The usual suspects - Thailand, Vietnam, Cambodia, Laos

Escapees

Just finished the East Africa part of our trip and now in Bangkok. The problem is that it's not really the backpacker oasis we thought it would be. Instead it seems to have become a holiday resort haven for UK people and their families - it's proving next to impossible to come across backpackers who've done the Indochina loop!

We really need word of mouth views on the various countries in order to decide where to go next. Our issue is that we don't have a lot of time, have no interest in seeing any more temples or things like Angkor Wat and, wait for it, zero interest in seeing historical or war-related stuff!!

That seems to rule out a lot of the usual hitlist of sights in the various countries... We really just want to see scenery or trek it, and experience a place's culture in the here or now. So, is it worth going to Vietnam, Cambodia etc. given this?? Have sussed Chiang Mai on the net and it seems to be a place to trek to hill tribes (in an exploitative sort of way) or else to do cooking courses!

The place people rant the least about, Laos, is starting to look the most attractive, but we're just going purely on Internet research. Any suggestions?

Incidentally, we love Bangkok, though not so much around the Khao San Rd area!

bazingaboom

Ok I dont understand why you are in Asia when you dont want to do anything?

You say you cant meet any backpackers yet you dislike the Khao San Road area? Thats exactly where you will find all the backpackers.

I dont really understand what you are asking do you just want to go to places that look nice but dont actually want to do anything?

Get a motorbike and drive through Vietnam.. You don't need to goto temples etc. Just nice scenery.

kirving

Sorry I don't' have time to write a longer post, but I'm back from Thailand (and Laos) a week.

Tubing is great craic, although I only got it do it properly once. Flight up to Udon Thani(or train if it's cheaper and there is one?), then 1 hr taxi to the border. About 400B each.

Leave Thailand, 50B bus across the bridge, enter Laos. 324,000 Kip for the Visa. About €32. There is an ATM there but I had to use a Visa card to take money out. 350B taxi into Vientiane. It's bit of a kip tbh. Only stayed one night since we got in late. We got a flight at about 3 pm from Phuket and only crossed the border about about 8.30pm, after landing at 5.30 or so. We missed the bus to Vang Vieng that night.

Booked a bus up to Vang Vieng for the following morning for about 65,000 kip or so. (€6.50). Taxi will collect you for free from your accommodation at about 9.30-10 am. 3.5 hours on the bus and you get to the Vang Vieng bus station. Another free taxi into town. We stayed in the a nice hotel for about €5 a night each. Can't remember the name but there are loads of places to stay along the main strip.

Tubes cost about €5 a day(50k kip) and include a Tuk-Tuk up the river to the start point. Get a dry bag for your camera/money. Have to be back before 6pm to get your €6 deposit back. If you come back before 8pm, they only give you back €4. Getting dark around 7pm though so you don't want to be doing that.

Coming back, I was going to Bangkok. I booked a "flight" (which included a bus transfer) via Nok Air from Vientiane to Bangkok(Don Mueang). I had to be in Vientiane at 1pm for a bus transfer all the way across the border to Udon Thani. The mini-bus which was supposed to leave Vang Vieng at 9am didn't leave till 10, and I was late to the travel agency office in Vientiane, so had to get a tuk-tuk to the border.

On crossing the border, I was in time for the transfer to Udon Thani airport so I was OK in that regard, and made my flight back to Bangkok.

Just my story about travelling which hopefully will help. Scenery is amazing, and it as definitely worth the money even just going up there for a few days. Tubing is an amazing way to see the place, and can be relaxed if you want it to be, or as mad as you like!

I would have headed toward Vietnam and Cambodia but I ran out of time.
If you have any other questions about the islands just ask! (Maybe a PM to remind me to this thread)

Regards,
Kevin

Escapees

Thanks for the feedback. We'll try to get Laos so since Vietnam is a little more hassle visa-wise and also takes longer to get to unless you pay to fly.

As regards my comments on Khoa San Rd, we're there at the moment and with all due respect, the 'backpackers' here appear to be mainly lager-louts coming over for a cheap piss-up or families coming here for a holiday. You see a lot of British 20 something year olds with brand new backpacks on their backs getting out of taxis but they just seem to be here to drink and chill rather than actually travel or backpack if you follow me.

Don't get me wrong - I like Bangkok but just find the Khoa San Rd area is like a seaside resort but without the seaside and with most people travelling with backpacks rather than suitcases. Just my take on things. Maybe it's after changing over the years.

bazingaboom

If thats what you think of Khao san road you will HATE vang vieng, which is even more littered with backpackers 20 something british people getting drunk. So watch out.

Escapees, I was on Khao San and Rambuttri for a few days in May and managed to avoid all the lager louts.. It's not difficult to find good people there.

Sappa

Escapees wrote: »

Thanks for the feedback. We'll try to get Laos so since Vietnam is a little more hassle visa-wise and also takes longer to get to unless you pay to fly.

As regards my comments on Khoa San Rd, we're there at the moment and with all due respect, the 'backpackers' here appear to be mainly lager-louts coming over for a cheap piss-up or families coming here for a holiday. You see a lot of British 20 something year olds with brand new backpacks on their backs getting out of taxis but they just seem to be here to drink and chill rather than actually travel or backpack if you follow me.

Don't get me wrong - I like Bangkok but just find the Khoa San Rd area is like a seaside resort but without the seaside and with most people travelling with backpacks rather than suitcases. Just my take on things. Maybe it's after changing over the years.

Koh San is a shadow of it's former chilled backpacker zone with cheap accommodation and clothes.
I used always visit it but stay a street over and while you can still get decent cheap food there the place is a sespit and I have come to not like it at all,even the Thais working around there have really become less welcoming as a result of idiot backpackers taking the booze messing too far.
As a poster said if you don't like koh San your not going to like vang vien where you will find it hard to see a Lao person.
My advice go to Pai,MAE hong song,chang rai,make yor way into northern Lao for even better scenery and come down south.
Cambodia is more than Angkor wat and Vietnam is well worth a visit.
Don't judge Thailand on one street though as Thailand still has tourist free zones with great treks.