Vietnam vs Thailand for a First International Trip from India: Visa, Budget and Food

A first trip abroad should feel doable, and the biggest gap between these two countries is paperwork. Indian passport holders can enter Thailand for tourism without a visa for up to 30 days. For Vietnam you need a visa.

Visa rules for Indian passport holders

Thailand

Indian ordinary passport holders can enter Thailand for tourism visa-free for up to 30 days, and no visa fee applies to that entry. The exemption has been effective from 15 September 2026 and runs "until further announcement", so check that it still stands before you book.

If you need a visa instead, apply on thaievisa.go.th. A single-entry tourist visa for applicants in India costs ₹3,000 and permits a 60-day stay. Applications submitted through the Thai Embassy in New Delhi take about 14 working days from the date the fee receipt is issued.

Vietnam

Indian ordinary passports are not on Vietnam's visa-exempt list, so you need a visa. Apply on Vietnam's official e-visa portal. Your passport must expire at least six months after you arrive.

An e-visa is valid for up to 90 days, and the dates on your approved visa set how long you can stay. Vietnam also has a Pre-arrival Information (PAI) form. It is a pilot at Tan Son Nhat airport and not mandatory, but you can submit it online within three days before arrival and receive a QR code.

Vietnam: what you actually do

Start in Hanoi. Wander the Old Quarter, a single square kilometre of 36 streets, each historically home to artisans trading in one kind of goods. Then watch locals do their daily exercise and tai chi by Hoan Kiem Lake. Add the Temple of Literature, a Confucian temple that became home to Hanoi's first university in 1076. If you like history mixed with street life, Hanoi is the best first city in either country.

From Hanoi you can fan out:

• Ha Long Bay: limestone islands, caves, beaches and outdoor activities. A cruise of two or more nights lets the boat go further in and reach quieter bays.
• Ninh Binh: a boat ride through the Tam Coc caves, then cycling through the fields to Bich Dong Pagoda.
• Hoi An: lantern-lit evening walks, with monthly full-moon lantern nights when the Ancient Town turns off its electric lights.
• Ho Chi Minh City: street food and nightlife.

Vietnam pros and cons

• Pro: a low Hanoi budget day, and scenery that changes from city to bay to river caves
• Pro: short transfers where you need them, such as the 2 hour 13 minute morning train from Hanoi to Ninh Binh
• Con: a visa to arrange before you fly
• Con: long distances, such as 12 to 13 hours overnight by train from Hanoi to Hue
• Con: taxi scams, so use metered or pre-booked taxis, especially at airports

Thailand: what to expect

Thailand's strength for a first-timer is how easily you move around. Bangkok to Chiang Mai takes just over an hour by air, against more than 10 hours by train or bus. For the islands, the ferry from Phuket to Koh Phi Phi takes 1.5 to 2 hours, with multiple daily departures.

Thailand pros and cons

• Pro: visa-free entry
• Pro: easy domestic flights
• Con: the U.S. State Department warns that financial scams are prevalent
• Con: drink spiking and methanol poisoning can occur, so never leave food or drinks unattended
• Con: March to June is hot, with an average maximum of 35 °C

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Food, language and culture for Indian travellers

Food is where Indian travellers will feel most at home in Thailand. Bangkok's massaman curry is flavoured with Indian bay leaves and nutmeg, so it will taste less foreign than most things on the menu.

In Vietnam, vegetarians have a clear address: Du Yen in Ho Chi Minh City is Michelin-selected and vegetarian, and it opened in mid-2023. Hanoi's signature bún chả is grilled pork served with dipping sauce, rice vermicelli and fresh herbs, so ask carefully before you order anything with a meat-heavy name.

Street food is cheap. A plate of bánh cuốn costs about ₹110–180 (30,000–50,000 VND) at street stalls and up to about ₹290 (80,000 VND) at restaurants.

On water, drink only boiled or bottled water in Vietnam. In Thailand, avoid tap water and ice and choose bottled or filtered water.

How much per day

These are per person per day, flights not included.

At mid-range, Hanoi is about ₹6,300 a day, against about ₹10,500 for Bangkok and about ₹10,500 for Ho Chi Minh City. At luxury level, the accommodation budget per person per day is about ₹13,700 in Bangkok against about ₹8,000 in Hanoi.

Hanoi is the cheapest city compared here, and Phuket is the priciest at budget level.

When to go

Northern Vietnam is best in February to April or September to November, when temperatures are 18 to 25°C. Ho Chi Minh City is most comfortable in the dry season, December to April.

Thailand's rainy season is June to September. From November to February the average minimum is 20 °C, which makes it the cooler stretch.

Our view

Pick Thailand first if you want the least paperwork. Pick Vietnam if Hanoi's budget and scenery matter more to you than filling in one extra online form. If this is your very first passport stamp and you want to book quickly, Thailand's visa-free entry removes the biggest source of first-trip stress. If you have the time to apply for the e-visa, Vietnam gives you more variety per rupee.

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