Korean Job Discussion Forums

[Katie26]

Which one do you rate and why? I only have 2 1/2 weeks to be there so think it's better to cover one than more than overstretch. If I do Vietnam I'll probably have 2 weeks as will fly to Hong Kong and overnight train down.

[ttompatz]

[Andyc24_uk]

Cambodia. Absolutely fantastic country, vey safe despite what people may have you believe, the friendliest, most laid-back people in Asia, great food (think somewhere between Thai, Vietnamese and French), by far the best sights to see (Angkor Wat and the hundreds of other temples nearby are without doubt one of the wonders of the world); Great weather, fantastic beaches if you go down to Siahnoukville or Kep - It's just a fantastic place!

If you fancy doing something worthwile and getting to see what Cambodian life is really like, i'd also recommend volunteering for a few days with New Futures Organisation (www.newfuturesorganisation.com) - They're a fantastic charity which runs free community education projects, an orphanage and vocational skills centre in a town called Takeo, about halfway between Phnom Penh and the south coast - It doesn't cost anything to volunteer other than a few dollars for food and accommodation, they welcome volunteers for any length of time, and you'll definitely have a great time there meeting the kids and experiencing 'real-life' Cambodia!

[teretere]

[darren0946uk]

I lived and taught in Phnom phen for a year. I loved it and still miss it. Like all cities in the world i would the country side is where the people are generally more laid back and tradditional. Yet I still loved Phnom pehn email me for any questions.
If you love people watching, something new,something raw and the most friendliest people in Asian. Then Cambodia is for you, also from Cambodia you can get to laos and vietnam no problem and very cheap.
Take care
darren1972atgmaildotcom

[deessell]

Why is everyone so down on Phnom Penh. I live here and I like it. I have lived in many places in Asia but here is the best so far.

50% of the population are under 25, so there is a lot of energy in the city. The youth are are quite outgoing and friendly, which is nice. There is a lot of progress being made, especially in Education.

My advice is to not stay Lakeside. There is more to PP than the girly bars and the lake, likewise the killing fields and S21.

There are many foreigners here; as a result you really have a little cosmopolitan city.

It's generally chilled out, especially after South Korea. Gotta love a culture that cooks with da herb!


Is it dangerous?

Only if you want it to be!

[interestedinhanguk]

If you do Vietnam, which I HIGHLY recommend, focus on one area. As you would take the train from China, do the North. Despite what I've heard some people say about the North, I found it very friendly. The Northwest (other than Sapa) is fairly remote and rugged, but has some fantastic, untouristed towns. Buses run throughout there; thought hey are crowded and dangerous and you usually just have to flag one down from the side of the road. Likewise, you could go down to Hue. Ninh Binh/Tam Coc is cool. Stop at smaller cities/towns. People get bad impressions of Vietnam because they only stick to the 5 or 6 big tourist centers. I had a blast there. Enjoy your travels.

[cazador83]

I did all three this past winter and liked Laos the most, followed by Vietnam, then Cambodia.

Everyone always raves about Cambodia, so maybe my expectations were too high, but it wasn't that great for me. Sure, Angkor Wat was cool, and I also saw the Killing Fields and shot an AK-47, but that was it. I know they have a sad, sad history and the people are so poor, but it was very annoying being whistled and yelled at for a tuk-tuk every 5 seconds. I had kids grabbing onto my arms and legs and begging for money, which of course is sad, but their parents make them do this usually. Also, if I want a tuk-tuk, I'll go to them. I don't like constantly being harassed just walking down the street.

The tuk-tuks were almost just as bad in Vietnam, but the beaches and cheap (and nice) hotels made up for it. That's what makes Vietnam #2. Oh, and I didn't enjoy the northern half, including Hanoi and Halong Bay. It was just blah. My favorites were Hoi An (halfway down the coast, with a small European town atmosphere and famous for tailoring), Nha Trang, Mui Ne, and Saigon.

Laos, on the other hand, is where you want to go for relaxation. The people are SO friendly and happy, and never harass you for money or tuk-tuk. They are also poor, but they don't worry about money as much. They just try to have fun and enjoy life. There are no beaches of course, the but rivers and mountains are awesome. Floating down the river in Vang Vieng was the highlight of my trip. Tons of people drinking and floating the rivers, with a bar every 10 feet, and slides and ropes going into the water. So refreshing, awesome, and laidback. Luang Prabang was awesome, too. Tons of waterfalls and beautiful scenery. It was a tad more expensive than Cambodia and Vietnam, though (which I thought was strange).

[jklasdf]

You should go to Laos. I did a trip around southeast asia last year, and Laos is by far my favourite. The people are so nice and friendly and they have to be the most relaxed and laid back people on the planet. It is also home to the nicest beer I have ever tasted. Such a beautiful country, with lots to see, food is amazing and if you feel like partying for a couple of days you can go tubing in Vang Vieng.

[ramen209]

We did Ho-chi-minh --> phnom penh ----> Siem Reap ---> Koh Chang (thailand) in two weeks and it was just fine, although a little rushed.

Ho-Chi-Minh was our favorite city, and we wished we had explored Vietnam more. My vote is vietnam!

[greenshirt]

Laos is the Canada of southeast Asia. Boring as hell. Nice place to go if you have a heart condition i guess. Can go riding down the river on a tube anywhere and there are plenty of temples elsewhere in the area.

Cambodia is great. Go there.