Where is the best holiday in Thailand or Vietnam? Vietnam or Thailand – what should a tourist choose? What to choose for a holiday in autumn and spring

Travelers often find it difficult to choose where to go - Thailand or Vietnam, Phuket or Nha Trang - which is better? Both there and there the sun shines, clean air and warm water, beautiful views, delicious cuisine, and even the prices for tours are approximately the same.

To decide where it is better to go first - Nha Trang or Phuket, you can compare these two popular tourist destinations in several components of the holiday, based on budget, expectations and needs.

Flight, airfare

The stunning white beaches of Phuket.

The road from Moscow to Thailand will take about 8-9 hours; to Vietnam you will have to get only one hour longer. As for the cost of plane tickets, the price range is the same; the cost of flying to Vietnam or Phuket will be approximately equal.

Weather, when is the best time to go?

In winter, the center and north of Vietnam are slightly cooler than in Thailand. But there is not much difference, both of these places are hot and humid. The most popular time, when resorts are filled with tourists, is the period from December to March.

During the hot summer months, people of retirement age and families with children should prefer Danang or Nha Trang, located in Vietnam.

Beaches and resorts: where is better in Thailand or Vietnam

In Thailand you will find many excellent beaches with well-developed infrastructure, with white squeaky sand, pebbles or underwater corals. For exotic lovers, there are also almost wild secluded shores.

In Vietnam, beach holidays are very attractive due to the good climate, sandy beaches and well-developed infrastructure. Fans of this pastime should prefer the south of the country; the optimal period is from November to February. Due to the summer rains in the south, holidays here are not entirely comfortable, so tourists at this time choose northern resorts. The beaches have umbrellas, sun loungers, and cafes and snack bars where you can have a snack and drink.

Beaches of Phuket in Thailand.

Among the resorts in Thailand, the most popular are Pattaya and Phuket, and the main beaches are located on Koh Samui. Best resorts Vietnam - Nha Trang, Halong, Phan Thiet, Phu Quoc, Dalat, Vang Tau. Here are comfortable hotel complexes surrounded by tropical vegetation, with high level services. Sandy beaches, visiting a variety of excursions, entertainment in parks for children and adults, high-quality and tasty food - something that cannot but attract an experienced traveler.

Vietnam in almost all respects Thailand is better and in terms of resorts for vacationers from our country. Firstly, there are not many vacationers here, and secondly, almost everywhere you can see signs in Russian and hear Russian speech. Nha Trang has incredibly beautiful landscapes, clear seas, a wide coastline, and Pattaya is more famous for its nightlife.

Beach in Nha Trang

On the other hand, in Thailand there are more opportunities to enjoy a holiday on the seashore in a bungalow, or to retire on an island with only a few shops, markets, bars, and inexpensive hotels.

Where is it cheaper - in Thailand or Vietnam?

Tourists usually choose a tour depending on the cost of accommodation. If you buy a tour up to 14 days, then Vietnam will cost you less, where you can find quite good conditions in guesthouses for 20 dollars per night. For a long period of time, a trip to Thailand can become more affordable.

If we are talking about comfort and services (food, massage, shopping, car rental, excursions), then the prices are almost the same. Local alcohol and entertainment are much cheaper in Vietnam.

Vietnam or Phuket - which is better? Excursions and entertainment

In terms of attractions, Thailand is richer than Vietnam. It has preserved many interesting ancient places, and there are entire museum cities (Ayutthaya, Sukhothai). Since the war in Vietnam in the last century destroyed many monuments, excursion holidays here are less intense. However, tourists can see such unique objects as colonial palaces and buildings.

Elephant rides in Phuket

Nha Trang has a lot of entertainment: spas, mud baths, inexpensive restaurants, excursions to waterfalls and hot springs, and the popular Vinpearl entertainment complex. In Phuket you can go to a waterfall, visit a zoo or aquarium, a bird park, butterfly farms, take a bungee flight over the jungle, and ride elephants.

Nightlife, recreation for adults

Thailand can be called the undisputed leader. Each resort has discos, clubs, girls, and the nightlife is rich and active. Tourists can find various bars, strip clubs, and a variety of adult shows.

In Vietnam, clubs and discos, bars with available girls can only be found in Nha Trang and Ho Chi Minh City; other resorts are distinguished by their tranquility and lack of large selection such entertainment.

Updated: 2017-9-6

Sergeich74

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We continue to search together with our readers, just in case. Although it seems that Thai double-entry visas are still working and nothing has changed for winter workers. There was already a blog post about this, now about Vietnam, an even closer analogue of Tai. What's better? Sergey will tell you his opinion.

Among the residents of our country, and especially among those who have traveled at least once in their lives, probably every second person has been to Thailand. And, if 10 years ago everyone considered Turkey to be a kind of summer cottage for Russians, now it is Thailand that has firmly become the leader in the number of vacationers from Russia. But not only our compatriots prefer the “land of smiles” to many other resorts in the world, but tourists from all over the world are increasingly choosing Thailand as a place for holidays and wintering. And this is not surprising. Here you have an eternal summer with the sea and beautiful beaches, kind and smiling people, and the cost of living cannot be called expensive. Everything would be fine, but Lately The Thai government is passing more and more laws that make life more difficult for so-called winterers. First of all, this is the abolition of Visarans. So now many of those who return to Thailand year after year are beginning to turn their attention to other countries in the Southeast Asian region. And one of these countries is Vietnam.

Vietnam cannot be called a discovery for winterers. And simple “package tourists” have long been chosen by many resorts in this country. But still, if Thailand is already simply abandoned and even in the north of the country there are more and more “ours”, then in Vietnam you can still find places where a European tourist will be a wonder. These countries are very similar, but they also have many differences. And the longer you live and travel here, the more it catches your eye.

I have already been able to visit both Thailand and Vietnam more than once. I have lived both in tourist places and in places where tourists (especially from Russia) are rare. So I can compare these countries regarding which one is better for wintering or just traveling on your own. I will say right away that this will not be a comparison of who is better and who is worse. Personally, I liked both! I propose to simply compare Thailand and Vietnam on those points that will be important for any traveler and especially for a long-stayer. And draw your own conclusions about where it is better or worse.

The visa issue in Vietnam is resolved very easily. Until 15 days it is not required at all. If you stay for a longer period, you will need a visa, but obtaining one will not be a problem. It is issued directly at the airport. This process will take no longer than an hour. But you can get it in advance, at the Vietnamese embassy in Moscow. The visa itself will be free, but you will have to pay the so-called consular fee. The visa can be single or multiple, for 1 or 3 months. The consular fee depends on the frequency of entry and length of stay in the country: from 20 to 125 dollars. You can stay in the country for a maximum of 9 months without leaving, since a 3-month visa can be extended twice. You can extend your visa at any travel agency and it will cost from 30 to 80 dollars.

To extend a visa (as well as to obtain it for the first time), you need:

foreign passport, valid for at least 6 months;
2 photographs 4 by 6 cm;
an invitation to enter the country (issued by a tour company or through special online services);
completed application form in 2 copies.

That is, as you can see, everything is very simple, although not free. Thus, winter residents will not have problems with visas. In addition, there is no need to leave and enter the country. Everything is done in any tour company and you can live in the country for up to nine months! And in Vietnam there is a completely visa-free territory - this is the island of Phu Quoc. If you fly straight to Phu Quoc and don’t leave the island, you can live here without a visa for as long as possible. At least until your passport expires.

But in Thailand, with visas, everything is a little more complicated. Of course, if you come for no more than a month, then you do not need a visa, but for those who constantly spend the winter or live in Thailand, the visa issue is more acute. Typically, a tourist visa is issued for 60 days, and then extended for another month. There is also a double-entry visa with a total stay in the country of no more than 6 months, but in six months you cannot live in the country for more than 90 days (the 90-day rule does not yet work and it is not a fact that it will work, note Geleosan). You can also get a study visa or a work visa. But many winterers preferred to go to the so-called “Vizaran” (exit and entry from Thailand to a neighboring country with a stamp in the passport and thus permission to stay in the country for another 30 days). Now this has become difficult - Visaran has been cancelled! Now you can only enter once without a visa for 30 days!

Prices for housing, transport, food, recreation and entertainment

If you are a budget traveler, then this will be the most important point for you. Let's compare in order:

Accommodation prices

It all, of course, depends on the conditions in which you are used to living. The more expensive the accommodation (this also applies to expensive hotels), the smaller the difference between Thailand and Vietnam becomes. A rich man is a rich man everywhere, and from such people in any country in the world they will try to extract as much as possible more money. If you are used to living in luxury apartments or exclusively in five-star hotels, get ready to pay well! But cheaper housing costs differently, and Vietnam seems preferable to me in this regard. If we talk about hotels, even in the resort of Nha Trang you can rent a room with all amenities, air conditioning, TV, daily room cleaning and breakfast for 400 rubles per day! Try to find the same thing somewhere in Phuket or Pattaya!?

Long-term housing in Vietnam will also be much cheaper than in Thailand.

Transport prices

Transport links in both countries are very well developed. Moreover, both urban public transport and intercity transport. In terms of prices, the difference is not very significant, but still Vietnam will be a little more attractive in this regard. And that's exactly what it is - Sleeping bass. Translated as "Sleeping Bus". In such buses, instead of the usual seats, there are lie-flat seats. That is, you can sleep very comfortably the whole way. That is why such buses are most often used at night. Of course, there are regular buses with regular seating, but the Sleeping Bus is more popular than a regular bus. After all, the price of a ticket for the “Sleeping Bus” is not much higher and is generally very affordable. For example, a ticket from Ho Chi Minh City to Nha Trang will cost only 250 thousand dong (about 370 rubles). But the distance there is 450 kilometers! And by the way, I was very surprised, but it turns out that Vietnam officially ranks second in the world (after the USA) in terms of development and accessibility of intercity bus service!

Vietnam's urban public transport is slightly inferior to Thailand in terms of variety, but not in terms of price. For example, a ticket on a city bus here costs only 5000-7000 dong (7.5-10 rubles). Moreover, all buses in Vietnam are air-conditioned and always very clean. This is being closely monitored here!

In Thailand, of course, transport is also not expensive and at the same time very convenient to use, so this point, in my opinion, does not matter big role in terms of choosing a country for a long trip. Both there and there everything is very convenient and quite affordable.

Food prices

Again, a lot depends on where you are used to eating. Lunch in expensive restaurants designed for wealthy tourists will cost a pretty penny in both countries. Well, this will happen in any country. We are primarily interested in the cost of food in average stores, markets and cafes. price category. Speaking about shops it’s hard to say general comparison. Much depends on the specific product. Unlike Thailand, bread, pastries and cakes are popular in Vietnam, so the prices for these goods are much cheaper. Also, yoghurts and kefir are sold very inexpensively - a rare product for supermarkets in Thailand. Those products that are equally common in both countries cost about the same (in Vietnam a little cheaper). And what is not produced domestically is equally expensive (for example, sausage or cheese).

In the markets, prices are approximately the same, but this takes into account the fact that everywhere you have to bargain! In Vietnam, it is very difficult for a European to buy something on the market at a low price! Prices are usually raised several times! However, this applies more to tourist places. Somewhere in the outback, one often gets the impression that the Vietnamese are generally incapable of deceiving anyone. Only this applies entirely to the provinces. I've been to a couple of villages where there are never tourists at all - that's where the real Vietnam is!

In average cafes in Vietnam, prices are much cheaper than in Thailand. Of course, it’s difficult to talk about the whole country, but if you compare, for example, the resort of Nha Trang and the well-known Pattaya, the comparison is clearly not in favor of the latter. In Nha Trang, for 400 rubles you can arrange a real holiday belly. This money is enough for several dishes, dessert and beer. In Pattaya, you will pay 2-2.5 times more for the same thing! If you compare the provinces, then the prices there will of course be cheaper, but unlike Thailand, in the Vietnamese provinces, even for 100 rubles, the two of you will eat your fill!

I would also like to mention street food. In Thailand, I always really liked it and I prefer to eat it. Well, if you eat exclusively street food, then you can safely go to both Thailand and Vietnam. Both there and there everything is very cheap and tasty. In Vietnam it’s literally a penny! For example, in non-tourist areas of Nha Trang you can have a great lunch for only 15,000 dong (23 rubles!). For this money they will give you large portion rice with sauce, grilled pork chop, a plate of fresh greens and soup! In Thailand, makashnik food is a little more expensive, but still, if you are not a completely desperate backpacker with a budget of $100 for 3 months, you won’t notice much of a difference.

And one more thing - alcohol. If you like to spend time with a bottle of beer or something stronger, then Vietnam is paradise for you! I've never seen alcohol so cheap. And alcohol good quality. And this applies equally to both shops and bars. In Thailand, all alcohol is 3 times more expensive. However, this only applies to locally produced alcoholic beverages.

Imported alcohol is not cheap in either case.

Prices for leisure and entertainment

Entertainment means visiting different bars and nightclubs. This also includes visits to various spas and massage parlors, excursions and parks.

This is of course more relevant for ordinary tourists, and not for longsteers. But those who stay in the country for a long time also sometimes want to relax and unwind!

Active nightlife in Vietnam (mainly in famous resorts) will cost you less than in Thailand. This is mainly a consequence of the previous point (cheap alcohol). But all kinds of massages and spa treatments cost about the same.

For those who like to go to organized excursions You will definitely like Vietnam. Excursion routes here are constantly developing, and prices remain quite low. Everything, of course, depends on the resort and the specific excursion, but generally the prices for the most popular ones are around 700-1200 rubles, while in Thailand popular excursion routes can cost 3-5 thousand or even more!

It is not very expensive to visit various amusement parks in Vietnam. For example, a ticket to Vinpearl Park in Nha Trang will cost 500 thousand dong (approximately 750 rubles). This amount includes a water park, an aquarium, an amusement park, a hall slot machine and much more! In many countries, as in Russia, just visiting one water park will cost more!

In general, regarding prices, Vietnam is a cheaper country to live than Thailand.

Nature and climate

Thailand and Vietnam are geographically very close to each other, so the climate here is approximately the same. Vietnam also has a dry season and a rainy season and is very most of The country is covered with real tropical jungle. But there are some differences. In Vietnam it rains in different months than in Thailand and the humidity here is not so strong. And sometimes it’s even cool in the mountains! So for those who don't like high humidity, but still loves the tropics, Vietnam could be a very good fit. And for those who do not necessarily want to live by the sea, but at the same time love the mountains, the mountainous Dalat is very suitable. The temperature here is always about 18-25 degrees. Tangerines and grapes grow everywhere. Mountain Vietnam is something!

Safety

Definitely both Vietnam and Thailand are much safer in terms of the criminal situation than Russia! I think it’s all about legislation, although mentality also plays an important role. But if, as they say, to get to the bottom of it, I would call Thailand a safer country. Here, they don’t even lock cars, and often the keys are left right in the ignition! In Vietnam this is becoming stricter. Thefts are not uncommon here. Therefore, at night in cities, almost no one leaves bikes on the streets, and cafes and shops are closed with roller shutters. Frequently pickpocketing. But for someone to just come up to you on the street and “use” your cell phone is very rare in Vietnam. And if you follow basic precautions, you are unlikely to become the target of theft.

In general, both countries are much safer than in our homeland (unfortunately).

Development of tourism infrastructure

Well, Thailand is probably ahead of the rest! Everything here is done so that tourists feel comfortable. All inscriptions are duplicated in English, Tourist Information can be found everywhere. Everything is very convenient and understandable, even in the outback. What about Vietnam in this regard? In Vietnam, in this regard, there is simply a gap between tourist cities such as Nha Trang, Mui Ne or Saigon and the non-tourist province. Somewhere in Nha Trang you don’t even need to know English; many locals understand and speak Russian well! Everywhere they will help you and explain what, how and where. But once you get somewhere deep into the country, away from the main resorts, you won’t be able to do it without ingenuity. They will look at you the way we would look at an African native somewhere in a remote Siberian village))) Almost no one here knows even two words of English or Russian, everything is in Vietnamese everywhere and nothing is clear. But this makes it even more interesting!

Thailand is the “land of smiles”! Our compatriots have always been amazed by the fact that in Thailand the locals always smile, are always polite and ready to help even a stranger. For many, this is the main reason why they travel to Thailand again and again. Many longstayers who have lived in Thailand for a long time say that Thais are not so white and fluffy, but still a smile and a sincere desire to help a stranger will always captivate.

But in Vietnam, much more often you can encounter complete indifference towards you. And there are much fewer smiling Vietnamese on city streets. In this regard, Vietnam is more similar to Russia. But still, the mentality and warm climate leave their mark and outwardly the Vietnamese look more cheerful than the Russians. This is especially noticeable to those of our tourists who have never been to Thailand and arrived in Vietnam for the first time. To me, after three trips to Thailand, the Vietnamese even seemed somewhat gloomy, but only at first. In general, for the most part they are very good people.

Cleanliness and tidiness

I would also like to say about the level of cleanliness and order on the streets of Vietnamese cities. In general, many people who have never traveled to Asia have the opinion that Asian cities are filled with mountains of garbage and rats run everywhere. Well, Vietnam really fits this description. Not to say that everything is very sad, and in our homeland we also have problems with this, but to not even find a single trash can in large cities is something! All the garbage here is thrown directly onto the roadsides and the local fat rats happily feed on this garbage! There are a lot of rats in the cities of Vietnam! After a week I even got used to not paying attention to them. In general, the garbage is, of course, removed by special services late at night, but by this time food waste in the heat they have time to rot, so in some places the smell is amazing))) Personally, I don’t pay much attention to this, but for true aesthetes, Vietnam can simply be shocking!

Even in Vietnam, you need to be more careful if you buy some street food. The Vietnamese do not pay much attention to the freshness of food and hygiene during its preparation. You can often see locals preparing food very with dirty hands or use perishable foods that have been sitting in the heat all day.

But Thailand, from an aesthetic point of view, is of course a more civilized country. As a rule, everything in cities is clean and tidy. And ordinary Thais are much cleaner people.

Summary

These are probably all the points on which I would like to compare Vietnam and Thailand. As you can see, in many ways these countries are very similar. In Vietnam, everything is moving towards the point where everything here is becoming the same as in Thailand. And if you are looking for some other country (except Thailand) for the winter or just for a long trip, but you don’t want to radically change the situation, then Vietnam is very well suited for this.

However, it is not for nothing that many longsteers would not exchange Thailand for any other country. Having traveled through both of these countries for quite a long time, having visited both large cities and the outback, I am more drawn to return to Thailand! And not because Vietnam is bad. It’s just that in Thailand everything is somehow more convenient, clearer and simpler. Of course, if you live somewhere far away from civilization and people (in a remote village or on a small island), you won’t feel the difference, but in cities the contrast is felt more strongly. But, if you still look for some kind of alternative to Thailand, then Vietnam is better suited for this!

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Since Türkiye has slightly lost ground, the eyes of Russian tourists have turned to the east. From all countries South-East Asia the most suitable conditions Thailand and Vietnam were suggested for holidays. And if the first has long been popular among tourists and attracts them with its exoticism, then 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's warm here all year round and there is no pronounced 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 Phu Quoc Island, in 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 that is better to go to. 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. Beautiful beaches, but they need to be reached by bicycles and there is almost no infrastructure there.

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 much more opportunities for active rest.

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 specifically in ancient Asian culture, then Thailand is strong in this regard - there are a huge number of pagodas, Buddhist temples, Buddha statues, palaces and others 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 ones modern buildings. In Hanoi you can walk through beautiful parks, and in Dalat you can look at French architecture.

Bottom line: For exclusively excursion tours choose Thailand, better in winter when it’s 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 sufficient 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, the prices are generally pleasing, especially since they offer enough 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, much closer to us - often this regular 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 - here ideal conditions for its cultivation. 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 relax as fun as possible, then you shouldn’t even wonder what 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 parks and amusement parks. 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 become popular among tourists recently, and its specialty is still calm and quiet family holiday. Noisy clubs and bars can only be found in Nha Trang, worth attention There are also amusement parks and water parks 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 prices for accommodation.

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 language, 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, if you speak English, you won’t be lost, but in Vietnam, if you speak English independent travel You can't do without a phrasebook.

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 communicating with locals.

Do you want to get acquainted with eastern sights?

Do you want 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?

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 advantages. 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 on the time of year, you can find acceptable prices in every direction.

Thus, in the question of what to choose, Thailand or Vietnam, this criterion does not have of decisive importance. 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, in order to choose where the holiday is better, 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, to choose 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, transportation around the city is public transport, motorbike rental is about 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 beach holiday, you want to walk around the resort and see its sights, 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 get into the museum located right 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 large cities there are palaces and other buildings related to European style, whereas 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 visa regime It’s not only easier here, 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.

With the arrival of the first cold weather, I want to extend the summer more and more. Thailand or Vietnam, which is better? Where to go? Where is the sea cleaner? Where is the most fruit? Is it better to vacation in Thailand or Vietnam? Where is there a lot of seafood? Where is the climate better? Is it cheaper in Thailand or Vietnam? And there are many, many more questions that I want to find answers to. In today's post I will share my observations and impressions. My review of holidays in Vietnam and Thailand. Comparison of two countries and two resorts. In Thailand it will be Pattaya, and in Vietnam the small fishing village of Mui Ne, which is located near Phan Thiet. By the way, most tourists consider Mui Ne to be Phan Thiet. I don't know why they think so, but it's a mistaken opinion. Not the point.

Visa regime.

Night life

Transport

Shopping

Fruits

Visa regime.

Do you need a visa to Thailand? No need for up to 30 days. And if you want to stay in this country longer, then yes, you need it.

Do you need a visa to Vietnam? Up to 15 days of stay in the country is not required. And if your vacation is planned for a longer period, then my post will help you

How long does it take to fly from Moscow to Vietnam and how long does it take to fly from Moscow to Thailand?

Fly to Thailand (Pattaya) and to Vietnam (Ho Chi Minh City) 9 hours 30-50 minutes. Flying is about the same. For some reason, our plane flew back from Ho Chi Minh City to Moscow faster. We arrived in 9 hours 30 minutes, but it took us 9 hours 50 minutes to get there.

How long does it take to get from the airport to your holiday destination?

Let me remind you that in our case, the vacation spots are Mui Ne in Vietnam and Pattaya in Thailand.

From Hosh Minh Airport to the resort of Mui Ne (Phan Thiet) it takes 5-6 hours and it doesn’t matter what you travel on: an uncomfortable tourist bus or a comfortable sleeping bus. Flying for almost 10 hours, and then still waiting for luggage and riding a bus for 6 hours... It’s tiring. But it's worth it. More on this below.

From Pattaya Airport to the beaches of Pattaya - just a stone's throw away. It's not a long drive. We stayed at the Cozy beach hotel and it took about 30 minutes to get there. This time took into account the transfer of all tourists to other hotels. I’d rather travel 6 hours to the resort of Mui Ne in Vietnam on an uncomfortable bus than 30 minutes to the resort of Pattaya.

Having written three comparison points between two countries and resorts, someone has already received an answer to the question: Thailand or Vietnam, which is better? I think the six-hour bus ride to the Mui Ne resort influenced the decision and most of you chose Thailand. Don't rush to conclusions. Ahead is the main point that will make you change your mind - the sea. Although, perhaps, this is not the only point. But still, if you decide to go to Pattaya, then here are more answers to the question in

Is the sea better in Vietnam or Thailand?

I will answer this question without hesitation that the sea in Thailand is worse than in Vietnam. Everyone remembers that we are comparing Pattaya and Mui Ne. I have never seen a dirtier beach than in Pattaya. AND dirtier than the sea, which I haven’t seen in Pattaya either. The sea is green and smells. Therefore, definitely Vietnam, Mui Ne.

Beach in Pattaya near the Koz Beach Hotel

The beach at the Allezboo beach resort and SPA in Mui Ne, Vietnam

Where is there more seafood: Thailand or Vietnam?

Comparing the two resorts of Mui Ne and Pattaya, I will say that seafood is tastier and cheaper in Vietnam. Yes, and there are many more of them. Almost all dishes are made from seafood, but in Pattaya you have to look for fishing spots. In Vietnam they are on every corner.

Night life.

Nightlife in Vietnam is very different from nightlife in Thailand. There is practically none in Mui Ne. The only Dragon club is at the end of the village. There's a small dance floor and bed-shaped tables. Nightlife in Phan Thiet, but you need something to get there. I don’t think it’s worth writing separately about Pattaya’s nightlife here. Everyone has heard about Walking street Pattaya and numerous clubs for any sophisticated or perverted taste, as you wish.

Transport.

How to get around Pattaya and Mui Ne. Or rather, what can you use to get from point A to point B. What kind of transport.

In Vietnam, if you don’t break the law and don’t rent a bike, you have little choice. Tourists can travel by bus or taxi. But in Pattaya there is more choice. Services available: tuk-tuks and taxis. If you negotiate, a taxi will cost the same as a tuk-tuk. But in Vietnam, taxis go by meter and taxi drivers take you straight away with a tip. And if you don’t know the way, they can take you for a ride. For your money, they will cover as many kilometers as you want and take you to places you don’t want, allegedly without understanding you.

Shopping.

Prices in Vietnam are lower than in Thailand. Shopping in Phan Thiet will cost you less than in Pattaya.

Fruits.

Vietnam and Thailand have almost the same fruits. And they also cost almost the same.

Excursions.

Excursions in Vietnam are more exotic than in Thailand. Although, who means what by the word exotic.

Even despite the long flight and long drive from the airport to the resort, I would go to Vietnam again. If only because Mui Ne has a clean sea, golden sand, delicious seafood and... large quantities, and the prices are low. And the dirty and smelly sea in Pattaya, the sand on the beach covered in dog poop, I will remember how horrible dream. Although, if you get from Pattaya to the island of Koh Larn, with its clean beach and blue sea, then a trip to Pattaya may seem like paradise. Not for long. Until you get tired of traveling to the island and back every day. Every day, 40 minutes one way on a scary and lopsided ferry to the island of Koh Larn is tiring.

And we look at previous posts.