Thorn Tree travel forum

FAQ Thread for Vietnam

The purpose of this thread is to provide answers to Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) about traveling in Vietnam I hope that this FAQ helps newcomers and others plan their trips to Vietnam. I would like to thank all the posters who have contributed information to this thread. To make searching easier for you, please find my index of some major topics as follows:

1. Visa for Vietnam => find posts #115, 117, 111
2. Ha Long bay tours/Cat Ba => #83, 84
3. Vietnam - China border crossings => #7
4. Vietnam - Laos border crossings => #8, 50, 58
5. Vietnam - Cambodia border crossings => #96, 107
6. What to see in Vietnam? => #12
7. Taxi/bus from airport to cities => #3
8. Train in Vietnam => #76
9. The lunar new year (Tet) => #23, 80, 114
10. Bus from Hanoi to Vientiane => #79
11. Bus/train from Hanoi to Kunming => #105, 106
12. Bus/train from Hanoi to Nanning => #95, 99, 100
... more »

Inbound Tourism Booms:

Official

By WAI MOE Friday, November 27, 2009

Speaking to The Irrawaddy on Friday, an official with Myanmar (Burma) Travels and Tours of the Ministry of Hotels and Tourism said numbers of inbound tourists at the beginning of the 2009-10 tourist season in the country was up over the previous year.

“Inbound tourists have increased by at least 30 percent. Last year, over 260,000 tourists visited the country, earning US $ 165 million,” he said, adding Burma’s tourism is returning to normal after Cyclone Nargis devastated Rangoon and the Irrawaddy Delta region of the country in May 2008.

Myanmar Visa so easy from London!!

I just wanted to say that as a British citizen, I took my visa application form in person,into the Burmese Embassy in London, 3 days ago together with the relevant one page application form and 14 GBP cash. Also a longer one (from Berlin) and two required photos. I had loads of paperwork as back up, inbound flights, no outward we are going to try and leave by land into Thailand ..proof on 1st nights accomm in Yangon..etc etc as suggested to me by various people.. I walked in at 1000am. The embassy which is like a large house was empty. The guy at reception threw most of the paperwork back to me and just took the one page application form and two photos and the cash.. He assured us nothing else was needed? I asked the turn round time...He said 3 days....I left a bit nervous that not enough was deposited. Imagine my surprise when the next morning the visas arrived in the post!! All cor... more »

Sihanoukville: Otres or Ochheuteal Beach?

Hello

We're travelling to Cambodia for the first time; we've got accommodation lined up for Otres beach and Ochhteuteal Beach (both at recommended places) but we're concerned that we've heard that Ochheuteal Beach is really busy. Not knowing either, any input is welcome! We're looking for paradise, obviously! :-)

Thanks
Jo

share taxi Siem Reap to Poipet Tuesday 1 Dec

Anyone want to share an early morning taxi from Siem Reap to Poipet on Tuesday 1 December? I'm staying at Shadow of Anchor (by the river). Thanks, MJ

National Parks - Transport and Accommodation

Hi
I'm planning a trip to vietnam and would like to visit Cat Tien, Bach Ma, and Cuc Phuong National Parks. I do not want to go with a tour group, and would like to be as independent as possible, so I would like to know:

1 - Is it reasonably easy to get to these places independently ?. For example, is there a bus service from HCMC to Cat Tien ?, or is getting a taxi feasible ?. Lonely Planet suggest part bus and part motorcycle, but that's not an option for me because I'll have a suitcase !. Are taxis/private vehicles expensive ?

2 - Do I have to go through a tour agency to book accommodation at (or near the parks)? what's the best way to book accommodation there ?

Thank you

Open bus Ticket- HCMC

hi all :)
arriving in vietnam on december 1st and planning to travel north to hanoi over the space of about 3 weeks. from what ive read, seems like the open bus ticket is the way to go?
can anyone recommend a good place to buy these tickets (and are there different companies?)
also, what should i expect to pay, around US$25?
thanks in advance for any advice!
cheers,
nicola

Across Thai border(poi pet) without cheater,mafiataxi & mafia association!

Hi! Dear, I was meet too many tourist was complain about cheater, mafia taxi and mafia transport association. So better idea you should booking to any tours company or you can check: www.cambodiaroadtrip.com Asking about his taxi service, and you should booking his service before 3days you come!!

Cambodiaroadtrip

+855 97 97 00 117

Getting into Myanmar by land without return ticket? Thailand-India by land.

Hi friendly strangers. I'm a Norwegian female traveler currently in Bangkok, hoping to eventually make my way up to India without flying. Im assuming going through Myanmar is easier than China. Does anyone have any experience with this route and particularly concerning getting into Myanmar without flying in (and not having ticket going out of the country)? Would it for instance be enough to get a travel initiary confirming a bus or train schedule? Also; If you have any experience on getting the visa to Myanmar, I'd love to hear about it!

Thanks for all you feedback!
bee