Vietnam, Cambodia, and Laos

by Buckley, Michael

• ISBN13: 9781566913720
• ISBN10: 1566913721
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 2002-01-01
• Publisher: Avalon Travel Pub

Table of Contents

INDOCHINA	1	(46)
Indochina: The Grand Adventure
Highlights	3	(6)
Getting Ready	9	(15)
Information Sources
Information Sources
Money
Visas
Packing
Getting There	24	(5)
Via Bangkok
Via Hong Kong
Getting Around	29	(8)
Your Own Transport
Tours
Health and Safety	37
Medical Insurance
Information and Inoculations
Acclimation Illnesses
Tainted Food and Water
Mosquito-Borne Diseases
Noxious Pests
Other Hazards
SPECIAL TOPICS
Indochina Travel Tips	10	(2)
Currency Conversion Rates	12	(6)
Lighten Your Load	18	(21)
Medical Kit	39	(8)
VIETNAM	47	(420)
Introduction	49	(55)
The Land	51	(7)
Geography
Climate
Flora and Fauna
History	58	(18)
Vietnamese Dynasties
French Colonial Era
American Intervention
After Unification
Government and Economy	76	(3)
Economy
The People	79	(4)
Montagnards
Religion	83	(7)
Buddhism
Buddhist Hybrids
Catholicism
Other Faiths
The Arts	90	(10)
Language and Literature
Performing Arts
Fine Arts
Customs and Conduct	100
SPECIAL TOPICS
Vietnam in Brief	50	(4)
Climate Chart	54	(2)
Vietnam's Unique Species	56	(5)
Rough Justice	61	(3)
The High Life	64	(6)
The Ho Chi Minh Trail	70	(3)
An Ambassador for Peace	73	(2)
Missing in Action-On Both Sides	75	(2)
The Rhythm of Rice	77	(3)
Betel Nut Addicts	80	(4)
The Market Economy Shrine	84	(1)
War and the Zen Master	85	(1)
The Goddess of Mercy	86	(5)
Politically Incorrect	91	(1)
Good Morning, Apocalypse	92	(9)
The Alluring Ao Dai	101	(3)
On the Road	104	(55)
Highlights: Sights and Experiences
Hazards
Recreation and Shopping	109	(2)
Shopping
Festivals and Holidays	111	(3)
Accommodations	114	(2)
Food	116	(7)
Snacks
Immigration and Customs	123	(5)
Visas
Arrival and Departure Paperwork
Paperwork within Vietnam
Vietnamese Embassies
Tourism Agents
Money, Measurements, and Communications	128	(6)
Measurements and Communications
Services and Information	134	(2)
Getting There	136	(3)
By Air
By Sea
By Land
Getting Around	139
By Air
By Train
By Road
Around Town
Other Modes of Travel
Tours
SPECIAL TOPICS
An Early American Tourist	107	(3)
Great Buys and Tips	110	(2)
The Spirit of Tet	112	(5)
Vietnamese Cuisine	117	(17)
The Crusade Against AIDS	134	(3)
Flying Ghosts	137	(3)
Train Fares	140	(6)
Touring by Motorcycle	146	(3)
Biking Vietnam	149	(3)
Heroes of the Boulevards	152	(2)
Vietnam Route Strategies	154	(5)
Hanoi	159	(56)
Proud and Prudish
Sights	164	(20)
Hoan Kiem Lake
Old Quarter
Frenchtown
Ba Dinh Square
Museums and Temples
Village Excursions
Accommodations	184	(9)
Old Quarter
Hoan Kiem District
Other Area Accommodations
Food	193	(6)
Restaurants
Cafes and Bakeries
Nightlife	199	(1)
Shopping	200	(3)
Services and Information	203	(4)
Getting There	207	(1)
By Air
By Land
Getting Around	208	(3)
Getting Away From Hanoi	211
By Air
By Rail
By Road
Visa Extensions and Exit Formalities
SPECIAL TOPICS
Water Puppetry	165	(1)
Old Quarter Walking Tour	166	(6)
Uncle Ho	172	(15)
The Boulevard Bicycle Tour	187	(3)
Tale of Two Hiltons	190	(3)
Essence of Waterbug	193	(8)
Hanoi Headgear	201	(8)
Hanoi Tour Companies and Traveler Cafe Agents	209	(1)
Hanoi Vehicle Rental	210	(1)
Hanoi Airline Offices	211	(3)
Hanoi Embassies	214	(1)
Exploring the North	215	(65)
Logistics
Near Hanoi	218	(11)
Red River Delta
In the Southwest
Cuc Phuong National Park
North By Northeast
Gulf of Tonkin	229	(26)
Haiphong
Doson Beach Resort
Cat Ba Island
Halong Bay
Bai Chay
Hong Gai
The Far East
The Tonkinese Alps	255
Hanoi to Dien Bien Phu
Dien Bien Phu
Dien Bien Phu to Sapa
Sapa
Hiking in The Sapa Region
Bac Ha
Lao Cai to Kunming
Kunming
SPECIAL TOPICS
Touring Halong Bay	229	(2)
Touring Haiphong	231	(11)
Climbing the Karst at Halong	242	(1)
Junk Sails	243	(3)
Halong Bay's Hidden Caves	246	(11)
Hanoi-Sapa 4wd Itinerary	257	(3)
France Loses an Empire	260	(3)
Homo Ektachromo	263	(15)
Vintage Rail Spur	278	(2)
Central Vietnam	280	(96)
Hue	280	(16)
Sights
Accommodations
Food, Entertainment, Services
Getting There and Away
Getting Around
North of Hue	296	(7)
Dong Ha
The Dmz
Dong Ha to Vinh Moc
Dong Ha to Lao Bao
The North Coast
Danang	303	(11)
Cham Museum
Accommodations
Food
Services and Information
Getting There and Away
Getting Around
Excursions from Danang
Hoi An	314	(9)
Sights
Practicalities
Central Highlands	323	(12)
Pleiku
Kontum
Excursions from Kontum
Buon Ma Thuot
Excursions from Buon Ma Thuot
Quang Ngai to Nha Trang	335	(6)
My Lai
Sa Huynh Beach
Qui Nhon
Tuy Hoa
Dai Lanh Beach
Nha Trang	341	(13)
Sights
Recreation
Accommodations
Food
Shopping
Services and Information
Getting There and Away
Getting Around
South of Nha Trang	354	(5)
Cam Ranh Bay
Phan Rang
Vicinity of Phan Rang
Cana Beach
Phan Thiet
Dalat	359
Sights
Accommodations
Food
Services and Information
Getting There and Away
Getting Around
Excursions from Dalat
SPECIAL TOPICS
The Murder of Hue	281	(3)
Imperial Tomb Tour	284	(3)
Hue Entry Fees	287	(2)
North Bank Tour	289	(3)
Touring Hue	292	(6)
Touring the DMZ	298	(9)
Lao Consulate	307	(11)
Full Moon Rising	318	(1)
Boat Trips	319	(7)
Central Highlands Route Notes	326	(4)
Through the Highlands on a Minsk	330	(4)
Elephant Hunt	334	(2)
The Coast Road	336	(12)
Visiting the Islands	348	(9)
Saigon-to-Nha Trang Bike Route	357	(5)
Dalat Zen Tour	362	(5)
Dalat Villa Tour	367	(7)
The Dalat Route	374	(2)
Saigon	376	(52)
Sights	381	(14)
Colonial Saigon
Wartime Saigon
Cholon Pagodas
Saigon Pagodas
Other Sights
Accommodations	395	(10)
Pham Ngu Lao
Central Saigon
North of the Cathedral
Cholon
Airport Vicinity
Food	405	(3)
Restaurants
Cafes
Nightlife	408	(2)
Shopping	410	(2)
Markets
Services and Information	412	(5)
Getting There	417	(2)
By Air
By Land
Getting Around	419	(5)
Getting Away	424
By Air
By Rail
By Road
By Water
Exit Formalities
SPECIAL TOPICS
Honored French	382	(4)
The Wartime Souvenir Shop	386	(4)
Big Market	390	(2)
Saigon River Boat Tours	392	(8)
Saigon's Floating Hotel Sets Sail	400	(11)
Classic Images of the War	411	(5)
Saigon Airline Offices	416	(3)
Saigon Tour Companies and Agents	419	(1)
Quasar Khanh and the Bamboo Bicycle	420	(1)
The Classic Cars of Saigon	421	(4)
Consulates in Saigon	425	(3)
Exploring the South	428	(39)
Northwest of Saigon	429	(6)
Cu Chi Tunnels
Tay Ninh
Cao Dai Great Temple
Southeast of Saigon	435	(9)
Vung Tau
Longhai Beach and Vicinity
Mekong Delta	444
River of the Nine Dragons
Mytho
Vinh Long
Cantho
South of Cantho
East of Cantho
Northwest of Cantho
Gulf of Thailand
SPECIAL TOPICS
The Strange Sect of Cao Dai	433	(2)
Touring Vung Tau	435	(6)
Veterans Clinic	441	(5)
Touring the Delta	446	(2)
Mekong Delta Route Notes	448	(19)
CAMBODIA	467	(174)
Introduction	469	(40)
The Land	473	(4)
Flora and Fauna
History	477	(16)
The Ravages of War
A Fragile Peace
Government and Economy	493	(3)
Economy
The People	496	(2)
Religion	498	(3)
Theravada Buddhism
Other Faiths
Mythology and the Arts	501	(7)
Architecture and Sculpture
Customs and Conduct	508	(1)
SPECIAL TOPICS
Cambodia in Brief	472	(3)
Climate Chart	475	(1)
Tigers in Trouble	476	(5)
The Cambodian Flag	481	(1)
Pol Pot: Brother Number One	482	(6)
The Trouble with Cambodia	488	(3)
Reliving the Horror	491	(3)
The Mercurial Sihanouk	494	(8)
Khmer Dance	502	(4)
Khmer Sculptural Motifs	506	(3)
On the Road	509	(19)
Highlights
Hazards
Festivals and Holidays
Accommodations
Food
Shopping
Immigration and Customs	517	(1)
Visas and Paperwork
Cambodian Embassies and Consulates
Touring Cambodia
Money, Measurements, and Communications	518	(2)
Money
Measurements and Communications
Services and Information	520	(3)
Getting There	523	(2)
By Air
By Sea
By River
By Land
Getting Around	525
By Air
By Boat
By Train
By Bus
By Share-Taxi
Around Town
SPECIAL TOPICS
Festival of the Reversing Current	511	(1)
Danger!! Mines!!	512	(3)
Khmer Cuisine	515	(4)
The Language War	519	(2)
Video Stars	521	(7)
Phnom Penh	528	(43)
Sights	533	(16)
The Royal Palace
Silver Pagoda
National Museum
Tuol Sleng Holocaust Museum
Military Museum
Accommodations	549	(5)
Guesthouse/Budget
Moderate
Luxury
Super Luxury
Food	554	(2)
Nightlife	556	(1)
Shopping	557	(2)
Services and Information	559	(4)
Getting There	563	(2)
By Air
By Land
By River
Getting Around	565	(4)
Excursions from Phnom Penh
Getting Away	569
SPECIAL TOPICS
Getting Your Bearings	529	(4)
Touring the Royal City	533	(5)
Touring the French Quarter	538	(5)
Batman and the Second Ceiling	543	(2)
Visions of Vishnu	545	(2)
Prosthetics: Symbols of Postwar Cambodia	547	(1)
Shooting Ranges: ``War Disney''	548	(2)
Caveat Lector	550	(9)
Gecko Wine, Toad Wine	559	(1)
NGOS	560	(2)
Cash and the Khmer Rouge	562	(7)
Phnom Penh Embassies and Consulates	569	(2)
Angkor	571	(56)
Siem Reap	582	(12)
Exploring the Countryside
Accommodations
Food and Drink
Shopping
Services and Information
Getting There
Getting Around
Angkor Wat	594	(8)
Angkor Thom	602	(10)
South Gate
The Bayon
North of the Bayon
Outer Temples and Sites	612	(9)
Little Circuit
Grand Circuit
North of Angkor
Practicalities	621
SPECIAL TOPICS
Angkor Touring Strategies	572	(4)
Devarajas: Divine Kings	576	(4)
Angkor Highlights	580	(16)
On Pilgrimage at Angkor	596	(2)
Angkor Wat's Bas-Reliefs	598	(8)
Bayon Bas-Reliefs	606	(4)
The Sovereign Comes Forth	610	(10)
The Malraux Heist	620	(7)
Exploring Cambodia	627	(14)
Southern Cambodia	628	(6)
Kampot
Sihanoukville
Thai Marine Border Crossing
Southeast to Saigon
Northern Cambodia	634	(1)
Battambang and the Northwest
Due North of Phnom Penh
The Northeast
SPECIAL TOPICS
Minefields and Mindgames	635	(1)
Charting the Mekong	636	(5)
LAOS	641	(118)
Introduction	643	(19)
The Land	645	(4)
Flora and Fauna
History	649	(4)
Government and Economy	653	(4)
Economy
The People	657	(2)
Religion	659	(1)
Theravada Buddhism
Shamanism
Customs and Conduct	660
SPECIAL TOPICS
Laos in Brief	644	(1)
Climate Chart	645	(3)
Wildlife Trafficking	648	(3)
The Red Prince	651	(3)
The Kaysone Cult	654	(1)
The Friendship Bridge	655	(1)
The Opium Trade	656	(2)
The Hmong	658	(4)
On the Road	662	(19)
Highlights
Hazards
Mythology and the Arts	664	(2)
Festivals and Holidays	666	(2)
Practicalities	668	(1)
Accommodations
Food
Immigration and Customs	669	(4)
Visas
Paperwork within Laos
Lao Embassies and Consulates
Tourism Agents
Money, Measurements, and Communications	673	(1)
Money
Measurements and Communications
Services and Information	674	(1)
Getting There	675	(2)
By Air
By Land
Getting Around	677
By Air
By Boat
By Road
Tours
SPECIAL TOPICS
Lao Embassies Within Asia	672	(6)
Transport Restrictions	678	(1)
Laos Route Strategies	679	(2)
Vientiane	681	(30)
Sights
Accommodations
Food
Nightlife
Shopping
Services and Information
Getting There
Getting Around
Getting Away from Vientiane
Excursions from Vientiane
Vangvieng
SPECIAL TOPICS
Cycling Vientiane	684	(11)
Dining Lao-Style	695	(2)
Movie Night in Vientiane	697	(3)
Vientiane Embassies	700	(11)
Luang Prabang	711	(20)
Sights
Practicalities
Getting There and Away
Getting Around
Excursions from Luang Prabang
SPECIAL TOPICS
The King who Disappeared	717	(4)
Market and Mekong Bike Tour	721	(4)
Luang Prabang's Culinary Delights	725	(6)
Exploring Laos	731	(28)
Logistics
Northern Laos	732	(12)
The Golden Quadrangle
The Plain of Jars
Vicinity of Phonsavan
Southern Laos	744	(13)
Route 8 to Vinh
Thakhek and Khammouan Plateau
Savannakhet
Savannakhet to Lao Bao
The Bolovens Plateau
Pakse
Vicinity of Pakse
Champassak and Wat Phu
Mekong Islands
SPECIAL TOPICS
Conrad Quote	757	(2)
RESOURCES	759	(39)
Communicating, Language, and Phrasebooks	760	(22)
Glossary	782	(3)
Suggested Readings	785	(7)
Internet Resources	792	(6)
Index	798