East Asia, its culture, customs and way of being residents clearly differ from those we know from the Western world. For many travelers, these differences make it such an interesting and thrilling vacation destination.
Not generalizing - the inhabitants of East Asia are not particularly expressive in their first contacts (it is hard to look for Spanish or Italian temperament there), but there is certainly a lot of kindness and friendship in them, as a rule, they are happy to help, also selflessly.
East Asia, its culture, customs and way of being residents clearly differ from those we know from the Western world. For many travelers, these differences make it such an interesting and thrilling vacation destination. Not generalizing - the inhabitants of East Asia are not particularly expressive in their first contacts (it is hard to look for Spanish or Italian temperament there), but there is certainly a lot of kindness and friendship in them, as a rule, they are happy to help, also selflessly. On the lips of the Vietnamese or Cambodian people often have a smile - although you have to remember that it does not always mean satisfaction! They also do not run away from contact with tourists and despite frequent language barriers, they are willing to various attempts at interpersonal communication. Behaviors and habits of people from countries in this corner of the world also differ from each other, and we will try to provide you with some useful information that is worth remembering when traveling around Asia and how to prepare for these travels.
Thailand - often called the "Land of Smile" - is located in Southeast Asia. It borders Laos, Cambodia, Malaysia and Myanmar (Burma). Its capital is Bangkok.
Thailand is a direction that is very popular. Beautiful beaches, breathtaking landscapes, majestic nature, beautiful white beaches, richly decorated temples - it's worth seeing it with your own eyes. For those more active, they are perfect conditions for rock climbing and water sports.
The rainy season lasts from June to October, but the highest rainfall occurs in August and September (it rarely rains all the time). However, the rainy season is the perfect time to go for people who don't like crowds of tourists 😊.
However, on the southwest coast of the Gulf of Thailand (e.g. Ko Samui), we should expect the greatest rainfall between October and January, and when the rainy season is prevailing across the country, we will experience the most sun here.
Places worth seeing to:
- City of Angels (Bangkok)
- Beautiful beaches (Phuket, Hua Hin, Khao Lak, Koh Samui)
– Islands (Koh Yao Yai, Koh Mook, Koh Lipe, Koh Samet)
- Ruins (Ayutthaya, Sukhothai)
- Wonderful parks (Kanchanaburi, Pai, Khao Yai)
- Ethnic mountains (Chiang Mai, Chiang Rai)
Vaccinations
There are no compulsory vaccinations in Thailand, but as in other East Asian countries, vaccination against Hepatitis A and B is recommended. You can also get vaccinated against tetanus, diphtheria, whooping cough (one vaccine) and rabies. A visit to a travel medicine doctor is always welcome.
Worth knowing
We take off our shoes and hats in temples, churches and private homes. Also in places where there will be signs or Thai people will pay attention.
In places of worship or in royal residences, we wear a modest dress that covers the shoulders, neckline and knees. We never deny the royal family even in Polish.
When we greet the Thai people, we do not shake hands, we only fold hands as if to pray and gently bow our heads.
Drug possession is punished, even with the death penalty.
Vietnam is a country of over 90-million people smiling, due to the specific area stretching from south to north, it can be distinguished in several climate zones. The Vietnamese are cheerful and extremely hardworking people, their professional life is intertwined with this private one, but there is always time for a shared meal that they eat with the whole family. Vietnam is a rapidly developing country, but also strongly attached to its traditions. Here the East meets the West. An undoubted pearl of the region.
Vaccinations
There are no mandatory vaccinations in Vietnam, Connect as in other Asian countries, hepatitis A and B vaccinations are recommended. You can also get vaccinated against tetanus, diphtheria, and whooping cough. A visit to a travel medicine doctor is always welcome.
Visas
There are no mandatory vaccinations in Vietnam, Connect as in other Asian countries, hepatitis A and B vaccinations are recommended. You can also get vaccinated against tetanus, diphtheria, and whooping cough. A visit to a travel medicine doctor is always welcome.
Laos is one of the poorest countries in the region, but it has many treasures to offer. Laotians give the impression that they are just learning the "needs" of tourists visiting him, often focus on quick profit and often need to take care of them a little, so that the service was performed as we wish or even as described. Most often everything is done with a smile and in a rather loose atmosphere. In the north of the country, the inhabitants seem a little harsher and harder, as you know mountains and hard work shape the character.
Vaccinations
Compulsory vaccinations are not required to travel to Laos, but for safety you should be vaccinated for hepatitis A and B. Vaccinations for tetanus, diphtheria, whooping cough (one vaccine), rabies and typhoid fever are also recommended. Before leaving, we go to a travel medicine doctor who, after checking the vaccination calendar, will advise us what vaccinations we should take to minimize the risk of diseases. In the whole of Laos, apart from the capital Vientian, there is a risk of developing malaria, there is no vaccine for this disease, so it is worth buying preventive medicines, which can also be prescribed by a doctor at our request.
Visas
There is no Laos embassy in Poland, the closest such facility is in Berlin and as EU citizens we can submit visa applications there (the cost of a monthly tourist visa is USD 30). There are also various services that offer assistance in obtaining a visa, however, using this type of service significantly increases the cost of the visa. A visa can also be obtained at border crossing points with Thailand, China and Vietnam (more information HERE). HERE).
An On Arrival visa can also be obtained at an airport in Laos, but you have to remember that flying from Poland on a combined ticket where Laos is the destination of travel, the service of the Polish airport will require a Laotian visa in the passport. In this case, to avoid this problem, a flight ticket to Laos must be bought separately (direct flights to Laos do not take place from Poland).
This country located in north-east Asia for years was associated primarily with one of the most terrifying dictatorships of the world, which cost millions of lives. Cambodia, because we are talking about it, is a country that delights with the beauty of its natural landscape, the warmth of its inhabitants with fascinating culture, exotic cuisine and wonderful architectural monuments of the former mighty Khmer Empire.
Vaccinations
There are no compulsory vaccinations in Vietnam, but as in other East Asian countries, vaccination against hepatitis A and B is recommended. You can also get vaccinated against tetanus, diphtheria, whooping cough (one vaccine) or typhoid fever. A visit to a travel medicine doctor is always welcome.
Visas
Visas (up to 30 days) can be obtained from Cambodian diplomatic missions (the nearest Embassy is in Berlin) and when entering by air / land border crossings (2 passport photographs needed). It is also possible to apply for a visa via the Internet (e-visa): http://www.evisa.gov.kh The cost of the visa is 30 USD (when entering at land crossings, bus service usually charges an additional 5 USD service fee).
What not to do
We do not touch anyone's head or point our feet. We do not buy original parts of temples. We also avoid lonely escapades in the provinces - there is a danger of min.
We take off our shoes in temples, churches and private homes. In places of religious worship, we wear a modest dress that covers the shoulders, neckline and knees.
Singapore is a city-state located on several dozen islands of the southern tip of the Malay Peninsula. On the one hand, it is a place full of palm trees, trees and flowering shrubs (from where the term "city in the garden"), on the other, the most urbanized city in the world full of the most modern skyscrapers. His name is a combination of two words - city and lion. Hence the city of lion is often called Singapore, and its symbol is the famous Merlion - a mythical figure - half lion, half fish.
Worth to see:
- Merlion - city symbol,
- Marina Bay after sunset.
– Marina Bay Sands.
- Gardens by the Bay - futuristic gardens.
- Singapore Zoo - an attraction for children.
- Aquarium in Singapore - S.E.A. Aquarium.
- Sentosa Island - a fun center in Singapore.
Visas
Up to 90 days without a visa. It is required that the passport upon entry be valid for a minimum of 6 months and that you must have a return ticket to your country or a further travel ticket in Singapore.
Vaccinations
There are no compulsory vaccinations in Singapore, but as in other East Asian countries, vaccination against hepatitis A and B is recommended. You can also get vaccinated against tetanus, diphtheria, whooping cough (one vaccine), typhoid fever and rabies. A visit to a travel medicine doctor is always welcome.
Bans in Singapore:
A country that affects all the senses with a variety of cuisines, a wealth of colors, flavors and dialects. In Malaysia, it is hot and humid all year round. Temperature it rarely falls below 20 ° C, even at night, and usually exceeds 30 ° C during the day. Rains fall at any time of the year.
On the Malay Peninsula, the amount of precipitation is higher from September to March.
Food is a national hobby of Malaysians, and culinary experiences create strong social bonds. Malaysian cuisine is a combination of Malay, Chinese and Hindu influences.
Malaysia is famous for bicycle routes, among others, along the eastern coast of the Malay Peninsula, where there is relatively little traffic or more difficult routes in the more mountainous regions in the depths of the peninsula or to Borneo, and above all DIVING! Shipwrecks, magnificent coral reefs, unusual species of fish are a huge attraction for lovers of this sport.
Capital of Malaysia is Kuala Lumpur In Malay, the city's name means "confluence of muddy rivers." On the banks of the Klang River, once a Chinese village of tin miners was established, which has grown
into the largest city in the country and one of the most interesting in the world.
Kuala Lumpur, like the largest capitals of Asia, is a mixture of modernity and tradition. The beautiful 19th-century colonial buildings at Merdeka Square stand in the shadow of one of the boldest architectural designs in the modern world. It is worth mentioning even the famous Petronas Twin Towers, which once held the title of the world's tallest building.
Vaccinations
There are no particular sanitary and epidemiological threats, no vaccinations are required.
Visas
For stays of no more than 90 days there is no obligation to have a visa.
What to do
- take off your shoes virtually anywhere,
- reflect after eating (is seen as a compliment)
What you must not do
- stick the chopsticks into the food (chopsticks sticking out of the food in Buddhist culture - Chinese fraction - symbolize the tombstone)
- point anything or anyone with your index finger (this is very offensive). However, you can point with your whole hand or thumb.
- separate the sticks (e.g. by holding them in separate hands)
- touch, pat, pat people's heads - they believe that the head is the most "sacred" part of the body, so you should not touch it with respect.
- hug monks
- owning, using drugs is punishable by DEATH !!
Myanmar is primarily authentic Asia. People here still cultivate their customs, wear traditional clothes every day and above all they are extremely friendly, open and helpful. It is a medium-sized country that is located in Southeast Asia on the Bay of Bengal and the Andaman Sea, along the Irawadi River. It's easier to imagine its location if we hear that it borders with China, Thailand, India, Laos and Bangladesh. The climate prevailing in the country is described as monsoon, so we distinguish two main seasons there, depending on the blowing winds - summer and winter. The summer monsoon carries rain - what to know when going to this country.
Culture and tourism
Myanmar is a country that has a very interesting history, many places worth visiting and which derives considerable profits from tourism. Interest in this interesting corner is constantly growing. In fact, it has been open to the average tourist since 2013, which is why, because of mystery and exoticism, more and more people want to see the old Burma with their own eyes. The people there are very polite, the landscape is often agricultural and forest (half of the country is covered by forests), and the culture is really unusual - the dominant religion is Buddhism, the writing is completely different than in Europe, and the basic ethnic group is Burmese (or Basmarians), who use the Burmese language. The state capital (since November 2005) is Naypyidaw. What is particularly tempting is the exotic cuisine - primarily rice, which is the basis of the diet and economy, but also meat, fish sauces, pasta and even insects (which of course tourists do not have to try if they do not want). And above all, being in Mjanmar you must not miss:
- Ancient cities (Bagan, Mandalay)
- Spectacular Lakes (Inle Lake)
- Ethnic climates (Keng Tung)
- Virgin Beaches (Ngapali Beach)
- Buddhist shrines (Kyaiktiyo, Pindaya)
- Archipelagos (Mergui)
Visa
You must have a visa to travel to Myanmar. You can obtain a visa at Myanmar's diplomatic missions around the world (the cost is $ 40), but a more convenient option is to use an e-visa. We pay for the visa online, and during the entry we pick up a passport sticker that entitles us to stay in Myanmar 28 days.
http://www.evisa.moip.gov.mm/ (Visa application)
https://evisa.moip.gov.mm/NoticetoTourists.aspx (Travel information)
Vaccinations
Recommended vaccinations are: diphtheria, tetanus, whooping cough (DTP); Hepatitis A; Hepatitis B; polio; typhoid.
We also recommend consulting with a travel medicine doctor for anti-malarial prophylaxis.
Worth knowing
- In temples, churches and private homes, we take off our shoes.
- In places of religious worship, we wear a modest dress that covers the shoulders, neckline and knees.
- In many temples there are places inaccessible to women.
- When talking to residents, it is better not to go down on political and religious topics - it may cause a conflict
- Myanmar is one of three countries next to Liberia and the USA that has not accepted the SI metric system. So a peiktha (viss) of 2 kg is used here.
- Myanmar is the only country in the world where you drive cars with a steering wheel on the right in right-hand traffic.
What to bring with you
- 3-4 photos for visa purposes
- photocopies of your documents
- mosquito repellent
- long pants, thin sweatshirt with long sleeves (if you plan a journey through less accessible areas), comfortable shoes (adapted to the trip program)
- as for the clothes themselves, you do not have to stuff your backpack under the cork, in Laos it is very easy to buy T-shirts or shorts at a very low price, the luggage will be lighter and souvenirs in the form of such a wardrobe will remain after the trip. ATTENTION ! For people wearing European sizes XL and up, this maneuver may be a bit difficult, and we can forget about shoes above No. 45 EU 😊
- a small, solid LED flashlight (power shortages are nothing new in some countries)
- antibacterial gels, always useful when traveling around Asia
- vaccination booklet
- dollars (it is always good to have cash dollars with you, they are useful in unexpected situations)
- a travel kit and basic medicines (e.g. for colds - the ubiquity of air conditioning may surprise you!)
- a sachet fastened at the waist ("kidney") or a sachet to hang around the neck - it's good to have cards and cash close to the body
- good sunglasses (with filters)
Malaria is a parasitic disease caused by five species of parasites (sickle cell, motile, banded, oval and monkey). Human disease occurs by pricking infected mosquitoes and introducing trophozoites and schizonts into the bloodstream. It is possible to transfer malaria from mother to fetus. Malaria germs are protozoan parasites in the liver and red blood cells of man.
Of the 219 million patients in 2017, only 5% lived in South and Southeast Asia (of which 4% in India) and 92% in Africa. It is very important to contact a travel medicine doctor before leaving to help you assess the risk and tailor prevention to the region you are going to. The malaria vaccine does not exist, but remembering about the mosquito net at night, mosquito sprays, shielding your body in areas with more mosquitoes and other prophylaxis recommended by your doctor will help you protect yourself against unpleasant consequences.
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2024 Polviet Travel
