Home Migration Vietnam or Thailand in April. Where is the best holiday in Thailand or Vietnam? Presence of Orthodox churches

Vietnam or Thailand in April. Where is the best holiday in Thailand or Vietnam? Presence of Orthodox churches

How a Belarusian programmer got “tired” of Vietnam and moved to Thailand

Three years ago, test automation specialist Pavel Strongin moved to Ho Chi Minh City to work at Lazada. As Pavel himself admits, adapting to Vietnam was not easy: “once a month I bought tickets somewhere to breathe out and make sure that there was still civilization left somewhere.” And when the opportunity to move to Bangkok presented itself a year and a half later, he took it “with great pleasure.” Even now, when talking about life in Thailand, he constantly compares it with Vietnam:

“That’s it, I’m leaving!” How to last more than a year in Vietnam and fall in love with it

Pavel had the opportunity to work for the Thais a few years ago: having gone through “fire, water and copper pipes” at IBA and EPAM immediately after graduating from BSUIR, he “in some strange way ended up at Akavita”: the company had just received an order from a Thai government to write social networks. “I came to Akavita a week before the New Year with the condition that I would go on vacation during the holidays,” recalls Pavel. “And when I returned, I found out that they had failed the project.” Pavel eventually went to Moscow to work at Yandex - and if not for the crisis, he would never have quit:

– The fabulous job in Moscow ended when the financial crisis began in Russia, and my salary turned into a “pumpkin”.

At that moment, recruiters from Vietnam wrote to me: they say, we have a cool startup here, we just raised $300 million - come. This is probably a once in a lifetime chance to work in Asia! Already in January I was in Vietnam - in complete shock at what was happening there. Because before, all I knew about this country was that there was a city called Saigon somewhere there. It turned out that even Saigon no longer exists - the city was renamed.

The first impression of Vietnam is chaos: around the taxi that takes me from the airport to the hotel, there is a stream of motorcycles, everyone is scurrying back and forth, and I want to shout: “Ah-ah!..” - because this is hell. The hotel room seems to have a window, but it goes out into the ventilation shaft - and sunlight does not penetrate into the room. This, of course, helps to overcome time shift, but it is very depressing.

It took me a long time to get used to Vietnam. It is so unique that after three months here many people begin to say: “That’s it, I can’t be here anymore: I’m leaving!” - they are leaving. I held out for a year and a half, but once a month I regularly bought tickets somewhere to exhale and make sure that there was still civilization left somewhere. By the way, those who work in Vietnam much longer often fall in love with this country and consider it the best place on earth.

Last year, Lazada opened a technical office in Thailand, and my team gradually began moving there. I had never been to Bangkok before, so I first asked to go there for work: I realized that Thailand is much more comfortable than Vietnam, and most importantly, everything works here, and I decided to move.

“He’ll just sit down and drink some tea”: how things don’t work

In my opinion, Vietnam is a country where nothing works at all. People here live only by their desires and the present day: if a Vietnamese doesn’t want to go to work, he won’t. It started to rain - that's it, that's a good reason to stay home. And it rains in Vietnam for 4 months in a row.

Services in Vietnam work the same way: if the instructions do not spell out the procedure down to the last step, in any incomprehensible situation the Vietnamese will not think about how to solve everything - he will simply sit down and drink tea. He did everything he could. And you come across this attitude towards work every day and many times, although sometimes there are exceptions.

Bangkok, on the contrary, is like big Moscow: skyscrapers, businesses, expensive cars, metro - ci-vi-li-za-tion! And everything works. You live in comfort: you don’t need to go to the store - you press a couple of buttons on your phone, and all the products are delivered to you right away. If you want to send a package to a friend, you pick up the phone again: and immediately a guy on a bike rides out, who will pick up and deliver the package wherever you tell him.

The Thais are the exact opposite of the Vietnamese. These are motivated workers who really love what they do. Just like this: “Ah-ah, I’m doing something so cool that I’m ready to spend my personal time on it!..” But after Vietnam, this only makes me happy.

Many Thais study abroad, at least the middle class ones, and live like Europeans. In Thailand it is difficult to find something very specific, with the exception of very spicy cuisine - I could not get used to it, but I have been in Asia for about 3 years.

While I lived in Vietnam, I constantly experienced difficulties with food: in order to find something that was not even spicy, but in principle edible, you had to try hard. The Vietnamese are very fond of adding things that are unusual for us to their food - for example, a chicken head or a foot with marigolds, which they don’t even bother to cut off (probably a valuable product). And in Vietnam they like to chop chicken right with the bones - and this is what infuriates us the most. This is not the case in Thailand. And although there are more spicy dishes here than in Vietnamese cuisine, in Bangkok you can find a French, Italian or Mexican restaurant on every corner.

“If you stroked your belly, you have the right to compensation”

There is something else that was annoying about Vietnamese restaurants - the sounds that the eaters made. The Vietnamese are very fond of slurping: if you don’t slurp while eating, it doesn’t taste good to you. But as a person who was beaten on the forehead with a spoon for this, it only irritated me. And then the whole dining room is noisy: “Cham-chum-chum...” - so much so that you are ready to take the biggest ladle from the cook and show everyone how to eat.

By the way, in Vietnam all natural sounds are considered the norm, so riding in an elevator can be very unpleasant. Moreover, the Vietnamese love to crowd into the elevator until they squeeze you from all sides, press against your navel and finish something, slurping and smacking. And these are just flowers, because at this moment a hand often reaches out to your stomach to stroke it...

The fact is that although Vietnam is considered not a religious country (it seems that 70% of the population are generally atheists), but in fact a Vietnamese can go to a church or a Buddhist monastery - mutter something to himself and move on. And he also believes in lucky Buddha - a fat bald man with a belly that you stroke so that good luck will accompany you. Moreover, the Vietnamese transferred this tradition to real people: if they see a big man, they will certainly pat him on the stomach. And since in Vietnam I had a very noticeable stomach, they constantly tried to touch it, as if by accident.

If you were patted on the belly in Vietnam, you have the right to demand compensation. I was told that one of the expats went on a tour, and at the very end the guide reached for his stomach. The tourist said: “Then I won’t pay for the excursion.” She responded: “Okay!” - this is the price for luck.

In Bangkok, everyone is very tactful in this regard - there will definitely be no surprises. Moreover, even in a Thai village they react to you like this: go white - and let him go. Although when I went to the countryside in Vietnam, half the village population always took pictures with me.

“I’m with a white man - give way!”

IT specialists in the Asian region receive special treatment. There is a national project in Thailand - The Board of Investment of Thailand: they are involved in attracting foreign investment, including in IT, and constantly invite IT specialists of all specialties to the country. By the way, if you work for a company that is part of the BOI, like Lazada, you get bonuses like flat tax and VIP queue access at the airport.

It is difficult to say what other professions are highly valued in Thailand, probably all of them are the same as throughout the world today. And in Vietnam, I was told, there are three prestigious professions: doctor, teacher and civil servant. If you want to get any of these jobs, be prepared to pay a bribe. Moreover, for a girl to become a nurse, her family must raise about $10 thousand. But, of course, she will receive no more than $300 (this is the average salary in Vietnam, and many local residents consider it “very good”).

By the way, in Vietnam, any expat who comes for a well-paid job is held in high esteem (of course, an IT specialist too). They understand that these people develop their economy. What they really don’t like is the “pale-faced invaders” who come and take their jobs: they become waiters, guides, and so on.

At first, expats find it unusual that in Vietnam everyone is rushing around with them: they open doors for them, hand them a chair. But the Vietnamese do it so naturally - they are really happy to please. And taxi drivers, it seems to me, even have an unspoken rule: when they are driving a white person, they can violate more than usual. At least, I noticed: when I got into a taxi, it was my driver who began to drive recklessly, drive in oncoming traffic, go around traffic jams with an important look, saying, “I’m with a white man - give way.”

This is not the case in Thailand. Perhaps because they love themselves more, and their attitude towards expats is rather neutral. By the way, the complete opposite of this is China. When I was in Shanghai, I was shocked: they looked at me like in Moscow they looked at visitors from the Caucasus. In China they don’t like you, they look at you sideways, they suspect you of something, and even in the hotel they don’t smile at you. In Shanghai, I rented a room in an expensive four-star hotel, but at the reception they spoke to me so coldly, almost like: “Why are you stopping in? You are not needed here - go home!

“In Bangkok you pay for comfort, in Ho Chi Minh City - because you are “rich”

I said nothing about living conditions in the countries where I lived. Renting an apartment in the center of Bangkok starts from $500: for this money you can rent an excellent 40-meter studio with good furniture and built-in appliances. The apartment is considered a one-room apartment, but by Belarusian standards it is a “two-room apartment”: there is a separate bedroom and a living room combined with a kitchen.

By the way, cheap apartments in Thailand do not have a kitchen, because eating on the street is cheaper than cooking at home. Renting such an apartment costs only $150-200. But, as a rule, this housing is for locals - in areas unpopular among foreigners. It’s not a problem to find a 100-meter apartment for $400, but then you’ll have to travel an hour to the office every day.

The housing in Ho Chi Minh City is disgusting. Most of the buildings in the center are pillars standing close to each other. Even when Vietnam was a French colony, they introduced a law on the width of the facade: the French decided that if they allowed a Vietnamese to build a house as he pleased, he would take over the entire territory. Since then, the houses have only grown upward. There are no windows on the sides or back at all - only on one side; sometimes there may be another narrow window on the side, abutting the window of the next house.

Due to the high humidity, in Vietnam the floors are tiled and the walls are painted, so any home in Ho Chi Minh City feels like being in a hospital.

In Bangkok, people love comfort, so there are wooden floors, rugs, wallpaper on the walls, and what’s most interesting - for the same money. Apartments in the center of Ho Chi Minh City and in the center of Bangkok will cost the same. Only in the center of Bangkok you pay for comfort, and in the center of Ho Chi Minh City - simply because you are “rich”. And if a Vietnamese rents the same housing, it will cost 2 times less.

The center of Bangkok is always jammed with traffic jams. But, probably, not as endless as in Moscow: here many people prefer public transport and motorbikes (in our opinion, scooters). There are even motorbike taxis - they drive past traffic jams, and if you need to get somewhere very quickly, you either choose it or take the metro.

If you take a taxi, sometimes you have to wait: the traffic lights here are very interesting - the red light can stay on for 10 minutes. You drive up, look at the timer, and realize it’s an ambush. True, there is a loophole: a left turn is allowed even on red, and even in those places where it is prohibited, everyone turns.

Boats are also used as public transport in Bangkok: they are long and can accommodate no fewer passengers than a bus. At the same time, they swim very quickly, and on some routes they gain time over the same bus, which may get stuck in a traffic jam.

“They eat, and then leave all the garbage where they sat.”

What has always surprised me about Vietnam is that the majority of the population cannot swim, despite the fact that the country is located along the coast. The only thing they use the beach for is picnics. They come to the sea dressed - in jackets, hats, face masks (so that, God forbid, they don’t get sunburned) - they eat, and then they leave all the garbage where they were sitting. This is Vietnam!..

In this country there is no culture of cleaning up after yourself: among the Vietnamese it is considered the norm if you drink from a plastic glass, finish it and throw it at your feet. I smoked and quit again (at the same time, women’s smoking is condemned by society). By evening, huge piles of garbage accumulate everywhere. At night special people come by and collect everything. Therefore, if at 4-5 in the morning you decide to walk around the city, it will be perfectly clean, except that rats and cockroaches will be finishing their meal. But by 10 am the city will again be littered with garbage.

That is why in places of entertainment, for example, water parks, there are often separate places for tourists, where the Vietnamese with their garbage are not allowed to go. Here you can also take a break from the noise: the peculiarity of the Vietnamese language is that it is tonal - it has 6 tones, which is even more than in Chinese. And if you want to be understood, you need to speak loudly and clearly. But when someone tries to pronounce words loudly and clearly, the next one begins to speak even louder. And if there are more than 5 Vietnamese, it’s always a cry. You understand: if the whole water park is screaming, you get tired after a few minutes.

Feel like a hero “I am Legend”: in English with subtitles

One of my pastimes, whether in Vietnam or Thailand, is cinema. As elsewhere in Asia, films here are shown in English with subtitles. This is surprising, since Vietnam has a population of more than 80 million: they could have bothered with the translation.

In Bangkok, films are also not translated, and occasionally cartoons for very young children who cannot yet read. Recently, the cartoon “The Secret of Coco” was released - and also in English with subtitles. Although, I won’t lie, it really helps to learn the language.

What else to do in Bangkok in your free time - travel, of course. The easiest option is Pattaya, which is only 2 hours away by motorbike. If you really miss Russian cuisine, you can go have lunch and then go to some nearby island for a swim, because...

Traveling by air is also available: flights everywhere in Asia cost pennies, so if you see cheap tickets to Bali, why not fly. A plane ticket to any corner of Thailand costs on average $50 round trip: I’ve already seen half of the country, only the north is not closed yet.

In Vietnam, I also traveled and flew a lot - every weekend I tried to either get out to the sea or go somewhere else. The only place I didn’t manage to visit was Con Dao Island - it’s very difficult to get there for the right amount of money.

Once a year in Vietnam, the whole country gets together for a trip: for Chinese New Year, both old and young - everyone goes to the village to visit their parents for a week. At this time it is impossible to buy tickets in any direction because everything is sold out. And then one fine morning you wake up, and in a city where 13 million live there is not a soul. You walk through empty Saigon past closed shops and cafes, watch the wind blowing garbage, and feel like a hero in the movie “I Am Legend.”

"Vai" in front of the king's portrait and the anthem on the treadmill

In Bangkok, many people lead a healthy lifestyle, so even in a very expensive gym there are practically no places in the evening. Virgin Active, owned by Richard Branson's company, is located in the same building as our office - prices there are around $1.5 thousand for an annual subscription. So in the evening after work you can’t get there: finding a free exercise machine is simply unrealistic.

It's the same in the parks of Bangkok - in the evenings all the running paths look like the city is running a marathon. By the way, there is an interesting point: at the same time the anthem is playing in the parks - at that moment the entire stream of people stops, listens to the anthem, and then continues moving. We saw this once: an unusual sight.

People in Thailand are very respectful of their ruler. A year ago - he was one of the three most beloved and revered monarchs. The mourning for the deceased king lasted exactly a year and on the most important dates - the first month, birthday, anniversary of the coronation and the final two weeks - the whole country dressed in black and white (against this background, tourists walking around in shorts and flip-flops were especially noticeable). It should be noted that people observed mourning voluntarily: there was no pressure “from above.”

Of course, portraits of the king hang everywhere, and many stop near them and make a “wai” - a bow with folded hands. And in cinemas, before the show, they show videos about the king, or photographs of the ruler, and at this time the anthem plays from the loudspeaker.

Disrespect for the king here is a very serious, criminal offense. They say that someone was even tried for throwing a banknote with the image of the king on the ground without sharing something with the seller and spitting on it.

Girls are real and not: who “hunts” white men

There is a joke about Vietnam that one of its export products is girls. Every year they enter into more than 100 thousand marriages with foreigners. In fact, many Vietnamese women believe that real luck is to meet a white man and marry him. Therefore, dating girls in Vietnam is something very simple: you can choose any beauty you like, and most likely she has already answered “Yes” to you, because you are a foreigner. We even joked that “we don’t have a single free person in our office” who isn’t dating a local girl. But in fairness, it must be added that they do this not only because of the money, but also because of a completely different attitude towards them from visitors: girls in Vietnam are not used to courtship, gifts, and being taken to the movies , bowling, billiards.

In Thailand, girls value themselves highly, and very often give preference to local guys, especially if they are successful guys. There is no “hunting” for white men here. And if a girl herself shows interest in you, you sometimes even wonder why she is looking for a relationship with you. It’s just that the forums here are full of stories about how a guy got married and took a Thai beauty to his homeland, and after 5 years she waved her hand to him: “Thank you! I had a good time with you, but now I have to go back to my husband,” that is, to the “brother” with whom she corresponded all the time and sponsored her at your expense.

There are a lot of “fake” girls in Thailand -. They are considered the absolute norm here: moreover, if a boy considers himself ugly and thinks that he would be much more attractive as a girl, the first thing he does is begin to behave like a girl and use feminine endings in conversation.

Fake girls are sometimes difficult to distinguish from real ones. The following rule works on dating services: if the girl in the photo is too beautiful to be real, she is a ladyboy (fortunately, they all write about this openly, so there are almost no misunderstandings).

I once almost had an embarrassment: I liked one colleague - she looked like a very pretty girl - and I noted this in a conversation with colleagues. Thank you, the guys warned me that she is not who I took her for.

I am often asked how massage is in Thailand, I can say that it is very popular - the salons are almost always full. Of course, some people are not at all interested in those salons that are “about massage” - there are also a lot of visitors there. Usually they stand out because there is a pretty girl sitting at the entrance, and not an adult woman with pumped up arms. And at the same time, everything is open - no one is hiding, and everyone knows what is happening in these salons.

3 thousand dollars for feeding fish and 2 weeks in prison for a cigarette

But in Thailand, hookah smoking is strictly prohibited, so sometimes you feel just like the heroes of films about prohibition in America. To smoke, you go to a special establishment (there, of course, everyone is very secretive, and until you ask, no one will offer you a hookah), where there is a special smoking room with a separate exit - so that you can escape in time.

There is another strange feature: you can get here. And such a situation just recently happened in Pattaya: Russian tourists spent 2 weeks behind bars and paid a huge fine.

In Thailand, you can get bread in a protected area, which includes all parks and many tourist beaches. A Russian woman also got caught doing this: she was taken straight from the beach by the coast guard, and the madam was “indicted” for a $3,000 fine and deportation.

I had no problems with the law in Thailand, although once - at the very beginning - I almost got caught. I went on a motorcycle to Pattaya, and since I did not yet have a normal stand for the navigator, I just rode with headphones. Google Maps showed me where to go from time to time. But when they tell you: “Go straight,” and there are three roads straight ahead that diverge in different directions, and there is no opportunity to look, there is a risk of turning the wrong way. So I got onto the highway. And here it must be said that in Thailand it is prohibited to ride motorcycles on the highway - you can get a fine of $150 and/or 3 months in prison.

I quickly realized my mistake and decided: “Now I’ll get to the first exit and turn around.” But that was not the case: literally 20 seconds later the police caught up with me: “Why did you go there? Ay-ay-ay!” I say: “Sorry, guys, I was going to Pattaya, but I took a wrong turn.” And they absolutely calmly said: “Okay, turn around and go back.” It was a strange proposal: there are 6 lanes, and everyone drives at least 120 km/h. “I’m not suicidal! I’d better go ahead...” They understood me, said: “Okay,” and let me go.

Minimum prices in inexpensive hotels in Pattaya are 650-700 rubles, in 2-3* hotels on the first coastline - from 1500-5000 rubles, in 4* hotels - from 1200-2000 rubles, in 5* hotels - from 3500-4000 rubles.
Prices in hotels in Nha Trang: in inexpensive 2-3* hotels in the European quarter - from 500-800 rubles, in 4-5* hotels by the sea - from 4500 rubles.

Prices for such a popular service as massage in specialized salons in Vietnam start from 280 rubles, in Thailand - from 800 rubles.

Internet and mobile communications

They are very cheap in Vietnam. Tourists can everywhere buy a prepaid card and call home.

The average cost of a minute of conversation in Vietnam is 10 rubles, in Thailand it is 2-3 times more expensive.

It is most economical to use SIM cards with favorable Internet access using instant messengers for communication.

Dreamsim is a SIM card that is not tied to one operator; it works in 197 countries, provides stable communication, fast Internet and prices, almost the same as those of local operators.

no need to set up roaming or buy a local SIM card
no subscription fees or hidden fees

Transport

Excellent in both countries developed both internal and intercity transport links. According to tourists, prices for public travel transport in Vietnam is somewhat cheaper, however, the difference is not very significant.

City bus fares in Vietnam are about 20 rubles, minimum starting price for a taxi ride – from 40 rubles, for 1 kilometer – 40 rubles.

Songthaew fare in Thailand – from 20 rubles, Taxis in the country are mostly not equipped with meters and the cost of trips varies on average from 200 to 800 rubles.

Tickets for trains, buses, ferries, charters

12Go.Asia provides online booking of all modes of transport on one platform, in the countries of Southeast Asia and Oceania.

Medicine

Quality of medical care countries are approximately the same. Prices depend on the severity of the injury or illness.

To receive quality assistance for tourists insurance will be required, without which you should not go on vacation, so that in case of possible health problems you do not incur huge unforeseen expenses.

Travel insurance

The best insurance option for traveling abroad, you can compare company offers and buy an electronic policy online.

Attractions

Both countries have a rich history and boast a large number of attractions. The choice of tourists in this regard is based solely on personal preferences.

That there have been no global military operations on the territory of the state for many centuries, and therefore there have been preserved ancient sights.

Much was destroyed by war in the last century, but in large populated areas you can still find historical palaces and buildings.

Excursions

Exciting excursions for vacationers and travelers in 350 cities around the world: Tripster.ru is a service of unusual excursions from local residents and guides who can tell you in an interesting and exciting way about the most interesting things in their cities.

Beaches

In both countries you can find both wild beaches and beaches with well-developed infrastructure.

The most are located in such resorts as Koh Samui, Phuket and Pattaya.

concentrated in Nha Trang and Phan Thiet. Vietnamese beaches, according to tourists, are wider, cleaner and not as crowded as the beaches of Thailand. They are more suitable for families with children.

Stay on the coast in a bungalow and you can only enjoy unity with nature in Vietnam in Fukuoka.

Preferring relaxation on uncrowded, almost wild beaches, you should choose Thailand – Ko Wai, Samet and Ko Mak.

underwater world

For tourists, keen on snorkeling and, offering a large number of interesting dive sites. The Surin, Similan Islands, Phi Phi and Koh Tao are popular among scuba diving enthusiasts.

Entertainment

According to the number where nightlife is in full swing until the morning. In Vietnam, when it gets dark, life seems to come to a standstill. Therefore, tourists who prefer nightlife should definitely choose Thailand for their holiday.

Dangers

Travelers in the countries of Southeast Asia, among which it is worth noting the high risk of poisoning from unusual food, the risk of sunburn or heatstroke, the risk of being bitten by mosquitoes that carry dangerous diseases, as well as the risk of becoming a victim of scammers or pickpockets.

Updated: 2017-9-6

Sergeich74

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We continue to search together with our readers, just in case. Although it seems that Thai double-entry visas are still working and nothing has changed for winter workers. There was already a blog post about this, now about Vietnam, an even closer analogue of Tai. What's better? Sergey will tell you his opinion.

Among the residents of our country, and especially among those who have traveled at least once in their lives, probably every second person has been to Thailand. And, if 10 years ago everyone considered Turkey to be a kind of summer cottage for Russians, now it is Thailand that has firmly become the leader in the number of vacationers from Russia. But not only our compatriots prefer the “land of smiles” to many other resorts in the world, but tourists from all over the world are increasingly choosing Thailand as a place for holidays and wintering. And this is not surprising. Here you have an eternal summer with the sea and beautiful beaches, kind and smiling people, and the cost of living cannot be called expensive. Everything would be fine, but recently the Thai government has been passing more and more laws that make life more difficult for the so-called winterers. First of all, this is the abolition of Visarans. So now many of those who return to Thailand year after year are beginning to turn their attention to other countries in the Southeast Asian region. And one of these countries is Vietnam.

Vietnam cannot be called a discovery for winterers. And simple “package tourists” have long been chosen by many resorts in this country. But still, if Thailand is already simply abandoned and even in the north of the country there are more and more “ours”, then in Vietnam you can still find places where a European tourist will be a wonder. These countries are very similar, but they also have many differences. And the longer you live and travel here, the more it catches your eye.

I have already been able to visit both Thailand and Vietnam more than once. I have lived both in tourist places and in places where tourists (especially from Russia) are rare. So I can compare these countries regarding which one is better for wintering or just traveling on your own. I will say right away that this will not be a comparison of who is better and who is worse. Personally, I liked both! I propose to simply compare Thailand and Vietnam on those points that will be important for any traveler and especially for a long-stayer. And draw your own conclusions about where it is better or worse.

The visa issue in Vietnam is resolved very easily. Until 15 days it is not required at all. If you stay for a longer period, you will need a visa, but obtaining one will not be a problem. It is issued directly at the airport. This process will take no longer than an hour. But you can get it in advance, at the Vietnamese embassy in Moscow. The visa itself will be free, but you will have to pay the so-called consular fee. The visa can be single or multiple, for 1 or 3 months. The consular fee depends on the frequency of entry and length of stay in the country: from 20 to 125 dollars. You can stay in the country for a maximum of 9 months without leaving, since a 3-month visa can be extended twice. You can extend your visa at any travel agency and it will cost from 30 to 80 dollars.

To extend a visa (as well as to obtain it for the first time), you need:

foreign passport, valid for at least 6 months;
2 photographs 4 by 6 cm;
an invitation to enter the country (issued by a tour company or through special online services);
completed application form in 2 copies.

That is, as you can see, everything is very simple, although not free. Thus, winter residents will not have problems with visas. In addition, there is no need to leave and enter the country. Everything is done in any tour company and you can live in the country for up to nine months! And in Vietnam there is a completely visa-free territory - this is the island of Phu Quoc. If you fly straight to Phu Quoc and don’t leave the island, you can live here without a visa for as long as possible. At least until your passport expires.

But in Thailand, with visas, everything is a little more complicated. Of course, if you come for no more than a month, then you do not need a visa, but for those who constantly winter or live in Thailand, the visa issue is more acute. Typically, a tourist visa is issued for 60 days, and then extended for another month. There is also a double-entry visa with a total stay in the country of no more than 6 months, but you cannot live in the country for more than 90 days in six months (the 90-day rule does not yet work and it is not a fact that it will work, note Geleosan). You can also get a study visa or a work visa. But many winterers preferred to go to the so-called “Vizaran” (exit and entry from Thailand to a neighboring country with a stamp in the passport and thus permission to stay in the country for another 30 days). Now this has become difficult - Visaran has been cancelled! Now you can only enter once without a visa for 30 days!

Prices for housing, transport, food, recreation and entertainment

If you are a budget traveler, then this will be the most important point for you. Let's compare in order:

Accommodation prices

It all, of course, depends on the conditions in which you are used to living. The more expensive the accommodation (this also applies to expensive hotels), the smaller the difference between Thailand and Vietnam becomes. A rich man is a rich man everywhere, and in any country in the world they will try to extract as much money as possible from such people. If you are used to living in luxury apartments or exclusively in five-star hotels, get ready to pay well! But cheaper housing costs differently, and Vietnam seems preferable to me in this regard. If we talk about hotels, even in the resort of Nha Trang you can rent a room with all amenities, air conditioning, TV, daily maid service and breakfast for 400 rubles per day! Try to find the same thing somewhere in Phuket or Pattaya!?

Long-term housing in Vietnam will also be much cheaper than in Thailand.

Transport prices

Transport links in both countries are very well developed. Moreover, both urban public transport and intercity transport. In terms of prices, the difference is not very significant, but still Vietnam will be a little more attractive in this regard. And that's exactly what it is - Sleeping bass. Translated as "Sleeping Bus". In such buses, instead of the usual seats, there are lie-flat seats. That is, you can sleep very comfortably the whole way. That is why such buses are most often used at night. Of course, there are regular buses with regular seating, but the Sleeping Bus is more popular than a regular bus. After all, the price of a ticket for the “Sleeping Bus” is not much higher and is generally very affordable. For example, a ticket from Ho Chi Minh City to Nha Trang will cost only 250 thousand dong (about 370 rubles). But the distance there is 450 kilometers! And by the way, I was very surprised, but it turns out that Vietnam officially ranks second in the world (after the USA) in terms of development and accessibility of intercity bus service!

Vietnam's urban public transport is slightly inferior to Thailand in terms of variety, but not in terms of price. For example, a ticket on a city bus here costs only 5000-7000 dong (7.5-10 rubles). Moreover, all buses in Vietnam are air-conditioned and always very clean. This is being closely monitored here!

In Thailand, of course, transport is also not expensive and at the same time very convenient to use, so this point, in my opinion, does not play a big role in terms of choosing a country for a long trip. Both there and there everything is very convenient and quite affordable.

Food prices

Again, a lot depends on where you are used to eating. Lunch in expensive restaurants designed for wealthy tourists will cost a pretty penny in both countries. Well, this will happen in any country. We are primarily interested in the cost of food in mid-price shops, markets and cafes. When talking about stores, it’s difficult to give a general comparison. Much depends on the specific product. Unlike Thailand, bread, pastries and cakes are popular in Vietnam, so the prices for these goods are much cheaper. Also, yoghurts and kefir are sold very inexpensively - a rare product for supermarkets in Thailand. Those products that are equally common in both countries cost about the same (in Vietnam a little cheaper). And what is not produced domestically is equally expensive (for example, sausage or cheese).

In the markets, prices are approximately the same, but this takes into account the fact that everywhere you have to bargain! In Vietnam, it is very difficult for a European to buy something on the market at a low price! Prices are usually raised several times! However, this applies more to tourist places. Somewhere in the outback, one often gets the impression that the Vietnamese are generally incapable of deceiving anyone. Only this applies entirely to the provinces. I've been to a couple of villages where there are never tourists at all - that's where the real Vietnam is!

In average cafes in Vietnam, prices are much cheaper than in Thailand. Of course, it’s difficult to talk about the whole country, but if you compare, for example, the resort of Nha Trang and the well-known Pattaya, the comparison is clearly not in favor of the latter. In Nha Trang, for 400 rubles you can arrange a real belly feast. This money is enough for several dishes, dessert and beer. In Pattaya, you will pay 2-2.5 times more for the same thing! If you compare the provinces, then the prices there will of course be cheaper, but unlike Thailand, in the Vietnamese provinces, even for 100 rubles, the two of you will eat your fill!

I would also like to mention street food. In Thailand, I always really liked it and I prefer to eat it. Well, if you eat exclusively street food, then you can safely go to both Thailand and Vietnam. Both there and there everything is very cheap and tasty. In Vietnam, it’s literally just pennies! For example, in non-tourist areas of Nha Trang you can have a great lunch for only 15,000 dong (23 rubles!). For this money you will be given a large portion of rice with sauce, a grilled pork chop, a plate of fresh herbs and soup! In Thailand, makashnik food is a little more expensive, but still, if you are not a completely desperate backpacker with a budget of $100 for 3 months, you won’t notice much of a difference.

And one more thing - alcohol. If you like to spend time with a bottle of beer or something stronger, then Vietnam is paradise for you! I've never seen alcohol so cheap. Moreover, the alcohol is of good quality. And this applies equally to both shops and bars. In Thailand, all alcohol is 3 times more expensive. However, this only applies to locally produced alcoholic beverages.

Imported alcohol is not cheap in either case.

Prices for leisure and entertainment

Entertainment means visiting different bars and nightclubs. This also includes visits to various spas and massage parlors, excursions and parks.

This is of course more relevant for ordinary tourists, and not for longsteers. But those who stay in the country for a long time also sometimes want to relax and unwind!

Active nightlife in Vietnam (mainly in famous resorts) will cost you less than in Thailand. This is mainly a consequence of the previous point (cheap alcohol). But all kinds of massages and spa treatments cost about the same.

Those who like to go on organized excursions will definitely like Vietnam. Excursion routes here are constantly developing, and prices remain quite low. Everything, of course, depends on the resort and the specific excursion, but generally the prices for the most popular ones are around 700-1200 rubles, while in Thailand popular excursion routes can cost 3-5 thousand or even more!

It is not very expensive to visit various amusement parks in Vietnam. For example, a ticket to Vinpearl Park in Nha Trang will cost 500 thousand dong (approximately 750 rubles). This amount includes a water park, an aquarium, an amusement park, an arcade and much more! In many countries, as in Russia, just visiting one water park will cost more!

In general, regarding prices, Vietnam is a cheaper country to live than Thailand.

Nature and climate

Thailand and Vietnam are geographically very close to each other, so the climate here is approximately the same. Vietnam also has a dry season and a rainy season and a very large part of the country is covered with real tropical jungle. But there are some differences. In Vietnam it rains in different months than in Thailand and the humidity here is not so strong. And sometimes it’s even cool in the mountains! So for those who don't like high humidity, but still love the tropics, Vietnam can be a very good choice. And for those who do not necessarily want to live by the sea, but at the same time love the mountains, the mountainous Dalat is very suitable. The temperature here is always about 18-25 degrees. Tangerines and grapes grow everywhere. Mountain Vietnam is something!

Safety

Definitely both Vietnam and Thailand are much safer in terms of the criminal situation than Russia! I think it’s all about legislation, although mentality also plays an important role. But if, as they say, to get to the bottom of it, I would call Thailand a safer country. Here, they don’t even lock cars, and often the keys are left right in the ignition! In Vietnam this is becoming stricter. Thefts are not uncommon here. Therefore, at night in cities, almost no one leaves bikes on the streets, and cafes and shops are closed with roller shutters. Pickpocketing is also common. But for someone to just come up to you on the street and “use” your cell phone is very rare in Vietnam. And if you follow basic precautions, you are unlikely to become the target of theft.

In general, both countries are much safer than in our homeland (unfortunately).

Development of tourism infrastructure

Well, Thailand is probably ahead of the rest! Everything here is done so that tourists feel comfortable. All inscriptions are duplicated in English, Tourist Information can be found everywhere. Everything is very convenient and understandable, even in the outback. What about Vietnam in this regard? In Vietnam, in this regard, there is simply a gap between tourist cities such as Nha Trang, Mui Ne or Saigon and the non-tourist province. Somewhere in Nha Trang you don’t even need to know English; many locals understand and speak Russian well! Everywhere they will help you and explain what, how and where. But once you get somewhere deep into the country, away from the main resorts, you won’t be able to do it without ingenuity. They will look at you the way we would look at an African native somewhere in a remote Siberian village))) Almost no one here knows even two words of English or Russian, everything is in Vietnamese everywhere and nothing is clear. But this makes it even more interesting!

Thailand is the “land of smiles”! Our compatriots have always been amazed by the fact that in Thailand the locals always smile, are always polite and ready to help even a stranger. For many, this is the main reason why they travel to Thailand again and again. Many longstayers who have lived in Thailand for a long time say that Thais are not so white and fluffy, but still a smile and a sincere desire to help a stranger will always captivate.

But in Vietnam, much more often you can encounter complete indifference towards you. And there are much fewer smiling Vietnamese on city streets. In this regard, Vietnam is more like Russia. But still, the mentality and warm climate leave their mark and outwardly the Vietnamese look more cheerful than the Russians. This is especially noticeable to those of our tourists who have never been to Thailand and arrived in Vietnam for the first time. To me, after three trips to Thailand, the Vietnamese even seemed somewhat gloomy, but only at first. In general, for the most part they are very good people.

Cleanliness and order

I would also like to say about the level of cleanliness and order on the streets of Vietnamese cities. In general, many people who have never traveled to Asia have the opinion that Asian cities are filled with mountains of garbage and rats run everywhere. Well, Vietnam really fits this description. Not to say that everything is very sad, and we also have problems with this in our homeland, but to not even find a single trash can in large cities is something! All the garbage here is thrown directly onto the roadsides and the local fat rats happily feed on this garbage! There are a lot of rats in the cities of Vietnam! After a week I even got used to not paying attention to them. In general, of course, the garbage is removed by special services late at night, but by this time the food waste has time to rot in the heat, so in some places the smell is amazing))) Personally, I don’t pay much attention to this, but for true aesthetes, Vietnam can simply be shocking!

Even in Vietnam, you need to be more careful if you buy some street food. The Vietnamese do not pay much attention to the freshness of food and hygiene during its preparation. You can often see locals preparing food with very dirty hands or using perishable foods that have been sitting in the heat all day.

But Thailand, from an aesthetic point of view, is of course a more civilized country. As a rule, everything in cities is clean and tidy. And ordinary Thais are much cleaner people.

Resume

These are probably all the points on which I would like to compare Vietnam and Thailand. As you can see, in many ways these countries are very similar. In Vietnam, everything is moving towards the point where everything here is becoming the same as in Thailand. And if you are looking for some other country (except Thailand) for wintering or just for a long trip, but you don’t want to radically change the situation, then Vietnam is very well suited for this.

However, it is not for nothing that many longsteers would not exchange Thailand for any other country. Having traveled through both of these countries for quite a long time, having visited both large cities and the outback, I am more drawn to return to Thailand! And not because Vietnam is bad. It’s just that in Thailand everything is somehow more convenient, clearer and simpler. Of course, if you live somewhere far away from civilization and people (in a remote village or on a small island), you won’t feel the difference, but in cities the contrast is felt more strongly. But, if you still look for some kind of alternative to Thailand, then Vietnam is better suited for this!

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When going to South Asia on vacation, many are faced with the choice of which country to choose. These countries are very similar to each other because they are geographically located close to each other. All these similarities are due to climatic conditions, geographical location and nature, so many tourists face difficulties in choosing a country suitable for their holidays.

Having visited these countries, you can make your own conclusion about where it is better in Thailand or Vietnam, but if this is not possible, familiarize yourself with the countries’ infrastructure, weather, attractions and cost of vacation.

Despite the similarities in religion, vegetation and location, these countries have a fair amount of differences. Thailand has been welcoming tourists for a long time and during its resort activities, it has significantly developed its infrastructure, expanded its capabilities, the range of services offered and the quality of service.

Vietnam opened its expanses to tourists relatively recently, but already offers a decent level of resort recreation and entertainment. Great competition in the tourism business between Thailand and Vietnam does not allow us to say unambiguously which resort is better. You can decide on the choice of country for your vacation by analyzing the advantages and disadvantages of each country separately.

Climate of both countries

The climates of Thailand and Vietnam are similar and are suitable for beach holidays almost all year round. Except when it rains all day. In both countries the climate is subtropical, so it is warm here all year round, and for relaxation you just need to select certain resorts. In Thailand, the low season starts at and ends at. The high season is from June to September, when optimal weather conditions for a beach holiday are observed.

The average temperature in Thailand in the high season is + 27°С…+32°С. The onset of the low season throughout Thailand manifests itself in the same way and occurs simultaneously at the same time. like in Vietnam, the low season begins in the north and ends in the south, so you can vacation in Vietnam all year round. The average daytime temperature is +28°С…+34°С. Despite the fact that the temperature in Vietnam is higher, it is more difficult to endure the heat in Thailand due to the high humidity, which reaches 85% during the rainy season.

You can relax in the southern resorts of Thailand at any time of the year: here there is the least rainfall and there are always excellent conditions for a beach holiday. In Vietnam, the velvet season occurs in January - February, so many people prefer this warm country for the New Year holidays. Thailand and Vietnam are washed by the waters of the Gulf of Thailand, the Adaman and South China Seas. The average water temperature is +27°C.

Vietnam is exposed to more monsoons, so in winter the temperature at night can drop to +5°C. In Thailand, such temperature changes are not observed and the average night temperature is +18°С…+22°С.

Beaches of Thailand and Vietnam

When choosing Thailand or Vietnam for a beach holiday, you should give preference to Thailand. There are a large number of resorts in the country that are equipped with all the necessary amenities. are located both on the mainland and on, so they are distinguished by the sandy composition of the beaches and the cleanliness of the sea. The beaches of central Thailand are overcrowded with tourists, especially during the high season. The most popular beaches in Thailand are:

Chaweng.
Lamai.
Bophut.
Maenam.
Choeng Mon.
Bang Kao.
Kata.

There are more than a hundred beaches in Thailand. Some of them, under the influence of tourists, have already lost their beauty and purity; those that are located on the islands and less visited by tourists are paradises. In Vietnam, there are fewer beaches. There are only a couple of dozen of them, but they are not inferior in beauty to the beaches of Thailand.

Almost all beaches in Vietnam are strewn with brownish fine sand, and the entrance to the sea is gentle and shallow, creating a sand spit several meters from the shore. There are also beaches in Vietnam on the mainland and on the islands, so there is plenty to choose from for your holiday. The island's beaches are located in bays, surrounded by cliffs and are quiet and peaceful places to relax.

In the central resorts of Vietnam, the beaches are more like the Cote d'Azur, with snow-white sand and bright blue water. Vietnam is more suitable for families with children, but there are also a couple of suitable beaches for lovers of active sports. The most popular beaches in Vietnam are:

Kuada.
Anbang.
Chiong.
Bai Chai.
Ngo Qung.
Katko.
Katdua.
Changfu.
Nha Trang.

You can vacation in Vietnam or Thailand all year round. The beaches here are identical: clean with fine white sand, the sea is warm and clear and all the necessary amenities. The only thing is that in Thailand they are represented in greater numbers, but despite this, they are always crowded. To enjoy a beach holiday in Thailand or Vietnam, it is better to go to island beaches, such as.

Where is the best infrastructure

Vietnam relatively recently opened its expanses to tourists and has already reached significant heights in the tourism business. Today, this country is equipped with all available communications, service structures and facilities for a comfortable stay, recreation and living. There are hotels of different levels of comfort, shopping and entertainment centers, salons, spa centers and attractions. However, Thailand is more developed in this sense.

Today, Thailand is the center of the entertainment and trade industries throughout Southeast Asia. In addition to developed infrastructure. this country has excellent transport connections both domestically and internationally. It is famous for its abundance of entertainment, exotic sights and cultural attractions. Thailand is distinguished by modern buildings and the excesses of civilization, which harmoniously combine with national architectural monuments.

All resorts and beaches in Thailand are accessible to tourists and are easily accessible by public transport. So, when choosing between Vietnam and Thailand in terms of developed tourism infrastructure, you should give preference to Thailand.

Where are the best attractions

If you decide to visit Southeast Asia to get to know the local culture better, then Thailand is the ideal country for this. more than enough. Buddhist temples, temple complexes, Buddha statues, palaces and much more await tourists.

Thailand is the center of cultural development in Southeast Asia, but the country also has plenty of natural attractions.

Although there are more must-see sites in Thailand, they are more appreciated in Vietnam as they are the only remaining architectural monuments left from the Vietnam War. The beauty and picturesque sights of Thailand are mesmerizing, breathtaking and definitely worth seeing.

Where is it cheaper?

Prices for flights to Thailand and Vietnam are approximately the same. The cost of tours from travel agencies is also not much different, but a vacation in Vietnam will still be budget-friendly. Thailand is now an industrialized country where the costs of civilization flourish to a greater extent.

Thailand also has something that is not found in resorts in other countries, such as red light districts, drag queen shows and adult entertainment programs. Thailand boasts huge shopping centers and alleys with stores of world famous brands. Most hotels in Thailand are 5-star, so the cost of accommodation, food and entertainment is higher here. In Vietnam, all this can also be found, but only in big cities. Therefore, prices for housing and food in Vietnam are lower due to less demand.

To summarize, we can say that Thailand is more suitable for those who love a noisy holiday, full of entertainment and rich excursion programs. Vietnam will appeal to lovers of a relaxing holiday alone with nature. The choice between Thailand and Vietnam is best based on personal preferences. In Thailand, life is in full swing, and Vietnam is more suitable for lovers of evening walks on the coast.

Super User

Vietnam or Thailand, which is better and who should go where?

So, you have finally decided to spend your first vacation in Southeast Asia, and, having heard a lot of songs of praise about both Vietnam and Thailand, you don’t know what to choose and where to go. Let's shed some light on this really difficult issue.

When answering the question of where it is better - in Vietnam or in Thailand, one must proceed, first of all, from the character traits of the person who is interested in this question. Let’s say right away that comparing Thailand and Vietnam is absurd! It's like comparing real Ukrainian borscht and real Thai tom yam soup. What's better? Answer, which tastes better?! Both cannot be compared. It’s the same here. These two countries are so different that it is very difficult to identify anything in common between them other than rice.

Vietnam has been and will remain our love for life. It is even wilder, untrodden, and not as spoiled by tourists as Thailand. But we still remember Thailand with warmth and dream of being back in Bangkok, on the Phi Phi Islands, seeing the mountain landscapes of the northern part of the country, eating grasshoppers and pat thai.

In Vietnam it is rare to meet a person who speaks good English, while in Thailand English is spoken almost everywhere. But Russian-speaking Vietnamese are not uncommon, even in the south! It seems that the Vietnamese are not as civilized as the Thais. I noticed this on my first visit to Vietnam, when three weeks later I prayed to my husband: “Let’s go to Thailand, I can’t live here anymore!” However, on my second visit to Vietnam, on the contrary, I enjoyed the simplicity of life of the Vietnamese.

Vietnam is for adventure seekers whose motto is “trouble done right is adventure, adventure done wrong is trouble.” Such “adventures” happen in Vietnam at every turn, naturally, if you relax on your own. And if you came through a travel agency, some surprises will also await you.

Only a person who knows at least approximately the complex history of this country, who knows how to observe and draw conclusions, who accepts the world as it is, can hear and understand Vietnam. Thailand has more modernity and brilliance, it is more comfortable for relaxation, and it is more understandable to people with a Western mentality.

Nature

Stunning - both there and there. The most unforgettable landscapes in the northern parts of the countries. It is impossible to compare, it is impossible to say which is better. You just have to see it!

Beaches

There are more good and truly heavenly beaches in Thailand than in Vietnam, and there are more options in every direction of the country. In Vietnam, the most famous beaches stretch along the coast of the South China Sea for 40 kilometers and are located in the areas of Da Nang and Nha Trang. Thailand has amazing snorkeling and diving; this is what thousands of tourists come here for every year. In Vietnam the sea is duller. Perhaps you can see some underwater exotics if you go to the nearest islands, but we didn’t see them.

Cities

Of course, Hanoi cannot be compared to Bangkok! Bangkok is a super modern city with all the amenities for a city dweller - ground and underground transport, sidewalks, communications, traffic lights, expensive cars everywhere. In Hanoi, there are thousands of mopeds rushing across each other, which do not stop at traffic lights, there is no public transport (there is, but it is very difficult for tourists), there is no metro, and there are no sidewalks as such. But we really love the old center of Hanoi, we could walk for hours along the old streets and at every opportunity we had a mini-picnic at the Lake of the Returned Sword. We went into street Vietnamese cafes and felt like Gullivers, sitting on tiny chairs. In Vietnam, all cities are like this - full of motorcycles, few sidewalks, dirty, noisy and sometimes annoying. But they have their own romance, originality and dissimilarity from each other.

Both Thai and Vietnamese food deserve special consideration. Rice everywhere, spicy but very tasty. The kitchens are very different from each other, everything is different. All! We have to try. In Thailand, in street cafes, there are disposable chopsticks on the tables, individually packaged; in Vietnam, the chopsticks on the tables are shared, and they are washed. In Thailand the chairs are normal, in Vietnam they are small, like for children.

What about the money?

Thailand is more expensive than Vietnam. But it depends on how you relax and what you spend it on. After all, everyone has their own limit. As for independent tourism, in the Kingdom you can eat for 2 dollars per person, but in the socialist republic for only 1 dollar! Again, depending on the number of dishes you order. The price for 1 dish in street cafes has been announced. There are cheap and expensive hotels in both places. But if in Thailand you rent a bedbug house for the night for 300 baht (300 rubles or 10 dollars), then in Vietnam it will be quite a decent room with a shower, hot water, TV and even the Internet.

So, where to go – to Vietnam or Thailand?

It is impossible to give a definite answer. Still, if you are traveling in this direction for the first time, we would recommend that you start with Thailand so as not to be too shocked on your first visit. After all, from there you can go to Vietnam for a couple of days on an excursion, especially since there are special tours. Although many people go to Vietnam for the first time and are completely delighted with both the country and the resort they ended up at. You can't guess here.

Sometimes it seems to me that I miss Vietnam more, but I remember Thailand, and I already want to go there more. Listen to your heart and perceive the world as it is, and then your holiday in Southeast Asia will leave only positive impressions!