What is the best route to take? How much will it cost? Train or bus? How many days? What shall I see along the way? Please no 'i don't know' or I' take the plane' type answers. Many Thanks
2007-01-26 18:21:49 · 3 answers · asked by DDT 2 in Travel ➔ Asia Pacific ➔ China
ok, it is possible...and a great idea... maybe I should join you !
First, look at the best rail site in the world, seat61 (link below) and check the china rail infoirmation for trains between HK and Beijing... then you can get a train from Beijing to either Chengdu or Kunming in the West... followed by a bus or train from there into Vietnam (Hanoi).
After Hanoi, you can get the Reunification Express train down to Saigon (Ho Chi Minh city) and after that it's a bus or train to Chaing Mai, then Bangkok, or directly to Bangkok...
You are looking at least 7 to 10 days I'd say (as a guess)... it's around 2 days just from Beijing to Chengdu or Kunming... add on a day from HK to Beijing, another day or two for the leg from Western China into Hanoi...
You will have the time of your life... but I'd suggest you try and do it over 3 or 4 weeks (or even 6 weeks !), with decent stopovers of minimum 3 to 5 days each in Beijing, Chengdu, Kunming, Hanoi, Saigon...this will make it a real journey of discovery.
In Chengdu you can vist the Panda Bear research center to see some panda's, from Kunming you can visit Lijaing, Dali, and trek Tiger leaping Gorge (the worlds deepest river gorge)...
Another route worth looking into if you don't just want to be on trains and buses all the time is to take a boat up the Yangtze River through the Three Gorges from Wuhan (where the world's largest Dam is) to Chongqing, then when you leave the boat in Chongqing head to Chengdu in Sichuan, and onto Kunming (in Yunnan Province) followed by a bus to Vietnam
yes, I definitely think I should go with you, I had such a fantastic time when I did that journey!
Finally, do your research and planning... check out all the site's I've put below, and buy the Rough Guide to China AND the Lonely Planet China and LP SE Asia on a Shoestring for Vietnamd and Thailand) from Amazon.co.uk or amazon.com
The best web forum for travel in the woprld is the Lonely planet Thorntree, with country specific branches... here you will get loads of help from people living there or travelling there! I've put links below so you can find them easily.
I've also added links in Hostelworld.com so you can find decent, clean, safe and fun places to stay along the journey - but you should also ask for advice on the LP Forum, and see what the book says too (for example, in Kunming you should stay at the Camallia Hotel, near Ma Ma Fu's restaurant)!
Happy Trails
Philip
2007-01-27 03:02:28 · answer #1 · answered by Our Man In Bananas 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I travelled overland via train from China to Vietnam. My route was through Kunming to the border city called Hekou. The corresponding city on the Vietnamese side is Lao Cai. Basically, when the train ended at Hekou I had to walk to the border with Vietnam and cross a bridge to the other side. Once there, a motorbike/taxi picked me up and took me to the corresponding train station. I then bought a ticket for about $12 to Hanoi. It was incredible to travel overland, and I definitely recommend it. Be sure to get the correct visa. It MUST MUST MUST be specified which town you are using as your point of entry (the choices are Lao Cai, Mong Cai, and Huu Nghi Quan). If you show up at the wrong entry point, you will not be allowed to pass. In Vietnam I recommend going to Ha Long Bay, Hanoi, Hue, Nha Trang, Dalat and Saigon. I spent a month travelling, and was happy with that amount of time. I am not sure the best way to continue on to Thailand, but I wish you the best of luck!
2016-05-24 04:35:46 · answer #2 · answered by Annette 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Try www.airasia.com, Please let me know how you went. This site is DIRT cheap
2007-01-26 19:22:52 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋