Hello! I traveled to Thailand and Vietnam for 5 weeks from November 12th to December 18th in 2017. I wanted to create this in hopes that I can inspire you to travel. I have tons of places, recommendations, photos and videos to view and tips to not make the same mistakes I did while traveling. (and man did i make mistakes)
Southeast Asia is everything you have heard about and more!
A little about myself. I am born and raised in Charlotte, North Carolina. It was not until my sophomore year of college that I really got in experience travel. I had the opportunity to study abroad for 6 months in Orebro, Sweden. I went from being terribly homesick and begging to come home the first couple weeks, to traveling and exploring new countries all on my own by the end of the semester. I was able to travel to 13 difference countries! I went to Saint Patrick’s Day in Ireland, Queens Day in Amsterdam, Dog-sledding in Lapland (located in the Arctic Circle, also known as home of Santa Clause!), and popped champagne at the Eiffel tower.
If I could recommend anything for a college student, it would be to study abroad! This trip really molded me into who I am today and opened my eyes to all the difference worlds out there than the one I was living in for 20 years.
How? I was given the opportunity to travel to Thailand and Vietnam when I decided that I wanted to move out west. I traveled overseas while i was in my transition of moving. This allowed me to have 5 weeks off to travel.
Money? I saved for a year. Having my real estate license as a community sales associate for a home builder, Taylor Morrison.
Who? I knew I had the capability to travel alone, but I didn’t want to. I traveled with my boyfriend Jordan, who also had time off to travel after recovering from an injury with the Carolina Panthers.
Why Thailand and Vietnam? honestly because the US dollar goes a long way! This is the place to travel on a budget.
Planning a 5 week trip: We started by booking all our hotels, and airfare ahead of time. This gave us a schedule/ outline for the trip. We also paid ahead for four major excursions. Volunteering with elephants, a 3-day cruise in Ha Long Bay, a 3 day trek through Vietnam’s jungle, and getting certified for scuba diving.
We really did plan and go off everything by reviews on Trip Advisor and Yelp.
Our Itinerary:
- 11/12: Leave for Chiang Mai from SFO
- 11/13: Layover in Shanghai
- 11/14 – 11/19: Chiang Mai, Thailand
- 11/15: Chill
- 11/16: Volunteer with Elephants
- 11/17: Chase Waterfalls
- 11/18: Muy Thai Fight
- 11/19: Fly to Hanoi, Vietnam
- 11/20: Leave for Sapa at 10 p.m by train
- 11/21: Cat Cat Village
- 11/22: Rice Field Trek and back to Hanoi
- 11/23: Leave for Ha Long Bay – 3 day, 2 night cruise
- 11/25: Arrive back in Hanoi
- 11/26: Arrive in Đồng- (bought a flight for this and missed it, ended up taking a sleeper train)
- 11/27 – 11/29: Phong Nha-Kẻ Bàng National Park
- 11/30: Leave for Hoi An by train (ended up taking a sleeper bus to Hue and taking Lee’s Family Rider Moped tour to Hoi An.)
- 12/01: Hoi An
- 12/02: Flight to Ko Samui, then Ferry to Ko Pha Ngan for Full Moon Party
- 12/2 – 12/07: Full Moon Party!
- 12/07: Ferry and rented a car to Krabi, Thailand
- 12/08: Leave for Phi Phi islands
- 12/08 – 12/13: Phi Phi islands
- 12/13 – 12/18: Phuket
- 12/18: flying home!
Cost Breakdown:
|
Chiang Mai Flight |
$275 | SFO to Chiang Mai with layover in Shanghai |
|
Chiang Mai Hotel |
$331 | 5 nights – Pingviman Hotel |
|
Volunteer with Elephants |
$71 |
Baanchang Elephant Park
|
|
Flight to Hanoi |
$110 | |
|
Hanoi Hotel |
$15 | Hanoi Golden Holiday Hotel |
| Round Trip Overnight Train to Sapa |
$135 |
|
| Hotel in Sapa |
$25 |
Stunning Views Hotel |
| Ha Long Bay Cruise | $255 |
Royal Palace 3 days/2 nights Cruise |
|
Phong Nha-Kẻ Bàng Cave Excursion |
$400 | Oxalis Adventures Tours |
|
Lee Family Riders Motorbike Tour |
$70 | Hue to Hoi An |
| Hotel in Hoi An | $15 |
Long Life Riverside Hotel |
|
Flight to Ko Samui |
$303 | Hoi An, Vietnam to Ko Pha-Ngan, Thailand |
| Hotel for Full Moon Party | $250 |
5 nights – Haad Rin, Ko Pha Ngan, Amaresa Resort & Sky Bar |
|
Hotel Phi Phi Island |
$250 | PP Charlie Beach Resort, 5 nights |
| Scuba Certified | $313 |
Princess Divers |
|
Phucket Hotel |
$310 | Amala Grand Bleu Resort, 4 nights |
| Flight Home to SFO | $500 |
|
|
TOTAL |
||
|
$3628 |
These are my big ticket items from the trip. I would say I spent $6,000 after everything is said and done! And that is taking into consideration that we did spend more money to have nicer hotels, made a few costly mistakes a long the way, and had to buy another suit case for souvenirs. Cant lie, we got a massage almost everyday being they were only $10 for 1 hour.
Packing: I packed WAYYYYY to much! You will want to buy clothes over there!
Vaccinations: I got the vaccinations that they recommend for you to get before you travel abroad. I personally didn’t feel I needed to pay $300 for these but maybe i didn’t get sick because i got the vaccinations.. ?
There are so many options on how to travel Southeast Asia.
- Vietnam is by far my favorite place to visit in the world right now. Its natural beauty, hospitality, THE FOOD and tradition truly captured me and i can not wait to go back! again the food makes my mouth water thinking about it.
- Thailand was okay. Very touristy, more stuck up and much more expensive then Vietnam.
This trip changed my life. Setting me on a path that was never there before.
Check out My Travel Destination Posts!
Chiang Mai
Hanoi and Sapa
Ha Long Bay
Phong Nha-Ke Bang National
Lee Family Riders: Huế to Hội An
Ko Pha-Ngan : Full Moon Party
Phi Phi islands and Phuket
I hope this can give you some guidance in planning your own Southeast Asia trip! Or inspire you to take that leap!
Southeast Asia is calling your name!
Stay Kind,
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