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    Thailand vs Vietnam – Which One is Better? Pros and Cons in 2023



    Thailand vs Vietnam – after extended time in both countries, what were the pros and cons of each we found, and did we find one better than the other? Both Thailand and Vietnam are popular vacation destinations in Southeast Asia, each offering its own unique experiences. Thailand is known for its stunning beaches, vibrant nightlife, and rich culture, while Vietnam is famous for its natural beauty, historic sites, and delicious cuisine.

    In Thailand, visitors can explore bustling cities like Bangkok, relax on tropical islands like Phuket or Koh Samui, or immerse themselves in the country’s rich history and culture by visiting ancient temples and ruins in Chang Mai. Meanwhile, Vietnam offers breathtaking natural landscapes like Halong Bay and Sapa, as well as historic cities like Hanoi, Da Nang, and Ho Chi Minh City, where visitors can learn about the country’s fascinating past.

    Both countries also offer delicious food, with Thai cuisine known for its spicy flavors and fresh ingredients, while Vietnamese cuisine is renowned for its pho noodle soup and banh mi sandwiches. Overall, whether you’re looking for a relaxing beach vacation or an adventure-filled cultural experience, both Thailand and Vietnam have plenty to offer.

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    28 Comments

    2. John T on

      We loved Vietnam and especially Hoi An. We befriended our driver who later took us to his home to meet his family. Vietnam is a bit more rustic than Thailand caters to tourists a bit more. I agree with the chaos in the major cities, scooters everywhere. I would love to go back to Vietnam. Hope you guys make it to Bali, Indonesia and would love to hear what you guys think of that island.

    5. Danielle on

      Great video guys,
      My husband and I spent a bit of time in Vietnam and in addition to the Ho Chi Minh, Hanoi, Hoian…. We really enjoyed Sapa and the beach & night market of Phu Quoc. Would very much recommend these 2 places to visit.
      Safe travelling!

    6. bettyn on

      Thanks Brian and Carrie for another great video. Hue is a great option for you to consider next time you visit in Vietnam. The food there is also more spicy. Hue is vey calm and more affordable than Hanoi. Hue also has a beach, not as nice as Da Nang though. If you prefer beaches, then Quy Nhon, Phang Rang, or Nha Trang also has beautiful beaches and the beaches there are even nicer than Đa Nang. Looking forward to another video 😊

    7. gr8bkset - on

      Thailand is the "Costa Rica" of Southeast Asia. It has had peace and time to develop its tourism industry. Its amenities for tourist are well developed, but so has the costs. Vietnam is less developed so you can still find gems and low costs. Lots of foreign direct investments in Vietnam so it won't be cheap forever.

    8. travel refocused on

      From what I've seen of both countries so far, I agree with you on most points… Except the Thai beer… I prefer Singha 😂. I also found craft beers to be very expensive in Thailand. As a connoisseur of the brew, I'm looking forward to exploring the craft beer scene in Vietnam more. Hanoi it is in November. Stop eating in 7-11 😂 Safe travels.

    9. Klee Rogers on

      agree on Grab taxi, we used it all the time in Thailand, also the BTS and Skytrain, excellent, also agree on the food, Thailand wins, and infrastructure as well, far prefer Thailand, the only problem we had in Thailand was Koh Samui, it was a complete rip off, we will never return, food prices were the same as Canada, or even more expensive, no Grab taxi, Expensive flights, 3X the price to go to Koh Samui, not worth it at all, Hua Hin by far is the best place for beaches and costs in Thailand, Chiang Mai is also the cheapest place to go to in Thailand overall, but we got bored, we stayed for one month in Chiang Mai, rented a car and drove all over the place and nearby provinces, it got old after 2 weeks or so, but if cost is the #1 priority Chiang Mai can't be beat, but Hua Him is far better because of the beaches and NO SMOKE like in Chiang Mai. Great videos guys, thanks for all the information!!!

    11. sam khouvilay on

      Hello Brian/Carrie, I love your videos and do follow your videos of Asia. You have it right on comparing the two incredible countries in SE Asia. I just wanted to mention that Thailand has a leg up on Vietnam because the people have a different mindset. You aren't likely to get scammed or taken advantage of in comparison to Vietnam. A perfect example is if you leave your things alone you are likely to get it back in Thailand whereas you will get taken in Vietnam. Thai's believe in Karma compared to Vietnamese, lol. Beers and seafood goes to Vietnam but food/massages goes to Thailand. Accommodations is definitely Vietnam but transportation goes to Thailand. Now that you've seen both amazing countries, give Laos and Cambodia a try so you can be taken back 30yrs in time. Btw, Lao beer is the best in Asia. This would be an adventure beyond your comfort zone but a life experience you'll never forget. Hope to follow more of your adventures, take care, cheers 🙏.

    12. Steve Jordan on

      Hi Guys great video thank you, both countries are on our list to visit. What time of the year were you there and how did you find the heat/humidity? We would love to check out the Air BNBs you stayed at if you wouldn’t mind tagging them. Happy travels 😊

    13. Chris Welsh on

      I did a 6 month tour of SE Asia last year (Jan to June 2022).
      Spent a good chunk of it in Thailand but also did 30 days in Vietnam as well.
      I highly recommend if you are going back to Vietnam to try HMC, Nha Trang, Mekong Delta, Sa Pa, Phong Nha Caves and Mai Chau.
      In Thailand I highly recommend Northern Thailand (Chiang Mai, Chiang Rai, Pai and border with Laos) Sokhothai is worth checking out as well.

    14. Daniel Nguyen on

      I'm Vietnamese and I think vacations in Thailand are better than Vietnam. Although Vietnam still has beautiful beaches and landscapes like : Nhatrang, Qui Nhon, ConDao, MuiNe, DaLat…. Love Thailand from Vietnam ❤

    15. Michael Ferguson on

      Love both places.
      It you what a party holiday go to Thailand.
      Vietnam is more conservative, but is changing bit by bit.
      I m with you Chang beer is yummy

    18. tinglestingles on

      We liked Da Nang and An Bang beaches. Hoi An and HCM (Saigon) were both great. Hanoi felt too cramped and not clean. We would go back to Vietnam. Vietnamese love Americans.

    22. Choosi B on

      N Việt Nam we always put a jar of fresh chili, Kumquat, vinegar garlic on the table for you to put it into the soup because some people will like spicy some are not.

    23. DuongNH on

      SOunds to me like Thailand is your clear favorite.
      Anyway the 90 days visa is coming back on 15th of August for anyone who's interested in visiting Vietnam.

    25. Have Chopsticks Will Travel on

      These 2 countries are on our list to visit and go back home to Laos. Carrie, I love the skirts you wear. Did you get those in Thailand? We were in Lagos for 2 weeks and the temperatures were i. the 90s for most days, I was looking for something airy and breezy like those. We plan to go back to the Algarve another places in Asia in the future.

    27. Tim Shields on

      Thailand recommendation: I HIGHLY RECOMMEND you do atleast a 1 month if not 3 month island hopping adventure taking in the many little islands up and down the country. And they aren't nearly as touristy as Phuket etc. Island life in Thailand is incredible (outside of Phuket etc)! Ko pi pi, ko lanta, etc

    28. BenCastle on

      There are more varieties of food in south Vietnam like Nha Trang and Saigon than north Vietnam. Vietnam is just open to the world and tourism so give it 10 15 more years it’s infrastructure will bypass Thailand. I also like candid comments from Carrie, that’s how you make people improve.

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