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30 DAYS BANGKOK-CAMBODIA-VIETNAM-CHINA ORD TRIP

Scope

- General Information

- Things to prepare

- Itinerary � � � � � � � � �

Singapore �� Thailand (Singapore �� Bangkok)

Thailand �� Cambodia (Bangkok �� Aranya Prathet �� Siem Reap)

Cambodia �� Vietnam (Siem Reap �� Ang Kor Wat �� Phnom Penh �� Ho Chi Minh)

Vietnam �� China (Ho Chi Minh �� Danang �� Hoi An �� Danang �� Hu茅 �� Hanoi �� Halong Bay �� Hanoi �� Lao Cai �� Kunming)

China �� Singapore (Kunming �� Dali �� Lijiang �� Kunming �� Singapore)

- Hazard Table / RAWR-RMP

- Links

Disclaimer: All information below is not fabricated and is plagiarized either from the Lonely Planet guides that we bought at Kinokuniya and Border��s or from websites from Google.

General Information

Duration

Suggested time: 12 April 2005 �� indefinite (approx. 30 days)

We decided that we should be free and easy on this trip, and so travel time will be dependent on many intangible factors that may delay the trip. Likewise, we could speed up if we do not like the place.

VISA

Thailand �� free 30-day visa, issued on arrival

Cambodia �� US$20 for one month, issued at most borders and all airports

Ang Kor Wat �� US$40 for 3-day pass

Vietnam �� US$35-60 for 30-day visa, arrange in advance, fixed arrival & departure dates

� � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � Vietnamese visas can be arranged in Phnom Penh, available in Bangkok

China �� 30-day visa, issued at China Embassy (from past experience money is required)

I��m not too sure about Vietnam since it��s now part of ASEAN. Will probably check it out in detail, but visas alone could cost us more than US$100. Apparently it is advisable not to do all our visas before we leave as it is cheaper and much easier to get it at neighboring countries. Bangkok is a good place to do so.

Currency Conversions

Thailand:� � � � � � � � � � � US$1 �� 39.92B (baht)

Cambodia:� � � � � � � � � � � US$1 �� 3981r (riel)

Vietnam:� � � � � � � � � � � US$1 �� 16174d (dong)

China:� � � � � � � � � � � � � US$1 �� 8.30 yuan

Travelers�� Cheque

Thailand �� cashed at nationwide banks for 20B commission / cheque

Cambodia �� cashable in most big towns at 2% commission

Vietnam �� cashed at nationwide banks for 1-4% commission

China �� cashable at Bank of China (commission unkown)

I would probably be bringing more travelers�� cheque with me since I don��t get my supplementary card. All transactions are made in Singapore using US$. Only signature required when cashing the cheque at banks.

Voltage

Thailand �� 220V

Cambodia �� 220V (power cuts often in provinces)

Vietnam �� 220V (mostly) & 110V

China �� 220V

Think we are quite safe when it comes to electrical appliances like Hp and iPod Chargers. Socket converters required though.

Things to Prepare

Essential Items ��

� � � � � � � � � � � Passport

� � � � � � � � � � � Cash

� � � � � � � � � � � Travelers�� Cheque

� � � � � � � � � � � Camera

� � � � � � � � � � � Underwear (disposable / cloth)

� � � � � � � � � � � Toiletries

� � � � � � � � � � � Good amount of clothing

� � � � � � � � � � � Watch

� � � � � � � � � � � Lonely Planet Travel Guides

� � � � � � � � � � � Maps

� � � � � � � � � � � Medical-kit (panadol, flu tablet, poh chai pills, cortisol cream, throat lozenges, e.t.c.)

� � � � � � � � � � � Pen (writing materials)

� � � � � � � � � � � Mosquito Repellent

� � � � � � � � � � � Sleeping Bag

� � � � � � � � � � � Water Bottle / water bag

� � � � � � � � � � � Foot powder

Mandatory Tasks ��

� � � � � � � � � � � Say goodbyes to friends and family

� � � � � � � � � � � Travel insurance

� � � � � � � � � � � Vaccination (recommended are � � � � � � Malaria pills, typhoid and hepatitis A)

� � � � � � � � � � � Get a good backpack

� � � � � � � � � � � Get good traveling shoes / boots

� � � � � � � � � � � Book flight ticket to Bangkok

� � � � � � � � � � �

Miscellaneous ��

� � � � � � � � � � � A good book

� � � � � � � � � � � iPod

� � � � � � � � � � �

Itinerary

Singapore �� Thailand

Date	Time	Destination	Duration	Mode of Travel / Accomodation
120405	0635	At Changi Airport	-	Car / Taxi
120405	0835	To Bangkok	2h	Tiger Airways ($98 for O/W ticket)
120405	1030	At Bangkok	2D / 2N	Hotel near Central Area
	The later part of the day will be used to get transport and visas into Cambodia and Vietnam. We could shop or eat stuff for a day around Bangkok before departure.

Thailand �� Cambodia

140405	Morning	To Aranya Prathet	5h	Bus
140405	Noon	At Aranya Prathet	2h	Immigration
140405	Noon	To Siem Reap	7-8h	Bus
140405	Night	At Siem Reap	4D / 5N	Molina Village (Twin SGD$39)
	Touristy place. We shouldn��t have a problem with accommodation. Will get the 3-day pass to Ang Kor Wat and visit the World��s largest religious site. Nightlife in Siem Reap is plenty, so we shouldn��t be too bored over there.
190405	Morning	To Phnom Penh	5.5h	Bus / Speedboat
190405	Noon	At Phnom Penh	3D / 3N	Guesthouse
	Mostly visiting the killing fields of the Khmer Rouge, the museums and making sure that our Viet visas are done if we haven��t done so at Bangkok. Nightlife��s good, just that it��s dangerous.

Cambodia �� Vietnam

220405	Morning	To Moc Bai Border	7h	Bus / Taxi at US$20
220405	Noon	At Moc Bai Border	2h	Immigration
220405	Noon	To Ho Chi Minh City	3h	Bus / Taxi
220405	Night	At Ho Chi Minh City	3D / 3N	Guesthouse
	The most dangerous city in Vietnam, so we shouldn��t compromise safety just because we��re out of Cambodia. Lots of stuff to do.
250405	1440	To Nha Trang	6.5h	Railway (SE2)
250405	2107	At Nha Trang	1D / 1N	Guesthouse
	Think it��s a damn popular beach or something. Maybe worth visiting for a day.
260405	2039	To Da Nang	11h	Railway (S6)
270405	0741	To Hoi An	45min	Taxi (30km away)
270405	0830	At Hoi An	1D / 1N	Hotel
	Showpiece of Vietnamese and colonial (French) architecture. World Heritage Site.
280405	0800	To Da Nang	45min	Taxi (30km back)
280405	1026	To Hu茅	4h	Railway (S8)
280405	1407	At Hu茅	2D / 1N	Guesthouse
	Got to have things to do around here. Not sure though.
290405	1940	To Hanoi	15h	Railway (S4)
300405	1050	Detour to Halong Bay	3D / 2N	Package Tour / Boat
	We just have to make this detour. Spectacular limestone formations rising out of turquoise waters �� a dramatic backdrop for boating adventures. Cool. World Heritage Site again.
040505	Morning	At Hanoi	3D / 2N	Guesthouse
	Probably won��t die of boredom here in Hanoi.

Vietnam �� China

060505 (Wed & Fri Only)	2200	To Kunming via Lao Cai	32h	Railway (North Railway Station) at US$18 for soft sleeper; alternative - take tickets to Lao Cai, stop there, cross the border by foot, then take a train in Hekou
080505	0600	At Kunming	2D / 1N	Hotel
090505	-	To Dali		Railway or Bus
090505	-	At Dali	2D / 1N	Hotel


	I��m just waiting for someone to give me info on some tour package so that we can just copy. By the way, Dali and Lijiang aren��t the only attractions. We may need further discussion on this.

China �� Singapore

120505	Night	To Singapore	5h	Silk Air, Dragon Air or some airline
	We��ll only go back when we want to. But it��s good to make a date so at least we��re on a schedule that we can choose to ignore.

Contingencies

I included this section only because it would probably be good to at least come up with some good counter-strategy if shit happens. And I��m talking like if we��re really in deep shit kinda thing.

Hazards	Risk Factor	Develop Counter-measures	Determine Residual Risk
Heat injuries & other injuries	H	We should get acquainted with each town��s nearest clinic and bring a medical-kit so as to treat minor illnesses or lacerations.	Unless we��re really screwed, it really shouldn��t be a big problem. We should be aware of the symptoms of some dangerous diseases though.
Armed Robbery	M	Saigon and Phnom Penh have high crime rates. In a case of armed robbery, don��t reach for your pockets. Put your hands up and shut the fuck up. Remain calm and let them take the money.	Pickpockets are actually more common IMHO, so just be careful and don��t store too much cash in your wallet.
We could get lost.	L	Find nearest phone booth. Try talking to people who speak English. Ask for directions.	No big deal. It ain��t a bag-packing trip if we didn��t get lost for a time.
Separated from each other	M	My best guess is that Lip and me will have auto-roam. We could try to contact each other. In case of failed mobile contact, we can try to find each other for an hour and if we still can��t get each other we can go back to our accommodation or back to the previous railway station.	We got the in case shit happens money with us so we still can buy our way back to Bangkok. Shouldn��t be a problem.
We could be so bored we start smoking weed and getting ourselves drunk.	L	At least a guy should be sober enough to prevent shit from happening as well as know the way back.	We shouldn��t come to a point where we start mutilating our bodies.
Short of cash along the trip	L	We would of course chip in to help one another but if we were really left cashless we should start sleeping at train stations and eating crumbs to save enough to get back. We should work out a detailed budget and expense worksheet for the trip.	I won��t be able to get a supplementary card so we might really get short of cash if we don��t consider our finances.