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Adventure Guide: Vietnam, Laos & Cambodia (Hunter Travel Guides) PDF

344 Pages·2006·10.87 MB·English
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Preview Adventure Guide: Vietnam, Laos & Cambodia (Hunter Travel Guides)

dventure Guide Elephant rides, exotic jungles, warm and friendly people, fab- ulous food – experiences that will last a lifetime. The author knows Southeast Asia intimately. She shows you the best ways to experience every part of it. Canoe on historic lakes, kayak the South China Sea, snorkel its pris- tine waters, see some of the largest waterfalls in the world, visit un- ddvveennttuurreeGGuuiiddee touched islands, trek to the hill-tribe areas, collect ethnic art, wander through the food and craft markets, explore the ancient teak forests. Visit the Chinese border of Vietnam to watch the trading hubbub, see Hanoi and the remnants of its Colonial past, rent a bicycle to explore the old city and the French Quarter. The author shows you how. In Hué the imperial temples along the Perfume River will never leave your memory. Laos & Cambodia, almost undiscovered by Westerners, are lands of stunning scenery, raging rivers, fantastic food. Phnom Penh, with its Silver Pagoda, is here. Angkor Wat, in Cambodia, is among the greatest ancient temple complexes in the world. The national parks are home to tigers, leopards and other exotic wildlife. We provide de- tailed information on what to see, where to stay, what to eat, and where to find it. The author shows you how to delve into this region more deeply than most travelers know how to do – seeing the people and places close-up, through walks, river trips and other adventures, both cultural and physical. Filled with practical advice on when to go, transportation, currency, climate, history, business hours, medical care, banking, staying safe. Life is an adventure – let Hunter be your guide! Sightseeing Art & Architecture Detailed Maps Food & Wine Walking & Biking Where to Stay History & Culture Restaurants Shopping Hunter Publishing, Inc. ISBN 1-5843-520-2 Vietnam, Laos 130 Campus Drive Edison NJ 08818 & Printed on recycled paper Cambodia US $19.99 9 781588 435200 5 1 9 9 9 Janet Arrowood www.hun te rpub l i s h i ng . com HUNTER Vietnam, Laos & Cambodia dventure Guide Vietnam, Laos & Cambodia Janet Arrowood HUNTER HUNTER PUBLISHING, INC, 130 Campus Drive, Edison, NJ 08818 % 732-225-1900; 800-255-0343; fax 732-417-1744 www.hunterpublishing.com Ulysses Travel Publications 4176 Saint-Denis, Montréal, Québec Canada H2W 2M5 % 514-843-9882, ext. 2232; fax 514-843-9448 Windsor Books The Boundary, Wheatley Road, Garsington Oxford, OX44 9EJ England % 01865-361122; fax 01865-361133 ISBN 1-58843-520-2 © 2006 Hunter Publishing, Inc. Manufactured in the United States of America This and other Hunter travel guides are also available as e-books through Amazon.com, NetLibrary.com, EBSCO and other digital part- ners. For more information, e-mail us at v n Contents Contents Introduction 1 The Recent Past 2 The Land 3 Why Come Here? 4 Cautions & Advice 6 Customs, Immigration & Visas 12 Vietnamese Embassies in 12 Great Britain 12 Australia 12 Canada 12 United States 12 Foreign Embassies in Vietnam 13 Cambodian Embassies in 13 United States 13 France 14 Australia 14 Foreign Embassies in Cambodia 14 Laotian Embassies in 14 Australia 14 United States 15 Foreign Embassies in Laos 15 Visas 15 Immigration & Customs 16 Departure Taxes 17 Electrical Appliances 17 Opening Hours 18 Money Matters 18 Laundry 19 Booking Tours 19 Health Considerations 23 Getting There 30 Getting Around 30 The Weather 31 What to Pack 31 What to Wear/Take on the Flight 32 What to Pack 33 Selecting Your Accommodations 35 Dining Out 38 Overview – Vietnam 39 About the Country 39 Fast Facts 40 Touring 41 Suggested Itineraries 44 Contents n vi Highlights 46 History 47 Customs & Culture 51 Geography & Land 51 Climate 52 Flora & Fauna 52 Government & Economy 52 Lifestyles 53 Food Basics 55 Clothing & Costumes 56 Visas Requirements 56 Getting There 56 Overview – Laos 57 Fast Facts 59 Touring 60 Suggested Itineraries 60 Highlights 61 Customs & Culture 63 Basic History 64 Visas Requirements 67 Getting There 68 Religion 71 Arts & Crafts 72 Museums 73 Lifestyles 73 Food 74 Clothing & Costumes 75 Overview – Cambodia 75 The Democratic Republic of Kampuchea 75 Fast Facts 77 Touring 78 Suggested Itineraries 78 Highlights 79 History 81 Food 84 People, Culture & Customs 85 Dance 86 The People 87 Religion 88 Language 89 The Sex Trade 89 The Adoption Racket 90 Visa Requirements 90 Getting There 90 Getting Around by Air 91 The Vietnam War 92 vii n Contents Vietnam 97 Introduction 97 The Country at a Glance 97 Getting There & Around 100 Weather & When to Visit 103 The South 104 The Central Highlands 105 The Central Coast 105 Hanoi & The North 106 What to Take 107 Hotel Basics 108 Hanoi 108 History 108 Arrival 109 Where to Stay 111 Old Quarter 112 French Quarter 113 Where to Eat 114 Old Quarter 115 French Quarter 115 Markets & Supermarkets 116 Nightlife 117 Bars & Clubs 117 Shopping 117 Tours & Travels 119 Getting Around & Away 120 Short Haul 120 Long Haul 121 What to See & Do 121 Central Hanoi 121 Ho An Kiem Lake 122 The French Quarter 122 The Old Quarter 123 The West Side 124 Outside the Central Area 125 Useful Information 125 Airlines 125 Embassies & Consulates 126 Internet/Communications 126 Medical Facilities 126 Day-Trips from Hanoi 127 Halong Bay 127 Sapa & the Mountains (then off to China) 127 Where to Stay 128 Where to Eat 129 What to Do & See 129 Contents n viii Lao Cai 130 The Red River Estuary & Delta 130 Leaving Hanoi 131 Hué 131 History 131 Getting There & Away 132 Getting Around 132 Where to Stay 133 Pre-Booked/Pre-Paid Hotel Options 133 General Hotel Options 133 Where to Eat 134 Nightlife 134 Shopping 135 Tours & Travels 135 What to See & Do 135 The Citadel 135 The Flag Tower 135 The Imperial City 135 Museums 137 Phu Cat 138 Nearby Sights 138 The Royal Tombs or Mausoleums 138 Useful Information 139 Airlines 139 Internet/Communications 139 Medical Facilities 139 Danang 139 History 139 Getting There & Away 140 Getting Around 140 Where to Stay 140 Pre-Booked/Pre-Pay Options 140 General Hotel Options 141 Where to Eat 142 Nightlife 142 Shopping 142 Tours & Travels 142 What to See & Do 142 The Cham Museum 143 The Coa Dai Temple 143 Day-Trips from Danang 143 The Beaches 143 Marble Mountains 143 Bach Ma National Park 143 Useful Information 144 Airlines 144 ix n Contents Embassies & Consulates 144 Internet/Communications 144 Medical Facilities 144 Hoi An 145 History 145 Getting There & Away 145 Getting Around 145 Where to Stay 146 Pre-Book/Pre-Pay Options 146 General Hotel Options 146 Where to Eat 147 Nightlife 147 Shopping 147 Tours & Travels 148 What to See & Do 148 The Old City 148 Assembly Halls 149 Merchants’ Houses (Shophouses) 149 Museums 150 The Market 150 Day-Trips from Hoi An 150 My Son 150 Useful Information 151 Airlines 151 Embassies & Consulates 151 Internet/Communications 151 Nha Trang 152 History 152 Getting There & Away 152 Where to Stay 152 Pre-Book/Pre-Pay Options 152 General Options 154 Where to Eat 154 Nightlife 155 Shopping 155 Adventures on Water 155 Tours & Travels 155 Getting Around 156 What to See & Do 156 Islands 157 Useful Information 157 Airlines 157 Embassies & Consulates 157 Internet/Communications 157 Medical Facilities 157 Dalat & the Southern Highlands 158

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