Vietnam vs Thailand for Indian Travellers: The 2026 Comparison
By Saanvi Iyer (Saanvi Iyer writes offbeat destination guides for Indian travellers — places that work in monsoon, shoulder-season picks, and the cities Indian first-time international travellers underrate. Based in Bangalore, perpetually mid-itinerary.) · Published · 15 min read
Thailand is the easier, more familiar choice for Indians — visa-free, direct flights, established tourist trail. Vietnam is the more adventurous pick with stunning landscapes, fewer Indian tourists, and comparable cost. Both are exceptional. Here is how to choose between them.
TL;DR — Vietnam vs Thailand for Indians
If you want a smooth, predictable first international trip, Thailand wins: visa-free entry, excellent English, direct flights, and a tourist infrastructure that handles millions of Indian visitors every year. Vietnam rewards those who want dramatic landscapes, world-class food diversity, and fewer Indian tourists — but the e-visa adds a small hurdle, and direct flights are limited. Both countries are budget-friendly from India, though Vietnam edges slightly cheaper outside of peak season. Read on for the full comparison.
Visa and entry: which is simpler for Indians?
Thailand: Indians enjoy visa-free entry for up to 30 days (as of 2026), extendable once at an immigration office within Thailand. You need a valid passport with 6 months validity, a confirmed return ticket, and proof of sufficient funds — that is it. Entry at Bangkok (Suvarnabhumi or Don Mueang), Phuket, Chiang Mai, and other major airports is smooth.
Vietnam: Indians need an e-visa (evisa.xuatnhapcanh.gov.vn), which costs USD 25 (around ₹2,100) and is valid for up to 90 days single or multiple entry. The e-visa must be applied for in advance — processing typically takes 3 business days, though the system can be slow. The application is straightforward but requires a passport-size photo and a scan of your passport data page. Vietnam also grants visa-free access to certain nationalities; as of 2026, India is not on that list.
Practical tip: Apply for the Vietnam e-visa at least a week before travel — the portal occasionally has backlogs. Print the approved e-visa and carry it with your passport; immigration officers in Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City scan it at arrival.
Verdict: Thailand is simpler. Vietnam's e-visa is not difficult, but it requires advance planning.
Flights from India: options and cost
| Route | Thailand | Vietnam |
|---|---|---|
| Direct flights from India | Yes — Bangkok, Phuket, Chiang Mai from multiple Indian cities | Limited — some direct routes to Ho Chi Minh City; most via Bangkok or Singapore |
| Flight time | 3.5–5.5 hours (direct) | 5–10 hours (most with connection) |
| Return fares (economy, shoulder) | ₹12,000–₹20,000 | ₹18,000–₹30,000 |
If you are based in South India (Bangalore, Chennai, Hyderabad), flight connectivity to both countries is reasonable. From North India (Delhi, Lucknow), Bangkok is much better served with direct flights than Ho Chi Minh City or Hanoi. Fees and features change — verify on the official site before you rely on them.
A useful strategy for Vietnam: fly into Hanoi in the north and out of Ho Chi Minh City in the south (or vice versa) on an open-jaw ticket. This lets you travel Vietnam linearly without backtracking. IndiGo and Air India serve Bangkok, from where VietJet and Bangkok Airways offer cheap onward connections to Hanoi or HCMC.
Which country has better food for Indian palates?
Thailand is widely known among Indian travellers for its generous Indian and vegetarian restaurant scene — especially in Bangkok (Sukhumvit area), Phuket, Chiang Mai and Koh Samui. Most Thai curries can be made without fish sauce on request. Street food staples like pad thai, mango sticky rice and coconut soup are accessible and filling. Thai food is aromatic, mildly spiced (most tourists find it manageable) and extremely affordable on the street.
Vietnam has arguably Asia's most complex street food culture — pho, banh mi, bun bo Hue, cao lau, com tam — but most dishes are non-vegetarian and feature fish sauce, pork or seafood. Vegetarian options exist (Buddhist-influenced 'chay' restaurants) but require navigating the local language. If you are a strict vegetarian, Vietnam requires more planning. For meat-eaters, the food is revelatory.
Regional food differences in Vietnam matter a lot: Hanoi food is simpler and saltier; Hoi An specialities like white rose dumplings and cao lau are unique to that town; Ho Chi Minh City's street food is sweeter and more varied. Indian spice tolerance handles Vietnamese chilli levels well — the cuisine is not as spicy as north Indian food, so most Indian travellers find it immediately accessible if they eat non-veg.
Verdict: Thailand is easier for Indian palates and vegetarians. Vietnam is a food adventure for those open to it.
Landscapes and experiences: what does each country do best?
Thailand excels at beach holidays (Phuket, Koh Samui, Koh Lanta), Buddhist temple culture (Chiang Mai's Doi Suthep, Bangkok's Wat Pho), night markets, and world-class massages and wellness. The Elephant Nature Park near Chiang Mai is a popular ethical wildlife experience. Bangkok is one of Asia's great cities for food, shopping and nightlife.
Vietnam has a more visually diverse landscape compressed into a long, thin country: Halong Bay's karst islands, the ancient town of Hoi An, the imperial city of Hue, the Mekong Delta, Sapa's terraced hills, and the sand dunes of Mui Ne. The country rewards multi-city itineraries — a 10-day trip can take you from Hanoi to Hoi An to Ho Chi Minh City on domestic VietJet or Bamboo Airways flights for very little. This internal variety is Vietnam's biggest advantage over Thailand.
For Indian travellers specifically, Hoi An's tailoring culture is a major draw — the old town is packed with skilled tailors who can produce custom suits, dresses, and traditional Vietnamese garments (ao dai) within 24–48 hours at prices that feel unreal by Indian standards. A tailored suit in Hoi An typically costs the equivalent of ₹5,000–₹15,000 depending on fabric and complexity.
Budget comparison: which is cheaper for Indian travellers?
Both countries are affordable by Indian international travel standards. As a rough daily budget guide (excluding flights):
- Thailand budget traveller: ₹2,500–₹4,000/day (hostel or guesthouse, street food, local transport)
- Thailand mid-range: ₹6,000–₹12,000/day (mid hotel, restaurants, tours)
- Vietnam budget traveller: ₹2,000–₹3,500/day (hostel, pho and banh mi, buses)
- Vietnam mid-range: ₹5,000–₹10,000/day (boutique hotel, restaurant meals, day trips)
Vietnam is marginally cheaper for accommodation and food, but higher flight costs from India tend to equalise the total trip budget. Thailand's more developed tourist infrastructure means you often pay slightly more but get better English support and easier logistics.
Internal transport cost in Vietnam is a genuine budget advantage: overnight sleeper buses between cities cost around ₹600–₹1,000; domestic VietJet flights between Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City can be as low as ₹1,500–₹2,500 if booked early. Traversing the length of Vietnam is remarkably cheap.
Which is better for different types of Indian travellers?
- First-time international travellers: Thailand — lower friction entry, more English, direct flights.
- Beach holiday seekers: Thailand (Phuket, Koh Samui) — though Vietnam's Phu Quoc and Da Nang are excellent alternatives.
- Backpackers and solo travellers: Vietnam — the country has a well-worn backpacker trail, very affordable hostels, and an exciting multi-city format.
- Honeymoon couples: Both work well. Thailand's islands are romantic; Vietnam's Hoi An is one of Asia's most photogenic towns.
- Foodie travellers: Vietnam for adventure; Thailand for accessibility.
- Cultural and history enthusiasts: Vietnam — the war history, French colonial architecture, and distinct north–south cultural differences make for a richer cultural journey.
- Shopping trips: Bangkok wins on shopping malls (MBK, Chatuchak Weekend Market, Siam Paragon). Hoi An wins for custom tailoring.
Combining Vietnam and Thailand: is it worth it?
Many experienced Indian travellers combine both on one trip — and it is one of Southeast Asia's classic itineraries. A 14–16 day combination works well: fly into Bangkok, spend 3–4 days in Thailand (Bangkok + one beach island), fly to Hanoi or Ho Chi Minh City, and travel through Vietnam before flying home from the other Vietnamese city. Alternatively, fly into Ho Chi Minh City and cross overland to Cambodia (Phnom Penh or Siem Reap) and then Bangkok, wrapping in Angkor Wat along the way.
The flight between Bangkok and Hanoi or HCMC is around 2 hours and can be as cheap as ₹3,000–₹5,000 one-way on VietJet or Air Asia if booked in advance. This makes the combination very practical. Note that you do not need a Thai visa for transit through Bangkok — but if you want to spend meaningful time in Thailand as part of the loop, the visa-free 30 days covers it easily.
Bottom line: Vietnam or Thailand from India?
Go to Thailand first if you have never been abroad or want a predictable, comfortable beach holiday. Go to Vietnam when you are ready for something more adventurous — the landscapes and food are world-class, and the country is genuinely under-visited by Indians relative to its quality. Many travellers end up combining both: fly into Bangkok, spend a week in Thailand, then fly to Ho Chi Minh City and travel northwards before flying home. Explore more destinations on FlightGPT →
See also: Bali vs Phuket for Indian Travellers and Georgia vs Azerbaijan for Indians.
Frequently asked questions
Do Indian passport holders need a visa for Thailand and Vietnam?
Indians are visa-free in Thailand for up to 30 days (as of 2026). For Vietnam, Indians need an e-visa (USD 25, valid up to 90 days) which must be applied for online before travel — processing takes around 3 business days.
Which is cheaper — Vietnam or Thailand for Indians?
Vietnam is marginally cheaper for day-to-day expenses like food and accommodation. However, flights from India to Vietnam are generally more expensive and often involve a connection, so total trip costs end up comparable. Both are budget-friendly by international standards.
Can Indian vegetarians eat easily in Vietnam?
Vegetarians can manage in Vietnam but need to look specifically for 'an chay' (Buddhist vegetarian) restaurants, especially in larger cities like Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City. Most mainstream Vietnamese dishes contain fish sauce, pork or seafood. Thailand is significantly easier for Indian vegetarians.
How many days should I plan for Vietnam vs Thailand?
Thailand: 7–10 days is comfortable for a single region (Bangkok + islands, or Chiang Mai + north). Vietnam: 10–14 days is ideal if you want to see multiple cities across its long geography — Hanoi, Hoi An and Ho Chi Minh City at minimum.
Is it safe for Indian solo travellers in Vietnam and Thailand?
Both countries are considered safe for solo travellers, including solo Indian women. Tourist areas in Thailand are well-policed and English-speaking. Vietnam is similarly safe, though be alert to motorbike-theft in busy city areas like Ho Chi Minh City's backpacker district.
Can I combine Vietnam and Thailand on one trip?
Yes — this is one of Southeast Asia's best combination itineraries. Fly into Bangkok, spend time in Thailand, then take a short budget flight (VietJet or Air Asia) to Ho Chi Minh City or Hanoi and travel through Vietnam. A 14–16 day trip comfortably covers the highlights of both countries.