Vietnam/Laos/Cambodia - 7 weeks with no idea

Hey Ned

My girlfriend and i are doing the same thing from Dec 22 to Jan 22, we're also 18, from Australia, and havn't travelled much independantly before. We're trying to figure out all the good places to visit but are only just starting to check it out. We vaguely know what we're doing, going to fly into Bangkok and then head to Ho Chi Minh before heading up to Hanoi and Sapa. From there we want to go to Laos before getting back to Bangkok to fly out. My cuz went over there years ago and said that Sapa was the highlight and we shouldn't miss it.

My girlfriends heard of some good expat bars in Hanoi, the spotted cow and the press club, in case your interested. I want to get some suits and stuff made but not sure if i should do it in Vietnam (Hoi An) or Thailand so if you have any idea please let me know.

Heard that it's a good idea to keep a crappy and empty wallet in your back pocket as a decoy for pick-pockets, also apparently avoid having your photo taken because they'l then expect you to pay haha.

My email is jamesuytendaal@hotmail.com and i'm on facebook so if your at all interested in exchanging more ideas just add me or email. Reply to this

South East Asia's pretty easy to travel round, you won't really have any problem. Your itinerary sounds fine. I wouldn't worry about it - what you'll find is you'll meet so many other travellers, people will have ideas, and you may end up changing your route here and there. Cambodia and Laos both have visas on arrival, there are lots of buses going from Ho Chi Minh to Siem Reap which you can book through most guest houses, and the buses sort your visas for you; you just give your passports and photos, wait around at the border where the bus stops, go through passport control, then you get the visa and get back on the bus, so its a good way into Cambodia. I didn't really see so much of Cambodia, just Phnom Penh and Siem Riep for Angkor Wat, but I've heard there's lots more to see if you give the place more time. Cambodia has a very weak currency so US dollars are the main currency there, so get dollars before you go. Laos also has a weak currency, and trade in mainly Thai baht and also US dollars, though you can use Laos kip too, but you'll end up with millions of notes. Vietnam dong is a strong currency so you only need that there.
Laos is great - you'll probably love Vang Vieng where you can go tubing and chill out; Phonsovan is also worth a visit and Luang Prabang is a really nice town. Yes - I'd definitely recommend Sapa, it's a beautiful area and you can book 2 or 3 day tours from Hanoi. Also Ha Long Bay in north Vietnam is really nice, you can travel round on a boat for a couple of days. Hue and Hoi An are both good places to visit. So you could go from Hanoi to Sapa and Ha Long Bay back to Hanoi, and then work down to Hue and Hoi An and wherever else you might want to stop on your way back to Ho Chi Minh. (Hoi An is the tailored-clothes capital of Vietnam as you've obviously heard, James, but I also think it can be a bit hit and miss getting a good tailor, I think Bangkok is probably more reliable, my boyfriend got a great suit made up and the guy was really professional, did two or three fittings and it was perfect).
Cambodia's the main place out of the three countries where you should be a bit more careful re pick-pocketing - still, don't worry too much, it's not like everyone's out to get you - just take the same precautions you do at home, and wear money belts that aren't obvious, and you'll be fine. Before I went travelling I made sure I had 3 people at home that I knew I could contact to do an emergency money transfer in case the worst happened - nothing did! - but it was good to know I had that back up. Western Union money transfer places are all over south east Asia. And take a couple of copies of your passport with you and keep them separate from your passport just incase you lose your passport.
Both Cambodia and Vietnam can be a bit full on re tourist touting, but you'll get used to it really quickly; and actually the local people are really nice once you get beyond that. Laos is much more chilled out in that way. Just get used to saying no and being firm where you need to and you'll be fine.
You can live pretty cheaply in south east Asia, probably $20 dollars a day is a general rough idea to cover accommodation and food and local travel (not including travel from one town to another or across countries of course) - but if you've got a bit extra, take it, because travelling can also be tiring and you might hit a point where you think you just want a couple of nights in a nicer place where you get hot water and air con and can just chill out - you need treats sometimes! specially because you've got a girlfriend -she will need this sometimes! And you can have a bit of luxury and still not be paying that much.
If you want any more specific info re travel or whatever to and from places, you can PM me if you want.
hope that's helpful 😊 Reply to this

Wow, thanks all. very much appreciated Reply to this

hi,
Some good places, don't skip are Halong, Hanoi, sapa, Hoi An, Hue, and Sai gon.
You can start from Hanoi or Sai Gon(Ho Chi Minh city).
Hanoi (2days) then go to Halong(2days/1night), start to Sapa from Hanoi(4nights/3days). From Hanoi take a trai, bus or fly to Hue, Hue(old capital) to Danang , Hoi An(ancient town) by bus, From Da Nang fly, train, bus to Sai Gon. If you have time you can stay in Nha Trang and Muine- good for relax. Reply to this

Hello Ned 😊

I think a copy of ''South East Asia on a shoestring by Lonely Planet'' might be useful for you. It covers all the countries you are going to and gives information about itineries, accomodation, money, safety, transport......
It is available in most book shops around the world for around 30 Euros.

Mel Reply to this

Make sure you take the boat from Phnom Pehn to Siem Reap, another of the highlights of Cambodia Reply to this