Hello Fodorites

I'm asking for your help - please send recommendations for smaller cities or towns in Vietnam and Thailand for a relaxing and rejuvenating trip. I'm not looking to party - more of a health retreat type stays, Buddhist monasteries to stay at for a couple nights, and sleepy inland & beachside villages to explore.

Thanks!
Ange

Mai Chau in the Northern part of Vietnam is a good place; Check it out if it suits you or not.

Exploring Thailand Off the Beaten Track
As you probably know, most of Thailand’s classic destinations are now overrun with tourists. Since Covid, visitor numbers have become even more concentrated in the most famous spots — think Phuket, Chiang Mai, Krabi, and Koh Samui.
The good news is that if you’re willing to venture off the beaten track, there are still some fantastic places to explore — quieter, more authentic, and often far more affordable. The trade-off is that many of these places don’t cater heavily to Western tourists, so you’ll need to be prepared to live much as Thai people (or Thai tourists) do.
Getting around can also be a challenge. Thailand’s railway network is limited but useful: if a town has a station, it’s a cheap and easy way to get there. Local buses and songthaews (shared pick-up trucks) are convenient but slow, and figuring out routes can be confusing. (Personally, I drive — it’s by far the most flexible way to explore.)

Eastern Thailand
Coastal areas:
The coastline between Rayong and Trat is excellent, with beaches and small resorts that cater mostly to Thai visitors—you’ll see very few foreigners until you reach Koh Chang. Nearby Koh Kood is much quieter but can be pricey.
Check out Laem Sing, Ao Kung Kraben, and Chanthaburi, as well as the mangrove areas nearby. Inland, the Mekong River region offers some great towns such as Mukdahan and Nakhon Phanom, with the added bonus of being able to cross into Laos.
A note of caution: some of these provinces border Cambodia and occasionally fall under government travel advisories, which could affect your insurance coverage — so check before you go.

Northern Thailand
Udon Thani is a typical Isaan city — large, busy, and very Thai. Nong Khai, on the Mekong River, is a bustling border town with a bridge crossing to Laos.
Heading west from there, the scenery becomes beautifully rural. Loei, Nan, Phrae, and Phayao are all charming provincial towns with great local markets and inexpensive accommodation.
Chiang Mai remains the cultural capital of the North, surrounded by mountains and temples — but try to avoid visiting between January and April, when air quality can be poor due to burning season.

Northwestern Thailand
The western border with Myanmar is stunningly mountainous and far less developed. Mae Hong Son is quite touristy but still scenic, while Mae Sariang, further south along the famous Mae Hong Son Loop, is smaller, quieter, and set beside a lovely river.
Further south, Mae Sot is a larger, slightly frontier-feeling town on the Myanmar border. From here, you can take the incredible 180-km mountain road (with 1,219 curves!) to Umphang, often described as Thailand’s most isolated town. It’s a fantastic destination with friendly locals, riverside guesthouses, and access to Thi Lo Su Waterfall, one of Asia’s largest.
East of Mae Sot lies Tak, a pleasant town with a lively night market. Southward from there, you enter the Western Forest Complex, a vast stretch of protected wilderness dotted with national parks and wildlife.
Don’t miss Kamphaeng Phet, and especially Uthai Thani, my favourite “secret” town — riverside markets, charming resorts, a magnificent temple, and nearby Huai Kha Kaeng Wildlife Sanctuary, home to Thailand’s largest wild tiger population.

Kanchanaburi and Beyond
Easily reached from Bangkok, Kanchanaburi (of “Bridge over the River Kwai” fame) is a tourist hub, but its surrounding countryside is spectacular — lakes, forests, waterfalls, and national parks.
About 250 km northwest, Sangkhlaburi is a beautiful town on the edge of the Vajiralongkorn Reservoir, famous for its long wooden (bamboo) bridge and tranquil setting.

The Western Gulf Coast
South of Bangkok, the western Gulf coast offers a string of great seaside towns.
Hua Hin is the main resort, though personally I find it rather characterless. Inland, though, lies Kaeng Krachan National Park, Thailand’s largest and final part of the Western Forest Complex — a wonderful destination for nature lovers.
Before Hua Hin, the provincial town of Phetchaburi is worth a stop, especially its famous municipal food market. South of Hua Hin, the coast becomes more appealing. Try Sam Roi Yot, Prachuap Khiri Khan, Thap Sakae, and Ban Krut — small, quiet beach towns with plenty of Thai character.
Chumphon is another under-visited gem, with good beaches and ferry connections to the Samui archipelago. The town itself has a relaxed, local feel — I stay in a lovely converted house there. It’s also the home of author Colin Cotterill, known for his crime novels set in Southeast Asia.

Southern Gulf Coast
South of Chumphon, the coast remains delightfully local. My personal discovery: Ban Bo Kha, in Dan Sawi District — a small fishing village with simple wooden rooms on stilts for rent. When I last stayed, I didn’t see another foreigner, and even now it’s well off the tourist radar (though getting there without a car is tricky).
Beaches between Chumphon and Surat Thani are mostly shared with Thai holidaymakers. Many travellers rush straight from Surat to Don Sak for the island ferries, but Don Sak itself is a charming little town with a fishing fleet and great seafood.
Nearby Khanom Bay has wonderful beaches and far fewer tourists than Samui or Koh Pha Ngan. If you do want to try an island, Koh Pha Ngan is a good bet — Thailand’s laid-back vegan and yoga capital.

The Andaman Coast
The Andaman side, of course, includes Phuket, but if you want somewhere quieter, consider Takua Pa, Khao Lak, or Ranong — all still relatively undeveloped. Further south, Trang Province remains one of Thailand’s most peaceful coastal regions, with lovely islands and fewer crowds.
If you’re willing to trade a bit of comfort and convenience for authenticity, off-the-beaten-path Thailand rewards you richly. You’ll find genuine hospitality, everyday Thai life, and landscapes that haven’t been overtaken by mass tourism. English isn’t always widely spoken, and travel logistics can take some patience — but that’s part of the adventure. The further you get from the well-worn circuits, the more you’ll understand why so many long-term travellers fall in love with Thailand all over again.