Vietnam and Thailand are popular choices for Indian travelers planning a short international holiday, but their visa processes differ in terms of application procedures, documentation, processing times, and flexibility. Vietnam vs Thailand: Which Visa Is Easier Right Now? compares the key visa requirements and practical considerations to help travelers understand the differences before planning their trip. For travelers preparing a Vietnam visa application, best Vietnam Visa consultation in Gurgaon can provide guidance on requirements, documentation, and the application process.
Vietnam: the predictable one
Vietnam's e-Visa is fully online, costs around ₹2,200, and clears in two to three working days with remarkable consistency. The stay is generous — up to 90 days — and the document ask is minimal: passport scan, photo, and your entry/exit points. The one rigidity worth knowing: your e-Visa is tied to the entry checkpoint you declare. Land at Da Nang with a visa that names Hanoi and you have a problem. Decide your airports before you apply, not after.
Thailand: the flexible one
Thailand gives Indian travellers two live options: the e-Visa arranged in advance, or the visa on arrival at major airports. The e-Visa costs more (around ₹3,500) but removes airport risk; the visa on arrival is cheaper but means queueing after a red-eye flight with cash and documents in hand, and stay periods are shorter. For families and first-timers we recommend the e-Visa without hesitation — the arrival queue at Bangkok on a December morning is not where you want to discover a missing photocopy.
- Speed: Vietnam wins — 2–3 days versus 3–5 for Thailand's e-Visa
- Stay length: Vietnam wins — 90 days versus 30–60
- Flexibility on arrival: Thailand wins — multiple airports, visa-on-arrival fallback
- Cost: Vietnam wins — roughly ₹1,300 cheaper
- Beginner-friendliness: tie — both are gentle first international trips
Our verdict: if your itinerary is fixed, Vietnam is the smoother process end to end. If your plans might shift — different airports, an extra city, dates in flux — Thailand's flexibility earns its premium. And if you genuinely can't choose, note that plenty of travellers now do both in one trip: the Bangkok–Hanoi leg is under two hours, and holding both visas simultaneously is completely routine.