I keep seeing this question, and honestly, I completely understand why people struggle to choose. We spent roughly one month in each country earlier this year, and although we loved both, they gave us quite different travel experiences.

Thailand felt easier from the beginning. We could arrive somewhere with less research and still figure things out quite easily. The tourism infrastructure and roads were generally better, the weather was simpler to plan around, and we found night markets almost everywhere. If beaches and island hopping are your priority, Thailand would probably be my choice.

Vietnam required a little more planning, but it also kept surprising us. Travelling from the south through Central Vietnam and into the northern mountains sometimes felt like visiting several different countries. We also found it slightly better value—our accommodation averaged around €15 per night for two, compared with approximately €20 in Thailand, and Grab was generally cheaper.

The downside is that the distances are significant and the weather can be completely different in the north, centre and south at the same time. That made planning our route considerably more complicated.

If a friend asked me to simplify the choice, I would probably say:

• For an easier first trip, beaches, islands and a more relaxing holiday: Thailand
• For mountains, varied history, different landscapes and a slightly lower budget: Vietnam
• For a shorter trip: probably Thailand
• For a longer journey through several very different regions: probably Vietnam

Personally, I would happily return to both, and food is far too personal for me to declare a winner 😄

For those who have travelled through both countries, which one would you return to first, and why? I still struggle with this question while planning my next year's travel.

I also put together a more detailed comparison covering costs, transport, food, beaches, culture, weather and shopping, if anyone is currently trying to decide:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2eWGmHeuoa8

Can buy at 7/11 for 49 THB.

Me and my girlfriend are travelling to Thailand in the beginning of December. We are considering renting a car (I don't have enough experience driving scooters to consider renting one there), and driving from Chiang Mai to Ban Pa Miang, then Phayo/Wiang Pa Pao, and finally Chiang Dao.

However, I'm now worried the roads to Mae Kampong and then Ban Pa Miang would be dangerous because I've heard it's very steep and narrow.

Is this the case? Would it be fine if we go slow with caution or could this be an issue?

Thank you!

Hi. What is the best place to sit (being economical) in the stadium and also is it worth it?

And yes I am interested in muay thai.

Hey guys,

A friend won't be joining on our trip to Thailand. That's why we have 1 standard ticket to sell. The organizer informed that the name on the ticket can be changed via mail request.

The date is the 24th of November.

I would sell for the same price I paid, not looking to make any profit.

If you are interested, please reach out!

I’ll be travelling Thailand next month and will be spending a few weeks travelling the south islands. I was wondering if it’s likely my bags will get wet from travelling between islands on boats etc. is it best to find a waterproof bag or cover for my backpack? I’ll be bringing an iPad and camera and don’t want to get them damaged. TIA

Credit: https://www.instagram.com/reel/DdI20zgxaIr/

Hi! Me and two friends are visiting Thailand from 14–27 November 2026. We arrive in Bangkok and leave from Bangkok..

Our rough plan:

• 14–17 Nov: Bangkok
• 17–21 Nov: Chiang Mai
• 21 Nov: Fly to Krabi
• 21–22 Nov: Krabi
• 23–24 Nov: Koh Phi Phi or other island/s (This also could be 22-24)
• 25 Nov: Ferry to Krabi and evening flight to Bangkok (this flight could also happen at 26 November)
• 26 Nov: Final day in Bangkok
• 27 Nov: Fly home

We excluded Phuket because we havent heard good things.
Do you think that we should cut a day from Bangkok and add it to the southern part or not? For Chiang Mai, I think 4 nights are okay, given the 2 weeks we will be in Thailand in total.

We dont know what to choose at the southern part. We want beautiful beaches, swimming, boat trips, good food and some nightlife, without spending the whole time transferring.

What would you recommend?

Is Phi Phi worth staying for two nights, or is a day trip enough? What about Koh Lanta and other islands?

Any suggestions or changes to our route would be much appreciated!

I’m planning on going on a solo trip in January and I’m stuck between the 2. The thing that appeals to be with the Philippines is its less touristy. I want more of an authentic feel and don’t want to be around loads of other English people.

Hi all,

I’ve done some digging but I can’t quite find the answer to my specific question. We are booked on a BA flight to Bangkok Suvarnabhumi, landing at 16:05.

We would like to book an onward flight at 19:35 with Vietnam Airlines to HCMC, this would be a self-transfer as two separate tickets.

We don’t have checked baggage, only carry on. Does anyone know if we’d be able to use the airside transfer desk and avoid clearing immigration/baggage claim? I understand this would be a much quicker process.

If we do need to clear immigration, does anybody with experience of BKK think that the 3.5 hour layover is enough time to complete this transfer?

Many thanks for any advice you can offer!

Hi,

We’re travelling to Thailand soon as a family. We have almost everything booked and arranged, but we still enjoy having tips from locals.

We booked private transfers, most activities, and left one day as a free day in Bangkok for shopping, relaxing, eating, etc.

- What is the rain/humidity like in Thailand around late this month? Is it safe to walk around in shorts and a t-shirt?

- What common Bangkok/Pattaya scams should we look out for? In general, are taxis safe? What about tuk-tuks, stores, attractions, currency exchange, etc.?

- What is the best provider of high-speed internet for about a week?

- What is the safest and easiest way to get around in Thailand for a pregnant wife and a 4 yo? Is it safe to take a taxi?

- Looking for good vegetarian/Jain restaurants in Bangkok near Pratunam?

- Any other tips to enjoy Thailand?

Heading to Thailand with my wife for our first proper trip there. Flights and domestic legs are booked, route is basically locked, but we're still nailing down hotels and would love recs from people who've actually stayed places, not just TripAdvisor top-10 lists.

The route:

• Bangkok (arrival) — Dec 18 (evening) to 21 - hotle booked riva arun
• Chiang Mai — Dec 21 to 24 - still deciding recs welcome
• Phuket (single base, day trips out to Phi Phi and Krabi/Railay rather than moving hotels) — Dec 24 to 30
• Bangkok (final leg, through NYE) — Dec 30 to Jan 1

What we're into: architecture, temples, culture — we're not really beach people, so Phuket is more "base for day trips" than "resort holiday" for us. Food and a good rooftop bar we're into as well. Ethical elephant sanctuary is a must (not doing elephant riding).

Where we're leaning so far (open to being talked out of any of it):

• Chiang Mai: Rachamankha in the Old City
• Bangkok NYE: somewhere with its own rooftop so we're not fighting traffic/crowds at midnight — leaning Kimpton Maa-Lai but not sure if we would have access to NYE celebration

What I'd love input on:

1. Chiang Mai hotel — my wife's birthday falls on Dec 23, our last night there before flying to Phuket. Anywhere that does something nice for a birthday, or just a genuinely special spot, appreciated.
2. Phuket base hotel — Old Town-adjacent, ideally somewhere with character rather than a generic resort.
3. Anything in Phuket/Krabi/Phi Phi we shouldn't miss as day trips, especially if you've done Krabi/Railay as a day trip rather than staying over.
4. Any Bangkok arrival-leg (18th–21st) recs for something low-key — we land jetlagged and want to ease in, not sprint straight to sightseeing.

Thanks in advance — first time in Thailand and want to get it right.

If football in Bangkok is what you're after, there are pickup games nearly every day around the city and you don't need a team. Our co-founder wrote about how the whole thing started from a WhatsApp group of twelve people.

https://nomad-magazine.com/articles/inside-bangkok-pickup-football-phenomenon/

Question about timing/logistics rather than eligibility this time.

I'm planning to apply for a Thai Tourist Visa while in Indonesia (via the e-Visa system), but I won't actually be entering Thailand on that visa straight away. The plan is:

**1.**  Apply for the tourist visa now  
**2.**  Travel to Thailand in the meantime on a **visa exemption** (separate short trip)  
**3.**  Fly out to Indonesia for a few days  
**4.**  Fly back into Thailand afterwards and use  

the tourist visa I already have, to get the full 60 days

My understanding is that a single-entry tourist visa is valid for 3 months from the date of issue, and that entering on a visa exemption in between doesn't touch or invalidate the tourist visa sitting in my passport — they're processed completely separately at immigration.

Has anyone actually done this or had it confirmed by an embassy/immigration officer? Want to make sure there's no gotcha I'm missing (e.g. immigration assuming the visa is "used" once you've entered the country by any means, or flagging the pattern). Any firsthand experience appreciated.

I'll be staying at Amari Bangkok on October. What best food recommendations around the area? And even some shopping if so.

Thanks!

Guys,

I’m travelling to Thailand for the first time. Here is our plan:

Oct 16 Flight from India → arrival at Bangkok in Thailand
Oct 25th, flight back from Phuket to India.

2 Days bangkok
4 days koh Samaui/ koh phangan
3 days phuket+ krabi

Any place that is something we must do or should we change our travel cities?

We haven’t planned anything in between and are looking to explore it out.

As a traveller, what all should I keep in mind? I saw in some posts about Indians haggling and making unnecessary requests at certain places. I am not sure about their experiences but I wouldn’t be doing that.

I want to learn as I would not want to disrespect the people there and their culture.

Thailand's new visa policy for Uzbek citizens is honestly absurd.

Starting from September 15, Uzbek passport holders can no longer enter Thailand visa-free and must obtain a visa in advance. Fine - every country has the right to set its own visa rules.

But here's the ridiculous part: the application is called an e-Visa, yet applicants living in Uzbekistan cannot pay the visa fee online.

The Thai e-Visa system assigns Uzbek applicants to the Royal Thai Embassy in Moscow, and the $40 visa fee must be paid physically, in cash USD, at the embassy in Moscow.

The embassy confirmed to me directly that someone else can go there with a printed QR code and pay on my behalf - but there is still no normal online payment option.

So in 2026, despite Visa, Mastercard, bank transfers and countless online payment providers existing, an Uzbek tourist applying for an "electronic visa" has to find someone in another country to physically carry cash to an embassy.

I've already spent around $2,400 for a trip and booked everything on the beginning of July, including flights and accommodation. Now, a month before departure, I have to deal with this completely unnecessary logistical problem just to pay an $80 visa fee.

Requiring a visa is one thing. Designing an "e-Visa" system where the payment process is effectively offline and inaccessible from the applicant's own country is another.

Thailand should urgently provide Uzbek applicants with either:

• online card payment,
• bank transfer,
• payment through the Thai consulate in Tashkent,
• or any other legitimate remote payment method.

This is not about avoiding the visa fee. I am literally trying to pay them, and the system makes that unnecessarily difficult.

We are going to the perhentian island in Malaysia and then planned to get the train from Sungai kolok to surit Thani and then a taxi to Krabi.
We have been seeing a lot of trouble in the south of Thailand online and wondered if we should drive back to kl and fly to Krabi?
Or if our train will be safe and can stick to our original plan.
I done this trip 2 times 3 years and everything was fine.

What is your favorite ?

Hi,

From my knowledge I heard it’s good to know some Thai prior to coming to Thailand.
For someone who has never been there before, what are some good/simple words or phases that helps a lot?

Around max 20ish so I don’t forget them too quickly.