Indochina Travel Tips

Climate in Indochina is mainly tropical-hot and humid all year round with plentiful rainfall. Indochina has a wet and dry season caused by monsoon. An exception to this type of climate and vegetation is the mountain areas in the northern region, where high altitudes lead to milder temperatures and drier landscape.

October to February or March next year should be the best time to visit Indochina for its fine weather. Other months are rainy seasons of the region and not suitable for travel.

Each of the languages has been influenced by cultural pressures due to trade, immigration and historical colonization as well.

Thailand: Official language Thai. English is a mandatory school subject, but the number of fluent speakers remains very low, especially outside the cities.

Laos:Official language Lao. French is still commonly used in government and commerce and over a third of Laos’ students are educated through the medium of French with French being compulsory for all other students.

Vietnam: Official language Vietnamese. English has become more popular as a second language replacing French.

Cambodia: Official language Khmer. English is a second popular language.

Myanmar: Official language Burmese.

Cambodia: Riel (KHR), but US dollar is widely used

Laos: Lao kip (₭ , LAK), but US dollar and Thai baht are also accepted

Myanmar: Kyat (K, MMK)

Thailand: Thai Baht (฿ , THB)

Vietnam: Dong (₫ , VND)

Bhutan: Ngultrum (BTN); Indian Rupee (INR) is also accepted.

Thailand

There are 37 airports nationwide including 8 international ones. Major airports are Bangkok Don Mueang International Airport and the new Suvarnabhumi International Airport. Nearly 90 airlines enable travelers to fly between Thailand and over 40 cities in Europe, America, Asia and Oceania. Domestic flights cover 21 large and medium cities.

Laos

Major international airports in Laos are Vientiane Wattay International Airport, Luang Prabang Airport and Pakse Airport. Vientiane Airport operates airlines (Asia) to China, Thailand, Cambodia and Vietnam, Luang Prabang Airport to Thailand, Cambodia and Vietnam and Pakse Airport to Cambodia.

Vietnam

Vietnam operates 17 major civil airports including 3 international gateways: Noi Bai in Hanoi, Da Nang International Airport in Da Nang and Tan Son Nhat in Ho Chi Minh City. Tan Son Nhat is the nation’s largest airport, handling 75% of international passenger traffic.

Cambodia

Cambodia has 4 commercial airports. Phnom Penh International Airport (Pochentong) in Phnom Penh is the 2nd largest in Cambodia. Siem Reap-Angkor International Airport is the largest and serves the most international flights in and out of Cambodia. The other airport are in Sihanoukville and Battambang.

Myanmar

Major airports are Yangon Airport, Mandalay Airport, Heho Airport and Bagan Airport. Yangon Airport and Mandalay Airport serve international direct flights to 13 countries and regions, including Bangkok, Singapore, Beijing, Hong Kong, and Kuala Lumpur.

Bhutan

The only entry point to Bhutan by air is Paro International Airport, served only by the country's flag carrier Druk Air. Druk operates four planes (three airbuses and an ATR-42) which fly routes to Bangkok in Thailand; Kathmandu in Nepal; Dhaka in Bangladesh, Delhi, Kolkata, Bodhgaya/ Gaya, Bagdogra, Guwahati in India.