Thailand vs Vietnam

Which one suits your group?

I've done both. Vietnam gave me the views; Thailand gave the group the best week we've had.

Thailand suits an easy, relaxing holiday and Vietnam a true adventure, and Thailand is the easier choice for first-time visitors.

For a bachelor party or a big birthday, Thailand has more: superclubs, party islands, yachts and festivals within short flights of each other.

For a slow two- or three-week trip through mountains, bays and old towns, Vietnam is a strong choice.

First trip with the boys? Do Thailand. Ask Tanner which stops fit your dates.

The two side by side

They differ on six things: the party, the beaches, the entry rules, the distances, the season and the price.

Both are good value, so pick by the trip, not the price.

Ask Tanner what your week would look like in Thailand.

Which costs less?

Vietnam is slightly cheaper than Thailand day to day, but not by much.

Vietnam runs about 10–20% cheaper day to day, more on food and beer, with a mid-range day at about US$70 against US$80 in Thailand; at the resort end, both charge international prices.

For a party group, the big costs are the villa, the boat and the club evenings: in Thailand, villas start from ฿18,500 a day and a DJ is ฿8,000 a day.

A full Thailand party week for 12 starts from about ฿300,000. See what a Thailand trip costs.

Ask Tanner for the all-in figure for your group.

Where the party is bigger

Thailand has the bigger nightlife, with clubs, party streets and festivals built for groups.

Licensed clubs in Bangkok's three late zones, across Phuket and Chonburi (Pattaya) provinces, in Chiang Mai and in Koh Samui district, plus licensed venues inside hotels, can stay open until 4am under Ministerial Regulation No. 3, the Government Public Relations Department confirms (checked November 2026), and Illuzion in Phuket is our pick for the big club night.

Thailand also has the Full Moon Party on Koh Phangan and Tomorrowland near Pattaya, 11 to 13 December 2026.

Vietnam's nights are smaller: Hanoi's Old Quarter winds down around midnight on weekdays, while Saigon's Bui Vien Street keeps going.

For a party group, Thailand wins. See our best party islands in Thailand.

Insider tip: in Pattaya, Walking Street closes to cars from about 7pm, so get dropped at the end and walk in.

Ask Tanner which club suits your group.

Which is prettier?

Both are beautiful in different ways: Thailand for white-sand beaches and island bays, Vietnam for dramatic landscapes of mountains, rice terraces and limestone karsts.

Vietnam's headline sights are Ha Long Bay, Ninh Binh and the lantern-lit old town of Hoi An.

Thailand's are Railay, Phang Nga Bay, Koh Phi Phi and the Similan Islands, and a boat day among them is the best day of the trip.

For a yacht day among the islands, Thailand is the nicer choice. See our best beaches in Thailand.

Ask Tanner for the boat day that fits your week.

Getting between stops

Thailand is easier to get around for a short trip, because its highlights sit closer together.

Vietnam runs about 1,650 km end to end, so a short trip spends more time on sleeper trains and flights.

In Thailand, Pattaya is about two hours from Bangkok by road, and Phuket and Koh Samui are short flights away.

Want a taste of both? Bangkok to Hanoi or Saigon is about two hours by air.

For a group in Thailand, a car with a driver waits at every stop. See VIP transport.

Ask Tanner to have the van waiting when you land.

Visas and entry

Thailand is simpler to enter for a group: travellers from 60 countries and territories, including the UK, US, Canada, Australia and the EU, can stay up to 30 days without a visa.

Vietnam gives 45 days visa-free to British citizens and much of Europe, plus Japan and South Korea, says Vietnam Tourism (updated October 2026); Americans, Canadians and Australians need an e-visa.

The Vietnam e-visa covers up to 90 days, costs US$25 for a single entry or US$50 for multiple entries, and takes 3 to 5 working days on the official portal.

In Thailand, every visitor files a free arrival card online in the 3 days before landing. See our arrival card guide.

Not sure your passport gets the 30 days? Ask Tanner.

Which is safer?

Both Vietnam and Thailand are safe for most tourists, and the same common sense works in each.

The US State Department has rated Thailand Level 1, exercise normal precautions, since 7 July 2026.

In Thailand, the drinking age is 20 and clubs check your passport, so carry it every evening.

Use a booked car after dark instead of hailing one on the street, and agree boat prices before you get in.

See our is Thailand safe guide for the full picture.

Ask Tanner to have a car waiting outside every night.

When to go

Thailand is best from November to February everywhere, and the Gulf islands stay good through August, the Thai Meteorological Department says.

Vietnam changes by region: the north is best from October to April, the centre from February to August and the south from December to April.

See our best time to visit Thailand guide.

Ask Tanner which month suits your crowd.

Which is better for a long stay?

For a long stay, Thailand has more options: its Destination Thailand Visa allows 180 days per entry and is valid for 5 years.

Vietnam's e-visa covers up to 90 days, and its visa-free stays top out at 45 days for the UK and much of Europe.

For a season of remote work or Muay Thai training, Thailand's long-stay routes are easier to plan.

See our Thailand DTV visa guide.

Staying a season? Ask Tanner about the long-stay routes.

Can you do both in one trip?

Yes, you can do Thailand and Vietnam in one trip, but give it three weeks or more, because both countries take time to see properly.

Ten to 14 days in either country makes a full, varied trip on its own.

For a group with one or two weeks, pick one country and do it well.

See our Thailand itinerary for 5, 7 and 10 days.

Ask Tanner to build the Thailand half first.

The food

Both countries eat brilliantly, so the food won't decide it on its own.

Thailand vs Vietnam on the plate: Thailand cooks hot, sour and sweet, with green curry, som tam and pad thai; Vietnam cooks fresher and lighter, with pho, banh mi and fresh spring rolls.

For a group, Thailand has the edge for big evenings out, from street food in Bangkok's Chinatown to Michelin-starred tasting menus.

Insider tip: in either country, eat where the locals queue. A busy stall turns its food over fast.

Ask Tanner to book the group dinner before the club.

Thailand vs Vietnam in short

What it is: Tanner's side-by-side of Thailand and Vietnam for a group trip.

• For a party group: Thailand, with licensed clubs open until 4am in its party cities.
• For landscapes: Vietnam, with Ha Long Bay and Ninh Binh.
• Cost: Vietnam is 10–20% cheaper day to day.
• Entry: 30 days free in Thailand for 60 countries; 45 days free in Vietnam for the UK and much of Europe, an e-visa for Americans.
• Getting around: easier in Thailand, where the stops sit closer together.
• Best months: November to February for Thailand; Vietnam depends on the region.

Checked October 2026.

Your next step

The next step, if Thailand wins, is to pick your month and your stops: Bangkok plus a beach, or a Full Moon on the Gulf.

Then add the villa, the boat and the club evenings. Our where to go in Thailand guide walks you through the options.

Plan it with Tanner, and he sends back the route, the villa and the boat for your dates.