BootsnAll Travel Community

Hi All!

I'm in the early stages of planning our upcoming RTW (Europe and Asia) trip. The Europe part is a breeze - been before, no worries at all.

I was then thinking of flying from IST-BKK or IST-HKG. The problem I'm running into now is how to plan the order of these places which I want to visit:

China (Beijing, Xi'an, Chengdu, Hong Kong, etc...)
Vietnam (Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh)
Laos (Luang Prabang)

I could skip on Laos if necessary - but I can't even sort out how to do the China and Vietnam parts given that I'd be getting my Visa's on the road.

Any ideas? Am I being dense here?

I think you only need visas to China and Vietnam, which should be available in the US in advance without too much trouble (you may needs onward ticket, but no hotel reservation or invitation is required)

As to Laos, I think you can get visa at the borders or the airport. You don't need visa to Hong Kong if you are citizen from most Western countries.

Hope this helps,

It's easy to sort out all your visa needs in bangkok, if your going to have a few days there. the main reason to doing this on the road, and not before you leave is that for vietnam, you have to put your entry and exit dates on your visa, which can hinder your ability to change your travel plans. I know your can get the china visa in bangkok or hanoi, but I don't know any of the logistics. and depending on where you cross you should be able to get your loas at the boarder, but it will only be 14 days, and for not much more, you can get the month in Bkk. have fun around the world.