Southeast Asian countries are becoming more and more popular with Russian tourists. This is due to the relatively mild climate and numerous attractions. Among the countries of this region, Thailand and Vietnam stand out. They are located close to each other, have similar cultural traditions and the same climate. All this creates difficulties for tourists when choosing a place to stay. Thailand or Vietnam - which country to prefer? This is covered in this article.
An important factor when choosing a place to visit as part of a tourist trip is the possibility and duration of stay without a visa. In Thailand, this period is thirty days. There are only fifteen in Vietnam. Flight time to both countries is up to nine hours.
Thailand has a more developed tourist infrastructure than Vietnam. By number of attractionsThailand and Vietnam are not inferior to each other.
Like any country, Vietnam and Thailand have their advantages and disadvantages. Let's take a look at some of them.
Climate
Climatic conditions in both countries are similar. The best time to visit is from June to September. Thailand or Vietnam in October also successfully receives tourists. However, the region is warm all year round. The rainy season will create certain inconveniences for tourists. Both countries are attractive for beach holidays. Average temperatures at the peak of the tourist season reach +32°C. Hot weather in Thailand is more difficult due to high humidity.
In Vietnam, during the winter season, the influence of the monsoons is felt. Therefore, the temperature during this period can reach +5°C. According to this indicator, it is difficult to determine where it is better to go, Vietnam or Thailand to choose. Since the countries are located almost at the same latitude and have a similar climate. There are other, more important selection criteria.
Beaches
For connoisseurs of a comfortable beach holiday, Thailand is the most suitable place with its unforgettable beaches and numerous resorts equipped with everything you need. The beaches in this country are distinguished by a sandy bottom and the purity of the sea. The only downside is overcrowding with tourists during the peak season. The number of places for swimming in Thailand reaches more than a hundred. The cleanest are those that are on the islands. The beaches in Vietnam are somewhat smaller, however, they are nothinginferior to Thai. Sandy coasts in both countries have a gentle entrance. The beaches located on the islands are surrounded by rocks and located in bays. Thanks to this, they are protected from waves and wind and provide calm and quiet places to relax.
Vietnamese beaches are characterized by perfectly white sand and clear blue water. They are a great place to relax with children. Local beaches have fewer opportunities for water activities, but water sports enthusiasts can still find some decent options for themselves.
Where is cheaper? Vietnam or Thailand
An important, and for some, the determining factor in choosing a country for vacation is the cost of staying at the resort. In Thailand and Vietnam, tourists have the opportunity to choose the most suitable holiday options for themselves, based on their financial capabilities. You can use the services of travel agencies and go on vacation on a package tour. It is also possible to make an independent trip. One of the options for staying at the resort can be staying in a rented bungalow. Let's consider various pricing options at the resorts of Vietnam and Thailand.
The cost of any tourist trip consists of the price of air tickets, the cost of recreation, the purchase of souvenirs and excursion services.
The purchase of air tickets is an obligatory item of expenditure, since it is simply impossible to get to these countries in any other way. It is better to book tickets in advance. Their cost varies according to the class and level of comfort during the flight. The higher hethe more expensive the airfare. Since the distance and flight time to Vietnam and Thailand are approximately the same, the airfare will be the same.
The second significant cost item is the cost of living. Depending on financial capabilities, accommodation can be both very expensive and relatively budget. For example, staying in a luxury hotel room or in a separate bungalow will cost significantly more than staying in an economy class hotel.
The cost of food, entertainment in Vietnam is lower compared to Thailand. Sometimes tours to Vietnam are much cheaper than to Thailand. Of great importance is the choice of places to eat and rest. Individual excursions to local attractions will cost more than similar group activities. In terms of cost savings, independent travel around the country is promising.
Roads and leisure
Thailand is the best place for such trips on a rented vehicle. The quality of roads in this country is somewhat better than in Vietnam. Therefore, it is better not to book tours to Thailand in travel agencies. It will be much cheaper to travel around the country on your own. There is also a more developed network of shops, cafes and restaurants and all kinds of entertainment centers. Opportunities to have fun at night in Vietnam for tourists are more limited. After midnight, life stops here. Due to the habit of the population to go to bed early, it is very problematic to find a workinggrocery store.
Thailand in this regard is more preferable as a leisure destination. Nightlife here does not stop until the morning. The list of entertainment for tourists is also more extensive. In Thailand, you can not only relax, but also improve your he alth.
Medicine
Where to go for he alth, which country to choose - Thailand or Vietnam? Medical care in these two countries has significant differences in terms of prices for treatment. In Thailand, the cost of visiting a doctor in a public or private clinic is up to $40. Similar services in Vietnam will cost a little less. However, it all depends on the severity of the disease or injury. A necessary condition for obtaining high-quality medical services is that the tourist has medical insurance. In Vietnam, there may be some difficulties in obtaining medical care due to the lack of knowledge of English by local doctors. However, despite some inconvenience, the quality of medical care in both countries is about the same.
Accommodation
The cost of living and its comfort in hotels in Thailand and Vietnam are about the same. Vietnam, however, has a slight advantage in terms of cheap hotel accommodation. Staying in one of the hotels in the capital of Vietnam - the city of Hanoi - will cost about five dollars cheaper than the cost of rest in a similar establishment in Thai cities popular among tourists. Therefore, travel agencies sometimes offer incomparably cheap tours to Vietnam. This is due to the fact that in this countryyou can save a lot on housing.
Underwater world
The availability of recreational opportunities is of great importance to travelers. Staying in Vietnam and Thailand is the most promising for diving. Thailand wins somewhat in terms of the diversity of marine life and the number of places recommended for diving. The marine fauna of Vietnamese waters is less diverse, but divers can find a lot of interesting things here.
Local population
For tourists, when choosing a vacation spot, the friendliness of the local population towards visitors is of no small importance. If we compare Vietnam / Thailand on this basis, then we can say that the inhabitants of both countries are equally friendly to guests. The hospitality of the local people is based on the profitability of the tourism industry for the economy. Thais are more restrained and do not reveal their feelings and emotions to tourists. The Vietnamese are more emotional. In addition, the joint historical past of the countries affects the attitude towards Russians, namely, the assistance provided by the USSR to Vietnam in repelling American aggression is not forgotten.
Transportation
Thailand and Vietnam have quite developed transport links between cities. You can get to any corner by bus or by plane. The most common vehicle in both countries is a bike available for rent by tourists.
But which country should gastronomic gourmets choose, Vietnam or Thailand? Where is the best food?
Food
National cuisines in both countries are distinguished by their originality and abundance of exotic and incomprehensible dishes for Russian-speaking tourists. Frogs, crocodile meat, and all kinds of insects are widely used as products. Local national dishes are usually nutritious and spicy. In this regard, the masterpieces of Thai cuisine are more famous. Food in Vietnam is sweet due to the use of a variety of sauces and seasonings. Therefore, for lovers of sweet tastes, the choice is obvious according to this criterion. Thailand or Vietnam? For them, this issue is no longer relevant.
Animals
Traveling to Vietnam or Thailand can be overshadowed by the local fauna. One specific feature of both countries is the abundance of tropical insects (eg lizards). In Vietnam, in addition, they do not particularly care about cleanliness. Thanks to street garbage dumps in cities, a tourist can meet with numerous rats and cockroaches. Mosquitoes, which are carriers of dangerous diseases, pose a great danger in Vietnam. Therefore, before traveling to this country, it is necessary to make all the necessary vaccinations. Agencies offering tours to Thailand and Vietnam strongly recommend this. Upon arrival, you must carefully observe the basic rules of personal hygiene. You should not eat local food if its appearance and taste are incomprehensible or cause unpleasant associations for the tourist. It should be remembered that not everything that is familiar to the local population is suitable for a tourist who is accustomed to completelyanother way of life. The comfort of your stay and the impressions received during your vacation depend on the observance of hygiene rules.
Attractions
The cultural heritage of a country can also influence the choice of a tourist. Thailand or Vietnam? What is the culture of these countries? Both states have an ancient history and are distinguished by an interesting original culture. For vacationers, it will be very informative acquaintance with local attractions. In addition, staying in Vietnam is distinguished by a special flavor in terms of the fact that the dominance of communist ideology remains in this country. Fans of modern military history will also find a lot of interesting things in Vietnam. Here, the memory of the American aggression, which brought many troubles to the local people, is carefully preserved. In the capital of Vietnam, you can see the numerous exhibited samples of military equipment of that era. There is an opportunity to take part in excursions to places associated with the local partisan movement (in particular, to see the underground passages used by the rebels). Also in Thailand and Vietnam, tourists will be curious to get acquainted with the local architecture, which is distinguished by its originality and unique national flavor.
At the end of the 20th century. Thailand has become a popular destination for so-called sex tourism. However, one should take into account the fact that recently the authorities have been doing everything to get rid of such a peculiar image of the country. Therefore, lovers of all kinds of pleasures, often forbidden,risk getting into trouble. The main rule for a tourist should be compliance with the laws of the country of visit. Vietnam or Thailand? Where it is better to spend leisure time is up to the tourist to decide. The choice of places to visit is varied in both countries.
So, both states are attractive places to visit. The mild climate, the beauty of the local seascapes, the presence of a developed tourist infrastructure and the friendly local population are, of course, attractive sides. Added to this is the relatively low price level. But what do vacationers themselves say about these countries, which resort to choose, Thailand or Vietnam?
Reviews
Tourists who have been lucky enough to visit both countries can objectively compare them. For those who prioritize the opportunity to enjoy visiting all kinds of recreational activities and outdoor activities, they are advised to go to Thailand, where the opportunities for all of the above are much wider. For whom the issue of price is above all, you can choose cheap tours to Vietnam. Staying at this resort costs less.
In general, it's all about the local flavor. For the sake of it, tourists are ready to return to this or that country again and again. Both Thailand and Vietnam are incredibly attractive in this regard. Therefore, it is better to visit both countries and compare yourself.
In any case, when planning a vacation in Southeast Asia, you need to carefully evaluate all the benefits and potential disadvantages that mayencounter tourist. Rest in this region is good for lovers of all kinds of exotic and mild climate. However, one should take into account the duration of the flight (more than eight hours), which can create significant inconvenience for people with poor he alth, as well as for children. You should also take into account the uniqueness of the local culture and especially the national cuisine, which is unusual for Russians.
