BootsnAll Travel Community

OCT 1st Im off to SE ASIA. Now at the moment im at that stage of planning where you know roughly where you want to go but are still playing with the whys and wheres. So, advice from you guys and gals out there will be well useful. I want to do Thailand, Bangkok and the southern islands, I want to do Laos, I want to Hanoi and particularly Halong Bay. So.........
Bearing in mind that its my first time in SE Asia, do I fly to Hanoi and work my way back through Vietnam, Laos and into Thailand, ending up in the islands...OR....do I fly straight into Bangkok(get over the culture shock there), then do the backpacker route up in2 Laos, Vietnam, Hanio, Halong and then fly back into Thailand(landing in Phuket), do the islands for a onth and the back to Bangkok for the lamentable trip back to the UK?????
Im abit lost so any advise from people who can recall their first dip in the ocean of asia would be great.
PS, not sure about Cambodia, prefer the mekong through Laos.
cheers forany help
napalm
"Its not the journey that makes the trip, but the people you walk it with."

dave

Fly into Bangkok first, rest up at Suk 11 and then ease your way into wherever you are going.

Cambodia, by the way, is quite a bit of culture shock.

Good BootsnAll Asia Stories. You might want to check them out.

Glad to hear you have chosen to visit Ha Long Bay!!

It was one of the highlights of my 4 months in SE Asia.

I would be tempted to start in HaNoi and work south, spending some time in the Mekong Delta, which was one of the other highlights of my trip! Then maybe PP to Lao (never been there) then back to Cambodia for Angkor Wat and then on into Thailand!

For the record you should check this page about the famous scam that affects tourists in BKK.

BKK Scam

I can say that people tried to pull this one on me more than once a day, so be wary of anyone who tries to tell you your chosen destination is closed for whatever reason.

After BKK head into South Thailand for the beaches and partying, especially the Full Moon Party on Ko Pha Ngan (sp?)

Hope you have a great time!
DaveOnHols

PS Check my website for pictures from my travels, including Ha Long Bay:

Ha Long Bay and SE Asia Photographs

Thanks dave, and cool pics i have to say. But I just got a three month return to Bangkok for £404 inc, so bangkok, up to chiang khong, down the kekong, up to northern laos and across into Vietnam it seems to be. But thanks for the tips.
cheers
another dave(napalm)

dave

I've just gotten back from the bush and strongly recommend focusing on Laos.

I really loved Thailand (especially Chiang Mai and the Islands) but I began to become somewhat disillusioned towards the end of my time there by the overwhelming waves of touts, cheats, hustlers, and aggressive prostitutes.

Laos was a breath of fresh air and hosted the kindest people I'd ever met as well as some of the most stunning locations and most relaxing atmospheres. I didn't even plan on fitting it into my trip until hearing all the great reviews from every single backpacker i met - literally. Because of this I was only able to spend 10 days (my last in Asia), when if i had known what i do now I'd have given it a month. In my humble opinion it is the true jewel of SE Asia and I'd urge you not to repeat my mistake.


I'm told Vietnam is excellent as well, especially the north, and I would start there if possible - just be sure to make the necessary visa arrangements beforehand, as they're the toughest to come by in the region.


Suk 11 is entirely overrated and smack dab in the center of the undisputedly slimiest part of Bangkok, and therefor Thailand, and therefor the world. Unless you're a sex tourist, steer clear of Sukhumvit altogether or be prepared to be bombarded by pimps, hooker bars, and of course, ladyboys.

Sure there are some very worthwhile things to see in BKK, but you're either a 19-yr old frat guy or an idiot to spend more than 3 days, tops, in that cesspool. Get in, hold your breath (air/sewer pollution), get ready to see a spectacle, and get out while you still have a soul.

I'd agree on the Laos tip. Most of the people I met there had no plans to visit but had been drawn there by the 100% good reviews they'd heard from travellers.

If you do go, try and do a bit more than the standard Laos circuit though - it seems like 90% of people arrive in the north from Chang Mai, and then take the 2 days low boat to Luang Prabang, then go down to Vang Vieng for tubing, and then on to Vientiane and back into Thailand from there. Try and explore a bit more of the country and you'll enjoy it even more.