Directory A–Z - Vietnam, Cambodia, Laos and Northern Thailand - page 1035

Homestays
Homestays are a popular option in parts of the Mekong region, but some countries are more flexible than
others about the concept. Homestays are well established in parts of Thailand and Vietnam, and many treks
through minority areas in the far north include a night with a local family to learn about their lifestyle.
Homestays are also becoming more popular in Cambodia and Laos, where they are integral components
of several popular community-based tourism programs. Many visitors also end up staying with local famil-
ies when motorbiking in remote areas. For more on homestays, see individual country chapters.
Activities
There are plenty of activities to keep visitors busy in the Mekong region: go on the water, go under the wa-
ter, crank up the revs on a motorbike or cruise down a slope on a mountain bike - the possibilities abound.
Thailand is the adventure capital of the region, with Vietnam fast catching up, but every country has
something to offer. For more on outdoor activities and adventures in the region, Click here .
YOU WANT MASSAGE?
Karaoke clubs and massage parlours are ubiquitous throughout the region. Sometimes this may mean
an 'orchestra without instruments', or a healthy massage to ease a stiff body. However, more often
than not, both these terms are euphemisms for some sort of prostitution. There may be some singing
or a bit of shoulder tweaking going on, but ultimately it is just a polite introduction to something
naughtier. Legitimate karaoke and legitimate massage do exist in the bigger cities, but as a general
rule of thumb, if the place looks sleazy, it probably is.
Children
Children can live it up in the Mekong region, as they are always the centre of attention and almost every-
body wants to play with them. This goes double for exotic-looking foreign children from faraway lands,
who become instant celebrities wherever they go.
For the full picture on surviving and thriving on the road, check out Lonely Planet's Travel with Children ,
which contains useful advice on how to cope on the road, with a focus on travel in developing countries.
There is also a rundown on health precautions for kids and advice on travel during pregnancy.
Safety & Amenities
» Child safety features, such as safety seats or boosters for vehicles, are virtually nonexistent in the Mekong
region. This is a deal-breaker for some parents. Others are happy following the example of local families
and hold smaller children on their laps.