by MaxB » Sat Oct 26, 2019 8:36 am
Alex wrote: ↑Fri Oct 25, 2019 11:53 am
MaxB wrote: ↑Fri Oct 25, 2019 9:49 am
GMJS-440 wrote: ↑Fri Oct 25, 2019 4:30 am
WTF? The flight is 90 minutes and $200.
What reason to spend days on buses instead of a flight? That’s madness
The reason is that you get to see places, stop at Kratie, Pakse, Savannakhet, Tha Kaek.
Only the time-poor can't afford leisurely travel.
I wouldn't mind a bus if it's a decent one and if the travel time is somewhat reasonable. Phnom Penh to HCMC, for example, I consider doable by bus.
THAT route though - you're pretty much guaranteed shitty buses (or more minivans for some stretches), hassle and delays. And it's just a freaking long way.
I stopped for a few days at each of the places I mentioned. Had some serendipitous experiences. Buses were fine, rides about 4 hours except Kratie - Pakse (should have broken it).
PNH-HCMC this month took 8 hours. Traffic doesn't get better. But I got the chance to see what has happened to Bavet - looks like central PNH now. Enormous condos even on the Viet side. Shopping malls...
As to buses, for short hops in rural areas I prefer the small local variety. Open windows (for photography) no aircon or movies/ktv. And you meet the locals. But they are a bit of an effort because they invariably arrive/leave from bus stations outside towns.
[quote=Alex post_id=989041 time=1571979226 user_id=32289]
[quote=MaxB post_id=989038 time=1571971765 user_id=268]
[quote=GMJS-440 post_id=989027 time=1571952641 user_id=38410]
WTF? The flight is 90 minutes and $200.
What reason to spend days on buses instead of a flight? That’s madness
[/quote]
The reason is that you get to see places, stop at Kratie, Pakse, Savannakhet, Tha Kaek.
Only the time-poor can't afford leisurely travel.
[/quote]
I wouldn't mind a bus if it's a decent one and if the travel time is somewhat reasonable. Phnom Penh to HCMC, for example, I consider doable by bus.
THAT route though - you're pretty much guaranteed shitty buses (or more minivans for some stretches), hassle and delays. And it's just a freaking long way.
[/quote]
I stopped for a few days at each of the places I mentioned. Had some serendipitous experiences. Buses were fine, rides about 4 hours except Kratie - Pakse (should have broken it).
PNH-HCMC this month took 8 hours. Traffic doesn't get better. But I got the chance to see what has happened to Bavet - looks like central PNH now. Enormous condos even on the Viet side. Shopping malls...
As to buses, for short hops in rural areas I prefer the small local variety. Open windows (for photography) no aircon or movies/ktv. And you meet the locals. But they are a bit of an effort because they invariably arrive/leave from bus stations outside towns.