Thailand vs Vietnam: Which One First?

You need a 2,000 THB (₹5,000) Visa on Arrival to enter Thailand for up to 15 days, while Vietnam requires a ₹2,400 ($25) e-visa applied for online at evisa.xuatnhapcanh.gov.vn which takes 3 business days to process. If you want seamless logistics, high-energy beach parties, and zero travel friction, pick Thailand first; if you want raw, dramatic landscapes, deep history, and a lower hit to your wallet, Vietnam is the right call.

✅ Last verified: June 2026

Quick Answers

Here is the quick breakdown to end your analysis paralysis, bhai. If you are planning a short 5–7 day holiday and want zero logistical friction, pick Thailand. If you have 7–10+ days, want your rupees to stretch further, and love dramatic landscapes, pick Vietnam.

• The Vibe: Thailand is tropical island hopping, massive nightlife hubs, and highly polished tourist infrastructure. Vietnam is raw natural landscapes, intense history, and French-influenced street culture.
• The Wallet Hit: Vietnam offers better value for land packages like hotels, street food, and local transport. A standard 7-day itinerary costs approximately ₹74,000 ($781) in Vietnam compared to around ₹86,000 ($901) in Thailand.
• The Food: Thai food is bold, spicy, and full of coconut curry, making it an easy win for Indian palates. Vietnamese food is fresh, light, and less spicy, relying on clear broths and raw herbs.
• The Daily Backpacker Math (Vietnam 2026): Expect to pay ₹950–₹1,300 ($10–$14) for a clean dorm bed, ₹1,700–₹2,900 ($18–$30) for a private room, ₹110–₹340 ($1.20–$3.60) for a local street meal, and ₹230–₹460 ($2.40–$4.80) for daily local transit rides.

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The Core Deep-Dive

Vegetarian Survival Guide: Spicy Curries vs Clear Broths

Food can make or break your trip, especially if you do not eat meat. In Thailand, your palate will feel right at home. The food profiles are bold, fiery, and packed with coconut milk, which aligns perfectly with the Indian palate. Finding pure vegetarian and Indian dining options across major hubs like Bangkok, Phuket, or Pattaya is completely seamless.

Vietnam is a different ball game, yaar. Local food is fresh and light, utilizing clear broths and mountains of fresh raw herbs. Many Indian backpackers find it feels considerably less flavorful or even “bland” compared to home cooking.

To survive as a vegetarian, you need to know the local code words. Do not just say “vegetarian” in English—it gets lost in translation.

In Thailand, look for the word Jay (เจ). Say “gin jay” to indicate you eat strict vegan food. Keep an eye out for yellow signs or flags with bright red Thai text at street stalls.

In Vietnam, look for Buddhist vegetarian spots by searching for the word Chay. Say “an chay” to tell vendors you only eat vegetarian food. You will find plenty of Chay eateries in major hubs like Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City, Hoi An, and Da Nang, but options shrink fast when you head into remote rural areas.

If you try to cope by eating exclusively at Indian restaurants in Vietnam, your budget will take a massive beating. Relying solely on Indian ethnic dining inflates your daily food costs by 40–60%. You will end up spending up to ₹1,700 ($18) a day for just two meals, whereas balancing your itinerary with local Vietnamese Chay street food keeps your daily food bill around ₹340–₹700 ($3.60–$7.20). A local bowl of vegetarian Pho or a tofu Banh Mi costs just ₹110–₹340 (~$1.20–$3.60).

Packing List: Gear Up for the Humidity

Whether you choose Thailand or Vietnam, the tropical humidity is going to hit you like a wall the second you step out of the airport. Pack smart and light.

Leave your heavy denim at home. Pack 4–5 breathable linen or lightweight cotton t-shirts and quick-dry shorts because you will be sweating through clothes quickly. Pack one decent pair of lightweight trousers because temples in both countries require your knees and shoulders to be fully covered. Bring one pair of sturdy, broken-in walking shoes or sneakers for city walking and hiking, and combine this with a pair of high-quality, waterproof sports sandals. You will be slipping your shoes off constantly before entering temples, hostels, and even some local shops, so avoid complicated laces.

Standard Indian two-pin plugs work fine in most modern sockets across both nations, but carrying a universal adapter prevents any drama in older hostel buildings. Bring a 10,000mAh or 20,000mAh power bank for long transit days—just make sure the capacity markings are clearly printed on the chassis, or airport security will confiscate it. Do not buy international roaming packs from India; they are a total rip-off. In Vietnam, pick up a local physical SIM or eSIM from major networks like Viettel or Vinaphone at the airport. A reliable 10–14 day tourist data pack costs about ₹1000–₹1,200 (~$11–$13). Finally, do not overpack clothes thinking you need a fresh outfit for every single day. Hostels and street-side laundromats are everywhere, charging minimal fees per kilogram to wash, dry, and fold your clothes within 24 hours.

Scam Dynamics & Safety: Street Smarts for Both Hubs

Both countries are incredibly safe for backpackers regarding violent crime, but petty theft and financial hustle are common. The trick is recognizing how the scams operate because they are completely different in each country.

Thailand’s scams are highly polished and institutionalized. The classic ruse involves an independent tuk-tuk or cab driver telling you with a straight face that the “Grand Palace is closed today for a royal ceremony.” They will then offer to take you to an alternative temple for an incredibly low price, which inevitably ends up being a high-pressure sales pitch at a sketchy jewelry or garment expo. Another classic is the independent jet ski damage scam on tourist beaches, where operators blame you for pre-existing scratches and demand massive cash settlements.

Vietnam’s street scams are more opportunistic and rely heavily on rapid currency confusion. Because the Vietnamese Dong comes in massive denominations, it is easy to mistake a 500,000 VND note for a 20,000 VND note in the dark. Sneaky street vendors or aggressive shoe shiners in Hanoi’s Old Quarter might try to snatch a bill straight from your hand or force unsolicited repairs on your shoes, demanding an absurdly high price afterwards.

City Guides: Navigating Your First Route

If you choose Thailand, your starting point is Bangkok. It is a massive, high-energy metropolis where modern skyscrapers sit right next to historic temples. For a classic first-time route, balance the urban chaos of Bangkok with the tropical islands in the south, like Phuket or Koh Samui.

If you pick Vietnam, your route will likely be linear, moving either North-to-South or South-to-North. Most backpackers fly into Hanoi, the culturally deep northern capital filled with colonial architecture and chaotic scooter traffic. From Hanoi, you can easily access the dramatic limestone cliffs of Ha Long Bay or the terraced rice fields of Sapa before taking overnight sleeper buses or trains down to the historic lantern-lit streets of Hoi An and the southern economic hub of Ho Chi Minh City.

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Common Mistakes Indians Make

Travelers in Vietnam often pull out their entire wad of cash in front of a street vendor. Because the 500,000 VND and 200,000 VND notes look similar to lower bills when you are stressed or moving fast, vendors can pull off opportunistic currency swaps. Keep your high-value notes physically separated from your lower pocket change in your wallet, and never let anyone reach into your cash pouch to “help” you count bills.

Packing your bags for Chiang Mai or Chiang Rai between February and April is another massive mistake. This is the agricultural “Burning Season” in Northern Thailand, where farmers clear fields via fire. The resulting air pollution is hazardous, thick with smog, and will completely ruin your outdoor plans and your lungs.

Traveling to Vietnam during the Lunar New Year (Tet) without checking the exact calendar dates can derail your entire trip. The entire country effectively shuts down for family holidays. Shops close, street food stalls vanish, and domestic transport costs can easily triple, leaving you stranded if you did not book weeks in advance.

When planning a trip to Vietnam during the autumn monsoon season in September and October, many Indian travelers fail to build a financial buffer into their budget. Localized flooding around heritage sites like Hoi An can happen fast. If you do not budget an extra ₹3,400–₹9,100 (~$36–$96) for sudden cruise cancellations in Ha Long Bay or last-minute transport redirections, you will end up stranded or out of pocket.

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What Most Guides Don’t Tell You

Do not step into an independent street tuk-tuk or taxi in Bangkok or Ho Chi Minh City expecting a fair, metered price. You will almost always get hit with an inflated tourist tax. Download verified ride-hailing apps like Grab or Bolt on your phone the second you land. Use them to check the actual baseline rate for your route, or simply use the app to book your ride directly to avoid exhausting street negotiations.

You cannot just throw a scarf over your shorts at major sites like the Grand Palace in Bangkok. The security guards are strict. If your shoulders or knees are showing, they will make you step out of line and purchase a lightweight sarong or pants from a nearby tourist shop at a premium before letting you inside.

Daily local transit rides in Vietnam can sneak up on your wallet if you rely purely on private motorbike taxis instead of public routes or walking groups. Budgeting around ₹230–₹460 (~$2.40–$4.80) per day covers your standard intra-city movements if you use apps intelligently.

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FAQ

Thailand vs Vietnam: which one first?

Go to Thailand first if you want a seamless, high-energy trip with pristine beaches, buzzing nightlife, and effortless logistics. Choose Vietnam first if you have more time, want to experience raw natural landscapes, and prefer an affordable, culturally deep overland journey.

Is it easy to find vegetarian food in Vietnam?

Yes, dedicated vegetarian restaurants can be found across major tourist cities like Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City, Hoi An, and Da Nang by looking for traditional Buddhist “chay” cuisine, though options become limited in remote rural areas.

How much does a meal cost in Vietnam?

A local street food meal such as Pho or Banh Mi costs roughly ₹110 to ₹340 ($1.20–$3.60), whereas an authentic meal at a dedicated Indian restaurant typically runs around ₹1,300 ($14).

What is the best way to avoid scams in Thailand?

Walk directly to attraction gates yourself to ignore drivers claiming sites are “closed,” and use verified ride-hailing applications on your phone rather than negotiating fares with independent street tuk-tuks or jet-ski operators.

What should Indians know before visiting Thailand vs Vietnam?

Keep your high-value 500,000 and 200,000 Vietnamese Dong notes physically separated from your lower bills to prevent opportunistic street-vendor currency swaps, and never let anyone reach into your wallet.

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— Subodh

Learning a few local food phrases will save you a lot of stomach drama. Tight planning now pays off tomorrow, bhai.