Thailand and Vietnam are two of the most popular tourist destinations in South East Asia. The two countries have so much to offer from sights, food, to history and culture. Let’s take a look at how you can travel from Thailand to Vietnam.
If you are in Thailand and are planning to travel to Vietnam the easiest method is to travel either by air or by road You can also go on a more adventurous route and travel by train.
There are currently 162 weekly flights between Thailand and Vietnam. The average flight time between the two countries is around 1 hour and 46 minutes. Most of the flights will cost an average of $100 to $200 but you can get a flight for around $80 to $100 during September and October.
You can book a flight from either Bangkok (Suvarnabhumi Airport or Don Muang Airport), Chiang Mai (Chiang Mai International Airport), or Phuket (Phuket International Airport) and arrive in either Hanoi (Noi Bai International Airport), Danang (Danang International Airport), or Ho Chi Minh (Tan Son Nhat International Airport). The most popular and cheapest flight is between Bangkok and Ho Chi Minh.
The most popular airlines that fly from Thailand to Vietnam are Thai AirAsia, Vietnam Airlines, Vietjet Air, Cathay Pacific, and Bangkok Airways. Other airlines fly from Thailand to Thailand but they are usually 1-stop flights.
Another method to travel from Thailand to Vietnam is by bus. The bus ride from Thailand to Vietnam will take you across either Laos or Cambodia depending on the destination you choose.
If you decide to go the bus route, then you’ll have to depart from Bangkok, go through Cambodia and finally reach Ho Chi Minh or go through Laos and arrive at Hanoi. It will take around 14 hours from Thailand to Cambodia then another 7 hours from Cambodia to Ho Chi Minh. From Thailand to Laos to Hanoi, it will take about 24 hours.
The price for a bus ride from Thailand to Cambodia to Ho Chi Minh is usually around $30 to $50 while a bus ride from Thailand to Laos to Hanoi is around $40 to $50. This is a cheaper method of travel when compared to flying but will take a much longer time for you to reach your destination. So, if you're pressed for time it’ll be better to take a direct flight.
Read about the top 10 things to do in Vietnam.
Currently, there are no direct train lines between Thailand and Vietnam. But if you still want to experience traveling from Thailand to Vietnam by train there's a method to it. It will take multiple trains, bus rides, and a lot of time but if you like adventures then it’ll be worth it.
You can take the train from Bangkok to Aranayprathet near the Cambodian border. Then another train from Poipet Railway Station to Phnom Penh. To get from Aranyaprathet Railway Station to Poipet Railway Station you’ll need to take either a bus or taxi. There is no train from Phnom Penh to Vietnam so you’ll have to take another bus ride which will take around 5 to 6 hours. Overall, the entire journey will take a day at the most and set you back around $21 to $65.
Thai citizens or passport holders are exempted from needing a visa to enter Vietnam for 30 days. If you plan to stay for more than 30 days you will need to apply for a visa. Check the list of visa-exempt countries here. If you're not from one of the exempted countries or you wish to stay for more than 30 days you can apply for a Vietnam visa online with BDATrip.
