Vietnam vs Thailand: Which Is Cheaper for Indians? [2026]
Category: Destination Guides
Last updated: September 2026
If you were following the visa news this year, ignore most of what you read. Thailand spent mid-2026 preparing to scrap visa-free entry for Indians and push them onto a paid Visa on Arrival, and a lot of travel sites still say exactly that. It did not happen. The notification that actually took effect on 15 September 2026 keeps Indians visa-free and simply halves the stay, from 60 days to 30.
So the old tiebreaker survives, just in a smaller size. Thailand is still the cheaper door to walk through, Vietnam still costs USD 25 to enter, and the real decision comes down to what kind of trip you want.
Here is the honest, category-by-category comparison.
| Vietnam | Thailand | |
|---|---|---|
| 6-7 day trip, per person | ₹50,000-70,000 | ₹55,000-80,000 |
| Mid-range day on the ground | ₹3,500-5,000 | ₹4,500-6,500 |
| Return flights from India | ₹14,000-22,000 | ₹20,000-30,000 |
| Direct flights from | 4 Indian cities | A dozen Indian cities |
| Visa for Indians | E-visa, USD 25, 90 days | Free, 30 days |
| Street meal | ₹100-200 | ₹150-300 |
| Beaches and islands | Da Nang, Phu Quoc, Ha Long Bay | Deeper bench, slick ferries |
| Nightlife | Smaller, closes earlier | The most developed in the region |
| Crowds | Fewer, still feels like discovery | Familiar and busy |
Vietnam wins the ground game, Thailand wins the airfare, and the two mostly cancel out. Pick on the trip you want, not the total.
Visas in 2026: The Big Change
Thailand: Still visa-free for Indian passport holders, now for 30 days instead of 60. The change took effect on 15 September 2026, under Ministry of Interior announcements published in the Royal Gazette on 31 August 2026. If you need longer, you can extend once at a Thai immigration office for another 30 days for about 1,900 THB, which gets you to roughly 60 days in total. Everyone must also complete the Thailand Digital Arrival Card (TDAC) online within 72 hours before arrival. It is free, it takes about five minutes, and the officers at Suvarnabhumi do check for it.
Vietnam: Unchanged and simple. E-visa at the official portal, USD 25 (about ₹2,200), 3-5 working days, valid up to 90 days.
Verdict: Thailand, on cost and effort both. Nothing to pay, nothing to apply for, nothing to time correctly before you fly. Thirty days is still more than any normal holiday needs. Vietnam's e-visa is genuinely painless as visas go, but painless is not the same as free.
Visa rules for both countries have moved more than once in the last two years. Confirm against the Royal Thai Embassy and Vietnam's official e-visa portal before you book. Verified September 2026 against the Tourism Authority of Thailand's notification of the 15 September rules.
Flights from India
Thailand: Direct flights to Bangkok and Phuket from a dozen Indian cities on IndiGo, Air India, Thai Airways, and multiple budget carriers. Return fares to Bangkok average ₹20,000-30,000 across the year, dropping to ₹12,000-15,000 if you book early and fly midweek in the April-May or September low seasons. Flight time about 4 hours.
Vietnam: Good and improving. Direct flights from Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata, and Ahmedabad to Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City on VietJet, Vietnam Airlines, and IndiGo, typically ₹14,000-22,000 return.
Verdict: Thailand, especially if you live outside the metros.
Daily Costs on the Ground
A comfortable mid-range day (3-star hotel, restaurant meals, a tour or activity, local transport):
- Vietnam: ₹3,500-5,000 per day
- Thailand: ₹4,500-6,500 per day
Street food meals cost ₹100-200 in Vietnam versus ₹150-300 in Thailand. Local beer is about half the Thai price. Tours, massages, and taxis all lean cheaper in Vietnam.
Verdict: Vietnam, by 15-30% across the board.
How we cost these trips: figures are mid-range planning averages for one person, compiled from airline and aggregator pricing checked in September 2026, and assume you book roughly 4 to 6 weeks ahead. Airfares in particular swing 30 to 40 per cent with season and booking window, so treat every number here as a range to plan against, not a quote.
Beaches and Islands
Thailand: The deeper bench. Phuket, Krabi, Koh Phi Phi, Koh Samui, Koh Phangan, Koh Tao: every budget and vibe, with slick ferry networks connecting them.
Vietnam: Da Nang's long sandy stretch, Phu Quoc island's resorts, and Nha Trang hold their own, and Ha Long Bay offers a seascape Thailand simply has no answer to. But island-hopping culture is thinner.
Verdict: Thailand for beach-first trips; Vietnam if one great beach plus Ha Long Bay is enough.
Food
Thailand's hits (pad thai, green curry, mango sticky rice) are familiar to most Indian palates, and Indian restaurants are everywhere in tourist zones. Vietnam's food is lighter, herb-forward, and arguably the best-value cuisine in Asia: pho, banh mi, bun cha, and coffee culture that deserves its own trip. Vegetarians manage in both with a little effort; Thai kitchens understand "no fish sauce" requests in tourist areas, while Vietnamese Buddhist "com chay" eateries are a reliable vegetarian hack.
Verdict: Tie. Thailand for familiarity, Vietnam for discovery.
Nightlife and Entertainment
Bangkok, Pattaya, and Phuket run the most developed nightlife scene in Southeast Asia: rooftop bars, night markets, cabaret shows, full moon parties. Vietnam's scene (Bui Vien street in Ho Chi Minh City, Hanoi's beer corners) is fun but smaller and closes earlier.
Verdict: Thailand, clearly.
Crowds and "Freshness"
Thailand hosted roughly ten times more Indian travelers than Vietnam over the past few years, and it shows: familiar, comfortable, and crowded. Vietnam still feels like a discovery, with fewer touts, fewer crowds at headline sights, and better photo-to-people ratios.
Verdict: Vietnam if you want to feel like a traveler rather than a tourist.
The Verdict by Traveler Type
- First international trip: Thailand
- Tightest budget: Vietnam
- Honeymoon, resort style: Thailand (Krabi or Samui)
- Honeymoon, experience style: Vietnam (Ha Long cruise + Hoi An)
- Group of friends / nightlife: Thailand
- Scenery and food lovers: Vietnam
- Family with kids: Thailand for infrastructure, Vietnam for costs
See Both as Real Itineraries
The fastest way to decide is to look at an actual plan side by side. Open these ready itineraries on TripVexa, then customise days, budget, and hotels in plain English:
- 5-day Vietnam itinerary: Hanoi and Ha Long Bay under ₹70,000
- 5-day Bangkok and Pattaya itinerary under ₹80,000
For deeper dives, read our full Vietnam travel guide for Indians and our Thailand vs Bali comparison.
Ready-Made Itineraries
Full day-by-day plans with timings, places and a costed budget:
- 3-day Hanoi itinerary: ₹25,700-49,350 per person
- 3-day Ho Chi Minh City itinerary: ₹25,850-51,650 per person
- 3-day Bangkok itinerary: ₹23,250-46,450 per person
- 3-day Phuket itinerary: ₹31,600-60,800 per person
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Vietnam cheaper than Thailand? Yes, on the ground. Hotels, food, beer, and tours in Vietnam run 15-30% cheaper than equivalent options in Thailand. Flights from India are usually slightly cheaper to Thailand due to more competition, so total trip costs end up close: roughly ₹50,000-70,000 for 6-7 days in Vietnam versus ₹55,000-80,000 in Thailand.
Do Indians need a visa for Thailand in 2026? No. Indians still enter Thailand visa-free, but the stay is shorter than it used to be. From 15 September 2026 the visa-exempt stay is 30 days instead of 60, under rules published in the Royal Gazette on 31 August 2026. The paid Visa on Arrival that Thailand's Cabinet floated in May 2026 was not applied to India in the final notification, despite what many travel sites still say. You can extend once at a Thai immigration office for another 30 days for about 1,900 THB. Everyone must also complete the free Thailand Digital Arrival Card (TDAC) online within 72 hours before arrival.
Do Indians need a visa for Vietnam? Yes, the Vietnam e-visa: USD 25 (about ₹2,200) for single entry, applied online at the official government portal, approved in 3-5 working days, valid up to 90 days. No embassy visit needed.
Which is better for a honeymoon, Vietnam or Thailand? Thailand for classic beach-resort honeymoons: Krabi, Koh Samui, and Phuket have deeper luxury resort inventory and easier island logistics. Vietnam for couples who want variety over resorts: Ha Long Bay cruises, Hoi An's lantern-lit old town, and Da Nang's beaches at lower prices.
Which is better for a first international trip? Thailand remains slightly easier for first-timers: more direct flights from more Indian cities, larger Indian-food footprint, and highly polished tourism infrastructure. Vietnam rewards a bit more planning with lower costs and fewer crowds.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Vietnam cheaper than Thailand?
Yes, on the ground. Hotels, food, beer, and tours in Vietnam run 15-30% cheaper than equivalent options in Thailand. Flights from India are usually slightly cheaper to Thailand due to more competition, so total trip costs end up close: roughly ₹50,000-70,000 for 6-7 days in Vietnam versus ₹55,000-80,000 in Thailand.
Do Indians need a visa for Thailand in 2026?
No. Indians still enter Thailand visa-free, but the stay is shorter than it used to be. From 15 September 2026 the visa-exempt stay is 30 days instead of 60, under rules published in the Royal Gazette on 31 August 2026. The paid Visa on Arrival that Thailand's Cabinet floated in May 2026 was not applied to India in the final notification. You can extend once at a Thai immigration office for another 30 days for about 1,900 THB. Everyone must also complete the free Thailand Digital Arrival Card (TDAC) online within 72 hours before arrival.
Do Indians need a visa for Vietnam?
Yes, the Vietnam e-visa: USD 25 (about ₹2,200) for single entry, applied online at the official government portal, approved in 3-5 working days, valid up to 90 days. No embassy visit needed.
Which is better for a honeymoon, Vietnam or Thailand?
Thailand for classic beach-resort honeymoons: Krabi, Koh Samui, and Phuket have deeper luxury resort inventory and easier island logistics. Vietnam for couples who want variety over resorts: Ha Long Bay cruises, Hoi An's lantern-lit old town, and Da Nang's beaches at lower prices.
Which is better for a first international trip?
Thailand remains slightly easier for first-timers: more direct flights from more Indian cities, larger Indian-food footprint, and highly polished tourism infrastructure. Vietnam rewards a bit more planning with lower costs and fewer crowds.
Plan your trip on TripVexa - India's AI-powered travel planner with hotel booking and INR budgets.