I love Bangkok, but its not an easy city for a first time visitor. So you might consider either flying into for example Siem Reap, Cambodia (via Bangkok), or into Chiang Mai (via Bangkok) and then from there continue to Laos, Northern Vietnam etc. And keep some time for Bangkok for the end of your trip. This would give you the advantage to be able to shop for presents (for family, friends and yourself) at the end of your trip in Bangkok. I am not at all a shopper, but find Bangkok excellent for that, for all kind of things.
In Bangkok, there are local buses to Saai Tai and Saai Tai Mai for about 12B.
Amongst others, the 124 goes to Saai Tai Mai (=the new bus station for big buses) from Sanam Luang/Pinklao Bridge
http://www.transitbangkok.com/bangkok_bus_routes.php
Cat ba island is a good option with a child as it has beaches and a National park, as well as day tours of Halong and Lan ha bays. Hoi an is also good for the beach.
As you only have 14 days, don't discount doing an overnight train /bus journey, if convenient. Flights are quicker, but by the time you have got to and from airports, checked in etc, you lose a lot of day time. If you want to include Sapa and Cat ba, there is an overnight bus from Lao Cai to Haiphong, which allows you to spend the day trekking in Sapa, and get the first boat out to Cat ba the next morning.
You could easily have a nice leisurely holiday in North Vietnam, no extra flights involved, moving on when ready, or a mad rush, taking in a little of each area of the country. If you are never likely to return to Vietnam, then choose what you really want to see, and concentrate on that. If you can come back next year and see the south, stick to the north for now.
Opinion are not facts. Even if they seem so.
In response to the original question, chances are highly unlikely you would be asked to show 20,000 Baht. However, Thailand put that “rule” on the books over ten years ago. It was designed more for expats using the 30 day visa to stay in country. However they could easily start enforcing it again, if they so desire. My opinion -- they would like to, if their economy was better, so. Why not keep a stash of 700 Euros or dollars as a backup just in case? I usually do this on general principles while traveling.
A long time ago now, back in 2005-2007 Thailand would occasionally check. I was asked and showed money on two different occasions. One was extending a 30 day visa, and the other was arriving in Thailand after a Myanmar trip, flight to Kengtung and then exiting to Thailand. Both were at the Mae Sai border crossing.
Today I doubt they would, by why take the chance?!
And my advice to travelers would be to avoid Chiang Mai like the plague . Thailand is screwed as a travel destination now . Millions of Chinese , European families with Kids , the computer people , local Thais who have given up even pretending any more and just grabbing as much cash as they can . Yuck Chiang Mai is a nightmare . Like an expensive Ko San Road moved up north .
Borders are opened either during mid-autung fewstinal in China or Tet festival in Vietnam too.
(so many Chinese tourists go to other countries including Vietnam which have Sapa and Ha Long Bay etc=money making cash-cow tourist destinations in their holidays so "close borders" in holidays cannot be existed)
Opening hour at Hekou/Lao Cai border--- from 08:00am to 23:00pm with local time in China(=from 07:00am to 22:00pm with local time in Vietnam)
29 degrees isn't escaping the heat. And its only going to get hotter. Usually around 40 when we arrive there. What's the saying? Only fools and Englishmen go out in the midday sun. And I' m neither of those.
no it's " only mad dogs and Englishmen go out in the midday sun" - you're mixing your quotes - the other is "Only fools and horses work" - chose your category.......
Thailand seldom gets to 40 depress - this last month has made headlines because in certain areas it has actually done this and even over.
Samui has been in the high thirties in the last 3 weeks quite a lot too... ...
There seem to be quite a lot of companies which organize sailing trips in Greece. The Ionian is a good place to sail in my opinion. However you have to go to that area and it makes sense to find a place close to an airport. As far as I know there are airports on Corfu, Kefalonia en Zakintos. On the coast there is an airport in Preveza. I suggest you find out which airport is the most convenient for you and then find a charter nearby. I don't know if nyou are able to hire a 40 foot catamaran without a skipper. If you have sufficient sailing capacities it may be possible, but am not sure. I have sailed in the Ionean once with a flotilla( forgot the name) and a couple of weeks with my own ship. I remember having seen quite a number of flotillas, but you seem to want a catamaran to go on your own and a flotilla is a group of ships that sail together. They start from the same place and meet at the end of the day in another place. I would just start by putting "yacht charter Ionean" in Google and see what comes up. SDorry I can not give you more help.
