Vietnam or Thailand

domtheone

Not been to Cambodia either (although I was almost in sight of the border a few months back) but i've heard the same from a few peeps too.

Prices in Thailand have steadily increased (in truth it's as much that our **** £ just keeps falling and falling) so it's not quite the mega cheap destination it once was (very much depends what you spend your money on though!).

I don't really have time on my next trip in Nov (11 days) but next year, I might toy with the idea of doing Cambodia/Vietnam instead/as well as Thailand.

essgee

To be honest, I'd love to do all of them. [emoji23][emoji23]

spudtator

Used this site the couple of times I've been to Thailand. Also covers most of SE Asia The independent travel guide for Southeast Asia. Travelfish.org

garryboy

That's a great find. 5 mins browsing and I wish my 1 year old was a few years older to make to traveling manageable.

Lin3ar

My daughter and her boyfriend have just got back from a 5 week trip to Vietnam, Cambodia and Thailand.
Their favourite of the 3 was Vietnam followed by Thailand. They didn't like Cambodia much so didn't spend much time there. Being an animal lover, my daughter saw some things in Cambodia that she found very distressing which put her off the country right from the start.

Warriors2010

Me and mrs W went to Vietnam last year. We stayed in Ho Chi Min city for a night, very very busy place but absolutely fantastic. Never seen anything like it on the roads! Literally hundreds and hundreds of mopeds, some with several people on them, others with washing machines/fridge freezers/other mopeds balancing on the back! Loads to see and do there and definitely worth a visit. Like many places, if you stick to the touristy places, the prices are not cheap, but if you're smart, you can pick up some great bargains. loads of historic places to visit, loads to see and do. Second part of our trip we spent at a place at the side of the Mekong river (friend of the brother-in-laws). Loads of trips out to different places and we actually got to sit on the throne of the governor of southern Vietnam (that's a long story, brought about by this guys diplomatic connections)

Cambodia is also beautiful to visit. There are hundreds of temples -Angkor Wat is an absolute must - but there are hundreds more to visit. Just be aware though that many of them are a fair old trek away, depending on where you stay obviously. Accommodation, food and drink is cheap and the people are so friendly and can't do enough for you.

Thailand-we've been there for the last two years, in February. Brother-in-law has lived in Kuala Lumpur for 20  years. He also has a place in Phuket, which we go to for a week or so when we visit. It's quite commercialised in many areas, but there are still some unspoilt places to visit. In Feb this year we hired a long-tail boat for the day. Cost us £90 and it was just us on the boat, plus the captain and his dad! They treated us like royalty for the day, took us to some remote beaches with not a single sole on them. Found us a remote reef and gave us snorkelling gear and also fed and watered us too. If you like a lively night out then Patong is an eye opener Just stick to the main streets, coz the further you stray, the more seedy and dangerous it gets due to the gangs that run the area.

We had 3 days in Laos, Luang Prabang to be precise, this Feb. One of the most beautiful places to visit. Stunning scenery, beautifully friendly people, hundreds of stunning temples etc to see and still very cheap. We stayed in a little beautiq hotel and the staff were incredible. Spent one day on some free bikes, provided by the hotel, and went off the beaten track to some of the temples-only people there at many of them. Less than £10 for a meal, incl water and beers and more food than either of us could eat. Loved it there.

garryboy

Sound amazing warriors2010

Really must go.

Did the same in chaing mai with the temple run.

Got up at 6:00am out on the moped and seen all the temples before the tourists got to them. Met all the monks going in to bless the shops. Really was a sight to behold. All the orange monks deceding on the city.

Went up to wat pra Doi Suthep on the hill overlooking the city. It was stunningly beautiful at that time of the morning.

djpaulc247

I can't comment on Vietnam as I've never been but did Thailand in Feb last year and absolutely fell in love with the place, can't wait to go back but the Mrs' wants to try other places first

We did two nights in Dubai as a stopover then a night in Bangkok.  Didn't really see much in Bangkok but ate at a nice restaurant the Mrs had found (can't remember the name) then headed to Chiang Mai for three nights.  We stayed at the Rawisara Villa Resort which was really nice but really cheap (£150 for 3 nights) - Chiang Mai Resorts Lanna Boutique | Rawisara Villa Resort | Chiang Mai Boutique Retreat

Whilst in Chiang Mai we went to the Elephant Nature Park which was absolutely fantastic and was one of the best things I have ever done.  This is a sanctuary for elephants that are rescued from street performers, circuses, etc and taken care of.  Unlike most of the elephant tourist attractions in Thailand, they actually care for the elephants and try to rehabilitate them after rescuing them from mistreatment.  They do not allow riding of the elephants and once they show the video on the coach after picking you up from your hotel, you will understand why and it is something I am so glad we didn’t do.  I had no idea of the cruelty that these animals are put through in order to make them allow riding.

There are a few different packages you can pick, we picked “Sunshine for Elephants”.  You’re picked up in the morning then briefed on the sanctuary during your journey.  In the morning you feed the elephants things like watermelon and sugar cane then during the day you trek with the elephants and a guide (as I say, no riding) through the jungle and eventually to a hut where you have lunch.  You also go to a waterfall that you can slide down if you're daring enough.  Then you continue the trek and arrive at a river where you then bathe the elephants.  Absolutely amazing experience and one I cannot recommend highly enough.

Welcome to Elephant Nature Park - Elephant Nature Park

Elephant Nature Park (Chiang Mai, Thailand): Top Tips Before You Go - TripAdvisor

                                                                               

                                                                               

                                                                               

                                                                               

                                                                               

                                                                               

From Chiang Mai we flew to Phuket then got the ferry to Phi Phi where we spent three nights at the P. P. Palmtree resort.  Really nice hotel and not too expensive, we paid £240 for three nights but we went for a Pool Access Double which was more expensive than a standard room but well worth it – P.P. Palm Tree Resort Official website


I loved Phi Phi although it is pretty rowdy.  The beach bars at night are good though with lots of music and performers on.  We found a great little bar where two guys would just play the guitar and sing all sorts from Oasis to Bob Marley.  We did a really good cruise that took us kayaking around some of the limestone cliffs and to Maya Bay, where The Beach was filmed.  After sunset we snorkelled with the glowing plankton, unreal.

                                                                               

From Phi Phi we caught a ferry to Krabi and stayed four nights at the Ban Sainai resort that was absolutely stunning.  It is surrounded by limestone cliffs and is made up of huts on stilts that were really nice, and back on to a big pond / lake so you see all sorts of fish, frogs, lizards, etc. - Ban Sainai Resort


We did another cruise in Krabi that took us around the likes of Chicken Island and we stopped near some cliffs that we all climbed and dived off into the sea.  Again, a great experience.  From there we flew back to Bangkok and spent a night there, then another night in Dubai to break up the travel, then home.  And I’ve been dreaming about going back ever since!!


If you would like any further info or the names of the cruises we did, let me know and I’ll try and find out for you. I can probably recommend some really good restaurants too if you’re interested, I can’t remember the names but the Mrs will.  She has a photographic memory when it comes to places we’ve eaten!

Philly112

Another vote for the Elephant Nature Park near Chiang Mai. It's a magical place, run by people who really care about the elephants. Most of them have had miserable lives, but they can live out the rest of their days in what seems to be elephant  paradise! Note that not only don't ride an elephant, you should also never buy an elephant 'painting'. They can indeed produce a passable picture of a tree. As could most of us given the 'encouragement' meted out.
Chiang Mai itself is also a great place, as reported plenty of temples, and a very good night market.
We're back off to Thailand next February, and  few days in Luang Prabang, Laos as well. We can fly direct to Singapore  from Manchester,  and from there  to Laos, then to Bangkok.

LiveForever

Hey Essgee, you really should try and visit both.  They are both incredibly amazing and very different.  You could fly into Bangkok travel about a bit and then go to Vietnam.

If you are visitng Vietnam, be sure not to ignore the north.  Hanoi is an enchanting old world city.  You'll just love it.  And then of course there is Halong Bay.

It's all waiting for you