My husband %26amp; I spent a month travelling in Vietnam last year - we loved it so much we%26#39;re planning on heading back this year. We thought (initially) that we%26#39;d look at spending a couple of weeks travelling in Cambodia and Laos first, and then finish off in Vietnam.
The problem is, that whilst we have started to research and investigate both Cambodia and Laos, neither country fills us with excitment or enthuisiasm of what they have to offer. We love the culture, great food and the friendliness of the Asian people, but I have to be honest, without being completely ignorant - the thought of visiting temple after temple (even, dare I say it, Angkor Wat) is not my idea of real adventure or fun. Vietnam is filled with excitment and so many different things to do and see, including great museums %26amp; memorials, beaches %26amp; boat trips, the wonderful Mekong Delta region, bars, markets and shopping, which we loved - hence the reason for heading back there.
Our alternative plan is to head to Thailand for a couple of weeks and head up north to take in Chang Mai %26amp; Chang Rai etc, before heading off to Vietnam.
Are Cambodia and Laos really worth visiting if you%26#39;re not into religous sites and temples? Or should we just head to Thailand instead?
Any comments or assistance would be greatly appreciated.
Cambodia %26amp; Laos OR Thailand?
My personal opinion; No. Laos and Cambodia have nothing that compares to Vietnam or Thailand.
They are both poor countries, and unless you are in to ruins or the odd palace there%26#39;s not much there from a normal tourist perspective.
Having said that, they%26#39;re lovely people. But you can say that about so many countries.
In my few visits to Cambodia I was not aware of any strong cultural experience, I think it was wiped out by the Americans and Pohl Pot.
Ditto with Laos, although they have a stronger Thai with their French colonial past.
I%26#39;m sure there will be some people out there that will disagree and point attractions I%26#39;ve missed, but I%26#39;m being very general here.
You can only do so much in a 2 week break, so why waste it when there is so much more to offer nearby.
Cambodia %26amp; Laos OR Thailand?
Having travelled to both Thailand and Cambodia last year I guess if you%26#39;re not into the magnificence of the Ankor area than you are probably safer to go to Thailand. We only stayed in Siem Reap for 4 days with our 3 older teenage children and we had a fabulous guide who showed us the %26#39;must see%26#39; temples. We stayed at the Ankor palace Resort which is simply stunning and the staff just beautiful. We stayed in the Novotel Coralia in Thailand on Patong Beach and partyed hard there on Bangla Road etc. So, by the time we got to Cambodia for the %26#39;stop over%26#39; on the way home to Australia we were ready for the relaxed half day tours and the lazy floating around in the excellent pool facilities at the resort.
Either way, I%26#39;m sure you will still enjoy the friendly locals :-)
cheers
Vanessa
Hmmm. In fact this is a very interesting question and difficult to answer without knowing a bit about you.
We have traveled extensively in Thailand and Cambodia, not so much in VN and Laos, which I love.
Perhaps it is the contrast to the excitement and chaos that can be BKK and most of T%26#39;land, which I love about Laos and Cambodia. But after a while, I have to agree with you in regard to: Wats, Wats, Wats.
But Laos is the polar opposite of BKK. Quiet, relaxed, intact.
From BKK we drove (you can take the overnight train) to Chiang Mai, a wonderful large town with great lodging (Tamerind Village and others), fabulous street food in the night market and lots to keep you busy, shopping for crafts and silks, siting the cafes watching the Asian world go by and funky fun night life on the River clubs. You might consider a overnight stop in Sukhothai on the way to CM and take in the historic park--bikes are the best way to get around in Sukhothai. Also, if you are into it, consider a visit to one of the elephant camps, you can spend a day riding elephants or a 3 day tour to learn basics of a mahout (elephant trainer).
From Chiang Mai make your way to Chiang Rai. (Actuallly Chiang Rai itself is not very interesting; however we stayed at the Four Seasons just outside CR--a fabulous (but of course, very expensive)resort with its own elephants, water buffalo and working rice fields. Cross into Laos for the slow boat on the Mekong River to Luang Probang. This is a two day/one night trip ~700USD with a stop on the way overnight in a fabulous teak/bamboo lodge overlooking the Mekong, one of the highlights of our trip last year. A great way to unwind after T%26#39;land. You disembark after two days at the Fr colonial town of Luang Probang, with more monks than civilians it seems. Intact French architecture, beautiful Wats (of course), 5 star lodging, (and less expensive) and great food, try L%26#39;Elephant.
I recommend just to unwind again in Luang Probang; it is a wonderful little town with lots of bargain shopping for low or art quality silk weavings and other craft. You can rent a bike and make your way outside of town as well.
As far as Cambodia, I can%26#39;t imagine being this close to Siem Reap and Ankor Wat region without spending a few days there. Yes, you might risk getting ';Watted'; out, but they are truly beautiful and extraordinary. Research just one or two wats in addition to the Ankor complex that you think might interest you, and then forget about it.
There is great night life in Siem Reap, lots of clubs, friendly people, great food and shopping, the markets. Lodging at every price range including extreme hight end. You will regret not having stopped in Siem Reap and visited at least a couple or three of the magnificient wats.
Hope this is helpful. BTW, i have never been to the beaches in Cambodia, so I can not advise in that regard. We did visit Phenom Phen on a trip two years ago; I do not recommend. All the chaos of BKK or Hanoi/Saigon with little of the interest.
Have a great trip.
Hmmm. In fact this is a very interesting question and difficult to answer without knowing a bit about you.
We have traveled extensively in Thailand and Cambodia, not so much in VN and Laos, which I love.
Perhaps it is the contrast to the excitement and chaos that can be BKK and most of T%26#39;land, which I love about Laos and Cambodia. But after a while, I have to agree with you in regard to: Wats, Wats, Wats.
But Laos is the polar opposite of BKK. Quiet, relaxed, intact.
From BKK we drove (you can take the overnight train) to Chiang Mai, a wonderful large town with great lodging (Tamerind Village and others), fabulous street food in the night market and lots to keep you busy, shopping for crafts and silks, siting the cafes watching the Asian world go by and funky fun night life on the River clubs. You might consider a overnight stop in Sukhothai on the way to CM and take in the historic park--bikes are the best way to get around in Sukhothai. Also, if you are into it, consider a visit to one of the elephant camps, you can spend a day riding elephants or a 3 day tour to learn basics of a mahout (elephant trainer).
From Chiang Mai make your way to Chiang Rai. (Actuallly Chiang Rai itself is not very interesting; however we stayed at the Four Seasons just outside CR--a fabulous (but of course, very expensive)resort with its own elephants, water buffalo and working rice fields. Cross into Laos for the slow boat on the Mekong River to Luang Probang. This is a two day/one night trip ~700USD with a stop on the way overnight in a fabulous teak/bamboo lodge overlooking the Mekong, one of the highlights of our trip last year. A great way to unwind after T%26#39;land. You disembark after two days at the Fr colonial town of Luang Probang, with more monks than civilians it seems. Intact French architecture, beautiful Wats (of course), 5 star lodging, (and less expensive) and great food, try L%26#39;Elephant.
I recommend just to unwind again in Luang Probang; it is a wonderful little town with lots of bargain shopping for low or art quality silk weavings and other craft. You can rent a bike and make your way outside of town as well.
As far as Cambodia, I can%26#39;t imagine being this close to Siem Reap and Ankor Wat region without spending a few days there. Yes, you might risk getting ';Watted'; out, but they are truly beautiful and extraordinary. Research just one or two wats in addition to the Ankor complex that you think might interest you, and then forget about it.
There is great night life in Siem Reap, lots of clubs, friendly people, great food and shopping, the markets. Lodging at every price range including extreme hight end. You will regret not having stopped in Siem Reap and visited at least a couple or three of the magnificient wats.
Hope this is helpful. BTW, i have never been to the beaches in Cambodia, so I can not advise in that regard. We did visit Phenom Phen on a trip two years ago; I do not recommend. All the chaos of BKK or Hanoi/Saigon with little of the interest.
Have a great trip.
Thanks for the info, I appreciate the views and opinions of others, which has also helped us as we have now decided that we will travel to Thailand for 2 weeks, rather than to Laos and Cambodia. It just seems to fit our bill a lot better and we are very excited and enthusiastic about it!! We are looking at heading to Bangkok, Kanchanaburi then up to Chang Mai, Chang Rai and up to the Golden Triangle region, possibly into Myanmar briefly, before making our way back down to Bangkok and then flying out to Vietnam for another couple of weeks.
Thanks again!!
Sawadeekrup, greetings from Chiangrai. You have decided to visit the north of Thailand and I think it is a great idea. Northern Thailand can offer more of temples. There lots of caves where you don%26#39;t have to climb, the many hill tribes, elephant camps and beautiful botanical garden etc. I bet you have not done the living with a Thai family thing, be part of the family, like a home-away-from-home? Pls to pass more info. Message me.
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