Thailand vs Vietnam

Vietnam is the cheaper of the two overall. Here is how they compare on everything else.

Overall prices in Thailand are about 21% higher than in Vietnam, based on the World Bank's price-level ratio.

Output per person, adjusted for purchasing power, is 1.5× higher in Thailand, so local incomes tend to stretch further there.

Life expectancy is 5 years longer in Thailand (79 vs 74).

Cheapest (0.3)Priciest (1)ThailandVietnam
Price level compared with the United States (1.00), across every country with data. Source: World Bank, PPP conversion factor to market exchange rate.
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Side by side

IndicatorThailandVietnam
Price level (US = 1.00)0.4 (seed)0.33 (seed)
GDP per person, PPP$23,000 (seed)$15,000 (seed)
Income per person (GNI)$7,200 (seed)$4,200 (seed)
Inflation1.2% (seed)3.6% (seed)
Unemployment1% (seed)1.6% (seed)
Life expectancy79 yrs (seed)74 yrs (seed)
Internet users88% (seed)79% (seed)
Homicides per 100k2.5 (seed)1.5 (seed)
Urban population53% (seed)40% (seed)

Highlighted figures mark the better value where a direction is clear (lower prices, higher income, longer life, fewer homicides).

Visas between Thailand and Vietnam

We don't have visa data for Thailand passport holders travelling to Vietnam yet. Details

We don't have visa data for Vietnam passport holders travelling to Thailand yet. Details

Basics

ThailandVietnam
CapitalBangkokHanoi
Population71,600,00098,900,000
CurrencyTHBVND
LanguagesThaiVietnamese
Time zoneUTC+07:00UTC+07:00

Read more about Thailand or Vietnam.

Sources and dates

  • World Bank Indicators (price level, GDP, income, inflation, unemployment, life expectancy, internet use, homicides, urbanisation). Latest available year shown per figure.
  • REST Countries for names, capitals, currencies, languages and population.
  • Exchange rates: European Central Bank via Frankfurter, seed.
  • Visa rules: Passport Index dataset (MIT licence). Rules change; confirm with the destination's embassy before booking.