Is Indonesia or Vietnam cheaper?

They sit in a similar bracket — roughly under $35–65/day in Indonesia, under $35–130/day in Vietnam.

When is the best time to visit Indonesia vs Vietnam?

Indonesia is at its best in April–September; Vietnam peaks in February–April, October, November.

Is Indonesia or Vietnam better in August?

Indonesia is the better of the two in August. Indonesia has the edge in May, June, July, August, September, Vietnam in February, March, October, November, and both are at their best in April.

How long do you need in Indonesia vs Vietnam?

Plan 2–3 weeks for Indonesia and 2–6 for Vietnam.

Should I choose Indonesia or Vietnam?

Pick Indonesia if you want somewhere stronger for nature, beach, adventure, more off-the-beaten-path. Pick Vietnam if you want somewhere stronger for food, culture.

Indonesia vs Vietnam

Two strong destinations, different in important ways. Here's the side-by-side, then a verdict on which suits which traveler.

Southeast Asia

Indonesia

Seventeen thousand islands of volcanoes, reefs, and temples — the most varied country in Southeast Asia.

Best time to visit

January: fine
February: avoid
March: fine
April: peak
May: peak
June: peak
July: peak
August: peak
September: peak
October: fine
November: fine
December: fine

Peak Fine Avoid

Southeast Asia

Vietnam

The best food in Southeast Asia, remarkable scenery, a long coastline.

Best time to visit

January: fine
February: peak
March: peak
April: peak
May: fine
June: avoid
July: avoid
August: avoid
September: fine
October: peak
November: peak
December: fine

Peak Fine Avoid

Read our full guides about Indonesia and Vietnam.

Side by side

Emphasised where they differ. Muted rows are much the same either way.

	Indonesia	Vietnam
Best time	April–September	February–April, October, November
Climate	warm	warm
Budget	Backpacker – Budget · under $35–65/day	Backpacker – Mid-range · under $35–130/day
Trip length	2–3 wks	2–6 wks
Visa	Visa on arrival / e-visa for most Western passports (30 days, extendable). Verify before travel.	E-visa available for most nationalities (90 days). Verify before travel.
Currency	Indonesian Rupiah (IDR).	VND (Dong). Roughly 25,000 VND ≈ 1 USD.
Language	Indonesian; English in tourist areas.	Vietnamese. Limited English outside major cities and tourist spots.
Tap water	Drink bottled or filtered water.	Tap water not safe.
Safety	Generally safe; use reputable operators for boats, dives, and volcano treks, and dress modestly away from beach resorts.	Safe. Traffic and pickpocketing are the main concerns.

General guidance — visas, safety, and health change, so check your government's travel advisory and the official sources before you go.

Indonesia or Vietnam, month by month

Which of the two is the better bet for each month of the year, scored on how well the season suits each place.

Which to choose

Choose Indonesia if:

You want somewhere stronger for nature, beach, adventure.
You want somewhere more off-the-beaten-path.

Choose Vietnam if:

You want somewhere stronger for food, culture.

Common questions

Is Indonesia or Vietnam cheaper?: They sit in a similar bracket — roughly under $35–65/day in Indonesia, under $35–130/day in Vietnam.
When is the best time to visit Indonesia vs Vietnam?: Indonesia is at its best in April–September; Vietnam peaks in February–April, October, November.
Is Indonesia or Vietnam better in August?: Indonesia is the better of the two in August. Indonesia has the edge in May, June, July, August, September, Vietnam in February, March, October, November, and both are at their best in April.
How long do you need in Indonesia vs Vietnam?: Plan 2–3 weeks for Indonesia and 2–6 for Vietnam.
Should I choose Indonesia or Vietnam?: Pick Indonesia if you want somewhere stronger for nature, beach, adventure, more off-the-beaten-path. Pick Vietnam if you want somewhere stronger for food, culture.