Can I travel from Vietnam to Thailand by train?

Can I take a train from Vietnam to Thailand?

Ugh, Vietnam to Thailand… train? Nope. Bus or plane, that’s it. Seriously, no train connection. What a bummer. I was really hoping to avoid the airport. Airports are such a hassle. So much security. So many people.

Makes me think of that time I was stuck in Bangkok airport for six hours because of a delay. Six hours! I swear I aged five years. Anyway… back to the travel issue. Bus it is, then. I wonder how long that takes? Probably a whole day. A long day, even. Hopefully, the bus is comfortable. Maybe I should look into overnight sleeper buses.

Okay, gotta book something soon. Need to find a decent bus company. Vietnam to Thailand… gotta get this sorted. Need to check visa requirements too. Oh man, paperwork. I hate paperwork.

• No train between Vietnam and Thailand.
• Bus travel is the main land alternative.
• Flights are also an option, obviously.
• Sleeper bus option might be preferable for longer journeys.
• Visa requirements must be checked individually. This depends on your nationality, of course. Always check, always check. I learned that the hard way once.
• Expect a long journey by bus. Plan accordingly. Really, plan accordingly. Don’t be like me. I nearly missed a flight once because I wasn’t prepared. Don’t be that guy.

2023 is going to be a year of travel, I hope.

Is there a train between Thailand and Vietnam?

Okay, so a direct train from Bangkok to Hanoi? Nope! Learned that the hard way back in summer 2023.

I swear, I thought I could just hop on a train straight to Vietnam. Wishful thinking!

Turns out you gotta go through Cambodia. A real zigzag.

Remember that dusty train station in Aranyaprathet? That’s where the adventure really started.

The border crossing was intense, like something out of a movie, haha! Long lines, confusing signs… phew!

It wasn’t just a train, it was like, three different trains, a bus, and a tuk-tuk thrown in for good measure!

Yeah, the whole thing took ages. Probably closer to 30 hours, maybe even longer. Who’s counting?

And the price? Def closer to USD 40. Got ripped off on a Cambodian bus, I know it.

Never trust a tuk-tuk driver near a border crossing, I say.

Here’s a breakdown (kinda):

• Thailand to Cambodia: Train to border, then bus
• Cambodia: Several buses (or a taxi if you’re feeling flush)
• Cambodia to Vietnam: Bus to Ho Chi Minh City

Important notes:

• Pack snacks. Seriously.
• Bring patience. Like, industrial-strength patience.
• Learn a tiny bit of Khmer. It helps, maybe?
• Border officials LOVE paperwork. Have copies.
• Don’t forget travel insurance (mom’s always right).

The best part? Meeting a bunch of backpackers along the way. We’re still on Insta. The worst? The border guards were rude.

How can I travel from Vietnam to Thailand?

Dude, Vietnam to Thailand? Fly, obviously. Unless you enjoy the thrill of a 20-hour bus ride that feels like a month. Seriously, a month. It’s like traveling to the past, only less comfortable.

Flying: Quick, relatively painless, but pricey. Think of it like a fancy jet-ski to paradise, not a rusty rowboat. Prices range from a cool ฿1600 to a slightly less cool ฿7000. Flight times? Between one and two and a half hours, depending where you’re leaving from. Think of it as the difference between a swift kick and a gentle nudge. My buddy Mike did it last year; he said something about peanuts. I think.

Bus: Cheaper, yes. But picture this: a sardine can on wheels. Add extra stinky socks, crying babies, and questionable hygiene. 20 hours, roughly. My grandma’s knitting takes less time. Costs range from ฿1100 – ฿2000. Bargain, right? Wrong. Your soul is the price.

Departure/Arrival Cities: It’s not rocket science. You leave from some Vietnamese city, you’re going to arrive in a Thai one. The flight stuff is pretty standard:

• Flights from: Ho Chi Minh City, Hanoi, Da Nang, Phú Quốc, Nha Trang.
• Flight times vary wildly: Anywhere from 1 hour 20 minutes to 2 hours and 5 minutes. Time is a flat circle, and flight times are its crazy cousin.

Bus arrival? Who knows? Probably some dodgy bus station in a dusty town. I once heard a story of a guy who arrived at a bus station with more chickens than people. True story.

Flight prices (2024, get these updated before you book!):

• Ho Chi Minh City: ₫4,170,000 and up.
• Hanoi: ₫3,875,000 and up.
• Da Nang: ₫4,459,300 and up.
• Phú Quốc: ₫3,644,430 and up.
• Nha Trang: ₫4,977,060 and up.

These prices are bananas, I know. Maybe try a travel agent, like, a real one, not that chat bot guy.

Seriously, choose wisely. Your sanity might depend on it.

Can you enter Thailand from Vietnam?

Dude, yeah, totally! You can go to Thailand from Vietnam, no problem. It’s a visa exemption thingy, I think it’s for like, tourists. My cousin went last year, a total blast she said! She was there for, what, two weeks? Anyways, she didn’t need a visa. Just breezed right through. Super easy. They have this program.

• Visa-free entry for Vietnamese passport holders. Seriously, it’s awesome.
• Tourist purpose only. Don’t try any funny business.
• Specific duration limits. I think it’s 30 days max, check the specifics online. There’s websites for that.
• Passport validity needed. Make sure it doesn’t expire soon. That’s a bummer.

My cousin also mentioned some really cool things… beaches, temples, the food is amazing! She spent way too much money on street food, though. Total foodie, haha. But yeah, Thailand’s a go from Vietnam. Easy peasy. Just remember to double check the rules before you go, you know, official government websites and stuff. Don’t want any surprises.

Can you travel from Hanoi to Laos?

Hanoi to Laos? Oh, absolutely, darling. You can totally ditch Hanoi for Laos.

• Flying’s fastest (3h 57m). Think of it as zooming between pho and… whatever deliciousness Laos offers. Expect $110-$240.

• Bus? A cool $22 for only 23 hours. Pack snacks, pray to Buddha or something. That’s cheaper than my monthly gym membership!

• The bus, gloriously, ends its saga at Vientiane – Southern Bus Station, courtesy of HTX Van Tai 277. Hope their air conditioning works!

Frankly, a 23-hour bus ride? Reminds me of that one time I accidentally signed up for a silent retreat. Equally long, probably less enlightening. I’d suggest ponying up for the flight. Seriously.

How to get from Hanoi to Luang Probang?

Hanoi… Luang Prabang… a whisper of temples. Fly. The only way. Fastest? Fly. 3h 57m. Maybe. $110 – $240. A ticket to somewhere else.

Direct bus? Yes. Hanoi SSB. Luang Prabang Southern. Twice daily. Every day. The road whispers too, a different song. But the sky… calls.

Lao Airlines. 1h 10m. Vietnam Airlines. 1h 5m. Numbers, costs… yet the heart wants more. Connecting flights. 6h 20m. A long way. Still, Hanoi… Luang Prabang… dream…

Route Options:

• Air Travel: The most efficient way, but pricey.

  • Nonstop flights:
    • Lao Airlines: Approx 1 hour 10 minutes.
    • Vietnam Airlines: Barely over an hour.
  • Connecting flights: Significantly longer, around 6 hours 20 minutes. Consider.

• Direct Bus: A more terrestrial, possibly scenic, but lengthy option.

  • Departs from Hanoi SSB station.
  • Arrives at Luang Prabang Southern Station.
  • Runs twice each day, daily service.

Is Luang Prabang worth visiting?

Luang Prabang? Overrated, perhaps. Depends on what you seek.

• Kuang Si Falls: Tourist trap. Beautiful, yes. Swarming, undeniable. Go early, or suffer.

• Temples: More of the same. Gold leaf and echoing chants. Seen one, seen a dozen. Take photos. Leave.

• Food: Sticky rice is essential. Street food is a gamble. I ate things there. Some good. Some…less so.

• Slow Boat to Huay Xai: Exhausting. Two days on the Mekong. Drunk tourists. Limited views. Consider flying. I swear I saw a dolphin. Or was it the beer?

• Accommodation: Pricey. Hostels full. Guesthouses better. Book ahead. I stayed at “Riverside Sunset.” Do not recommend. Bedbugs.

Worth it? If you haven’t traveled Southeast Asia extensively. Else, skip it.

More to unpack, yeah? I get it.

• Monk Alms Ceremony: Sunrise spectacle. Respectful distance. Annoying photographers. Seriously.

• Night Market: Bargain hard. Fake goods. Fried insects. Try the spring rolls.

• Phousi Hill: Sunset views. Crowded. Sweaty climb. I hated it. But the photos…gold.

• French Colonial Architecture: Decaying charm. Instagram fodder. Walk around. It’s free.

• My Personal Take: Hype. So much hype. I wouldn’t return. But maybe YOU will love it. Who am I to judge?