Thailand and Vietnam Tours

Both Thailand and Vietnam have climates that vary from region to region, and you can find best times for visiting both countries individually, depending on which part you are traveling to. However, in general, there are certain times of the year that are compatible for traveling to both Vietnam and Thailand together. In Thailand, January to February is generally better for traveling in the eastern part of the country, while December to January is better for the west. Central and northern Thailand have a more normal climate, and the best time is from November to April.

Vietnam has different climates from north to south, with the north being best from February to April, the central region from October to February, and the south from November to February. Overall, if you are traveling to both, the best time would be from December to February, to get the best of both country’s weather.

For a tour of Thailand and Vietnam, at least 14 days is required to make the most of the trip. For Vietnam, it is best to start in the north, in Hanoi, with a few days spent in the city before moving on to Halong Bay, the most popular tourist destination in the country.

Further south, the main places to stop at are Hue and Hoi An, both ancient cities from the days of Vietnam’s own imperial era, which capture much of the ancient and modern in one place, with a hint of French colonialism thrown in. Then it is on to Saigon for the last part of this leg.

A flight to Bangkok is the best option from Vietnam, taking in the Thai capital for a couple of days, before moving on. From there, you can travel northeast to the area of Sakhon Nakhon and Ubon Ratchathani, before heading north to visit Chiang Mai and Chiang Rai for a few days, the must-see locations in the north of Thailand.

The best way to travel from one country to the other is by flight. Flights run daily between the airports in Vietnam and those in Thailand, with the most flights being between Bangkok and Saigon or Hanoi. Flights are also very cheap, which makes the trip between Thailand and Vietnam by flight a good option if time is not on your side.

Flights from Vietnam to Thailand run from several airports in Vietnam to Bangkok, Chiang Mai, and Phuket. Flights to Bangkok run daily from Saigon, Da Nang, Haiphong, Hanoi, Da Lat, and Phu Quoc, and fly direct, costing from as little as 37 US dollars. Chiang Mai only has Vietnam flights from Hanoi, which run direct every day, and cost from as little as 55 US dollars. For Phuket Island, the only flights are from Saigon, although there are more than 20 flights per day that run direct. Flights cost from around 76 US dollars. The reverse flights run the same from Thailand to Vietnam, and costs are similar, and in many cases exactly the same each way.

50 plus countries have a visa-free entitlement, so do not need to get a visa to enter Thailand, just a valid passport. Most of these countries can travel visa-free for up to 30 days. For those that do not have the exemption, visas must be applied for at a Royal Thai Embassy or at the airport when arriving. Only a few countries have the option to avail of the Visa on Arrival service, while the rest are required to obtain a pre-approved visa before travel. Requirements are simple, though, and just need your passport, application form, two passport-sized photos, and the fee in US dollars.

For Vietnam E-visas, the application is made online, and the visa comes in the form of a .PDF document. However, payment options are limited, and only VISA and MasterCard credit cards can be used. The Visa on Arrival service is actually a pre-applied visa that is applied for online and then issued once you arrive in Vietnam. The main option for Vietnam visas is to pre-apply at an Embassy or Consular Office before you travel, which requires your passport, application form, two passport-sized photos, proof of onward or return travel, and proof of hotel booking, plus the fee.