Asia - Help...going on vacation to Vietnam, Cambodia, and Laos

I decided to get crazy this week and purchased plane tickets for vacation to Vietnam (more plane tickets to be purchased for continuing travel to Cambodia and Laos). Has anyone in this forum been to any of these three countries and what were your general impressions of each? Any "must see" places? Food/water safety issues? Is it safe to use public transportation in the major cities? How about travel using those cheap inter-city buses? Violent Crime issues?

Any info would be greatly appreciated (I typically don't like to use those tourist books because information is oftentimes outdated and/or inaccurate).

Thanx!!

Portions of the post that previously appeared in this space have been deleted. I would provide you with a reason why, but doing so would likely be against the TOS.

I know that there are frequent buses between Cambodia and Vietnam, as well as some boats that make the trip, as well. Flights between these countries can be very expensive, as least when I checked into them last year. You can get some nice bus service, as long as you don't get the very inexpensive ones that drive crazy and honk their horns at every motorbike on the highway. I'd guess $30-$50 OW between Cambodia and Vietnam.

Please continue to follow this thread in the Flyertalk Asia Forum.
Thanks..
Obscure2k
TravelBuzz Moderator

I decided to get crazy this week and purchased plane tickets for vacation to Vietnam (more plane tickets to be purchased for continuing travel to Cambodia and Laos). Has anyone in this forum been to any of these three countries and what were your general impressions of each? Any "must see" places? Food/water safety issues? Is it safe to use public transportation in the major cities? How about travel using those cheap inter-city buses? Violent Crime issues?

Any info would be greatly appreciated (I typically don't like to use those tourist books because information is oftentimes outdated and/or inaccurate).

Thanx!!

try to be a little more specific as far as budget, length of time etc,
Not crazy at all,, We did Vietnam/Cambodia few months ago... great trip
Sgn/Han Siem Rep

Do not miss Angkor Wat Haloong Bay,
Very safe

I decided to get crazy this week and purchased plane tickets for vacation to Vietnam (more plane tickets to be purchased for continuing travel to Cambodia and Laos). Has anyone in this forum been to any of these three countries and what were your general impressions of each? Any "must see" places? Food/water safety issues? Is it safe to use public transportation in the major cities? How about travel using those cheap inter-city buses? Violent Crime issues?

Any info would be greatly appreciated (I typically don't like to use those tourist books because information is oftentimes outdated and/or inaccurate).

Thanx!!

try to be a little more specific as far as budget, length of time etc,
Not crazy at all,, We did Vietnam/Cambodia few months ago... great trip
Sgn/Han Siem Rep

Do not miss Angkor Wat Haloong Bay,
Very safe

I decided to get crazy this week and purchased plane tickets for vacation to Vietnam (more plane tickets to be purchased for continuing travel to Cambodia and Laos). Has anyone in this forum been to any of these three countries and what were your general impressions of each? Any "must see" places? Food/water safety issues? Is it safe to use public transportation in the major cities? How about travel using those cheap inter-city buses? Violent Crime issues?

Any info would be greatly appreciated (I typically don't like to use those tourist books because information is oftentimes outdated and/or inaccurate).

Thanx!!

I've been to all three countries in the past year. As much as it might feel like these are out of the way, off the beaten path places when mentioning to friends and family you are headed there, once you get there you will be absolutely surrounded by American/British/EU travelers.

My husband and I absolutely loved our time in all three countries; in fact we have debates about which of the three is our favorite country of all time. The latest vote-winner is Laos but the fact that we even have this debate is great testament to how great these places are.

People are extremely friendly, everything is ridiculously cheap, food is tasty and cheap. It is incredibly easy to travel in all three of these countries, and there are plenty of flight options between the various locations. Check out Bangkok Airways' "Discovery Pass" that allows you to buy one-way flight segments between the various locations. Also, when we were in Vietnam we bought internal domestic flights as walk-ups/same day at local travel agent offices in the towns. The segments were super-cheap, $40 US one way.

Don't bother exchanging money in any of these countries -- all three use U.S. dollars. Carry plenty of $1 bills.

Second the comment about Luang Prabang in Laos -- we loved it. I've also heard that Vientane is pleasant. And interestingly enough we met an east coast couple who had been traveling 4 months around SE Asia and they said Phnom Phen was their favorite place so far in all their travels. Angkor Wat is an absolute life-list must-see but be prepared for the crowds. It was absolutely insane how crowded it was with tour buses, giant tour groups, etc. I am so glad I saw it now as I would hate to be there even five years from now.

Any specific things you want to know just ask. What towns are you planning to go to in each?

SEA2BA

Don't bother exchanging money in any of these countries -- all three use U.S. dollars.

Yes... and look very American.... it has all kinds of connotations. Cannot disagree more with this advice in the case of Vietnam. Also it means overpaying for stuff. (I can hear someone will chirp up "but these people are poor - what's a few bucks to us").

Vietnam uses "Vietnamese Dong". So I would change USD into local currency and use that. Outside of international hotels, travel agents and flashy gift shops on Dong Khoi, pricing is in Vietnam dong. If locals choose to save in gold, USD, Euros etc, then let them do it. I would only use USD for paying bills that are actually in USD - eg hotel bills.

It is also possible to draw VND directly from cash machines at a reasonable cost. For non US people, its no problem to change other major countries into VND - GBP, Yen etc.

On a couple of particular points you raise based on my experience of living in Vietnam and seeing visitors getting into trouble:

Public transportation: though relatively safe, your risks increase massively if you hop on a motorbike. Many visitors like to try the "xe oms" (pronounced "se oms" effectively motorbike taxis) or rent a bike themselves. Things are safer outside of the big cities and away from the main highways.

Violent crime: Generally safe. Actually the only time I've known foreigners to get into trouble is when they've brawled outside bars with other foreigners. However pick-pocketing in crowds and bag snatches are common. If walking down a street you are slightly safer if facing on-coming traffic - less likely to get a bag grabbed from behind by a bike as it overtakes you. Don't feel safe because you are walking on the pavement - bikes will often mount the pavement and with all the noise you won't hear them coming.

I think a good guide book can advise you on other stuff - how you should drink bottled water etc. I never get sick in Vietnam and I've even mistakenly drunk tap water from time to time. I long stopped worrying about what water salads were washed in. Having said that - if you pack too much into your schedule, are tired and jet-lagged your resistance is lower. If you don't booze alot at home but drink gallons of beer and unfamiliar foodstuffs in Vietnam then you're bound to get sick! Personally with more exercise, fruit and veg in Vietnam I generally feel better there than anywhere else in the world.

Have a great trip.

I've been to Luang Prabang, Siem Reap (Angkor) and Hanoi.

If I was going again I would:

- spend more time on boats. Two of my favorite activities were the boat to Pak Ou caves in Laos, and the floating village on Tonle Sap near Siem Reap. Friends took the boat from Phnom Phen to Siem Reap and really enjoyed it. It's also possible to travel to Luang Prabang on the river from northern Thailand.

- see more of Laos beyond Luang Prabang (which I loved)

- bring more US dollars to Laos - there were no ATMs in Luang Prabang, only one money exchanger with a lousy rate.

- travel by air when possible - there are lots of connections between these countries, although it's not always cheap.

- not go back to Hanoi

The boat from northern Thailand to Luang Prabang was one of the highlights of our Laos and Cambodia trip a month ago. The most comfortable way to do this is by Luangsay cruises. It's not a cruise in most river boat cruise terms but it's a safer and more comfortable boat. We booked it directly with them. It takes 2 days with an overnight stop at a lodge at Pakbeng.

There are now 2 ATMs in Luang Prabang which issue dollars as well as local currency. Don't change too much into local currency as it goes a long way.

Angkor for us was too busy - interesting but packed. We found Phnom Penh to be more interesting and it'll change quite a bit over the next decade or so I would think.

It's a few years since we went to northern Vietnam. We liked Hanoi but we were ulucky with the weather at Halong Bay.

We liked Hanoi but we were ulucky with the weather at Halong Bay.

It often seems that way. I have "done" Ha Long bay 4 times. Only once I had perfect weather. My girlfriend and I had a boat to ourselves. Went out in the afternoon. Blue skies... perfect sunset and saw the stars come out. The other 3 times it was cloudy - one time with drizzle.. Unfortunately its often cloudy, even when Hanoi is sunny. The best chance is if you have a few days in Hanoi and can plan at short notice. This isn't practical for most - but that's how I got my perfect day.

Just got back from Lao - 4 nights over New Year in Vientiane and further 4 in Luang Prabang. Flew in on Thai to VTE ,then to LPQ on LaosAir and back to BKK on BangkokAir from LPQ - all e.tickets. Lonely Planet was very useful ,especially on what to see but Hotels and eating out are a bit out of date.
You could do VTE in two days , visiting the Wats ,monuments and museums.
Try to see late President Kaysone's house just North of town. When the US pulled out and the Communist defeated the Royal Lao forces ,Kaysone moved into a bungalow in what was previously the CIA base "Six Klick City" and it has been preserved in all its 1970 glory - including original Kelvinator Air.Con.
Worth spending at least 3 days in Luang Prabang-lots to see ,architecture,Wats,Museums.caves and a great place to eat out.
Will be posting full trip report shortly - have done Cambodia but Laos is my favourite - go before it changes , you will be welcomed with a smile.
As the saying goes " Vietnamese plant rice ,Cambodians watch it grow , and the Lao listen to it growing"
The Lao people are so laid back it makes manyana seem like Speedy Gonzalas.
If you need any quick recommendations on hotels and eating out before my report let me know.

Spent almost 2 weeks in December '07 in Vietnam (Saigon, Hue, Hanoi, Halong Bay) and Cambodia (Siem Reap). We only spent a day in Saigon and that seemed adequate - the poor air quality bothered our eyes. Our highlights in Vietnam was taking bicycle tours of the countryside in Hue and Hanoi. It's a fantastic way to see the country and the local villages/farms, etc. We used a tour guide who arranged the activities based on our interests. Halong Bay was pretty - but agree with a previous posting that the weather can be questionable (foggy). But worth it. We stayed on a private junk boat and spent 1-night on the boat (it's close to a uneventful 3-hr drive to Halong Bay from Hanoi). We went kayaking in the bay and through the rock formations. Siem Reap - it's a must-see. Amazing architecture. Angkor Wat is crowded and I preferred the temples where the jungle was allowed to overtake it. We did a full-temple day from 5:30am-7pm... it was a lot and I'd break it into 2-days but given our time constraints it couldn't be helped. On the 2nd day we also visited the floating village and that was interesting... we got off our private boat early on our return and walked through one of the fishing village and that was fun (visited schools, see children playing, saw vaccinations taking place, etc.)

If you have any questions about hotels, etc. Let me know. Also as posted earlier bring many $1 and $5 US bills. Most places take USD and if we needed to convert any USD into local currencies the hotels did it for you.

For an Aussie perspective - some info and a question:

For air travellers into
Siem Reap (REP) - is there an ATM(s) at the airport where we can withdraw from our Aus savings account with a Visa Debit card?
Should we just exchange AUD$ for local Khmer currency?
Kuala Lumpur (KUL) - we're staying airside at the transit hotel before a 07:00 KUL (LCCT!)-REP flight. Are there any airside ATMs or would I clear immigration to get to an ATM?

What are the conversion rates like at the airport, for exchange of AUD$ into MYR or USD$?

I was advised by an Aussie (MY. expat) here to exchange AUD$ in KL where the rates will be pretty good.

Thanks for any tips of 'dos and don'ts'!

BB