamese exception - Nha Trang (at the same time, the most famous resort). Here you can relax in full measure, with swimming, from March to September. And it is best NOT to show up between October and December. January and February are controversial months: the weather is improving, the rains are gone, but the sea is still agitated.

For convenience, I have compiled such a short tip.
Where is it better - in Thailand or in Vietnam, if you go:

Tour cost - where is it cheaper to have a rest?

Where is it cheaper: in Thailand or in Vietnam, if we compare the cost of the tours?

During the season, the minimum prices are as follows:

• Tour to Thailand for 10 nights - from 70,000 rubles for two
• A similar tour to Vietnam - from 73,000 rubles for two.

* but tour operators like to sell (and tourists, naively, buy) in December-January vouchers to cold Nha Trang, which cost from 60,000 rubles.

- It can be seen that tours to Vietnam are usually more expensive. Thailand is still more developed in terms of tourism.

- Both there and there are resorts a little more budgetary than the rest. In Thailand - this is Pattaya, in Vietnam - Nha Trang.

- About last minute tours. As always, rarely caught in season and more likely at the junction. There are many offers to Thailand for 50-55 thousand rubles for two in September-October (the peak of tour operator generosity is a ticket for 40 thousand!). In Vietnam in October-December, you can grab a trip for 45-40 thousand for two.

I flew to Phuket at the end of April on a hot ticket for 62,000 rubles for two people. By the way, this was my first experience with online tour aggregators:

• Travelata
• Level.Travel
• Onlinetours

With them, I am like my own travel agent: I see the entire database of tours from leading tour operators and instantly react - that is, I book - to an interesting offer 🙂

Independent rest

I am an adherent of the philosophy that it is more profitable to travel to Asian countries on your own for a long time. For example, from 3 weeks.

This was confirmed by subsequent experience. - after the tour we drove to Thailand again, but already for a month and a half. I would be sorry to give a lot of money for air tickets for 10 days, when for almost the same amount I can get + hotel, transfer and insurance! But for a period of 1.5 months, spending on air no longer seemed so impressive.

Flights.
So far, nothing new has been invented in their search - everything is also, in the old-fashioned way, to monitor Aviasales and Skyscanner.

• Tickets to Bangkok - if you are in Pattaya - cost from 25,000 rubles for one round trip. To Phuket - from 30,000 rubles.
• In Ho Chi Minh City - the closest airport to Mui Ne and Phan Thiet - and Nha Trang tickets start at 26,000 rubles. It is more difficult to get to Phu Quoc - there are no direct flights to the island, you will have to fly to Hanoi (from 30,000 rubles), and then by local airlines to the island (from 6,000 rubles).

Transfer.
Not the main expense item, but still. We will take into account local minibuses, buses, gazelles - this is how we get from the airports.

• In Thailand, the round trip will be ≈ $ 10-15 per person.
• In Vietnam, only ≈ $ 4-5. Specifically, it is more expensive to get to Mui Ne - $ 15-25.

Insurance.
This can of course be skipped. But from my experience I will say that in Southeast Asia, where there is crazy traffic, and driving a bike, and unusual food, it is better to make insurance.

• A policy for a month in SEA costs from 2000 rubles per person. I used to buy on Cherehapa, and then ...
• ... opened a bank card with free travel insurance. The link is a text where I analyze all the cards that are on the market now and choose the best one.

Housing prices

Well, wintering tourist, are we looking for accommodation for a month or two? My couple of tips:

- It is more profitable to go to winter in Vietnam or Thailand in cheap cities. As already mentioned, these are Nha Trang (1) and Pattaya (2).

- If you have decided on the area and do not plan to move to locations, book accommodation on Airbnb. Finding a condo is an apartment in an apartment building, where there is also a swimming pool, a gym, a cafe, security guards, etc. on the common territory - for a month for ≈ 20,000-30,000 rubles, it is not a fairy tale, but reality.

- If you will be moving around the districts - or even to another resort - combine Booking (guesthouses and hotels) and Airbnb (apartments). For example, in Phuket we rented a hotel on Karon Beach for 5 days, and then moved to the Kathu area, where we lived in an apartment for a week.

Housing prices per day for 2 people:

Food prices

When people say that Vietnam is cheaper than Thailand, they usually mean the cost of food. Vietnam really has lower prices. For example, alcohol (half a liter of chocolate rum can be bought for about $ 1), affordable groceries in stores, inexpensive street food, cigarettes that tourists buy in bags from here ... But let's go through specific items!

Comparison of countries by food prices:

If you have begun to gradually decide where it is better to go, I can throw an article about prices in Pattaya - the cheapest resort in Thailand.

Local kitchen

Local cuisine is equally unusual for Russians. Sweet and spicy combinations are not in our tradition. Both Thai and Vietnamese cuisines are based on rice, seafood, herbs and spices. Chicken is added to the first, and beef to the second.

I'm crazy about Thai food. It's hard to believe that there are so many delicious combinations from several ingredients! And my friend's reviews of Vietnamese food were low-key.

• In Thailand, you are downright lost on what to eat for lunch / dinner today. There are also soups with coconut milk - tom-yam (with shrimps) and tom-kha (with chicken); and fried rice or noodles - pad thai - with vegetables, meat, seafood; and curry; and papaya-salad; and pancakes; and fried ice cream; and coconut-mango-whatever necks - and this I have listed a small part.
• Vietnam doesn't have much room to choose from. There is a lot of seafood here - cheap !, fried rice, noodles and pho soup (-bo with beef, -ha with chicken) are also held in high esteem. The Vietnamese themselves eat pho for breakfast, lunch and dinner. And washed down with Vietnamese coffee - it's definitely worth trying!

Excursions and attractions

The historical and cultural aspects of the countries differ. Although both there and there there are tall statues of Buddha and Buddhist temples, in Tae, almost 90% of the population believe in karma and everything that goes with it (that is, religious). While in Vieta, most of the locals are atheists.

The nature is oh-oh-very similar. Mountains, waterfalls, islands, cute coves, national parks, floating villages - everything can be found in any country.

• Interestingly, 8 of the sights of Vietnam are recognized as UNESCO heritage sites; in Thailand there are 5 of them. Moreover, in Vietnam they are more accessible for visiting (the cities of Hue and Hoi An - near Da Nang, Halong Bay - not far from Hanoi).

* prices are indicated for 1 person

Entertainment in Thailand

• Where to visit if Pattaya became your point of deployment?
  • Inside the city - Nong Nooch Tropical Garden, Mini Siam Park, Khao Kheow Zoo, Temple of Truth, Wat Yan Temple, observation deck near the figure of the golden Buddha, Pattaya Oceanarium, evening show, Walking Street.
  • Sub-item Outside the city - River Kwai, Cambodia, islands, Bangkok.
• Phuket's attractions are more natural. What to see from the cultural and entertainment is Phuket Town, and the nightlife (clubs and ladyboys!) Is in full swing on Bangla Road.
  • Viewpoints of Karon and Kata beaches
  • Monkey hill
  • The southernmost point of the island is Cape Promthep
  • Big Buddha statue on a high hill
  • The neighboring provinces of Khao Lak and Krabi are one continuous national parks
  • Mai Khao Beach - where planes take off and land
  • Phi Phi and James Bond islands

Entertainment in Vietnam

As my friend concluded, “Oh, you know, in the south there are only tourists and primitive tourist places. For real sights you have to go north! "

North or south is a topic for a separate article. Here are some entertainments awaiting a resort traveler if he (s) is resting in the most popular place - the city of Nha Trang.

• From the accessible - the ancient Cham towers, a large statue of Buddha, the coolest Vinpearl amusement park (there is no such thing in all of Thailand), Monkey Island.
• The most popular excursions are a trip to the Mekong (from $ 20), Da Lat ($ 20-35 for 1 day), various islands, scuba diving, yacht trips - in general, everything that tourists do at sea.

From Nha Trang, you can get to Ho Chi Minh City (former Saigon) in a few hours by train or slip-bass (such a reserved seat bus). This is a huge city, and the contrasts in it are off the charts. You arrive at the station - there are grazing goats and slums nearby. You go to the center - here is the world of glass and concrete. There is a place to walk in the city. If suddenly you are brought here, must-si:

• military history museum
• Temple of Our Lady of Saigon (Notre Dame de Saigon)
• Ben Thanh market

In general, the entire center of Ho Chi Minh City is a solid color, you can just walk and watch the life of the largest city in Vietnam.

Holidays with children - Thailand or Vietnam?

If with baby you are going to Southeast Asia for the first timethen better to Thailand. After all, he is an old friend of a tourist, and Vietnam tried on the status of a resort destination an order of magnitude later.

Accordingly, the infrastructure in Tae is well established (the Thais have already understood who is coming to them and what they need) - there are more “children's” hotels and entertainment. You can choose something kid-friendly from local cuisine or not take a steam bath and go to European cafes that are on every corner.

Of course, in Vietnam with your family it is also wonderful to have a rest! Just if in Tae suitable for this any resort, then in Vieta you need to select:

• Mui Ne and Phan Thiet, for example, are not for holidays with children, because the infrastructure is zero, there are strong waves at the sea, and a tiresome transfer from the airport.
• But oh-oh-very good with the kids on Phu Quoc Island. The water is calm, after arrival it is no longer than an hour to get by bus and here is the Vinperl park.

Where is vacation safer?

In our ranking of the safest countries, Thailand and Vietnam, as winter destinations, stand very close. The second is distinguished by a slightly greater risk of natural disasters - typhoons “attack” Vietnam more often.

What you need to be careful about in any country in the first place is traffic. And not only being on a bike, but also on foot! For my first time in Southeast Asia, the local roads seemed like hell to me - I could not cross the road to the beach for about 10 minutes. First, I was looking for a crossing or a traffic light, which, of course, were not there, then I hoped that some kind soul would miss it. No matter how it is! On a scooter / moped / bike, I always wear a helmet. No matter how funny and ridiculous he looks. In Thailand, I saw the consequences of riding without a helmet - it was scary.

Another common problem in Vietnam is theft. In addition to the fact that things can take away from the beach (as elsewhere), comrades on motorbikes love to rip off the bags hanging on their shoulders. In fact, if you carry a backpack in front, and put the bag over your shoulder and hold it tightly, the risk of loss of property is reduced to zero. It is not customary to attack openly here.

Local residents have a loyal attitude towards Russians. A tourist, which means a source of income, you need to smile and persuade in every possible way to buy. Thais are generally so active in learning our language. In two years they will probably understand better in Russian than in English.

Beach vacation and the sea

All of Southeast Asia is dirty. But the Vietnamese are like a cherry on this garbage cake. Locals can dump waste directly into the sea - this turquoise warm water! Or into a corner at the next bend, where "no one" will see. Unsurprisingly, a lot of things flock to the shore in a storm, from seaweed to plastic bags and straws.

Therefore, a beautiful beach holiday is more about Thailand. The sand is cleaner, the water is clearer. But there is one exception: if you choose Nha Trang or Pattaya - both city resorts - then definitely the first. In Pattaya, they swim outside on the islands, because the local beaches are horror.

If you arrange the resorts in each country in descending order of beach idyll, you will get something like this:

We also have articles about specific beaches of the two countries:

• For example, we are talking about the 7 best beaches in Nha Trang (Vietnam)
• But about the main beaches of Phuket - Patong and Karon

Transport and infrastructure

As for the road traffic - almost all of Southeast Asia is filled with motorbikes on the streets and only conditionally observes the traffic rules. Wading through a stream of drivers at first seems like suicide. But then you begin to understand that they will simply go around you.

Coming on vacation to Vietnam or Thailand, tourists rent bikes. This is a good way to diversify your vacation and make a mini-trip around the country. BUT: if you have international law.

In Thailand, the traffic police often arrange "round-ups" - they stop people of European appearance and ask for documents (local Thai or international). If everything is in order, be sure to pay attention to the presence of a helmet. The fine for driving without a license is from 500 to 1000 baht, you can agree on the spot. Despite all the severity on the road, rental offices do not require a license - neither for renting a bike, nor for a car. Well, how else to make money on tourists? Security is no longer the distributor's problem.

In Vietnam, the opposite is true. It is almost impossible to rent a car without an international license, this is the law. Moreover, IDPs began to be accepted recently, before that they "believed" only the Vietnamese rights. With two wheels, it is easier - a Vietnamese who will hand over a bike to a resort traveler "without looking" can be found in any tourist place. Well, the biggest plus of Vietnamese transport is a cheap taxi. For example, getting from Fukuoka airport to the hotel costs 5-8 dollars!

Which one to choose - Vietnam or Thailand? Outcomes

The question of where it is better to rest depends on 2 factors - the cost of the tour and the purpose of the trip (for me, the first one is mainly decisive :)).

So, the final round: where to rest - Thailand or Vietnam?

Thailand if ...

+ This is your first time in Southeast Asia.

+ Planning a trip for more than 14 days (so as not to bother with a visa).

+ It's a honeymoon and a postcard vacation.

+ You are with a child / with children and I want organization and no surprises (the infrastructure is better here).

+ Your formula for a great vacation = scenic views + clean beaches + delicious food + exciting excursions + nightlife.
* and Phuket will be an ideal place - without leaving the island, you can have a nice swim, and touch the culture and color, and look at the life and life of Thais.

+ Fear that you will not be able to withstand the increased concentration of dirt, odors and debris. It's still cleaner in Thailand.

+ Looking for a vacation with a touch of debauchery (hello, strip bars and ladyboys!).

+ You have already been to Vietnam, and you "did not get it".

Vietnam if ...

+ You are traveling in summer, and you need stable weather (Nha Trang).

+ You have already been to Thailand and Phuket, and Pattaya, and Koh Samui.

+ Are you a kiter or want to learn (Mui Ne).

+ Slightly lower on-site costs make a difference to the budget.

+ I would like to feel like a "savage" - in Vietnam we are still travelers, especially in its northern part. You will have to do something on your own and will express themselves on the fingers if they do not understand. In Thailand, we are already tourists, to whom everything is ready.