Indochina Trip 2013: Thailand, Cambodia and Vietnam

My first time to do backpacking, will do "Indochina Trip" covering Thailand, Cambodia and Vietnam! Squeezing just 5 days for three (3) countries! Is it possible?? Yes if you fly from one country to another, but this is backpacking , talking about low cost budget we travel by land, cheaper but takes long travel time. Thinking only of 5 days to travel from Manila to Bangkok, then to Siem Reap, to Vietnam then back to Manila? Is it possible?? Of course! This backpacking result would be an Amazing Race trip!

 I'm excited, this is my second time in Thailand but I'm glad that I will visit new country this year "Cambodia" and "Vietnam".

The Grand Palace in Bangkok, Thailand

Angkor Wat in Siem Reap, Cambodia

War Museum in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam

Getting ready for this backpacking trip!

TICKET

Our round trip ticket is originally for Manila to Ho Chi Minh City, for the nth time , thanks to Cebu Pacific's PISO fare last August 2012, that cost roughly 900+php each. But because of my excitement booking that flight I accidentally input the incorrect return date :) Instead of a couple of days, the said travel date went for a month!  The plan for Indochina trip starts with the wrong booking and I waited for another flight promo, this time "Tiger Airways" had their promo.  I was able to book last January for 1 way ticket to Bangkok that cost 800+php per person, from Clark to Bangkok. To sum it up, our ticket is cost 1,700+php.

By the way, supposedly our travel date is July 10, 2013 but Tiger Airways rescheduled it to July 11. I don't understand their reason, they just send an email notification stating that "Your flight has been rescheduled due to a network review". A day after they canceled our flight to Davao!!! Wow Tiger Airways!!!

MONEY MATTERS

Still Czarina Forex for money exchange, Thailand Baht is a bit expensive compare to last year rate, buying rate is 1.5php to 1 Thailand Baht, I remember last it was only 1.37php = 1 bht. For Cambodian Riel and Vietnam Dong, I choose to buy some USD. Cambodia accepts USD, 1 USD = 4 Cambodia Riel and 1 USD = 21000 VND (Vietnam Dong). Buying rate of USD is 44.80php.

Baht and USD

ACCOMMODATION

For Bangkok, I booked again at Sunflower Place thru Hostelworld. I couldn't think of another hostel/guesthouse in Bangkok, my stay here last year is very good, the room is always clean, the place is safe and accessible and the staff is always accommodating. If I would be back in Bangkok , I'd still choose to stay here in Sunflower Place.

For Siem Reap, I booked at Bou Savy Guesthouse. I've learned this place from forums/blogs, a lot of good reviews for this guesthouse, so I decided to pick this. The rate is good, the room is nice and clean, the staff is very accommodating. Mr Bovorn always answers my queries through email, he even arranged our Angkor Wat Tour and the bus trip to Ho Chi Minh City.

For Ho Chi Minh City, I booked at Nguyen Khang Hotel. I've learned about the hotel thru forums and blogs. The rate is good, near to the bus stop of Mekong Express, the bus trip from Siem Reap to Saigon. The reservation is by email only, Ms Houng accommodates all my questions via email.


ITINERARY

July 11, 2013
Departs from Clark Airport
Arrived in Bangkok at 6pm

July 12, 2013
Half Day Temple Tour (Wat Po and Grand Palace)
Terminal 21
Platinum Fashion Mall
Siam Paragon
MBK Center
Patpong

July 13, 2013
Travel from Bangkok to Siem Reap, Cambodia
Check in Bou Savy Guesthouse
Angkok Night Market

July 14, 2013
Angkok Wat Tour
Angkok Night Market

July 15, 2013
Travel from Siem Reap to HCMC, Vietnam
Check in
Ben Thanh Night Market

July 16, 2013
Cu Chi Tour (half day)
Ben Thanh Market
Saigon Square
departs from HCMC Airport at 1am (July 17)


Adventure starts now!

Thailand 2012

My second trip for this year  to The Land of Smiles.... Thailand!

I really wanted to go here because of shopping thingy, been hearing a lot about the cheap clothings that can be bought here. So yes, I'm excited to go shopping!!! ^^

Now preparing for this trip!

TICKET
Thanks again to Cebu Pacific promo, we got a round trip ticket of 2899php each (no check in baggage) Manila to Bangkok. We booked last January for this June travel.

ACCOMMODATION
I made a reservation at Sunflower Hostel thru Hostelworld, made a 10% downpayment online, a Twin Private Ensuite for two nights. One of the cheapest hostel I've seen, the reviews are good in Tripadvisor so I decided to booked here.

ITINERARY
We will be staying a total of 3 whole days in Bangkok, arriving almost midnight of June 17 and leaving late night of June 21. After doing some research on where to go, what to do and what to buy in Thailand, I've come up with a not so~so good itinerary! ^_^

June 18
Ayutthaya
Platinum Mall or Pratanum
Patpong Night Market

June 19
Siam Square
MBK Center
Platinum Mall
Pratanum
Dream World
Chao Phraya Dinner Cruise

June 20
Temple Tour (Grand Palace, Wat Pho, Wat Arun)
Shopping

So this is gonna be a shopping tour neh! ^^

MONEY MATTERS
For the nth time, here we go again to my favorite money exchange "CZARINA FOREZ"! Of course you need to call them for reservations. The buying rate is 1.37php per 1 Baht.

I've read in some blogs and forums that it's much better to exchange your PHP to BAHT, read that rate is much better here.

LUGGAGE
We only have check-in baggage going back here in Manila for 15 kilos. As they say Thailand is just like Philippines, a tropical country so we will only pack light clothings, like shorts and tops. I really want to shop and some of my friends ought me to buy them clothes there, so we really need a check-in baggage. I'm hoping for no excess baggage, I've read that they are strict in this stuff.



Am I ready? Well I'm excited to shop! ^^

June 17 - NAIA 3

The weather is not that good, there's a typhoon in Philippines! Arriving at NAIA 3 I go straight to Travel Tax window and paid 1620php, then proceed to Cebu Pacific window for the ticket and check-in baggage, then paid 550php for the Terminal Fee. Now at the immigration, well this is something new, she only asked where I work and that's it.

It's been 4 months since the last time I've been to NAIA 3 and I was surprised that they have free wifi already! Love it! ^^

It was announced that our flight would be delayed for 15 minutes, well I understand with that kind of weather.

Suvarnabhumi Airport
Arriving around 12 midnight already, we did not book our accommodation that night so we planned to stay at the airport. The airport was so huge!

Sunflower Place
We left at the airport around 6am, then head to the Airport Rail Link to Phaya Thai and ride the BTS going to Saladaeng. The hostel is easy to find, just follow the very detailed directions on their website and you'll surely find their place. Arriving at Sunflower Place we paid the remaining balance and additional 200 Baht for key card deposit. The check-in time is 2pm, but we arrived early and just planned to leave our things but the staff was so kind that they allow us for early check-in without additional charge! I love this hostel, the room is so nice and clean! I highly recommend this hostel for budget travelers like me. The twin bed room ensuite, has a refrigerator, a television, AC and they provide 2 bottled water (everyday), they clean the room everyday (changed the bedsheets and towels), the bathroom/toilet is also very clean, they also provide a small bath soap & shampoo ^^, wifi is also available in the room. At the reception area; there's a 2 computers, hot & cold water dispenser, free coffee/tea/milo/milk. There is also a small common room that has a microwave and dining area, with a small living area with television and comfort room. The place is also near to BTS Saladaeng and Patpong Night Market. There are lots of ATM, 7-11, Spa Massage house and food restos neaby. So again, I highly recommend this hostel.

Let's start the adventure! SAWATDEE KAA!