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A Travel Guide toTHAILANDTHEESSENTIALTHINGSPLACES CUISINES CULTURE HACKS and MORE!1

It’s a blessing for us to take people to places andmake them smile every day.- CEO David Dao2

CON TENTSTHAILAND TRAVEL GUIDE04061012131417OverviewExperienceInsightsFood & DrinkHealth & SafetyCultureTravel Hacks19 BOOKING FORM

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Greetings fromAsia Vacation GroupInspired by the passion of travelling and exploring theextraordinary, Asia Vacation Group travel agency was bornin 2015 with the vision of delivering the ultimate travelexperience to group and individuals around the world.Guests LoverOur dedicated services are with you all the way. Just sitback and relax.Local LeadersWith more than 60 itineraries to 7 countries in Asia, wewill take you the most beautiful corners of the land.Responsible TravelWe implement only good ethic practices to protect theenvironment and historical wonders for mankind.The accommodation was exemplary inthe four hotels we stayed in and everytour was terrific with the highlightfor me being the Saigon River dinnercruise. The food everywhere wasfantastic. Thank you for arranging sucha great holiday.- Norm AventAsia Vacation Group Customer03

THAILANDThailand is well-known as “The Land of Smiles”, offering stunning sceneriesof tranquil villages, gorgeous beaches and glistening ancient pagodas alongwith the unique local culture. Crystal clear water in Phuket, extraordinarytransgender shows in Pattaya, and a tremendous amount of street foods arejust a few things that keep visitors from coming back to Thailand.04

OVERVIEWQuick FactsPOPULATIONLANGUAGE69 mils (as of Feb, 2018)ThaiCURRENCYTIME ZONETHB (Baht)UTC 7 hoursEXCHANGE RATEELECTRICITYto THB1 USD1 AUD3122220V/50HzPlug type A, C & F1 Euro35POPULAR INTERNATIONAL AIRPORTSChiang Mai Airport (CNX), Chiang MaiSuvarnabhumi Airport (BKK), BangkokPhuket Airport (HKT), PhuketWeatherThailand generally has 3 seasons, dry season (March – May), rainy season (May – Oct), andcool season (Nov – Feb). The further south you go, the more heat you may expect.JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecChiang MaiNorthBangkokCentralPhuketSouthCoolHotDryWet05

WHERETO GO123Chiang RaiChiang MaiAyutthayaConsidered as a land of Thailand’sancient values, this is home tospectacular mountainous scenes,Buddhist shrines, architecturalruins and tribal villages, offering arelaxed and peaceful atmosphere.Located among the highestmountains in the north andreferred to as the “NorthernCapital”, Chiang Mai is famous forthe blend of the fascinating historyand modern culture.The Historic City of Ayutthayais awarded UNESCO WorldHeritage Site for its splendour ofarchaeological ruins and temples.Its proximity to Bangkok makes it apopular day tour option.45KanchanaburiKanchanaburi is one of Thailand’slargest provinces, well-known forthe breathtaking Erawan NationalPark, and the rich history of DeathRailway as well as the Bridge overthe River Kwai.7PhuketAs the largest island in Thailand,Phuket offers a string of upscalerestaurants, elite resorts locatingnearby the beach, along with a fullchoice of watersports for recreationpurposes.06BangkokThe capital of Thailand. Besidesthe hustle and bustle, Bangkok alsooffers a large number of sacredBuddhist temples and pagodasas well as a unique taste of Thaiculture.6PattayaA multicultural beach citywhere you can find hundreds ofrecreational activities to amuseyourself such as risqué shows,ladyboys, nightclubs and vibrantwalking streets, etc.

VIETNAMMYANMARLAOS1CHIANG RAICHIANG APHUKET7WANT MORE?There are much more beautiful destinationsnot being mentioned here. Visit our websiteto explore the bigger Thailand.07

WHATTO DO01Visit the magnificent Grand PalaceConsidered as the symbol of Bangkok, the GrandPalace is always on top of the must-go list for anytourist. The premise is 2.35 million square feetand consists of 2 main zones, the Royal Residenceand the Temple of the Emerald Buddha, where theprecious Emerald Buddha is being housed.02Ride a Tuk-tukSmall, no air-conditioner, yet verymobile and affordable. Tuk-tuk orauto rickshaw is considered to bethe iconin means of transportationin Thailand, especially for tourists.You can find one literally anywhere.A Tuk-tuk may fit up to 4 peopleso it is super economical for travelgroups. It is recommended toconfirm the price prior to usingservices.03Float and shopMarkets on the water are very popular in thiscountry. Located around Bangkok, there are 5well-known floating markets including DamnoenSaduak (the most crowded), The Amphawa, BangNam Phueng, Khlong Lat Mayom and TalingChan.08

04Watch the shows of transgendersIn Pattaya, there are shows performed bytransgenders, demonstrating the beautyof their true self. Sometimes, you will see“girls” who are more beautiful than you’veever seen. You can choose either TiffanyShow or Alcazar Show for this exclusiveexperience.05Light up a “sky latern”The Loi Krathong festival is celebrated acrossthe country during the full moon night of 12thLunar month. The sky will be lid up brightly withlanterns, carrying wishes to heaven.06Get a Thai massageThai massage is not only famous in Thailand, butalso around the world. During a session, yourbody will be compressed, pulled, stretched androcked for extreme relaxation. Getting a massagemay help your muscle and joint’s pain as well.**Not recommended for pregnancy.07Eat insectsStreet food in Thailand is enormous and insectsare popular ones. It is quite easy to find a vendoron streets selling snacks made out of worms,mantis, and bugs. The insects are raised andprocessed carefully so it is safe to eat. Highprotein and crunchy tastes.09

INSIGHTSGetting a VisaIf a visitor intends to stay in Thailand for more than 30 days, he or she is recommended to apply forthe visa at the closest Thai Embassy. In most cases, tourists only need the 30-day visa, in which canbe apply in person at Thailand’s international airports or online.TypeStandard Visa on ArrivalElectronic Visa on ArrivalWhatThe visa shall be applied and processed at theairport on arrival.The visa shall be applied and processed online .On arrival at the airport, only the passport and thepre-approval letter is required to present.ProsAnyone can apply.Save time at the airport.ConsLong queue at the airports.Only residents from 28 countries are eligible.Refer to extranet.immigration.go.th/voaonlineNote: Visa fee is to paid at the airport and in Thai Baht currency only (2,000 THB).Living CostsLow RangeUSD40/dayMid RangeHigh Range120/day40-120/dayUSD USD10-15/nightUSDHostels or dormsStandard hotels USDBus/MRT/BTS0.5-0.7/rideUSD20-50/nightFrom USD80/nightPremium hotelsUSD1/short rideUSDTuk-tukTaxi0.5-0.75/ride0.50-0.75/kmUSDTaxi 1.5-2.5/mealUSDEconomical vendorsFrom USD10/mealFrom USD20/mealDecent restaurantsPremium restaurantsLocal MoneyLocal currency can be exchanged at thebanks or authorized agencies.1 baht2 baht5 baht10 baht20 bahtPopular banks are Bangkok Bank, Kasikorn,Siam Commercial Bank (SCB), KrungThaiand TMB. Do not make any transaction atunauthorized shops. There’s a fine and thedifference is not worth it.1,000 baht1050 baht100 baht

MOVING AROUNDAIRLINESPremium airlines are Thai Airways and Bangkok Airways.Route BKK – HKT costs around USD100.Economical airlines are Nok Air, Air Asia, and Thai Lion Air.Route BKK – HKT costs around USD45.BOAT & FERRYFor regions full of islands as in Phuket, speedboats and ferriesare widely available at reasonable costs. Route Phuket – KohPhi Phi costs about USD10.Within urban areas like Bangkok, boat-taxi may be availablefor USD0.6/route.TAXIThe average cost per short ride is about USD2. While mostof Thailand’s taxis have meters, some do not. In any case,make sure to confirm the price before using services.TUK-TUKTuk-tuk offers great mobility, authentic local experiencesand less expensive than a taxi while being able to carrymultiple passengers. The average cost is around USD1/ride.Confirm the price before using services.BANGKOK SUBWAY & SKYTRAINThe Skytrain (BTS) is likely for tourists while the Subway(MRT) is more for local residents due to their designatedstops. One-day passes for BTS and MRT respectivelyare USD4.5 and USD4. Both systems operate from 6 am tomidnight every day.BUSCatching a bus is a bit tricky since not all stops have signsor stands. It typically costs less than a US dollar for a ridewithin the city. Most buses run from 5 am to 11 pm everyday.11

FEELINGHUNGRY?01Spicy. Sweet. SourThai Fried Noodles (Pad Thai)Best place to get: AnywhereA stir-fried noodles with the combination of peanuts, shrimps,tofu, bean sprouts, onions, peppers and noodles. This isconsidered as the national dish.02Spicy Shrimp Soup (Tom Yam Goong)Best place to get: AnywhereA popular Thai spicy and hot soup, made of lime leaves, lemongrass,fresh Thai chillies and shallots, shrimps and mushrooms.03Spicy Green Papaya Salad (Som Tam)Best place to get: BangkokA dish made by mixing chopped green papaya with carrots, peanuts,tomatoes, chillies, fresh lime juice and fish sauce.04Green Curry Chicken (Geng Kheaw Wan Gai)Best place to get: BangkokGreen Curry is not extremely spicy as Red Curry. The mainingredients include chillies (of course), coconut milk, basil, corianderand served with Thai rice.05Thai Iced Tea (Cha Yen)Best place to get: AnywhereA common drink that is recognized worldwideby all ages. It is brewed with tea leaves andmixed with condensed milk for milky and sweetflavors.12

STAY HEALTHYGenerally, healthcare inThailand is good with worldclass international standardhospitals in big cities. Mostdoctors are specialists and theycan speak English. The mostcommon health issues whentravelling in Thailand includediarrhea, road accidents, andinsect bites. In an emergency,you must quickly get transferredto the nearest medical centresfor treatment and advice. Wehighly recommend that alltravellers should purchase travelinsurance for peace of mind.EMERGENCY DIAL191POLICE199FIRE1554MEDICSTAY CONNECTEDFor data only, a 4G SIM card can be fromUSD8 for 3Gb of data, valid for 15 days (AIS).For voice/data, it is from USD14 for 30minutes of voice and 3GB of data (DTAC).Popular Network Providers are AIS, DTAC,and True Move H.STAY SAFEPickpockets and snatch theft: To avoid becoming a victim, only carry small cash amounts, do not putyour purse or wallet in the back pockets and stay cautious when entering crowded areas.Scam: Thai people are nice but not all the offers on the streets are ideal. If you get involved in a scam,report immediately to the local authority.13

CULTUREF e s t i va l Loy Krathong FestivalNovember - Multiple locationsLoy Krathong Festival, also called Lantern Festival iscelebrated annually for 3 days from the full moon ofthe 12th month in the Thai lunar calendar, aimed toshow respect to the Goddess of Water. Usually, LoyKrathong is held most impressively in Bangkok, ChiangMai, Ayutthaya and Sukhothai. During these days, boththe rivers and the sky are illuminated by thousands ofsparkling lanterns. Songkran Water FestivalApril - NationwideThe most popular festive water celebration,marking the beginning of a new year, usuallycelebrated from 13th-15th April. During thisfestival, people will splash water on each other,Thai people believe that the wetter you get, theluckier you are in New Year. Phi Ta KhonJuly - Dan SaiPhi Ta Khon or Ghost Festivaloriginated from a legend of a partywhich was so fun that both theliving and the death wanted toattend. People will wear colourfulcostumes and masks whileparading the streets. The festivallasts for 3 days and occurs on the6th full moon of a lunar year.14