Thailand and Vietnam Tour: Best Order, Flights and Itinerary Ideas

A Thailand and Vietnam Tour is a great choice for travelers who want to combine two of Southeast Asia’s most popular destinations in one trip. However, to make the journey smoother, it is important to decide whether to visit Thailand or Vietnam first, choose the most convenient flight connections, and divide your time wisely between destinations such as Bangkok, Chiang Mai, Hanoi, Ha Long Bay, Da Nang, Hoi An, and Ho Chi Minh City. In this guide, Smart Asia Travel shares practical route ideas, flight-planning tips, and sample itineraries for different trip lengths.

Should You Visit Thailand or Vietnam First?

There is no single best order for every traveler. The right choice depends on your international arrival city, available flights, trip length, and the destinations you want to include in your Thailand and Vietnam Tour.

• Thailand first, Vietnam second: This works well if you begin in Bangkok, Chiang Mai, or Phuket and then continue to Vietnam. Possible routes include Bangkok → Hanoi → Ha Long Bay → Da Nang → Hoi An → Ho Chi Minh City, or Bangkok → Chiang Mai → Hanoi → Da Nang → Ho Chi Minh City.
• Vietnam first, Thailand second: This may be more convenient if your international flight arrives in Hanoi or Ho Chi Minh City. You could follow a route such as Hanoi → Ha Long Bay → Da Nang → Ho Chi Minh City → Bangkok, or Hanoi → Da Nang → Bangkok → Chiang Mai.
• Choose based on flight efficiency: The best order is usually the one that avoids backtracking, reduces unnecessary domestic flights, and matches your arrival and departure cities.
• Consider how you want to end the trip: Travelers who prefer shopping, nightlife, or resort time at the end may enjoy finishing in Bangkok or Phuket, while others may prefer ending with Vietnam’s beaches, food, or cultural destinations.

Smart Asia Travel recommends planning the two countries as one continuous route rather than treating each destination separately. A well-organized sequence can save travel time and give you more time to enjoy each stop.

How to Choose Flights Between Thailand and Vietnam

Flying is usually the most practical way to connect Thailand and Vietnam, but the best route depends on your overall itinerary. Instead of choosing flights one by one, it is better to plan the trip as a continuous journey so you can reduce backtracking and unnecessary airport time.

Prioritize Major Air Hubs

Major cities generally offer more convenient flight options and make it easier to connect the two countries. For a Thailand and Vietnam Tour, these routes are often the most practical to check first.

Common city pairs include:

• Bangkok ↔ Hanoi.
• Bangkok ↔ Ho Chi Minh City.
• Bangkok ↔ Da Nang.
• Chiang Mai ↔ selected Vietnamese cities, depending on current schedules.
• Phuket ↔ Vietnam, either direct or via a connection depending on the airline and season.

Flight schedules can change, so always check availability for your exact travel dates before confirming the itinerary.

Avoid Unnecessary Backtracking

A common mistake is choosing destinations individually without considering their geographical order. This can lead to extra flights and repeated travel through the same cities.

For example:

• Less efficient: Bangkok → Hanoi → Ho Chi Minh City → Da Nang → Bangkok.
• More logical: Bangkok → Hanoi → Da Nang → Ho Chi Minh City.
• Another practical option: Ho Chi Minh City → Da Nang → Hanoi → Bangkok.
• If starting in northern Vietnam, continuing south before flying onward is often easier.

Smart Asia Travel recommends arranging the route in a natural north-to-south or south-to-north flow whenever possible. This usually reduces travel time and makes the itinerary easier to manage.

See more: Luxury Thailand Tour: Bangkok, Northern Culture and Island Escapes

Consider an Open-Jaw Ticket

An open-jaw ticket allows you to arrive in one city and fly home from another instead of returning to your original entry point. This can be especially useful for a two-country trip.

It may help you:

• Remove one unnecessary regional flight.
• Reduce total travel time.
• Avoid returning to the same city.
• Spend more time sightseeing.
• Build a smoother multi-city itinerary.

For example, you could fly internationally into Bangkok, travel through Thailand and Vietnam, then depart home from Hanoi or Ho Chi Minh City. When the fare and schedule work well, this is often one of the most efficient ways to organize a Thailand and Vietnam Tour.

Thailand and Vietnam Tour Itinerary Ideas by Trip Length

The ideal Thailand and Vietnam Tour depends heavily on how many days you have. Trying to include too many cities can make the trip feel rushed, while a well-paced itinerary gives you more time to enjoy each destination and reduces unnecessary airport transfers.

7–8 Days: Keep the Route Simple

For a short trip, it is best to choose one main destination in Thailand and one or two key stops in Vietnam. This keeps travel time under control.

A practical itinerary could be:

• Days 1–3: Bangkok.
• Day 4: Fly to Hanoi or Ho Chi Minh City.
• Days 5–7: Explore your selected Vietnam destination.
• Day 8: Departure.

With only one week, Smart Asia Travel recommends avoiding too many domestic flights and focusing on the highlights.

10–12 Days: A Balanced Two-Country Journey

This trip length gives you more flexibility to combine culture, cities, and coastal experiences without moving too quickly.

One possible route is:

• Days 1–3: Bangkok.
• Days 4–5: Chiang Mai or another Thai destination.
• Day 6: Fly to Hanoi.
• Day 7: Hanoi.
• Day 8: Ha Long Bay.
• Day 9: Fly to Da Nang.
• Day 10: Hoi An.
• Days 11–12: Da Nang or continue to Ho Chi Minh City.

This itinerary offers a good balance between sightseeing and travel time, making it suitable for first-time visitors who want to experience both countries.

14–16 Days: A More Complete Thailand and Vietnam Tour

With around two weeks, you can include several major destinations while still leaving enough time to enjoy each stop.

A sample itinerary could include:

• Days 1–3: Bangkok.
• Days 4–5: Chiang Mai.
• Day 6: Fly to Hanoi.
• Days 7–8: Hanoi.
• Day 9: Ha Long Bay.
• Day 10: Fly to Da Nang.
• Days 11–12: Da Nang and Hoi An.
• Day 13: Fly to Ho Chi Minh City.
• Days 14–15: Ho Chi Minh City and nearby attractions.
• Day 16: Departure.

A longer itinerary is more comfortable because it allows for rest between travel days and gives you more flexibility if flights or weather conditions change.

See more: Thailand Family Tour: A Relaxed Itinerary with Kids

Family-Friendly Itinerary: Fewer Stops, More Comfort

Families with young children, older travelers, or anyone who prefers a slower pace should reduce the number of hotel changes and flights.

A comfortable structure could be:

• Bangkok: 3–4 nights.
• Da Nang – Hoi An: 3–4 nights.
• Hanoi or Ho Chi Minh City: 2–3 nights.
• Add a rest day between major travel sectors where possible.
• Choose centrally located hotels to reduce daily transfer time.

For families, staying longer in fewer destinations is often more enjoyable than trying to cover every major city. Smart Asia Travel can adjust the itinerary based on group age, interests, mobility, hotel preferences, and desired travel pace.

Important Tips for Destinations, Timing, and Budget

A two-country journey requires more planning than a single-country holiday. To keep your Thailand and Vietnam Tour comfortable and well organized, it is important to balance the number of destinations, weather conditions, transport time, and the total travel budget.

• Avoid adding too many destinations: Every city change means extra time for airport transfers, check-in, security, baggage collection, and hotel check-in. For an 8–10 day trip, fewer stops usually create a more relaxed experience.
• Check the weather by region: Thailand and Vietnam have different climate patterns depending on the area. Consider rainy seasons, temperatures, sea conditions, peak travel periods, and major holidays before fixing your route.
• Plan the full travel budget: Include international flights, regional flights, domestic flights, hotels, transfers, tours, entrance fees, meals, travel insurance, and personal expenses—not just airfare and accommodation.
• Review entry requirements before booking: Check passport validity, visa or visa-exemption rules, permitted entries, required documents, and onward or return ticket requirements where applicable.
• Leave enough buffer time: Avoid booking regional flights too close to an important international departure. Delays caused by weather, traffic, baggage, or tour schedules can easily affect a tight connection.
• Match the itinerary to your travel style: Families, older travelers, and those who prefer a slower pace may benefit from staying longer in fewer places, while experienced travelers may be comfortable with more frequent transfers.

Smart Asia Travel recommends planning the route, transport, and budget together from the beginning. A realistic itinerary with enough time between destinations will make the trip smoother and leave more time for actual experiences instead of constant transfers.

Conclusion

A successful Thailand and Vietnam Tour is not about visiting the largest possible number of places. The key is choosing the right country order, connecting flights efficiently, and giving each destination enough time. For shorter trips, Bangkok plus one or two major destinations in Vietnam may be enough. With 12–16 days, you can comfortably add Chiang Mai, Hanoi, Ha Long Bay, Da Nang, Hoi An, and Ho Chi Minh City.

If you are planning a combined Thailand and Vietnam journey, Smart Asia Travel can help design the route based on your travel dates, preferred destinations, hotel category, and travel style. A well-planned itinerary from the start can reduce unnecessary transfers and leave you with more time to enjoy the trip.