Vietnam or Thailand in June. Where is it better to relax: Thailand or Vietnam. Cuisine, shopping, holidays for children in Thailand and Vietnam

With proper planning, the dream of traveling to Asian countries is achievable, even on a fixed income. Southeast Asia is the most popular resort for budget tourists. There is a lot to please a foreigner here: a high level of service, a good climate, amazing local food and hospitable people.

The beaches in Nha Trang (Vietnam) are inferior to Thai beaches in terms of azure water. In the evening, all the beaches are crowded with Vietnamese people who like to come to the sea with their whole families. There is little entertainment on the beaches, and the infrastructure is worse. Although, if you go to Vietnam on bicycles, you can see a large number of beautiful beaches with blue sea and white sand, but these will be wild and non-tourist places.

Nutrition

Thailand is a place where you will never go hungry. Such a large quantity and variety of street food is unlikely to exist in any other country in the world. Street food is available and you can find it at any time of the day. - one of the main attractions of the country.

But in Vietnam, at certain times, food simply disappears from the streets. It is difficult to find something at lunchtime because the Vietnamese take a siesta.

There are a huge number of restaurants that serve delicious seafood. Frankly speaking, the food in Vietnam is closer to ours.

For $1 you will get a huge portion of soup or rice with meat or fish. Many tourists complain of stomach pain due to daily overeating due to such generous portions and affordable prices.

Prices for food and groceries

In Vietnam, fresh fruits and vegetables are more affordable. But if we talk about imported products that the average Asian does not eat too much (milk, cheese), then it is difficult to compare. Imported products are definitely more expensive than local ones.

How much does it cost to eat in tourist places?

In Vietnam, as in Thailand, there are many good supermarkets where you can buy high-quality and inexpensive products. In Nha Trang these are CoopMart, Big C, MaxiMark. There are several popular chain stores in Thailand: 7/11, Family Mart - these are mini markets; and Tesco Lotus and Big C are large supermarkets.

Food prices in stores and supermarkets in 2018

Attention! Please note that prices may differ from those stated due to exchange rate fluctuations.

Clothing, household appliances, electronics

In Vietnam the market is very poor. Technology is not the strong point of this country. Everything costs more than in Thailand. There are several times fewer popular online clothing brands in Vietnam than in Thailand. Yes, and it costs more here.

In Thailand, the price level is very low, even for clothing from American and European brands. The quality is quite good though.

Approximate prices for clothes

Accommodation

Thailand is better developed in terms of housing. There are a huge number of hostels and hotels for everyone in every city. Any resort is “teeming” with simpler and richer villas, which are located near the sea, and the price is much better and lower in relation to the CIS countries. On average, prices vary between $15-20.

Accommodation is cheap in Vietnam, especially hotels and hostels. But finding something is very difficult for a European. You will have to choose more impressive options. The rest of the rooms are simply furnished with wooden furniture in the Vietnamese style, which is not very familiar or comfortable for a European.

Prices start from $8, but on average fluctuate around $12-23 for a double room in an inexpensive 2 or 3 star hotel.

There are many high-class hotels near the sea, where room rates start from $65/day. At the Intercontinental Nha Trang (one of the best hotels in Vietnam), prices per night start at $120.

In any case, everyone will have to choose the best one for themselves... And to read detailed descriptions of Phuket hotels, tourist reviews of hotels, make reservations, etc., use the hotel search engine Hotellook - search and compare the best prices for hotels and inns with a discount of up to 60%.

Internet availability and speed

Vietnam has large and cheap mobile Internet. It works almost everywhere. If we talk about the internal Internet, the connection is very unstable. Failures are usually associated with network transmission failures.

Infrastructure and entertainment

Thailand is ideal for tourists. The country's roads are better than those in Vietnam. On every street you can see shops, street food, shopping centers and entertainment centers.

Vietnam is much more sparse in this regard. It is very problematic to purchase and have fun somewhere after 23:00.

• Vietnamese people go to bed early, so you won't meet anyone until midnight.
• There are small food shops. But they work here according to a schedule, which is convenient for the owner.
• Shopping centers are no better.

In Nha Trang, for example, there are many attractions and travel agencies that organize excursions around the city and trips to neighboring regions. Here you can go on rides in an amusement park all day or undergo treatments in a mud bath for $27. And two-day excursions to a neighboring city cost from $10-100. From Thai Phuket, in turn, you can go on excursions to neighboring regions for $50-150.

Transport

When it comes to Vietnam, it is quite difficult to compare the capital and provinces. There are no subways in major cities in Vietnam. Bangkok has an underground metro, road and water transport. And also a very expensive taxi.

You'll pay 35 baht ($1) for landing and 5 baht ($0.14) per kilometer after that. Considering the fact that traffic jams are very common in Bangkok, the taximeter may unpleasantly surprise you at the end of the trip.

In Vietnam, taxis are better and more affordable. Buses are inexpensive (within city limits only $0.3), and there are plenty of bicycles and motorbikes.

In Thailand, you will be surprised by the abundance of tuk-tuks, but there they charge exorbitant prices to unknowing tourists. There is a free shuttle service in Bangkok, but these are usually wooden buses without air conditioning. The price depends on the type of tire. Article

What does an ordinary tourist in Southeast Asia need? That's right - food and accommodation. Jokes aside, if you want to find out where it’s cheaper - in Thailand or Vietnam, then it’s better to rely on prices for food and hotels. Everything else is very individual. Agree, it is illogical to compare prices for excursions or tickets to Nong Nooch Park (Pattaya) and Pongur Falls (Vietnam). But prices for the same thing - for example, potatoes - can be compared very easily. What are we going to do now!
Where is it cheaper: Vietnam or Thailand? Prices for food and hotels

Where is it cheaper: Thailand or Vietnam? Food price comparison

To find out where it is cheaper - in Thailand or Vietnam - we decided to compare not just prices for the same products. We compared food prices in the same place! That is, in the Big C store. Luckily, this chain has supermarkets in both Thailand and Vietnam. Including . By the way, the presence of a Big C store is one of the factors that makes Dalat wonderful.

In general, to find out which is cheaper - Vietnam or Thailand - I first walked around Big C in Dalat with a notebook, and a few days later in Pattaya. And he wrote down the prices for the same, most needed products on the farm (and not only). As a result, this table was born. And to more clearly compare where it is cheaper: in Thailand or Vietnam, all prices are given not only in baht and dong, but also in dollars at the average rate. Let me remind you that you will find the exchange rate of the American currency to the Thai and Vietnamese in these articles:

We calculated which is more expensive - Vietnam or Thailand - using the example of prices in Big C stores. Fortunately, this chain has supermarkets in both countries. By the way, guess if this photo was taken in Big C of Thailand or Vietnam? Hint: pay attention to the age of European-looking buyers.

Where is it cheaper: Thailand or Vietnam? Product price table (costs are in dollars)

Thus, if in Thailand you spend $71.8 on this set of products, then in Vietnam it is 56.6, that is, 27 percent less. Here is the answer to the question of where food is cheaper - in Thailand or Vietnam. Still, a quarter is significant. And this despite the fact that meat (with the exception of beef) is more expensive in Vietnam. But alcohol is noticeably cheaper. And the list still doesn’t include the wonderful Dalat wine for $3, which made ours even more fun and which you won’t find in Thailand during the day.

So, where is it cheaper - Thailand or Vietnam? The conclusion is this: prices for almost all products, except chicken and pork, are lower in Vietnam. Therefore, we can safely say that life there is cheaper. If, of course, you have Big C nearby. For the same category of travelers who faint at the sight of meat and turn green at the smell of beer, life in Vietnam will be a real paradise.

Where is it cheaper - in Thailand or Vietnam? The price of many products in Vietnam is lower, and some are much lower. For example, wine there costs only $3 – several times cheaper than in Thailand.

Where are the cheaper hotels: Vietnam or Thailand?

Of course, comparing hotels in Thailand and hotels in Vietnam is more relative than comparing potatoes in Thailand and potatoes in Vietnam. But the categories are still comparable. So, let's try to find out where hotels are cheaper: in Thailand or Vietnam? To do this, we will select the 3 most popular cities in the country and find the lowest prices for double rooms in all booking systems using the Hotellook.com hotel search engine.

Thailand hotel prices:

• Bangkok Hotels- from 8 dollars.
• Pattaya Hotels- from 11 dollars.
• Chiang Mai Hotels- from 6 dollars.

Vietnam hotel prices:

• Ho Chi Minh City Hotels- from 6 dollars.
• Hanoi Hotels- from 9 dollars.

Both countries are interesting and unique in their own way. They are similar in climate, geographical location, vegetation, and even the appearance of the local residents. This is why it is so difficult for many tourists to make a choice. So, Vietnam or Thailand, where is it better to relax?

Despite the apparent similarities, these countries have quite a few differences. Vietnam is a state of victorious socialism, which relatively recently opened its doors to mass tourism. Thailand is far from a newcomer to the tourism industry; moreover, it is known for its freer morals. If you are nervous when you see sexual minorities, then you should go to Vietnam. With the rest, let's continue the comparison.

Despite the long coastline of Vietnam, there are fewer truly clean and beautiful beaches here than in Thailand. And diving enthusiasts will like the Andaman Sea on the western coast of Thailand more than the South China Sea.

As for entertainment, there is plenty of it in both countries; you won’t get bored. There are water parks, attractions, discos, monkey farms, various show programs... However, in Thailand, there will still be more choice and scale, especially for young people. The same goes for attractions. Fans of ancient ruins will find something to see here and there, but in Vietnam there are not as many “wow” places as it seems from the brochures.

• Do not miss:

Vietnam or Thailand: which tastes better?

Both countries have varied and delicious cuisine, so it is quite difficult to choose a favorite. There will be plenty of exotics: in Thailand these are fried spiders, grasshoppers and other insects, and in Vietnam - snakes, crocodiles, frogs, and even rats. So it's literally a matter of taste.

For those who like food with a hint of pepper, it is better to choose Thailand, where they mainly prepare spicy dishes. Vietnamese cuisine prefers sweetish sauces and seasonings. The main dish here is rice noodles, while Thais prefer just rice.

Vietnam or Thailand: which is safer?

Both states are not included in . Despite this, the crime rate in them is significantly lower than in Russia. If you don’t consciously look for trouble, your vacation will pass without incident. Robberies are rare here. Mostly, minor thefts occur, which can be prevented by ordinary precautions.

Overall, security in Thailand is a little better. This is noticeable even from local residents, who often leave mopeds with keys on the street, and shopkeepers do not even close the roller shutters in their shops. The Vietnamese behave more carefully, from which we conclude that tourists should also be wary.

Another danger is local wildlife. Ants, cockroaches, and geckos are a common occurrence; they can be found even in very decent establishments. In Vietnam, it is also not uncommon to see rats looking for food in not always clean gateways. And in Thailand, the main danger is mosquitoes, carriers of many infections.

Vietnam or Thailand: which is cheaper?

Budget accommodation is definitely cheaper in Vietnam, while there is virtually no difference in more expensive options. This applies to both self-rental of a house or apartment, and hotels.

The picture is the same with food. Food in Thailand will cost 20-25% more. The difference in prices for locally produced alcohol, which in Vietnam costs mere pennies, even by our standards, is especially noticeable.

In Vietnam, public transport is more developed, so you can get to the right place much cheaper than by Thai taxi. The cost of excursions and other entertainment is also lower in Vietnam. But in terms of shopping, the championship belongs to Thailand, where there is more choice and more attractive prices.

Thus, with the same cost of travel packages, a vacation in Vietnam will still cost less, due to the upcoming expenses on the spot.

Vietnam or Thailand: where is it better to relax?

Thailand's tourism infrastructure is better developed, which allows travelers to feel more comfortable. Road signs and indicators are duplicated in English; the population, for the most part, also speaks it quite well, which cannot be said about Vietnam.

But the climate in Vietnam is a little milder than Thai. Yes, it is also hot here, but the humidity percentage is slightly lower, which makes it easier to tolerate high temperatures.

To summarize, we can summarize the following comparison of the two countries. If you are coming for entertainment, beach holidays, diving and sightseeing, choose Thailand. If you are looking for peace and quiet, but your budget is somewhat limited, Vietnam will not disappoint you.

With the arrival of the first cold weather, I want to extend the summer more and more. Thailand or Vietnam, which is better? Where to go? Where is the sea cleaner? Where is the most fruit? Is it better to vacation in Thailand or Vietnam? Where is there a lot of seafood? Where is the climate better? Is it cheaper in Thailand or Vietnam? And there are many, many more questions to which I want to find answers. In today's post I will share my observations and impressions. My review of holidays in Vietnam and Thailand. Comparison of two countries and two resorts. In Thailand it will be Pattaya, and in Vietnam the small fishing village of Mui Ne, which is located near Phan Thiet. By the way, most tourists consider Mui Ne to be Phan Thiet. I don't know why they think so, but it's a mistaken opinion. Not the point.

Visa regime.

Night life

Transport

Shopping

Fruits

Visa regime.

Do you need a visa to Thailand? No need for up to 30 days. And if you want to stay in this country longer, then yes, you need it.

Do you need a visa to Vietnam? Up to 15 days of stay in the country is not required. And if your vacation is planned for a longer period, then my post will help you

How long does it take to fly from Moscow to Vietnam and how long does it take to fly from Moscow to Thailand?

Fly to Thailand (Pattaya) and to Vietnam (Ho Chi Minh City) 9 hours 30-50 minutes. Flying is about the same. For some reason, our plane flew back from Ho Chi Minh City to Moscow faster. We arrived in 9 hours 30 minutes, but it took us 9 hours 50 minutes to get there.

How long does it take to get from the airport to your holiday destination?

Let me remind you that in our case, the vacation spots are Mui Ne in Vietnam and Pattaya in Thailand.

From Hosh Minh Airport to the resort of Mui Ne (Phan Thiet) it takes 5-6 hours and it doesn’t matter what you travel on: an uncomfortable tourist bus or a comfortable sleeping bus. Flying for almost 10 hours, and then still waiting for luggage and riding a bus for 6 hours... It’s tiring. But it's worth it. More on this below.

From Pattaya Airport to the beaches of Pattaya - just a stone's throw away. It's not a long drive. We stayed at the Cozy beach hotel and it took about 30 minutes to get there. This time took into account the delivery of all tourists to other hotels. I’d rather travel 6 hours to the resort of Mui Ne in Vietnam on an uncomfortable bus than 30 minutes to the resort of Pattaya.

Having written three points comparing two countries and resorts, someone has already received an answer to the question: Thailand or Vietnam, which is better? I think the six-hour bus ride to the Mui Ne resort influenced the decision and most of you chose Thailand. Don't rush to conclusions. Ahead is the main point that will make you change your mind - the sea. Although, perhaps, this is not the only point. But still, if you decide to go to Pattaya, then here are more answers to the question in

Is the sea better in Vietnam or Thailand?

I will answer this question without hesitation that the sea in Thailand is worse than in Vietnam. Everyone remembers that we are comparing Pattaya and Mui Ne. I have never seen a dirtier beach than in Pattaya. And I have never seen a dirtier sea than in Pattaya. The sea is green and smells. Therefore, definitely Vietnam, Mui Ne.

Where is there more seafood: Thailand or Vietnam?

Comparing the two resorts of Mui Ne and Pattaya, I will say that seafood is tastier and cheaper in Vietnam. Yes, and there are many more of them. Almost all dishes are made from seafood, but in Pattaya, you need to look for fish places. In Vietnam they are on every corner.

Night life.

Nightlife in Vietnam is very different from nightlife in Thailand. There is practically none in Mui Ne. The only Dragon club is at the end of the village. There's a small dance floor and bed-shaped tables. Nightlife in Phan Thiet, but you need something to get there. I don’t think it’s worth writing separately about Pattaya’s nightlife here. Everyone has heard about Pattaya's Walking street and its numerous clubs to suit any sophisticated or perverted taste, as you please.

Transport.

How to get around Pattaya and Mui Ne. Or rather, what can you use to get from point A to point B. What kind of transport?

In Vietnam, if you don’t break the law and don’t rent a bike, you have little choice. Tourists can travel by bus or taxi. But in Pattaya there is more choice. Services available: tuk-tuks and taxis. If you negotiate, a taxi will cost the same as a tuk-tuk. But in Vietnam, taxis go by meter and taxi drivers take you straight away with a tip. And if you don’t know the way, they can take you for a ride. For your money, they will cover as many kilometers as you like and take you to places you don’t want, allegedly without understanding you.

Shopping.

Prices in Vietnam are lower than in Thailand. Shopping in Phan Thiet will cost you less than in Pattaya.

Fruits.

Vietnam and Thailand have almost the same fruits. And they also cost almost the same.

Excursions.

Excursions in Vietnam are more exotic than in Thailand. Although, who means what by the word exotic.

Even despite the long flight and long drive from the airport to the resort, I would go to Vietnam again. If only because Mui Ne has a clean sea, golden sand, delicious seafood in large quantities, and low prices. And I will remember the dirty and smelly sea in Pattaya, the sand on the beach covered in dog poop as a bad dream. Although, if you get from Pattaya to the island of Koh Larn, with its clean beach and blue sea, then a trip to Pattaya may seem like paradise. Not for long. Until you get tired of traveling to the island and back every day. Every day, 40 minutes one way on a scary and lopsided ferry to the island of Koh Larn is tiring.

And we look at previous posts.

Thailand - 4, Vietnam - 5. Let's take two southern resorts: the island of Phuket in Thailand and the city of Nha Trang in Vietnam. During the most touristy time (winter), we found the second one much more pleasant. It's not so hot, the evenings are cooler and fresher. But depending on the time of year and as you move south or north of any country, the weather can vary significantly. In the north of Vietnam in March we were quite frozen, while in Bangkok we were sweltering from the heat and humidity. By the way, winter in Vietnam is not the season, the sea is choppy and there are downpours. But in the south of Thailand at this time it is simply amazing: the sea is clean, you can safely swim, the weather is dry, the sun is not as hot as in spring.

Prices

Food

Thailand - 4, Vietnam - 5. In Vietnam, it seemed to us that fresh vegetables and fruits are more affordable. But if we talk about imported products that Asians don’t particularly eat (like milk, cheese), then it’s difficult to compare.

Clothing, appliances, electronics

Thailand - 4, Vietnam - 2. The Vietnamese market is very meager compared to Thailand. Technology and electronics are not the strong point of this country. Everything is more expensive than in Thailand. As for clothing, there are several times fewer popular chain brands in Vietnam than in Thailand. Clothing from the market is again cheaper here.

Housing

Thailand - 5, Vietnam - 4. Thailand is very developed from a tourist point of view, so there is simply a huge amount of housing for every taste in any city. Any resort is built up with condotels and villas. There are many beautiful apartments and houses in European style near the sea, and the price relative to Russia is much lower. In Vietnam, housing is cheap, especially hotels. But finding something European is very difficult. We looked for an apartment in Nha Trang for a very long time and chose one of the most expensive options. All the rest were filled with Vietnamese-style wooden furniture. For us it was not very familiar and comfortable.

Internet availability and speed

Thailand - 2, Vietnam - 3. Vietnam has excellent and cheap mobile internet. It works almost everywhere, even in villages and on the highway. If we talk about the home Internet, it is quite unstable. Failures are usually associated with breakdowns in backbone networks. In Thailand, the Internet was dead almost everywhere, especially in guesthouses. Mobile Internet is of good quality, but much more expensive than in Vietnam.

Infrastructure

Thailand - 5, Vietnam - 3. Thailand is ideal for tourists. The roads are of excellent quality. There are 24-hour shops, street food, shopping malls, entertainment complexes, bars, clubs on every corner. Here at any time of the day you can find food for every taste. It's the same story with entertainment. Vietnam is much more backward in this regard. Eating or buying something after 23:00 is problematic. The Vietnamese go to bed together, and the streets become empty. Our favorite chain store, 7-Eleven, is missing. There are small grocery stores, but they look more like warehouses. And they work according to a schedule that is convenient for the owner. Shopping malls leave much to be desired.

Visa application procedure (simplicity)

Thailand - 2, Vietnam - 5. This is definitely a tick for Vietnam. A visa can be issued for a period of one or three months directly upon arrival at the airport. It is not expensive at all, there are no consular fees. Until recently, it was easy and cheap to extend this visa, but now it’s more difficult. The visa-free regime for Russian citizens is 15 days, but in Thailand it is 30. It is more expensive to apply for and extend a Thai visa. This can only be done outside the country at the Thai consulate. This process is stressful. You never know what the person at passport control will come up with. We give Thailand a bad mark for tightening its visa policy. In general, we now get into Thailand with difficulty, having several stamps for exiting and entering the country. It used to be much simpler, but every year migration policy tightens its grip. Perhaps Vietnam will one day become less accessible.

Food

Thailand - 5, Vietnam - 4. Thailand - This is a place where you will never go hungry. There is probably no such quantity and variety of street food in any other country in the world. Street food is very affordable and can be found almost any time of the day. Restaurants for every taste. But in Vietnam, at certain hours, food simply disappears from the streets. It's difficult to find something at lunchtime because the Vietnamese take a siesta. There are also a huge number of restaurants with delicious seafood. To be honest, food in Vietnam is closer to us. It is simpler and very affordable – $1 for a huge portion of soup or rice with meat or fish. And you can eat too much of it. And yes, we have never eaten such delicious rice anywhere else.

Transport

Thailand - 4, Vietnam - 4. It is very difficult to compare capitals and provinces, because these are two different things, just like in Russia. Major cities in Vietnam do not have a metro system, while Bangkok has both an underground metro, an overland BTR, and water transport. And also a very inexpensive taxi. Only 35 baht for landing and about 5 baht for each subsequent kilometer. But very often the traffic jams in Bangkok are such that you can spend a lot of money per meter. There are also a lot of taxis in Vietnam, and they are quite affordable. Buses are inexpensive, and there are a lot of bicycle and auto rickshaws. There are a large number of tuk-tuks in Thailand, but we don’t like to use their services; they often inflate prices. There are free bus routes in Bangkok, but these are usually wooden buses without air conditioning. The price depends on the type of bus.

Beaches

Thailand (Phuket) - 5, Vietnam (Nha Trang) - 3. We can compare two countries only by two seaside resorts. Phuket is washed by the Andaman Sea, which has a stunning turquoise color. The island has a huge number of developed beaches with good infrastructure and a lot of entertainment. During the high season, Phuket is simply ideal for those who love the sea. There are not many beaches in Nha Trang, the water is not azure, and in the evening all the beaches are crowded with the Vietnamese themselves, who love to come to the sea with their families. There is little entertainment, and the infrastructure is less developed. Although, when we rode across Vietnam from north to south on bikes, we saw a large number of beautiful beaches with blue sea and white sand, but these were wild, non-tourist places.

Medicine

Thailand - 5, Vietnam - 4. In Thailand, we visited both private clinics and semi-public ones. The service is at a high level, the staff is friendly, the prices are not so high. All necessary medications are given in the required quantities immediately after the doctor’s appointment. It is very comfortable. In Vietnam, we applied for insurance once. Then the doctor came to our house. He spoke very little English, gave us antibiotics and a couple of related medications and left. But I liked dentistry in Vietnam. Dental treatment was not expensive at all. By the way, as far as we know, there are doctors in Vietnam who speak Russian. There are a lot of clinics in both Thailand and Vietnam.

Adaptation

Thailand - 3.5, Vietnam - 3.5. This is a very personal aspect. Everyone in a new country always adapts differently. In Thailand, it was difficult for us to get used to food; both of us came down with stomach pains in the third week. The food is really spicy and very specific: completely new flavors that we haven’t tried before. Well, the smells. In Vietnam, the food is blander and simpler: rice with meat or fish, mild soup with rice noodles can be found in any village.

It is more difficult in Vietnam with adaptation in terms of language. Very few Vietnamese who have nothing to do with tourism speak English. All price tags in supermarkets are in Vietnamese. While we were traveling around the country, we learned numbers and a couple of phrases in order to find out at least the cost of food in a cafe. We often used a translator. This did not happen in Thailand. In tourist places, any local resident will be able to answer you in passable English. Even in a market where there are few tourists.

P.S.

Nastya and Yura maintain a video blog about travel and life in Asia. If you're interested, head over to their channel " Two tickets ».