Saturday, April 02, 2005
Travel Advice?
I'm considering a radical departure to my itinerary. I was planning on heading from Siem Reap down to Phnom Penh, and then off via the Mekong to Saigon/HCMC. However, I've been hearing quite a few nasty things about backpacking in Vietnam (although the scenery get very high marks). Moreover, I'm enticed by the Thai New Year celebration April 13-15 (biggest festival is in Chiang Mai). Evidently the whole theme of the thing is to walk around dousing other people with water (there is a symbolism there of washing away the old for the New Year). Farangs, I'm told, are aggressively targeted. So, I've got three options as I see it taking into account my flight back to the US is on 26 April in Hong Kong.
(1) Forget Thailand, and stick to "the plan"and head from here south to the capital, get my Vietnam visa (single-entry is the outrageous sum of 65 dollars!), and head off down the Mekong and work my way North into Vietnam, catching a flight from Ha Noi on the 24th or so into Hong Kong.
(2) Head south from here, and after seeing Phnom Penh, check out the southern coast of Cambodia, and southeastern Thailand, working my way back to Chiang Mai by the 13th via Bangkok. At the end of the festival, fly to Vietnam (probably Saigon) on the 15th, which could still allow me up to 9 full days (excluding travel days) in Vietnam.
(3) Forget Vietnam altogether, and after the festival head into Laos on the 15th and eventually find my way back to Bangkok for a flight to Hong Kong around the 24th.
I know there are some pro-Vietnam factions out there, but does anyone have any thoughts on this?
(1) Forget Thailand, and stick to "the plan"and head from here south to the capital, get my Vietnam visa (single-entry is the outrageous sum of 65 dollars!), and head off down the Mekong and work my way North into Vietnam, catching a flight from Ha Noi on the 24th or so into Hong Kong.
(2) Head south from here, and after seeing Phnom Penh, check out the southern coast of Cambodia, and southeastern Thailand, working my way back to Chiang Mai by the 13th via Bangkok. At the end of the festival, fly to Vietnam (probably Saigon) on the 15th, which could still allow me up to 9 full days (excluding travel days) in Vietnam.
(3) Forget Vietnam altogether, and after the festival head into Laos on the 15th and eventually find my way back to Bangkok for a flight to Hong Kong around the 24th.
I know there are some pro-Vietnam factions out there, but does anyone have any thoughts on this?
Comments:
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If all of Viet Nam is run like ocean exports that is a terrible, awful, horrible place. You can expect to fill out 8 documents for every 1 you would in a good country. Then none of the documents you have would give you the information that you need.
However, ignoring a torturous bureaucracy could be fun, but I think they will prostitute you and through you in prison. Yes, I know the difference between prostitute and prosecute.
However, ignoring a torturous bureaucracy could be fun, but I think they will prostitute you and through you in prison. Yes, I know the difference between prostitute and prosecute.
I would go with option 2, because 9 days in Vietnam seems like enough to do a good deal of sight seeing. And what's traveling if you can't follow a whim once in a while?
I would go with option 2, too. A good New Year's Celebration shouldn't be missed.
As for you being cheap, I am not surprised, you used to walk home from Adams Morgan with Marty (Why he did pay for a cab b/c he had a job I'll never know) at 3 AM (appropriate spelling). You also used to buy a 6 pack of Mickey's for 1.89 and i try to convice us you like it better than other beers so crossing the street to save a nickel in Thailand is not surpsing.
As for you being cheap, I am not surprised, you used to walk home from Adams Morgan with Marty (Why he did pay for a cab b/c he had a job I'll never know) at 3 AM (appropriate spelling). You also used to buy a 6 pack of Mickey's for 1.89 and i try to convice us you like it better than other beers so crossing the street to save a nickel in Thailand is not surpsing.
# posted by 
: 9:50 AM
: 9:50 AM
I also agree with the moose. Nine days will allow you to see the highlights of Vietnam, and still alow you to return to Thailand for the celebration.
# posted by : 12:06 PM
: 12:06 PM
I agree with all those that voted for option 2. New Years and cultural festivals should not be missed. Nine days in Vietnam should give you an idea of the place.
# posted by : 10:04 AM
: 10:04 AM
Dude! You definitely shouldn't skip Vietnam. 9 days is plenty. Definitely go because you never know when you'll be able to go again. Let me know how long you'll be there and whether you're going North to South or South to North and I'll help prioritize places for you. Don't diss my peeps!
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# posted by : 4:33 PM
: 4:33 PM << Home
