Travel From Thailand To Vietnam: Discover Top 4 Best Ways

Table of Contents

1. Overview

Currently, Southeast Asian countries are increasingly becoming prominent tourist destinations for all travel enthusiasts around the world. From the ancient beauty of Hanoi to the wonderful nature of Ha Long Bay, from the vibrant night market in Bangkok to the pristine beaches of Phuket, everything will make tourists visit Vietnam and Thailand at any time everyone must be fascinated.

Traveling between Southeast Asian countries is also very easy. And from Thailand to Vietnam, you have many transportation options to consider for your journey because the distance is quite close, only taking 1.5–2 hours by flight. In addition, there are several ways to travel from Thailand to Vietnam, such as by plane, bus, train, private car, or boat. And each method of transportation has advantages and disadvantages compared to the others. It’s just a matter of whether you rank higher when making a decision—price or time. Overall, flights save you a lot of time, buses and trains cut costs, and boats can bring you more beautiful sights.

2. What does Vietnam have that attracts international tourists?

Vietnam has a rich history and an area spanning many types of terrain, from mountains and rivers to rich plains and many romantic beaches. This is an extremely attractive cultural discovery destination with more than 54 ethnic groups. This S-shaped strip of land possesses many enchanting landscapes and many natural places that are still very wild. Vietnam is often called a “cheap paradise” with its warm and friendly people.

Moreover, Vietnamese cuisine is extremely diverse; dishes in Vietnam are on the world culinary map as “must try”. Surely you have heard of the famous “Vietnamese Pho”. But come here to try many other attractive regional specialties such as “Bun cha,” “Banh mi,” “Bun bo Hue,” etc, which will definitely amaze you.

The outstanding destination that you can visit on your trip from Thailand to Vietnam is the capital, Hanoi. A place of thousands of years of civilization with 36 old streets, traditional historical sites with spiritual meaning such as One Pillar Pagoda, Temple of Literature (Quoc Tu Giam), Sword Lake, West Lake, Tran Quoc Pagoda, etc. You can also visit Ho Chi Minh City, an extremely vibrant and modern economic center. Or book a tour to Da Nang, Hoi An, and Hue to explore the beautiful sea with white clouds, golden sunshine, and a sweet, seductive blue sea.

3. Discover The Top 4 The Best Ways To Travel From Thailand To Vietnam

3.1. Travel from Thailand to Vietnam by plane

An airplane is the fastest and most convenient way to travel from Thailand to Vietnam. Currently, there are many airlines operating flights from Thailand to Vietnam with different ticket prices, such as AirAsia, Vietnam Airlines, Vietjet Air, or Thai Airways. In particular, you can take a flight from provinces and cities in Thailand, such as Bangkok, Chiang Mai, Surat Thani, or Krabi, to Noi Bai airport (Hanoi), Da Nang International Airport, or Tan Son Nhat airport (Ho Chi Minh City).

Flights will cost from 60 USD – 100 USD/one way or from 140 USD – 220 USD/round trip. It will take you from 1.5 hours to 2 hours to fly, depending on the schedule of your departure and destination locations. Flight ticket prices can be deeply reduced if you book in advance at the right time. You can book tickets online yourself or ask travel agencies to book tickets to receive more incentives.

3.2. Travel from Thailand to Vietnam by road

Because the geographical distance is quite close, a more reasonable cost option for traveling from Thailand to Vietnam is by road. The Thailand-Vietnam land route will have to pass through a third country, Cambodia or Laos. You can choose suitable means of road transportation, such as a passenger car, bus, or motorbike, to experience the trip.

If you go through Cambodia, you will go from Thailand through the Moc Bai border gate to Ho Chi Minh City. If you go through Laos, you will go from Thailand to the Cau Treo Ha Tinh border gate to Hanoi. These two border gates are developed for tourism with spacious, quite safe asphalt roads.

If you ride a motorcycle, you must register the vehicle. Documents that need to be prepared include:

Original vehicle registration certificate (available in English; no translation is required)
Driver’s license: If your driver’s license is available in English, that’s great. If not, you can bring a certified English translation.
Vehicle insurance or International Marketing Permit (ICP)

If you travel by bus:

From Thailand to Hanoi:

Direct bus tickets from Thailand to Vietnam: Ticket prices are very expensive and change constantly depending on the bus company and the number of passengers.

Transit bus tickets between Thailand and Laos and Laos and Vietnam: ticket prices range from 24 USD to 26 USD. Ticket prices from Laos to Thailand (Bangkok) range from 18 USD to 20 USD, depending on the bus company.

From Thailand to Saigon:

Direct bus ticket Thailand-Vietnam: Price ranges over 50 USD. There are trips every day.

Transit tickets for Thailand-Cambodia and Cambodia-Vietnam: Tickets from Cambodia to Vietnam are $10; tickets from Thailand to Cambodia are 20 USD to 22 USD.

3.3. Travel from Thailand to Vietnam by boat

In addition, you can try to experience traveling from Thailand to Vietnam by boat on the Mekong River. There are two routes for you to choose from: from Phnom Penh port to Chau Doc or from Northern Thailand via Huay Xai to Luang Phabang (Laos). Then, take the bus back to the capital, Hanoi. Another option after the cruise is to take a flight from Vientiane to Hanoi. In addition, there are a number of international cruise lines, such as Royal Caribbean Cruises, Celebrity Solstice, etc., that offer itineraries combining Vietnam, Cambodia, Thailand, or some other Southeast Asian countries.

The average cost for waterway travel is about 150 USD – 180 USD per person. This is a much higher cost than previous forms of transportation. However, visitors will be able to admire the charming river scenery and explore the beauty of the Mekong River.

3.4. Travel from Thailand to Vietnam by train

Currently, there is no direct train route between Thailand and Vietnam. But if you still want to experience traveling from Thailand to Vietnam by train, then there is a method that will take many trains, bus rides, and a lot of time, but if you like adventure, then it will be worth the price. You can take a train from Bangkok to Aranayprathet, near the Cambodian border. Then another train from Poipet Station to Phnom Penh. To get from Aranyaprathet Railway Station to Poipet Railway Station, you need to take a bus or taxi. There is no train from Phnom Penh to Vietnam, so you will have to take another bus, and it takes about 5 to 6 hours. Overall, the entire journey will take a maximum of one day and cost you between 21 USD and 65 USD.

4. How to apply for Vietnam visa

4.1. Vietnam visa exemption

Currently, the Vietnamese government has relaxed its Vietnam visa policy to welcome more and more tourists to this country (updated from August 15, 2023):

Unilateral visa exemption: Citizens of these countries holding ordinary passports, regardless of entry purpose, are exempt from visa entry and exit from Vietnam with a temporary stay period of no more than 45 days: Korea, Japan, Russia, Sweden, Finland, Norway, Denmark, England, France, Germany, Spain, Italy, and Belarus.

Bilateral visa exemption: Citizens of Asian countries (Southeast Asia) are exempted from Vietnam visas with a temporary stay period of no more than 30 days, regardless of the purpose of entry. Including countries: Brunei (14 days), Myanmar (14 days), Philippines (21 days), Cambodia, Thailand, Malaysia, Singapore, Indonesia, and Laos.

4.2. Vietnam visa upon entry

Vietnam visa on arrival has become a trend for tourists to apply for a Vietnam visa thanks to its convenience and simplicity.

To apply for an electronic visa, visitors must first fill out the online Vietnam visa application form here. The provider will then send an approval letter (usually within 3 business days) after receiving the service fee. Travelers bring this letter with them when checking in at Vietnam airports. After paying the stamping fee, the visa will be stuck on the passport. It’s done! You can apply for an electronic visa according to the instructions here.

Apply for a Vietnam visa at the Vietnamese embassy in Thailand. If Thais do not want to enter Vietnam for visa exemption for no more than 30 days but want to apply for a long-term visa in Vietnam, they can apply for a visa at the Vietnamese diplomatic mission in Thailand. To apply for a visa, visitors must go to the Vietnamese Embassy in Thailand to submit documents and then get a passport with a visa stamp.

Consulate General of Vietnam in Khon Kaen, Thailand:

Address: 65/6 Chatapadung, Khonkaen. Thailand
Phone: (66-4) 324 2190
Fax: (66-4) 324 1154

You can experience the following tours when coming to Vietnam:

Northern Vietnam “Golden Season” Luxury Adventure

Vietnam Mix Tour Train & Flight From South To North

Vietnam Mix Tour Train & Flight From North To South

Da Nang And Hue 4 Days 3 Nights

3 Days 2 Nights From Da Nang to Quang Binh

Mixing Nature & Culture Vietnam In 30 Days

Hanoi – Halong Bay Classical

5. Conclusion

Traveling from Thailand to Vietnam brings many discoveries and memorable experiences. You also have many diverse options to move between these two countries. Wishing you a fun trip exploring the diversity of Vietnam and Thailand. Don’t forget to visit Metta Voyage’s blog for more interesting travel experiences.