Which destination is better for beach tour, Thailand or Vietnam?

For tourism, beach holidays make up a major part of the tourist industry, and in Southeast Asia, you can find some of the best beaches in the world. Two countries in particular are well renowned for their stunning beach locations, Thailand and Vietnam. These two popular tourist destinations in Southeast Asia have become synonymous with beach holidays, beach parties, and the brilliant white sands that cover them.

From the stunning Thai beaches of Pattaya, Koh Samui, and Railay, to the awe-inspiring sands of Nha Trang, Mui Ne, and Phu Quoc, few places can even match the quality of beaches in Thailand and Vietnam tour, many of which have long been named as most of the best beaches in the world. Whether you are there for partying the night away, spending days lounging in the sun, or taking the kids to the beach for an awesome break as a family, you can’t beat the beaches of Vietnam and Thailand for quality, comfort, and even great food.

Check for a 14-days classic tour in Vietnam and Thailand.

Climate

Thailand is famous for its sunny weather, cloudless blue skies, and slight breezes, all of which make a beautiful beach holiday. The monsoon season in most of Thailand runs from April to October, with most of the rain falling from June to September. To avoid the rains, and still get warm temperatures, the cooler dry season, from November to March is the best time to travel for a beach vacation. Temperatures are cooler, but can still reach 30 degrees during the day, which is perfect beach weather.

Thailand climate

The coastal areas of Central Vietnam benefit greatly from the protection of the Truong Son Mountains, and the region escapes much of the Southwest monsoon thanks to that high barrier. The dry season in Central Vietnam runs from February to July, with a slight increase in rainfall in August. From April to August, you can enjoy the sunny climate of the beaches of Hoi An, Da Nang, and Hue, with very little rain at all.

However, the northeast monsoon has a different effect from September to December, and often brings in typhoons and heavy tropical storms from the Western Pacific. The best time to visit Central Vietnam is from April to August, when you can see the lovely sunshine and blue skies, as well as the pleasantly hot temperatures of the coast.

Vietnam climate

The southern beaches in Vietnam have warm temperatures all year round, and different areas experience the rainfall at different times of the year. In the southeast, the beaches of Nha Trang are best visited from March to June. Phu Quoc is best avoided from July to October, when the rains are at their worst, while Mui Ne, on the southern coast, has a rainy season that runs from June to September, and consists of mostly light afternoon showers.

Tourism Situations of Beaches

Vietnam

Nha Trang is the heavyweight of the Vietnamese beach scene, and has been the most popular beach location for years. A sweeping crescent beach dominates the coastline, and is backed by a very impressive promenade that is covered with beautiful parks and sculpted gardens for that little relief from the white sand. Just inland from the beach lies a host of restaurants and boutiques, which wind down at night into the party center of Nha Trang. For those with a more sedate lifestyle, there are plenty of activities on offer, from luxurious spa treatments and river cruises to the stunning ancient Cham ruins to the north of the city center.

Check for more Nha Trang Honeymoon tour information.

Nha Trang

Once an isolated stretch of shoreline, Mui Ne has transformed into a fused strip of tourist beach resorts that are set amid the beautiful gardens of this southern Vietnamese town. Spread out over a 10-kilometer stretch of highway, the town has a handful of luxury hotels and a good number of cheaper guesthouses, but remains mostly a mid-range resort, with plenty of 3-star accommodation available. The major draws for tourists, aside from the beautiful beaches, are the original fishing village, which still has resident fishermen, and the awesome kitesurfing, one of the most popular activities in Mui Ne throughout the year.

The most beautiful island in Vietnam, Phu Quoc has plenty of perfect white sand beaches, surrounded by the dense jungles of Southeast Asia. This unique island in the southwest of Vietnam, close to the border with Cambodia, quickly changed from a sleepy backwater island to the tourist hotspot of the western expats, and while the resorts have become mega-sites around the most popular beaches, there are still plenty of places to explore and escape the bustle of the peak season around the island. The area around the island offers excellent diving, with a host of reefs surrounding the island, as well as great kayaking waters in the bays and inlets.

Thailand

Perfect sand, limestone cliffs, and emerald waters make Railay one of the best places in Thailand for a beach vacation. While it is only accessible by boat, this paradise in the Andaman Sea on the west of Thailand’s narrow peninsula is a crowded island in the peak months, though it has not been developed as much as other beach areas in Thailand. The area also has plenty of monkeys, which live in the dense jungles of the interior, and make a great day out on a small safari.

Patong beach in Phuket, the largest island in Thailand, is also the largest beach on the island, and Thailand’s most popular beach. The wide coastline and soft white sand make the beach one of the most pleasant places to visit, and the tropical waters are warm all year round. The beach is backed by plenty of hotels of all styles, and there are shops in the village, walking distance from the beach. While it is not the most peaceful beach, with arties at night and noisy jetskis all day, it is one of the most sociable places in Thailand, a land where “friendly” is the norm.

Phuket

Long Beach in Koh Lanta is exactly what the name suggests, a very long beach. Stretching for miles in both directions and one of the widest beaches in Thailand, this stunning beach has great views of the other islands in the area, as well as restaurants right on the beach. The beach is devoid of sharp rocks in the water, and its soft sloping shoreline makes it perfect for swimming and relaxing in the water. More family-oriented these days, Long Beach offers some great and affordable accommodation.

Accommodation

Both Thailand and Vietnam have beaches with a wide variety of accommodation available, as well as some where there is very little in the way of luxurious places to stay. The best and most popular beach in Thailand, Patong Beach, has a wealth of hotels and guesthouses to stay in, and caters to just about every price range, even the old-style backpackers, who are less visible in Patong than they originally were. On average, hotels in Patong Beach range from around 60 dollars per night to as much as 240 dollars per night, although it is possible to find cheaper accommodation.

However, unless you are planning a trip to Phu Quoc, which is probably the most expensive beach location to stay at in Vietnam, you will find that most three-star accommodation in Vietnam’s major beach resorts is a lot less expensive than the counterparts in Thailand. Where Thailand used to be known for its cheap hotels and guesthouses, the popularity has had a major effect on the prices. Around Nha Trang, a good three-star hotel can be found for as little as 20 dollars per night, and good guesthouse accommodation can cost as little as 10 dollars per person, though mostly without your own bathroom. Mui Ne, as a mid-range area, has good three-star accommodation from around 30 dollars per night, and cheap guesthouse rooms at around 10 dollars per night.

Overall, Vietnam has the most cost-effective accommodation for travelers to the beach resorts, mostly due to the fact that Vietnam is still an up and coming beach destination in Southeast Asia. This makes it an ideal place to visit for a beach holiday, but this could soon change as it is already getting very popular with western tourists.

Food

Vietnam is a delightful place to travel to for new tastes and flavors, and while much of it has a spicy flavor, the taste is delicious and unique.

One of the most simple of all Vietnamese dishes, Pho is cooked the same all over the country, and is part of the staple diet of the people. Consisting of a salty broth with rice noodles, beef or chicken, and plenty of herbs and spices, it features highly in the Vietnamese diet. A cheap and filling dish, it can be found all across Vietnam, at any time of the day or night. A favorite snack for any time of the day, it is important that the authentic Pho has a clear soup, with fresh meat and herbs.

Pho

Also known as Broken Rice, Com Tam is simple yet filling, and is popular in Southern Vietnam, mostly in the morning. The dish consists of grilled pork chops with thinly shredded port served over a bed of broken rice grains, and garnished with slices of cucumber, tomato, and pickles, and often comes with a prawn-paste cake on the side. It is often served with fish sauces to complement the dryness of the dish.

Thailand has a similar spiciness to many of its dishes, but they are very different from those of Vietnam. One of the most popular cuisines around the globe, Thai cuisine is renowned as being one of the most flavorful cuisines in Asia.

Tom Yum Goong is a spicy soup dish that is made with lemongrass, galangal, kaffir lime leaves, and chili’s, with added garlic, mushrooms, tomatoes, onions, and cilantros. The usual fish sauce is always added, to add saltiness and flavor, and the dish is best served in a large bowl or sizzling pot. The soup usually includes a meat, and the most popular options are beef or shrimps, though you can also have pork or chicken if you wish.

Tom Yum Goong

Thai Green Curry is found all over Thailand, and is one of the most popular Thai dishes around the world. The dish is made from a selected curry paste, which is usually a mix of the chef’s own combination of curry and spices. Coconut milk and the meat of your choice make up the other simple ingredients, to make this delicious soupy dish that is normally served with typical sticky rice.

Check more about foods during Bangkok Thailand tour.

Summary

Choosing between Thailand and Vietnam for a beach tour is a very hard choice to make, since both countries have huge benefits for singles, couples, and families. However, there are a few things that stand out between the two. Thailand is better suited for the singles scene, with its amazing party beaches and all-night clubbing with daytime relaxation on the beach. Couples that require a little peace and quiet are actually better off in Vietnam, as there are less partygoers crowding the many quiet peaceful beaches, and it is becoming one of the top honeymoon spots in Southeast Asia. Families can choose from either destination, as both have an amazing amount of family-friendly beaches and resorts, and whether you go to Thailand or Vietnam, you kids will enjoy the new culture as much as the stunning sandy beaches.