Looking for Pointers in SE Asia mainland

AylsburyMews

Howdy

I'm a loner traveller heading to SE Asia in July. I have 30 days and wondered if anyone had any pointers?

I'm torn between N Thailand and Laos, I have no interest in south Thailand, possibly want to spend a lot of my time in Vietnam.

I'm flying into Bangkok and home from Saigon - 26 days on mainland (2 days travelling and remainder 2 will be spent in KL):o

Oranage2

You could spend a few weeks in north Thailand in cities like Chang Mai, chang Rai, Sukhothai and a few others, and also spend a week in Laos.


Vietnam is really nice and really cheap, you could buy a cheap flight to Ho chi minh or hanoi and do either south vietnam or north vietnam, you could also do north to south but I think that would be a little too ambition.

You'll most likely be able to get a cheap flight to and from KL also with air asia.

Not sure what you want, but Vietnam has a lot of history, but I think North Thailand scenery is a lot more spectacular.

Kold

One thing to worry about is buses and minivans very rarely leave on time. Laos has no rail. Chiang mai was nice but probably only worth 3 days unless you want to do a good few activities.
Laos is gorgeous and interesting. Not much nightlife but very authentic. The problem is getting from place to place. Minivan journeys can be horrific. Especially from Luang Prabang to Vang Vieng.. Its just bends all the way.
Laos has an interesting past, its the most bombed per capita country ever. The French weren't too nice but what the US did here was disgusting and should be enough to convince anyone of the evil of clusterbombs. There is still plenty of UXO scattered around the country but you shouldnt havemuch to worry about... More impoverished child scrap collectors...
Thing about SEA is that we've all heard how cheap it is but it can be expensive. Be aware that doing anything unlawful can earn you an on the spot $600 fine. It can still be done easily but use extreme discretion. Search guesthouses online as its an exhausting process price comparing when you get to places. Laos has sh1t internet btw.
Its always possible to eat decently for a euro or 2. Yet sometimes its worth spending that 7 or 8 quid on real fine dining. When budgeting be aware of booze. Its cheap but adds up and Asian hangovers are the pits.
Ive just gotten to Vietnam and have been hospitalised for 2 days so cant offer too much yet.

Ooh. Here's a Kold original: when on the road, have at hand; toilet paper, hand cleanser and a couple of emergency snickers. Buses will stop at restaurants that often dont look like they serve the nicest food and usually overpriced.

Tipperary animal lover

In vietnam at the moment, if I was you I'd only spend the minimum days in bangkok(sihthole IMO) and Chiangmai and head over laos which is a lovely country and people, vietnam is one long country so make a list of what you want to see and do because its very easy to fall into staying in one area to long.
Cheap out vietnam airlines website for there super saver deals which may cost more than the train/bus but saves you at lot of time. Enjoy.

Tipperary animal lover

In vietnam at the moment, if I was you I'd only spend the minimum days in bangkok(sihthole IMO) and Chiangmai and head over laos which is a lovely country and people, vietnam is one long country so make a list of what you want to see and do because its very easy to fall into staying in one area to long.
Cheap out vietnam airlines website or vietjet airlines(unreliable) for there super saver deals which may cost more than the train/bus but saves you at lot of time. Enjoy.

Kold

Just found out why I'm in hospital. Dengue fever. Which made me think of 2 more tips:

Get a good mosquito repellent, the higher deet %, the better. Most of the shops only sell stuff with 15% deet.

Get travel insurance.

Gatica

deet over 50% has no increase in benefits actually, but will be more irritable to the skin (http://wwwnc.cdc.gov/travel/yellowbook/2012/chapter-2-the-pre-travel-consultation/protection-against-mosquitoes-ticks-and-other-insects-and-arthropods.htm).
Make sure you talk to your doctor about what you need before you travel.

Agree that Vietnam is an amazing country. Especially love the rice fields in the North. I'd go there over Laos. We were in Luang Prabang, which was beautiful but was incredibly humid (and hot - we were there in late September).
Chiang Mai is good for trekking and the elephant Nature park. If you don't plan to do much trekking, don't spend too long there.

PS: sorry to hear that, Kold! hope you recover soon and enjoy the rest of your trip.

Macyp3

There's mosquito repellent stuff in the shops in Thailand that all the locals recommend, its called OFF and comes in a big red aerosol can, it the business. That and tiger balm should be bought straight away.

Yeah max 2 nights in Bangkok. Chiang Mai, Pai and Chiang Rai are really cool and fun for a while and from there its pretty easy to get to Northern Laos, either by bus and slow boat to Luang Prabang or by bus to Udon Thani an cross the Friendship Bridge into Laos at Vientiane. LP is better than Vientiane IMO, more chilled out and lots more to do, if you go rent a moped an see the surrounding area, its really beautiful.
Vang Vieng is in between both (about 6 hours min. from both - but buses even the vip buses are scandalously bad timing wise). Vang Vieng is more chilled than it used to be when Tubing was in full swing, its still cool but missable.

Wouls you consider going to Cambodia? Siem Reap is awesome (Angkor Wat and the oter temple ruins areclass)and Phnom Penh has it's charm (the killing fields and S21 are a must) and Sihinoukville (i think thats how its spelled) has some great reports.

Vietnam is great, from the beaches of Nha Trang to the mysterious Halong Bay. The trains are pretty good and affordable too.

It all depends what you're into but there's somuch to do in SEA that you should pick a few places and over do them rather than try pack in too much in your short stay, esp as travelling round takes a lot of time.

RT2010

Sorry to hijack the thread OP but have similar q's myself. Also planning on hitting SE Asia for 6-8 weeks next January. Very open to what countries to visit and in what order. Would like to see as much of Thailand, Cambodia, Laos and Vietnam as possible, without rushing through everything, whilst also taking into account that some of these are large countries and will not get to see everywhere.

Two main questions: What would be the most logical (ie.what order to visit countries) and cheapest way to travel (i.e is it cheapest to book flights between countries when over there)? Also, excluding flights, how much do people think I would need for spending money and accomadation for 7/8 weeks. Middle of the road accomadation/hostels.

Any help appreciated cheers!

Kold

RT2010 wrote: »

Sorry to hijack the thread OP but have similar q's myself. Also planning on hitting SE Asia for 6-8 weeks next January. Very open to what countries to visit and in what order. Would like to see as much of Thailand, Cambodia, Laos and Vietnam as possible, without rushing through everything, whilst also taking into account that some of these are large countries and will not get to see everywhere.

Two main questions: What would be the most logical (ie.what order to visit countries) and cheapest way to travel (i.e is it cheapest to book flights between countries when over there)? Also, excluding flights, how much do people think I would need for spending money and accomadation for 7/8 weeks. Middle of the road accomadation/hostels.

Any help appreciated cheers!

You're almost certainly going to fly to and from Bangkok, so if you're travelling by land water, it's either head north and go to Laos or south and go to Cambodia, then probably hit Vietnam 3rd so that whichever country you didn't do can lead you back to Thailand.
I reckon it doesn't hurt to bring around >25e a day as depending where you are at any given time you can find accommodation from around 4-5 euros yet in places like Luang Prabang or Koh Tao, I found it hard to find somewhere less than 15-20. Food can generally be gotten cheap, good food at that but you'll want to eat well at least once a week (a meal around 6-8euros is going to be gourmet- that's a large extra value meal at an Irish McDs.) You can get transported incredibly far for 15-20e by bus/train/boat. You can get around on less but a little bit of cash tends to up your enjoyment substantially over here. You'll want to do activities, you'll want to rent scooters, you'll want to get blind drunk some days.

Macyp3

Depends on what you have saved!

As above, you could def do it on E30 a day, but thats staying in lesser known hostels and involves planning ahead of time. Even if u dont book ahead,you'll need to know where you plan to stay in what city. Planning will make it all a lot easier. islands

SEA needs min 8 weeks. If you wana do all of the islands you need 2 weeks. Although you'll regret this once you've finished your trip as the island are but a sun holiday anywhere else in the world. 2 nights in Bangkok (if you have a couple euro, go to the Lebua 5 star hotel for ur 1st night, its only about E99 for a night booked in advance and is the best place you could poss stay for your 1st night in Bangkok. Best breakfast I've ever had in my life and probably thebest nights sleep too! Then move to KSR for a night..Then leave. If you want maybe head South on an overnight train to Surat Thani (book this as soon as you arrive in Bangkok by getting a taxi to the main train station on your 1st day) and then a bus and boat to Koh Samui. You can gt an all in 1 ticket from Bangkok to Samui for pennys in euro terms.

If I was you I'd forget the islands and head north to Chiang Mai, Pai and Chiang Mai. Get a bus from there to the Laos border and get a slow boat to LP and make your way south to 4000 islands. Then do Siem Reap, Phnom Penh, Sihanoukville and from there back to Bangkok and home. That's easily your month gone.....and the rest!



Enjoy

Theresalwaysone

Re: Deet

I lived on an island in Ha Long Bay for 9 months and didnt once use deet.

I would say spend the entire time in Vietnam. It has everything the rest of the countries have combined. Beautiful country, beautiful people. I admit to being slightly biased but Id be pretty confident, bias aside, is the best country in that region by a long way.

Gatica

Vietnam was the favourite of the 4 for us too. However, I wouldn't have skipped the others entirely. I guess depends on your interests. If you'd rather do the islands, you may need to cut out at least one of the countries.
Cambodia has the ancient temples, which I'm glad we didn't miss.

You're almost certainly going to fly to and from Bangkok, so if you're travelling by land water, it's either head north and go to Laos or south and go to Cambodia, then probably hit Vietnam 3rd so that whichever country you didn't do can lead you back to Thailand.

Agree with this. It's the route that makes the most sense. You can fly to the islands fairly cheaply from Bangkok, so either start or end with those.
If you have time in Vietnam, do the junk boat cruise in Halong Bay.

solerina

I havnt been to any of the other SE Asia countries but Vietnam is AMAZING, spend as much time there as you possibly can !!

Macyp3

Aint no denying, Vietnam is class. But Laos and Cambodia and North Thailand are too.....that's not even taking into account Myanmar, Malaysia. Etc(which arent recommended for a 3weeks stay).

Just take 6 months and try enjoy them all and even then u'll leave wanting!

Amirani

I've done Thailand and Vietnam. Bangkok isn't great so I'd advise not spending long there. I didn't manage to make it to Northern Thailand but I heard fantastic things so I'd definitely advise going there.

In terms of Vietnam; I quite like Hanoi, though the others I was traveling with didn't. Pollution is quite bad and it's not the most exciting place but it has some character as well as some good sites to see. It also makes a great base for exploring North Vietnam. Ha Long Bay is a must despite it being quite touristy. Everyone should go at least once.

In the South; Ho Chi Minh City is pretty interesting and definitely worth a visit. Some great museums in particular. I also went to Nha Trang which I wasn't a big fan of. It does have a reasonably good night life though.

The group I was with continued into Cambodia and went by boat up the Mekong to Phnom Penh and Siem Riep, both of which they highly praised.

It's a great area to visit and you'll definitely have a fantastic time.