Asia - South-East Asia Mainland
Messages: 79,220 - Threads: 9,538
Feb 27, 2012 10:54 AM
lammers
last reply
Feb 27, 2012 2:37 PM
wmcnicol
1 replies
417 views
location:
Vietnam
Detour to Mekong or more time in north/central Vietnam?
My husband and I will be going to Vietnem for two weeks in October this year and we're struggling to decide whether to just go to Hanoi, Sapa area, Halong Bay and Hoi An or whether to go to each of these more briefly and squeeze in a two day trip to the Mekong Delta too. If we go to the Mekong Delta as well we'll do our whole trip as a pre-arranged tour which will (hopefully) cut down on travel time as we wont have to figure out connections. Does anyone have any advice about whether the Mekong Delta is worth it? We wont be going back to Vietnam (there are so many other countries to see and we only get four weeks holiday a year!)
Feb 27, 2012 10:38 AM
travelinchen
last reply
Feb 28, 2012 1:22 PM
fanjoy
3 replies
850 views
Where to go in August?
Hi everyone,
I wasn't sure in which subforum best to post this one, so I'm trying here now (sorry for cross-posting in other forums):
I'm planning my yearly holidays and they will, again, take place in August -- not my fav. month for this but it can't be helped.
Anyways, my boyfriend and I are thinking it's going to be Asia or Central America/ Caribbean / maybe South America for approx. 3-4 weeks. We're on a rather tight budget, can't spend more than 100 USD a day (excluding flights) between the two of us.
We're not so much into climing and we'd like to go somewhere where traveling is reasonable safe and where the weather is ok and won't prevent us from doing stuff (like moonsoon like rain most of the days or burning heat). Since we've been to Thailand and Indonesia the last times, they are out for now too.
Apart from all of this, we're pretty much completely open about where t...
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Buy contact lenses in Hanoi?
I'm currently out of contact lenses and wearing glasses. In two months we'll be in Vietnam and I'm wondering if I should just wait to get contact lenses there. Are they a reasonable price? Where can I get them in Hanoi? My prescription has been stable for about 20 years, so I don't feel the need to get an exam at all, though I've seen some references that in Vietnam the exam portion is free if you purchase lenses.
Feb 27, 2012 6:11 AM
JoshNCharlotte
last reply
Mar 3, 2012 6:05 AM
JoshNCharlotte
14 replies
792 views
South East Asia Visas etc....
Hello, so here is our plan, any advice on this would be greatly appreciated, because my knowledge of visas is not very good...
We are looking to get a one way flight from London to Bankok, and a return flight 4 months later from Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia back to London.
When landing in Bangkok we will get a Visa on Arrival for 28 days (we are UK citizens), we are planning to spend a month travelling north towards Laos.
Once in Laos we will get another Visa on Arrival, spend 2 weeks in Laos before heading to Vietnam.
I have been told you can apply for a Vietnam Visa whilst in Laos??
If this is correct we are planning to spend a month in Vietnam, before arriving at Cambodia.
In Cambodia we can get another Visa on arrival, and we are planning to spend around 2 weeks here.
From Cambodia we plan to go back into Thailand where we can get another Visa for 15 days, and spend these 15 days...
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Feb 27, 2012 5:08 AM
SiMonster
last reply
Feb 15, 2013 5:29 AM
writerdane
25 replies
10,683 views
location:
Laos
Gibbon Experience - Prices through the roof?!
Hello there
I read many positive reviews about the Gibbon Experience in Huay Xai so my girlfriend and I decided to book this tour (waterfall tour) for our SE-asia-trip in November 2012.
We tried to make a reservation via e-mail which was not too easy (the staff member we communicated with was not really fluent in english) and were a bit shocked by the prices:
They charge 500 USD per person(!)... I know someone who made the waterfall tour last December for ~376 USD so it seems like the prices were raised pretty much.
Does anyone have experience with this project and can understand this massive price increase?
Thanks and best regards from Switzerland,
Simon
Feb 27, 2012 4:41 AM
MOOranda
last reply
Apr 19, 2012 11:01 PM
CMBurns
9 replies
1,169 views
location:
Vietnam
Border crossing Chau Doc - Phom Phen
Hi,
We are going to Vietnam & Cambodia this summer. And now I read in the Lonely Plant that you can cross the border at Chau Doc to Phom Phen with the boat company Hang Chau.
Can anyone tell me if you need to book tickets in advance or can do it in Chau Doc.
If so, can somebody please help me with the contact details? As their website doesn't work.
thanks
Feb 27, 2012 4:10 AM
Oni
last reply
Feb 28, 2012 1:14 AM
Herbie47
7 replies
713 views
location:
Myanmar
Yangon train caution
Recently rode the 'circular' train that goes around Yangon--the 'windows' in the cars are set too low for medium height and taller people to see anything from and my bench was infested with biting, itching insects results appeared following the ride
Feb 27, 2012 2:59 AM
frankvarey
last reply
Feb 27, 2012 10:50 AM
nijkerk
1 replies
580 views
location:
Myanmar
Chaung Tha beach accommodation
Any recommendations for guesthouse at Chaung Tha? What are prices like now. We expect to arrive on 5 March. What is the journey like by bus from Yangon via Pathein? Any other tips?
Feb 27, 2012 1:56 AM
Em_C
last reply
Feb 29, 2012 12:37 AM
montyman
35 replies
5,415 views
location:
Myanmar
What to wear in Myanmar
I'm planning my first trip to Myanmar, and although it's probably a silly question, I wasn't sure what sort of clothes to pack. The guidebook doesn't give much indication and I wanted to ensure I didn't pack anything unsuitable or that would offend. Is it okay to wear shorts in Myanmar? I know it may be different for visiting temples (where I'd always cover knees and shoulders), but for everyday wear, is it okay to wear shorts or tops that don't cover shoulders? Thanks so much in advance.
Feb 27, 2012 1:05 AM
Buddababy
last reply
Feb 28, 2012 10:08 PM
HenningWessel
10 replies
1,353 views
location:
Vietnam
Lao Bao / Dansavannah border - warning
Hi all,
I'm currently traveling Asia with my husband, and have joined just to post this to warn people of my experience.
Last week we bought a ticket from Hue to Pakse on the local bus that departs at 8.30M daily. Journey was fine for the first 3 hours, apart from the usual bus being jam packed full. We arrived at the border into Laos, and were queuing with the rest of the bus (all Vietnamese). I needed the loo, and as I walked out the queue towards the toilets that are in eye view of the queue, the bus driver made a gesture to ask have I got a stamp. I nodded and carried on. He then walked behind me and said "I love you I love you" in broken English. Thinking he was just beng jokey/friendly I smiled politely and carried on into the toilet. When I stood up to leave the cubicle and open the door, to my surprise, there was the bus driver stood in front of me.
He then repeated...
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Feb 27, 2012 12:53 AM
missjayneb
last reply
Mar 1, 2012 9:18 PM
missjayneb
5 replies
428 views
Flight in Vietnam
Should I book internal flights prior to leaving Australia?
Feb 26, 2012 11:48 PM
haroldwershow
last reply
Feb 27, 2012 9:12 PM
lifemelody
2 replies
444 views
location:
Vietnam
Tea ecotourism
Hello,
We will be traveling to north Vietnam (in and around Hanoi) in April, and I am looking to learn more about how tea is cultivated in Vietnam. Specifically, I am looking for some sort of organized ecotourism (possibly with homestay) that focuses on tea cultivation in rural Vietnam. I have had fantastic experiences with coffee ecotourism in Nicaragua (see Finca Esperanza in San Ramon). It was beautiful, educational, environmentally friendly, and greatly benefited the local communities.
Has anyone stumbled across anything of the sort in northern Vietnam? Or something less formal? Such as a village that cultivates tea that is open to homestays? Or a plantation that offers tastings?
Thanks So Much
Harold
Feb 26, 2012 10:42 PM
poker48
last reply
Aug 16, 2012 3:06 AM
treeroland
6 replies
834 views
location:
Cambodia
were can i get a really good coffee in sihanoukville
so tired of bad coffee were can i find a great coffee in sihanoukville thank you
Feb 26, 2012 9:35 PM
lexiloufreebush
last reply
Sep 7, 2012 6:39 PM
Roadking95
11 replies
1,260 views
location:
Vietnam
Hue Cyclo Drivers!
hey all! Just returned from Vietnam and I just wanted to give a heads up about a great cyclo driver in the city of Hue, Vietnam.
His name is Le Van Tanh and he usually hangs around the Hoa Binh Gate of the Citadel. He can help you out with a number of things including a motorbike city tour, a hue rider tour, or getting from Hue to Hoi'An. I highly recommend it as he is pretty knowledgeable about Hue and it's a lot better than attempting to find everything yourself. And there's nothing quite like dodging traffic in a cyclo.....
Feb 26, 2012 8:32 PM
pianocello
last reply
Mar 1, 2012 5:15 AM
mooslie
7 replies
4,589 views
location:
Vietnam
Stay in Hue, Danang or Hoi An?
If I wanted to visit central Vietnam and hopefully get to visit Hue, Danang, My Son and Hoi An but can only stay in one place and make day trips to the rest, which is the best place to stay? Hue, Danang or Hoi An? (Note: the international flight will be landing in Danang airport)
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