VIETNAM, CAMBODIA & THAILAND :)

The Thai are schemers... Make sure you know what the real cost of things are before you agree and definitely shop around... Also feel free to bargain or just walk away if you don't get a reasonable price.

Airasia is an awesome airline! a million times better than easyjet or ryanair which suck!

Unless you are Scandinavian you will need visas before arrival in Vietnam otherwise you cannot get in. Cambodia it is on arrival (if you go from the Thai border like I did they will charge you 1000Bhat which is about 30$ (10 of which they pocket) I tried to argue but it's a waste of time. If you get in by air you will pay 20$

I think that 1 week in Vietnam is making it very tight. Perhaps 2 weeks would be better. Cambodia- if you are only going to Siem Reap for the temples you will need 4 days... You can take a bus to the Thai border and then cross over and catch a bus to any part of Thailand.

Lonely Planet "Mekong Delta" is a good option for info.

On my way back from Cambodia I stopped over at Kao Yai national park (3 hrs north east of Bangkok) 2000 sq km of rain forest and stayed there for 3 days and had a blast! that was my favorite part... Bangkok was ok but not too great... lots of lady boys, prostitutes, pimps etc... but Thai girls are very pretty - just make sure they are girls...

I took a train 2nd class sleeper to Ko Pangan which was awesome - 1000 bhat all the way to the island.. its an overnight train... buy alc and food b4 u board cuz its expensive on the train.

Took a mini van from suratani to Malaysia which was safe and Malaysia is way better than Thailand although they don't have as many parties and what follows...

PS- I will arrive in HK May 29th and cross over to Shenzhen to visit friends... I used to live in Zhuhai...

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Hello Christine 😊

1. Is AIRASIA a safe airline? I've never been on it and the flights were suspiciously cheap...

I think that would depend on the countries they are allowed to fly to. Different countries have different standards. But, it is probably safe. I would suggest looking up their safety records, but that has to be the worst thing to do before flying. All airlines have had accidents and it looks really bad and scary if you read about all of them together. So, just go on the flght because it is almost always OK. As well as that, I dont think the safety standards on airlines depend on how much you are paying. I think paying more just buys you things like better on board service and fewer delays. Some of the cheaper airlines overbook their flights so sometimes you have to wait a few hours to get on the next one.

3. Is it easier to get visas there on the spot or prior to my trip?

Citizens of many countries can get a 30 day visa exemption on arrival at the airport in Bangkok. The Vietnamese visa can be issued within 24 hours at the Vietnamese consulate in Bangkok. Take passport sized photos with you because you will likely need a few for the visa. I think the Cambodian visa is available at the border and airport on arrival, but double check because I cant remember exactly.

A copy of South East Asia on a Shoestring by Lonely Planet may be a useful purchase for you. It covers all the countries you are going to and more in one book.

Mel

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Hello Christina,

Well I am not actually a backpacker but I am an experienced independent traveller who has visited all three countries. I curently live in Phuket, Thailand. So.. to answer your most prudent questions firstly I beleive Air Asia is a good airline. I have flown with them several times and have had a great experience. Actually, I prefer any Asian airline compared to others. They seem to have very freindly and smiley staff, and the food is usually always good. So don't worry about that, however keep in mind that Nothing in life is 100 percent.

Routes: Well if you are coming from Hong Kong and looking to save money on airfare. It is cheaper to fly into Bangkok. There is an Ethiopian direct flight from Hong Kong to BKK that will cost you about $160USD! That is an incredible price. You can then go to Vietnman or Cambodia from Bangkok at a very reasonable and cheap price, either by land or air. Personally, I prefer air because travelling by land to Cambodia is not really all that fun and the cost difference is really not that much. However, if you must go to Vietnma and Cambodia first then of course you will be paying more on your flight from Hong Kong. Though it's not a bad idea also because most people come to Thailand and get stuck because of all the fun they have. I will fill you in soon. My first time to Thailand I planned to stay for 1 month and then visit Vietnma and Cambodia. Guess what - I never made it out of Thailand. I extended my stay for four months and returned to Australia.

Visas: If going to Vietnam first I suggest you get it in Hong Kong. You cannot get it on arrival. However Cambodia and Bagkok is no problem. If you decide to go to Bagkok first then you can get all your visas sorted out in BKK.

Hotspots: Well having spent most of my time in Thailand I have the most advice for this country. I can say that Vietnam is an exciting country and its worth while to take a day trip to see some sights such as the Cu Chi Tunnels, War Muesuems, Arts and Crafts, Temples, Pagodas, and many other nice spots. There are travel agencies in the backpacker area in Ho CHi Minh that have daily tours up country that are really fantastic and very cheap. Vietnam is truly an amazing country in natural beauty as well as history and culture. I do hope to return there soon and spens more time.

In Cambodia most people spend time in Phonem Penh or Siam Reap. Both interesting places and Phonem Penh is quite vibrant place. Here I spent a few days and had a good time. Though I think any longer and I would get extremely bored.

Thailand!: Well, to sum things up there are hot spots all ove Thailand. If you start from the north and work your way to Phuket you will have a blast. You have the Golden Traingle from the north then can visit Chaing Mai and don't miss out on the native village tour to see the Akha people (Hill tribe people). Then you can visit ISSAN - The N - Northeast Thailand. This region is generally poor but the people are fantastic and know how to have fun! You can start in some of the major towns like Udonthani, Ubonratchathani, NoKhai (near Laos), Si Saket, Loet, Yaksothon, Buriam and many others. The food is different (very spicy) than other places in Thai as well as the Thai language, music and lifestyle. While ISSAN is not for everyone, its worth a shot for your tastebuds.

Lots of backpackers only spend a short time in Bangkok, they congregate near the infamous Khosaan Road which is near the Grand Palace and many other interesting sites. Not a bad idea but Bangkok is huge and there are many other nice places to go. It just depends on what you like. There are plenty nice nature parks, waterparks/amuesment parks such as Si-am City , and Dream World both in North Bangkok. There are also heaps of discos along Sukumvit road. I hate to hear people just say Bangkok is nothing but prostitutes, ladyboys and bars. These people obviously know nothing about Bangkok and never thought to really explore this city with an open mind and with COURAGE.

In Phuket is very nice too, since this is my home I can tell you even more. But when you arrive it will be easy. We have fabulous beaches and National Parks. And since you are Asian if you speak just a little Thai you may enter National Parks for free,because they might not suspect you as a foreigner.
Make sure you visit the Big Buddah of Phuket and Wat Chalong (near my home) vey faboulous sites. Also off the beaten track is Saphan Hin, a very nice park with sea view with attactions and entertainemnt regularly. It's mostly a local area with a few stray tourists, defininetly worth visiting. Dance clubs are everywhere in Phuket Town, Patong, Karon and Kata Beaches.


Places to avoid: Well I think all places are generally safe but as a foreigner just take precaustions as you would anywhere else. However, be a bit more vigilant in Cambodia at night. I hear females have had trouble there such as robbery. And since you are girl keep that in mind and don't be alone in the night. I would be less concerned with Thailand and Vietnam.

Best crossing points: From Bangkok to Cambodia I like the Ranong crossing, you can reach it from Pattaya or Bangkok in 6 or 8 hours respectively. The traffic is little and get less hassel from the Cambodian officials. Other borders have lots of backpackers and I heard of them getting tricked out of money they don't need to pay. From Cambodia to Vietnam you can take a nice boat along the river into Vietnam. I wouldn't advise a bus or you can fly.

I hope my advice help. Again I am not a backpacker , I pefer to travel independently and learn things on my own. I tend to always make lots of friend along the way because I love to socialize. It also helps me learn things I would never learn travelling in groups. So now you have some insider tips. Good luck! And have a wonderful and safe trip. Feel free to ask me anything else.

Regards,

Paul (Sum Lee)

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I think that you could go to Ho Chi Minh, you should go to Mekong Delta 1 day and Cu Chi Tunnel 1 day

CU CHI TUNNELS (30 miles northwest of Saigon, a 100-minute drive) – an interesting, but time-taking foray into the recreated world where northern troops (Viet Minh, and later Viet Cong) lived and hid from the French and US troops in back-to-back 20th-century wars.
Trips of Cu Chi’s principal site (Ben Dinh tunnel) start with a charmingly ancient film – supposedly 1967, though my guide (a former South Vietnamese soldier!) scoffed at the idea (‘it was made after the war… you can see the rich terrain and jungle… in 1967 it would have been bare from all the chemicals and bombs the US used.’ Supposedly the terrain was bare until about 1980.)
The grainy black-and-white film, nevertheless, is a fascinating glimpse at a time when the government was more pointed in describing its enemy (‘the devils’) and celebrating VC ‘American-killer heroes.’
The tour follows a short looping path past many Cu Chi ‘tunnel’ sites – some are built into the ground, with canvas tops – recreations of weapons, kitchens – to show how life was carried out underground, but without having to crawl underground to see. In one, guides show how smoke was detoured through mini-tunnels to escape far away from the real tunnel in itself. You also see bomb craters — now ponds – and a wrecked US tank you can climb on. In areas, goofy pop music is inexplicably played on hidden speakers.
The claim to fame is a claustrophobic crawl through the ‘tunnel’ itself – a recreated one, built wider so that ‘fat Americans’ can go through. Once is enough for me. Many visitors like to shoot AK-47s and M-16s at the (loud) shooting range – it’s $1.50 per bullet.
Entrance to the site is $5 (80,000D). Cheaper group tours don’t include this charge.

I joined a group to Mekong Delta – My Tho and Ben Tre which is 75km southwest of Saigon, on the northern lip of a Mekong splinter river, the Tien Giang – is all anyone reaches. My Tho’s river promenade is an appealing place, with crumbling French villas now home to storefronts and blow-up animals and candies for sale on the kept-clean brick river front. It gets flooded with daytrippers from Saigon daily. Taking boat trips to quirky islands and canals across on Ben Tre island to see coconut candy be made and bee farms. These palm-lined, chocolate-colored canals are lined with homes. I had chance to listen to Mekong’s traditional music - tai tu music while enjoying seasonal fruits, tasting rice wine with honey. Woww it was incredibile!! Reply to this

Brissit your 62 days late

Moderator comment: Information posted on the forums is not only for the benefit of the opening poster, so it is never too late to add more. Reply to this

Hey, your plan sound good! Here's my opinion

1. Is AIRASIA a safe airline? I've never been on it and the flights were suspiciously cheap...
- Oh, don't worry, it's safe! Cheap just means low service.

2. Any suggestions for routes? We're going to Vietnam first then to Thailand via Cambodia.
- Vietnam - Cambodia and Thailand! Best way!

3. Is it easier to get visas there on the spot or prior to my trip?
- It's easy to get visa in those country. Trust me, for visa, their travel agencies are helpful. All you can do is just apply the form which they show on the internet and pay money, without intervention of Embassies. The previous one is rite, that site has good rates.

4. Hotspots for each countries 😊
- Vietnam: Hanoi, Saigon, Hoi An, Phu Quoc
- Cambodia: Phnom Penh
- Thailand: Bangkok, Phuket

5. Places I should avoid going
- Nowhere, but take care yourself, they always know the clever way to take your money 😊

6. Best way to cross over each country
- bus from Saigon to Cambodia, then fly to bangkok.

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