Both Vietnam and Thailand rank among Southeast Asia's most popular destinations for international film and commercial production — and for good reason. Both offer competitive costs, diverse landscapes, skilled crews, and a strong track record of delivering for global brands and studios.
But they are not interchangeable. The right choice depends on your specific brief, budget, timeline, and the visual world you're trying to create. This guide breaks down every key factor so you can make the call confidently — or talk to us and we'll help you decide.
The right country isn't the cheapest one — it's the one that best serves your creative brief, your timeline, and your client's expectations.
1. Locations & Visual Range
Thailand
Thailand has been a go-to production destination for decades, partly because its locations are so immediately recognisable — and so varied. You have the teeming, neon-lit streets of Bangkok, the dramatic limestone karsts of Krabi and Phang Nga, the golden temples of Chiang Mai, verdant rice terraces in the north, and some of the world's most photographed beaches in the south. The country is visually versatile and has been used to double for locations across Asia, Africa, and the Middle East.
Vietnam
Vietnam's visual offer is equally compelling but distinctly different in character. Where Thailand often reads as warm and tropical, Vietnam skews more cinematic and textural — the misty karst landscape of Ha Long Bay, the decaying colonial grandeur of Hanoi's Old Quarter, the lantern-lit alleyways of Hoi An, the frenetic motorbike energy of Ho Chi Minh City. For productions seeking something that feels fresh and less-used on screen, Vietnam frequently wins.
Verdict: Thailand wins on sheer variety and familiarity. Vietnam wins on freshness and distinctiveness. If your brief calls for a location that looks unmistakably Southeast Asian but doesn't feel overused, Vietnam is the stronger choice.
2. Production Costs
Crew day rates
Both countries offer significantly lower crew day rates than Western markets. When you compare like-for-like roles, crew day rates in Vietnam and Thailand are broadly equivalent — the gap is smaller than most international clients expect. Where Vietnam does have a genuine edge is on day-to-day living costs: accommodation, food, and ground transport tend to be cheaper, which can reduce per-diems and overall travel spend for large crews.
Location fees
Thailand's popularity as a production destination means location owners — especially in tourist areas — are experienced negotiators. Fees for premium Bangkok locations or Phuket beach permits can be surprisingly high. Vietnam's location fees tend to be lower on average, and there is more room to negotiate, particularly outside the main tourist circuits.
Equipment
Bangkok has one of the best equipment rental markets in Southeast Asia — virtually any kit you need is available, from ARRI Alexa systems to full grip and lighting packages. Ho Chi Minh City has a well-stocked equipment market too, though the range narrows for very specialised gear. For productions with specific technical requirements, it's worth confirming availability early in pre-production.
A significant practical difference: Thailand is an ATA Carnet member country; Vietnam is not. This means productions flying into Thailand with their own camera bodies, lenses, or specialist equipment can use an ATA Carnet to move gear across borders efficiently and without paying import duties. In Vietnam, there is no equivalent — equipment brought in from abroad requires a temporary import permit and a customs bond, a process that takes more time and adds administrative cost. If your production relies on bringing a significant amount of its own kit, this difference matters.
Verdict: Thailand wins on overall production value — deeper infrastructure, more mature equipment market, and a larger crew pool for the same spend. Vietnam's cost advantage is real but specific: lower per-diems, cheaper food, and more room to negotiate on locations. Crew rates between the two are roughly comparable. Don't choose a country on cost alone — the wrong location for your brief will cost more in the end.
3. Permits & Regulations
Thailand
Thailand has a well-established film permit system managed through the Thailand Film Office, part of the government's BOI framework. For productions working with a BOI-approved company, the process is streamlined and well-understood. Commercial shoots in Bangkok and popular tourist areas are routine. The permit process for more complex shoots — government buildings, military areas, national parks — requires more lead time but is navigable with an experienced local partner.
Vietnam
Vietnam's permit landscape requires more careful navigation. Regulations vary significantly between provinces, and permit requirements for foreign productions can be complex, particularly for documentary and news content. That said, commercial productions in Ho Chi Minh City and Hanoi are increasingly routine, and the process is manageable with a fixer or production company that has established government relationships. Budget for 3–6 weeks of permit lead time on complex shoots.
Verdict: Thailand's permit process is more predictable and better-documented, particularly for BOI-approved productions. Vietnam requires a more experienced local partner but is entirely workable — and increasingly so as international production activity grows.
4. Crew & Talent
Thailand
Bangkok has one of the deepest crew pools in Southeast Asia. Decades of international production activity have produced a large cohort of experienced directors of photography, gaffers, art directors, stylists, and production managers who are fluent in working to international briefs. English proficiency among senior crew is generally strong. Cast talent for on-screen roles ranges from a large local talent pool to internationally experienced actors based in the city.
Vietnam
Vietnam's crew market has developed rapidly over the past decade. Ho Chi Minh City in particular has a growing pool of experienced crew who have worked on international commercials and co-productions. The depth of talent is not yet at Bangkok's level for very large-scale productions, but for the majority of commercial and branded content shoots, excellent crews are available. Working with a local production partner who pre-vets crew is particularly important in Vietnam.
Verdict: Thailand has an edge in crew depth and international experience, particularly for large or complex productions. For most commercial-scale shoots, Vietnam's crew market is more than capable.
5. Logistics & Infrastructure
Bangkok is one of Southeast Asia's best-connected cities — excellent flight connections, world-class hotels across all budget levels, a functioning metro, and a production infrastructure built for large international crews. Moving equipment, talent, and crew around the city is straightforward.
Ho Chi Minh City and Hanoi are both well-served by international flights, with good hotel infrastructure at the upper end of the market. Moving between cities in Vietnam requires either short domestic flights or longer road travel. For productions shooting across multiple Vietnamese locations, logistics planning is more involved but entirely manageable with good pre-production.
Verdict: Thailand has a logistics advantage for large productions and crews. Vietnam is perfectly workable but benefits from more detailed logistical planning, particularly for multi-location shoots.
6. Quick Comparison
| Factor | Vietnam | Thailand |
|---|---|---|
| Visual freshness | Vietnam wins | Strong but familiar |
| Location variety | Excellent | Thailand wins |
| Overall production cost | Competitive | Thailand wins |
| Crew day rates | Comparable | Comparable |
| Food & travel costs | Vietnam wins | Higher per-diems |
| Crew depth | Growing fast | Thailand wins |
| Equipment availability | Good in HCMC | Thailand wins |
| ATA Carnet (own kit) | Not a member — bond required | Thailand wins |
| Permit process | Navigable | More streamlined |
| Logistics | Good | Thailand wins |
| Value for money | Both strong | Both strong |
7. So Which Should You Choose?
Choose Thailand if: you're running a large-scale production with complex logistics, you need the deepest possible crew pool, your permit timeline is tight, you're bringing a significant amount of your own equipment (ATA Carnet applies in Thailand, not Vietnam), or your brief calls for visual variety including beaches, jungle, temples, and urban environments in one shoot.
Choose Vietnam if: your brief calls for a fresh, cinematic look that stands out from the typical Southeast Asia visual language, you're working on a commercial or branded content shoot where crew depth is less of a constraint, your crew is large and per-diem savings on food and travel will add up, or your creative specifically calls for locations like Ha Long Bay, Hoi An, or Hanoi's Old Quarter that simply don't exist in Thailand.
Consider both if: you're planning a multi-market campaign — shooting hero footage in Thailand while capturing authentic Vietnam-specific content in Ho Chi Minh City or Hanoi. Alchemist Productions operates across both countries, which makes this kind of combined production straightforward to manage under a single point of contact.
We produce in both Vietnam and Thailand — tell us your brief and we'll recommend the right country, or the right combination of both.
The Bottom Line
There is no universally "better" country between Vietnam and Thailand for film production. Thailand is the more established, more logistically straightforward choice with the deepest production infrastructure. Vietnam offers something increasingly valuable: a visually distinctive, less-saturated shooting environment at competitive costs, with a production community that has matured significantly in recent years.
The best decision is always brief-led. If you're working through this choice for an upcoming project, get in touch — we produce in both countries and can give you a frank recommendation based on your specific creative and logistical requirements.
