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Vietnam vs Thailand: Budget Travel from India

Vietnam vs Thailand for budget travel from India. Real costs, visa rules, food, and honest picks to help you choose your next Southeast Asia budget trip.

Vietnam vs Thailand: Which Is Better for Budget Travel from India? — illustrative featured image
A bowl of bun cha in Hanoi costs about 40,000 dong. That is roughly 130 rupees. A plate of pad Thai from a night market in Chiang Mai runs about 50 baht, or 120 rupees. Both arrive hot, both taste like they were made by someone's grandmother, and both will convince you that Southeast Asia budget travel is the smartest money you will ever spend. But the two countries are not the same trip. Not even close. We have spent months in each, and the Vietnam vs Thailand question comes up in our inbox more than any other. So here is the honest breakdown, with numbers, visas, and the sensory details that actually decide it. ## The Money Question, Answered With Receipts Daily budgets for a comfortable backpacker (guesthouse, street food, local transport, one paid activity) break down like this: | Expense | Vietnam | Thailand | |---|---|---| | Dorm bed | 150,000 to 250,000 VND (Rs 500 to 850) | 300 to 500 THB (Rs 750 to 1,250) | | Street meal | 30,000 to 60,000 VND (Rs 100 to 200) | 50 to 80 THB (Rs 120 to 200) | | Local beer | 15,000 to 25,000 VND (Rs 50 to 85) | 60 to 90 THB (Rs 150 to 225) | | Sleeper bus, 300 km | 250,000 VND (Rs 850) | 500 THB (Rs 1,250) | | Museum entry | 40,000 to 100,000 VND | 200 to 500 THB | Vietnam wins on almost every line. A lean day in Hanoi or Da Nang lands around Rs 1,800. The same lean day in Bangkok or Phuket lands closer to Rs 3,000. Over three weeks, that gap is a return flight. Thailand has one quiet advantage: islands. If your dream is snorkeling off Koh Lipe or renting a scooter on Koh Phangan, Vietnam's coastline (Phu Quoc, Con Dao, Nha Trang) is lovely but thinner on infrastructure. You pay for that convenience. ## Visas: The Part Nobody Warns You About For Indian passport holders, this is where the two diverge sharply, and it changes often, so check official portals before booking. Vietnam offers an e-visa valid for 90 days, single or multiple entry, for roughly USD 25 to 50. The application is done online, approval usually takes three to five working days, and you can enter at most major airports and land crossings. It is one of the more generous arrangements in the region. Thailand has moved to visa exemption for Indian travelers on short stays, typically 30 days, with extensions possible at an immigration office for a fee. The catch is that rules shift with policy cycles, and land border entries sometimes get stricter scrutiny than airport arrivals. Our practical advice: apply for the Vietnam e-visa at least two weeks out, and carry printed copies of your onward ticket and accommodation for either country. Immigration officers in both places ask for them more often from Indian travelers than the forums admit. ## Food: A Real Divide, Not a Tie We will not pretend this is close in every category. Vietnam's food is regional and specific. Northern pho is clear and restrained. Central Vietnam throws in lemongrass, chili, and fermented shrimp paste. The south sweetens everything. A food crawl through Hanoi's Old Quarter, Hue's bun bo, and Ho Chi Minh City's banh mi carts is a genuine education, and it costs almost nothing. Thailand's food is more standardized, which is both a strength and a weakness. You can find a decent green curry in any town, and the street food infrastructure (night markets, food courts, 7-Eleven snacks) is unmatched. But the best Thai food sits in the same dishes everywhere. Fewer surprises, more reliability. If you travel to eat, Vietnam rewards curiosity. If you travel to eat comfortably and predictably, Thailand wins. ## Experiences: Temples, Caves, and Crowds Vietnam gives you Ha Long Bay's karst towers (go to Lan Ha Bay instead, it is quieter), the caves of Phong Nha, the terraced hills of Ha Giang, and the motorbike loop that every traveler swears changed their life. It is a country built for [slow travel](/travel/blog/fall-2026-top-global-destinations-for-slow-travelers), because the distances are long and the rewards are inland. Thailand gives you temple complexes at Ayutthaya and Sukhothai, the Andaman islands, elephant sanctuaries (research them carefully, many are not ethical), and Bangkok's relentless energy. It is easier to navigate, better signposted in English, and more tourist-tested. The honest tradeoff: Vietnam feels less discovered. Thailand feels less stressful. Neither is better. They suit different travelers. ## Our Take: What We Recommend If you have three weeks and Rs 60,000 to Rs 80,000 for on-ground costs, go to Vietnam. Start in Hanoi, work south by train and sleeper bus, and end in Ho Chi Minh City. Book the Reunification Express leg from Da Nang to Hue for the coastline alone. Use 12Go Asia for buses and trains, and stay in family-run homestays through [Booking.com](https://www.booking.com/) or Agoda rather than chain hostels. If you have ten days, want beaches, and value ease over depth, go to Thailand. Fly into Bangkok, take the overnight train to Surat Thani, and ferry to Koh Phangan or Koh Tao. Book through Klook for ferries and activities, and use Grab for rides instead of negotiating with tuk-tuk drivers. If you have a month and a flexible budget, do both. Fly into Hanoi, cross into Laos or Cambodia, and finish in Bangkok. Vietnam's e-visa and Thailand's exemption make this surprisingly painless. One ethical note we will not skip: in both countries, the cheapest option is often the one that exploits someone. A Rs 200 elephant ride is a Rs 200 elephant ride. Skip it. Choose [sanctuaries that do not offer riding](/travel/blog/sustainable-travel-how-to-choose-eco-friendly-destinations-for-your-next-trip), and choose homestays that pay local staff properly. Budget travel does not have to mean cheap travel at someone else's expense. ## FAQ ### Is Vietnam or Thailand cheaper for Indian travelers? Vietnam is consistently cheaper, usually 30 to 40 percent less per day. Accommodation, beer, transport, and museum tickets all cost less, and street food is both cheaper and more varied in the north. ### Do Indians need a visa for Vietnam and Thailand? Vietnam requires an e-visa for Indian passport holders, applied online and valid up to 90 days. Thailand has offered visa exemption for short stays, but rules change, so verify with the official embassy site before you book flights. ### Which country is better for a first solo trip from India? Thailand is easier for a first solo trip because of English signage, established tourist infrastructure, and reliable transport apps. Vietnam rewards travelers who are comfortable with more friction, though it is perfectly safe and increasingly well set up for solo visitors.

Frequently asked questions

Is Vietnam or Thailand cheaper for Indian travelers?

Vietnam is consistently cheaper, usually 30 to 40 percent less per day. Accommodation, beer, transport, and museum tickets all cost less, and street food is both cheaper and more varied in the north.

Do Indians need a visa for Vietnam and Thailand?

Vietnam requires an e-visa for Indian passport holders, applied online and valid up to 90 days. Thailand has offered visa exemption for short stays, but rules change, so verify with the official embassy site before you book flights.

Which country is better for a first solo trip from India?

Thailand is easier for a first solo trip because of English signage, established tourist infrastructure, and reliable transport apps. Vietnam rewards travelers who are comfortable with more friction, though it is perfectly safe and increasingly well set up for solo visitors.

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