Thailand and Vietnam Combo: 21 Days
Three weeks splitting Thailand and Vietnam. Bangkok, Chiang Mai, then fly to HCMC and work north through Vietnam.
Thailand and Vietnam are the two anchor countries of South-East Asia for first-time visitors and the natural pairing. They share a region but are culturally distinct: Thailand softer, sweeter, more tourist-polished; Vietnam more direct, sharper-edged, less expensive. Three weeks splits comfortably 8-9 days in Thailand and 12-13 in Vietnam, with one international flight in the middle.
The shape of the trip
Bangkok 3, Chiang Mai 4, fly to HCMC, HCMC 2, Mekong 1, Hoi An 3, Hanoi 3, Ha Long cruise 2, fly home from Hanoi. Total 21 nights.
Day-by-day
| Day | Base | Activity |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Bangkok | Arrive, recover, riverside dinner |
| 2 | Bangkok | Grand Palace, Wat Pho, Wat Arun |
| 3 | Bangkok | Floating market or Ayutthaya day trip |
| 4 | Chiang Mai | Fly to Chiang Mai (1 hour), Old City |
| 5 | Chiang Mai | Doi Suthep temple, Sunday Walking Street |
| 6 | Chiang Mai | Elephant Nature Park (ethical sanctuary) |
| 7 | Chiang Mai | Cooking class, evening market |
| 8 | HCMC | Fly Chiang Mai-HCMC via Bangkok (4 hours total) |
| 9 | HCMC | War Remnants, district 1 |
| 10 | Mekong | Day trip to Ben Tre or overnight homestay |
| 11 | Hoi An | Fly to Da Nang, transfer Hoi An |
| 12 | Hoi An | Old town, beach, tailor |
| 13 | Hoi An | Cooking class, My Son ruins |
| 14 | Hanoi | Fly to Hanoi |
| 15 | Hanoi | Old Quarter, Temple of Literature |
| 16 | Hanoi | Ho Chi Minh complex, food tour |
| 17 | Ha Long Bay | Transfer, board overnight cruise |
| 18 | Ha Long | Cruise day, kayaking |
| 19 | Hanoi | Return, free afternoon |
| 20 | Hanoi | Buffer day |
| 21 | Hanoi | Fly home |
Thailand in brief
Bangkok: chaotic, hot, alive. Grand Palace and Wat Pho are the obligatory big sights; do them early morning. Chao Phraya river boats are an underrated way to see the city. Eat at street stalls in Chinatown (Yaowarat) at night. Three nights is enough for first-timers.
Chiang Mai: northern Thailand's cultural capital. Slower, leafier, walkable Old City surrounded by a moat. Temples, cooking schools, ethical elephant sanctuaries, Sunday Walking Street. Four nights lets you do the city plus a day-out.
Other Thailand options if you swap: Krabi or Koh Lanta for beaches (skip Chiang Mai), Pai for slow mountain village vibes (extend the north).
How to get between segments
- Bangkok to Chiang Mai: 1-hour flight (USD 30-60) or 14-hour overnight train.
- Chiang Mai to HCMC: no direct flights; via Bangkok 4 hours total elapsed.
- HCMC to Da Nang: 90-minute flight.
- Da Nang to Hanoi: 75-minute flight.
- Hanoi to Ha Long: cruise transfer 2.5 hours.
Six flights in 21 days is a lot; book together with a multi-city ticket where possible.
Visa logistics
Thailand: most western nationalities get 30 days visa-free on arrival by air, 60 days for some (UK from late 2024). No advance application needed.
Vietnam: e-visa online before travel, USD 25 single-entry / 30 days.
Estimated cost
Per person, mid-range:
| Item | USD |
|---|---|
| Accommodation 20 nights (Thailand and Vietnam) | 800-1,500 |
| Ha Long cruise | 200-350 |
| Five-six internal flights | 400-700 |
| Private cars (Mekong, Hai Van) | 150-250 |
| Tours and entries | 300-500 |
| Food and drink | 400-600 |
| Local transport | 150-250 |
| Total (excluding international flights) | 2,400-4,150 |
When to do this trip
November to March is the cross-country dry window. Both Thailand and Vietnam are at their best, dry season everywhere except Vietnam's north which is cool but mostly dry. Avoid April for Thailand (Songkran water-festival week in mid-April is hot and chaotic) unless you specifically want to attend. May-October is wet but workable.
What it skips
- Thai islands and beaches. Phuket, Koh Samui, Krabi all skipped. Substitute one Thai beach week and drop Chiang Mai if that suits you.
- Northern Vietnam mountains. Sapa and Ha Giang.
- Central Thailand. Sukhothai and Ayutthaya only get day-trip status.
- Cambodia. Adding Cambodia turns this into a 28-day trip; see the Cambodia combo.
Practical notes
Thai baht and Vietnamese dong are not convertible to each other; spend or change before crossing. ATMs work in both countries. Thai 7-Elevens are everywhere and useful; Vietnam has Circle K with similar function. Tipping culture is light in both countries (10% in nicer restaurants, round-up for taxis).
For more on the choice between the two countries, see the vietnam vs thailand comparison.
Related: HCMC, Hanoi, Hoi An, vietnam vs thailand, vietnam two weeks.
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