Ho Chi Minh City vs. Bangkok: Best Destination for Travelers

I moved to Da Nang, Vietnam, in 2018 and then lived in Ho Chi Minh City. I’ve lived in four different districts in HCMC: District 8, District 7, District 2 (Thao Dien), and Phu Nhuan District. Since my second week in Vietnam in 2018, I’ve been riding a motorbike and exploring locally.

I also lived in Bangkok, Thailand, for 13 months. I’ve lived in several different areas of BKK: the Thong Lo area of Sukhumvit, near On Nut BTS, near Bang Chak BTS, and across the Chao Phraya River near ICONSIAM. 

Visiting Ho Chi Minh City and Vietnam generally requires thicker skin, patience, and a slightly more adventurous spirit. The tourism sector is not as developed as in Thailand, and the overall experience of traveling there will be smoother.

However, Ho Chi Minh City has a certain charm that doesn’t exist in Bangkok. Some argue that’s because Thailand has spent decades building its tourism industry and catering to foreign tourists. Vietnam is not quite there yet, so authentic experiences are more easily found. Plus, Vietnam as a whole will be more cost-effective.

I personally use Agoda to book hotels in Vietnam, Thailand, and elsewhere in Southeast Asia. View hotels in Ho Chi Minh City and hotels in Bangkok here.

Where to Stay: Best Areas and Hotels

Ho Chi Minh City

For convenience and easy access to attractions, the best areas to stay in Ho Chi Minh City are either District 1 or District 3. By staying in either D1 or D3, you can walk to all of the best Ho Chi Minh City attractions. You’ll be steps in all directions from countless restaurants, cafes, and street food.

Thao Dien in District 2 and Phu My Hung in District 7 are popular areas for expats. Both areas have international schools, and many expats raise families or work there. Because of this, both Thao Dien (D2) and Phu My Hung (D7) have a higher concentration of Western amenities.

I’ve lived in both districts. Read my guide on the best districts to live in HCMC here.

The local convenience (Western restaurants, bars, and other amenities) of Thao Dien and Phu My Hung comes with the downside of not being near the city’s attractions. But you could stay in Thao Dien (D2) or Phu My Hung (D7) and take a taxi or rent and ride a motorbike to see the attractions of District 1 and District 3. A taxi ride from Thao Dien or Phu My Hung to downtown District 1 will take about 20 minutes.

I highly recommend downloading and using the Grab app to get around Ho Chi Minh City. It’s a ride-hailing app (like Uber) that’s also very popular for food delivery. I use it every day. You can download the app here.

Districts 1 and 3 have a wide selection of five-star hotels, budget hotels, and everything in between.

Best Hotels in District 1

• 5-star: The Reverie Saigon
• 5-star: Fusion Original Saigon
• 5-star: Caravelle Saigon
• 5-star riverside: Hotel Majestic
• Boutique: La Siesta Premium
• 4-star: Liberty Central Citypoint
• 4-star: Signature by M Village
• Budget: Oscar Saigon
• Budget: Huong Sen Hotel

Best Hotels in District 3

• 5-star: Mai House Saigon
• 5-star: Hotel des Arts Saigon
• 4-star: Orchids Saigon
• Budget: Aristo Saigon
• Best pool: La Vela Saigon 🌟

I also wrote a larger guide covering hotels in all of Ho Chi Minh City.

Bangkok

Bangkok’s attractions are more spread out than Ho Chi Minh City. However, with the city’s BTS and MRT transportation systems, you can stay anywhere on either line and easily access the city.

For the most convenience, you want to be sure that whatever hotel or rental you stay at is within walking distance of one of the BTS or MRT stations; some hotels, like the Eastin Grand Hotel Sathorn, are connected to station platforms.

Here’s a video I filmed from the ICONSIAM mall (one of my favorites) in Bangkok.

Here is the BTS Skytrain train map. Where the dark green line meets the light green line is BTS Siam. This station down to and past BTS On Nut on the light green line is considered the Sukhumvit area.

The Sukhumvit area is generally considered the most convenient place for first-timers to stay in Bangkok. Many restaurants, bars, cafes, and parks are along Sukhumvit Road, so picking a hotel in the Sukhumvit area would be a great idea.

Another great idea is staying somewhere on the dark green BTS line towards the Chao Phraya River in the Silom-Sathorn area. This area is considered Bangkok’s financial district. I like this area a lot, as it’s less touristy than the Sukhumvit area but just as convenient.

The Eastin Grand Hotel Sathorn (hotel website) is directly connected to BTS Surasak on the dark green line near the Chao Phraya River. This is a very convenient and nice hotel.

The hotels I recommend below are all in very convenient locations. They are all near BTS stations in the Sukhumvit or Silom-Sathorn areas. There are a lot of awesome choices. Any of the following hotels is a great place to stay in Bangkok.

Best Hotels in Sukhumvit

• 5-star: Siam Kempinski Hotel
• 5-star: Sheraton Grand
• 5-star: The Okura Prestige
• 5-star: Carlton Hotel Bangkok
• 4-star: Solaria Hotel
• 4-star: Mercure Bangkok
• 3-star: Kokotel Bangkok
• 3-star: Ibis Bangkok

Best Hotels in Silom-Sathorn

• 5-star: Eastin Grand Hotel
• 5-star: The Standard
• 5-star: W Bangkok Hotel
• 4-star: Mode Sathorn Hotel
• 4-star: Centre Point Silom
• 3.5-star: ibis Styles Silom

Getting Around the Cities

Ho Chi Minh City

Ho Chi Minh City Key Takeaways

• Make use of the Grab app (download here)
• Motorbike taxis (and regular taxis) are cheap and plentiful
• District 1 and District 3 are convenient and walkable
• No train or subway

Ho Chi Minh City has public buses and a popular taxi-booking app, Grab. The Grab app is the easiest way to get around the city. Ho Chi Minh City’s metro system has been under construction for a long time. If you stay in District 1 or District 3, you can walk around easily. You can also rent a scooter – just be prepared, aware, and careful.

I find that the traffic in Ho Chi Minh City is much worse than in Bangkok. The latter has more highways going through, around, and over the city to help ease congestion. In Ho Chi Minh City, you’ll constantly wonder why there is bumper-to-bumper (or fender-to-fender) traffic at 11 AM or 2 PM and then again at 3 PM. You might as well walk at 5 PM because the city is gridlocked.

Bangkok

Bangkok Key Takeaways

• Very efficient public transportation system of buses, trains, and subways.
• While the BTS and MRT extend over a good part of the city, the lines focus on main areas and roads. You may need to walk (sometimes 20-30 minutes), take a moto taxi, or a regular taxi if you stay down any side streets or alleys.
• Make use of the moto-taxi drivers in the orange reflective vests.

Bangkok has public buses and the very efficient BTS Skytrain and MRT. I’ve used the BTS and MRT extensively. They are easy, convenient, and cheap. The BTS and the MRT extend over most of the popular areas of Bangkok, but unless you are staying somewhere on or near one of the lines or stations, you’ll likely have to combine transportation methods to get around – trains, taxis, and walking.

There are moto-taxi drivers wearing orange reflective vests all over the city. You will see them in clusters, posted up on corners, or at BTS/MRT stations. They start or end the short journey up or down alleys or short distances away from the BTS/MRT stations. But you can also use them for short, random trips. I recently stayed in Bangkok and sometimes used a nearby moto-taxi stand to go from my rental to the gym about 2 km away, which cost 20 baht (about $0.50 USD) each way.

If you are comfortable riding on the back of a scooter, you can combine the BTS/MRT with these moto-taxi rides. This provides the best convenience. But if you don’t want to ride on the back of a scooter, don’t worry – Bangkok is very walkable.

Attractions and Activities

Ho Chi Minh City

Ho Chi Minh City has a lot to offer if you’re looking for things to do, activities, tours, and museums – and it’s all very centrally located.

District 1 has over a dozen easily accessible attractions. The Ho Chi Minh Statue, the People’s Committee Building, the Ho Chi Minh City Opera House, Nguyen Hue Street, Bach Dang Wharf Park, Japan Town, the Saigon Skydeck, Ben Thanh Market, the Fine Arts Museum, Independence Palace, the Notre Dame Cathedral of Saigon, and the Saigon Central Post Office are all in a very convenient and walkable area.

The War Remnants Museum in District 3 is just a few minutes outside this area.

I filmed this video in the courtyard of the War Remnants Museum.

This doesn’t even include the popular Bui Vien area, Tao Dan Park, and a few other museums in the area. District 1 and most of District 3 are walkable.

Ho Chi Minh City also offers access to many great activities and tours. These include tours to the Mekong Delta, the Cu Chi Tunnels outside the city, street food tours, motorbike tours, and private walking tours. Staying downtown for three days, exploring nearby attractions, and taking a motorbike food tour or a private walking food tour would be a great short trip.

Bangkok

Bangkok is different; typical attractions are more spread out. Thankfully, there’s a very convenient train system for getting around. Bangkok has temples, religious sites, floating markets, parks, the Grand Palace, and world-class shopping malls. Buddhist temples: Wat Arun, Wat Pho, Wat Phra Kaew, Wat Traimit, and Wat Saket. Parks: Lumphini Park, Benchakitti Park, and Benchasiri Park. The Grand Palace has been the king’s official and ceremonial residence since 1782. Nowadays, it’s mainly ceremonial.

The shopping malls in Bangkok are amazing. Some are seven-plus floors. They are very clean, upscale, and organized. They also have great air conditioning. It’s clear that thought went into designing and decorating them. The malls are worth checking out even if you’re not a mall person. ICONSIAM across the Chao Phraya River is one of my favorites. There is an Apple Store here that I had a great experience with. Plus, it’s situated on the river and has awesome views.

I always end up filming videos of ICONSIAM whenever I visit. The mall is super nice, hardly crowded, and fun to wander.

Other world-class malls in the Sukhumvit area include Siam Paragon, CentralwOrld (which also has a great Apple Store outside), Central Embassy, the brand new EmSphere, EmQuartier, and Emporium. These are all separate malls along the light green BTS train line on Sukhumvit Road—one after another and easily accessible from various BTS station platforms.

I filmed this video inside the Central Embassy in Bangkok.

Food and Coffee

Ho Chi Minh City

I’ve had good experiences eating local dishes in both cities (and countries). Bowls of pho or bun bo in Vietnam are much more straightforward. There is less going on in these dishes, with fewer ingredients, but the overall experience is solid and tasty.

Some travelers or foodies find Vietnamese food boring (with weaker flavors than Thai food). But, I’m simple regarding food; I like a good bowl of bun bo.

I like coffee. There is a coffee culture in Vietnam that doesn’t exist in Thailand. Hanging outside, having salted or egg coffee for $1 or $2 USD, and people-watching is great in Ho Chi Minh City and Vietnam.

Vietnam is also the second-largest coffee producer in the world.

When I’m craving some egg coffee, I usually go to Little HaNoi Egg Coffee. They make great egg coffee. You can view their locations here.

Thailand

In contrast, the food I’ve had in Thailand has much stronger flavors and tends to be spicy. I don’t like spicy food, but I won’t avoid it. I have eaten a lot of Thai food (I lived in Thailand for over two years), and some things, even a little bit spicy, I do enjoy.

I’ve enjoyed papaya salads, red and green Thai curries with chicken, tom kha and tom yum soups (though these can be spicy), pad Thai, and Khao Soi (Thai coconut curry noodle soup), to name a few.

Both cities have great spots for Western food, Indian, Japanese, Mexican, pizza, and more.

Exercising on Vacation

Ho Chi Minh City

This one goes to Ho Chi Minh City. There are tons of gyms in HCMC, with varying quality and costs – in a good way. There are gyms with tons of machines, no air conditioning, and are cheap. If you want a nicer fitness club with air conditioning, clean facilities, and a swimming pool, it’s here, too – and everything in between. Plus, nearly every gym in HCMC offers day passes. These are perfect for travelers, and they are cheap.

One of my favorite Ho Chi Minh City gyms is Ly Duc’s in District 4. At the time of writing, a day pass here costs 50.000 VND – less than $2 USD. In District 1, C’Gym (Mach’s Gym) has day passes for 80.000 VND ($3 USD) and weekly passes for 300.000 VND ($12 USD). There are lots more options, too.

If you have questions about gyms in Ho Chi Minh City, ask me in my free travel planning Facebook group.

Bangkok

In Bangkok, the gyms are unusually expensive. Good gyms by Western standards, with air conditioning, clean facilities, new and varied equipment, etc., cost anywhere from $40 to over $100 USD per month. Many locals are priced out.

Also, day passes at these gyms are largely non-existent or expensive: a day pass at a good gym, like Muscle Factory in Bangkok, can cost more than $10 USD per visit.

City Conveniences

Bangkok

Bangkok is far more developed than Ho Chi Minh City in terms of conveniences, ease of travel, and living. It seems to have been built with tourism in mind, so the two cities aren’t really comparable. Bangkok has two international airports (DMK and BKK) that are both connected to train lines. They are far smoother to navigate than Ho Chi Minh City’s airport, Tân Sơn Nhất International Airport (SGN).

Bangkok’s BTS and MRT metro lines run throughout the city. These are very convenient for getting things done and covering greater distances to see attractions. 

As silly as it sounds, there are also 7-Elevens everywhere in Bangkok. Sometimes, they are across the street from one another. Walking by one in Bangkok, you’ll see another a few minutes later. Then another. There’s something like 15,000 7-Elevens in Thailand. Many of the bigger apartments and condos have 7-Elevens on the ground floor. They are very convenient for a quick drink, snack, coffee, banana, Netflix gift card, or anything.

Ho Chi Minh City

Ho Chi Minh City has some 7-Elevens, but they aren’t nearly as abundant or popular. WinMart is a popular grocery and convenience store chain in Vietnam. These are all over Ho Chi Minh City, but they are not on the same level in terms of quality, offerings, and products as 7-Elevens.

Thankfully, the Grab app is fully functioning and popular in Ho Chi Minh City. I strongly recommend downloading it when you visit. You can store your credit card for cashless purchases or strictly use cash. Ordering regular taxis, moto-taxis, and food through the app is very convenient in Ho Chi Minh City.

Ordering food delivery in Bangkok is equally easy and convenient. I use the Grab app to order food daily in Vietnam. Thailand also uses Grab, but I used Foodpanda more often when I lived there. The food selections in the apps are extensive in both Ho Chi Minh City and Bangkok. Motorbike drivers handle deliveries.

For cell phone plans, an Airalo eSIM works great in both countries.

Hospitals and Healthcare

Ho Chi Minh City

Hospitals in Ho Chi Minh City can be hit or miss. I have personally had good experiences at Family Medical Practice, a chain of smaller clinics. I have also been to FV Hospital in District 7. This hospital doesn’t have good reviews, but I personally had a good experience getting tests done here. Hoan My Saigon Hospital in Phu Nhuan District is another good choice for a hospital.

Bangkok

Bumrungrad International Hospital in Bangkok is a world-class hospital. It made Newsweek’s list of the World’s Best Hospitals for 2024. I’ve been here a few times for check-ups, and it’s excellent. It’s very smooth, has English-speaking staff, great service, and is cost-effective. The hospital’s website is very convenient, and you can order individual tests or packages, then pay and schedule your appointment. People come to Bangkok for medical holidays or combine travel with check-ups because of the high quality and cost-effectiveness.

Parks and Green Spaces

Ho Chi Minh City

I like getting out, exploring on foot, taking long walks, and running. Both cities have their fair share of parks, green spaces, and gardens. Ho Chi Minh City’s most popular parks are Tao Dan Park in District 1 and Vinhomes Central Park in Binh Thanh District. Tao Dan Park is behind the Independence Palace. Walking to Tao Dan Park is easy from Districts 1 or 3 hotels.

Vinhomes Central Park is in Binh Thanh District, outside the touristy areas of Districts 1 and 3. This is my favorite park in Ho Chi Minh City. It is along the Saigon River and offers some fresh air and scenery. It is next to the Vinhomes condominiums and the Landmark 81 skyscraper, the tallest building in Vietnam and second tallest in Southeast Asia.

Landmark 81 is home to the Vinpearl Landmark 81 luxury hotel.

The parks are free.

Bangkok

Bangkok has many quality parks of all sizes throughout the city – too many to cover. You can easily access various parks or places for outdoor exercise using the BTS or MRT. During COVID, I was in Bangkok and spent a lot of time walking on Sukhumvit Road and doing laps around the pond at Benchasiri Park. Just up the road from Benchasiri Park are Benchakitti Park and Lumphini Park – both great and big parks for outdoor exercise.

I like Vinhomes Central Park in Ho Chi Minh City a lot, but the parks in Bangkok are notches above HCMC’s in terms of quality, cleanliness, and organization.

The parks in Bangkok are free, too.

City Vibes and Locals

Ho Chi Minh City

There is a charm in Ho Chi Minh City that doesn’t exist in Bangkok. While Ho Chi Minh City is less developed and less convenient than Bangkok, it has a unique character and this charm going for it. The experiences feel slightly more authentic and less curated.

The city is rougher around the edges, though. You’ll have more head-scratching moments in Ho Chi Minh City than in Bangkok. However, because the city is less developed and has yet to fully embrace tourism, I find it has a unique vibe, which can be hard to find in Bangkok nowadays.

It will be a trade-off to visit Ho Chi Minh City. It will be cheaper, but that comes with less overall development and a service industry that is still behind. But you’ll walk away from your trip feeling you did something a bit more adventurous, whereas Bangkok will likely be smooth sailing from beginning to end.

Bangkok

Bangkok is comparable to an international and modern mega city with all the conveniences you’d need to live comfortably. If we were talking about living somewhere, Bangkok is far more convenient and developed. But for a short trip, it lacks character, a unique vibe, and charm compared to Ho Chi Minh City.

I’ve personally found the locals in both countries to be equally as friendly. English is far more common in Thailand, especially in bigger cities like Bangkok and popular vacation spots like Phuket and Chiang Mai. You have a better chance of getting by with basic English here than in Ho Chi Minh City. I need to use Google Translate far more often in Ho Chi Minh City and elsewhere in Vietnam than in Bangkok and throughout Thailand.