Transport - Vietnam, Cambodia, Laos and Northern Thailand - page 1054

GETTING AROUND
Air
Air travel is a mixed bag in the Mekong region. Some routes to/from/within Thailand are now a real bargain,
as no-frills regional carriers such as Air Asia ( www.airasia.com ) and Nok Air ( www.nokair.com ) offer heav-
ily discounted fares. However, on many other routes, there may only be one carrier and prices are high.
Flights can usually be booked online easily enough, especially for budget airlines, or you can book through
one of the region's myriad travel agents.
Air Passes
The national airlines of Southeast Asian countries frequently run promotional deals from select Western cities
or for regional travel.
Bangkok Airways ( www.bangkokair.com ) offers a Discovery Pass (in conjunction with Lao Airlines),
which includes domestic coupons for US$88 in Thailand and US$70 in Laos, plus international coupons from
US$120 per sector (US$200 for longer distances).
Bicycle
Touring Southeast Asia on a bicycle has been steadily growing in popularity.
Thailand Used as a base by many long-distance cyclists to head into Indochina for some challenging adven-
tures.
Vietnam Traffic is relatively light away from National Hwy 1A, buses take bicycles and the entire coastal
route is feasible, give or take a few hills.
Cambodia and Laos Road conditions can make two-wheeling more challenging, but light traffic, especially
in Laos, makes pedalling more pleasant than elsewhere.
Parts and Services International standard bicycles and components can be bought in Bangkok and Phnom
Penh, but most cyclists bring their own.
Shipping Bikes Bicycles can travel by air; ask about extra charges and any shipment specifications.
Boat
As roads in the region improve, boats are less a factor than they once were, but they are still popular on a few
routes and in certain particularly remote areas they remain a necessity.
Thailand In the far north there are boat connections between Chiang Saen and Jinghong in Yunnan.