Directory A–Z - Vietnam, Cambodia, Laos and Northern Thailand - page 1047

International organisations that can provide information on mobility-impaired travel include:

Accessible Journeys ( 610-521 0339; www.disabilitytravel.com )

Mobility International USA ( 541-343-1284; www.miusa.org ; PO Box 10767, Eugene, Oregon)

RADAR ( www.radar.org.uk ) UK-based umbrella organisation for voluntary groups for people with disabil-
ities.

Society for Accessible Travel & Hospitality (SATH; 212-447-7284; www.sath.org ; 347 5th Ave, Suite

610, New York)

RESPONSIBLE TRAVEL TIPS

Some basic behavioural rules to follow when travelling in the Mekong region:
» Respect local dress standards, particularly at religious sites. Always remove your shoes before en-
tering a temple, as well as any hat or head covering.
» Nude sunbathing is considered totally inappropriate.
» Learn the local greetings in each country - and use them.
» Monks are not supposed to touch or be touched by women.
» No matter how high your blood pressure rises, do not raise your voice or show signs of aggression.
This will lead to a loss of face.
» Don't leave a pair of chopsticks sitting vertically in a rice bowl - they can look like the incense
sticks that are burned for the dead.
» The people of the Mekong region like to keep a clean house; it's customary to remove shoes when
entering a home.

Visas

Generally, the following rules of thumb apply no matter which border you are crossing:

» For Thailand, citizens of most Western countries are issued a 30-day visa waiver if they arrive by air, or a
15-day waiver if they arrive by land (a 'waiver' means they do not need a visa for the period of the waiver).

» For Cambodia and Laos, 30-day visas are issued upon arrival at both airports and land borders.

» For Vietnam, it is always necessary to arrange a visa in advance.
Get your visas as you go rather than all at once before you leave home; they are often easier and cheaper to
get in neighbouring countries and visas are only valid within a certain time period, which could interfere
with an extended trip.