Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Sea
Apart from a few cruises that call at ports in Thailand, Vietnam and, occasionally, Cambodia, there are no
real options for travelling to the Mekong region by sea.
Tours
There was a time when pre-arranged tours were a near necessity in countries like Cambodia and Laos. The
situation has changed dramatically and it is now much easier to organise your own trip. Budget and
midrange travellers in particular can go it alone, as arrangements are cheap and easy on the ground. Travel-
ling independently, you'll put more money into local pockets and have a richer travel experience.
Think twice about pre-booking a Mekong trip with a global tour company based in your home country, as
you'll generally pay a premium compared with using a company based in the Mekong region. In many
cases, once you've landed in the region, you'll simply be passed off to the global company's local partner.
If you prefer the security and ease of a tour, you'll find scores of experienced, competent local tour com-
panies on the ground in the region, ready to tailor a trip to your needs. This could be anything from a one-
day Angkor Wat excursion to a multiweek trail-biking expedition in the highlands of Vietnam and Laos. We
recommend competent local tour companies throughout this topic.
SURVIVING THE STREETS
Wherever you roam in the region, you'll have to cross some busy streets eventually, so if you don't
want to wind up like a bug on a windscreen, pay close attention to a few pedestrian survival rules.
Foreigners frequently make the mistake of thinking that the best way to cross a busy street in the
Mekong region is to run quickly across, but this could get you creamed. Most locals cross the street
slowly - very slowly - giving the motor-bike drivers sufficient time to judge their position so they can
pass on either side. They won't stop or even slow down, but they will try to avoid hitting you. Just
don't make any sudden moves.
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