A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers Hoi An vs. Khao Sok National Park for Vacations, Tours, and Honeymoons

Should you visit Hoi An or Khao Sok National Park?

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

Which city should you visit? Read on to compare the activities as well as the prices of travel for Hoi An and Khao Sok National Park. We'll break down costs for accommodation, food, transportation and more to help you learn more about these two destinations. Then, you can figure out if either of these two places are accessible based on your travel budget, schedule, and interests. So, let's dig into it.

Where Should I go: Hoi An or Khao Sok National Park?

Hoi An

Located just south of the city of Da Nang, Hoi An is famous for it's beautiful old town. It is also a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Unfortunately, since its designation as a World Heritage Site in 1999, mass tourism has grown and the city has felt the growing pains. Most of the homes and shops in the old town are now used for commercial purposes. The city is still quaint, but the old town is lined with tailor shops, souvenir stores, and restaurants. Foreigners are required to purchase a ticket to enter the old town of Hoi An (120,000 VND, about $5).

Khao Sok National Park

In the south of Thailand, visitors will find a gorgeous getaway of pure nature. The Khao Sok National Park is a jungle reserve that covers over 700 square kilometers, and described as one of the most beautiful wildlife reserves in the country.

Many say this jungle is over 160 million years old making it one of the world's oldest rainforests. The lush environment of limestone, waterfalls and thickets of vegetation will make any wanderer eager to discover more. Keep your eyes peeled for bears, boars, gaurs, tapirs, gibbons, deer, marbled cats, wild elephants and more. Look to the sky for over 300 species of bird and 38 different types of bats.

You'll find the best time to book is from December to April, better known as the dry season. From June to October there is significantly more rain and the threat of monsoons. Not only does it rain on your parade, but also it causes the leeches to emerge.

To enter the park is a 300 baht fee for foreigners, 150 for children, and 40 for Thai citizens. If someone tries to sell you a ticket for more than that, simply buy one at the park entrance. When planning your stay remember that your entrance fee is only valid for 24 hours. If you're staying multiple days, you'll need to pay up front. Often if you're with a tour, the entrance fee is included in the tour price, but you should inquire about this to make sure.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Hiking & Trekking Tours in Vietnam, The Best Historical Tours in Vietnam, The Best Hiking & Trekking Tours in Thailand, and The Best 10-Day Tours in Thailand.

When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Hoi An and Khao Sok National Park, we can see that Khao Sok National Park is more expensive. And not only is Hoi An much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Hoi An would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Hoi An and be able to afford a more luxurious travel style by staying in nicer hotels, eating at more expensive restaurants, taking tours, and experiencing more activities. The same level of travel in Khao Sok National Park would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Khao Sok National Park than you might in Hoi An.

If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Hoi An Expensive? and Is Khao Sok National Park Expensive?.

When is the best time to visit Hoi An or Khao Sok National Park?

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 Hoi An or Khao Sok National Park in the Summer?

The summer brings many poeple to Hoi An as well as Khao Sok National Park. Hoi An attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate. The warm climate attracts visitors to Khao Sok National Park throughout the year.

Also, February to July in Hoi An is the dry season. September to January in Hoi An is the rainy season. It's quite rainy in Khao Sok National Park. Hoi An usually gets less rain in July than Khao Sok National Park. Hoi An gets 71 mm (2.8 in) of rain, while Khao Sok National Park receives 284 mm (11.2 in) of rain this time of the year.

The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Khao Sok National Park. People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Hoi An this time of the year. In the summer, Hoi An often gets more sunshine than Khao Sok National Park. Hoi An gets 242 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Khao Sok National Park receives 206 hours of full sun.

In July, Hoi An is generally around the same temperature as Khao Sok National Park. Daily temperatures in Hoi An average around 29°C (85°F), and Khao Sok National Park fluctuates around 28°C (82°F).

Should I visit Hoi An or Khao Sok National Park in the Autumn?

Both Khao Sok National Park and Hoi An are popular destinations to visit in the autumn with plenty of activities. The warm climate attracts visitors to Hoi An throughout the year. Plenty of visitors come to Khao Sok National Park because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year.

It rains a lot this time of the year in Khao Sok National Park. It's quite rainy in Hoi An. In October, Hoi An usually receives more rain than Khao Sok National Park. Hoi An gets 613 mm (24.1 in) of rain, while Khao Sok National Park receives 351 mm (13.8 in) of rain each month for the autumn.

Hoi An usually receives less sunshine than Khao Sok National Park during autumn. Hoi An gets 158 hours of sunny skies, while Khao Sok National Park receives 181 hours of full sun in the autumn.

Hoi An is around the same temperature as Khao Sok National Park in the autumn. The daily temperature in Hoi An averages around 25°C (78°F) in October, and Khao Sok National Park fluctuates around 27°C (81°F).

Should I visit Hoi An or Khao Sok National Park in the Winter?

Both Khao Sok National Park and Hoi An during the winter are popular places to visit. Plenty of visitors come to Hoi An because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Khao Sok National Park year-round.

February to July is the dry season in Hoi An. September to January is the rainy season in Hoi An. It rains a lot this time of the year in Hoi An. Hoi An usually gets more rain in January than Khao Sok National Park. Hoi An gets 112 mm (4.4 in) of rain, while Khao Sok National Park receives 42 mm (1.7 in) of rain this time of the year.

In Khao Sok National Park, it's very sunny this time of the year. In the winter, Hoi An often gets less sunshine than Khao Sok National Park. Hoi An gets 136 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Khao Sok National Park receives 287 hours of full sun.

In the winter, Hoi An is cooler than Khao Sok National Park. Typically, the winter temperatures in Hoi An in January average around 22°C (71°F), and Khao Sok National Park averages at about 27°C (80°F).

Should I visit Hoi An or Khao Sok National Park in the Spring?

The spring attracts plenty of travelers to both Hoi An and Khao Sok National Park. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Hoi An year-round. Khao Sok National Park attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate.

Khao Sok National Park receives a lot of rain in the spring. In April, Hoi An usually receives less rain than Khao Sok National Park. Hoi An gets 33 mm (1.3 in) of rain, while Khao Sok National Park receives 157 mm (6.2 in) of rain each month for the spring.

People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Khao Sok National Park this time of the year. In Hoi An, it's very sunny this time of the year. Hoi An usually receives less sunshine than Khao Sok National Park during spring. Hoi An gets 210 hours of sunny skies, while Khao Sok National Park receives 249 hours of full sun in the spring.

In April, Hoi An is generally around the same temperature as Khao Sok National Park. Daily temperatures in Hoi An average around 26°C (80°F), and Khao Sok National Park fluctuates around 29°C (83°F).

Typical Weather for Khao Sok National Park and Hoi An