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andrea13
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Hi guys! I'm planning on doing the usual Thailand/Laos/Vietnam/Cambodia route. I really cant decide whether to spend longer in Vietnam or Cambodia though? I want to see Angkor Wat but im also keen to avoid tourists (obviously impossible there) and to visit some lesser known sites. Can anyone reccomend one country over the other? Or where to spend more time? Thanks so much, this website is actually brilliant! x
#1 Posted: 7/5/2010 - 15:27
caseyprich
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how much time are you planning for now in each country? it's difficult to suggest without knowing the basic plan.
if you really want to see Angkor than you shouldn't cut Cambodia out, in fact, there are lesser known temples around Angkor so if you extend your stay there a few days you can easily explore both. you could make that your main target in Cambodia and otherwise just pass through the country.
#2 Posted: 8/5/2010 - 10:47
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MADMAC
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If you want to see some cool Khmer (and other) sites and avoid a lot of western tourists, I would advise you checking out Isaan and Laos.
If you look at this link you can see there are some interesting and less visited and famous places you might find interesting:
http://www.btinternet.com/~andy.brouwer/isaan.htm
Be advised of course the Prehar Vehar is no longer quite as safe as when this was written.
I always advise people to go to That Phanom. The Chedi there is reputed to be one of the oldest, if not the oldest, in Thailand. And the temple itself is beautiful. It draws a lot of Thai tourists, but not a lot of western tourists.
Ho chi Minh (whom I am not a fan of, but that's another story) lived in Nakhon Phanom, 50 km from That Phanom. His house is a small museum there now. It's a charming town. Across the river in Tha Khek there is a cool cave system which I have not visited but others here on travelfish have strongly recommended.
Isaan in general doesn't get many tourists. The panhandle of Laos does get a lot of backpackers, so if you go there that will be tough to avoid.
#3 Posted: 8/5/2010 - 10:56
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Victory in Pattani
neosho
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We are starting to see more in Ubon nowdays Madmac. They go to Pakse and then cross back at Chon Mek and stay a day or two here. If anyone comes here. Avoid the tuk tuks. They are a rip-off in my opinion. Busses are 10 baht.
#4 Posted: 8/5/2010 - 13:44
MADMAC
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Neosho
Well, I guess because you are on one of the two obvious entry points into Laos it can't be surprising. You can cross here too - but most people are interested in Paxse or the north. Savakhet is just a stop on the way to somewhere else - unless you want to gamble. A lot of Thais coming through here heading to the Casino to throw their money away.
And I agree, Tuk tuks in Ubon are outrageous.
#5 Posted: 9/5/2010 - 11:13
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Victory in Pattani
andrea13
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thanks so much everyone, just realised how much info i left out of the question as well....im a girl travelling alone (but hoping to meet people on the way), and im going from north thailand through laos. another issue is that i dont really want to backtrack or fly so i dont really know what direction to travel? im going for 2 months. thank you all so much!
#6 Posted: 10/5/2010 - 01:35