Making the Most of Travel Days

Day 5: Vietnam to Thailand

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Getting from one major destination to another isn't the most glamorous part of a trip but it doesn't have to feel like time lost on a vacation either. We started Day 5 in our hotel in Tam Coc, Vietnam and would end it in Chiang Mai, Thailand. Fortunately, we didn't have anything go wrong but we also try to minimize the number of things that can go wrong.

Horizon Bungalow didn't disappoint at departure time either, they had a to-go bag prepared for us with waters, chips and pineapple for our car trip to the airport. I had arranged our ride directly with the Grab driver who we had met a couple of days earlier. You really never know if you are going to find a good driver that you can re-use, but when you do, it is the best. You get to know a little bit more about a local person and their family, you are driven around by someone that you've established trust with, and you get to employ this person and compensate them well, directly. He was worried about Hanoi traffic, so he wanted to pick us up about an hour earlier than I would have otherwise left, but I had to once again respect that he was a very cautious driver which I appreciated. I was able to message him directly which is always re-assuring when you are counting on someone to take you to the airport. He showed up right on time and we departed to Hanoi. The drive through the countryside and towns is always filled with wonder and awe for me. He actually played typical American pop music in the car for us, which creates this odd sensation. Your ears feel like you are home but your eyes tell you a totally different story. It's somewhat comforting though if you are nervous at all! Taylor Swift + rice paddy fields and duck farms = what?

When we arrived at the airport (3.5 hours early) we paid our driver. He offered us a discount to hire him directly vs the App or the Taxi company. We paid him more than he asked for (he asked for $50, we gave him $75) and he tried to not accept and was totally surprised and gracious (the average income in Vietnam is close to $4,000/year per one tour guide - Google gives me a lot of different numbers for this, but you get the point) The goal isn't always about getting the cheapest deal - but the best deal and this was in multiple ways - and was still cheaper than a travel agency!

We shopped for souvenirs with some remaining Vietnamese Dong currency that we had until it was time to check in. We were some of the first to check-in for the flight - that never happens, but it appears that also meant we got premium seats in the front of the AirAsia plane though! (Thank you, driver!) AirAsia is a budget Asian airline so it only came with carry-on that had to weigh less than 7 kg. Then you had to buy either an extra carry-on or a checked bag. Booking a few months out, I had to guess what we would need. I assumed the kids bags would be under 7 kg and weighed them before we departed the US and they were. (Then my son added about 5 lbs worth of snacks, unknowingly... HA!) I assumed the adult bags would be more than 7 kg but would be under 15 kg if I booked just an extra carry on. Fortunately, I guessed correctly and we checked in/boarded with only carry-ons (with some careful distribution of the load of snacks across bags.)

We once again enjoyed the Priority Pass lounge which was amazing. I worked on the previous blog posts from the comfort of a cushy booth while enjoying an amazing buffet spread, one last cup of delicious Vietnamese coffee and no loud airport announcements. The bathroom even had heated toilet seats. The kids watched movies on the Wi-Fi. I can't believe we haven't found these lounges before now!

Our flight to Chiang Mai was completely uneventful, which is good. Upon arrival, we cleared border control within minutes and immediately found an ATM to get some Thai Baht. We then ordered a car on Grab which arrived within minutes and we were to our hotel within 10 minutes. Really couldn't have been much simpler and uneventful!

Our hotel is in the Old City part of Chiang Mai which is essentially a square which used to be surrounded by a brick wall like a fortress with a moat around it. This was the area that seemed to be the most recommended for first time visitors. There were so many hotels and hostels to choose from for <$100/night. There are many tourists around - lots of backpackers. Some people come and stay for months at a time. The car traffic here is a bit more organized than Vietnam. There are sometimes side walks, sometimes not. A lot of construction. Tons of coffee shops, tour agencies, 7-11s, and massage parlors.

We found a highly rated Thai restaurant for dinner on TripAdvisor and walked the few blocks to get there. I am definitely always worried about food poisoning - the ratings make me feel like it's a place that doesn't cause food sickness so I'm a bit safer. We'll see if that works out, but this place was absolutely amazing. We had multiple curries and soups and the bill was less than $10. Great first night in Thailand!