Trip Report: South East Asia - Thailand, Laos, Vietnam, Cambodia and

[coyote25]

Re: Trip Report: South East Asia - Thailand, Laos, Vietnam, Cambodia, Sri Lanka

Flight: VN237 Hanoi (Vietnam) to Ho Chi Minh (Vietnam)
Airline: Vietnam Airlines
Plane: Airbus A321
Seat: 28A (exit row)
Gate: 4
Depart: 9.55 / Arrive 12.00 (5 minutes early)

Despite today's flight being an domestic flight is was the longest one since landing in Southeast Asia. The security at Noi Bai International Airport had very sensitive scanners today almost everyone in my tour group got pulled over and had extra checks after the metal detector alert.

The domestic terminal at the airport is most under construction and has very little to do, I didn't see any lounges at all and there was only two places to buy food.

Boarding was by airbridge, something I haven't done must of recently. I was allocated 28A which has to be the biggest exit row I've ever sat in. I don't thing a USA basketball player could get close to the seat in front, so everything was fine from that point. I couldn't even look out of the exit row window it was so far away and so small


The meal was a ham and cheese roll and some kind of sweet (I didn't try it). Followed by a coffee / tea / drink service.


We actually land early and getting out of the airport was just as easy domestic flight in Australia with one exception. The Tân Sơn Nhất International Airport security will check you boarding pass and baggage sticker with you actual bag tag. Do not lose those tags or you will be stuck I saw a few people having problems I think as they had thrown out their boarding pass with the baggage sticker. Not sure what that means for them

 

[coyote25]

Re: Trip Report: South East Asia - Thailand, Laos, Vietnam, Cambodia, Sri Lanka

Accommodation

I thought I should probably mention the hotels I have stayed at during this trip so far. Keep in mind they were organise by the co-brand G Adventure - National Geographic tour.

Bangkok, Thailand
FuramaXclusive Sathorn

Free Wifi in room (Password required). Massive room, lots of power outlets. Two free water bottles provided. Breakfast included which was massive and mostly western style. As this was the starting point for the tour and we left the next day I can't comment on surrounding area.

Chiang Mai, Thailand
The Empress Chiang Mai Hotel

No free internet, which I can't stand in higher end hotel anywhere. Large room, glorious reception area. Two free glass water bottles that you can't take from your room. Breakfast was included and was a mix of Western and Asian offerings plus chefs making you omelettes and other offerings - probably the best included breakfast I've ever had including stays at Hitlons. The hotel had a pool which I didn't use or anyone else either that I could see. Hotel was within walking distance of night market and lots of activities like attending local kicking boxing events.

Luang Prabang, Laos
Maison Dalabua Hotel

Free wifi in room (password required). Spacious room, in-house laundry service was cheap and very efficient. Two free water bottles (make sure to put them in fridge). Relaxing pool that almost everyone used. Good on-site restaurants that people outside of the hotel appeared to use as well. Breakfast was included with a more limited range but still enough there. Hotel was a 5-10 minute walk from the central of the city including the night market, palace , temples and key museums which was really ideal. Definitely a relaxed feeling around the town.

Hanoi, Vietnam
Golden Silk Boutique Hotel

Free wifi in room (password required). Stayed here two different times, staff had lots of problems organising rooms for our group and getting bags to the right places, although I was always fine. Two free water bottles. Breakfast was included with heavier focus on Asian than Western but nothing anyone would have a problem with. Hotel wasn't really near any tourist places, road was extremely busy but I think that is just Hanoi. There was a couple of connivance stores nearby and a couple of okay restaurants. No ATMs in sight however.

Halong Bay, Vietnam
Boat stay - Starfish

No wifi (and no surprise). Excellent staff on the boat especially the chef and captain. We had 12 people staying on the boat with I'm guessing 7-8 crew. Fan and air conditioning in room but A/C isn't powered up until around 10 pm and turned off at 7 am. For a boat the room was large, but obviously small by hotel standards. Room came with shower and toilet. An excellent stay on the water as you watch the stars at night and wake up to the sun rising over an incredible landscape.

Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam
Continental Saigon Hotel

Free wifi (no password needed). Enormous room, a little hard to work out how to turn on and off all the lights, especially the smaller ones (there was at least 10 different lights in the room). Two free small water bottles included. Free local paper also delivered to my room. Breakfast was included and had a large range of both Asian and Western food. Hotel was located right in the centre of what I would call the 'Paris end' of the city. High end shops, the Opera House right across the road. The in-house restaurant was expensive and on the high end even for Australian restaurants (considering normally cheap to find a place higher than places I eat at home was rare), but you can see the style they put into the place. Very near the famous Rex Hotel.
-------

To be continued as the trip progresses .....

 

[coyote25]

Re: Trip Report: South East Asia - Thailand, Laos, Vietnam, Cambodia, Sri Lanka

Tan Son Nhat International Airport (Ho Chi Ming City, Vietnam)

Checkin
As I was flying on QATAR for the short trip from Ho Chi Ming (Vietnam) to Phnom Penh (Cambodia) I had access to the SASCO Apricot Lounge as a QANTAS Gold / Oneworld Sapphire member. Note: online I read I would have access to the SASCO Rose Lounge which I went to first But was politely redirected.

At the QATAR counter I asked for my QANTAS membership to be added to the booking, since this was a tour group flight I wasn't involved in the booking. This caused no problems at all except I was asked if I wanted to guest in another passenger, after asking who would like to join me in the lounge I got a few takers but selected Sarah a younger women from England who was feeling a bit sick and could probably use a nice environment. Luckily everyone understood, we promised to bring pack food if we could. Sarah handed over her passport and checkin agent handed back to lounge invites.

I was asked for an onwards departure details from Cambodia and handed over my fight out in 6 days time back to Thailand after the tour ends.

SASCO Apricot Lounge
The lounge is slightly to the right after passing immigration and security although there are barely any signs to tell you to go left. The lounge gatekeepers took our invitations with looking at boarding passes or my membership. The lounge is operated by a third party here so the rules as a SG is myself and one other.


Note: There are no lounge boarding announcements but their are three displays you can watch to know when to leave.

The lounge was actually empty, we were the first two there and it stayed that way for the next 30 minutes before two additional guests joined us. There were at least 8 staff members across the mid sized lounge. There are plenty of power outlets near most of the chairs, some newspapers, and fast wifi (with password supplied).


There was a good range of food but slightly more breakfast options like cereal, toast and scrambled eggs which I guess is all day since it was 1 pm on our arrival at the lounge. Additionally there was a range of fresh fruit and some cakes, noddles and spring rolls. There was a soft drink machine and a fridge with water, soft drink cans, beer cans and yogurt packs.




At the right hand end of the lounge there was also two massage chairs with automatic settings and two computers (no printers). At the left hand end is the toilets which included a shower (I expect you had to ask for towels at the front counter).

After a meal and time relaxing watching the planes landed with liberated packets of peanuts for the rest of our group despite a small sign saying food is for lounge only. This was a peace offering to those of our group at the gate.

Gate
We were scheduled to leave from Gate 5 which meant stairs down one level. We were still above the ground and had an airbridge boarding. There were a lot of gift shops around the terminal and several food places but not key food outlets. Prices airside at in USD but they will convert back to Vietnamese Dong for you if you ask which allowed me to use last of my money for some tourist magnets and the rest went to the charity boxes.

I have to say it was good to be back in a lounge after the last four flights I was back out with the travelling masses

 

[coyote25]

Re: Trip Report: South East Asia - Thailand, Laos, Vietnam, Cambodia, Sri Lanka

Tan Son Nhat International Airport (Ho Chi Ming City, Vietnam)

Photos of the terminal

 

[coyote25]

Re: Trip Report: South East Asia - Thailand, Laos, Vietnam, Cambodia, Sri Lanka

Flight: QR970 Ho Chi Ming City (Vietnam) to Phnom Peng (Cambodia)
Airline: Qatar
Plane: Boeing 787-8
Seat: 19A
Gate: 5
Depart: 14.55 (boarded late at 15.30 left 15.54) / scheduled arrival 15.50 (landed 33 minutes late at 16.23)




This flight originally came from Doha and let off the majority of passengers at Ho Chi Ming City and picked at a handful of additions like my G-Adventure - National Geographic tour group. Normally there is no way such a large plane would be on such a short flight.

The flight was delayed due to late arrival and they hand checked most tickets while people were sitting near the gate to speed up the boarding process for when the plane was available.

The Entertainment system was first rate having 12 new release movies, a selection of older movies and 8 different TV shows on demand. The plane was obviously setup for a long haul flight. The rows had a 3 x 3 x 3 setup and in my row there was myself at one window and 8 seats away another person at the other window. The flight attendant mentioned there was only 81 passenger on this leg of the flight.



As soon as we levelled off an attendant provided what they called the 'meal service' which was a small orange juice, before I could finished it they wanted them back and the captain announced we are descending. I think it would have been at most 5 minutes at level position.


They turned on the free internet service for those 5 minutes and they back off. The service said you get 15 minutes for free and could purchase more (obviously this is for longer flights). I enjoy playing with the window tinted function that lets you chance the tinting of the window from 6 different settings, all allow you to see out of this plane but several stop sunlight getting in, very neat trick that avoids the all or nothing window option.


Before I knew it we at landed at Phnom Peng. One of the quickest flights I've ever been part of, definitely quickest for an international flight.

 

[moa999]

Re: Trip Report: South East Asia - Thailand, Laos, Vietnam, Cambodia, Sri Lanka

Great report... Definitely storing that QR flight in the memory bank for future usage

 

[coyote25]

Re: Trip Report: South East Asia - Thailand, Laos, Vietnam, Cambodia, Sri Lanka

Accommodation (Continued)

Phnom Peng, Cambodia
Eureka Villas

Free wifi in room (password required) only medium speed can get slow. TV has a number of international channels including BBC Worldwide and CNN (watched the Republican Conference in disbelief at 'lock her up' & Republican Rep 'execute her' - extreme comments for a sensible democracy). Hotel has a pool which I didn't get a chance to use. Big Australian feel with Aussie flags and AFL jumper on display. Not a Greg area but Tuk Tuk very cheap. Include breakfast was very basic.

Siem Reap, Cambodia
Royal Angkor Resort

A luxury hotel a little out of the city ($3-5 USD Tuk Tuk to city or wait for hotel transfer every hour). Free wifi super fast on ground and 1st floor, terrible 3rd floor (took between 1-3 minutes to load a page). Great rooms, excellent onsite facilities including pool, massage staff, gift shops and Olympic size pool. Restaurant had wide range of offering, cost is close to 3 star Australian restaurant not Cambodian which are usually cheap. Free 10 minute massage included in stay (which was excellent). Large include buffet breakfast which include a chef to make omelettes and similar breakfast items. Gets busy around 7.30 am (open 6 am to 10 am). Staff are keen to serve you. Gave departing guests a scarf as a gift.

 

[coyote25]

Re: Trip Report: South East Asia - Thailand, Laos, Vietnam, Cambodia, Sri Lanka

Angkor International Airport (REP), Cambodia

Checkin for most flights begins around 2 hours before scheduled boarding. As airport is close to city and they is next to no traffic you don't need to rush to the airport.

I was checking into to Bangkok Airways and for some reason the lines were slower than all the other airlines but still lots of time to make flight.


Passing security and immigration control was easy. Staff there don't look particularly happy about their job especially when taking your fingerprints but they didn't ask me for a tip like I'd be warned about previously.

Once airside you walk though an enormous Duty Free shop




There are lots of other shops (considering small size of airport) but nothing is cheap, you really have left Cambodia once airside and now you are not only using USD but also USA prices plus about 15% on top


There are a lot of food place choices including Burger King, $8.50 for Whooper value meal for example.

Bangkok airways offers a 'lounge' to all passengers at the airport. But it really isn't a lounge there are no seats or facilities however if you show your boarding pass you can take some snacks and juice/ water.

 

[coyote25]

Re: Trip Report: South East Asia - Thailand, Laos, Vietnam, Cambodia, Sri Lanka

Bangkok Airways Lounge (Siem Reap)


There is also free wifi at the airport once you register.

 

[coyote25]

Re: Trip Report: South East Asia - Thailand, Laos, Vietnam, Cambodia, Sri Lanka

Flight: PG906 Siem Reap (Cambodia) to Bangkok (Thailand)
Airline: Bangkok Airways
Plane: ATR 72 - 509
Seat: 7B ( (aisle)
Gate: 5
Boarding 12.10 Depart 12.27 (scheduled 12.20) Arrived 13.46 (scheduled 13.35)

Boarding was via tarmac, luckily the rain stopped for our boarding.

(Not my plane pictured)

The plane is very small and as totally full, they codeshare with five other airlines including QANTAS.




Attendants bought out special meals for children and gave extra help for the elderly on board. Meal was a mini chicken burger, a pastry desert, some fruit and a water. There was a later coffee and tea service.


Landing we were met by a bus that seemed to drive us around the entire airport, spotted a QANTAS bird, always makes me feel of home

Now to clear immigration pick up bag and then wait to check in again for flight to Sri Lanka.

 

[coyote25]

Re: Trip Report: South East Asia - Thailand, Laos, Vietnam, Cambodia, Sri Lanka

Bangkok International Airport

Well I had been here just a few weeks ago so I knew the drill for clearing immigration but I did learn that when you are only staying airside for a few hours than under hotel you should write 'transit' and the city and country travelling to.


I had kept 500 baht from the last time I had been in Thailand and this worked out exactly right for purchases at Burger King over the next few hours.

The airport has reasonable free internet once you register. There are multiple offerings, they drop out if not activity using which I wasn't always doing for the 5 hours landside.

One good offering is the free charging stations. For the last hour I walked around Checkin Row S location of Sri Lankan airlines and got to watch how they changed over from Emirates to Iranian at the checkin closest to me.


Checkin for Sri Lankan Airlines open at 6.35 pm for 9.50 pm departure. I had to remind the agent about lounge access and after an apology I got both a lounge invite and a fast path immigration card and direction. This tells me if I didn't ask I would not have gotten either of these invites. Later in the lounge I witnessed a QANTAS Gold member attempting to access the third party lounge, this wasn't resolved after 5 minute of discussion when I left.


Security and immigration clearance took awhile despite being fast path but when I saw he regular line I was happy.

The airport airside has a lot of shops and places to eat, not that I spent must time outside of the lounge.

 

[coyote25]

Re: Trip Report: South East Asia - Thailand, Laos, Vietnam, Cambodia, Sri Lanka

Bangkok International Airport - Louis Tavern Business Lounge

This lounge is located around Gate G whereas Sri Lankan Airlines left from Gate D which is actually a bit of a walk between. Luckily with the invite card came a map our how to find.


The lounge is over two levels and I sat near the entrance as I located a power point to charge my iPhone and a good seat. I watched the lounge dragons decline entry to 7 different people during the two hours here not counting a QF SG who was trying to get entry as I left. You must have an invite to this third party lounge.

While here I used the shower facilities, no booking required, there are two male showers.


You will need to ask for the wifi password the speed was good. Biggish section of food including pancakes, noodles and rice options.




As can happen I lost track of time and had to hassle to the gate being near the last person to board

 

[Gold60]

Re: Trip Report: South East Asia - Thailand, Laos, Vietnam, Cambodia, Sri Lanka

what an excellent thread !!! I am planning on doing a smaller version of this towards the latter part of this year.

the flight from SNG to PNH was of particular interest - i was having a look at this earlier in the week.

 

[coyote25]

Re: Trip Report: South East Asia - Thailand, Laos, Vietnam, Cambodia, Sri Lanka

what an excellent thread !!! I am planning on doing a smaller version of this towards the latter part of this year.

the flight from SNG to PNH was of particular interest - i was having a look at this earlier in the week.

Thanks bigal0

 

[coyote25]

Re: Trip Report: South East Asia - Thailand, Laos, Vietnam, Cambodia, Sri Lanka

Flight: Bangkok, Thailand to Colombo, Sri Lanka
Flight number: UL883
Airline: Sri Lankan Airlines
Plane: A330-200
Seat: 32K (window)
Gate: 5
Depart: 21.50 / Arrive 23.40 (On Time 3 hour 20 minute flight)

Having only just got to the gate in time after the long walk from the lounge I board immediately I'd guess there were only 20 other passengers who boarded after me and I suspect they had the same reason.

The plane was very full, mostly of locals returning home. Seat config was 8 across 2 x 4 x 2.


Entertainment system had multiple options across at least 4 languages I settled for English TV comedies.


My aisle seat mate attempted to sleep from the moment I sat down. The person in front reclined before take off and only returned to upright position when told they had to for take off and landing.

Dinner was served almost immediately after seat belt sign was off. You have two options for dinner a vegetarian dinner or a chicken pasta. The meal came with a small cake and a drink. A later coffee / tea service rounded it out. Having eaten in the lounge I barely touched my food.

Immigration forms were handed out near the end of the flight. Attendants sprayed the cabin as well about 30 minutes from the end.

The Bandaranaike International Airport (Colombo) was extremely busy for midnight. You end up mixing with departing passengers as soon as you leave the plane, normally you are separated.

Immigration lines were short. Money changers were mostly shut airside (there were lots of money changers open landside), no ATMs I could see anywhere however I'm sure they were around.

My bag was among the last off despite being tagged priority business. I was waiting at the carousel for over 30 minutes for my bag and other bags started appearing after 5 minutes. I have to say I started to get worried when there was almost no one left waiting.

Luckily when I did get my bag and leave my arranged driver was still waiting and at 12.40 local time I was officially on my way for the Sri Lanka leg of my trip.

A detailed daily travel blog on the places I visited and activities I did can be found at
https://nathanburgessinsights.com/

 

[coyote25]

Re: Trip Report: South East Asia - Thailand, Laos, Vietnam, Cambodia, Sri Lanka

Power adapters

For those of you wondering what power adapters to use in Southeast Asia the following two power adapters (USA & Europe) both worked at every hotel I stay at in Thailand, Laos, Vietnam and Cambodia


The above adapters worked at two of the three hotels I've stayed at in Sri Lanka but it is obvious they are not the normal ones here. Sri Lanka use the following three pin option as standard

 

[moa999]

Re: Trip Report: South East Asia - Thailand, Laos, Vietnam, Cambodia, Sri Lanka

Or the UK plug which is quite common in Sri Lanka and India

 

[coyote25]

Re: Trip Report: South East Asia - Thailand, Laos, Vietnam, Cambodia, Sri Lanka

Jetwing Sea - Negombo, Sri Lanka
A peaceful hotel along the beach and near the canals. Wifi in room include (reasonable speed). USA & Europe power outlets. Two bottles of water included (restocked each day). A small convenience store next door. Reasonable included breakfast highlight being chef who will make omelettes / scrambled eggs.

Palm Garden Village - Anuradhapura, Sri Lanka
A remote hotel meaning you are stuck there during the night. Reasonable dinner options. Wifi only works in dinning & bar area but might as well not exist. Amazing pool area. Rooms are spread out across the property giving a country feel to them including chairs outside to watch the stars. Mini bar is expensive drinks and nuts so if you want a snack buy in in advance.

Deer Park Hotel - Giritale, Sri Lanka
Magnificent lakeside views. Only use Indian / Sri Lanka power points. Remote so all food is at hotels restaurant. Good dinner buffet option, music players walking round. Two free water pools. Good pool. Wifi only at reception. They spray your room around 8 pm to keep bugs away. Courteous staff.

 

[coyote25]

Re: Trip Report: South East Asia - Thailand, Laos, Vietnam, Cambodia, Sri Lanka


Deer Park Hotel - Giritale, Sri Lanka

 

[coyote25]

Re: Trip Report: South East Asia - Thailand, Laos, Vietnam, Cambodia, Sri Lanka

While I'm keeping this TR mostly to plane trips and hotel stays I thought I have to mention and recommend that if you ever get a chance to visit Udawalawe National Park in Sri Lanka do it and visit both the Baby Elephant Sanctuary and do a safari to see the various wild animals in their natural environment.





https://youtu.be/xy5ATmSFQIM