A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers Hat Yai vs. Vang Vieng for Vacations, Tours, and Honeymoons

Should you visit Hat Yai or Vang Vieng?

Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?

Trying to figure out where to travel next? This travel comparison between Hat Yai and Vang Vieng can help. It includes a travel cost comparison in addition to other factors. For many travelers, the cost of a destination is a primary consideration when choosing where to go.

Where Should I go: Hat Yai or Vang Vieng?

Hat Yai

The fourth largest city of Thailand, Hat Yai is a popular tourist destination, especially on weekends and holidays for people in neighboring Malaysia and Singapore. It is best known as a commercial hub and shopping destination, and for its floating market and Buddhist temple.

Vang Vieng

Vang Vieng is a town in the Vientiane province of Laos that sits along the banks of the Nam Song River. With its beautifully carved karst topography cliffs towering over the winding river, the area has become very tourist-oriented for those seeking to explore the outdoor wonders. People from all over come to engage in the unique landscape-mountain biking, trekking, kayaking, caving, swimming, and rock climbing, amongst others.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Contiki Tours to Thailand, The Best G Adventures Tours to Thailand, The Best Hiking & Trekking Tours in Laos, and The Best One Week (7-Day) Tours in Laos.

When comparing the travel costs between Hat Yai and Vang Vieng, we can see that Hat Yai is more expensive. However, the two cities are actually relatively comparable in price, as the difference is somewhat minimal. Generally, this means that you could travel with generally the same travel style and level of luxury in each place. Since both cities are in Asia, it's no surprise that their costs are relatively close, as many destinations here have somewhat similar travel prices overall.

If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Hat Yai Expensive? and Is Vang Vieng Expensive?.

Which is Bigger, Hat Yai or Vang Vieng?

Hat Yai has a larger population, and is about 8 times larger than the population of Vang Vieng. When comparing the sizes of Hat Yai and Vang Vieng, keep in mind that a larger population does not always imply the destination has more attractions or better activities. So, always research the type of place that you want to visit along with the activities and attractions that interest you.

When is the best time to visit Hat Yai or Vang Vieng?

Both destinations experience a warmer climate most of the year. Instead of summer and winter seasons, they usually have a rainy season and a dry season. Although in the rainy season, it doesn't necessarily rain every day.

Should I visit Hat Yai or Vang Vieng in the Summer?

The summer brings many poeple to Hat Yai as well as Vang Vieng. Hat Yai attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate. The warm climate attracts visitors to Vang Vieng throughout the year.

Hat Yai receives a lot of rain in the summer. Hat Yai usually gets more rain in July than Vang Vieng. Hat Yai gets 101 mm (4 in) of rain, while Vang Vieng receives 47 mm (1.9 in) of rain this time of the year.

People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Hat Yai this time of the year. In the summer, Hat Yai often gets more sunshine than Vang Vieng. Hat Yai gets 206 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Vang Vieng receives 141 hours of full sun.

Hat Yai is a little warmer than Vang Vieng in the summer. The daily temperature in Hat Yai averages around 29°C (83°F) in July, and Vang Vieng fluctuates around 22°C (72°F).

Should I visit Hat Yai or Vang Vieng in the Autumn?

Both Vang Vieng and Hat Yai are popular destinations to visit in the autumn with plenty of activities. The warm climate attracts visitors to Hat Yai throughout the year. Plenty of visitors come to Vang Vieng because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year.

The rainy season in Hat Yai is May to December. It's quite rainy in Hat Yai. In October, Hat Yai usually receives more rain than Vang Vieng. Hat Yai gets 284 mm (11.2 in) of rain, while Vang Vieng receives 63 mm (2.5 in) of rain each month for the autumn.

It's quite sunny in Vang Vieng. Hat Yai usually receives less sunshine than Vang Vieng during autumn. Hat Yai gets 182 hours of sunny skies, while Vang Vieng receives 222 hours of full sun in the autumn.

In the autumn, Hat Yai is a little warmer than Vang Vieng. Typically, the autumn temperatures in Hat Yai in October average around 28°C (82°F), and Vang Vieng averages at about 23°C (73°F).

Should I visit Hat Yai or Vang Vieng in the Winter?

Both Vang Vieng and Hat Yai during the winter are popular places to visit. Plenty of visitors come to Hat Yai because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Vang Vieng year-round.

January to April is the dry season in Hat Yai. It rains a lot this time of the year in Hat Yai. Hat Yai usually gets more rain in January than Vang Vieng. Hat Yai gets 100 mm (3.9 in) of rain, while Vang Vieng receives 57 mm (2.2 in) of rain this time of the year.

In Vang Vieng, it's very sunny this time of the year. It's quite sunny in Hat Yai. In the winter, Hat Yai often gets less sunshine than Vang Vieng. Hat Yai gets 221 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Vang Vieng receives 254 hours of full sun.

In January, Hat Yai is generally a little warmer than Vang Vieng. Daily temperatures in Hat Yai average around 28°C (82°F), and Vang Vieng fluctuates around 24°C (75°F).

Should I visit Hat Yai or Vang Vieng in the Spring?

The spring attracts plenty of travelers to both Hat Yai and Vang Vieng. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Hat Yai year-round. Vang Vieng attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate.

January to April in Hat Yai is the dry season. Also, May to December is the rainy season in Hat Yai. Vang Vieng receives a lot of rain in the spring. In April, Hat Yai usually receives less rain than Vang Vieng. Hat Yai gets 70 mm (2.8 in) of rain, while Vang Vieng receives 188 mm (7.4 in) of rain each month for the spring.

People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Vang Vieng this time of the year. In Hat Yai, it's very sunny this time of the year. Hat Yai usually receives more sunshine than Vang Vieng during spring. Hat Yai gets 265 hours of sunny skies, while Vang Vieng receives 230 hours of full sun in the spring.

Hat Yai is a little warmer than Vang Vieng in the spring. The daily temperature in Hat Yai averages around 30°C (85°F) in April, and Vang Vieng fluctuates around 23°C (73°F).

Typical Weather for Vang Vieng and Hat Yai