WHAT TO WEAR IN VIETNAM
 

Leaving for Vietnam/Thailand/Cambodia trip end of October. Since we will be covering<BR>Saigon to Hanoi, etc. what do you recommend bring to wear? Judy

As my friend told me before my first trip to Thailand and Cambodia, bring clothes that touch your body as little as possible. In other words, it will be hot and humid. T-shirts are too warm (although I wore a few in the evenings). During the day I wear tank tops, loose short sleeve button down shirts, and zip-off pants that convert to shorts. Most of these are made of that synthetic fabric that you can wash in the sink and hang dry overnight. I was a sceptic about this stuff being as cool as cotton, but I am a total convert. There are several brands available -- personally I like Royal Robbins a lot. You could also wear a light skirt or sundress. You need a sun hat, lots of sunscreen, etc. In many of the temples you cannot wear shorts, so zip-offs are handy. Or carry a pareo (sarong) which folds into about the space of a handkerchief and can be wrapped around like a skirt. Leave some room in your luggage for buying a few clothing items there.

I found cammies and a flak jacket quite suitable on my last visit...

Well, Paul, times do change. There are people who could say they wore the same on their last trip to Italy, Germany, or the South Pacific. :-)

Oh, I agree wholeheartedly. I would love to go back. I thought the people (most of them, anyway) were wonderful. I was just being a smart ass...

Smartassiness: a disease I am also prone to.<BR><BR>I have only been in Cambodia and Thailand, but can't wait to visit Vietnam and Laos. I have become a SE Asia junkie, and the friendliness of the people is no small part of it.

sarcasm brings tears too my eyes whene done well. bravo..<BR><BR>I think I'm loosing it today.. <BR><BR>Oh ya too keep this a legit post..<BR><BR>JUDY you will sweat like a stuck pig we all do.. I find black too be the best color for shirts yes they atract the sun but since you will be sweating even at 1 AM at night those sweat spots (which sometimes depict jusus) won't be as easaly noticed.. pack some heavy duty deodorant, no joke..

Hey orgy7, I wonder how Mike's trip to Thailand is going? Do you think he'll post a trip report when he gets back?<BR> :-)

Marilyn. If he comes back, I've known and heard of lots of guys who've never made it back.. and some who did come back but divorced the wife and sold the house just too get back too thailand.. <BR><BR>I'm only a young pup 28 and I'm leaving my job in March and moving out there.. DID you see Servivor.. thailand has that affect on many peopple.. YOU Should know. :]

Orgy7, I had the impression that you already lived in Bangkok. Good for you for making your dreams come true. I do like Thailand a lot and look forward to seeing a lot more of it, but I couldn't live in Bangkok -- too intense, too much noise and air pollution for full time.

Judy, I just got back from my honeymoon (Thailand, Vietnam, Cambodia) so I know what you're going to be going through.<BR><BR>Wear LOOSE clothes. It's so hot there, and you'll find yourself suffocating from the heat and the people, especially in the open markets. But it's a blast and the people are so friendly (sometimes too friendly). Have fun.

I'll be in Vietnam (Hanoi to HCM), Bangkok, and Angkor Wat in late Dec, early January. I assume, except for Hanoi, the same dress holds true. I like the flak jacket/cammie look! Where does one find the Royal Robbins zip-off pants? That sounds like a great idea.

You'll be best served if you dress modestly and smartly. You will be amazed at how cool and put-together folks there are despite the heat and humidity. Slip on shoes the best for temple viewing. Have fun.......

To: A Different Marilyn -- I buy Royal Robbins at their outlet store in Berkeley, CA, but many outdoor stores like REI also carry the brand. You can go to the RR website and search for a retailer near you. RR makes a lot of styles, but there is one that is particularly lightweight that is nice for SE Asia heat/humidity.