No, vassals and serfs are not the same thing, although both were important social classes during the feudal period.
A vassal was a nobleman who received land from a lord in exchange for military service and loyalty. This relationship was formal and bound by oaths, where the vassal was expected to protect the lord’s interests and provide support in times of war.
On the other hand, a serf was a peasant who was legally tied to the land they worked on. Serfs did not own land; instead, they farmed it and were obligated to give a portion of their produce to the landowner in exchange for protection and the right to work the land. Unlike vassals, serfs had little legal freedom and were not part of the noble class.
In summary, while vassals and serfs both played roles in the feudal system, their statuses, rights, and responsibilities were very different. Vassals were landholding nobles with specific obligations to their lords, whereas serfs were laborers bound to the land they worked, with limited rights.