Messages: 198,292 - Threads: 26,549
posted
09-Oct-2005 20:24
by:
hongha »
last reply
04-Dec-2009 20:53
by:
luvnitlykdiz »
159
replies
,
257,235
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
30-Nov-2009 06:08
by:
lifemagic »
66
replies
,
98,239
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
05-Dec-2009 23:41
by:
chrsconnolly »
last reply
05-Dec-2009 23:41
by:
chrsconnolly »
0
replies
,
5
views
Can anybody give me any good links to rock climbing places, I really want to do some climbing while I am in Thailand, Laos and Vietnam, I will be in the central to Northern parts of the three countries so can anyone help me out? Give me names of good places to climb and good groups to organise a climb with? (I will not be able to bring my harnass with me just my shoes)
Even any sport climbing/bouldering place suggestions would be welcome
posted
05-Dec-2009 23:13
by:
SirMonkey »
last reply
05-Dec-2009 23:13
by:
SirMonkey »
0
replies
,
6
views
Sorry to post yet another itinerary question, but is there any reason why most people go first from rangoon to mandalay when following the mandalay-bagan-inle-rangoon route? Is it less practical to do this in reverse, going to inle first then bagan, mandalay, back to rangoon? I'll be using buses and maybe a ferry. Mandalay is the destination I'd choose to skip if I run out of time (I hate to rush) so would make sense to have it last.. unless I'm going to get stuck all the time in bus stations.
posted
05-Dec-2009 22:23
by:
asianarts »
last reply
05-Dec-2009 22:27
by:
GorShar »
1
replies
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24
views
location: Cambodia
I want to spend $25-$40/nite. . I'll definitely get A/c. First , I thought a swimming pool was real important b/c I know I'll really need to cool off when I'm at the hotel. I don't take heat well! But I wonder: I hear they mostly are tiny, are saltwater, AND I WONDER WHAT TEMPERATURE THEY ARE? So what are the pools like- inviting, cooling,nice or NOT?
Basically, I'd like some opinions about whether they are an important asset. WHETHER I'D be better off spending my money on getting a comfortable room in nice hotel,without a pool? And just cooling off in my room? Or making sure I've a pool?
Thanks.
posted
05-Dec-2009 22:22
by:
teddychickenwings »
last reply
05-Dec-2009 22:35
by:
SweetRose6 »
1
replies
,
29
views
location: Vietnam
Does bribing ever occur in any Vietnamese airport (be it international or domestic) at customs??
If so, how much do i have to dole out?
Edited by: teddychickenwings
posted
05-Dec-2009 20:44
by:
icebreaker77 »
last reply
05-Dec-2009 22:03
by:
hanno »
1
replies
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21
views
location: Vietnam
it's amusing to read discussions that somehow not related to travel. my concern is how do i start a plan to go to vietnam for the first time. i just knew about the place in school. so please advice me and my mom on what to see and expect so that we can be sure of what we are going to spend.
posted
05-Dec-2009 18:32
by:
montyman »
last reply
05-Dec-2009 22:06
by:
jasperfreedom »
3
replies
,
62
views
location: Myanmar
many have asked about flights from Laos to Myanmar and vice versa.
This morning as I left with airasia
from Yangon I noticed that Bagan Air now haver scheduled servive at 1730 today from Yangon to Vientianne
hope its useful as this questions was posed many times and I didn't realise that Bagan Air was allowed an International route (obviously general-ly speaking someone pulling strings maybe)
Thandwe is extending the runway and not as I thought because of teh myair crash last year that overshot but because it is to become an International airport ferrying High cost $ official tourists, direct to their playground on Ngapali from bangkok,as for me I can only just afford the bus
posted
05-Dec-2009 17:01
by:
utopiasleuth »
last reply
05-Dec-2009 17:01
by:
utopiasleuth »
0
replies
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18
views
location: Vietnam
We will be in Vietnam for one month over Christmas with our 6 year old and 20 month old sons and are looking for a couple of great beaches to stay and play on. Snorkeling would be great as would some tame surf to play in. Also any bungalow/hotel recommendations would be great too. up to around $50 / night.
Also wondering if the Mekong Delta has Malaria?
Thanks for any tips!
posted
05-Dec-2009 15:53
by:
toddster »
last reply
05-Dec-2009 22:37
by:
GorShar »
4
replies
,
48
views
location: Cambodia
Hi Guys
I'll be leaving Siem Reap on 9th December and heading for Koh Chang. I thought I was going to get the bus as you can do it in one day, but having read they're suposed to be 'scam' buses I'm thinking again.
Does anyone have any recent experiences to share, or can you recommend anywhere in SR to book to avoid the scams.
Alternatively is anyone else interested in hooking up to get a share taxi to Poipet and the onward buses in Thailand?
Contact me on claretodd@hotmail.com
Thanks a lot
posted
05-Dec-2009 15:40
by:
billermo »
last reply
05-Dec-2009 23:04
by:
billermo »
4
replies
,
65
views
location: Vietnam
Are these trains still going? They were billed as 5-star train travel between HCMC and Nhatrang. I took it a year ago, buying the ticket in the main HCMC train station at an upstairs office. (I'm not interested in the other trains that go overnight or coaches or anything else, just want to know about this exact one ) I actually can not find what looks like reliable info online about it because every website with info about it is a reseller with inflated prices and outdated schedules. Last year I saw much of the same info online, only to go to the station and discover a different schedule than any website had, as well as far lower prices.
Does anyone have experience recently with this train?
Specifically:
1. whats the current price for the standard bed in a 4-berth compartment (to Nhatrang overnight)
2 .what's time of departure
3. what's time of arrival
Thanks
more »
posted
05-Dec-2009 14:34
by:
thorntree111 »
last reply
05-Dec-2009 18:25
by:
montyman »
1
replies
,
22
views
location: Vietnam
Hi
Has anybody climbed Mount Fansipan in January. Wondering if weather ia a major
obsticle
Thanks
posted
05-Dec-2009 13:13
by:
eddie964 »
last reply
05-Dec-2009 17:02
by:
HenningWessel »
4
replies
,
87
views
A friend of mine owns a restaurant. For his new menu, he is trying to translate the following motto into as many languages as possible (in native script): "Because man cannot live on rice alone."
Can any native speakers help me out here? Vietnamese, Laotian, Burmese, Khmer, Thai -- anything would be appreciated.
I believe there may be free sushi in this for me.
posted
05-Dec-2009 08:50
by:
woden1809 »
last reply
05-Dec-2009 22:32
by:
GorShar »
5
replies
,
68
views
Hi, I know this has been covered before, but I have some questions regarding timetables!
I want to get the Bangkok-Vientiane train which leaves Bangkok at 6:30 in the evening. I will be setting out from Siem Reap and want to arrive in Bangkok by the time of my train departure, but it looks like I will just miss it. I will get a bus to Poipet, but as I understand buses and trains which run from Aranyaprathet (other than very early departures) tend to arrive at or around the time of departure, cutting it too short.
Basically, I want to know if I can leave Siem Reap in the early morning and arrive in Bangkok by around 5pm, giving time to get to the train station. I believe it takes three hours from Siem Reap to Poipet and then 5 hours from Aranyaprathet to Bangkok, which sounds ok on paper, but all the timetables I have seen would see me arrive at or around 6pm.
_Does a...
more »
posted
05-Dec-2009 08:50
by:
stacky »
last reply
05-Dec-2009 10:06
by:
stacky »
3
replies
,
93
views
location: Myanmar
About to book Air Asia flight from BKK to Yangoon & just checking if they fly from the new airport or the old one?
posted
05-Dec-2009 06:18
by:
backpackandgo »
last reply
05-Dec-2009 16:00
by:
HenningWessel »
1
replies
,
70
views
Hey together,
I am having a flight to Singapur in March and have around 5 weeks for travelling. I am planning to travel Laos and Kambodscha, either south to north or north to south.
I found a cheap flight from Singapur to Phnom Phen, so was thinking of travelling up north. Only question now is: Once I am in Laos, whats the best and cheapest way to get back to Singapur? There are no direct flights :( Is travelling to Hanoi an option and then to Singapur? And if yes, which place in Laos would be the best to travel to Hanoi and how?
I know, it's quite an open question, but I am sure someone has travelled a similar route before :)
Thanks a lot and greetings from germany,
Alex
Edited by: backpackandgo
posted
05-Dec-2009 05:52
by:
vincentjustin »
last reply
05-Dec-2009 13:00
by:
siemreaprooms »
1
replies
,
48
views
location: Cambodia
Hello People,
Ill be arriving in Cambodia from Thailand on the 11th or 12th of December,So i would appreciate any info on Good,Clean.Cheap places to stay in Sihanoukville,either Serendipity or Occhateal ( I know there on the same stretch of sand ),,Id like to stay back a bit from the beach where its a bit quieter,i have been there before but that was 5 yrs ago,so im pretty sure its not the same place now,and i have a Rough Guide Book.but you cant beat info from people who are there or have just come back.
All Info,would be very Helpfull.
Cheers TT Posse.
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