Could anyone please advise me on the best route?
I’ll have around 3 months all together and I’ve worked out roughly how long I want in each area but not sure weather to go clockwise or anticlockwise as such.
Im flying into Bangkok and want to visit the following countries but I'm not sure on the order.
I could head to Cambodia, over to Vietnam travelling up into Laos, down through North Thailand and end in the South.
Or...
Up through North Thailand into Laos, down through Vietnam, across Cambodia and into South Thailand
The plan is to end in South Thailand where I’ll island hop and eventually fly out from Singapore.
Any suggestions would be much appreciated.
Thanks,
Smiler
Reply to this Hey Smiler!
We took 3 months to see SE Asia and actually tended to jump around a bit as we had a couple of date specific things, however your timings are perfect.
I would recommend you travel north from Bangkok to Northern Thailand, then Laos, Vietnam, Cambodia etc. Reason for this is:
1. It is an easy route to travel as a backpacker & if you head North it tends to be less humid so when you do get more south you are more able to cope with the change in temperature.
2. Obviously I don't know how much you have travelled, but Cambodia can be a bit of a shock (poverty, recent history) if you arrive there first. Cambodia is an amazing country & I think travelling through Vietnam prepared me more for what I saw in Cambodia. (Some close friends did the route I have suggested in reverse (so straight from Bangkok to Siem Reap) and they say their experience of Cambodia would have been different (better infact) if they had seen Vietnam first.
3. Seeing it in this order will mean you see Chaing Mai before Laos (which in my opinion is better), like seeing the place that's 2nd best first so as you fully appreciate it (if you get my drift)!
4. Think about weather when you are travelling, the seasons in Thailand can be very different from north to south, even from Phuket to Koh Tao so if you want to follow the sun then check this out, this could be a deciding factor for you!
5. I also feel north to south in Vietnam was a better route as we saw the "old vietnam" first.
How are you getting from the islands to Singapore?
All personal opinions, whatever route you choose you will have a fab time!
Enjoy, Sarah
Reply to this Hi Sarah,
Thanks for the great advice. I think your right. I was swaying towards that route but it’s nice to get others opinions and useful tips!
Another plus is it’ll give me that little longer in South Thailand as I’ll re enter the country from Cambodia and therefore refresh my 30 day visa stay.
I haven’t really got my head round the islands in the South yet.
Now that I’ve pictured my route in the North I’ll start looking into the month I’m allowing in the Islands and travelling to Singapore.
Any recommendations?
I’ll actually be hitting South Thailand right through Christmas and New Year and I’m a little worried I’ll find it hard to get half decent accommodation if I just turn up. Will I be Ok leaving it quite open until nearer the time or should I look to pre book either before I leave in October or as I’m travelling round?
I guess I’ll head back to Bangkok where I can book travel and accommodation to one of the Islands of my choice and take it from there?!?
I’m going to be travelling for a year and obviously I’m trying to do this as cheaply as possible so I need to be conscious of money.
Thanks for all your help.
Reply to this No probs. You will have a ball!
Recommendations I have for the islands are to go to a full moon party on Koh Pha Ngan, stay a little outside the partyzone of Haad Rin if you don't want to party 24:7, not as far out as the port or anything, just a little outside not to hear all the noise! If you are going to KPN for New Years, DEFINITELY book your accomodation now. Infact to get your choice, I would suggest booking for the full moon, everywhere else in Thailand seemed to be ok for us arriving on the day. Try to get there a couple of days before the main party as it tends to be the best nights anyway, everyone is backpackers and on the actual night there is an influx of people from the other islands!
Koh Tao is great for scuba diving, really cheap to learn & a lovely place to chill! Especially after the full moon party!
Beach huts in Thailand are mega cheap & you can get this thrown in if you do your PADI scuba course in Koh Tao. Are you travelling alone?
It all really depends on what you like! What do you want to do, diving? Beaches? partying? chilling? they have it all!!!!!
Sarah :-)
Reply to this hey Mike, Sarah and Smiley,
I am also looking on travelling to Vietnam, Cambodia and Thailand in december for a month. I went to Koh Pha Ngan last year for the new years party and it was awesome. I would also advise booking in advance coz that place gets crazy!!! we wanted to do the whole route this year and your advice has really helped. We were thinking of going to Vietnam, Cambodia and then do the islands, but my dilemma here is that we only have one month to do the whole thing. Its going to be crazy!
I have been doing some research and have a list of all the places I have to go and see, but I did want some advice as to which places you would recommed.
We are going to go to the temples, Siem reap, Phnom penh and sihanoukville in cambodia, but i am not sure where to go in Vietnam?
We then want to go to ko Chang and then to Phuket, Phi -Phi and Krabi and then of course to Koh Pha Ngan.
Do you have any suggestions as we do have a limited time and I really wanna try and fit in the essential places.
We all love partying as well as chilling out and a couple of us (out of 6) like doing the "touristy" things.
Any help will be appreciated. Thanks😊
Astrid
Reply to this We spent 3 months around SE also and took a slightly different route. We went north Thailand into Laos. Down all the way through Laos to the 4000 islands right in the south of Laos. Im so glad we visited these as they are not to be missed, absolutely beautiful and soooo cheap. Its where the Mekong river splits and has created loads of little islands and you get to stay in a little bunglalow thats balcony over hangs the river.
We then crossed the border from Laos into cambodia along an unofficial border crossing. Through Cambodia and into the south of Vietnam. All the way up Vietnam and then we flew out of hanoi with Air asia. ...Flight cost around $50 usd which is nothing and it took us straight back to bangkok.
By doing Taking this route you dont miss anything except the really horrible bus journey's of either
1) 30 hr bus ride from Vientiane, Lao to Hanoi, Vietnam.............not fun
2) The very uncomfortable, renouned overland bus journey between Cambodia and Thailand. Speak to anyone who's done it and they'll advise you not to take this route if you can help it.
Hope this is of some use to you................ 4000 islands is beautiful and im so glad we didnt skip it
Reply to this Thanks a lot Sarah! There is just so much to do in so little time! I really just want to go to the best places and do the right thing and try not to waste any time. I am definately going to fly and skip the bus trips. Where else did you go and waht would you recommend?
Reply to this Hi Astrid,
I'm going to head to Koh Pha Ngan for New Years. Can you suggest somewhere nice to stay thats not too central to the main party zone but close enough.
Looking on the net, there's so much choice I don't know where to start!
Reply to this Well id probably say the best places to visit in Vietnam are Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh, Both Excellent cities and for such different reasons.
If you want the nightlife, bars that kind of stuff stop of Nha trang, thats really commercial. However beware because there's a lot of night muggings, especially on the beach. They also have a massive water park there, Right laugh if only a wee bit of a hazard lol.
Hoi ann is really nice, relaxing and has a beautiful beach bout 4 miles from the town. You can rent bikes there so nice and cheap to get around. This is a place to relax...... and its also the place to go and get yourself cheap ass tailor made ANYTHING!
And of course Halong bay is a must. Its the most beautiful part of Vietnam, spectacular. Most people usually do an overnight on a boat with the option to spend a 2nd night on Cat Ba island. If you visit anywhere in Vietnam im say go here.
Id imagine your tour is going to be a whirlwind tour but your going to have sooo much fun! We spent 7 weeks between Cambodia, Laos and Vietnam
Reply to this Hey smiler, You could stay at Leela beach which is just round the corner from haad rin so a 2 minute walk from the main strip but its soooo quite, beautiful beach, clean and there's a choice of about 3 different guest houses.
There's the Coco hut which is the nicest, Own pool and right on the waters edge. This is the most expensive with the basic, budget room costing 800 baht a night (£12)
Then you have the Light house which is on the cliffs quite high up, Think it was about 400 baht a night?? cant quite remember but it was alright with a bathroom and balcony. The climb back home at night is quite a challenge, especially if you're on your way back from mellow mountain.
There's 1 other resort which was the cheapest and most basic, cant tell you much about this though im afraid coz we didnt try this 1 out.
Have a look at leela beach, its lovely and away from the main strip
Reply to this hey Smiler, I stayed in Ban tai, which is outside of Haad Rin, It was VERY quiet here with nice beaches. The rainbow bungalow is awesome and really gives you that Island vibe. It is quite far out so getting taxis all the time is a mission unless you have your own scooter? It is a very popular guest house so it will probably be booked out already?
I have heard that the Coco hut is really nice, although I have never stayed there. I have also heard god things about Milky Bay resort(this is in Ban tai, which is quite far from the full moon scene).
I would suggest you book as soon as you can as the accommodation does not last very long over there.
Reply to this Thanks for all the info guys!
I'll look into booking something in the next few days and report back on any findings :-)
Reply to this OTBOT, doesn't this route miss out the South of Laos?
Reply to this I am also looking on travelling to Vietnam, Cambodia and Thailand in december for a month. I went to Koh Pha Ngan last year for the new years party and it was awesome. I would also advise booking in advance coz that place gets crazy!!! we wanted to do the whole route this year and your advice has really helped. We were thinking of going to Vietnam, Cambodia and then do the islands, but my dilemma here is that we only have one month to do the whole thing. Its going to be crazy!
Reply to this 
