Thailand or Vietnam Where to travel?

Updated: November 28, 2023

If you can't decide between Thailand or Vietnam, I'll tell you 19 differences, about prices, food, safety, driving and more.

Thailand and Vietnam are among the favorite destinations of tourists visiting Southeast Asia and it is no wonder, both countries are fascinating.

At the same time, these two countries are nothing alike and the experience of traveling to one or the other will be very different.

In this article I tell you all the differences I found, based on my experience of living in Southeast Asia for 3 years, specifically in Thailand and I was able to take advantage of visiting other countries in the region.

Thailand or Vietnam? 19 differences

1. Tourism

Thailand is a country much more touristy than Vietnam, with destinations like Phuket and Koh Samui already popular in the 80s.

On the other hand, Vietnam only opened up to tourism in the 1990s and the increase has been very little by little.

This makes Thailand a country much more prepared to receive tourists, in almost any aspect.

2. Visas

If you are from Spain you can visit either country without needing to apply for a visa beforehand.

In Thailand you will have 30 days to stay, which you can renew for another 30 days and In Vietnam you will have 45 days from the date of arrival, this is something that the Vietnamese government approved on August 15, 2023.

If you want to stay longer in Vietnam, it is best to apply for a longer visa before traveling, you can do so on the official portal of the vietnamese authorities.

⭐ In these articles you can read in detail about Tips for traveling to Thailand and Tips for traveling to Vietnam, with topics about vaccines, visas, security, etc.

3. Language

Each of these countries has its own language, Thai and Vietnamese.

In both countries, English is widespread among people who work with tourists, although In Thailand it is easier to find people who speak English.

In Vietnam, you can find people who speak French, which was the official language until 1954 and continued to be taught much longer.

In Vietnam, especially in Da Nang and the entire central part of the country, I met grandparents and middle-aged people who spoke French fluently.

If you don't speak much English you can use a translator on your mobile, like the Google Translator and you will not have difficulties.

Although you will have a hard time finding people who speak Spanish in hotels and restaurants, both have tours with guides in Spanish.

Here you can see the excursions with guide in Spanish in Thailand and here those of Vietnam, you just have to select the city and then filter by “only activities in Spanish.”

4. Which country is cheaper, Thailand or Vietnam?

Vietnam is a much cheaper country than Thailand, between 15 and 30% cheaper in terms of food, housing and transportation.

The point is that the biggest expenses you will make On a trip to Thailand or Vietnam you will notice little difference because when it comes to hotels and excursions prices are similar, slightly cheaper in Vietnam.

Furthermore, the flights are cheaper to Thailand than to Vietnam, because there are more people traveling to Thailand and, therefore, there are more flights on offer.

In short, in the end the expense to travel as a tourist will be very similar.

5. Quality of accommodation

This is a difference in which Thailand clearly wins, first because has much more accommodation offer of the most diverse; second, they have services and quality standards similar to Western ones.

On the other hand, in Vietnam the quality is lower as a poor country.

6. Public Transportation

Public transportation in Vietnam is not bad, although In some areas it can be precarious.

Another thing I noticed in Vietnam is that in some places, locals don't really like seeing tourists on their transportation. It's not a problem, but it is you can see bad faces.

This happened to me on the buses that go between Hoi An and Da Nang where the conductor had a very rude attitude towards the tourists, he even tried to overcharge all the foreigners.

However, in Thailand it is much easier to move around freely and there is more public transport offer.

⭐ If you are going to travel independently, these articles about How to get around Thailand: all transportation or How to get around Vietnam: fast, comfortable and cheap, you may be interested.

7. Driving

Thailand is famous for high mortality rate in traffic accidents.

However, if we compare Thailand and Vietnam, excluding Bangkok, driving in Thailand is a sea of tranquility.

In Vietnam, traffic is much more chaotic, they don't stop honking at all times and drive much faster than in Thailand.

If you want to drive, Thailand is not bad at all if you have a lot of driving experience. Yes indeed, I do not recommend driving a motorcycle or scooter if you do not know how to do it. and keep in mind that you drive on the left.

But in Vietnam, I see it much more dangerous, it is better to go by public transport or go on excursions.

8. Local People

Thailand is known as the Land of Smiles, although it is a trade name, It helps to feel very well received.

The friendliest people in Thailand are those from the north, but in the south, although the first treatment will be with a smile, if they see that you are not going to buy from them, the smiles sometimes disappear quickly.

In the very touristy areas of Thailand, you can meet someone a little rude, but it is rare, in general he has a very pleasant treatment and the vast majority of people are always willing to help you.

On the other hand, in Vietnam, the difference in treatment between regions is even more notable. In my experience in the north they are much friendlier and in the center of the country is where you you can find more sullen people without the slightest sign of smiles.

For me, Thailand is a clear winner here.

9. Religion

Thailand is a mainly Buddhist country (95% of the population) followed by a Muslim minority living mainly in the south.

Therefore, you will find beautiful Buddhist temples everywhere.

👍 Fun fact: In Thailand you cannot not have a religion and for example, when you do a bureaucratic procedure you have to select a religion, there is no box for agnostics or atheists.

On the other hand, in Vietnam they have complete freedom to belong to whatever religion they want or not.

In fact, according to statistics, the vast majority of Vietnamese are not believers and the most important religions in the country with the Catholic religion with 6% of believers and the Buddhist religion with 5%.

10. Security

Broadly speaking, Vietnam and Thailand are similar in terms of safety, they are safe countries where you can go out at night without problems and it is even safe for us women.

Although as women we always have to take care of ourselves, especially at night, because Sexual assaults are not frequent, but they occur in both countries.

On the other hand, Thais do not steal due to their religion and the laws are very strict in this regard, but in tourist areas, especially in Bangkok, there are pickpockets.

In Vietnam petty theft and pickpocketing are much more common, to the point that you can't leave your flip flops in the sand on the beach to go swimming because you won't find them anymore. 😬

Then, When it comes to drugs, Thailand is a very strict country and possession of any type of drug (including marijuana) is punishable by imprisonment and even the death penalty.

11. Gastronomy

Thai cuisine is famous in the West for its tasty dishes and Vietnamese cuisine is much less known.

Here I am going to tell you something that may surprise you, Vietnamese cuisine is 10 times better than Thai, especially if you are going to eat street food or in cheap restaurants.

One of the things that makes Vietnamese food so exquisite is the good balance of flavors, to create much more harmonious dishes than Thai ones, partly due to the Chinese and French influence, with a delicious result.

In Vietnam, it will be much easier for you to find street restaurants that make scrumptious dishes.

In Thailand, there are street stalls with very good food, but there are also many places that go overboard with soy sauce or sugar, that is, food that is too salty or sweet and therefore less healthy.

⭐ You may also be interested in this article with the 12 Best Restaurants in Bangkok: good and cheap

12. Shopping

Thailand is one of the most consumerist countries in Southeast Asia, where you'll find everything to buy, whether in traditional markets, Western-style shopping centers with the same brands, including luxury ones.

Even when it comes to online shopping, Thailand is much more developed than Spain, you can get whatever you want and generally at a better price.

On the other hand, the main purchases in Vietnam are in the markets, they also have shopping centers, but with less variety of things. This is not surprising in a communist country.

⭐ You can read more about What to buy in Thailand: 20 Souvenirs and Gifts

13. Landscapes

At the level of natural landscapes, Vietnam is the clear winner, with its beautiful Ha Long Bay, declared a World Heritage Site and terraced rice fields.

Although Thailand is not far behind with its mountains and jungle areas in the north.

Furthermore, it is not for lack of national parks, it has no less than 147, 2 of them with rock formations similar to those of Ha Long although smaller, it is the Khao Sok National Park and the Phang Nga Bay, you can read more about the visit in those links.

14. Are the beaches in Vietnam or Thailand better?

If for your next vacation you are looking for a destination with paradisiacal beaches, don't think twice, Thailand is your destination.

In this point, Thai beaches are far above Vietnamese ones.

In addition, Thailand has coasts on the Andaman and the Gulf of Thailand, both on the mainland and on its more than 1,400 islands where you will find dream beaches, including the famous Phi Phi Islands.

⭐ In this article you can read more about the 9 Best Beaches in Thailand.

15. Water and Adventure Activities

As I mentioned at the beginning of the article, Thailand is a country much better prepared to receive tourists, that is why there are much more offer of adventure activities at good prices, such as rafting, zip lines, quad or water activities where you can rent boats, jet skis or do parasailing.

In Vietnam, you will also find activities of this type, but the offer is smaller and sometimes a little more expensive.

What does stand out, Vietnam is good conditions to practice surfing, windsurfing and kitesurfing. Thailand has good surf in Phuket and kitesurfing in Hua Hin, but not at the level of Vietnam.

16. Diving and Snorkeling

Thailand is one of the main world destinations for divingVietnam cannot compete in this.

Specifically, the small Thai island Koh Tao has the record for the most diving certifications, with a Stunning seabed teeming with marine life.

On Koh Tao and other Thai islands you can also enjoy seeing marine life by freediving or snorkelling.

⭐ You can read more here about Diving in Koh Tao: courses in Spanish and prices.

17. Outdoor Adventures

If you are a nature lover and want to go hiking or trekking, northern Thailand has beautiful landscapes, but they do not compare with those in northern Vietnam.

Vietnam is also a destination that It is becoming more and more known among cyclists along its routes with impressive views.

18. Cultural Experiences

When it comes to cultural visits, it is difficult to decide on one or the other, I would say they are tied.

Both Thailand and Vietnam have very interesting places to visit for beauty and their historical legacy.

Some of the most relevant places in Vietnam are the imperial city of hue, the charming Hoi An City and My Son Shrine, all three are World Heritage Sites UNESCO.

In Thailand, the most notable sites are temples and Royal Palace in Bangkok, next to the historic cities of Ayutthaya and Sukhothai, these last two are also UNESCO World Heritage Site.

19. Nightlife

Nightlife in Thailand is varied enough for you to find something you like, with traditional dance performances, shows ladyboy, combats of muay thai, foam parties, traditional festivals and many discos.

Although the nightlife in Vietnam is not bad, there is not as much variety as in Thailand.

Conclusion

In conclusion, if you can't decide whether to travel to Thailand or Vietnam, my recommendation is that you go to Thailand, which is a more diverse country in terms of landscapes, activities and with friendlier people.

In case this will be your first time in Southeast Asia, also Thailand is the best country to start because it has a good balance between an exotic country, but at the same time sufficiently westernized so you have an unforgettable vacation.

Vietnam is a poor and communist country, this helps its opening to be slow as well as any change or improvement in infrastructure.

In some ways it is a positive thing because still very authentic, but it also usually produces a stronger culture shock.

If you decide on one of the two, you can continue your reading with these guides that I wrote for traveling independently: Thailand Travel Guide, and Vietnam Travel Guide, there you will find all my articles from each country.

In case you have left any topic untouched, Leave me a comment below, I will help you in any way I can. And if you found the article useful, share it with other travelers. Have a good trip!

More about Thailand and Vietnam

• What to do in Phuket: 22 best plans
• What to see in Bangkok: 21 must-sees
• 51 Curiosities about Thailand that will amaze you
• Visit to My Son Shrine in Vietnam
• What to do in Da Nang: 14 must-visit spots
• 17 best tours from Hanoi + map