Bonjour, je suis nouveau sur le forum^^ Je suis étudiant à Versailles et j'ai un projet de partir en voyage avec un ami durant 3 mois en Asie. Je suis d'origine vietnamien mais je suis née en France alors je souhaite surtout partir au vietnam pour connaître mon pays d'origine:) Alors, aprés plusieurs recherches sur le net, j'ai essayer de voir les meilleurs prix pour les billets mais je ne trouve rien d'intéressant. En fait, je voyage presque tous les ans mais souvent en Europe ou alors au USA, donc je m'y connais pas trop l'autre bout du monde.
J'ai besoin de conseil concernant mon voyage: les dates de départ commencent début juin (vers fin mai ou debut juin en fonction des prix du billet) et retour vers le 20 septembre.
Je souhaite commencé mon voyage en thailand ( car le prix du billet d'avion revient beaucoup moins cher que aller directement au vietnam(environ 600€ avec koweit airline) si quelqu'un connaît une compagnie pas cher je suis preneur Paris/Bangkok allée retour) et rester environ 2 voir 3 semaines maxi la-bas.
En thailand, j'ai vu que pour les français (sur le net), on a pas besoin de visa (cool pour le portefeuille^^), je souhaite surtout visiter 2 voir 3 jours les temples etc et le reste du temps profiter de la plage, villages, l'aventure quoi^^. ( je recherche des adresses pour des coins pas trop touristique et pas cher avec décors comme sur les cartes postal. Environ 10€ la nuit si possible car on s'en fout du luxe, juste une chambre avec toilette et douche, bref juste pour faire dodo).
Aprés je pars pour le vietnam (a priori en avion, si quelqu'un sait comment partir pas cher en bateau?Bus?) et je sais pas si je devrais faire mon visa (pour le vietnam) en france ou en thailand pour le rapport prix. Besoin de conseils aussi^^. Ma destination est Saigon. Je reste environ 2 mois au vietnam pour le visiter du sud au nord. J'ai pas trop besoin de conseil pour le vietnam car je parle le vietnamien (je sais pas l'écrire lol) et j'ai de la famille la-bas. Mais je suis toujours preneur si quelqu'un a des infos.
aprés je souhaite aller à Singapour pour environ 1 semaine maxi (3 ou 4 jours normalement) car c'est pas trop loin du vietnam et que j'ai vu que le billet est d'environ 60/80€ de saigon, donc autant en profiter. Je recherche des infos pour des chambres pas cher (avec lit et toillette + douche comme d'habitude, pas besoin de truc trop cher). La visite se fera au feeling.
enfin, j'aimerais visiter hong kong mais j'ai pour le moment aucune infos dessus, est ce que cela vaut le coup de visiter hong kong à partir de saigon? combien cout le billet (vol low cost entre saigon et hong kong?), le cout de la vie la-bas et le prix des hotels ( si possible pas cher environ 20€), je réserve un budget de 500 euros maxi pour Hong Kong pour une durée de 1 semaine maxi y compris le billet d'avion allé/retour à saigon dans les 500€.
Retour de Hong KOng ou de singapour (si Hong Kong est annulé pour raison budget) à saigon pour rester 2 jours puis direction bangkok pour reprendre l'avion et rentrer à paris, voilà^^.
Alors, qu'est ce que vous en pensez?
Quand acheter le billet (surtout pour Paris/Bangkok allé et retour) et quelles comagnies (j'accepte les escales si les prix sont moins cher)?
Sinon, une autre question ( la dernière ^^) concernant les devises, dois-je emmener avec moi les € et échanger en monnaie local dans les pays asiatiques? Quelles est la meilleur solution?
Etant donné que nous somme étudiant et que nous avons économisé (bossé) toute l'année, on aimerai les infos vraiment simpa pour les prix svp
Je vous remercie pour toutes vos réponses. Amicalement, Vincent
Lucky that we have a home/Our Home is Nha May Man/Passing rain and dry seasons/In a full-of-love atmosphere/Besides my new family/I have brothers and sisters/The sun shines over the skies/Let's stay here, with all of us,
"beaucoup de chances"? lol a ce point là? en faite je demande pas de conseil pour le vietnam c'est parce que j'ai de la famille la-bas (ma grand mère et des cousins), donc j'imagine que ils connaissent bien le pays si j'ai un problème^^ par contre je suis preneur si vous avez des infos pour des endroits a visiter etc, je compte vraiment aller partout au vietnam, si quelqu'un a des coins cachés et qui sont vraiment magnifique alors je suis preneur^^ voilà merci
je sais pas si je devrais faire mon visa (pour le vietnam) en france ou en thailand pour le rapport prix.
Tu es d'origine vietnamienne ? Alors tu es concerné par ce message :
http://voyageforum.com/v.f?post=2055637;#2055637
j'aimerais visiter hong kong mais j'ai pour le moment aucune infos dessus, est ce que cela vaut le coup de visiter hong kong à partir de saigon?
Il existe des possibilités intéressantes de stop à Hong Kong si tu voyages avec Cathay Pacific pour aller au Vietnam. Fais des recherches et de bons calculs. 😛 Nous n'y avons fait que des escales de plusieurs heures (manque de temps pour un séjour...) mais Hong Kong vaut la peine.
Je comprends ton etonnement suite a la reponse d'Abalone, mais il faut que tu saches que si ta famille n'est pas riche, il y a tres peu de chances qu'elle connaisse le Viet Nam.
Je m'explique : peu de familles vietnamiennes (en pourcentage) ont les moyens de voyager et je connais plus de Vietnamiens qui n'ont jamais franchi les limites de leur province que de gens qui ont parcouru le pays.
Ce n'est pas du tout une critique, mais un etat de fait. En qualite d'expat s'occupant de touristes, je crois avoir vu plus d'endroits au Viet Nam que la moitie des locaux. Tu dis n'etre jamais venu au pays, prepare-toi donc a un grand choc. Si tu veux des renseignements et quelques tuyaux, tu peux me joindre en MP.
des infos pour des endroits a visiter etc, je compte vraiment aller partout au vietnam, si quelqu'un a des coins cachés et qui sont vraiment magnifique
Ton premier message a une consonnance que les viêtnamiens interprètent comme dans l'expression suivante: "Ta dây nè, không cân ai hêt". 🙂
Sérieusement, si tu veux découvrir le ViêtNam comme un vrai viêtnamien, écoutes quand même mon conseil. Le tourisme tel qu'il a été présenté jusqu'à ce jour aux touristes occidentaux, n'est pas du tout satisfaisant. Ce sont juste des clichés superficiels. Pour ma part, je trouve cela très décevant.
Pour connaitre à fond le pays et découvrir des sites inédits dont on ne parle jamais dans les guides en papier, il faut recourir à de vraies agences viêtnamiennes comme Viêtravel, Fiditour, Dona Tour, Nimbus tourist, Thanh Dat Travel etc ... etc...
Tu vas voyager en compagnie d'autres viêtnamiens dont tu vas apprendre beaucoup de choses, en découvrant la richesse du pays que les étrangers ne connaissent pas.
Une autre raison importante aussi à prendre en compte c'est en faisant appel aux agences viêtnamiennes qui organisent des tours pour les viêtnamiens, ça coute nettement moins cher que toutes les autres solutions, y compris la solution de brouillardise individuelle.
Lucky that we have a home/Our Home is Nha May Man/Passing rain and dry seasons/In a full-of-love atmosphere/Besides my new family/I have brothers and sisters/The sun shines over the skies/Let's stay here, with all of us,
Merci de vos réponses, concernant ma famille je pense que ma grand mère est aisé au vietnam (d'aprés le niveau de vie que je sais la-bas) et divers raisons que je vais pas m'étaler dessus ^^.
Même si je suis né en france, j'ai reçu une éducation assez traditionnelle aux valeurs vietnamien car ma mère reste une personne trés attachée aux traditions (mon nom à la maison est Hieu ^^). Bien sûr, je pense que cela va être un choc pour moi mais cependant, j'essaierai mon maximum de m'adapter à la vie vietnamienne avec mon sourire, ma sociabilité et ma curiosité.
"Ton premier message a une consonnance que les viêtnamiens interprètent comme dans l'expression suivante: "Ta dây nè, không cân ai hêt"." Concernant l'interprètation de mon message, je ne voulais absolument pas prendre tout le monde de haut et débarqué comme le "viet kieu" qui connait tout de la vie, loin de moi cette idée là🙂. Non, car quand je parle avec ma famille au vietnam, ils sont tous content que je pars au vietnam en me promettant que ils m'emmeneront visiter pleins d'endroit, aller à la mer, rencontrer les gens de leurs connaissance (sutout ma grand mère^^ car je suis fils unique et un peu son chouchou car mes tantes qui sont en europe n'ont eu que des filles etc) ... .voilà🙂
Concernant les infos que vous m'avez donné, je vous en suis reconnaissant^^ je prend note de tout cela.
Super l'infos pour le visa!! Car j'ai vu que c'est 130 euros pour une durée plus de 1 mois au vietnam. Merci Margouillat😄
Sinon, concernant les tours, d'habitude je suis pas trop fan mais c'est vrai que j'avais pas pensé concernant les tours vietnamien. De plus si on peut rencontrer des locaux et avoir des discussions, rencontrer des gens etc alors oui!!C'est ce que je voulais^^. Merci Abalone
Sinon, d'aprés ma mère, il faudrait faire attention et ne pas faire confiance aux gens (enfin pas tout le monde, mais les inconnus) car souvent ils escroquent les occidentaux (ou viet kieu) pour but d'en profiter. Surtout si mon ami (français origine) et moi nous somme jeunes. Bref en quelque sort, faire attention aux filles. Vous confirmez?
Voilà je vous remercie encore pour vos conseils et je recherche toujours des adresses simpa en thailand avec belles plages sauvages/bungalow et pas trop touristique, tout ca avec un prix raisonnable (10€-20€ maxi l'hotel) svp😉
Faire attention et ne pas faire confiance aux gens (enfin pas tout le monde, mais les inconnus) car souvent ils escroquent les occidentaux (ou viet kieu) pour but d'en profiter. Surtout si mon ami (français origine) et moi nous somme jeunes.
Il n'y a pas de pays où les touristes ne sont pas escroqués🙂.
Bref en quelque sort, faire attention aux filles. Vous confirmez?
Non! Si tu fréquentes les filles de ton niveau socio-culturel, des universitaires par exemple, aucune crainte. Elles sont moins intéressées par toi que toi pour elles. Pour en séduire une, je te souhaite beaucoup de patience et de délicatesse. Par contre, si tu cherches les filles faciles, alors évidemment, prends garde.
Lucky that we have a home/Our Home is Nha May Man/Passing rain and dry seasons/In a full-of-love atmosphere/Besides my new family/I have brothers and sisters/The sun shines over the skies/Let's stay here, with all of us,
Bonjour Abalone,
Il y a déjà quelques mois nous étions en contact, et je reviens aujourd'hui à nouveau. Nous avions parlé de mon projet : Demande d'aide pour faire avancer mes écritures sur le vietnam, surtout le sud. Parce que j'écris un roman, vous m'avez proposé vos services de collaborer, alors ce jour je réitère ma demande. Merci, et bien à vous. JC
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Hi there,
We’re planning a 3-week family trip next summer with our three kids, who’ll be 8, 8, and 7 years old.
After some research, we’re leaning toward Malaysia to combine nature/forests and paradise beaches. The idea is to introduce our kids to the country’s culture, nature, and wildlife.
We want a great trip but without splurging on luxury options like high-end lodges and resorts. We’re looking for comfort with a touch of authenticity—basically, a good middle ground.
I’ve started putting together an itinerary and would love your expert advice and tips to help us build this amazing trip with our little ones.
Day 1: Departure from France
Day 2: Kuala Lumpur
Stay at a hotel near the airport or KL Sentral.
Just one night.
Day 3: Morning flight to Sandakan (Borneo).
Stay in Sepilok
Day 4: Sepilok:
* Orangutan Center
* Malayan Sun Bear Center
* Rainforest Discovery Centre
Day 5: Depart for Kinabatangan.
Boat safari in the late afternoon.
Day 6: Sunrise safari.
Jungle walk.
Evening safari.
Day 7: Final safari.
Return to Sandakan.
Flight to Kuala Lumpur, then to Kota Bharu (or overnight transit depending on schedules).
Day 8: Transfer to the port.
Boat to the Perhentian Islands.
Days 9 to 13: Perhentian Besar
5 full days.
* Snorkeling
* Hiking
* Turtle watching
* Wild beaches
* Relaxation
Day 14: Return to the mainland.
Bus or private car to Taman Negara.
Hello, it’s been a while since I last asked for your help on this forum—I’ve really missed it! I hope you’re all doing well, whether you're new or returning members.
I’m planning a trip from February 6 to 18, 2027, with my sister (we’re 47 and 50—time flies!). I’ve got my eye on a flight from Paris that lands in Bangkok on February 7 at 3 PM, with a return flight from Bangkok on February 18 at noon.
My sister has never been to this destination, and it’ll be her first time in Asia. Her priorities: beaches, sunshine, and cocktails by the shore. For me, I love that too, but I also enjoy exploring, nature, forests, and a bit of comfort (mixing guesthouses and higher-end hotels with pools). A little evening entertainment would be great, but not too much—good cocktails in a nice atmosphere rather than a rave party ;-). And I can’t help but dream of taking her on a little trek through a tropical forest (guaranteed memories and laughs, though she might curse me at the time) and showing her some karst landscapes.
I’ve been to Thailand before, but it was 15 years ago...
The idea is to give her a taste of Bangkok for 1 or 2 nights, a few days on an island (but which one...?), a tropical forest excursion with 1 or 2 nights on-site (Khao Sok?), and then back to Bangkok.
For the "main" island, even after reading the *Guide du Routard*, I’m still undecided. It’s hard to find a place that ticks all the boxes without feeling as crowded as the French Riviera in August: Koh Lanta? Khao Lak (though it’s not an island)? Koh Tao (I could maybe get my PADI certification, but I’m afraid she’d get bored, and it might be better to save that for a solo trip)? Koh Yao Yai (I worry we’d be bored in the evenings)? What a dilemma!
Thank you if you’ve read this far! Feel free to share any advice—it’ll all be warmly welcomed.
Here’s a rough outline of the itinerary (I’d rather skip a night in Bangkok if needed):
· Saturday, February 6, 2027: departure (overnight flight)
· Sunday, February 7, 2027: arrival at 3 PM, probably at the hotel by 6 PM, evening in Bangkok (overnight in Bangkok)
· Monday, February 8, 2027: day in Bangkok (Wat Pho and a floating market?) (overnight in Bangkok)
· Tuesday, February 9, 2027: travel to Koh Lanta or another island (flight to Phuket or Krabi?) (overnight on island "x")
· Wednesday, February 10, 2027: beach and walks (overnight on island "x")
· Thursday, February 11, 2027: beach and walks (overnight on island "x")
· Friday, February 12, 2027: beach and walks (overnight on island "x")
· Saturday, February 13, 2027: beach and walks (overnight on island "x")
· Sunday, February 14, 2027: beach and walks (overnight on island "x")
· Monday, February 15, 2027: travel to Khao Sok—nighttime excursion to Khao Sok (overnight in Khao Sok)
· Tuesday, February 16, 2027: exploration and hike in Khao Sok (overnight in Khao Sok)
· Wednesday, February 17, 2027: return trip to Bangkok (overnight in Bangkok)
· Thursday, February 18, 2027: return flight to Paris at noon
I’m planning a trip to Cambodia and was set on visiting the Ratanakiri region, which seemed to match what we love most in terms of landscapes: forests, jungle, greenery...
However, as I started looking into the area, I read that deforestation there is massive, and some of the info on the topic is years old—the situation hasn’t improved since, unfortunately.
So my question is: is Ratanakiri still worth visiting, and does it justify the long travel time and distance to get there?
I’ve seen that jungle treks are possible, but from experience, I know guides sometimes hesitate to venture deep into the forest and stick to shorter walks along the edges of parks.
Hi there,
I’ve found so many tips and reviews on this forum, so it’s my turn to contribute a little.
We spent just over two weeks with our family, with the following itinerary:
- Hanoi: 5 days
- Halong Bay: 3 days and 2 nights
- Tam Coc: 3 days
- Mai Chau: 2 days
- Sapa: 3 days
We got around by bike, scooter, Grab, and bus.
Our main accommodations were homestays and hotels in Hanoi.
We visited lots of museums, temples, and neighborhoods in Hanoi.
We did a 2-day, 1-night trek in Sapa with May, a Hmong local, without going through an agency.
A few small regrets: the weather was overcast, and we couldn’t make it to Fansipan, but nothing major 😅. We also couldn’t find transport to get from Sapa to Mu Cang Chai.
Other than that, this trip will stay in our memories for the kindness of the Vietnamese people, the connections we made, the food (street food, homestays...), the coffee 😋, the landscapes, and how easy it was to get around...
Our goal was to take our time and focus only on a small part of northern Vietnam.
If you need any tips or recommendations, don’t hesitate to ask.
Looking forward to hearing from you.
Cédric.
Hi there, we’re landing at Hanoi Airport and would like to head straight to Cao Bang without going into Hanoi. Does anyone know if there are buses that go directly from the airport to Cao Bang (especially in the early afternoon)? Thanks in advance!
Hi everyone,
I’m currently working on a 30-day itinerary for May/June 2027.
10 days in eastern Java (Malang, Bromo, waterfalls, Meru Beriti Park, Banyuwangi, and Ijen), a short transit in Ubud for a few days, then Flores before heading back to Jakarta.
We’ll spend 15 days in Flores (the classic route: Moni, Bajawa, Riung, Ruteng, ending in Labuan Bajo).
I’d love some firsthand feedback on flights to Maumere or Ende from Bali Denpasar. I know there are no direct routes and that you have to connect through Labuan Bajo or Timor (I think), which isn’t an issue in itself.
But I’ve read here and there that flights to these destinations can be delayed—or worse, canceled—and that it’s better to fly in and out of Labuan Bajo, which isn’t exactly ideal...
Thanks for any tips or experiences you can share!
hi everyone,
I want to travel in the north for 3 weeks in September-October 2026 to meet ethnic minorities, photograph mountain rice terraces and their harvest, and revisit Halong Bay—but maybe Lan Ha Bay instead. Can you recommend one or more local agencies?
Thanks, and happy holidays!
I need some expert advice on these two destinations for a 15-day trip. We land in KL and plan to stay for 2 days before heading to Borneo and finishing with an island for snorkeling.
For those who’ve been, what are your must-sees?
We were thinking of spending the last 3 days on the Perhentian Islands, unless you’ve got another island to recommend near Borneo.
Thanks for your tips and help!
Hi everyone,
Could you share your thoughts on my 3-week itinerary?
We’re a small group (family + friends) of 12 people, planning to leave around January 21, 2027.
Here’s my itinerary:
3 nights in Bangkok
4 nights in Chiang Mai
3 nights on Koh Samui
3 nights on Koh Phangan
4 nights in Krabi
4 nights in Phuket
I’m also open to any great tips you might have...
Thanks, everyone! Alain.
I’d love to get some feedback on our itinerary—it’s probably pretty basic! This is our second trip to Asia and our first to Indonesia. We have three kids aged 20, 18, and 12. We land in Jakarta at 4 PM, spend 3 nights/2 days there, then take the train to Yogyakarta for 3 nights/2 days, followed by the train to Surabaya for 2 nights/1 day, then the train to Bromo for 1 day/1 night, a private driver to Ijen for 2 nights/2 days, then on to Bali (Ubud) for 4 nights/3 days, followed by Gili Air for 3 nights/2 days, Senggigi (Lombok) for 2 nights, and finally 5 nights in Kuta. I’m considering cutting the 2 nights in Senggigi to just keep Kuta and extend it to 7 nights. In Lombok, I’m not sure how to get around since I’m not comfortable with scooters... Your thoughts on all of this, and any advice, are more than welcome—don’t hesitate!
For those wondering why cities like Jakarta and Surabaya: we don’t often get the chance to visit big Asian cities, so we wanted to include that discovery in our trip. The trains between Jakarta and Yogyakarta, Surabaya and Probolinggo are booked. The return flight from Lombok to Jakarta is also set. Accommodations are booked but flexible (same for the trains).
Hi! I’m planning a 15-day trip to Malaysia. The idea is to visit KL for 2 or 3 days, then Borneo, and I’m wondering what to do with the rest of the time. I’d like to finish with the Perhentian Islands... What do you think? Any tips or advice would be great—I’d really appreciate it!
Hi everyone,
I’m looking for addresses for guesthouses or, even better, houseboats or rafting houses on the River Kwai, between Kanchanaburi and Sangkhlaburi, to spend a few weeks contemplating this beautiful river.
Thanks for your suggestions!
Premaria
Hi there,
we’re currently in Mai Chau and tomorrow we’re hitting the road back to Hanoi to head up toward Bac Ha and Sapa.
We haven’t really had a set plan since we arrived—we’ve already done the Halong Bay on land and by sea.
I’ve got 2 free days before heading to Bac Ha and Sapa.
Any tips?
Thanks, and looking forward to hearing from you.
Hi fellow travelers,
First trip to Vietnam.
We’ll be arriving in Ho Chi Minh City during Tet.
Is it complicated to find accommodation and get around during this period?
Any tips would be welcome.
Thanks for your replies.
Silly question—backpack or hard-shell suitcase for the Sepilok, Kinabatangan, Tioman, KL trip?
I’m struggling to fit all my son’s and my stuff into the 70L backpack... and I’m thinking a suitcase would be easier, but I’m not sure if it’ll work for getting around.
Hi there,
I didn’t plan to return to Thailand this year, but my health conditions mean it’ll be the best place for me to stay between two trips to India. The tourism setup there is so well-organized that it’s the most "comfortable" country for a short visit. Thailand feels too sanitized for my taste, and there’s too much religion, Buddha, and the King, but it’s still the best option given how my health has been evolving. I’d considered two weeks in ThaTon for hiking, but I got too sick from the burn-offs during my trips to the mountains around Chiang Rai. So I’m not sure where to go this year. Definitely not the sea, touristy spots, or the mountains with burn-offs...
Hello.
In 1996, we crossed Vietnam from Saigon to Hanoi by motorbike—Minsk bikes we bought in Saigon. I haven’t been back since, and it seems like a lot has changed.
- We’re heading to the south (well, the north and center) with the family in July-August (3 people).
- Is the road network more developed now? Back then, there was only National Route 1 from south to north. I’m thinking of renting a car this time (no motorbike with the family—though in ’96, they had a Jawa sidecar for sale, and we hesitated… maybe it’s for the best).
- Is Halong Bay really something to avoid because of overtourism? Even back then, it was pretty crowded. Is there a less touristy alternative?
- We’ll be traveling from Hanoi down to Danang (the only city we didn’t stop in back in ’96). Even though it’s a bit overhyped in a Chinese-tourist kind of way (from what I’ve read), we’re only going for the beach—pure relaxation for 7 days. The beaches are stunning, and I know the South China Sea is warm like coffee.
- Then, we’ll visit Hoi An, where I stopped in ’96. It was already popular with backpackers back then, but no glowing boats or all the touristy fuss!
- After that, Hue, where I have great memories—it’s a beautiful city.
- And also the nature around Ninh Binh, followed by 2-3 days in Hanoi.
That’s the plan. I’d love to hear any tips to avoid mass tourism, and if anyone’s done this before:
- Is it possible to rent a car in Danang and drop it off in Hanoi?
Hey everyone,
I’m over in East Borneo in mid-July.
I’m struggling to wrap up the end of my itinerary, even though it’s pretty straightforward (long but simple).
Last year, we did Malaysia (KL and the mainland + around Kuching).
Day 1 – Arrive in Kota Kinabalu early, stroll around town and hit the must-sees.
Day 2 – Excursion to Tunku Abdul Rahman Park, snorkeling at 3 islands.
Day 3 – Hike around Mount Kinabalu without summiting (450 per person, no way).
Day 4 – Poring Hot Springs + evening flight to Sandakan.
Day 5-6-7 – Kinabatangan River (still looking for the right guide).
Day 8 – Sepilok for the orangutans, the Sun Bear Centre, and Rainforest Discovery Centre.
Day 9 – Selingan, turtle island.
Day 10 – Head to Semporna.
Day 11-12-13-14 – Sipadan, Mabul, Kapalai.
Day 15 – Bohey Dulang.
Day 16 to Day 25: I’M STUCK.
I looked into Danum Valley, but for 3 days/2 nights, they’re quoting 650 € per person—come on, that’s ridiculous.
I checked out a detour into Indonesia (still East Borneo), but I’m having trouble deciding what would be amazing.
I read about Sangalaki + Kakaban (2 islands, 1 base) / Mahakam Delta - Kutai (orangutans and river) / Sungai Boh (Dayak Kayan) – jungle & culture.
But honestly, I’m struggling to finalize this itinerary.
If we venture that way, we’d head back to KK from Balikpapan.
For a 4-month stay in Egypt, I had ENORMOUS problems. The regulations are very bureaucratic and extremely nitpicky there. For a 4-month stay in the Philippines, I was wondering if the procedures are just as complicated? I’m bringing my cell phone with an eSIM. Should I choose a plan from Canada for use in the Philippines, or should I get a plan only once I arrive? After 30 days, do I renew with the Canadian provider I chose before leaving, or do I switch to a local company? Do I need to register my phone with the authorities in the Philippines? (That was the case in Egypt.) For the 3rd and 4th months, will it be just as simple—renewing with a Canadian or local provider—or should I expect problems?
Hello,
I’ll be in Malaysia with my wife, mainly in Langkawi and Penang for Christmas and New Year’s at the end of 2026.
If you’ve had the experience—and since I’ve read (though it’s not very clear) that these two islands get quite crowded during this period—would you recommend booking accommodation well in advance, or is it easy to find something on the spot?
Hotels or Airbnb?
Do you have any great tips for accommodation or any practical info to share?
We’ll be staying 5 to 7 days on each island.
Thanks in advance for your replies
Hi there. To make the most of Lake Toba, is it better to find accommodation on the lake’s shores (which one?) or on Samosir Island? Thanks for your tips!
Hi there,
We’re heading to Vietnam as a family on July 8th for a little over 3 weeks (north and center). We’ve only booked the first 3 nights in Hanoi, and nothing else after that. We like to decide things on the spot and go with the flow, without rushing everywhere. But I’m still a bit unsure: when heading down to the center (Hue), is it better to book the overnight trains in advance? We don’t want to take any flights while we’re there—just use the overnight train for the long trips. But I’m worried we won’t get seats if we buy the tickets on the spot, say, 2 days before. What do the experts here think? And which website can we use to book the tickets? Thanks in advance for your tips!
Hi everyone!
I’m heading back to Thailand in July 2026 with a stopover in Cambodia to visit the Angkor site.
After Angkor, I’ve booked a stay on Ko Chang island. Does anyone know if there are direct transport options from Cambodia to Ko Chang without having to go back through Bangkok? That would be amazing!!
I think there are, but I’d need more details!!
I went to Thailand in February 2025 and don’t remember having to apply for a visa—is that still the case now? And for Cambodia too?
Thanks so much!!!
Laurence from Bayonne
Hi,
After our trip to China, we want to spend a week in the Philippines for some beach time and snorkeling.
We're looking for the best spot to settle in—nice beaches, great marine life, and short transfer times.
Thanks for your suggestions!
Does anyone know of a private transfer or taxi company that organizes transfers from the Sukhothai area to Chiang Mai?
Our routes are Sukhothai-Lampang, Lampang-Chom Thong, and Chom Thong-Chiang Mai.
My searches on Google Maps, 12Go, and others haven’t turned up much...
For our Bangkok-Sukhothai trips, I use a company I’ve already tried, but they don’t have a fleet available from Sukhothai and have to go through third-party companies—which, understandably, take their commission. This nearly doubles the prices...
There are four of us, and we’re not traveling light, so a minibus isn’t an option. ;-)
Hello,
While traveling in Thailand, I’m looking for a Buddhist kumlai reed bracelet.
Does anyone know where I can find one?
In Bangkok, I visited a few temples but didn’t see any in the nearby shops.
If you have any ideas, I’d love to hear them! Have a great day! :-)
