Mini Asian train adventure advice.
Discussion
I’d planned the following train trip for September this year, about 6 weeks of travel. The problem was how to structure it.
This year we are planning on Yunan → Myanmar (situation dependent) → Laos → Thailand → Cambodia → Vietnam → Guangxi (not necessarily in that order).
All this changed yesterday, when I learnt of a route, I didn’t know existed.
This has suddenly made route planning a lot easier.
The route will be as above (excluding Myanmar), may pull forward the date to mid May.
Our main interests are; cuisine, we like a long breakfast, relaxing over a coffee or a simple/indulgent dinner; it’s very much a part of the holiday for us. We enjoy leisurely sightseeing, taking in the local atmosphere. We’re not particularly cultural, but will take in the odd museum.
Hotels, basic are OK, if it has a pool, that’s a bonus.
Rather than post the whole trip, I will post it in sections as I develop the route, asking specific questions. I’ve added pictures just to break it up a bit.
Kunming, this is set in stone, we know it well, and we also are in China, so it makes sense.
Anyone have experience of the Kunming to Vientiane train?
Luang Prabang; looks interesting, although it’s said to be very touristy, we do like small rural towns/cities, any opinions?
Vang Vieng; appears very picturesque, right up our street, will appeal to Mrs. DG, I think I can find some extreme activities for her.
Vientiane, sightseeing and food, this is a definite stop.
Anything along the way I’ve missed?
What’s the overall situation with regards to power supply in Laos?
Internet connectivity any advice?
Any other suggestions gratefully received.
Will post up the next leg, in a couple of days.
This year we are planning on Yunan → Myanmar (situation dependent) → Laos → Thailand → Cambodia → Vietnam → Guangxi (not necessarily in that order).
All this changed yesterday, when I learnt of a route, I didn’t know existed.
This has suddenly made route planning a lot easier.
The route will be as above (excluding Myanmar), may pull forward the date to mid May.
Our main interests are; cuisine, we like a long breakfast, relaxing over a coffee or a simple/indulgent dinner; it’s very much a part of the holiday for us. We enjoy leisurely sightseeing, taking in the local atmosphere. We’re not particularly cultural, but will take in the odd museum.
Hotels, basic are OK, if it has a pool, that’s a bonus.
Rather than post the whole trip, I will post it in sections as I develop the route, asking specific questions. I’ve added pictures just to break it up a bit.
Kunming, this is set in stone, we know it well, and we also are in China, so it makes sense.
Anyone have experience of the Kunming to Vientiane train?
Luang Prabang; looks interesting, although it’s said to be very touristy, we do like small rural towns/cities, any opinions?
Vang Vieng; appears very picturesque, right up our street, will appeal to Mrs. DG, I think I can find some extreme activities for her.
Vientiane, sightseeing and food, this is a definite stop.
Anything along the way I’ve missed?
What’s the overall situation with regards to power supply in Laos?
Internet connectivity any advice?
Any other suggestions gratefully received.
Will post up the next leg, in a couple of days.
I know a few people who went to Laos while backpacking but that was around 10 years ago when somewhere like Vang Vieng was popular for partying and floating down the river in rubber tubes completely off your face.
They all said it was beautiful but extremely poor ( I believe poorer than Cambodia and that was clearly a poor country when I ent in 2014). Travel seemed to take all day so be prepared for long journeys.
If it's anything like Cambodia was then water and internet will be slow outside of the big hotels, but you be fine
I believe it's still a communist country and extremely cheap, embrace the slow pace and peaceful countryside
They all said it was beautiful but extremely poor ( I believe poorer than Cambodia and that was clearly a poor country when I ent in 2014). Travel seemed to take all day so be prepared for long journeys.
If it's anything like Cambodia was then water and internet will be slow outside of the big hotels, but you be fine
I believe it's still a communist country and extremely cheap, embrace the slow pace and peaceful countryside
I was in Laos 16 years ago....
Luang Prebang was pretty, tranquil, with echos of colonial history. Lovely and a great place to eat and drink in a relaxed atmosphere.
Vang Vieng - I went for the tubing TBH - which was amazing (and dangerous!) - loads of "friends" bars and pissed teens. Not really somewhere I'd return. However - I've been readiing the tubing is now far safer and regulated and they are shying away from the party scene. (p.s. the tubing itself was super relaxing, it was all the slides and swings that left a lot of kids drowned or paralysed. My ex wife hit the water from a very high swing that winded her and I had to dive in and help her get out of the water).
Luang Prebang was pretty, tranquil, with echos of colonial history. Lovely and a great place to eat and drink in a relaxed atmosphere.
Vang Vieng - I went for the tubing TBH - which was amazing (and dangerous!) - loads of "friends" bars and pissed teens. Not really somewhere I'd return. However - I've been readiing the tubing is now far safer and regulated and they are shying away from the party scene. (p.s. the tubing itself was super relaxing, it was all the slides and swings that left a lot of kids drowned or paralysed. My ex wife hit the water from a very high swing that winded her and I had to dive in and help her get out of the water).
Smiffymoto
Thought that would be the case. Can you ask her about power supply, I’m partial to a cold beer of an evening?
RichFN2
Floating down a river on a tube, sounds great fun, minus the off your face part.
We’re expecting things to be slow and inconvenient; it’s just the way it is.
Griffith4ever
Good to hear about Luang Prebang, that will definitely be a stop for a few days, sounds ideal for us.
Vang Vieng, will give it try, Mrs. DG likes to try new things, but I will keep an eye on the safety aspects; if that sounds patronizing, it’s not, Mrs. DG is an extremely fit (physically), but has little concept of risk awareness.
The next part to plan is Vientiane on to Thailand; although, I will plan that over the coming days, then post with specific questions.
Griffith4ever, it will include the train from 'Bangkok to Poipet' as you recommended in the Sapa thread.
All of these plans are very fluid as there are no particular time constrains.
I’m aware, I can search all of this on the internet, but it’s good to hear peoples experience, thank you all for posting.
Thought that would be the case. Can you ask her about power supply, I’m partial to a cold beer of an evening?
RichFN2
Floating down a river on a tube, sounds great fun, minus the off your face part.
We’re expecting things to be slow and inconvenient; it’s just the way it is.
Griffith4ever
Good to hear about Luang Prebang, that will definitely be a stop for a few days, sounds ideal for us.
Vang Vieng, will give it try, Mrs. DG likes to try new things, but I will keep an eye on the safety aspects; if that sounds patronizing, it’s not, Mrs. DG is an extremely fit (physically), but has little concept of risk awareness.
The next part to plan is Vientiane on to Thailand; although, I will plan that over the coming days, then post with specific questions.
Griffith4ever, it will include the train from 'Bangkok to Poipet' as you recommended in the Sapa thread.
All of these plans are very fluid as there are no particular time constrains.
I’m aware, I can search all of this on the internet, but it’s good to hear peoples experience, thank you all for posting.
Oh you'll be fine with the tubing - its slow, peaceful and stunning. It just used to start at a party bar then you'd sail past many many party bars with swings slides and music - they threw out a rope to pull in customers. Everyone was pissed or high on weed or opium. After the initial stretch opf bars it became uber tranquil. It's changed now and there are only a few bars at the start and they are regulated. The big swings and slides have been shut down. There were just so many deaths from kiddos hittong the bottom, or drownign high on opium, so the gov stepped in to clean up teh image.
Don't miss it - so beautiful. I may well take the mrs there this winter.
The train to poipet - wonderful . You'll love it. Just read up on Poipet border and taxis before you go so you are prepared - it's no big deal - someone will "walk you through" customs and take you to the passport window - he gets a cut from the passport officer - the sign will show one price for a entry, and you'll pay 5 or 10$ more than that - no point arguing. Nothing you can do about it. Watched people getting pointlessly wound up arguing about something they can't change :-)
Don't miss it - so beautiful. I may well take the mrs there this winter.
The train to poipet - wonderful . You'll love it. Just read up on Poipet border and taxis before you go so you are prepared - it's no big deal - someone will "walk you through" customs and take you to the passport window - he gets a cut from the passport officer - the sign will show one price for a entry, and you'll pay 5 or 10$ more than that - no point arguing. Nothing you can do about it. Watched people getting pointlessly wound up arguing about something they can't change :-)
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