Complete travel guide around South East Asia
If you're are reading this article it means you're probably planning a trip around south east asia but you're also stressed out with all the planning, different advices and all the descisions that one has to take. Well, to ease out your worries a bit, South East Asia has a very well established backpackers route and getting around it is a lot easier than you think. This guide will explain to you in the most simple way on how to get around Thailand, Myanmar, Laos, Vietnam, Cambodia and Japan.
You will most probably start your Trip in Bangkok. Which is one of the most important metropols in this region. This should be your first stop and from there you can choose where to go.
How to get from Thailand to Myanmar
In order to get to Myanmar you will need to get a Visa or an E-Visa. I got my E-visa from this webpage: http://www.visacenter.ca/
Prices vary depending on your country. After 2 to 3 days you should receive an official letter by e-mail that you have to print and present along your passport when you arrive to the Burmese Airport. The E-visa is only valid if you arrive by plane. I would recommend this method due to it's implicity. However, it is a bit more expensive than going in person to the embasy in Bangkok.
If you arrive by land you will need to get a regular Visa for Burma at the Burmese embassy in Bangkok. All you have to do is go to the embassy in the morning from 9:00 am- 12:00 pm) and leave your passport there and return to pick up your visa from 3:00 pm to 4:30 pm.
How to get the Myanmar Visa in Bangkok the same day?
1) Arrive to the Myanmar embassy in Bangkok early in the morning.
2) take a form on window 4 and fill it in. Have the following documents on you: passport, copy of passeport,2 passport pictures and adress of hotel where you will be staying in Myanmar. If you dont have pictures or copy of your passport, there's a guy parked in a mini bus right next to the embassy that will take pictures for a very cheap price.
3) Take a number and wait in line
4) Pay for Visa
5) PICKUP : Return to pick up you passport and your visa between 3:00 pm – 4:30 pm
How to get to the Myanmar Embassy in Bangkok?
1) Go to the BTS train station and get off at SURASAK station.
2) Follow exit 3 all the way downstairs.
3) Then turn right and walk in the same direction as the traffic.
4)- Look out for the blue street sign of THANON PAN and turn left. You have arrived to Embassy of Myanmar, 132, SATHORN NUA ROAD, BANGKOK 10500 - Thailand.
You are all set to travel to Myanmar! For more information on how to travel in Myanmar, look at our travel guides.
How to get from Thailand to Laos
Laos does not require to get a visa in advance. Only a visa on Arrival. The tricky part is getting to Laos. There 2 popular ways of doing this. The first one is getting to Chiang Rai and taking a boat that will take two days to Vientiane. If you do not have that much time to wait and you do not feel like spending two days traveling in a boat you can always fly back to Bangkok and take a night train from Bangkok to Vientiane. The train leaves every night around 6 pm. I recommend that you get the first or second class ticket. It's a little bit more expensive but it's totally worth it. The train has beds with curtains for all its passangers and the ride is around 12 hours. It is very comfortable. Simply Bring some water, some snacks, music and a few good books and you will love this ride.
How to Get to Vietnam
Vietnam does require a Visa before entry for most countries. To spare you some trouble, I would advise you to get your Vietnam visa online. It is very simple, I got mine from this webpage and they provided me with a letter that one should present upon arrival at the airport in order to get the visa.
http://www.myvietnamvisa.com/apply.html
It takes around 1 day to 2 days to receive the letter by e-mail. I had absolutely no problems when I arrived to the airport of Hanoi in Vietnam.
If you do not feel like comfortable applying online, for whatever reason, then you can always go to in person to any vietnamese embassy. For instance, I would suggest that you do it in Bangkok. You leave your passport at the Vietnam embassy in the morning and you can pick up your visa the next day. If you are really out of time, sometimes they can arrange same day pick up but you have to arrive very early in the morning and pay a lot more.
Where is the Vietnam Embassy in Bangkok?
The Vietnam embassy is located at 83/1 Wireless Road Bangkok 10330 Thailand. Their Telephone is: (662) 2515836 or (662) 2513552.
How to get your Vietnam Visa in Bangkok?
The Vietnam Visa is just a few minutes walk from the famous mall central embassy. Here are some directions on how to get to the Vietnam Visa. Remember to bring a copy of your passport and 2 picutres.
1) Go to the BTS station
2) Stop at the station on the green line nammed Phloen Chit
3) Once arrived, take exit 2 ( Do not turn right where the arrow is. Instead keep going straight) towards exit 5.
4) At the end of the hall turn right
5) Keep the Wireless road always and keep your right
6) You will see the Plaza Athénée hôtel and keep going straight.
How to get from Laos to Vietnam?
Well, now that you have finished the visa runs, It's time to actually get there! If you're in Laos, by all means get a plane to Hanoi. The tickets are usually around 100$ to 200$. They can go as cheap as 90$ USD if you buy them in advance but you will not regret buying them. The road between Luang Prabang to Hanoi is known as the ride of hell. The bus ride can easily take more than 24 hours and passangers often throw up due to the uneven road. This creates a chain effect that spreds to other passangers making them puke also. Buses are also known for shutting down their A/C to save gaz and energy while going up the mountains or while parked. Many scams are also ran at the border where tourists often have to pay extra.
How to get from Cambodia to Vietnam?
The buses leave every morning from Phenom Penh to Ho Chi Minh. The bus ride takes around 6-8 hours depending on the traffic at the border. One little advise: Pay the little fees (around 5$ USD) that they may request. If you refuse to pay they will send you on your own on an impossible quest accross the customs border. You will miss your bus ( because they will not wait for you) and then you will get scammed by the tuk tuk drivers for triple that price to drive you across. Spare yourself the trouble and pay the extra fees. Yes I know, it's outrageous, but you will end up spending way more if you refuse.
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We have other articles about how to travel in Laos, Myanmar, Vietnam and Cambodia.