Didn't see a thread for this when I searched.

Anyone here traveled to Vietnam, Cambodia, or Thailand? Any recommendations?

Also, is Ko Phi Phi everything it's hyped to be or are there better/less expensive islands to check out?

9/21/2008 5:20:34 AM

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9/21/2008 5:54:05 AM

As a girl, prepare to be gawked at, harassed, touched, or worse! Are you blonde? If so, prepare X10.

When you arrive into new cities or ports while travelling within, don't go with any of the touts. Know exactly BEFOREHAND which hotel/whatever you are going to. Which means planning your complete itinerary and places of stay in advance using the Lonely Planet, for example.

Don't drink any drinks handed to you by strangers at bars, clubs, or on streets.

etc.

9/21/2008 6:30:19 AM

aha yeah I'm already used to the stares from living in the Japanese countryside for two years I think I'd be more surprised if they didn't stare at me

Since I'm traveling solo in Vietnam and Cambodia I decided to go with an Intrepid tour group so I'd have more security. But they give you plenty of time to check out some things beyond the basic tour so I'm curious what's in places like Hanoi and Hoi An worth checking out.

9/21/2008 8:23:20 AM

I'm planning on doing a long trip early next year. Dalat in Vietnam looks like a beautiful place off the beaten path.

You might also want to look into Thunder Ranch near Phnom Penh. For $200 you can blow shit up with an RPG.

9/21/2008 5:44:18 PM

I'm from Vietnam, so let me know if you guys want to know about certain places. Hoi An is a small town, you'll probably spend like a day there. If you're in Hoi An, might as well go to Danang and Hue. Dalat is definitely not off a beaten path. It's a huge tourist town in Vietnam. If you like the beach, definitely need to check out Nha Trang and Phu Quoc. I also recommend going to Cambodia to see Angkor Wat. When I went this summer, it costed me $200 for a 4 days trip to Cambodia, everything included. Let me know if you have any more question. I went to Vietnam basically every year for the past 4 years.

9/21/2008 11:17:48 PM

Quote :

"aha yeah I'm already used to the stares from living in the Japanese countryside for two years I think I'd be more surprised if they didn't stare at me "

it's always the US tourists with the cavalier attitudes that are never heard from again....

9/22/2008 2:52:13 AM

I'm not sure you know what cavalier means...

9/22/2008 7:05:04 AM

depends on where you go. Tourist places like Nha Trang and Hoi An, especially Hoi An, there are more white people than the locals there. Me and my friend always joked that Hoi An is the white people capital of Vietnam.

9/22/2008 10:10:27 AM

I went to Bangkok last year over spring break with my grandfather. Pretty cool place, but a lot of places shut down at midnight. I had a good time though. He's wanting to go to China in over my spring break in March. He's been all over the world just for the fun of it, so who knows where we'll end up.

9/22/2008 10:27:10 AM

bttt

11/30/2009 11:12:24 AM

yay

i'm going to vietnam in jan. only for 4 days though not very long at all. i'm super excited though. don't know what the weather is going to be like (saigon). googled and it said highs in the 80s lows around 70 so pretty warm.

i'm oging on an international business trip so we're doing a tour of saigon, tour of the mekong delta and then visiting some intl law firms and some factories and then a little free time.

i'm really excited.

then i'm off to hong kong for 4 days and then a day trip to shenzhen china. which i dunno - those probably aren't typically classified as "southeast asia" but they are still in asia and sort of south

so i'd love to hear from anyone who has been to vietnam or hong kong or shenzhen!

11/30/2009 11:49:13 AM

I spent the past four months in Indonesia for work. Long time to be away, but overall it was enjoyable. Got to see Singapore twice for Visa renewal trips. Would move to Singapore in a heartbeat.

^ i only saw the Hong Kong airport on my trip. Would love to have had a chance to walk around if I didn't have a plane to catch.

[Edited on November 30, 2009 at 8:19 PM. Reason : ^]

11/30/2009 8:18:23 PM

Saigon was pretty cool. If your tour of the Mekong includes going to the factory where they make coconut candies buy a bag, they're awesome

11/30/2009 10:14:49 PM

Have fun, but don't pull a David Carradine on us.

11/30/2009 10:22:01 PM

Cambodia feels more genuine, quieter, friendlier, and safer as tourism just started to pick up fairly recently. Thailand (at least Bangkok and probably the popular beaches) has seen the impact of heavy tourist infulx and changes that come with it, like locals seeing you as a tourist and not as a guest, trying to hustle you everywhere and generally be more interested in getting your cash than in meeting you. Prices are a bit higher (although still cheap), the whole sexual tourism overcast is much more noticeable. Bankgkok is a huge megapolis with much more of a city feel to it compared to Phnom Penh, but also much more crowded and dirtier. There is probably more things to do in Thailand if you are there for a long run. Never been to the islands so couldn't really tell ya about Ko Phi Phi.

12/1/2009 12:58:03 PM

Ko Phi Phi was awesome.

Yeah, Cambodia would be cool and all to go to, just stay on the road or else you get blown up by a landmine.

I think I'll take predatory hucksters over landmines.

12/1/2009 4:40:29 PM

Quote :

"Cambodia feels more genuine, quieter, friendlier, and safer as tourism just started to pick up fairly recently. "

You went to a different Cambodia than I did

12/1/2009 8:27:52 PM

^Well it is not quiter and safer than say, Cary, but comparing to Bangkok it defenitely was.. I went about 4 years ago.

Quote :

"just stay on the road or else you get blown up by a landmine."

Does not apply to Phnom Penh or Angkor or main coastline places like Sihanoukville.. if you get out way into the boonies towards northeast, then maybe, but why would you??

[Edited on December 2, 2009 at 7:27 AM. Reason : .]

12/2/2009 7:26:52 AM

Quote :

"I went about 4 years ago."

A lot has changed in four years then. I went last December and felt more unsafe and harassed in Cambodia than I did in Vietnam or Thailand.

12/5/2009 7:22:03 AM

I'm going to vietnam in January too...ITS GOING TO BE AWESOME. I've been counting down the days since i booked my ticket a few weeks ago.

Quote :

"don't know what the weather is going to be like (saigon). googled and it said highs in the 80s lows around 70 so pretty warm."

I just checked the weather there now and the high is in the 90's but also keep in mind saigon is really really crowded and there are very little shades so it will be hotter than it actually is. Factor in the humidity, dirt, NOISE, PEOPLE...you should expect it to feel a lot closer to 95-100.

I've been to Vietnam many times, at least 10, so trust me.

good luck, hope you make it out there alive.


ALSO adding to this

Quote :

"A lot has changed in four years then. I went last December and felt more unsafe and harassed in Cambodia than I did in Vietnam or Thailand."

Traveling in Vietnam is just like traveling anywhere. make sure you dont flash to much jewelry and $$$ and you will be fine. I saw "white people" when I was in vietnam all the time and yes they stand out but other than a look/stare here and there, you will be fine, its totally safe. Only an idiot would try to jump/rob you knowing everyone is looking/staring at you, its just dumb.

[Edited on December 28, 2009 at 10:40 AM. Reason : just because]

12/28/2009 10:38:47 AM

i leave on thursday! i'm excited but so confused about what to pack. i have to pack for vietnam and hong kong. its like 90 in vietnam and 50s/60s in hong kong. i guess things that can be layered like....dresses with tights and jeans and shirts with a cardigan or something.

i also have to pack business attire which is going to blow because i do not want to wear a suit in vietnam. sigh.

SUPER excited about mekong delta.

i'm just excited all around. NOT for the plane ride. which reminds me i need to call my doctor like right meow to get something for the ride.

any other tips on what i should bring? i have a voltage thing and adapter for both places, camera, and other obvious stuff. i have all the guidelines on travel w/ luggage (including inter asia travel bc apparently they have tighter restrictions on luggage weight). sunscreen, hat, sturdy walking shoes. i don't know what else besides regular clothes and the usual stuff.

1/8/2010 1:56:10 PM

Quote :

"like right meow"

1/8/2010 2:05:12 PM

if anybody go to Nha Trang in Vietnam, let me kno. i can hook you up with some real good deals on hotel.

1/8/2010 7:45:49 PM

kadwackle... i just flew back from hawaii on a red eye and i took 2 benadryl when i got to the airport. i was dead to the world for the enitre 8 hour flight and could have slept more

not sure how that stuff affects you but worked great for me

1/8/2010 9:23:09 PM

going back to Indonesia for another 6-8 weeks for work!

1/8/2010 11:12:34 PM