Long-term travel in Cambodia, Laos, Vietnam

by Priscilla Coletta
(San Diego, California)

I plan to fly into Thailand, but not necessarily to stay there.
I've heard it's overdone, a bit, and would like to stay long term, hence the need for budget living. I would be very happy to teach english, etc,, thanks for any help.

Answer: I don't necessarily agree Thailand has been 'overdone' - too many travelers to too few places changes that place's nature so if you want to soak up the real Thailand, try to stay away from the regular backpack haunts. It's a lovely country with extremely nice people and large enough to keep you off the beaten path. If you want to teach English you can live in a dozen cities where tourists don't go and get to sample true Thai living. For a brutally honest assessment of teaching English in Bangkok, try Stickman's Guide - it's pretty thorough, at least for the capital. Another great resource is Transitions Abroad, with plenty of articles on the same topic from a respectable source. Finally, I'd join some of the Expat Forums online for Thailand and ask around - a lot of jobs happen word of mouth.

As far as finding work in Cambodia and Laos, I'd head for the best travel forums and ask around. People are constantly posting their experiences and you should be able to get good tips there.

Several general English teaching sites offer specializes information by country, including ESL Base, Dave's ESL Cafe, or Go Abroad. This should at least get you started!

The good news is that you're choosing a part of the world that is by definition inexpensive, and where English-language skills are at a premium so if your grammar is good and you have a few qualifications, you should be able to stretch your stay in Southeast Asia for (almost) as long as you want.

Still DREAMING about taking that first big trip?
What's stopping you from DOING it?

If you're nervous about setting out on your own, if you find yourself making all sorts of excuses, if there are a million reasons why right now is not the right time...

Then you really need the Art of Solo Travel ! This book is made for you. Whatever is holding you back, The Art of Solo Travel takes the obstacles away, relieves your fears and insecurities, and gets you on the road!

Find out more