south east asia summer 2010

duckville

hey there

I am finishing college in June and planning on heading to south east Asia for the first time this summer, setting off in mid July (i cant avoid this date) spending 3 weeks in Thailand with one group of friends and continuing on for another 3 weeks in Cambodia & Vietnam and maybe Laos with some of the first group and a few others.

i have been looking at flights and generally seeing about 7-800 euro is this a reasonable amount going in mid July and coming 6 weeks later in late august?

as for spending money i have been told that Thailand will be the most expensive, do you reckon that 1500-1700 would be enough to get by on for the 3 weeks in thailand and 3 weeks in Vietnam & Cambodia and maybe Laos?

also is Laos worth the visit? it is the country i have heard the least about

i also heard in heading into rainy season is this a big problem?

help on this is greatly appreciated as im a bit lost at the moment

darrenh

Thailand is not the most expensive.

Laos is amazing. Google Tubing for a reason to go. http://www.travelblog.org/Asia/Laos/West/Vang-Vieng/blog-449059.html

Rainy season wont be a problem.

€200 a week spending is average.

€300 is luxury.

I did it on €100, all be it that we watched our money and spent wisely!

duckville

the tubing looks savage allright, is there much else to see in laos? amy advise is appreciated

if thailand is not the most expensive where is?
im not the may west with watching money when traveling so hopefully ill get on 300 a week for the six weeks.

will i get to see much in laos cambodia and vietnam proably only being in each country for a week? i have heard its quite slow to get around in once there

darrenh

With only a week for each country I'd give the 3 all to Laos and Cambodia or all 3 to Vietnam. Personally I'd give it all to Laos and Cambodia. Vietnam could ruin your trip. It's a very 50/50 country. I didnt really like it. They are not that slow to get around and its best to just go with the flow anyway. Have you looked at www.travelfish.org ? They have good itineraries.

duckville

yea i had a look at travelfish it has got loads of good info thanks!

v.e.r.b.a.l

i agree with darren. if you're pushed for time then skip thailand and concentrate on laos, cambodia and vietnam. Luang Prabang in Laos is one of my favourite places in the world. We loved Vietnam - every bit of it, but like darren said it's very 50/50 - there's no in between, every backpacker either loved it or hated it. i think it's just to do with your own experience there.

i found cambodia to be the most expensive. they use the dollar for everything and so, round everything up to a dollar. even if it should only be half of that!!

darrenh

I have to say I didnt say skip Thailand! Skip Vietnam maybe but most definitely not Thailand. 90% i would say like like Thailand. Only 50% like Vietnam, and that is a very low percentage as most people arrive in any country and leave liking it. That is not the case with Vietnam.

v.e.r.b.a.l

sorry darren, must have misread your post!

personally, i loved all of Vietnam and didn't like a lot of Thailand. It's a pity - Thailand has some of the most spectacular scenery, but it's ruined by overtourism and scams. I know a lot of people say that Vietnam is bad for scams, but it's all down to the experience the individual has in each country and that was mine. i did really enjoy Khao Sok, Bangkok and Phi Phi (only Long Beach though!) in Thailand.

darrenh

The whole 'which is better, Thailand or Vietnam?' debate can get a bit heated. Personally I was robbed blind at every opportunity in Vietnam. I was on a tight budget and this didn't help. Made me notice a lot more. Of course it happens in Thailand but I had traveled it extensively and got well used to anyone trying to rip us off and knew how to avoid it. I think to fully enjoy Vietnam you need to get off the beaten track and away from the line that connects Hanoi with HCMC and all thats in between. Na Trang is very average but I did love the hustle and bustle and complete craziness off HCMC (Saigon) and the friendly people of Hanoi and it's very funny Bia Hoi's! Vietnam in my mind is the right place to get a motor bike and ride through country side with the wind blowing through your hair!!!;)

Amazotheamazing

Really loved Vietnam and Cambodia, but I'm big into history so maybe I was looking for different stuff. Laos was ok, tubing is great, absolutely great but does it compare to Angkor Wat or s21? Don't mean that in a preachy, oh-I'm-so-cultured way but you can get drunk almost anywhere in the world, but you can only see Angkor Wat in Angkor Wat. That being said, tubing was class and if you going in the area you gotta go for it.

Tbh, doesn't matter what route you take, you'll have a great time.

darrenh

I have to agree with you about Tubing. It felt so wrong in one way. Some of the most amazing scenery I have ever seen and its ruined by blaring music and drunken tourists. I still had a blast!

What I liked about Laos though was the two day trip down the Mekong, which is in my top three things I've done, Luang Prabang, 4000 islands and the rawness of the country.

Dante10

Guys ill be tubing at some stage next week--cant wait! Should i at least try and stay mildly sober for a while to enjoy the scenery or is that an impossible task? Any other suggestions re Laos?? Ive heard its amazing from a lot of people but nobody really specified why other than that its still in its unprocessed state and that the people are genuine and lovely?

darrenh

Dante10 wrote: »

Guys ill be tubing at some stage next week--cant wait! Should i at least try and stay mildly sober for a while to enjoy the scenery or is that an impossible task? Any other suggestions re Laos?? Ive heard its amazing from a lot of people but nobody really specified why other than that its still in its unprocessed state and that the people are genuine and lovely?

You'll start around mid day anyway and there is nothing like diving into water to sober you up every now and again. Leave the scenery for another day.

Wheelhaus

Couldnt recommend Vietnam more. Go to Hanoi and stay in Hanoi Backpackers and do the Hulong Bay trip. Its the best fun ever.

If you get a chance, you should check out Myanmar (Burma) fairly untouched from tourists. I was only there for a few days but wished I got to stay longer

v.e.r.b.a.l

Agreed. Another good spot to stay in Hanoi is Tung Trang Guesthouse - it's located in a nice little laneway full of bia hoi places with great cheap food. I'd recommend going to Nimh Binh and getting a motorbike too. It's the one spot in Vietnam a lot of tourists seem to neglect.