Travel to South-East Asia - NEED HELP!

Hey guys!

I'm planning a trip to Asia in January with my GF. We will stay there about 6-8 weeks, so we wanna visit alot of places.

We're thinking of going to Thailand, Vietnam, cambodia and Laos.

That's pretty much all I know about thoses places = nothing.

Me and my GF are a big fan of beaches and of course photography, so were looking for a nice way to go through those four countries without missing the must-see places. We would like some pointers on what places to avoid as well.

I'd like to share experiences with anybody who lives there or visited. I'm from Montreal, Canada by the way!

THANKS!!

Nick

djharmonix wrote in post #6524929
cambodia

Just remember Nick, Buy her a lobster dinner worth more then a dollar LOL.

Anyone?!

Thailand: for beaches go south to one of the islands. Phuket is very popular, but some smaller islands are more exclusive. Do a little internet research to find the kind of experience/budget you want. For photography, go north, Chaing Mai and beyond.

Vietnam: I love Saigon (HCMC). It's a bustling city and a great deal of fun. Hoi An in the middle of the country is well-touted, but I found it overrun with tourists. Hanoi is a completely different experience from Saigon, so worth a little visit, especially in the old town. Haolong Bay to the west of Hanoi is stunning, photographically.

Cambodia: Angkor Wat, which has become a real tourist trap but is damn impressive. If you go, definitely visit Angkor for sunrise - well worth the lost sleep. You can get a great experience with temples outside Luang Prabang (Laos) without all the crowds, I understand, though they're coming. I've heard you can take a boat down the Mekong River from Laos to Vietnam; that could be interesting if you're into adventure travel.

Have fun. I'm jealous.

Greg

Thank you very much for the pointers Greg.
Like you say, I'll do some research on those points of intrests, any info is very helpful at this point.

I've traveled alot before but this is much harder to plan than a trip to europe. Information is harder to gather.

Try the Lonely Planet and Kayak websites. They're more adventure oriented, and I don't know what your intent is, but they're great places to start.

Not the Philippines?

is it an invitation?

Places to avoid: Thailand, Laos, Vietnam and Cambodia. Just kidding. Sounds like a great trip. In Laos buy some meteorite jewelry. Don't forget an ample supply of DEET and that medication for GI trouble that will enable you to enjoy the whole trip.