Messages: 195,737 - Threads: 26,205
posted
09-Oct-2005 20:24
by:
hongha »
last reply
15-Nov-2009 12:31
by:
grizzly »
158
replies
,
253,000
views
location: 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
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posted
30-Sep-2005 14:46
by:
chaskemp »
last reply
20-Nov-2009 17:44
by:
zeke7 »
65
replies
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96,005
views
This branch covers:
Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, and Vietnam
Here you will find links to information on health issues, visas, transportation, volunteering, weather, food, and more. Links to well-regarded resources such as Travelfish, Tales of Asia, Canby, and so on are also here.
Note: This is a FAQ/internet resources post, not an area for asking questions (nobody will answer questions here) or a place to post personal blogs, photos, etc. Please do post updates or added information that will help others find their way around the Southeast Asia mainland.
CK
Guidebook Updates
To get the latest updates to any of our guidebooks - or to add your own - visit the Guidebook Feedback branch of the Thorn Tree. See below for links to all the guides relating to mainland SE Asia.
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posted
21-Nov-2009 12:21
by:
suwanneej »
last reply
21-Nov-2009 12:21
by:
suwanneej »
0
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2
views
I need help from some travel-wise TTers for a 5 month trip I'm planning for fall/winter, 2010-11. I anticipate three months in SEA with about three weeks in each of four countries: VN, Cambodia, Laos and Myanmar; then two weeks on Australia's Gold Coast and the last 6 weeks in NZ. One thought is to start with a flight to Hanoi mid-Oct, south to HCMC, over to Cambodia, up through Laos, then a beeline to Bangkok for a flight to Yangon and in mid-Jan a flight from Yangon to Australia. The second option begins with a flight into Bangkok, again mid-Oct, with an exit at Tachilek, across N. Thailand to Laos, south to Cambodia and then into VN winding up in Hanoi with a flight to Australia. The first option puts me in Myanmar during the late Dec, early Jan Holiday period which is preferable to what I would imagine would be far greater tourist crowds in VN at that time but does necessita... more »
posted
21-Nov-2009 10:50
by:
upwardspiral »
last reply
21-Nov-2009 11:42
by:
SoloHobo »
1
replies
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22
views
Hello,
I'll be as brief as possible; if you're thinking about SE Asia as a destination, look no further. It has it all.
About me: I'm a 22-year-old Californian with a more adventurous attitude than most, but some of that has to do with the incredible trip I had in SEA. I didn't camp out in the wild or anything too crazy (some regret there), but I strayed off the path a bit as well. I started in Bangkok, went south to the islands--Koh Tao, Koh Pangang, then Railay Beach on the Peninsula, Koh Phi Phi, Phuket (Pa Tong), back to BKK, into Siem Reap Cambodia, south to Sihanoukville, back up to Phnom Penh, north to the Laos border, some village, into Vientianne, north to Vang Vieng, to Luang Prubang, back to Vang Vieng, back to Luang Prubang (lol), into Chang Kong, Chang Rai, Chang Mai, Pai, BKK, Koh Tao, BKK, HOME. This took 3 months and was in LOW SEASON.
These are in no particular...
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posted
21-Nov-2009 09:52
by:
pollepillerik »
last reply
21-Nov-2009 09:52
by:
pollepillerik »
0
replies
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12
views
It is Ocean Pearl Inn in Yangon.
posted
21-Nov-2009 09:48
by:
pollepillerik »
last reply
21-Nov-2009 09:48
by:
pollepillerik »
0
replies
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11
views
location: Myanmar
I have tried to send an e-mail to the hostel Ocean Pearl Inn, but have a wrong e-mail adress oceanpel@myanmar.com.mm Can somebody help.
posted
21-Nov-2009 09:41
by:
pollepillerik »
last reply
21-Nov-2009 10:26
by:
6Tango »
1
replies
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29
views
location: Myanmar
Is is possible to take my laptop into Myanmar
posted
21-Nov-2009 08:46
by:
Joppnl »
last reply
21-Nov-2009 09:58
by:
alanoscroft »
1
replies
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29
views
location: Laos
Hello!
as I read that a visa is around $35: are Euro's accepted on the border as well? And in the rest of Laos?
And if not, in what other currency than $ or € is paying the visa possible?
thanks!
posted
21-Nov-2009 07:36
by:
jmichie »
last reply
21-Nov-2009 09:19
by:
zeke7 »
1
replies
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36
views
location: Myanmar
Hello all! I asked some preliminary questions about my upcoming trip to Burma a few weeks ago and got some great advice. Now I've solidified my plans but need some advice on how (and with whom) to book internal flights. I would also like thoughts on Rangoon /Mandalay / Bagan guesthouses.
I'll be flying to Rangoon on December 14th and then plan to fly up to Mandalay the next day. Since it is "in" season the advice is to book the flight in advance - what is the best way to do this? Who have you used sucessfully? How would I pay for the ticket?
I'll be staying in Rangoon on Dec 14th and then 2 other nights before flying back to BKK. I'd like to stay in a budget or mid-priced guesthouse. Maybe Ocean Pearl Inn or Mayfair Inn? (Motherland 2 seems cool but as many posts have said, a bit outside the main drag).
I don't plan to pre-book a guesthouse in Mandalay - Any thoughts ...
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posted
21-Nov-2009 07:21
by:
StraightnoChaser »
last reply
21-Nov-2009 08:30
by:
Bisbee »
1
replies
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42
views
location: Vietnam
Long in coming -not a surprise really: A cut and paste job from: http://itsthefinalword.blogspot.com/
Making photocopies, notarising and translating documents and badgering people in your home country to help you make photocopies, notorise and translate more documents. Welcome to Vietnam.
I haven't read much online regarding the new visa crackdown, one which seems deadly serious this time around.
Gone are the heady days of the 6 month business visa, which used to be available to any and all. When approaching the end of the validity of those visas, your passport would be submitted and a new 6 month multiple re-entry visa pasted in there. I myself did this for the nearly five years I have been based in Vietnam.
A restructuring of the system, basically to try and account for all the foreginers working in the country (and the tax they should be paying more importantly) means ...
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posted
21-Nov-2009 05:52
by:
66 »
last reply
21-Nov-2009 06:36
by:
eddie964 »
1
replies
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42
views
location: Vietnam
I plan to travel by overnight train from Hanoi to Sapa the last week in March. Prefer to book a 2 or 4 berth ticket. I don't want to book too early, but it is my understanding reservations should be made ASAP. Based on your experience, is waiting til February too late to secure a reservation?
Also, I'm interested in staying at the Sapa Rooms Boutique Hotel in Sapa. Most of the reviews seem to be pretty good. Any downsides or contrary experiences? Thanks.
posted
21-Nov-2009 02:59
by:
findjezhere »
last reply
21-Nov-2009 08:01
by:
Hacky »
3
replies
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59
views
location: Laos
Hiya,
Are there any denominations of $US that I should avoid carrying through Laos or Cambodia because they are not accepted or hard to change?
Thanks
jez
posted
21-Nov-2009 02:21
by:
jnb123 »
last reply
21-Nov-2009 10:26
by:
Cocodrilo »
2
replies
,
53
views
location: Laos
Hi guys,
I have about 6 days before I have to meet my friend in Thailand to do the southern islands. I'm now in Vientiene and am thinking of either going to Bangkok from here and starting on one of the islands or going to Pakse and 4000 islands. I've heard 4000 islands can be quite boring? Any advice for me?
Cheers
X
posted
21-Nov-2009 02:19
by:
trebor78 »
last reply
21-Nov-2009 02:19
by:
trebor78 »
0
replies
,
14
views
Can anyone give me some pleasant bike rides to do around Nyaung Shwe-Inle lake? Any map for that available on line or locally?
What's the way/distance from Nyaung Shwe to ride to Shwe Yan Pyay monastery and Bawrithat pagoda?
posted
21-Nov-2009 01:10
by:
emmap1982 »
last reply
21-Nov-2009 01:10
by:
emmap1982 »
0
replies
,
23
views
location: Vietnam
Hi
My boyfriend and I are flying into SGN on 20/12 and back out again on 29/12 to spend NY in Thailand with friends. We have never been to VN before but have done out fair share of Thailand, Cambodia and Malaysia to know that we love SE Asia. All that we have booked so far is 2 nights in District 1 HCMC and then we'll see where to go from there.
Our initial thoughts are to fly Dalat, bus Nha Trang, train Mui Ne and train back to HCMC before flying to Thailand. We want to do a bit of touring but we're also looking forward to a bit of a chill out so want a bit of a beach resort with a bit of life going on. We would also quite like to do some cycling/walking while we're there as you cant spend you life lying on a beach (I quite easily could, but the boyfriend isn't so keen!). We definately want to visit Cu Chi and do some sightseeing as well.
Advice that i would like is, can ...
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posted
21-Nov-2009 00:09
by:
ktiffay »
last reply
21-Nov-2009 09:10
by:
6Tango »
3
replies
,
88
views
location: Myanmar
My family (two children, two adults) is traveling to Northern Thailand and Burma next June, and do not plan to spend time in Bangkok if possible. We will fly directly from Chiang Mai into Burma and wonder if it is possible to get our visas in Chiang Mai through an agency or if there some option other then Bangkok.
posted
20-Nov-2009 22:53
by:
chalayan »
last reply
21-Nov-2009 07:59
by:
Hacky »
7
replies
,
164
views
location: Laos
Hi,
I have read in a couple of places about there being a risk of bandits over-running buses on Route 13 between Vientiane and Vang Vieng.
Is this a very real threat and does anyone have any experience of this?
Thanks,
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