Vietnam & Thailand Tours from the UK & Australia (2026)
Last updated: July 21, 2026
Building vietnam and thailand tours from the uk and australia into one trip is more straightforward in 2026 than most travellers expect — both countries now sit within a comfortable regional hop of each other, both markets have workable direct flight options into the region, and the visa paperwork for both is quick. Here is how UK and Australian travellers plan it well.
The big picture: a Vietnam and Thailand combo turns two long-haul flights into one, and gives you rice terraces, Halong Bay and Hoi An lantern streets alongside Bangkok temples and southern Thai islands in a single trip.
Quick answer: UK travellers fly Vietnam Airlines nonstop from London Heathrow to Hanoi or Ho Chi Minh City (around 12 hours); Australian travellers fly nonstop from Sydney or Melbourne to Ho Chi Minh City (around 8h30). From either country, Vietnam and Thailand are then a short regional flight apart — about 1.5 hours. Vietnam is visa-free for up to 45 days for UK passports (Australians need a quick e-visa, up to 90 days); Thailand is currently visa-free for UK and Australian passports for up to 60 days, though this is under review. Most combo trips run 14-18 days, split roughly two-thirds Vietnam, one-third Thailand.
- UK gateway: London Heathrow (LHR) nonstop to Hanoi or Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam Airlines
- Australia gateway: Sydney/Melbourne (SYD/MEL) nonstop to Ho Chi Minh City, ~8h30
- Vietnam visa: UK visa-free 45 days · Australia e-visa (US$25/US$50, up to 90 days)
- Thailand visa: currently visa-free up to 60 days for UK & AU passports (check before booking)
- Ideal length: 14-18 days combined
- Good for: first big overseas trip, honeymooners, multi-country explorers
In this guide: Getting there · Thailand visa · Vietnam visa · Itineraries · Who it suits · FAQs
How do UK and Australian travellers get to Vietnam and Thailand?
The two markets start very differently but arrive at the same region. UK travellers have one nonstop option: Vietnam Airlines flies London Heathrow (Terminal 4) to Hanoi (about 12 hours, three times a week from 29 March 2026) and to Ho Chi Minh City (about 12h45, twice a week), on Boeing 787-9s. Australian travellers have several nonstop choices from Sydney and Melbourne to Ho Chi Minh City, around 8h30, run by Vietnam Airlines, Vietjet and Jetstar; Vietjet also flies direct from Brisbane, Adelaide and Perth, and Vietnam Airlines connects Hanoi with both Melbourne and Sydney.
Once you are in the region, Vietnam and Thailand sit close together: Ho Chi Minh City to Bangkok is a short regional hop, roughly 1.5 hours, on carriers including Vietjet, AirAsia, Thai Airways and Bangkok Airways. That short link is what makes the combo work — you are not adding a second long-haul flight, just a domestic-length one.
| Market | Gateway | Route to Vietnam | Flight time |
|---|---|---|---|
| UK | London Heathrow (LHR) | Nonstop to Hanoi or HCMC, Vietnam Airlines | ~12h / ~12h45 |
| Australia | Sydney / Melbourne (SYD/MEL) | Nonstop to HCMC, VNA/Vietjet/Jetstar | ~8h30 |
| Both markets | HCMC or Hanoi | Regional hop on to Bangkok | ~1.5h |
Planning a Vietnam-only trip instead? See our dedicated guides for Vietnam tours from the UK and Vietnam tours from Australia.
Do UK and Australian travellers need a visa for Thailand?
As of July 2026, both UK and Australian passport holders can enter Thailand visa-free for up to 60 days under the current exemption. Thailand’s Cabinet has approved cutting this to 30 days (with a cap of two entries a year), but the change had not yet taken effect at time of writing — it becomes law 15 days after publication in the Royal Gazette, and that publication date was not yet set. Check the current allowance before you book, since it can change with little notice. Everyone flying, driving or sailing into Thailand also needs to complete the free Thailand Digital Arrival Card (TDAC) online within 72 hours of arrival — it replaced the old paper arrival card in 2025.
Do UK and Australian travellers need a visa for Vietnam?
The two passports differ here. UK travellers are visa-exempt for up to 45 days under Vietnam’s unilateral exemption, so a typical combo trip needs no Vietnam visa at all. Australian travellers are not exempt and need the Vietnam e-visa (single entry US$25 / multiple entry US$50, online in 3–5 working days, valid up to 90 days) — as do UK travellers staying beyond 45 days. Full guidance is in our Vietnam visa for UK & EU citizens and Vietnam visa for Australian citizens guides.
How long should a Vietnam & Thailand combo trip be?
Most private, tailor-made combo itineraries run 14-18 days — enough for Vietnam’s north-to-south highlights plus a proper stretch of Thailand, without the trip feeling rushed on either side.
| Length | Split | Sample tour |
|---|---|---|
| 15 days | Vietnam highlights + Thailand | Vietnam and Thailand Tour Package 15 Days |
| 15 days (AU flights included) | Full combo, built for the AU market | Escape Australia: 15-Day Vietnam & Thailand Tour, Flights Included |
| 12 days | Thailand-focused (pair with a shorter Vietnam add-on) | Viva Thailand Tour Packages 12 Days |
Not sure how to sequence the two countries? Start with our Vietnam itinerary planner, then we build the Thailand leg around it. We also cover general trip pacing in first-time travelling in Southeast Asia.
Who is a Vietnam and Thailand combo trip good for?
This combo suits travellers who have already decided one country is not enough for the trip they are flying this far for. It works especially well for first-time visitors to Southeast Asia who want contrast — Vietnam’s history and landscapes against Thailand’s temples and beaches — and for couples or families wanting a beach finish after a busier, culture-heavy Vietnam leg. See Vietnam private tours for how we tailor the Vietnam side, and check best time to visit Vietnam so both legs line up with good weather.
Vietnam & Thailand combo trips: know before you go
- Book the regional flight early: the Vietnam-Thailand hop is short but not always daily on every route — confirm it before locking hotel dates.
- Two currencies: Vietnamese dong and Thai baht — budget for both, cards are widely accepted in cities on either side.
- Jet lag order matters: UK travellers land after a long overnight flight; starting in a slower-paced part of Vietnam before Bangkok’s pace helps you settle in.
- Power and plugs: Vietnam and Thailand both run 220V; a universal adaptor covers both.
Vietnam and Thailand Tours from the UK and Australia FAQs
Can I combine Vietnam and Thailand in one trip from the UK or Australia?
Yes — fly nonstop into Vietnam (Heathrow-Hanoi/HCMC for the UK, Sydney/Melbourne-HCMC for Australia), then take a short regional flight, around 1.5 hours, on to Bangkok. Most combo trips run 14-18 days.
Do UK and Australian citizens need a visa for Thailand?
Currently no — both are visa-exempt for stays up to 60 days, though Thailand has approved a future change to 30 days that was not yet in force as of July 2026. Check the current rule before booking, and complete the free TDAC before you fly.
Do UK and Australian citizens need a visa for Vietnam?
Not the same way. UK citizens are visa-free for up to 45 days; Australians need the Vietnam e-visa (US$25 single / US$50 multiple entry, up to 90 days, 3–5 working days). UK stays beyond 45 days also need the e-visa.
How long should a Vietnam and Thailand tour be?
Most private combo itineraries run 14-18 days, split roughly two-thirds Vietnam and one-third Thailand, so neither country feels rushed.
Which should I visit first, Vietnam or Thailand?
Most UK and Australian travellers start in Vietnam, since that is where the nonstop flight lands, then fly on to Thailand for a beach or city finish before heading home.
Why the combo trip is worth the extra planning
After years of planning trips across this region, I have stopped treating Vietnam and Thailand as two destinations you must choose between — they sit close enough that the choice was always a false one. The long-haul flight is the part travellers dread booking, and you only take it once either way, so the second country becomes almost a gift rather than a second ordeal. What makes the pairing work is that the two halves ask different things of you: Vietnam pulls you in with landscapes and history, then Thailand hands you the beaches and the ease to wind down before the flight home. My honest advice is to decide which country you want as your finish, and let the whole trip build backwards from there. Tell me which pull is stronger for you — Vietnam’s mountains and bays, or Thailand’s islands — and we will shape the rest around it.
— Ly, My Viva Tour
See Vietnam and Thailand with My Viva Tour
Tell us your dates, how many days you have, and how you would like to split the time between Vietnam and Thailand, and we will send a free, no-obligation private itinerary within 24 hours. Get your free quote.
Travel notes fact-checked: July 2026.
