Cheaper than Thailand or Vietnam. Thailand or Vietnam? Where is the best place to go on vacation? Where are the best prices for housing and food - in Vietnam or Thailand?

12.07.2023

Thailand and Vietnam are two popular and beloved countries for a good holiday. When you haven’t been to any of them, you have a difficult choice of where to go first. Let's compare both countries so that you make the right choice and have a good rest.

1. Flight cost.

Flights for an independent traveler are a major expense. Both countries are nearby, which means the approximate cost of the flight will be the same. Differences in price may only appear during a specific season and certain dates. If you prefer to buy a tour, the cost will depend on the star rating of the hotel, the availability of full meals and other factors that influence the cost of the tour.

2. Climate, humidity, heat.

In Vietnam, the humidity is lower, so the heat is easier to bear, things dry faster, and skin wounds heal faster. Thailand has a very high percentage of humidity and many people find it even more difficult to bear the heat. There is a rainy season in both countries, but in Thailand it is longer than in Vietnam.

3. Availability of hotels, budget accommodation, local cuisine.

Both Vietnam and Thailand have a very large selection of housing in resort regions. Hotels, apartments, guesthouses, bungalows, villas - there is everything from fashionable five-star to one or two stars. In Vietnam, hotels have also appeared that operate on an all-inclusive basis; in Thailand there is no such system and, as a rule, hotels offer accommodation only with breakfast. Vietnam is just gaining its tourism momentum, the land along the sea is just being built up, so the country is less “traveled” than Thailand, where everything has already been built. Both countries offer not only local cuisine, but also European food, but it will be much higher in cost.

4. Insurance.

If you purchase a tour, then insurance is already included, but if you are going to fly on your own, then you need to stock up on insurance. Insurance in Thailand is more expensive than in Vietnam, but there are good hospitals in both countries at all popular resorts.

5. Local population, crime rate, safety for tourists.

Both there and there people are friendly, smiling and sociable. Of course, there are also scammers among them, but crime exists in every country in the world. Thefts happen in Thailand and Vietnam, you just need to be careful and careful during your entire trip.

6. Transport accessibility and rental of a car or bike.

In Thailand, within the country you can travel cheaply on domestic airlines, and in Vietnam it’s the same. Bus service is developed in both countries. In Vietnam you can take a train ride. But renting a car and (or) bike in these countries differs. In Thailand, you can freely take any vehicle if you have an international license; in Vietnam, only local licenses are required, so you won’t be able to take a car, and they will give you a bike at your own peril and risk, but in case of any accident you will be considered at fault. In addition, in Vietnam there is a chaotic and very active movement of mopeds and bikes, so driving in the city is very unsafe and uncomfortable.

7. Attractions.

Both countries are rich in attractions. In Thailand, these are national parks, temples and pagodas, waterfalls and lakes, zoos, water parks and much more. In Vietnam these are cable cars, museums, temple complexes, waterfalls, and amusement parks. The countries have developed excursion programs, there are individual and group tours. Russian guides work in both countries.

8. Infrastructure.

Both countries have developed infrastructure: hospitals, pharmacies, shops, post and bank branches, bus stations, railway stations, airports, parking lots.

9. Presence of Orthodox churches.

In Thailand, there are Orthodox churches in different provinces: Bangkok, Phuket, Pattaya, Samui, Chiang Mai, Hua Hin, Koh Chang, where services are held. There are no Orthodox churches in Vietnam.

10. Fauna and flora, the presence of “reptiles”.

The climate in the countries is similar, so the tropical greenery is no different. Bright tropical flowers and palm trees grow everywhere. Creeping and other “reptiles” are found everywhere, you need to be prepared for this.

It is not without reason that many compatriots love Thailand and Vietnam because of their beautiful beaches, comfortable hotels, stunning nature and rich excursion program. To compare countries, you need to visit each of them. If the choice has not yet been made in favor of one of them, then start from the budget within which you need to enter. In any case, you will enjoy these countries!

Thailand or Vietnam

Thailand is a country in Southeast Asia, located in the southwest of the Indochina Peninsula and the north of the Malacca Peninsula. It borders Malaysia, Myanmar, Laos and Cambodia. From north to south, the country stretches for 1860 km, is washed by the South China and Andaman Seas, and the coastline is more than 3 thousand km. Due to the diversity of climate in different parts of the country, there is no tourist season as such in Thailand. This is one of the few countries where holidays will be equally enjoyable at any time of the year. Vietnam is a small state in Southeast Asia that occupies part of the Indochina Peninsula. It borders China, Laos and Cambodia, is washed by the South China Sea, and is rapidly gaining popularity among Russian tourists. The best time for tourists is summer. To objectively assess the quality of your vacation and decide where is better - Thailand or Vietnam, you need to visit both countries, preferably in different places and more than once. The generalized experience of our compatriots, who prefer traveling to exotic countries and trips to popular foreign resorts when vacationing in Russia, will help with this.

Where is it better - in Thailand or Vietnam?

The first thing that interests our tourists is where it is cheaper, in Thailand or Vietnam, because the thickness of everyone’s wallets is different, not everyone can afford a holiday at a fashionable resort.

Housing. It is better to compare prices in capitals and popular holiday destinations. Sadly, hotel rooms in Hanoi (the official capital of Vietnam) and Ho Chi Minh City (the economic capital) are about half the price of those in Bangkok (the capital of Thailand). In the first case, you can rent a decent room for two for 15-20 dollars, in the second - for no less than 40. As for resorts, the situation is different. An average double room in Pattaya (Thailand) with a courtyard view and paid Internet will cost about 700 baht ($10), a spacious double room in Mui Ne (Vietnam) with a pool under the windows and free Internet costs an average of $20. But here you have to choose between price and comfort. It would be fair to set the score 1:1.
Food. The question is controversial, since it all depends on your appetite, your tastes and preferences. Only one thing can be said for sure - alcohol is cheaper in Vietnam, but fruits and snacks in cafes cost the same as in Thailand. If we talk about imported products, they are expensive everywhere. 2:2.
Transport. The cheapest taxi in Vietnam. You can ride around Hanoi within an area interesting for tourists for only 10-15 rubles. City transport and tourist buses are also cheaper here, meaning Vietnam leads in this category with a score of 3:2.
Vouchers. Two or three years ago, prices for trips to Thailand were significantly lower than to Vietnam, but now they have become equal, especially in the segment of inexpensive tours. 4:3.
Flight. Flights to Thailand are much cheaper than to Vietnam, only sometimes tickets to this country are sold at discounts. Promotions on tickets to Bangkok are valid almost all year round. The score is leveled - 4:4.
Climate. The next criterion by which a country is chosen for a holiday is climate. If we take two southern resorts as an example - Nha Trang in Vietnam and Samui in Thailand, then the first one wins. At the height of the tourist season (winter), the climate here is milder and more pleasant: not hot during the day, fresh and cool in the evening. But the further north the holiday destination is, the better it will be in Thailand. If we summarize the answer to the question of where and when it would be better to vacation - in Vietnam or Thailand, it is simple: in the summer at Vietnamese resorts, in the winter - at Thai resorts, when the sea is calm, the weather is dry, and the sun is gentle. So 5:5
Internet. A modern person, even on vacation, rarely parts with gadgets, so the Internet plays an important role when choosing a resort. If we talk about mobile Internet access, it is cheaper in Vietnam; cable lines and Wi-Fi access in hotels are of poor quality in both countries. It is best to buy a SIM card from a local telecom operator and use its services.
Infrastructure. Thailand is an ideal country for tourist trips. There are excellent roads here, and there are 24-hour shops, bars, cafes, clubs and entertainment centers at every step. At any time of the day you can have a snack, drink a glass of wine and dance. In Vietnam, the tourism business is not so well developed, so after 23-00 it is almost impossible to buy anything, only small shops operate, more like warehouses, and their range is not the widest. 6:5 in favor of Thai resorts.
Visa. The procedure for obtaining a visa to Vietnam is much simpler than to Thailand. It can be issued for 1-3 months directly at the receiving airport. But the visa-free regime for Russians is only two weeks, while in Thailand it is four. However, you can only apply for and extend a visa to this country at a consulate on the territory of another state; the visa policy of the Thai authorities is very strict and there is always the possibility of not getting to the desired resort. Draw again - 6:6.
Nutrition. The choice of food options and variety of national cuisines in Thailand is much greater than in Vietnam. This is especially true for street food - the price of all kinds of culinary delights like hamburgers is low, they are available at any time of the day. In Vietnam, at lunchtime all the sellers go for a siesta, but there are also many restaurants, the basis of the menu of any establishment is seafood dishes. Here the food is closer to our spirit, it is simple and affordable. For $1 you can have a filling and tasty lunch. It's fair to leave the score tied - 7:7.
Trips. As in Russia, in both countries large cities and provinces are different things. Thailand has a metro and surface trains, but the cities are so crowded with cars that there is a high risk of standing in traffic jams for several hours. There is no such abundance of transport in Vietnam, and traveling around the country will cost several times cheaper. It is very profitable to travel around the city by pedicabs and auto-rickshaws. The cost of public transport depends on the type and comfort. 8:7 in favor of Vietnam.
Beaches. Thailand is a country of developed seaside resorts, so Vietnam is inferior here in all respects. In the first case, there is a wide selection of comfortable beaches with developed infrastructure and a large selection of entertainment; in the second, there are mid-level beaches, filled in the evening with local residents who come to the sea with their entire families. Clean water on the Vietnamese coast can only be found in wild places that are not popular with tourists. 8:8.
Medicine. Thailand has a large number of public and private clinics that both locals and tourists can visit. The prices are reasonable, the staff is friendly. The same can be said about Vietnam, the only difficulty is the problem of finding a doctor who speaks English, and even more so, Russian. By the way, Vietnam has very cheap and high-quality dentistry, so another point in favor of this country. 9:8.
Adaptation. This is a purely individual criterion, because the degree of addiction depends on the characteristics of the body and the person’s habits. If in Thailand it is difficult to get used to food, then in Vietnam the language barrier remains a problem. Thai dishes are spicy and have a specific smell, Vietnamese dishes are blander and simpler: rice, meat, fish and noodle soup can be served in almost every village. Vietnamese resorts still skimp on staff, so it is difficult to find a manager or seller at the market who speaks decent English, much less Russian. Under all other approximately equal conditions, the leadership remains with Thailand. The final figure is 9:8 in favor of Thailand.

Vietnam and Thailand are two states that share small territories of Laos and Cambodia. They are located on the same peninsula, their traditions and climate are similar. But the tourism business in Vietnam has just begun to take shape, so in many ways Thailand is more attractive to travelers. But even in our rating, he scored only one point more, which says one thing: choosing Phuket or Vietnam - where it is better, cheaper and more interesting - is for you and only you, since even generalized information does not give a complete picture of the living and recreation conditions in these countries . We are engaged in renting real estate in Thailand and, for our part, we promise to do everything possible to ensure that these conditions remain the best possible during your stay.

How a Belarusian programmer got “tired” of Vietnam and moved to Thailand

Three years ago, test automation specialist Pavel Strongin moved to Ho Chi Minh City to work at Lazada. As Pavel himself admits, adapting to Vietnam was not easy: “once a month I bought tickets somewhere to breathe out and make sure that there was still civilization left somewhere.” And when the opportunity to move to Bangkok presented itself a year and a half later, he took it “with great pleasure.” Even now, when talking about life in Thailand, he constantly compares it with Vietnam:

“That’s it, I’m leaving!” How to last more than a year in Vietnam and fall in love with it

Pavel had the opportunity to work for the Thais a few years ago: having gone through “fire, water and copper pipes” at IBA and EPAM immediately after graduating from BSUIR, he “in some strange way ended up at Akavita”: the company had just received an order from a Thai government to write social networks. “I came to Akavita a week before the New Year with the condition that I would go on vacation during the holidays,” recalls Pavel. “And when I returned, I found out that they had failed the project.” Pavel eventually went to Moscow to work at Yandex - and if not for the crisis, he would never have quit:

– The fabulous job in Moscow ended when the financial crisis began in Russia, and my salary turned into a “pumpkin”.

At that moment, recruiters from Vietnam wrote to me: they say, we have a cool startup here, we just raised $300 million - come. This is probably a once in a lifetime chance to work in Asia! Already in January I was in Vietnam - in complete shock at what was happening there. Because before I only knew about this country that there was a city called Saigon somewhere there. It turned out that even Saigon no longer exists - the city was renamed.

The first impression of Vietnam is chaos: around the taxi that takes me from the airport to the hotel, there is a stream of motorcycles, everyone is scurrying back and forth, and I want to shout: “Ah-ah!..” - because this is hell. The hotel room seems to have a window, but it goes out into the ventilation shaft - and sunlight does not penetrate into the room. This, of course, helps to overcome time shift, but it is very depressing.

It took me a long time to get used to Vietnam. It is so unique that after three months here many people begin to say: “That’s it, I can’t be here anymore: I’m leaving!” - they are leaving. I held out for a year and a half, but once a month I regularly bought tickets somewhere to exhale and make sure that there was still civilization left somewhere. By the way, those who work in Vietnam for much longer often fall in love with this country and consider it the best place on earth.

Last year, Lazada opened a technical office in Thailand, and my team gradually began moving there. I had never been to Bangkok before, so I first asked to go there for work: I realized that Thailand is much more comfortable than Vietnam, and most importantly, everything works here, and I decided to move.

“He’ll just sit down and drink some tea”: how things don’t work

In my opinion, Vietnam is a country where nothing works at all. People here live only by their desires and the present day: if a Vietnamese doesn’t want to go to work, he won’t. It started to rain - that's it, that's a good reason to stay home. And it rains in Vietnam for 4 months in a row.

Services in Vietnam work the same way: if the instructions do not spell out the procedure down to the last step, in any incomprehensible situation the Vietnamese will not think about how to solve everything - he will simply sit down and drink tea. He did everything he could. And you come across this attitude towards work every day and many times, although sometimes there are exceptions.

Bangkok, on the contrary, is like big Moscow: skyscrapers, businesses, expensive cars, metro - ci-vi-li-za-tion! And everything works. You live in comfort: you don’t need to go to the store - you press a couple of buttons on your phone, and all the products are delivered to you right away. If you want to send a package to a friend, you pick up the phone again: and immediately a guy on a bike rides out, who will pick up and deliver the package wherever you tell him.

The Thais are the exact opposite of the Vietnamese. These are motivated workers who really love what they do. Just like this: “Ah-ah, I’m doing something so cool that I’m ready to spend my personal time on it!..” But after Vietnam, this only makes me happy.

Many Thais study abroad, at least the middle class ones, and live like Europeans. In Thailand it is difficult to find something very specific, with the exception of very spicy cuisine - I could not get used to it, but I have been in Asia for about 3 years.

While I lived in Vietnam, I constantly experienced difficulties with food: in order to find something that was not even spicy, but in principle edible, you had to try hard. The Vietnamese are very fond of adding things that are unusual for us to their food - for example, a chicken head or a foot with marigolds, which they don’t even bother to cut off (probably a valuable product). And in Vietnam they like to chop chicken right with the bones - and this is what infuriates us the most. This is not the case in Thailand. And although there are more spicy dishes here than in Vietnamese cuisine, in Bangkok you can find a French, Italian or Mexican restaurant on every corner.

“If you stroked your belly, you have the right to compensation”

There is something else that was annoying about Vietnamese restaurants - the sounds that the eaters made. The Vietnamese are very fond of slurping: if you don’t slurp while eating, it doesn’t taste good to you. But as a person who was beaten on the forehead with a spoon for this, it only irritated me. And then the whole dining room is noisy: “Cham-chum-chum...” - so much so that you are ready to take the biggest ladle from the cook and show everyone how to eat.

By the way, in Vietnam all natural sounds are considered the norm, so riding in an elevator can be very unpleasant. Moreover, the Vietnamese love to crowd into the elevator until they squeeze you from all sides, rest against your navel and finish something, slurping and smacking. And these are just flowers, because at this moment a hand often reaches out to your stomach to stroke it...

The fact is that although Vietnam is considered not a religious country (it seems that 70% of the population are generally atheists), but in fact a Vietnamese can go to a church or a Buddhist monastery - mutter something to himself and move on. And he also believes in lucky Buddha - a fat bald man with a belly that you stroke so that good luck will accompany you. Moreover, the Vietnamese transferred this tradition to real people: if they see a big man, they will certainly pat him on the stomach. And since in Vietnam I had a very noticeable stomach, they constantly tried to touch it, as if by accident.

If you were patted on the belly in Vietnam, you have the right to demand compensation. I was told that one of the expats went on a tour, and at the very end the guide reached for his stomach. The tourist said: “Then I won’t pay for the excursion.” She responded: “Okay!” - this is the price for luck.

In Bangkok, everyone is very tactful in this regard - there will definitely be no surprises. Moreover, even in a Thai village they react to you like this: go white - and let him go. Although when I went to the countryside in Vietnam, half the village population always took pictures with me.

“I’m with a white man - give way!”

IT specialists in the Asian region receive special treatment. There is a national project in Thailand - The Board of Investment of Thailand: they are involved in attracting foreign investment, including in IT, and constantly invite IT specialists of all specialties to the country. By the way, if you work for a company that is part of the BOI, like Lazada, you get bonuses like flat tax and VIP queue access at the airport.

It is difficult to say what other professions are highly valued in Thailand, probably all of them are the same as throughout the world today. And in Vietnam, I was told, there are three prestigious professions: doctor, teacher and civil servant. If you want to get any of these jobs, be prepared to pay a bribe. Moreover, for a girl to become a nurse, her family must raise about $10 thousand. But, of course, she will receive no more than $300 (this is the average salary in Vietnam, and many local residents consider it “very good”).

By the way, in Vietnam, any expat who comes for a well-paid job is held in high esteem (of course, an IT specialist too). They understand that these people develop their economy. What they really don’t like is the “pale-faced invaders” who come and take their jobs: they become waiters, guides, and so on.

At first, expats find it unusual that in Vietnam everyone is rushing around with them: they open doors for them, hand them a chair. But the Vietnamese do it so naturally - they are really happy to please. And taxi drivers, it seems to me, even have an unspoken rule: when they are driving a white person, they can violate more than usual. At least, I noticed: when I got into a taxi, it was my driver who began to drive recklessly, drive in oncoming traffic, go around traffic jams with an important look, saying, “I’m with a white man - give way.”

This is not the case in Thailand. Perhaps because they love themselves more, and their attitude towards expats is rather neutral. By the way, the complete opposite of this is China. When I was in Shanghai, I was shocked: they looked at me like in Moscow they looked at visitors from the Caucasus. In China they don’t like you, they look at you sideways, they suspect you of something, and even in the hotel they don’t smile at you. In Shanghai, I rented a room in an expensive four-star hotel, but at the reception they spoke to me so coldly, almost like: “Why are you stopping in? You are not needed here - go home!

“In Bangkok you pay for comfort, in Ho Chi Minh City - because you are “rich”

I said nothing about living conditions in the countries where I lived. Renting an apartment in the center of Bangkok starts from $500: for this money you can rent an excellent 40-meter studio with good furniture and built-in appliances. The apartment is considered a one-room apartment, but by Belarusian standards it is a “two-room apartment”: there is a separate bedroom and a living room combined with a kitchen.

By the way, cheap apartments in Thailand do not have a kitchen, because eating on the street is cheaper than cooking at home. Renting such an apartment costs only $150-200. But, as a rule, this housing is for locals - in areas unpopular among foreigners. It’s not a problem to find a 100-meter apartment for $400, but then you’ll have to travel an hour to the office every day.

The housing in Ho Chi Minh City is disgusting. Most of the buildings in the center are pillars standing close to each other. Even when Vietnam was a French colony, they introduced a law on the width of the facade: the French decided that if they allowed a Vietnamese to build a house as he pleased, he would take over the entire territory. Since then, the houses have only grown upward. There are no windows on the sides or back at all - only on one side; sometimes there may be another narrow window on the side, abutting the window of the next house.

Due to high humidity, floors in Vietnam are tiled and walls are painted, so any home in Ho Chi Minh City feels like being in a hospital.

In Bangkok, people love comfort, so there are wooden floors, rugs, wallpaper on the walls, and what’s most interesting - for the same money. Apartments in the center of Ho Chi Minh City and in the center of Bangkok will cost the same. Only in the center of Bangkok you pay for comfort, and in the center of Ho Chi Minh City - simply because you are “rich”. And if a Vietnamese rents the same housing, it will cost 2 times less.

The center of Bangkok is always jammed with traffic jams. But, probably, not as endless as in Moscow: here many people prefer public transport and motorbikes (in our opinion, scooters). There are even motorbike taxis - they drive past traffic jams, and if you need to get somewhere very quickly, you either choose it or take the metro.

If you take a taxi, sometimes you have to wait: the traffic lights here are very interesting - the red light can stay on for 10 minutes. You drive up, look at the timer, and realize it’s an ambush. True, there is a loophole: a left turn is allowed even on red, and even in those places where it is prohibited, everyone turns.

Boats are also used as public transport in Bangkok: they are long and can accommodate no fewer passengers than a bus. At the same time, they swim very quickly, and on some routes they gain time over the same bus, which may get stuck in a traffic jam.

“They eat, and then leave all the garbage where they sat.”

What has always surprised me about Vietnam is that the majority of the population cannot swim, despite the fact that the country is located along the coast. The only thing they use the beach for is picnics. They come to the sea dressed - in jackets, hats, face masks (so that, God forbid, they don’t get sunburned) - they eat, and then they leave all the garbage where they were sitting. This is Vietnam!..

In this country there is no culture of cleaning up after yourself: among the Vietnamese it is considered the norm if you drink from a plastic glass, finish it and throw it at your feet. I smoked and quit again (at the same time, women’s smoking is condemned by society). By evening, huge piles of garbage accumulate everywhere. At night special people come by and collect everything. Therefore, if at 4-5 in the morning you decide to walk around the city, it will be perfectly clean, except that rats and cockroaches will be finishing their meal. But by 10 am the city will again be littered with garbage.

That is why in places of entertainment, for example, water parks, there are often separate places for tourists, where the Vietnamese with their garbage are not allowed to go. Here you can also take a break from the noise: the peculiarity of the Vietnamese language is that it is tonal - it has 6 tones, which is even more than in Chinese. And if you want to be understood, you need to speak loudly and clearly. But when someone tries to pronounce words loudly and clearly, the next one begins to speak even louder. And if there are more than 5 Vietnamese, it’s always a cry. You understand: if the whole water park is screaming, you get tired after a few minutes.

Feel like a hero “I am Legend”: in English with subtitles

One of my pastimes, whether in Vietnam or Thailand, is cinema. As elsewhere in Asia, films here are shown in English with subtitles. This is surprising, since Vietnam has a population of more than 80 million: they might have bothered with the translation.

In Bangkok, films are also not translated, and occasionally cartoons for very young children who cannot yet read. Recently, the cartoon “The Secret of Coco” was released - and also in English with subtitles. Although, I won’t lie, it really helps to learn the language.

What else to do in Bangkok in your free time - travel, of course. The easiest option is Pattaya, which is only 2 hours away by motorbike. If you really miss Russian cuisine, you can go have lunch and then go to some nearby island for a swim, because...

Traveling by air is also available: flights everywhere in Asia cost pennies, so if you see cheap tickets to Bali, why not fly. A plane ticket to any corner of Thailand costs on average $50 round trip: I’ve already seen half of the country, only the north is not closed yet.

In Vietnam, I also traveled and flew a lot - every weekend I tried to either get out to the sea or go somewhere else. The only place I didn’t manage to visit was Con Dao Island - it’s very difficult to get there for the right amount of money.

Once a year in Vietnam, the whole country gets together for a trip: for Chinese New Year, both old and young - everyone goes to the village to visit their parents for a week. At this time it is impossible to buy tickets in any direction because everything is sold out. And then one fine morning you wake up, and in a city where 13 million live there is not a soul. You walk through empty Saigon past closed shops and cafes, watch the wind blowing garbage, and feel like a hero in the movie “I Am Legend.”

"Vai" in front of the king's portrait and the anthem on the treadmill

In Bangkok, many people lead a healthy lifestyle, so even in a very expensive gym there are practically no places in the evening. Virgin Active, owned by Richard Branson's company, is located in the same building as our office - prices there are around $1.5 thousand for an annual subscription. So you can’t get there in the evening after work: finding a free exercise machine is simply unrealistic.

It's the same in the parks of Bangkok - in the evenings all the running paths look like the city is running a marathon. By the way, there is an interesting point: at the same time the anthem is playing in the parks - at that moment the entire stream of people stops, listens to the anthem, and then continues moving. We saw this once: an unusual sight.

People in Thailand are very respectful of their ruler. A year ago - he was one of the three most beloved and revered monarchs. The mourning for the deceased king lasted exactly a year and on the most important dates - the first month, birthday, anniversary of the coronation and the final two weeks - the whole country dressed in black and white (against this background, tourists walking around in shorts and flip-flops were especially noticeable). It should be noted that people observed mourning voluntarily: there was no pressure “from above.”

Of course, portraits of the king hang everywhere, and many stop near them and make a “wai” - a bow with folded hands. And in cinemas, before the show, they show videos about the king, or photographs of the ruler, and at this time the anthem plays from the loudspeaker.

Disrespect for the king here is a very serious, criminal offense. They say that someone was even tried for throwing a banknote with the image of the king on the ground without sharing something with the seller and spitting on it.

Girls are real and not: who “hunts” white men

There is a joke about Vietnam that one of its export products is girls. Every year they enter into more than 100 thousand marriages with foreigners. In fact, many Vietnamese women believe that real luck is to meet a white man and marry him. Therefore, dating girls in Vietnam is something very simple: you can choose any beauty you like, and most likely she has already answered “Yes” to you, because you are a foreigner. We even joked that “we don’t have a single free person in our office” who isn’t dating a local girl. But in fairness, it must be added that they do this not only because of the money, but also because of a completely different attitude towards them from visitors: girls in Vietnam are not used to courtship, gifts, and being taken to the movies , bowling, billiards.

In Thailand, girls value themselves highly, and very often give preference to local guys, especially if they are successful guys. There is no “hunting” for white men here. And if a girl herself shows interest in you, you sometimes even wonder why she is looking for a relationship with you. It’s just that the forums here are full of stories about how a guy got married and took a Thai beauty to his homeland, and after 5 years she waved her hand to him: “Thank you! I had a good time with you, but now I have to go back to my husband,” that is, to the “brother” with whom she corresponded all the time and sponsored her at your expense.

There are a lot of “fake” girls in Thailand -. They are considered the absolute norm here: moreover, if a boy considers himself ugly and thinks that he would be much more attractive as a girl, the first thing he does is begin to behave like a girl and use feminine endings in conversation.

Fake girls are sometimes difficult to distinguish from real ones. The following rule works on dating services: if the girl in the photo is too beautiful to be real, she is a ladyboy (fortunately, they all write about this openly, so there are almost no misunderstandings).

I once almost had an embarrassment: I liked one colleague - she looked like a very pretty girl - and I noted this in a conversation with colleagues. Thank you, the guys warned me that she is not who I took her for.

I am often asked how massage is in Thailand, I can say that it is very popular - the salons are almost always full. Of course, some people are not at all interested in those salons that are “about massage” - there are also a lot of visitors there. Usually they stand out because there is a pretty girl sitting at the entrance, and not an adult woman with pumped up arms. And at the same time, everything is open - no one is hiding, and everyone knows what is happening in these salons.

3 thousand dollars for feeding fish and 2 weeks in prison for a cigarette

But in Thailand, hookah smoking is strictly prohibited, so sometimes you feel just like the heroes of films about prohibition in America. To smoke, you go to a special establishment (there, of course, everyone is very secretive, and until you ask, no one will offer you a hookah), where there is a special smoking room with a separate exit - so that you can escape in time.

There is another strange feature: you can get here. And such a situation just recently happened in Pattaya: Russian tourists spent 2 weeks behind bars and paid a huge fine.

In Thailand, you can get bread in a protected area, which includes all parks and many tourist beaches. A Russian woman also got caught in this: she was taken straight from the beach by the coast guard, and the madam “faced” a $3,000 fine and deportation.

I had no problems with the law in Thailand, although once - at the very beginning - I almost got caught. I went on a motorcycle to Pattaya, and since I didn’t yet have a normal stand for the navigator, I just rode with headphones. Google Maps showed me where to go from time to time. But when they tell you: “Go straight,” and there are three roads straight ahead that diverge in different directions, and there is no opportunity to look, there is a risk of turning the wrong way. So I got onto the highway. And here it must be said that in Thailand it is prohibited to ride motorcycles on the highway - you can get a fine of $150 and/or 3 months in prison.

I quickly realized my mistake and decided: “Now I’ll get to the first exit and turn around.” But that was not the case: literally 20 seconds later the police caught up with me: “Why did you go there? Ah ah ah!" I say: “Sorry, guys, I was going to Pattaya, but I took a wrong turn.” And they absolutely calmly said: “Okay, turn around and go back.” It was a strange proposal: there are 6 lanes, and everyone drives at least 120 km/h. “I’m not suicidal! I’d better go ahead...” They understood me, said: “Okay,” and let me go.

Since Turkey has slightly lost its position, the eyes of Russian tourists have turned to the east. Of all the countries in Southeast Asia, Thailand and Vietnam offered the most suitable conditions for recreation. And if the first has long been popular among tourists and attracts them with its exoticism, the second has only now begun to gain popularity. They are very similar, so the choice of “Thailand or Vietnam?” It is very difficult for tourists. We will describe the differences between these countries.

Climate

Both countries are in Southeast Asia. It is warm here all year round and there is no distinct summer or winter, but there is a rainy season.

Vietnam can be visited all year round. In winter, it is most pleasant to relax on Phu Quoc Island, in summer - in Nha Trang or Hoi An. It has been raining almost everywhere since the end of October.

In this regard, it is also democratic. It is most comfortable here in winter, when it is dry and not too stuffy and humid. This is especially true for such a popular resort as Phuket. In Koh Samui, it rains mainly in the fall, but usually this does not interfere with your vacation.

As you can see, in any month you can find a resort in Vietnam or Thailand that is better to go to. So the choice is not between countries, but between resorts.

There is another important point - acclimatization, adaptation to the country’s climate. It is less hot in Thailand, but tourists note that the heat is much more difficult to bear due to high humidity. This is especially true in summer and autumn when it rains. It’s easier to breathe in Vietnam; the climate is reminiscent of Crimea and Sochi.

Bottom line: The climate in the two countries is similar, but winter in Vietnam is not as comfortable as in Thailand, but acclimatization is easier.

Beaches

In terms of beaches, Vietnam is definitely inferior to Thailand. The water here is not so clear, there are many locals on the public coast, and the infrastructure is less developed. The beaches are beautiful, but you need to get to them by bike and there is almost no infrastructure.

The beaches of Thailand are cleaner and more equipped - except that in Pattaya the sea is quite dirty and not suitable for swimming. But you can find yourself in truly heavenly conditions. And in Thailand there are many more opportunities for active recreation.

In Vietnam, almost all beaches have a gentle entrance to the water, which is pleasant for families with children.

The water is always warm, but in winter in the south of Vietnam it rarely warms up above +25 °C, while in Thai it is heated to +27 °C and above.

Bottom line: Thai beaches are better than Vietnamese ones in terms of cleanliness and infrastructure, but among the latter, in the distance, there are very quiet ones with untouched nature.

Attractions

If you are interested in ancient Asian culture, then Thailand is strong in this regard - there are a huge number of pagodas, Buddhist temples, Buddha statues, palaces and other interesting places. The nature here is also very beautiful, and excursions, according to tourists, are much better organized.

In Vietnam, after the war, there are few ancient monuments left, but there are interesting modern buildings. In Hanoi you can walk through beautiful parks, and in Dalat you can look at French architecture.

Bottom line: For exclusively sightseeing tours, choose Thailand, preferably in winter, when it is not so humid and stuffy.

Infrastructure

Accommodation

Since Thailand has long been a popular resort, there is much more housing here - there are a lot of hostels and hotels even in the smallest resorts. There are various bungalows on the shore, and quite a few villas that are rented out to tourists, including some very close to the sea.

Along with a wide variety and high level of service come quite high prices. Often they are still lower than in Europe or the former CIS countries.

In Vietnam, the hotel infrastructure is not so developed. They have already appeared, but it’s often not very comfortable to relax in inexpensive ones. It is better to stay in three- and four-star hotels. Even in 5* hotels, prices are generally pleasing, especially since they offer fairly comfortable conditions.

Bottom line: For the most comfortable hotels, go to Thailand, for inexpensive ones - to Vietnam.

Nutrition

Thailand has a lot of cafes and restaurants, street food stalls, so you will always find somewhere to eat. However, it is very spicy, and some tastes and dishes are so unusual that it can cause stomach problems. Adapting to local food is not easy.

There are also many cafes and restaurants in Vietnam, but they often close in the evenings. Street stalls also leave early and are not open during lunch - the Vietnamese have a siesta.

At the same time, it is much closer to us - often it is ordinary rice with meat, fish, rice noodles or light soups. Moderate spiciness. True, sometimes they add an unusual nuok-mam sauce to food, which is made from rotten fish - this exotic is not for everyone. Fresh vegetables and fruits are cheaper.

Vietnam is especially famous for its coffee - there are ideal conditions for growing it. It is prepared using special aluminum filters, which gives it a special taste.

Food prices in both countries are approximately the same. Local food is cheap, but imported products like milk are quite expensive.

Bottom line: There is more food in Thailand, but it is unusual. Vietnamese cuisine is softer and less exotic.

Entertainment

If you want to relax as fun as possible, then you shouldn’t even wonder what is better: Thailand or Vietnam. In terms of entertainment, Tai is definitely the leader - even in small resorts there are discos and clubs, and in large cities there are constantly noisy parties, interesting and exotic shows. There are also many more water parks and amusement parks. And the adult entertainment industry can be the envy of any other country in the world. Water activities and diving are much better developed, especially on the islands.

Question to an expert: Which destination, Thailand or Vietnam, would you recommend for a holiday with children and why?

Nikolay Zhuravlev answers:
CEO
LLC "BUSINESS PLANNING EXPERTS",
experienced traveler

“Thailand is more suitable. Firstly, there is a much more developed recreation infrastructure there compared to Vietnam. Secondly, Vietnam has a completely different nature - the jungle with all the ensuing consequences. I once barely rode a moped around a huge cobra that stretched the entire width of the road and glittered under the moonlight so much that it gave me a shiver. Another time I was bitten quite badly at night by a swarm of some midges, so that the bites did not go away for two weeks. This has never happened in Thailand. And the main features of Vietnam, the freshest and cheapest seafood and wood products, are unlikely to be appreciated by children, since they are not yet mature.”

Vietnam has recently become popular among tourists, and its specialty is still calm and quiet family holidays. Noisy clubs and bars can only be found here in Nha Trang; noteworthy amusement parks and water parks can also be found only in Nha Trang, Ho Chi Minh City and Hanoi. And the Vietnamese go to bed very early, so after 10-11 pm the streets become very quiet.

Such a meager range of entertainment will upset the lover of night parties, but if peace and quiet attracts you, then Vietnam will be the ideal choice. And you can always go to Nha Trang for a few days and have a fairly good rest - the short distances between the resorts allow this.

Bottom line: For any entertainment, it is better to go to Thailand. If you are in Vietnam, then you can have fun in Nha Trang.

Visa regime

If you do not want to apply for a visa and you are choosing where to go, Thailand or Vietnam will suit you equally. There are no visa formalities at entry into these countries.

A Vietnam visa costs about $30 and is valid for 15 days. Placed at the airport after filling out a special form. In Thailand, upon entry, you will be given a stamp for free, which will allow you to stay in the country for 30 days.

Bottom line: You can enter Thailand easier, cheaper and for a longer period.

Prices

A flight to Bangkok from Moscow will cost less than to Nha Trang. Many flights with transfers. Direct charter flights during the season cost about the same.

Prices for tours are also at the same level, around 20-30 thousand rubles per person for two weeks. But a trip to Vietnam can be cheaper thanks to low accommodation prices.

Food prices in Thailand are higher, but not significantly. Goods and souvenirs here are also usually more expensive, but the range is wider. But taxis in Vietnam are one of the cheapest in the world, so you can save a lot on travel.

Bottom line: Vietnam is cheaper than Thailand in almost all respects.

Language

In Thailand, almost all locals speak English, especially in tourist areas. Even in non-tourist markets you can always find someone who speaks English and bargain. And in some resorts, for example, in Pattaya, there are entire Russian restaurants and shops.

In Vietnam, the circumstances are different - almost everyone speaks only the local language, price tags in supermarkets and signs are not duplicated in English. This doesn’t interfere with relaxing in a hotel on the beach, but if you travel around the country, you’ll have to learn a couple of phrases and get a phrase book.

Bottom line: In Thailand, you won’t be lost if you speak English, and in Vietnam, when traveling independently, you can’t do without a phrasebook.