Messages: 209,235 - Threads: 27,942
09-Oct-2005 20:24
hongha
last reply
02-Feb-2010 22:43
asianfunkphenom...
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275,684
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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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30-Sep-2005 14:46
chaskemp
last reply
07-Jan-2010 08:33
Drtraveller
67
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105,327
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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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Hi!!
I will be traveling in Laos in May to do a cultural experience with my college. I will do a research on children, particularly on socialization and on the process of learning customs. More generally, on the way to educate children.
Is there anyone who could share its experience about this subject or has relevant sources for documentation?
Thanks ;-)
10-Feb-2010 07:03
cosmosmariner
last reply
10-Feb-2010 07:06
cosmosmariner
1
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6
views
location: Myanmar
I am planning on spending 3-4 weeks in Myanmar this autumn. I would like to do the typical circuit,... Fly from Bangkok to Yangoon, visit Yangon for a couple of days, then fly to the Mandalay area, I would use surface travel around Inlay Lake and Bagon. then overland back to Yangoon to exit to Thailand. I would be staying in Budget or midrange hotels or guesthouses.. What do you think would be a fair estimate in dollars to cover the travel, accommodations and food for 3-4 weeks?. I am thinking it would be about $2000... is this estimate too high?
Thanks for your feedback.
10-Feb-2010 06:47
Admiral
last reply
10-Feb-2010 06:47
Admiral
0
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5
views
location: Cambodia
I am a photographer who will be in Siem Reap early November.
Can someone help, or direct me to a location where I could negotiate hiring one to three apsara dancers to use as models.
I would prefer negotiating with a dance academy or the girls directly (well not me, but a guide I would presume.) I do not mind paying a little extra for a chaperone or friend to help with costume and makeup.
This is low budget but may help someone with extra income.
I am told that many restaurants have apsara venues, would this be the logical place to start?
Any information would greatly be appreciated.
Thanks
www.vanishingculturesphotography.com
10-Feb-2010 05:51
Drtraveller
last reply
10-Feb-2010 05:51
Drtraveller
0
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7
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location: Myanmar
Short Travel Report on SE Myanmar - part III –Kin Pun to Bago To Inle
Our second day in Kin Pun was marked by music – lot of music – a lot of very loud music that started about 4 in the afternoon and went on until 11. The hotel staff assured us that it was wedding music and would stop by 11, which it did. They neglected to say that it would start up at 4:30 AM, which it did.
‘Nine’ the manager saw us at breakfast and assured us that he had arranged the bus to Bago and the transfer to the Inle Bus, which was starting in Yangon. “Reclining seats and AC,” he assured us. So we got on the designated bus and off we went; a couple of hours later the bus stopped at a very casual bus stop on the outskirts of Bago and two smiling guys indicated that they were there for us – and they mentioned ‘Mr, Nine.’ So we got off the bus, got our bags and we were loaded onto separate motorcycles a...
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10-Feb-2010 03:49
deadstone
last reply
10-Feb-2010 04:06
montyman
1
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20
views
location: Laos
Hi,
I'm booked on the 8AM bus from Vientiane to Luang Prabang.
Is this a very windy mountain road all the way?
If so, where can I get reliable motion sickness pills?
And what's the journey like?
thanks
Philip
10-Feb-2010 00:35
paulsupermario
last reply
10-Feb-2010 03:22
toldya
2
replies
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47
views
location: Vietnam
Has anyone else had trouble with this travel company? I am currently in the office of Ngoc Hong Travel, waiting for my bus to come. I want to go to Hue and was told I was paying for a bus that would take me there direct (Saigon to Hanoi bus). I have just turned up and alas it is actually 3 buses, with a 12 hour wait in Nha Trang and a one hour wait in Hoi An.
When I booked the bus yesterday, the lady, was very clear that it was 1 bus. Now I have spent more than I needed to and will have 2 nights on the buses instead of one.
My advice, don't go with them, choose another one recommended by Lonely Planet.
10-Feb-2010 00:01
chinochano
last reply
10-Feb-2010 03:18
montyman
1
replies
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32
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I am in Vang Vieng, and after 3 days watching Friends episodes -just kidding- I want to go to the green. My map says there are a lot of acves here. Which ones are the most interesting? Or only one is enough?
09-Feb-2010 23:03
SADKML
last reply
10-Feb-2010 05:04
daawgon
4
replies
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44
views
location: Vietnam
I have the following flights in Asia to take in March:
Bangkok-->Siem Reap
Siem Reap --> Saigon
Saigon --> HoiAn
HoiAn --> Hanoi
Hanoi --> Hong Kong
Can someone recomend the cheapest way to do this.
I see that the asia pass does not cover all these places.
Thanks,
SADKML
09-Feb-2010 21:10
gibletdinner
last reply
10-Feb-2010 04:00
montyman
4
replies
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53
views
location: Myanmar
What cities are the cheapest to fly into Yagon/Rangoon from?
I'm in Vietnam but have heard Bangkok is the easiest entry point. Is this true?
Thanks!
Posted in bother SEA Mainland and SEA Thailand
Ok,
We have 24 days in Thailand, with a side trip to one other country - either Laos or Cambodia We are going to Vietnam 6 months later, so we would do the other country (Laos or Cambodia), then.
With Cambodia
Day 1- Arrive, Phuket
Day 2 - Boat to Ko Laoliang
Day 3 - Ko Laoliang
Day 4 - Ko Laoliang
Day 5 - Ko Laoliang
Day 6 - Ko Laoliang
Day 7 - Ko Laoliang - Trang - Arrive PM Bangkok
Day 8 - Bangkok
Day 9 - Bangkok
Day 10 - Bangkok / Death Railway
Day 11 - Morning Bangkok. Afternoon flight to Phnom Penh
Day 12 - Phnom Penh
Day 13 - Phnom Penh AM. Afternoon travel to Siam Reap.
Day 14 Siam Reap and Angkor Wat
Day 15 - Siam Reap and Angkor Wat.
Day 16- Flight to Chiang Mai via Bangkok in morning. Chang Mai afternoon.
Day 17 - Nan or Mae Hon...
more »
Have a look at the list and see how your homeland (and/or the country in which you presently reside) ranks
2010 Quality of Life Index
09-Feb-2010 19:25
guiguioz
last reply
09-Feb-2010 21:10
HenningWessel
1
replies
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22
views
location: Cambodia
Hi,
I'm planning to cross the Prek Chak / Xia Xia border in a few days (coming from Vietnam and entering in Cambodia). Do you know if I can get a Cambodia visa on arrival (French passport)?
Also, any idea if the border will be opened during Tet (14/15 Feb)?
Cheers
09-Feb-2010 19:24
guiguioz
last reply
09-Feb-2010 19:24
guiguioz
0
replies
,
14
views
location: Vietnam
Hi,
I'm planning to cross the Prek Chak / Xia Xia border in a few days (coming from Vietnam and entering in Cambodia). Do you know if I can get a Cambodia visa on arrival (French passport)?
Also, any idea if the border will be opened during Tet (14/15 Feb)?
Cheers
09-Feb-2010 19:22
L65ans
last reply
09-Feb-2010 21:10
violets
2
replies
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40
views
location: Vietnam
Is it possible to pay for rail tickets Hanoi-Saigon at Hanoi Railway Station by Visa Card?
Or do I need to take out a whole packet of Dong from an ATM?
Thanks.
09-Feb-2010 18:49
vami
last reply
09-Feb-2010 21:06
EmilySnow
2
replies
,
60
views
location: Myanmar
hey there,
i really want to share my bad experience at golden lily hostel in kalaw with you all, actually it is the peak on lonely planet last edition and it might be reviewed. The place is not that comfortable, rooms are not clean as expected, breakfast is probably the worse we tried since we arrived in myanmar 2 weeks ago. But that could be ok for a 6$ room without bathroom.... what really let me astonished was how i was treated by the owners after I told them my decision not to do the trekking to inle with them. Before deciding they were very friendly and helpful, they should fix our light and book a bus ticket for us, but still i was not convinced to do the trekking with them because the didn't want to arrange a 2days 1 nite and insisted to do a 3 days 2 nites (even though i wanted to spend 2 days in inle) maintiang that once in inle there wouldn't be nothing to do and that one d...
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Posted By: VenessaP -- 28-Jan-2010 15:01
Posted By: VenessaP -- 09-Dec-2009 17:01
We're talking pell-mell cities, jungle-twined temples and beaches that just clamour for a hammock. Yep, we're talking South-East Asia. Can't you just hear the tuk-tuk horns? more »
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