16 destinations · 6 comparison metrics · instant results

Thailand vs Vietnam

Thailand from about $40/day against Vietnam from about $35/day — compared on daily cost, the months to go and what each one is actually best for. Add a third destination below to widen the comparison.

🇹🇭

Thailand

Southeast Asia

BackpackerBeachFoodTemples

🇻🇳

Vietnam

Southeast Asia

HistoryFoodAdventureMotorbike

Destination 3

Metric	🇹🇭 Thailand Southeast Asia	🇻🇳 Vietnam Southeast Asia
Daily budget	$40–$70/day budget → mid	$35–$60/day budget → mid
Safety	Level 2 · Exercise a high degree of cautionAustralian Govt advice, 2026-09-29	Level 1 · Exercise normal safety precautionsAustralian Govt advice, 2026-09-24
Visa	Visa-Free 30 days Tourism only since 15 Sep 2026, and normally limited to two visa-exempt entries per calendar year. You may be asked to show 10,000 baht per person (20,000 per family). The old 60-day exemption is gone.	UK visa-free 45 days · e-Visa 90 days (US/AU) · EU varies by country An e-visa locks you to the entry and exit points you pick when applying. Check your stamped exit date before leaving the border.
Internet	🟡 Good	🟡 Good
Best months	JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec	JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Vibe	BackpackerBeachFoodTemples	HistoryFoodAdventureMotorbike
Avg meal	$1–6/meal	$1–5/meal
Stay	$8–50/night	$8–40/night
Best for	First-time SE Asia travelers, backpackers, beach lovers	Budget backpackers, history lovers, foodies
Avoid	May–October (rainy season on west coast)	Different seasons affect north vs south differently — research by region

Destination details

🇹🇭

Thailand

Southeast Asia

Chiang Mai Old City

Full Moon Party (Koh Phangan)

Phi Phi Islands

Bangkok street food

Language: Thai / English widely spoken in tourist areas

Currency: Thai Baht (THB)

Transport: $3–12/day (tuk-tuk/songthaew)

🇻🇳

Vietnam

Southeast Asia

Ha Long Bay cruise

Hội An lantern town

Phong Nha caves

Hanoi Old Quarter

Language: Vietnamese / English in cities

Currency: Vietnamese Dong (VND)

Transport: $3–10/day (motorbike/bus)

Verify before you book

Daily costs here are planning estimates, not quotes, and the visa and safety figures are editorial summaries rather than official determinations. Entry rules in particular change without notice and depend on your own passport — confirm them against these primary sources before you spend money or board a flight.

IATA Travel Centre entry requirementsPassport, visa and health rules by nationality and destination — the dataset airlines check at check-in.US State Department travel advisoriesOfficial US destination risk levels, entry requirements and country-specific safety guidance.UK FCDO foreign travel adviceUK government destination advice covering safety, security, health, entry, and local laws.Australia Smartraveller destinationsAustralian government destination advice levels and recent advisory changes.