Where is food cheaper in Thailand or Vietnam? Which is better: Vietnam or Thailand? Where is there more seafood: in Thailand or Vietnam?
No matter how ridiculous the question may sound: “ What better Vietnam or Thailand?”, but you often hear it from many people. We can say for ourselves that we like both countries - we lived in both Vietnam and Thailand for many months.
In order for the dear reader to decide where to go - in Vietnam or to Thailand, we will talk about the advantages of both countries.
Where are the best prices for housing and food - in Vietnam or Thailand?
Where there will be better prices for rental housing – V Thailand or in Vietnam? During our time (in Nha Trang) we rented a 3-room apartment with full furnishings in a new building in a quiet quarter of Nha Trang for $350 per month. The apartment had: air conditioning, a washing machine, a comfortable kitchen with a full set of necessary utensils. A similar apartment in the resort towns of Thailand will cost you twice as much.
Thailand or Vietnam – Where better rent a house ? In Thailand, housing prices will be clearly higher than in Vietnam. But almost all apartments and private houses in Thailand are well renovated and have beautiful furniture - everything is in its place, Feng Shui is present in every corner of the house.
Now about prices, quality and variety of food - Vietnam or Thailand, Where will better, cheaper and tastier ? We will express our personal opinion on this matter - we like Thai cuisine more. We have always found tastier and more varied dishes in Thailand, from simple roadside snack shops and food court food to more expensive restaurants.
If you compare the prices of food in restaurants in Thailand and Vietnam, it will be a little cheaper. Although, of course, the price will depend on your culinary preferences and the category of the restaurant.
Where would it be better to relax in winter - in Vietnam or Thailand?
Vietnam or Thailand – Where better and it will be more comfortable to be V December, January And February?
If we talk about the most popular resort in Vietnam - Nha Trang, then in the winter months this city will not be very attractive. December, January and February and often rainy. The sea in Nha Trang cools down in winter, becomes cloudy due to strong waves and is rarely suitable for swimming.
Similar weather will be experienced in Da Nang, Vietnam, during the winter months.
In the Vietnamese resort of Mui Ne, December, January and February are months exclusively for kiting. Winter in Mui Ne is a time of strong winds and high waves.
But the island of Phu Quoc in Vietnam will be comfortable for a winter holiday. The climate of this island is very similar to the climate of Sihanoukville in , so the sea in the winter months on Fukuoka will be calm and warm, and the air temperature will not yet be too high.
So What same better choose for relax December, January And February – Vietnam or Thailand? Our answer will be in favor of Thailand. The weather at different resorts, islands and mainland Thailand will vary little. There is very little rain in the winter months in Thailand and the sea is also mostly comfortable. The air temperature in December, January and February at Thai resorts will be gentle - the sun in these months is not very hot.
In Thailand, we wintered in Pattaya (our experience of the first winter in Southeast Asia) and on Samui. Pattaya, as a place for a long stay, has not quite worked out for us.
But we were completely delighted with Samui! We spent the whole winter on this wonderful island.
What to choose for a holiday in autumn and spring – Thailand or Vietnam?
Vietnam or Thailand – Where will better relax V September, October And November? The autumn months will be equally comfortable for traveling in both Vietnam and Thailand; it will be difficult to give preference to just one country. The rainy season is already coming to an end at this time and you can enjoy the sun and sea on all the beaches of Thailand and Vietnam.
Spring in both Thailand and Vietnam will be similar in weather. The spring months are quite suitable for traveling to these countries.
Where would it be better to spend the summer – Vietnam or Thailand?
Where will better V June, July And August – in Vietnam or V Thailand? During the summer months, the whole of Thailand is flooded with heavy rains. It often happens that some Thai provinces and islands suffer from floods.
But in Vietnam in the summer you can relax quite comfortably in Nha Trang, Da Nang and Mui Ne. Although there are rains in these Vietnamese cities in the summer, they are short-lived, there are many sunny days and the sea will be very warm and calm.
The Vietnamese island of Phu Quoc should not be chosen for a summer holiday. The weather and climate there are almost the same as in neighboring Cambodia - in the summer months it is the rainy season in Fukuoka.
What is better to choose for a beach holiday – Vietnam or Thailand?
Where better beaches – in Vietnam or V Thailand? It’s simply impossible to answer this question in monosyllables... Probably it’s a matter of taste - who likes where better. In both Vietnam and Thailand there is a huge amount
Our opinion is that the beach resorts and islands of Thailand are still brighter and more interesting compared to Vietnam.
Although, during our winter in Vietnam, we found for ourselves, which became our favorites and are remembered to this day.
P.S. Compare, What better Thailand or Vietnam It will even be somehow wrong. Both of these countries are beautiful and interesting in their own way.
The most important thing when traveling in any country is to have a positive attitude and a desire to learn as much as possible about the place where you are.
Which country should you choose if you are offered two tours at approximately the same price? Tour operators, in conditions of the economic crisis and the high dollar, are fighting for every client, so very often they sell ready-made tours for less than the cost of air tickets. If you are not a winterer who lives in warm climates for six months, but an ordinary person who goes to the sea a couple of times a year, then a last-minute inexpensive tour can be an excellent economical solution. I am often asked the question “Which country to choose: Thailand or Vietnam?” Today it’s all about how to make the right choice based on your expectations, needs and budget.
Why do I have the right to write this post and compare two countries?
We lived in Vietnam twice and spent a total of six months there. We drove around, visited 10 cities, and I wrote about various aspects of life and recreation in this country.
We visited Thailand three times, lived in different cities for seven months. In the blog you will find from our Thai life.
Thailand and Vietnam: geographical location
Thailand and Vietnam are two countries in Southeast Asia. The capital of Thailand, Bangkok, is approximately 800 kilometers closer to Europe than the southern capital of Vietnam, Ho Chi Minh City.
Charters from Moscow to Vietnam's main seaside resort of Nha Trang fly in approximately 10.5 - 11.5 hours, depending on the class of the aircraft. The flight to the Thai island of Phuket is a little faster - 8.5-9.5 hours.
Both Vietnam and Thailand have a shape stretched from south to north and have a dozen different resorts. Today we will look at the most popular of them: Nha Trang in Vietnam and Phuket in Thailand. Nha Trang is washed by the South China Sea, and Phuket is washed by the Andaman Sea.
Seasons in Thailand and Vietnam by month
Now about the choice between Thailand and Vietnam depending on the time of year.
The high season is when it is sunny, warm and practically no rain.
The best time to visit Nha Trang is from mid-February to the end of September. The wettest months are October and November. Brief rains and sea waves may occur in December and January. At this time, there may also be cool water, although the air warms up to +24+25C during the day.
The high season in Phuket begins in November and ends at the end of March. At this time, the island has wonderful weather, it rarely rains, the air temperature is +28+32, the sea water is clear and there are practically no waves.
The so-called “wet season” lasts from April to the end of September. At this time, sudden downpours are common, when a bucket of water seems to be poured out in a minute. It often rains for several days with rare breaks. In summer it can be very hot and stuffy, and the beaches are washed away by waves, which makes swimming not very pleasant and sometimes downright dangerous. I know people who like to vacation in Phuket in the summer, because at this time there are few tourists and prices for housing and food are lower. But a summer holiday in Thailand is like a lottery: if you are unlucky, you will spend half of your holiday in a hotel room, watching the rain.
Beaches of Nha Trang and Phuket: where is better?
Phuket beaches
Beaches of Nha Trang
In Nha Trang, all life is concentrated near the city beach. Hotels - both expensive and budget - lined up along the long coastline. As a rule, the walk to the beach is no more than 10 minutes. And it doesn't matter how much you pay for the room - 10 dollars or 100.
The city beach of Nha Trang is elongated, with a wide coastline. There are densely populated areas near restaurants and beach clubs, and there are areas where there will be no one around you within 100-200 meters. We stayed in an inexpensive hotel near the Sharaton, paid $7 a night for a room for three, and enjoyed an almost deserted beach with very few people during the day. In the evening, local residents flocked there after work and it became crowded.
In the vicinity of Nha Trang there are a dozen more islands where you can also swim on a pretty beach. You can buy a beach excursion to or go to the northern islands. A separate adventure is a visit to a water park, an aquarium, an amusement and entertainment park. Vinpearl has a gorgeous beach, the snow-white sand of which was brought specially on barges.
If you compare the beaches of Phuket and Nha Trang, then in Phuket they are better. But this does not mean that you will be completely disappointed in Nha Trang. If measured on a ten-point scale, then the beaches of Nha Trang will receive a solid “seven” from me, and the beaches of Phuket will receive a “nine”.
Things to do in Phuket & Nha Trang
There is a lot of entertainment in Nha Trang. In addition to inexpensive restaurants with cuisine from around the world, you can relax in several spas and mud baths, go to and, go on sea excursions, visit the famous entertainment center, which is reached by a very long cable car over the sea.
If you are traveling for two weeks, then if you wish, you will have time to go for a couple of days to a very beautiful mountain or even more exotic one, where elephant hunters live.
There is also a huge amount of entertainment in Phuket. Every day you can discover a new beach on the island, or go to a neighboring island. Phuket has a zoo, an aquarium, a Bird Park, butterfly and orchid farms, and the Tiger Kingdom, where you can pet real predators. We can ride elephants or fly over the jungle on a bungee.
In addition, only in Phuket you can see the magnificent shows “Siam Niramit” and “Phuket Fantasy”, which involve hundreds of actors in luxurious costumes. Expensive decorations, pyrotechnics and the scope with which the shows are made make them famous far beyond the borders of Thailand.
For diving enthusiasts, it will be much more interesting to dive in the Andaman Sea in Thailand. From Phuket you can go to the Phi Phi Islands or on a small diving safari to the Similan Islands untouched by civilization.
Phuket & Nha Trang: transport
Nha Trang is a small city. If you wish, you can walk around it all in about an hour. You can get around the city by bus, which connects almost all the attractions in the surrounding area. For long trips to waterfalls, hot springs and beaches, you can rent a bike. One day of rental costs 100 thousand dong - that's about 5 dollars. You can only rent a car in Vietnam with a driver (about $50 per day), because you can’t rent a car without a Vietnamese driver’s license.
If you rent a bike, be aware of the difficulties of driving in Vietnam. Local residents are unpredictable drivers who not only drive according to their own unknown rules, but also often get behind the wheel “under the influence.” If you have little experience riding a bike or are new to riding, avoid rush hour and busy highways, always wear a helmet, don't speed, and stay close to the side of the road.
Phuket is an island of a very convenient size - about 40 by 20 kilometers. In a week or two you can explore most of the island and visit all the beaches.
Phuket has a network of city buses. They connect all the beaches with the capital of the island - the city of Phuket and the airport, but by public transport you cannot go from one beach to another directly, so you often have to use a taxi or rent a bike or car.
Taxis in Phuket are very expensive compared to other cities in Thailand. We were trying to get from the bus station in Phuket town to our condo in the Kathu area. The distance is small, only 3 kilometers. Taxi drivers wanted at least 300 baht ($9) for the trip. I’ll say right away that in Bangkok we drove 35 kilometers from Don Mueang airport for 200 baht, paying for highway tolls along the way.
An alternative to a taxi is to rent a car or bike. A car costs from 30 dollars per day, a scooter costs from 7 dollars per day. If you rent for a week or two, ask for a discount.
Features of the island are mountain passes. There are a lot of them here, so you will definitely have to travel through the mountains. Some descents require certain driving experience and skill. If you plan to ride together, then take a more powerful scooter. We felt very comfortable riding the Honda PCX 150.
Well, I wouldn’t advise complete beginners to get behind the wheel in Phuket. Steep descents and ascents are not the place for training. In addition, the drivers are full of equally inexperienced tourists.
Thailand & Vietnam: food
I like both Thai food and Vietnamese food. In my opinion, Vietnamese food is healthier and less spicy. And the Thais put a lot of sugar in their dishes and fry everything in a lot of oil.
It is in Vietnam that you can try exotic dishes from silkworm larvae, crocodile and ostrich meat, eat snake and taste inexpensive lobsters.
In Thailand they use more familiar products, but in an unusual design. I really like Thai spicy soups and spicy vegetable salads.
In both cuisines you can find your ideal dish and food that you can eat.
Prepare for your trip in advance and read about the most famous and delicious dishes from Vietnamese and Thai cuisines.
Phuket & Nha Trang: prices
Now about the most important thing - the budget. Even if tours to Nha Trang and Phuket were offered to you by a travel agency for about the same price, a vacation in Thailand will still cost you more due to the expenses that you will incur on the spot. You will need to have lunch and dinner, pay for transport, excursions, entertainment.
A hearty dinner in a middle-class restaurant in Nha Trang for two will cost about 15-25 dollars. In Phuket, in tourist villages, one dish can cost about 6-7 dollars, and a whole dinner can cost from 30 dollars. Of course, you can always find a street food stall and eat your own bowl of soup for $1.5-2. But such places exist mainly in non-tourist areas of the island, which are located far from the beaches. In Nha Trang, you can choose a place for dinner according to your wallet. Street cafes with minimal prices are on every corner.
In Nha Trang you can use city buses - a ticket costs only a third of a dollar. In Phuket you can’t go everywhere by bus, so you’ll either have to reduce your travel or rent a scooter or car.
Vietnam is still a country with victorious socialism. Entertainment here is relatively inexpensive. Boat excursion to the islands - from $7 per person. A full-day ride on the cable car to the Vinpearl entertainment complex - $26, a visit to the spa with healing mud - from $3 per person.
In Phuket, entertainment will cost many times more. Sea excursions from $25. Zoo - $15, Siam Niramit show - from $50 per person, entrance tickets to the Tiger Kingdom - from $24 per area per person.
Since Türkiye has slightly lost its position, the eyes of Russian tourists have turned to the east. Of all the countries in Southeast Asia, Thailand and Vietnam offered the most suitable conditions for recreation. And if the first has long been popular among tourists and attracts them with its exoticism, the second has only now begun to gain popularity. They are very similar, so the choice of “Thailand or Vietnam?” It is very difficult for tourists. We will describe the differences between these countries.
Climate
Both countries are in Southeast Asia. It is warm here all year round and there is no distinct summer or winter, but there is a rainy season.
Vietnam can be visited all year round. In winter, it is most pleasant to relax on the island of Phu Quoc, in the summer - in Nha Trang or Hoi An. It has been raining almost everywhere since the end of October.
In this regard, it is also democratic. It is most comfortable here in winter, when it is dry and not too stuffy and humid. This is especially true for such a popular resort as Phuket. In Koh Samui, it rains mainly in the fall, but usually this does not interfere with your vacation.
As you can see, in any month you can find a resort in Vietnam or Thailand where it is better to go. So the choice is not between countries, but between resorts.
There is another important point - acclimatization, adaptation to the country’s climate. It is less hot in Thailand, but tourists note that the heat is much more difficult to bear due to high humidity. This is especially true in summer and autumn when it rains. It’s easier to breathe in Vietnam, the climate is reminiscent of Crimea and Sochi.
Bottom line: The climate in the two countries is similar, but winter in Vietnam is not as comfortable as in Thailand, but acclimatization is easier.
Beaches
In terms of beaches, Vietnam is definitely inferior to Thailand. The water here is not so clear, there are many locals on the public coast, and the infrastructure is less developed. The beaches are beautiful, but you need to get to them by bike and there is almost no infrastructure.
The beaches of Thailand are cleaner and more equipped - except that in Pattaya the sea is quite dirty and not suitable for swimming. But you can find yourself in truly heavenly conditions. And in Thailand there are many more opportunities for active recreation.
In Vietnam, almost all beaches have a gentle entrance to the water, which is pleasant for families with children.
The water is always warm, but in winter in the south of Vietnam it rarely warms up above +25 °C, while in Thai it is heated to +27 °C and above.
Bottom line: Thai beaches are better than Vietnamese ones in terms of cleanliness and infrastructure, but among the latter, in the distance, there are very quiet ones with untouched nature.
Attractions
If you are interested in ancient Asian culture, then Thailand is strong in this regard - there are a huge number of pagodas, Buddhist temples, Buddha statues, palaces and other interesting places. The nature here is also very beautiful, and excursions, according to tourists, are much better organized.
In Vietnam, after the war, there are few ancient monuments left, but there are interesting modern buildings. In Hanoi you can walk through beautiful parks, and in Dalat you can look at French architecture.
Bottom line: For exclusively sightseeing tours, choose Thailand, preferably in winter, when it is not so humid and stuffy.
Infrastructure
Accommodation
Since Thailand has long been a popular resort, there is much more housing here - there are a lot of hostels and hotels even in the smallest resorts. There are various bungalows on the shore, and quite a few villas that are rented out to tourists, including some very close to the sea.
Along with a wide variety and high level of service come quite high prices. Often they are still lower than in Europe or the former CIS countries.
In Vietnam, the hotel infrastructure is not so developed. They have already appeared, but it’s often not very comfortable to relax in inexpensive ones. It is better to stay in three- and four-star hotels. Even in 5* hotels, prices are generally pleasing, especially since they offer fairly comfortable conditions.
Bottom line: For the most comfortable hotels, go to Thailand, for inexpensive ones - to Vietnam.
Nutrition
Thailand has a lot of cafes and restaurants, street food stalls, so you will always find somewhere to eat. However, it is very spicy, and some tastes and dishes are so unusual that it can cause stomach problems. Adapting to local food is not easy.
There are also many cafes and restaurants in Vietnam, but they often close in the evenings. Street stalls also leave early and are not open during lunch - the Vietnamese have a siesta.
At the same time, it is much closer to us - often it is ordinary rice with meat, fish, rice noodles or light soups. Moderate spiciness. True, sometimes they add an unusual nuok-mam sauce to food, which is made from rotten fish - this exotic is not for everyone. Fresh vegetables and fruits are cheaper.
Vietnam is especially famous for its coffee - there are ideal conditions for growing it. It is prepared using special aluminum filters, which gives it a special taste.
Food prices in both countries are approximately the same. Local food is cheap, but imported products like milk are quite expensive.
Bottom line: There is more food in Thailand, but it is unusual. Vietnamese cuisine is softer and less exotic.
Entertainment
If you want to have as much fun as possible, then you shouldn’t even ask yourself which is better: Thailand or Vietnam. In terms of entertainment, Tai is definitely the leader - even in small resorts there are discos and clubs, and in large cities there are constantly noisy parties, interesting and exotic shows. There are also many more water and amusement parks here. And the adult entertainment industry can be the envy of any other country in the world. Water activities and diving are much better developed, especially on the islands.
Question to an expert: Which destination, Thailand or Vietnam, would you recommend for a holiday with children and why?
Nikolay Zhuravlev answers:
CEO
LLC "BUSINESS PLANNING EXPERTS",
experienced traveler
“Thailand is more suitable. Firstly, there is a much more developed recreation infrastructure there compared to Vietnam. Secondly, Vietnam has a completely different nature - the jungle with all the ensuing consequences. I once barely rode a moped around a huge cobra that stretched the entire width of the road and glittered under the moonlight so much that it gave me a shiver. Another time I was bitten quite badly at night by a swarm of some midges, so that the bites did not go away for two weeks. This has never happened in Thailand. And the main features of Vietnam, the freshest and cheapest seafood and wood products, are unlikely to be appreciated by children, since they are not yet mature.”
Vietnam has recently become popular among tourists, and its specialty is still calm and quiet family holidays. Noisy clubs and bars can only be found here in Nha Trang; noteworthy amusement parks and water parks can also be found only in Nha Trang, Ho Chi Minh City and Hanoi. And the Vietnamese go to bed very early, so after 10-11 pm the streets become very quiet.
Such a meager range of entertainment will upset the lover of night parties, but if peace and quiet attracts you, then Vietnam will be the ideal choice. And you can always go to Nha Trang for a few days and have a fairly good rest - the short distances between the resorts allow this.
Bottom line: For any entertainment, it is better to go to Thailand. If you are in Vietnam, then you can have fun in Nha Trang.
Visa regime
If you do not want to apply for a visa and you are choosing where to go, Thailand or Vietnam will suit you equally. There are no visa formalities at entry into these countries.
A Vietnam visa costs about $30 and is valid for 15 days. Placed at the airport after filling out a special form. In Thailand, upon entry, you will be given a stamp for free, which will allow you to stay in the country for 30 days.
Bottom line: You can enter Thailand easier, cheaper and for a longer period.
Prices
A flight to Bangkok from Moscow will cost less than to Nha Trang. Many flights with transfers. Direct charter flights during the season cost about the same.
Prices for tours are also at the same level, around 20-30 thousand rubles per person for two weeks. But a trip to Vietnam can be cheaper thanks to low accommodation prices.
Food prices in Thailand are higher, but not significantly. Goods and souvenirs here are also usually more expensive, but the range is wider. But taxis in Vietnam are one of the cheapest in the world, so you can save a lot on travel.
Bottom line: Vietnam is cheaper than Thailand in almost all respects.
Language
In Thailand, almost all locals speak English, especially in tourist areas. Even in non-tourist markets you can always find someone who speaks English and bargain. And in some resorts, for example, in Pattaya, there are entire Russian restaurants and shops.
In Vietnam, the circumstances are different - almost everyone speaks only the local language, price tags in supermarkets and signs are not duplicated in English. This doesn’t interfere with relaxing in a hotel on the beach, but if you travel around the country, you’ll have to learn a couple of phrases and get a phrase book.
Bottom line: In Thailand, you won’t be lost if you speak English, and in Vietnam, when traveling independently, you can’t do without a phrase book.
What to choose
Travel to Thailand if you:
Do you want to relax noisily and cheerfully?
Appreciate the developed tourist infrastructure.
Planning walks around the resorts and chatting with locals.
Do you want to get acquainted with eastern sights?
Would you like to plunge into exotic shows?
Prefer the most comfortable hotels.
Do you want to relax on cleaner beaches and sea.
Are you planning a trip in winter?
You will like Vietnam if you:
Do you want to save money on your tour?
Interested in France - the French have had a huge influence on local architecture and culture.
Do you want to relax quietly, in nature?
Don't strive for maximum comfort.
Have difficulty withstanding heat and extreme humidity.
Love the coffee - it's outstanding here.
Traveling with small children.
More details about the choice between these two countries can be seen in the video of an experienced traveler who lived in Samui and Nha Trang for several months
Among the Asian tourism destinations, the question often arises, where is it better and cheaper to go, to Thailand or Vietnam? It is quite difficult to choose, since both countries have their own flavor, which has loyal fans. But still, if you are faced with a choice of where to spend your vacation, you should carefully study all aspects of life in these countries in order to accurately choose for yourself what is better for your vacation - Vietnam or Thailand.
The decision largely depends on your personal preferences, financial capabilities and expectations that you have for the trip. That is why you need to carefully familiarize yourself with all aspects of tourism.
Flight to destination
When choosing a place to relax, many pay attention to the time factor. What type of transport can be used, how many hours the trip takes and what the price of tickets are - these are the questions on which the final decision depends.
From this point of view, when comparing both countries, neither has an advantage. In terms of time, it turns out that flying to Thailand takes an hour longer. And considering that the cost of a ticket depends on the chosen tour operator or airline, as well as the time of year, you can find reasonable prices for each destination.
Thus, in the question of what to choose, Thailand or Vietnam, this criterion is not decisive. You can even purchase a Thailand-Cambodia-Vietnam tour and visit three countries for more than a small amount of money.
Vietnam and Thailand, comparison of climate and weather conditions
Although both countries have a tropical climate with high humidity, Vietnam is more comfortable in winter. You can be sure that during the day you will not have to swelter from the heat, while in Thailand the temperature is much higher. But here it all depends on your personal preferences.
The peak tourist season in both countries occurs from the beginning of December to the end of March. At this time, you don’t have to be afraid of tropical downpours and the mercilessly scorching sun.
Which is better - Thailand or Vietnam, comparison of beaches
When deciding which country to go to, you should decide what type of beaches interests you.
If we talk about a civilized vacation with hotels on the shore and developed infrastructure, as a rule, these are city beaches. In Vietnam, these are located in the cities of Nha Trang and Phan Thiet (Mui Ne). In Thailand these are Phuket, Pattaya and Koh Samui.
According to this criterion, the advantage is in the direction of Vietnam, where there are no huge crowds of people, prices for food and housing are cheaper, and you can also enjoy clean air and a real riot of greenery. In addition, in Vietnam it is much more common to find signs with inscriptions in Russian, which means that it will be much easier to navigate the country.
And when it comes to wild beaches, Thailand has a distinct advantage as you can find a wide variety of places to relax on your own. In Vietnam, this opportunity is only on the islands of Phu Quoc, Con Dao and Cat Ba. Moreover, in the last two cases, heavenly solitude will cost you quite a lot.
As for Thailand, a number of resorts are offered to your attention, from which you only need to choose the one you like most, which will definitely cost less. This is an impressive list of islands, among which there are semi-civilized ones, where you can find some kind of service, for example, shops, bars, restaurants, massage.
This number includes:
- Koh Chang;
- Koh Phangan;
- Koh Tao;
- Phi Phi;
- Koh Lanta.
There are also completely wild places in Thailand where you can feel completely alone. These are the islands:
- Samet;
- Koh Kood;
- Koh Mak;
- Ko Wai and many others.
The maximum level of service here comes down to massage at the hotel and several restaurants throughout the island, but at the same time the cost of services is much cheaper.
Thus, to choose where it is better to vacation, Vietnam or Thailand, you should consider what type of vacation you need.
If you prefer a civilized holiday, go to Vietnam, and if you want to take a break from society and fully enjoy being close to nature, choose Thailand.
Thailand or Vietnam – which is cheaper?
When it comes to housing prices, in order to choose a more economical option, it is important to consider exactly how long you plan to stay in the country. If your vacation lasts no more than 2-3 weeks, accommodation in Vietnam will cost less, and the conditions in the room will be approximately the same.
But if you are going to stay at sea for more than a month, the price will be about the same. It may even be that Thailand will cost you less due to the fact that the Vietnamese are not yet accustomed to renting out housing for a long period of time, which is why there is practically no competition here.
Cost of goods and services
In each country, the price of food, massage services, moving around the city on public transport, and motorbike rental is approximately the same. The exception is alcohol; Vietnamese winemakers sell it much cheaper than in Thailand.
However, the cost of products from global brands is approximately the same. Therefore, when choosing which is better - Thailand or Vietnam, this criterion is not decisive.
What to see on vacation, sights of countries
Vietnam or Thailand, where is it better to spend time? If, in addition to a beach holiday, you want to walk around the resort and see its attractions, it is difficult to give a definite answer which country is better to choose.
It should be borne in mind that there have been no global wars in Thailand for many centuries, so here you can find attractions dating back to antiquity. You can even go to a museum located directly in the open air, for example, Sukhothai or Ayutthaya.
But, despite the fact that the war of the last century in Vietnam destroyed much of the country, many interesting sights can also be found here. For example, in big cities there are palaces and other buildings related to the European style, while in Thailand it will be simply impossible to see this. Therefore, you need to choose a country to visit based on personal preferences.
Where is the best place to go, visa regime comparison
If your vacation lasts no more than two weeks, it doesn’t matter which country you choose. You can stay in Thailand without a visa for 30 days, and in Vietnam -15.
But if your stay in another country is more than a month, you must have an official permit for a long stay. In this regard, it is better to choose Vietnam, since the visa regime here is not only simpler, but also cheaper. So, you can apply for a three-month visa, and after the expiration of the period, extend it for another six months without leaving the country.
Many travelers going to Asia for the first time cannot choose where to go - Thailand or Vietnam. It seems that both there and there have “sun, air and water”, there are many resorts and prices for tours are also almost the same. The authors of the site lived in both of these countries for a long time and will now tell you in detail all the pros and cons. We will go through all the points, from comparing resorts to the quality of Internet connection. After this, you can decide for yourself where it is better - in Vietnam or Thailand, and where, first of all, you would like to go.
By the way, I take this opportunity to invite you to our website for Asia and other countries, including Vietnam: byvali.ru.
Flight
It’s almost the same here: both in terms of time and ticket prices. The flight from Moscow takes 8 hours, to Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City - an hour longer. Prices for different dates and for different ones are different, so both there and there you can find options in the same price range.
Climate and weather
During the winter months, the central and northern parts of Vietnam are cooler than Thailand. And it feels like less humidity. But in general, both there and there are tropics - hot and humid. The high tourist season is December-March. If you can’t stand the heat, then it’s better to go to Vietnamese Nha Trang, and even better - to Da Nang and Hoi An (by the way, there is also a sea there, which for some reason many are silent about).
Beaches
In Thailand, the choice of beaches is several times larger. Moreover, you can find both civilized ones with a well-developed infrastructure, and almost wild ones.
Resorts: “civilized vacation”
Here, in almost all respects, Vietnam is better than Thailand: fewer people, signs in Russian everywhere, cheaper food and hotels, fewer buildings, better ecology, more greenery. Nha Trang is much more beautiful than Pattaya, the sea is cleaner, the coast is wider, there are fewer people. In Thailand, only the nightlife with discos and available girls is more developed.
Resorts: "bounty"
Here it's exactly the opposite. Despite the fact that Vietnam is a less tourist country, there are fewer opportunities to catch a “bounty”, that is, to live on the seashore in a bungalow, without cars, in the fresh air. In fact, only Phu Quoc Island offers such opportunities, and even there there are only a few dozen hotels with detached houses right on the shore. And on the island of Con Dao and Cat Ba, such solitude is very expensive.
In general, Thailand is better than Vietnam in terms of bounty.
Undersea world
Where is cheaper accommodation?
Here you need to consider two options - for a short period or for a long time. If you are going on vacation for two weeks, then with equal amenities in the room, Vietnam will be cheaper. For example, you can stay in inexpensive guesthouses with air conditioning there for $15 per night, which is impossible in Thailand. But if you come for a “winter” and want to rent the same guesthouse for several months, then the prices will be approximately equal, and sometimes Thailand will be cheaper, since the Vietnamese are not yet accustomed to renting out housing at resorts for a long period of time, and there is less competition.
Prices for goods and services
Almost the same here and there: food, massage, shopping, moving around the country (buses) and motorbike rental. Only alcohol from Vietnamese producers is much cheaper than Thai ones, but prices for world brands are the same.
Attractions
There have been no large-scale wars in Thailand for hundreds of years, so many ancient sights have been preserved. There are even entire open-air museum cities: Sukhothai.
And in Vietnam in the 60s-70s of the last century there was a war that destroyed many monuments. But! In large cities, especially Ho Chi Minh City, you can find European colonial palaces and buildings, which simply does not and never has happened in Thailand.
Visas
If you are just going on vacation for 2 weeks, then visas are not needed. You can stay visa-free in Thailand for 30 days, and in Vietnam for 15 days.
If you come to “winter,” then a visa is required. Recently, Vietnam has been better in this regard than Thailand. In Vietnam, you can get a visa for 3 months and then, without leaving the country, extend it for a total of another 6 months. And on the island of Phu Quoc you can live without a visa as long as you like.
Previously, it was possible to stay in Thailand for several years, simply by going to Visa Run every month. But now this has been cancelled, and visas are not issued to everyone (if you visit the country often, it’s possible to get a refusal), and they will cost more money, since after 60 days they must be extended for 1,900 baht, and after another month you will have to leave from the country. New six-month multivisas will be even more expensive.
Internet
Oddly enough, but according to this indicator, socialist and poor Vietnam is better than Thailand. Wireless Internet is available everywhere, even in the most run-down guesthouse. Moreover, it is fast and without brakes. In Thailand it may not be available everywhere and is often slow. And if you happen to live in a condominium, then there may not be one at all.
Nightlife and adult entertainment
Here Vietnam is worse than Thailand. There, socialism, “the appearance of morality” and for immorality they can give a decent fine. There are discos and clubs only in Ho Chi Minh City and Nha Trang; in other resorts you will have to search for them for a long time and may never find them. There are no bars with available girls, and single men can only get pleasure in the so-called “Karaoke”. But such establishments are not present everywhere. You won’t find them at all in Phu Quoc, Phan Thiet (Mui Ne), Hoi An or Dalat.
In this regard, Thailand is many times better than Vietnam. For party lovers, every resort has discos and clubs; on Koh Phangan, a crazy Full Moon Party happens several days a month. In Pattaya, Bangkok and Phuket, the nightlife is off the charts. Well, as for girls, Thailand has been the capital of the world for many decades. Various shows for adults, bars with available girls, Go Go strip clubs - all this can be found in abundance at any resort and in any city. Only in Pai this is not the case, and on Koh Lanta only in a few places on the entire huge island.
People, mentality
The Vietnamese are much closer and more understandable to us, which, however, does not make them more attractive. They are more stern and strict, they don’t smile “for nothing”, like the Thais, it’s clear what to expect from them. A bus driver may well yell at passengers, and a mother may yell at her child. If they like you, they will smile at you from the bottom of their hearts and court you; if you don’t inspire sympathy, then the Vietnamese will not keep up the mask of friendliness and make “knees” in front of you, but will simply send you three-story high. The concept of “loss of face” does not exist here, so in the country they say everything as it is, everything sincerely and from the heart. No ostentatious cordiality.
In this regard, Thailand differs from Vietnam. If you have even a little money, they will fawn and make you feel welcome. It’s often unclear what’s hidden behind their world-famous smiles. It is much easier to understand a Vietnamese than a Thai. Thailand was never under the colonial tutelage of the West, and European culture and mentality did not influence the Thais in any way. Therefore, this is a completely different world, alien and incomprehensible to us, although not devoid of attractiveness. Looking good, "not losing face" is the cornerstone of Thai culture. Emotions are often hidden, no shouting in public, everything is orderly. True, sometimes some people get overwhelmed and long-accumulated anger under a smile mask turns them into some kind of inadequate psychos.
As for girls, Thai women are more attractive in terms of spiritual qualities, more caring, friendly and affectionate. Vietnamese girls are more severe and cold, while girls of simple behavior are very mercantile and don’t even try to hide it like Thais. As for appearance, Thai women are more petite, thin and flat-chested, while Vietnamese women look more voluminous where they need to be.
But naturally, like in any country, in Thailand and Vietnam there are both good people and bad.