Vietnam or Thailand for Russian travellers: visa-free stay, arrival card, flights and the beach
Vietnam or Thailand in 2026/27: Russians get 45 days visa-free in Vietnam, while Thailand cut its visa-free stay for Russians to 30 days from 15 September 2026. Vietnam's arrival form is optional; Thailand's TDAC is mandatory.
For Russian travellers in winter 2026/27, Vietnam and Thailand differ above all in visa-free stay: Russians can stay in Vietnam 45 days without a visa, while Thailand cut its visa-free stay for Russians from 60 to 30 days on 15 September 2026. For a winter stay longer than a month Vietnam is easier: it issues e-visas of up to 90 days. Vietnam's online arrival form is optional, while Thailand's TDAC is mandatory for everyone. Otherwise they're similar: about 10 hours from Moscow, the same +4 hours from Moscow time, and both have a dry beach season in winter — in Vietnam on Phu Quoc and in Mui Ne, and in Nha Trang from January.
| Vietnam | Thailand | |
|---|---|---|
| Visa-free | 45 days | 30 days from 15 Sep 2026, extendable once by 30 |
| Longer | e-visa up to 90 days at evisa.gov.vn | extension in the country or a visa |
| Arrival card | PAI — optional | TDAC — mandatory, 3 days before arrival |
| Direct flights from Moscow | Nha Trang, Ho Chi Minh City, Phu Quoc, Hanoi | Bangkok, Phuket, Pattaya (charters) |
| Flight time | about 10 hours | about 9–10.5 hours to Bangkok |
| Difference with Moscow | +4 hours | +4 hours |
How long can Russians stay visa-free in Vietnam and Thailand?
Russians can stay in Vietnam 45 days without a visa: visa-free entry under Vietnamese Government Resolution No. 44/NQ-CP runs until 14 March 2028, and for longer trips there's an e-visa of up to 90 days. Thailand cut its visa-free stay for Russians from 60 to 30 days on 15 September 2026, returning to bilateral agreements under which Russia always had 30 days. It can be extended once by another 30 days. More in Vietnam visa.
Do you need an arrival card for Vietnam and Thailand?
In Vietnam the PAI online arrival form is optional as of November 2026: you fill it in at prearrival.immigration.gov.vn up to 3 days before arrival to clear immigration faster. In Thailand the TDAC digital arrival card has been mandatory for all foreigners since 1 May 2025: it replaced the paper card and must be filled in up to 3 days before entry at tdac.immigration.go.th. More in Vietnam arrival card.
Which is easier to fly to from Moscow?
Flights from Moscow to Vietnam and Thailand take about the same — around 10 hours nonstop. To Vietnam, Aeroflot flies to Nha Trang, Ho Chi Minh City and Phu Quoc, Vietjet to Nha Trang, Vietnam Airlines to Hanoi. To Thailand there are nonstop flights from Moscow to Bangkok — about 9–10.5 hours — and AZUR air flies to Phuket and Pattaya from Vnukovo this winter. More in Moscow to Vietnam flight time.
Where is the winter beach — Vietnam or Thailand?
Both countries have a dry winter beach season, but in Vietnam it depends on the region. In November the rain on Phu Quoc eases and by December it's dry, as is Mui Ne, while Nha Trang and Da Nang get rain; Nha Trang is dry from January with a calm sea from February. In Thailand the Andaman coast (Phuket) usually has its dry season from November to April, while Koh Samui gets rain until December. More in when to go to Vietnam and Vietnam beach resorts.
FAQ
How long can Russians stay in Vietnam without a visa? 45 days, until 14 March 2028.
How long can Russians stay in Thailand without a visa in 2026? From 15 September 2026, 30 days, extendable once by 30.
Do you need an arrival card? In Vietnam no, PAI is optional. In Thailand TDAC is mandatory.
What's the time difference with Moscow? +4 hours in both Vietnam and Thailand.