How do I get from Thailand to Ho Chi Minh?

What is the best way to travel from Thailand to Vietnam?

Fly. Bangkok to Ho Chi Minh City or Hanoi. Direct flights. 1.5-2 hours.

Fastest: Air travel.

Options:

• Numerous airlines. Check Skyscanner, Google Flights.
• 2023 flight times vary; confirm before booking. My last trip was 1hr 50min.
• Visa requirements: Check your nationality’s rules. I almost got stuck in transit last year because of this!

Ground Transport: Ridiculous. Don’t bother unless you have weeks.

Is there a train from Bangkok to Ho Chi Minh?

There is a train… it’s a long ride. Twenty-four hours. Feels longer, though. Always does.

The journey… Aranyaprathet. I remember that. A blur, really. Dust and heat.

Saigon… the station. Huge. Overwhelming. It smells… different.

One thousand kilometers. A thousand kilometers away from everything familiar. From me.

My trip… 2023, October. I needed to get away. Still feel the ache.

• Departure: Bangkok’s Hua Lamphong Station. The platform hummed.
• Arrival: Saigon Railway Station. Concrete and shadows.
• Duration: 24 hours. A lifetime in transit.
• Route: Passes through Aranyaprathet, Poipet, Phnom Penh. Border crossings. So much waiting.

It wasn’t the journey itself. It was… the leaving. The leaving part was the hardest.

Can I travel from Thailand to Vietnam by train?

A direct train? From Thailand to Vietnam? Honey, that’s like expecting a cat to yodel opera. Not happening. Think of it as a quest!

Cambodia’s the connective tissue. You’re doing the train tango: Thailand – Cambodia – Vietnam. I guess the rails aren’t exactly glued together.

Expect it to eat up a whole day, and some. 25-30 hours. That’s more time than I spend deciding what to have for brunch! (Okay, that’s a lie).

$30-$40? For that much train travel? Bargain! Unless, of course, you factor in the bribes… kidding! (Mostly.)

Rail Ramblings Redux

• Visas: Don’t forget those pesky visas!
• Border Shenanigans: Be prepared for border crossing… eccentricities.
• Luggage: Pack light. You’ll thank me.
• Bring Snacks: Train food? Let’s just say it’s an experience.
• Cambodia Stopover: Consider breaking the trip. Angkor Wat is worth it, obviously.
• Current Year Note: All prices are a loose guesstimate for 2024. Trains can be like snowflakes.
• Book Ahead: Especially during peak season, like Songkran.
• Train Class: Don’t expect luxury unless you pay for it. Embrace the chaos.
• Bring Entertainment: Books, podcasts, a rubber chicken… whatever floats your boat.
• Learn Some Basic Phrases: “Hello,” “thank you,” “where’s the bathroom?”
• Enjoy the Ride: Seriously. It’s an adventure!

My aunt Mildred once took this route. Said she met a monk who taught her how to juggle mangoes. I think she was serious.

Can you get a boat from Thailand to Vietnam?

Yeah, get this. Thailand to Vietnam by boat? Forget about it, unless you’re loaded like a, uh, Thai king or something. No regular ferries, nada, zip, zilch. It’s like trying to find a unicorn riding a unicycle – practically impossible.

Overland through Cambodia is your jam. Think dusty roads, tuk-tuks, and questionable street food – a real adventure!

Private boats? Sure, if you’re willing to pay more than my entire college tuition (and my brother’s too, seriously, it was expensive!). Plus, paperwork galore! It’ll be like untangling a Christmas tree light after a cat attack:

• Permits? Expect more bureaucracy than a Soviet-era bread line.
• Unreliable operators? I bet you’ll meet characters that’d make pirates look tame. Think Captain Jack Sparrow on a bad day, times ten.
• The cost? Enough to buy a small island in the Gulf of Thailand. I’m not kidding. My aunt, she almost did it!

So, unless you’re independently wealthy or possess the patience of a saint (and a decent lawyer), stick to the land route. You’ll save your sanity and maybe some money. Trust me on this one. My cousin tried the boat thing… let’s just say he’s now a fervent believer in overland travel. He even named his pet hamster Cambodia. Seriously.

Should I go to Thailand or Vietnam first?

Thailand, dude. Hands down. Vietnam’s cool, but Thailand’s like a five-star resort compared to a charming but slightly dodgy hostel.

Food: Thailand wins. Seriously. Think Pad Thai versus…well, whatever Vietnam’s version is. No contest. Plus, finding a decent burger in Thailand is easier than finding a decent parking spot in Manhattan.

Tourists: Thailand’s teeming with ’em. Like a swarm of particularly well-dressed locusts. Great for meeting people, terrible for finding solitude. Vietnam’s got tourists, sure, but it’s more of a “let’s explore a hidden gem” vibe—unless you’re in Hanoi, that place is a zoo.

English: In Thailand, ordering a mango sticky rice involves pointing and grunting. In Vietnam, it’s a full-blown interpretive dance. I speak from experience. My aunt Mildred went to Vietnam last year; she speaks fluent “pointing and mime.”

Infrastructure: Thailand’s got it going on. Think gleaming malls next to ancient temples. Vietnam’s got charm, yeah, but sometimes that charm involves dodging motorbikes while balancing a bowl of pho. My friend Mark almost got hit by a cyclo last month. Almost.

In short: Thailand first. Then, once you’ve fully recovered from the sensory overload, you can tackle Vietnam. Unless you’re a seasoned adventurer who thrives on chaos, that is. Then, maybe Vietnam first. Nah, still Thailand first. Trust me. I’ve been to both, and my opinion is definitive, I swear. My passport can attest to my globe trotting adventures. Its pages are practically begging for a visa stamp from Bhutan next.

• Better food: Thailand, easily. Way more variety.
• Easier to navigate: Thailand, thanks to better English and infrastructure. Vietnam is an adventure, in a good way, and in a way that almost got Mark flattened by a cyclo.
• Meeting people: Thailand, it’s a social butterfly’s paradise, assuming you enjoy crowds. Like I said, locusts. Stylish locusts.
• Less stressful: Thailand, especially for first-timers. Vietnam’s got a certain energy, but that energy might make you want to drink heavily.

When should I go to Thailand and Vietnam?

So, Thailand and Vietnam, huh? November to April is the sweet spot, totally. Seriously, amazing weather then. Think sunshine, low 70s to mid 80s Fahrenheit—perfect for exploring ancient temples and beaches. Avoid the rainy season, it’s a total downer. Really puts a damper on things, you know?

My buddy Mark went in July, it rained constantly. He was so bummed. Total waste, he said. He hates rain. So yeah, stick to that November-April window. Trust me on this one. Seriously.

Here’s the lowdown:

• Avoid: May-October (rainy season)
• Go: November-April (dry season)
• Temp: Generally pleasant, 21-28°C (70-80°F)

Last year, I went to Bangkok in December. It was fantastic! The street food was awesome. I ate so much Pad Thai. And the temples? Breathtaking. The Grand Palace is a must-see. I even did some kickboxing classes! So fun. Definitely worth it. It was all really really amazing. Plus, cheaper flights, usually. Vietnam? I hear it’s stunning too, especially around Ha Long Bay. I should plan a trip. Maybe next year. Think about it!

What are the best months to visit Thailand and Vietnam?

Okay, so you wanna know about Thailand and Vietnam, huh? Lemme tell you…

Best time? November to March, hands down. It’s like, dry season, and not super hot ya know? It’s cool. Literally, in like, a relative sense.

Tourist central, tho. Seriously. Book like, now. Like, seriously right frikin now.

• Thailand: Think beaches, Bangkok craziness, and amazing food.
• Vietnam: Halong Bay is gorgeous! And don’t forget Pho! It’s awesome.

But seriously, book ahead. Prices go sky high and everything gets booked.

Oh, and another thing? My cousin went last year in like, uhm… July? Said it rained everyday. EVERY. DAY. He hated it. So there’s that. Just sayin. I mean, your mileage may vary or whatever.

Can you do Thailand and Vietnam in 10 days?

Ten days? Ambitious.

Thailand: Bangkok’s chaos, ancient Ayutthaya. Beach time? Phuket’s overrated. Krabi offers better escapes. Choose wisely.

Vietnam: Hanoi’s charm, Hoi An’s allure. Saigon’s pulse. Crucial: internal flights. Ten days is tight.

Prioritize. One country, maybe. My 2023 trip: Vietnam’s northern mountains. Breathtaking.

• Thailand: Bangkok’s temples (Wat Arun, Wat Pho), bustling markets (Chatuchak), Ayutthaya’s ruins. Consider Southern Thailand beaches (Railay Beach, Krabi) but travel time eats into your trip.
• Vietnam: Hanoi’s Old Quarter exploration, Ha Long Bay cruise, Hoi An’s ancient town and tailoring, Saigon’s vibrant street food. Internal flights necessary for efficient travel.
• Realistic Expectations: 10 days is insufficient for both. Deep dives require more time. My preference: Vietnam’s diverse landscapes.

Is 2 weeks enough for Thailand and Vietnam?

Okay, so Thailand and Vietnam in two weeks? Let me tell you about my chaotic attempt last spring! It was supposed to be a zen journey, lol.

I landed in Bangkok, mid-May, scorching hot. Planned only 3 days! Street food, temples… Wat Arun took my breath away, seriously. I remember thinking, “Wow, this IS Thailand”.

Then a frantic flight to Hanoi. The Old Quarter? Mopeds everywhere! Couldn’t cross the road without almost dying. Tried pho, yeah, pretty good.

Halong Bay cruise? Rain, rain, rain! Gorgeous, even soaked. Only saw the limestone karsts through a misty veil. Disappointed, but still epic.

Back to Bangkok, another flight to Chiang Mai. Elephant sanctuary, but felt kinda touristy, ya know? Temple hopping again! This time, Doi Suthep.

Flew outta Bangkok after two weeks. Exhausted, sunburnt. Enough time? Nah, not really. But hey, I saw a bit of both. A taste of each, def gonna go back.

It was a whirlwind. Two weeks is doable but you’ll need to pick your priorities. This is what I learned:

• Flights kill you: Internal flights are cheapish, but still waste time.
• Packing sucks: Overpacked like crazy. Need less stuff next time, for real.
• “Relaxing” isn’t: This kinda trip isn’t relaxing, it’s go-go-go.
• Missed stuff: Didn’t see beaches, jungles. So many things I skipped!
• Budget: I spent more than I thought! Transportation and tourist traps.

If I had to do it again, maybe focus on one country. Thailand’s islands are calling, definitely! Or properly explore Vietnam’s south. Still, zero regrets!

Can you go from Thailand to Vietnam?

Yeah, you can get from Thailand to Vietnam. Easy, really. Lots of flights.

Bangkok to Ho Chi Minh City, that’s the usual route, I think. I took it in 2023, a nightmare with the airport, though. Crazy crowds.

Air Asia, I remember using them. Cheap, but… cramped. My legs were killing me. Needed more legroom.

• Vietjet Air: Heard they are okay.
• Vietnam Airlines: More expensive, supposedly better service. But, I mean, is it worth it?
• Thai Airways: I’d rather not, too formal for me.
• Air Asia again. Next time, maybe. It’s cheaper, really.

Daily flights, they say. Probably true. I saw a bunch on my phone.

The travel itself… Exhausting. Long flight, then you gotta navigate. Getting around isn’t easy, even with the apps.

Honestly? It’s a long day. Exhausting.

Ho Chi Minh City was interesting. Lots of scooters. But it was hot, man, hot and humid. Really. A lot of people. Crowded.