For years, Thailand was the automatic answer for Indian families and couples planning their first international holiday. But something has been changing rapidly in the last three years. More and more Indian travelers are choosing Vietnam instead — and our Sky Journey Tours team, based in Da Nang and having helped over 5,000 Indians plan Vietnam trips, can tell you exactly why.
Visa — Thailand Easier, Vietnam Gives More
Thailand offers visa-on-arrival free for Indian passport holders — 30 days, no pre-application required. Undeniably convenient.
Vietnam requires an e-visa ($25, 5-minute online application, 3-day approval). Not complicated but requires advance planning.
However: Vietnam's e-visa gives 90 days vs Thailand's 30 days. For planned travel, Vietnam's flexibility is significantly better. Verdict: Thailand easier for spontaneous trips. Vietnam better for planned itineraries.
Cost — Vietnam 20-30% Cheaper
After helping Indian travelers visit both countries, we can say confidently: Vietnam is 20-30% cheaper than Thailand for equivalent quality.
- 3-star hotel per night: Vietnam ₹2,000-3,500 vs Thailand ₹3,000-4,500
- 4-star hotel per night: Vietnam ₹4,000-7,000 vs Thailand ₹6,000-10,000
- Good local meal: Vietnam ₹200-400 vs Thailand ₹300-500
- Day tour with guide: Vietnam ₹1,500-2,500 vs Thailand ₹2,000-3,500
- Airport transfer 15km: Vietnam ₹400-600 vs Thailand ₹600-1,000
For a 7-day family trip of 4 people, savings typically reach ₹20,000-40,000 — enough for a significant hotel upgrade or an extra night on Ha Long Bay.
Beaches — Both Excellent, Different Character
Thailand has world-famous beaches — Phuket, Krabi's Railay, Koh Samui, Koh Phi Phi. Genuinely beautiful with excellent infrastructure.
Vietnam's best beaches — Phu Quoc Island, Da Nang's My Khe Beach — are less developed, less crowded and feel more authentic. Phu Quoc's Sao Beach rivals any Thai beach for beauty. Da Nang's 30km coastline has space for everyone even in peak season.
Verdict: Thailand beaches have a slight edge for dramatic white-sand scenery and developed water sports infrastructure. Vietnam beaches are better for couples and families wanting a quieter, less touristy experience.
Culture and Heritage — Vietnam Wins Convincingly
This is where Vietnam clearly surpasses Thailand for most Indian travelers. Vietnam has extraordinary depth of history and UNESCO-level experiences that Thailand's main tourist circuit cannot match.
- UNESCO World Heritage Sites: Vietnam has 8 including Ha Long Bay, Hoi An Ancient Town, Hue Imperial Citadel, My Son Sanctuary and Phong Nha caves.
- Hoi An Ancient Town: Nothing like it exists in Thailand. A perfectly preserved 15th-century trading port with lantern-lit streets — unique in all of Southeast Asia.
- Ha Long Bay: No equivalent anywhere in Thailand. 1,969 limestone islands in an emerald bay — one of the world's great natural wonders.
- War history: Vietnam's recent dramatic history is deeply moving. Cu Chi Tunnels and War Remnants Museum are genuinely powerful experiences with no Thai equivalent.
Food for Indian Travelers
Thailand has an initial advantage — Thai curries and coconut-milk dishes are familiar to Indian palates. Vietnamese cuisine (pho, banh mi, fresh herbs) is less familiar but grows on most Indian visitors within 2-3 days.
Both countries have good Indian restaurants in tourist areas. Vietnam's Buddhist vegetarian food culture (Cơm Chay restaurants) is a major advantage for vegetarian Indian travelers — clean, fresh and delicious at affordable prices.
Crowds — Vietnam Much Less Crowded
Thailand's popular destinations — Phuket in peak season, Phi Phi Island, the Grand Palace — are genuinely overwhelmingly crowded. Long queues, packed beaches, tourist-trap restaurants.
Vietnam's equivalent destinations — even Ha Long Bay and Hoi An — feel dramatically less commercialized. You can still find quiet corners in Hoi An's Ancient Town. Da Nang beach has 30km of coastline — space for everyone. This advantage will diminish as Vietnam grows in popularity, but for now it is significant.
Our Honest Verdict
Choose Thailand if: pure beach holiday with world-famous islands, you love Thai food, vibrant nightlife matters, or you are booking last-minute without visa planning.
Choose Vietnam if: cultural depth alongside beaches, better value for money, fewer crowds, extraordinary natural wonders (Ha Long Bay is genuinely irreplaceable), a trip that feels new and different, or you have already been to Thailand.
Browse our Vietnam tour packages or WhatsApp our team to start planning.
Many of our clients have done both Thailand and Vietnam and consistently say Vietnam was more memorable. Thailand is excellent and familiar. Vietnam surprises you. The Ha Long Bay sunrise, Hoi An by lantern light, the Golden Bridge at Ba Na Hills — these are experiences that stay with people for decades. That is why we dedicated our entire company to Vietnam specifically.
