Bali and Vietnam are both popular destinations in Southeast Asia. But if you can only visit one or the other, which should you go to?
That was the question we wanted to answer when we decided to put the two places head-to-head against each other.
We recognise both Bali and Vietnam have plenty to offer when it comes to stunning beaches, ancient temples, lush rice paddies, rich culture and more, but which one has the edge?
Bali In Brief: What’s It Like?
Bali is an island in the Indonesian archipelago. Unlike the majority of Indonesia, it is a Hindu enclave as opposed to a Muslim majority.
This means that it’s renowned the world over for its vibrant culture which is truly unique. It’s also well-known for the vibrant nightlife that brings partygoers to its shores.
It also has stunning landscapes, delicious food, traditional dances, local markets and much more to ensure that every holidaymaker on the island is never bored.
Vietnam: What’s It Like?
Vietnam has a rich history and is one of the oldest civilizations in East Asia. From Ho Chi Minh City and Phu Quoc Island in the South of the nation to Da Nang and Hoi An ancient town in the middle and Hanoi and Halong Bay in the North, there’s no doubt that there’s a lot to see and do.
It’s a big place and if you want to explore the entire country and its fascinating history, you will need to ensure you have plenty of time if you want to move at your own pace.
The Vietnamese have a reputation for making travellers feel welcome, though some places like Hanoi’s Old Quarter can feel like a tourist trap at times.
Bali Vs Vietnam Comparison
We wanted to make the sort of comparison between both Bali and Vietnam that travellers use when working out whether they should visit other countries.
Using categories that are commonly important when travelling, allows us to provide an objective analysis of the strengths and weaknesses of both Bali and Vietnam and allows you to make a comparison based on what matters most to you.
We should stress that if you have the time and money, both places are worth visiting and you will meet many other travelers who have fallen in love with both Bali and Vietnam.
Beaches In Bali Vs Beaches In Vietnam
Where there are beaches, there are water sports facilities, right? Well, kind of. Vietnam does have some surf schools and minor water sports facilities.
The bad news is that they are very expensive for Southeast Asia, you will find that if you want to learn to surf in Vietnam, you’re going to need deep pockets.
This seems odd as the instructors here are not as good as the ones in Bali and they Balinese instructors charge less.
Bali also has a much wider variety of available water sports and Tanjung Benoa and Sanur, in particular, offer an amazing range of things to do in the water and for much more reasonable prices.
There are dive schools all over Bali too and you can pick up your PADI certification without breaking the bank. You can learn to dive in Vietnam, but you will need to make an early decision to stay near a beach and it will cost you more.
Bali wins this category hands down for both value for money and the number of water sports you can learn. Vietnam may catch up in this category one day, but for now, Bali is a long way in the lead.
Safety In Bali Vs Safety In Vietnam
Bali and Vietnam are both reasonably safe destinations and violent crime against foreigners is vanishingly rare in both locations. With the exception of the occasional foreigner-on-foreigner drunken brawl and these are common enough in any location where you can drink alcohol.
However, tourist scams and outright ripoffs are more common in Vietnam and you wouldn’t be the first tourist being asked to pay $20 (or more) for taking a photo with a “nice lady” in a straw hat, who didn’t ask for money until after you took the shot.
Petty theft is relatively common in both places and it’s always best to keep the bulk of your money, cards and valuables in the hotel safe to reduce the opportunity for thieves.
There is also a risk of burglary when staying in villas or bungalows in both places as these tend not to have active security.
Overall, we’d say that Bali just edges this category and is better for safety than Vietnam but there’s not a lot in it and we certainly wouldn’t feel unsafe in Vietnam.
Things To Do In Bali Vs Things To Do In Vietnam
Vietnam is a complicated place. Ho Chi Minh City or Saigon as it was once known is not the capital but it is where all the money is and it has a long rich history. However, there’s really not much to do in the city and you can probably see all the major sites in a day or two.
Da Nang and Hoi An are similarly shy of attractions and as lovely as they are, if you’re on holiday you will exhaust your activity options very quickly.
Hanoi is somewhat better and you can certainly get a week or two out of cooking classes, traditional dances, ancient temples, and the overall rich culture of this part of the island.
If you visit the world-famous Ha Long Bay, there’s almost nothing to do except sit on a boat in the bay (the city itself has very few things to do).
That means while overall, there’s plenty to do in Vietnam, you’re going to have travel huge distances to fit it all into a holiday as there isn’t that much to do in any individual part of the country.
Bali, on the other hand, has loads to do and as a small island, if you need to move around, you’re not going to need to spend 24 hours on a bus to get anywhere.
Our article here shows over 100 things to do and we don’t think we’ve even scratched the surface. Between the wealth of natural wonders like rice paddies, volcanoes and stunning beaches and the amazing contributions of both the culture (temples are a big deal in Bali) and the tourism landscape, it’s impossible to be bored.
Bali easily beats Vietnam for things to do and it’s much easier to access these things than it is in Vietnam too.
Nightlife In Bali Vs Nightlife In Vietnam
There’s not much comparison between Bali and Vietnam when it comes to nightlife, Vietnamese culture appears very reluctant to embrace nightclubs, beach clubs, busy bars and pubs, etc.
Yes, there is some nightlife but much of it is for the local market, where people go out in big groups, buy a bottle of alcohol between them and settle in for the night, ignoring everybody else in the place.
In stark contrast, Bali’s vibrant culture has fully embraced the hedonistic side of its tourist’s desires and there are so many amazing places to visit for a party that you will never run out.
It’s home to FINNS, the world’s best beach club, which has local and international DJs and vocalists laying down entertainment all day long.
Many touring international artists make a stop in Bali to do a gig at the many venues on the island.
Overall, there’s no comparison between the two. Bali has amazing nightlife that people come to experience from all over the world. Vietnam is OK for nightlife but really people come to explore more and party less.
Cultural Highlights In Bali Vs Cultural Highlights In Vietnam
Both places have a rich history and a rich culture to go with it. Vietnamese culture is founded in Confucianism, Communism and strangely, religious tolerance with more religions practised in Vietnam than in nearly any other country on Earth.
Among the stunning landscapes, you can find ancient sites like My Son (a Chenla ruin, a society that came before the Angkorian Empire) and Oc Eo (a Funanese ruin, another pre-Angkorian society), modern temples and churches and on the rooftops of Saigon there are many Catholic shrines!
In Bali, there is a unique Hindu culture, the only remaining such culture in Southeast Asia and the only other Hindu majority outside of India.
The island is famous for its 20,000 temples and vivid culture including painting, poetry, shadow puppetry, traditional dances and much more.
Overall, this category is too hard to call and we’re going to call it a draw between Bali and Vietnam. Though we would note that given the size differences between the two places, it’s easier to experience the full range of Balinese culture than it is to experience the Vietnamese way of life in full.
What’s The Food Like In Bali Vs Vietnam?
If you like delicious food, you’re going to be very happy in both Bali and Vietnam. We feel that Indonesian cuisine is often underrated when it comes to representation in the international press.
Dishes like babi guling, sate ayam, nasi goreng, etc. are delicious and you can find them with carefully tailored levels of spiciness.
However, Vietnam also has a delicious cuisine and dishes like Pho and Banh Mi are world-famous as taste sensations.
We’re going to say that Vietnamese cuisine wins this category because the variety of street food in that country is far greater than in Bali and the delicious food in Vietnam is often much cheaper than in Bali for similar dishes.
Aesthetics Matter: Vietnam Or Bali?
If you’ve ever seen Halong Bay or Phu Quoc Island, you will know that there are plenty of places in Vietnam that are absolutely gorgeous.
However, wander through the cities, of Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh outside of the tourist areas and you will quickly be left in no doubt that there’s a lot of the country that isn’t that pretty.
While Bali’s tourist towns aren’t all perfectly curated and manicured, they do have a lot of attractive resorts, restaurants and cafes scattered among them.
The island itself is famous for being attractive and the beaches, rice paddies, mountains, waterfalls, etc. are hard to beat.
We’d say that Bali just edges Vietnam in this category. Sure, there’s a lot of pretty stuff in Vietnam but you’re going to have to wade through some unattractive neighbourhoods to see it.
Bang For Buck: Which Is Better Value Vietnam Or Bali?
Vietnam is usually cheaper than Bali for food, drinks and alcohol. However, you will find that like-for-like accommodation options in Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh are much more expensive than Bali.
You’re also going to spend a lot more on transport in Vietnam as the place is so spread out. You may need several internal flights or very long bus/train journeys.
Bali, on the other hand, is pricey for alcohol where the luxury tax is quite high (though it’s still much cheaper than in most Western countries).
But the accommodation options are lower cost, water sports are much cheaper and it’s much cheaper to get around the whole of Bali when compared to Vietnam.
So, Bali wins our value-for-money category, though you could argue that if you only stayed in central Vietnam around Da Nang and the Ancient Town of Hoi An, the competition might be a little closer.
Which Has The Better Shopping? Bali Or Vietnam?
Vietnam has plenty of shopping and if you like markets and haggling, you can find a bargain or two.
However, overall, it’s not famous for its shopping, many places won’t stock the right sizes for bigger foreigners and the taxes make it quite expensive.
Comparatively, people come to Bali from all over the world and enjoy a discount on the higher prices of other countries in the boutique fashion stores of the island. It also has plenty of markets and malls.
Overall, we think Bali is the best shopping destination. Particularly, if you don’t speak Vietnamese.
Which Place Is Best For Digital Nomads Vietnam Or Bali?
Bali is, without a doubt, the more popular digital nomad destination at the moment and you can find coworking spaces galore in places like Canggu.
However, we’d argue that the low cost of living in places like Da Nang and the availability of coworking there, ought to make Vietnam as attractive to digital nomads as Bali.
And thus, this category is a tie.
Which Place Is Best For Expats Vietnam Or Bali?
Becoming an expat in Vietnam can only be done by finding a legal job and getting a sponsor or setting up your own business. You cannot obtain permanent residency easily and there are no options for students, retirees, etc.
Indonesia, on the other hand, has a huge number of expat visas to choose from and prides itself on welcoming overseas visitors to its shores.
This means that Bali has proven to be far more popular with expats, to date, than Vietnam. There’s no doubt that encouraging migration is going to make a place more attractive. Bali is a clear winner in this category.
Overall Bali Vs Vietnam
So, when we tally up the scores between Bali and Vietnam, we discover that Vietnam has the best food.
The two places are tied between safety, culture and for being attractive to digital nomads.
However, Bali runs away with the best beaches, water sports, the most things to do, the best nightlife, the best aesthetics, the best value, the best shopping and is best for expats.
Overall, we think that means that most people if forced to choose between Bali and Vietnam, would be best off choosing Bali.
FAQs
Is It Cheaper To Go To Bali Or Vietnam?
Bali and Vietnam are both great value destinations and a lot depends on where you’re going to go in Vietnam. Ho Chi Minh City and Hanoi have become much more expensive in the last few years and are likely to cost as much if not substantially more than anywhere in Bali.
Da Nang, on the other hand, is super cheap if a little isolated from the two major cities and is very price competitive with Bali.
Given that most tourists are going to want to spend time in the places that are most famous in Vietnam’s rich history, we think they’re going to spend more time in Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City than in Da Nang and thus, Bali is going to be cheaper.
Which Is Nicer Bali Or Vietnam?
“Nicer” is a very vague term and both Bali and Vietnam are nice places. The author has lived in both countries and enjoyed being there.
However, if we boil this down to people, only, then the Balinese people are more friendly and outgoing than the Vietnamese who are more reserved.
That doesn’t mean that Vietnamese people are unfriendly, not at all, but they are shier around foreigners and that can make it harder to develop relationships with the locals.
Which One Is Better, Bali Or Vietnam?
“Better” for what? Well, that’s the question we asked in the article above where we compared the two destinations against each other in a huge range of categories.
We came to the conclusion that for most visitors to this region, Bali is going to be “better” than Vietnam because it has more advantages for tourists.
However, if you have the time and resources to visit both places, we’d urge you to do so. They’re both worth seeing.
Is It Cheaper To Fly To Bali Or Vietnam?
It very much depends on where you are flying from. It’s cheaper to fly to Vietnam from Thailand, China, Hong Kong, etc. because they’re on the doorstep.
Conversely, it’s cheaper to fly to Bali from Singapore, Malaysia and Australia because they are on the doorstep.
Once it comes to longer journeys, there’s less in it. It may be a few bucks cheaper to get to Vietnam from London one day and then a few bucks cheaper to get to Bali the next, the same is true of New York or Paris.
If you try to focus on using budget airlines or don’t mind stopping off on the way, you will find that you can get flights to Bali and Vietnam quite cost-effectively all over the world.
Is Hanoi Cheaper Than Bali?
If you’d have asked this question 10 years ago, the answer would have been “yes”. But Hanoi has become hugely popular in the last 5 years or so and it’s now one of the most expensive cities to stay in Southeast Asia.
A room in Bali, even in the most popular parts of the island, can be had for $15-$30 a night and often less and if you’re staying for a month, you can even get that down.
However, in Hanoi, you’re looking at a $ 30-a-night minimum now for anything in a decent area and it can be much more than that.
Much of the rest of Vietnam is cheaper, except for Ho Chi Minh City, which is even more expensive than Hanoi.
Is Bali Or Vietnam Better For Kids?
Both Bali and Vietnam have a very welcoming environment for children and we wouldn’t be afraid to bring kids to either country.
However, much like the Chinese, the Vietnamese have a tendency to pry into other people’s children, particularly white children whom they find fascinating and rarely see. This can be accompanied by a bit of unasked-for poking and prodding at the child in question. It’s not meant badly, but it can upset kids and/or their parents.
So, if your child is particularly sensitive to intrusion in its personal space, you might prefer to visit Bali.
Is Bali Worth Visiting Anymore?
Yes! Bali is still very much worth visiting. Sure, in the middle of the peak season, you may find that parts of the island are very crowded but that’s not a bad thing if you’re in search of a party.
If you want peace and quiet, on the other hand, places like West Bali are still completely unspoiled and still have stunning beaches, temples, rice fields and local culture galore.
North Bali and East Bali also have plenty of amazing towns and resorts where you can enjoy the peace and quiet of a paradise island.
Final Thoughts On Bali Or Vietnam
If you’re trying to decide between Bali and Vietnam why not use our guide to help you make up your mind? There’s a lot to like about both places but if you can only visit one, visit Bali – it’s the clear winner for most holidaymakers.
Read more:
Bali Vs Maldives: The Tropical Island Heavyweights Go Head-To-Head
Bali vs Bora Bora: Which Tropical Island Is Best For Your Holiday?
