Okay, so I'm daydreaming about next year's planned round-the-world trip, and southeast Asia. I had some idea of flying into Saigon, and then going overland through Cambodia (mostly just to see Angkor Wat) and from there into Thailand, where I'll do tourist trail stuff.

Surprisingly enough, when I mention this idea to friends at work they think I'm nuts. So now I'm wondering if maybe I ought to just land in Bangkok, then hop a flight to Cambodia, on to Saigon, and then a return. No land travel, and I'd have time in Bangkok to set up visas.

Any suggestions? Anyone tried to overland it? Or should I just grab some Thai Airlilne (assumably they fly it) flights in Bangkok? This is speaking as a single female traveling solo. So far the most "exotic" solo trip I've done is to Central Europe (Hungary, Slovak Republic, Czech Republic, Poland) for a month, and that went fine. I've never been to SE Asia before.

Should be absolutely fine. Ask this question on lonelyplanet.com - they have a thorntree bulletin board that will help.

Take a look at http://rectravel.com/rep/

Also, http://groups.google.com within rec.travel.asia . The most authoritative resource is George Moore.

The Angkor site is world class and well worth visiting. I would go from BKK and not Vietnam, however, since you mention it's your first trip to South East Asia.

Plan on 3 full days in Siem Riep, the "launch site" for visiting the Angkor complex. Add a day each way to travel in and to travel out. Possibly add a contingency day, which can be used for a boat ride on the Tonle Sap lake.

Consider getting the Dawn Rooney book on Angkor, http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/AS...419996-0113723
. Too bad the latest edition doesn't use Michael Freeman photography, which you can see in Angkor: Cities and Temples http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/AS...419996-0113723

You are at some risk of drug resistant malaria traveling overland. No worries when traveling by air into Siem Riep and visiting the Angkor site. Take a look at http://www.cdc.gov/travel/seasia.htm

For a hotel in Siem Riep, my wife recommends the Angkor Village http://www.angkorvillage.com/indexhr.html (I usually go more low scale, such as the Golden Apsara.)

Get a guide and travel by moto. (This is somewhat harder to do these days, since guides usually want to travel in a car.)
Rich

hey it's not only possible to do. It's possible to do cheaply!

But the tradeoff is no frequent flyer miles. How cheaply? how about $747. It's a deal being offered by Malaysia Airlines


http://www.malaysiaairlines.com/access_asia.html

By the way, I am talking about going to cambodia this year but will probably go United for the miles. And I'd suggest you look at doing the overland within countries. You can go by boat from phnom penh to angkor for instance and there are other places to go in cambodia. but a lot depends on how much time you have


[This message has been edited by MrAOK (edited 07-02-2002).]

My experience earlier this year in Cambodia was that it was very easy upon arrival at Siem Reap to hire a car and driver to take me around to the various hotels to find the right one. There are several very expensive resort hotels and lots of quite acceptable other ones at a fraction of the price. I flew from Saigon (Viet Nam Airlines charges half what Siem Reap International does, and, as I discovered after lots of searching, Delta sells Viet Nam Airlines tickets - without Delta miles). Siem Reap International also flies from Bangkok and has an office in New York. Maybe they have a good deal on a Bangkok-Siem Reap-Saigon fare. Cambodia doesn't require a visa before arrival, but Viet Nam does. Siem Reap is very sleepy, but the temples are wonderful, and there are lots of them. Saigon (Ho Chi Minh Ville) is an exciting, bustling city and well worth a visit.

Pick up a copy of "A Cooks Tour" by Anthony Bourdain. He writes quite eloquently and vividly about his travels in Vietnam and Cambodia. The book is enlightening and funny. There is a program on The Food Channel which follows his travels. I believe they are re-running some episodes now, so you may find the segment on Cambodia. Try logging on to FoodTV.com and searching for Anthony Bourdain, A Cooks Tour.