We continue to look for alternatives with our readers. Thailand just in case. Although it seems to be a Thai double visas work and nothing has changed for wintering workers. About cambodia there was already a post on the blog, now about Vietnam, an even closer analogue Taya. What is better? Sergey will tell his opinion.
Among the inhabitants of our country and especially among those who at least once life traveled, probably every second was in Thailand. And if 10 years ago everyone considered Turkey to be a kind of dacha for the Russians, now it is Thailand that has become a leader in terms of number holidaymakers from Russia. But not only our compatriots prefer the “land of smiles” to many other resorts in the world, but also tourists from all over the world are increasingly choosing Thailand as a place to rest and wintering. And this is not surprising. Then you and the eternal summer with sea and beautiful beaches, kind and smiling people, and the cost life is not called dear. All anything, but lately the Thai government is passing more and more laws that in every way complicate the life of the so-called wintering. First of all, This is the abolition of Vizaranov. So now many of those from year to year again and again returns to Thailand begin to pay attention to other countries in the region of south-east Asia. And one of such countries – Vietnam.
Vietnam can not be called a discovery for wintering. Yes, and simple “package tourists” have long been chosen by many resorts in this country. But still, if Thailand is already just sticking out and even in the north of the country it becomes more and more “our”, then in Vietnam is still possible find places where a European tourist will be a wonder. These countries very similar, but many of them and differences. And the longer you live here and traveling, so it is more striking.
I have repeatedly managed to visit both Thailand and Vietnam I lived both in tourist places and where tourists (especially from Russia) – a rarity. So I can compare these countries as to which one is better at wintering or just independent travel. I must say that it will not comparison by the type of who is better and who is worse. To me personally I liked both there and there! I suggest you just compare Thailand and Vietnam on those points that will be important for any traveler and especially for longsteer. And conclusions where better or worse, do it yourself.
The content of the article
- 1 Registration of the visa to Vietnam
- 2 Prices for housing, transport, food, leisure and entertainment
- 2.1 Accommodation prices
- 2.2 Transport prices
- 2.3 Food Prices
- 2.4 Prices for recreation and entertainment
- 3 Nature and climate
- 4 Security
- 5 Tourism infrastructure development
- 6 Locals
- 7 Clean and tidy
- 8 Summary
Contents
Registration of the visa to Vietnam
The visa issue in Vietnam is solved very easily. Up to 15 days she not required at all. If you stay for a longer period, then a visa is needed, but there will be no problems in issuing it. She stands out right at the airport. This process will take no longer than an hour. But you can receive it in advance at the Vietnamese embassy in Moscow. Herself the visa will be free, but you have to pay the so-called consular fee. Visa can be single or multiple, on 1 or 3 months. Consular fee depends on the multiplicity and timing stay in the country: from 20 to 125 dollars. Maximum in the country without check out you can stay 9 months, because a 3-month visa can extend twice. Visa extension can be done at any travel agency. and it will cost from 30 to 80 dollars.
In the airport
To extend the visa (as well as to get it for the first time) required:
- passport, valid for at least 6 months;
- 2 photos 4 by 6 cm;
- invitation to enter the country (done by a tour company or through special online services);
- completed application form in 2 copies.
That is, as you can see everything is very simple, though not for free. So way with a visa at wintering workers will not be problems. Besides, do not travel and enter the country. Everything is done in any tour company and live in the country can be up to nine months! And in Vietnam there completely visa-free territory is Phu Quoc Island. If fly immediately to Phu Quoc and not leave the island, then you can live here without at least how many visas. At least until the expiration date Passport Passport.
But in Thailand, with visas, everything is a bit more complicated. Of course if you arrived no more than a month, then you do not need a visa, but for those who constantly winters or live in Tae, the visa issue is more acute. Usually a tourist visa is issued for 60 days, and then renew for another month. There is also a double visa with a total stay in the country for no more than 6 months, but for half a year living in a country cannot be longer than 90 days (the rule of 90 days does not work yet and does not fact that will work, approx. Geleosan). You can also get study visa or work visa. But many winterers preferred Rides on the so-called “Vizaran” (exit from Thailand in neighboring state with a stamp in the passport and thus permit another 30 days to be in the country). Now it has become difficult – Vizaran was canceled! Without a visa for 30 days now you can enter only once!
Prices for housing, transport, food, leisure and entertainment
If you are a budget traveler, then for you it will be the most important point. We will compare in order:
Accommodation prices
All of course depends on the conditions in which you used to live. The more expensive housing (this also applies to expensive hotels), the difference between Thay and Vietnam is getting smaller. Rich man – he everywhere a rich man and with such people in any country of the world will try to pump out as much money as possible. I’m used to live in chic apartments or only exclusively in five star hotels – get ready to pay well! But more budget housing costs differently and Vietnam in this regard seems to me more preferable. If we talk about hotels, then even in the resort Nha Trang can be removed room with all comforts, air conditioning, daily television room cleaning and breakfast for 400 rubles per day! Try to find the same anywhere in Phuket or Pattaya !?
Hotel room in Nha Trang for 400 rubles per day:
Long-term accommodation in Vietnam will also be significantly cheaper than in Thailand.
Transport prices
In both countries, transport is very well developed. And both urban public transport and intercity. At prices the difference is not very significant, but still Vietnam is The plan will be a little more attractive. And that’s exactly what – Sleeping bass. Translated as “Sleeping Bus”. In such buses instead usual seats – lying places. Ie all the way, you can be very wake up comfortably. That is why on such buses most often move at night. There are of course ordinary buses with familiar seating, but Sliping Bass enjoys more popular than regular bus. After all, the price of a ticket for “Sleeping The bus is not much higher and generally very accessible. For example, a ticket from Ho Chi Minh to Nha Trang will cost only 250 thousand dong (about 370 rubles). But the distance there is 450 kilometers! And by the way, I was very surprised, but it turns out Vietnam officially ranks the second place in the world (after the USA) in terms of development and availability intercity bus traffic!
Inside Slip Bass
Vietnamese urban public transportation is slightly lower Thailand in terms of diversity, but not in terms of price. For example a ticket to the city bus here costs only 5000-7000 dong (7.5-10 rubles). Moreover, all buses in Vietnam are air-conditioned and always very clean. This is closely watched here!
City bus in Vietnam
In Tae, of course, transport is also not expensive and at the same time very convenient to use, so this item in my opinion is not plays a big role in terms of choosing a country for long travels. And there, and there everything is very convenient and quite budget.
Food prices
Again, a lot depends on where you used to eat. Dinner in expensive restaurants, designed for wealthy tourists, in both countries cost a lot of money. Well, it will be in any country. Us primarily interested in the cost of food in stores, markets and cafes average price category. Speaking of shops is difficult to give a general a comparison. Much depends on the specific product. Unlike Thailand, Vietnam is popular for bread, pastries and cakes, so prices for this product is much cheaper. Also not very expensive for sale. Yogurt and kefir – a rare product for supermarkets in Thailand. Those products that are equally common in both countries are about the same (in Vietnam a bit cheaper). And what is not produce domestically – equally expensive (for example sausage or cheese).
Food in Vietnam
In the market prices are about the same, but this is in view of the fact that everywhere it is necessary to bargain! In Vietnam, Europeans buy at Market something for a low price – very difficult! Prices are usually overstated in repeatedly! However, it is more concerned with tourist places. Somewhere in the outback it often seems that Vietnamese are not able to deceive anyone at all. Only this concerns absolutely provinces. I’ve been in a couple of villages where tourists are generally never happens – that’s where the real Vietnam!
Vietnam Market
In Vietnam’s mid-size cafes, prices are much cheaper than in Tae. Of course it’s hard to talk about the whole country, but if you compare for example Nha Trang resort and the well-known Pattaya, the comparison is clearly not in favor of the latter. In Nha Trang for 400 rubles, you can arrange a real one feast of the belly. This money is enough for several dishes, dessert and beer. In Pattaya, for the same thing, you will give 2-2.5 times more expensive! If you compare the province, then there prices will certainly be cheaper, but in unlike Thailand, in the Vietnamese province you are even 100 rubles together fill up the belly!
Separately, I want to mention the street food. In Thailand, I always She really liked and I prefer to eat it. Duck here if you eat only street food, then you can safely go to Tai and Vietnam. And here and there everything is very cheap and tasty. In Vietnam, duck at all a penny! For example in non-tourist areas Nha Trang can have a great lunch for only 15,000 dong (23 rubles! ). For this money you will be given a large portion of rice with pork sauce chop on the grill, a plate of fresh herbs and soup! In Thailand, food from makashnits bit expensive, but still if you are not quite desperate Backpacker with a budget of $ 100 for 3 months, then a big difference will not notice.
And another moment – alcohol. If you are a fan of spending time with a bottle of beer or something stronger, then Vietnam is paradise for you! I never saw alcohol cost so cheap. And alcohol good quality. And this applies equally to stores and bars. In Tae, all alcoholic times 3 more expensive. However it applies only for locally produced alcoholic beverages.
Imported alcohol here and there is not cheap.
Prices for recreation and entertainment
Entertainment means visiting various bars and nightlife. clubs. Here I will take a visit to various SPA and massage salons, excursions and parks.
Cafes
This is of course more relevant for ordinary tourists, and not for longsters. But those who remain in the country for a long time, too, sometimes want to relax and unwind!
The active nightlife in Vietnam (mainly concerns famous resorts) will cost you less than in Tae. Basically This is as a consequence of the previous paragraph (cheap alcohol). But all sorts of massages and spa treatments are about the same.
Fans of traveling to Vietnam guided tours for sure like it. Excursion routes are constantly evolving, and prices remain quite low. Everything of course depends on the resort and specific excursions, but mostly the prices of the most popular ones approximately in the region of 700-1200 rubles, while in Thailand the popular sightseeing routes can cost 3-5 thousand and even more!
It is not expensive in Vietnam to visit various parks entertainment. For example, a ticket to the park Winperl in Nha Trang will cost 500 thousand dong (about 750 rubles). This amount includes water park, aquarium, amusement park, gambling hall and a lot what else! In many countries, as in Russia, only visiting one water park will cost more!
Waterpark in Vietnam
In general, with regard to prices, Vietnam is cheaper to stay. country than Thailand.
Nature and climate
Thailand and Vietnam are geographically very close to each other, therefore, the climate here is about the same. Vietnam also has the dry and rainy season and a very large part of the country covered with real tropical jungle. But there are some the differences. In Vietnam, it rains in other months than in Tae and there is not so much moisture. And sometimes in the mountains cool! So for those who do not like high humidity, but while still loving the tropics, Vietnam can very well fit. And for those who do not want to necessarily live by the sea, but at the same time loves mountains, mountain Dalat is very well suited. Temperature here always about 18-25 degrees. Everywhere grow tangerines and grapes. Mountain Vietnam is something!
Nature in Vietnam looks like Thai
Security
Definitely both Vietnam and Tai are much safer in terms of criminal situation than Russia! I think it’s all about legislation, although the mentality plays an important role. But If as they say to get to the bottom, then I would call Thailand more safe country. Here, in fact, even the cars do not close, and often and the keys are left right in the ignition! In Vietnam, with this all more severely. Thefts are not rare here. Therefore, at night in cities almost no one leaves stories on the streets, and cafes and shops are closed on rolling shutters. Frequent and pickpocketing. But just to you so they came up on the street and “worked” a cell phone, so for Vietnam is a rarity. And if you follow the basic measures precaution, then the object of theft, you are unlikely to become.
The guard on the beach in Nha Trang
In general, in both countries it is much safer than in our homeland ( Unfortunately ).
Tourism infrastructure development
Well, there is probably Thailand ahead of the rest! Everything is done so that the tourist was comfortable. All labels are duplicated on English, everywhere you can find Tourist Information. All very convenient and understandable, even in the outback. And what about Vietnam? In Vietnam in this regard is just the gap between tourist cities such as Nha Trang, Muine or Saigon and non-tourist province. Somewhere in Nha Trang you don’t even need to know English, Many local people understand and speak Russian well! Everywhere you help and explain what, how and where. But it is worth getting somewhere deep into the country, away from the main resorts and without ingenuity you already not enough. They will look at you the way we would look at African native somewhere in a remote Siberian village))) Here, almost no one knows two words in English or Russian, everywhere everything is in Vietnamese and nothing is clear. But from this becomes even more interesting!
In big cities, finding something is not a problem.
Locals
Thailand – “land of smiles”! Our compatriots are always it was amazing that in Tae the locals always smile, always polite and ready to help even a familiar person. For many, this is the main reason why they go to Thailand again and again. Many Longsters who live in Tae long enough say that Thais do not so white and fluffy, but still a smile and a sincere desire helping a stranger will always bribe.
Locals
But in Vietnam you can come across much more often to you. indifference. Yes, and smiling Vietnamese on the streets much less. In this regard, Vietnam is more like Russia. But still mentality and warm climate give their imprint and seemingly Vietnamese look more cheerful than the Russians. This is especially noticeable to those of our tourists who have never been to Tae and first flew in Vietnam. To me, after three trips to Tai, the Vietnamese, even by some seemed gloomy, but only at first. In general, for the most part they are very nice people.
Cleanliness and tidiness
Separately, I want to say about the level of cleanliness and order on the streets Vietnamese cities. In general, many people who have never traveled in Asia, there is a perception that Asian cities filled with mountains of garbage and rats running everywhere. Duck here, Vietnam very fit this description. Not to say that everything is very much sad, yes, and in our homeland, too, with this problem, but to even in large cities it was not to find a single trashcan – this is something! Whole the garbage here is thrown right on the roadsides and this garbage with pleasure feed local fat rats! Rats in the cities Vietnam is a lot! After a week I even got used to not paying them attention. In general, the garbage is of course cleaned by special services. late at night, but by this time food waste in the heat has time become rotten, so that the smell is stunning in places))) Personally, I don’t strongly pay attention to this, but the true aesthetes of Vietnam may just be shocking!
Even in Vietnam, you need to be careful if you buy something from street food. For the freshness of food and hygiene during its preparation Vietnamese are not closely watched. You can often see how local prepare food with very dirty hands or use perishable products that have lain in the heat all day.
Street fast food in Vietnam
But Thailand from an aesthetic point of view is certainly more civilized country. As a rule, in cities everything is clean and neatly. Yes, and ordinary Thais are much more clean people.
Summary
That’s probably all the points on which I would like to compare Vietnam and Thailand. As you can see, in many ways these countries are very similar. In In Vietnam, everything goes to the fact that everything here becomes the same as in Tae. And if you look for some other country (except Thailand) for wintering or just for a long trip, but not I want to radically change the situation, then Vietnam is very fits good.
However, it is not for nothing that many longsters will not exchange Thailand for what other country. Traveling in both countries long enough, having been both in large cities and in the outback, more I pull back to Thailand! And not because in Vietnam is bad. It’s just that in Thailand everything is somehow more convenient, understandable and simpler. Of course, if you live somewhere far away from civilization and people (in a remote village or on a small island), the difference is not feel, but in cities the contrast is felt stronger. But if still look for some alternative to Thailand, then Vietnam for this fits better!
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