Thailand vs Vietnam: After Living 3 Months in Each, Here’s My Honest Verdict

Thailand vs Vietnam: After Living 3 Months in Each, Here’s My Honest Verdict

I’ve spent three months living in Thailand and three months living in Vietnam. And I’m going to tell you which one’s the best and why. And I’ll be honest, I love them both equally. So, this is really hard. Both countries are beautiful. Both have incredible people. And both have food that you’ll remember for the rest of your life. If I had to choose just one to live in longterm, for me it would be Vietnam and specifically Daang City. Now, that doesn’t mean that Thailand loses. Far from it. because for holidays or for traveling then I would say Thailand is still one of the best places in the world if not at the top. So let’s break it down across seven categories. We’re going to do cost of living, food, people, culture, transport, lifestyle, and overall vibe. Number one is cost of living. Thailand can be really affordable, but it does depend where you are. If you’re staying in Bangkok or if you’re on the islands, things add up really fast. Western food, bars, tourist areas, they can cost almost as much as back home, sometimes even more. Now, Vietnam, it’ll stretch your money much further. A local meal can cost a dollar or two, and that’s just easy peasy for me. I still remember sitting at a tiny plastic table in Daang with steam rising off the bowl of fo that cost me the equivalent of 1 quid. And it was one of the best meals I’ve ever had. Apartments here are cheaper, too. and you can live comfortably on half of what you’d spend in Thailand’s big cities or a quarter of what you’d spend at home. If you’re thinking long term, Vietnam wins for cost of living by a mile. Number two is food. And this one for me is impossible to separate. Both countries are food heaven. They do western food well, but importantly, Thailand’s food is bold, spicy, and full of flavor. Think curries, pad thai, mango, sticky rice, street foods everywhere, and it smells incredible. Some nights I’d walk through Chiang Mai just for the sake of it and you’d smell 50 different dishes in a single street. Grilled meats, garlics, lemongrass spices, it all hits you at once. Now Vietnam’s food is fresher, lighter, and cleaner and still street food, but a bowl of faux or bambi is something I could eat every day and I just won’t get tired of it. Actually did this for a little while. I had fo for breakfast almost every day. I think every day actually for about 2 and 1/2 weeks and I swear every bowl tasted slightly different depending on who made it or where I got it from. So, Thailand definitely wins for variety and spice. Vietnam wins for everyday freshness. Honestly, it’s a tie. I think Jess prefers Thailand and I prefer Vietnam. Number three is people. Both countries have some of the friendliest people you’ll ever meet. There’s no doubt about it. Thailand is the land of smiles for a reason. Locals are polite, warm, and welcoming, especially if you show respect for their culture or try a little bit of Thai. Vietnam feels a little different. The kindness here is raw and genuine. People are genuinely curious about foreigners and often will invite you in for food or tea everywhere you go. Indang, a cafe and bar owner once bought brought me a free drink just cuz I smiled and tried to speak a bit of Vietnamese. We ended up chatting for an hour on Google Translate and that kind of connection happens all the time here. And now me and Vin were friends. So Thailand feels friendly in a polished way, almost very tourist driven, while Vietnam feels more personal and in a human way. Number four is culture. Thailand is famous for its temples and spirituality. Chang Mai Joran festivals and the Grand Palace in Bangkok. They’re unforgettable experiences. And Thailand has this calm and spiritual magic in its Buddhist roots and street market. Whereas Vietnam’s culture hits differently. It’s full of history and resilience from war museums to ancient towns like Hoan and the chaos of Hanoi’s old quarter. It’s culture emotion. And one of my favorite moments was visiting Hoyan at night when the lanterns lit up the river. It’s peaceful. It’s emotional and somehow feels timeless. Thailand feels spiritual and serene. Vietnam feels deep, historical, and alive. You have to take your pick on this one. Number five is transport. Thailand has better infrastructure. Airports, trains, feries, all smooth and simple if they turn up. If you’re on a tight schedule, then just easier to move around. Vietnam’s transport can be chaotic. Traffic in Hanoi or Ho Chi Min City is just wild. Bikes and cars everywhere. But that’s part of the adventure and I love it. I once took an overnight sleeper bus from Daang to Nimbin and it was just pure chaos. Horns, flashing, lights, driver doing 90 all the way. 90s music on boom boom boom. But I loved it and it was quality. And if you want comfort and convenience, then obviously Thailand’s better. You like a little bit bit of chaos and adventure then Vietnam’s your answer. Number six is lifestyle. And here’s where my personal opinion really comes in. For holidays, I think Thailand is unbeatable. islands, nightife, beaches, temples. The temples are amazing. It’s made for tourism, but for living long-term, Vietnam for me takes the win. Daang, for example, has everything. Stunning beaches, beautiful mountains, modern cafes, affordable living, and a growing expat community. Most mornings, I’ll grab a drink from a little beach cafe and just go and watch the locals swimming around at sunrise and just think, “Yeah, could stay here forever.” Now, one thing that really put me off Thailand, and this is really personal, is the smell. It’s the smell of cannabis and weed, if you will. It’s literally everywhere. Even in non-smoking sections, hotels, malls, walking down the street. It’s just constant. In pie, it is terrible. Walking through Bangkok at night sometimes felt like walking through like a cloud. And if you’re not into that smell, it gets really old really fast. It doesn’t ruin a country, of course, but it changes the atmosphere a bit. And Vietnam just doesn’t have that. So, for me, day-to-day life feels cleaner and calmer, except for the traffic. Thailand has expat hubs like Chiang Mai or Phuket. But Da Nang just wins for me. It’s affordable. It’s modern and it’s deeply Vietnamese plus cool beaches. So overall vibe is number seven. Thailand feels polished. It feels like it’s built around tourism and it delivers a smooth experience. So if you arrive at no plan at all, you’ll still have the time of your life. Vietnam feels raw, unfiltered, and alive. You’ll get lost and whatever. It’s noisy. It’s chaotic. It’s unpredictable, but it is real. It took me a week or two maybe to really adjust to Vietnam, but once I did, I realized just how genuine Vietnam is, and you will too. Nothing feels fake or forced. It’s just real life happening around you, and you’ve become part of it. When you connect with Vietnam, you’ll feel like you’ve connected with the heart of the country, if you will. So, if you’re looking for my answer, I would say live in Vietnam. Daang is the perfect city. Got beaches, mountains, affordability, community, and expat community as well. For holidays or short trips, it’s hard to beat Thailand. It’s easy. It’s convenient and it’s full of adventure. Both countries are amazing. The food is brilliant. The people are kind and the memories will stay with you forever. I know they will for me. If you ever get the chance, don’t pick one over the other. Try and do both. If you’ve got four weeks, do two in each. You will thank yourself later. I promise. If you’ve enjoyed this video, I have another one here and here.

🌏 Thailand vs Vietnam – Which Would I Choose After Living in Both?

I spent three months living in Thailand and three months living in Vietnam, and in this video I’m sharing exactly what I learned. From street food and daily costs to culture, lifestyle, and where I’d actually choose to live long-term – this is a completely honest comparison between two of Southeast Asia’s most popular destinations.

If you’re planning to move to Asia, become a digital nomad, or you’re just curious about life in Vietnam vs Thailand, this is for you. I break everything down across seven real-world categories: cost of living, food, people, culture, transport, lifestyle, and the overall vibe – backed by my own experiences from Bangkok, Chiang Mai, Da Nang, and Hoi An.

🍜 What You’ll Learn in This Video

The true cost of living in Thailand vs Vietnam in 2025

What everyday life is really like in Da Nang and Bangkok

Why I think Vietnam is better for long-term living

What makes Thailand unbeatable for holidays

Honest thoughts about the cannabis culture in Thailand

My favorite food, cities, and unforgettable travel moments

💬 My Experience
I’ve eaten pho for a dollar, watched sunrise over Da Nang Beach, and got lost in Chiang Mai’s night markets. I’ve taken overnight buses through Vietnam, dodged scooters in Hanoi, and sipped coffee in quiet temples in Thailand. Both countries changed how I see the world – but in different ways.

For me, Vietnam feels raw, authentic, and alive, while Thailand feels polished, easy, and built for comfort.

If you’re wondering which country to live in, travel through, or base yourself as a creator or remote worker, this video will help you decide.

📍 Locations Featured

Da Nang, Vietnam 🇻🇳

Hoi An, Vietnam 🇻🇳

Bangkok, Thailand 🇹🇭

Chiang Mai, Thailand 🇹🇭

🔥 SEO Keywords / Topics Covered
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Da Nang vs Bangkok, Moving to Vietnam,
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If you’re thinking about living abroad, or you’re torn between Vietnam and Thailand, watch until the end — I share exactly where I’d live, why Da Nang stole my heart, and what surprised me most about both countries.

Don’t forget to like, subscribe, and drop a comment with where you would choose — Thailand or Vietnam?