Holiday option: Vietnam or Thailand?

[AlphaBravo]

Wife and I want to make a quick 10 day holiday however we cannot agree where. She says Thailand, I says Vietnam.

We have not been to either before so difficult to reach consensus. Anyone been to either/both? What would be the recommendation between these two and why?

 

[Bar0n]

From friends that have been to Thailand, I've heard it's a typical 3rd world country, apparently also quite dirty, smelly, etc. Never been myself and can't recall which area they went to.

 

[BinaryJack]

The two are very different.
Ive been to Vietnam and know Thailand very well.

Thailand is touristy.
Vietnam is not.

 

[Drifter]

Compromise... 5 days in Vietnam, 5 days in Thailand.

 

[Electric]

Thailand can be as touristy as you want it to be.
Head to the islands off Phuket in the Andaman sea and be sure to avoid James Bond Island, Phi Phi , Koh Sumiu, etc. and you will hardly see a tourist.

Calling it 3rd world though?

 

[P00HB33R]

Me and the wife went to phuket and the phi phi islands. It comes down to, if you want to party, phuket, if you want to relax the islands.

 

[crawler]

Thailand is epic and loads to do - beach holiday and can also party if need be

o not stay in patong, rather go to karon, 1 beach down - can still go to patong for a party night if need be

Dirt cheap

BTW 10 night to short, at least 12 - but next time I will do 14

Make sure you get there early and leave late - otherwise 2 days lost

 

[AlphaBravo]

Thailand is epic and loads to do - beach holiday and can also party if need be

o not stay in patong, rather go to karon, 1 beach down - can still go to patong for a party night if need be

Dirt cheap

BTW 10 night to short, at least 12 - but next time I will do 14

Make sure you get there early and leave late - otherwise 2 days lost

We had a look at Karon, probably the place to see. Not so much into the partying thing anymore...therefore I opted Vietnam. But thanks for the feedback guys.

 

[bchip]

We had a look at Karon, probably the place to see. Not so much into the partying thing anymore...therefore I opted Vietnam. But thanks for the feedback guys.

We stayed in Karon, for a couple of days and then in Phuket.
Centara hotel.

If you like student parties, getting drunk, "going crazy" then Phuket is the place to be.
If you want more a low key beach experience thats not too touristy Karon is nice.
We loved Karon.

Other area to try is Chiang Mai, which is more inland (away from the beaches).
Cant vouch for it, or for Vietnam but both still places we want to try.

http://www.tripadvisor.co.za/Hotel_...n_Resort_Phuket-Karon_Phuket_Town_Phuket.html

 

[Ninja'd]

Isn't there currently political turmoil in Thailand or is it over?

 

[Electric]

Isn't there currently political turmoil in Thailand or is it over?

There's still a curfew in Bangkok as far as I know.

 

[MrGray]

Depends what you're looking for. Beach holiday, shopping and partying - Thailand. Really, really interesting culture and history - Vietnam. You can get quick cheap flights between the two countries, so the suggestion to do both is not so unreasonable. Another option in the area is Cambodia. Angkor Wat is amazing and although I haven't been yet, there are apparently some awesome new beach resort areas developing in Cambodia. Cost wise, Thailand is potentially the most expensive, although you can get by very cheaply without slumming it too badly. Vietnam next cheapest and Cambodia the least expensive.

 

[Polly101]

People are friendlier in Thailand.

Couldn't bear the "deli's" in Vietnam which hang up animals in the window like peking duck but with paws

food was better in Thailand
Cu Chi tunnels and the war museum in Vietnam were incredible experiences.

All the temples in Thailand were awesome!

So - based on the food and people - go Thai....

 

[Polymathic]

You do know Thailand is under military occupation?

 

[Goliath]

Was in Thailand, Koi Samui to be specific about 1.5 years ago and was great.. (if you want a breakaway) as it is very poor and basically nothing there, just nice warm beaches and very friendly people!

 

[Electric]

Was in Thailand, Koi Samui to be specific about 1.5 years ago and was great.. (if you want a breakaway) as it is very poor and basically nothing there, just nice warm beaches and very friendly people!

On the islands, yes.
Bangkok on the other hand is incredibly developed and puts SA to shame in many regards.

 

[nevadayz]

Just been to Vietnam end of 2013, was awesome, severely underrated and not as touristy as Thailand, so depends what you going for..

 

[MrGray]

You do know Thailand is under military occupation?

That is a concern, but I've been in Thailand during previous coups and unless you're in the centre of Bangkok, you wouldn't know the difference. Right now, things seem to be returning to "normality" and most of the curfews have been lifted. To be frank, and put it into perspective, political/protest/criminal violence is far more intense and frequent here than it ever is in Thailand. Having lived in both countries, if safety was a primary consideration, I would pick Thailand, even under military occupation.

 

[AlphaBravo]

Just been to Vietnam end of 2013, was awesome, severely underrated and not as touristy as Thailand, so depends what you going for..

Really good info here guys, thanks. I'm looking for a more look, see discover trip than party trip. So it seems either the islands in Thaland or Vietnam. Cambodia was also mentioned, so will check it out.

 

[MrGray]

Really good info here guys, thanks. I'm looking for a more look, see discover trip than party trip. So it seems either the islands in Thaland or Vietnam. Cambodia was also mentioned, so will check it out.

The islands are more of a party, beach trip, though. In Vietnam start in Saigon (Ho Chi Minh City), take tours to the Mekong Delta, Cuchi Tunnels and war museum and Independence Palace in Saigon. Then move north to Hanoi, stopping over in Ha Long Bay (world heritage site) for a day or two. In Cambodia, Angkor Watt is compulsory (also a world heritage site), and worth a couple of days exploration. In Thailand, the islands are not as culturally or historically interesting as Bangkok and inland. In Bangkok I'd recommend a tour of Wat Pho, a river tour including Wat Arun and maybe a day trip to the floating market. Can be a bit tourist trappy, but really fascinating if you're into that. Chiang Mai in the north is also amazing. Travelling around can be quite exhausting, which is why it's always nice to end with some time on the islands, so my ideal trip to the east is always a few brief one or two night stopovers in the region for sightseeing, followed by some more relaxed time in Phuket or Koh Samui.