People enjoy a drink at a bar along the popular tourist and nightlife strip Khao San Road in Bangkok on Dec 10, 2021. Photo by AFP

 

A friendly visa policy and diverse entertainment services have made Thailand more attractive than Vietnam in the eyes of foreign tourists.

 

Grant Wilson, 61, an Australian who has been living in Vietnam for six years, said he had traveled to Thailand more than 30 times.

 

Grant Wilson (L) takes a photo with his friend in HCMC. Photo courtesy of Grant Wilson

 

Though Vietnam has beautiful scenery, delicious food and friendly people, Wilson said that Thailand has been developing tourism better than Vietnam, especially the quality of tourism services.

 

In Thailand, shopping centers and night markets are diverse and suitable for Westerners with better quality of goods.

 

In Thailand, there are various modes of public transport, including buses, taxis, tuk-tuks and songtaews, a taxi or bus adapted from a pick-up or a larger truck, which make it convenient for tourists to explore the country of golden pagodas. Meanwhile, in Vietnam Grant only knows to take xe om (motorbike taxis) or buses.

 

From Suvarnabhumi Airport, tourists can take a train for 35 baht ($1) to reach the downtown area in Bangkok. The Bangkok Skytrain (known as the BTS) and the Bangkok Subway (known as the MRT) are the two most convenient ways to travel around the Thai capital.

 

In Vietnam, traveling by public transport is still limited.

 

Full Story: https://e.vnexpress.net/news/travel/why-thailand-has-attracted-more-foreign-tourists-than-vietnam-4574484.html

 

-- © Copyright VN Express 2023-02-28

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I suspect it's going to come down to one thing only, the number of flights operating in and out of the airports.

 

That's what determines the number of arrivals.

15 minutes ago, snoop1130 said:

Wilson said that Thailand has been developing tourism better than Vietnam

Hasn't Thailand had a decades long head start?  I don't think better is quite accurate.  More they have been open to tourism for a lot longer.

IMHO Vietnam is a far better place or tourists to visit.

Nicer beaches, cleaner sea, cheaper booze, more to see.

17 minutes ago, BritManToo said:

IMHO Vietnam is a far better place or tourists to visit.

Nicer beaches, cleaner sea, cheaper booze, more to see.

I might agree about visiting but for longer term Thailand must be more convenient.

1 hour ago, BritManToo said:

IMHO Vietnam is a far better place or tourists to visit.

Nicer beaches, cleaner sea, cheaper booze, more to see.

Far better weather to? 

 

My little experience with Vietnam, is Thailand have everything you want lined up from you arrive without visa, and easy 60 days holiday with little effort. 

 

Vietnam is far beyond Thailand as well Philippines 

A post trolling about prostitution and a reply has been removed.

WOT??? Completely blows our narrative here. We gotta bury this thread quickly and get back to the mistreatment of tourists and expats, the horrible environment, the arrogance and unfairness of Immigration, the lack of love just for being our lovable ourselves, and how all the tourists know to go elsewhere, specifically to much better, fast growing Vietnam.  

1 hour ago, rabang said:

I might agree about visiting but for longer term Thailand must be more convenient.

It's far more convenient.  And Thailand is much safer than Vietnam which is sad for Vietnam.  

They all have their pluses and minuses.  

59 minutes ago, Hummin said:

Far better weather to? 

 

My little experience with Vietnam, is Thailand have everything you want lined up from you arrive without visa, and easy 60 days holiday with little effort. 

 

Vietnam is far beyond Thailand as well Philippines 

As a Brit I get 14 days waiver on arrival. Which is long enough for real tourists. 

1 minute ago, BritManToo said:

As a Brit I get 14 days waiver on arrival. Which is long enough for real tourists. 

I also get 2 weeks, but on Puh Quoc you get 30 days!

1 hour ago, rabang said:

I might agree about visiting but for longer term Thailand must be more convenient.

Marriage Visa is 5 years for 50usd, much more convenient than Thailand. 

1 hour ago, BigStar said:

WOT??? Completely blows our narrative here. We gotta bury this thread quickly and get back to the mistreatment of tourists and expats, the horrible environment, the arrogance and unfairness of Immigration, the lack of love just for being our lovable ourselves, and how all the tourists know to go elsewhere, specifically to much better, fast growing Vietnam.  

To be fair, most tourists won't experience the real Thailand like expats do. 

 

Disillusionment can take months or even years.

Because everyone has to enter Thailand as a tourist by default even they have already been here 10 years and want an ED or work permit.  It would only make sense if they counted the person leaving the country after 30 days and not re entering for at least 30 days.  There are hundreds of thousands of Chinese students entering Thai universities.  They are not tourists.

2 hours ago, BangkokReady said:

Hasn't Thailand had a decades long head start?  I don't think better is quite accurate.  More they have been open to tourism for a lot longer.

Agree, and is it valid to try to compare the two countries? Thailand has attractions which don't rate too highly re Vietnam.  And Vietnam has great attractions which are not so good in Thailand. 

 

I have no data but I suspect Thailand rates higher for the total numbers of easily available  'entertainment' girls. 

 

English language is developing faster in Vietnam. Great food, friendly helpful people, beautiful scenery everywhere.

 

Ever visited Halong Bay? Totally beautiful and lots of folks take an overnight boat trip to get there from Hanoi. Gets good reviews.

 

Ultimately though it's personal choice. 

5 minutes ago, scorecard said:

 

I have no data but I suspect Thailand rates higher for the total numbers of easily available  'entertainment' girls. 

give this man a cigar. let's not try to overthink it too much. 

Just now, BayArea said:

give this man a cigar. let's not try to overthink it too much. 

Doesn't interest me. but it does interest many many western visitors.

6 minutes ago, scorecard said:

 

English language is developing faster in Vietnam. Great food, friendly helpful people, beautiful scenery everywhere.

you would think Thailand would be better in the English proficiency department with its head start in tourism as another poster said, but it isn't really the case. 

2 minutes ago, scorecard said:

Doesn't interest me. but it does interest many many western visitors.

no doubt!

7 minutes ago, BayArea said:

you would think Thailand would be better in the English proficiency department with its head start in tourism as another poster said, but it isn't really the case. 

Vietnam hires better qualified English as a Second Language teachers and it's well known that in VN kids and adults are very keen to learn and pay attention.

 

I've seen this aspect in Bachelor and Masters programs (all in English) in 4 locations in VN, great students, apply themselves, ask geat questions, work handed in is excellent and on time.

Thailand wins hands down on the people. Warm friendly and sanuk. Vietnam has it's charms and beaches, history etc. but for me Thailand just has so much more. It's easy, developed and just plain fun. I first went to Vietnam in 1996 (via Thailand) and travelled the length of the country, been a few times since and enjoyed, but nothing like as relaxing as Thailand. After all, that's why most of us are here isn't it?

 

1 hour ago, scorecard said:

Vietnam hires better qualified English as a Second Language teachers and it's well known that in VN kids and adults are very keen to learn and pay attention.

 

I've seen this aspect in Bachelor and Masters programs (all in English) in 4 locations in VN, great students, apply themselves, ask geat questions, work handed in is excellent and on time.

Agree. I have heard nothing but high praise for Viet students from everyone associated with academia in VN.

2 hours ago, markclover said:

Because everyone has to enter Thailand as a tourist by default even they have already been here 10 years and want an ED or work permit.  It would only make sense if they counted the person leaving the country after 30 days and not re entering for at least 30 days.  There are hundreds of thousands of Chinese students entering Thai universities.  They are not tourists.

But if they do that thecstats will be in TATters....????

Notice the headline is in the past tense meaning Vietnam is in the lead.

Vietnam has one of the lowest rates of returning travellers in the area.  Very few tourists who visit actually want to visit again.  They say the traffic, noise, etc are the reasons. Plus for anyone looking to make a longer term visit, there are really no options after your 30 day tourist visa runs out. 

2 hours ago, Hanaguma said:

They say the traffic, noise, etc are the reasons.

Bangkok says hold my Singha. ????

“… diverse entertainment …”. That about sums it up.

1 hour ago, BayArea said:

Bangkok says hold my Singha. ????

Less stressful in Bangkok by a mile.

8 hours ago, BangkokReady said:

To be fair, most tourists won't experience the real Thailand like expats do. 

 

Disillusionment can take months or even years.

Agreed.

Understanding most of the real Thailand has kept me bizzy (sic) these last 10 years.

Still not sure I fully understand it all but I generally love it.

Some of these million dollar 2 week tourists seem to master it all eh?????????

Thailand was good I think compared with Vietnam.... Thailand had the benefit it was a holiday destination in the Vietnam War and therefor tourist came here because the stories the military told. Good food, nice country, friendly people etc... But Thailand did not develop as a tourist country...Almost nobody nowadays can speak English, tourist attractions did not develop and improve and also the visa system, as there was no need, people came here anyway. However in past decades tourism has changed, and Thailand missed the boat, by making stronger visa rules, double standards for tourists, and keeping the country back from developments.... Result is that tourists can go and explore other places like Vietnam, Cambodia, Laos. Malaysia. Philippines etc and find out that these places have same benefits or other than Thailand. Thailand is not the only country anymore for a nice holiday... 

Granted traffic in both Hanoi & Ho Chi Minh City is quite hectic.  However, I cycled (bicycle) to both and found them quite easy to get around.  Taxis are readily available and ALL use a meter.  Certainly what has slowed Vietnam down somewhat is their long history of war with foreign occupiers (WWII Japan, French Occupation & American War).  I've cycled by bicycle to Vietnam from my home in Udon Thani many times and have never regretted the time spent there.  The one area that Thailand has in it's favor is the visa on arrival program for tourists entering the country.  Vietnam is more bureaucratic in this regard.  It's easy to obtain a 30, 45, 60 day visa for Vietnam by visiting one of their many consulates in Thailand and the surrounding countries.  I usually obtain mine from their consulate in Khon Kaen or after crossing into Laos at Savannakhet.