| If you want | Pick | |---|---| | A relaxed beach holiday | Thailand (Phuket, Krabi) | | Nightlife and shopping | Thailand (Bangkok, Phuket) | | An easy first international trip | Thailand | | City, bay and culture in one trip | Vietnam (Hanoi, Ha Long, Da Nang) | | The lowest land cost | Vietnam | | Mountains and trekking | Vietnam (Sapa) |

Travel Planning

Thailand vs Vietnam for Indian Travellers: Cost, Visa, Best Time and Which to Pick

Q: Thailand vs Vietnam: how do the costs compare?

Using Trripah's October 2026 figures for a one-week trip: | | Thailand | Vietnam | |---|---|---| | Flight time | about 3 to 4 hours direct | about 4 to 6 hours, direct or one stop | | Return flights | ₹29,000 to ₹34,000 per person | ₹30,000 to ₹42,000 per person | | Land costs, 1 week | ₹60,000 to ₹1.2 lakh per couple | ₹50,000 to ₹90,000 per couple | | Total including flights | ₹1.2 to ₹1.9 lakh per couple | ₹1.1 to ₹1.75 lakh per couple | Vietnam is usually a little cheaper on the ground, and Thailand's flights are cheaper at the low end. What moves the price most is the hotel class, the number of island or bay tours, and the dates. See Thailand trip cost from Bangalore and Vietnam package costs.

Q: What is the best time to visit each?

- Thailand: the Andaman coast (Phuket, Krabi) is best from about November to April, with the monsoon from May to October. See the best time to visit Phuket and Krabi. - Vietnam: it depends on the region. The north is best roughly October to April, the central coast February to May, and the south from about November to April. Typhoon risk on the central and northern coast is highest from August to November. See the best time to visit Vietnam. If you can only travel in the middle of the year, Vietnam's north and centre are hot and the Andaman coast is rough, so check the specific region and dates.

Kaushik RK

Co-founder, Trripah · 29 Oct 2026 · 4 min read

Thailand vs Vietnam for Indian Travellers: Cost, Visa, Best Time and Which to Pick

Thailand is easier and has more beach choice. Vietnam is slightly cheaper and has more variety. Here is how the two compare on cost, visa, flights and season.

Quick answer: Pick Thailand for easy beach trips, shorter flights and the widest choice of resorts and islands. Pick Vietnam for lower costs, more variety (cities, a famous bay, mountains and beaches) and a trip that feels less like the standard package. Both are well set up for Indian travellers, and the real question is whether you want beaches or variety.

Thailand vs Vietnam: how do the costs compare?

Using Trripah's October 2026 figures for a one-week trip:

	Thailand	Vietnam
Flight time	about 3 to 4 hours direct	about 4 to 6 hours, direct or one stop
Return flights	₹29,000 to ₹34,000 per person	₹30,000 to ₹42,000 per person
Land costs, 1 week	₹60,000 to ₹1.2 lakh per couple	₹50,000 to ₹90,000 per couple
Total including flights	₹1.2 to ₹1.9 lakh per couple	₹1.1 to ₹1.75 lakh per couple

Vietnam is usually a little cheaper on the ground, and Thailand's flights are cheaper at the low end. What moves the price most is the hotel class, the number of island or bay tours, and the dates. See Thailand trip cost from Bangalore and Vietnam package costs.

Which has the easier visa?

Thailand is visa-free for Indians for up to 30 days for arrivals from 15 September 2026; see the Thailand visa update. Vietnam needs an e-visa applied for online, which our data puts at about ₹1,200 for a 90-day visa; see the Vietnam e-visa guide. Rules change, so check before you book.

What is the best time to visit each?

Thailand: the Andaman coast (Phuket, Krabi) is best from about November to April, with the monsoon from May to October. See the best time to visit Phuket and Krabi.
Vietnam: it depends on the region. The north is best roughly October to April, the central coast February to May, and the south from about November to April. Typhoon risk on the central and northern coast is highest from August to November. See the best time to visit Vietnam.

If you can only travel in the middle of the year, Vietnam's north and centre are hot and the Andaman coast is rough, so check the specific region and dates.

What is there to do in each?

Thailand: Bangkok's temples and markets, then Phuket and Krabi for beaches and boat days; see Phuket vs Krabi and where to stay in Bangkok. Vietnam: Hanoi's Old Quarter, a Ha Long Bay cruise, Hoi An and Da Nang, and Ho Chi Minh City; see Hanoi in 3 days and Da Nang and Hoi An in 4 days.

Which is better for vegetarians and for food?

Both work, with care. In Vietnam, look for "chay" restaurants and ask about fish sauce; see vegetarian food in Vietnam. Thailand has a wide range of Indian restaurants in the main tourist areas, but ask about fish and oyster sauce in Thai dishes.

Is one safer for Indian travellers?

Both are widely visited, and the main risks are ordinary ones: traffic, scams and overcharging. See Is Vietnam safe for Indians and our Thailand safety guide.

Which suits whom?

If you want	Pick
A relaxed beach holiday	Thailand (Phuket, Krabi)
Nightlife and shopping	Thailand (Bangkok, Phuket)
An easy first international trip	Thailand
City, bay and culture in one trip	Vietnam (Hanoi, Ha Long, Da Nang)
The lowest land cost	Vietnam
Mountains and trekking	Vietnam (Sapa)

Two sample one-week routes

Thailand: 2 nights Bangkok, then 4 nights Phuket and Krabi, with one island day.
Vietnam: 3 nights Hanoi (with a Ha Long Bay cruise), then 3 nights Da Nang and Hoi An.

Can you do both in one trip?

Yes, with 10 to 12 days and a flight between Bangkok and Hanoi or Ho Chi Minh City. A flight costs extra, so compare the total against two separate trips.