Exploring in Laos, Cambodia, Vietnam and Thailand

What have been the most common topics between you and your friends in the past few months? Travel, particularly international travel，must be one of them!

Since February,China has unveiled two lists of 60 countries to which travel agencies can resume outbound group tours for Chinese citizens.

As Yunnan’s close neighbors, Laos, Cambodia, Vietnam and Thailand are, unsurprisingly, on the lists.

Do these countries look different compared to 3 years ago, and is there anything new for us to explore? Let’s have a look today!

"I take bullet train to visit Laos"

A bullet train of China-Laos Railway

On March 15, China’s first outbound tour group to Laos after the COVID-19 pandemic started the journey in Kunming, Yunnan’s capital city.

During this 7-day trip, the tourists took a bullet train of China-Laos Railway from Kunming to Mohan on China’s border with Laos. After getting through the customs, they took another bullet train to Vientiane before carrying on with the trip to Thailand.

A view in Laos

Ms. Peng and her husband — both from central Yunnan’s Chuxiong — recently arrived in Laos with a tour group. They visited Luang Prabang, Vang Vien and Vientiane during the trip. “Those picturesque landscapes in Laos have made me fall in love with this country,” she said. Ms. Peng was also impressed by the incredible hospitality of the Lao people that she met. Local delicacies such as rice, grilled pork and fish even reminded her of the childhood.

Tourists have been lured to Siem Reap again

Angkor Wat in Siem Reap

Cambodia has been one of the first countries revisited by Chinese tourists since the beginning of this year. In early February, Chinese tour groups were warmly welcomed by Hor Sarun, the Secretary of State for Cambodia’s Ministry of Tourism at Phnom Penh's airport. Today, cities like Phnom Penh, Sihanoukville and Siem Reap have once again been crammed with Chinese tourists.

Siem Reap has long been a tourist hub in Cambodia. It’s particularly well-known for the UNESCO World Heritage Site Angkor Wat.

Inside Angkor Wat

Li Ya is a tour guide who has been working and living in Siem Reap for a long time. She said that the number of Chinese tourists in Siem Reap has seen a significant growth in recent months. Meanwhile, as people from around the world continue to flock to the city, it has become more international and attractive than before.

Yunnan gets closer with Vietnam via tourism

In addition to Laos and Cambodia, tours to Vietnam have also become popular among Chinese tourists over recent months.

Chinese tourists travel to Vietnam from Hekou.

On March 15, group tour services were resumed officially at the Hekou land port of entry on China’s border with Vietnam. In the afternoon of the same day, a total of 110 people from three different tour groups left Hekou and kicked off their 6-day tour to renowned travel destinations in Vietnam, encompassing Lao Cai, Sa Pa, Hanoi and Ha Long Bay. These tourists came from several provinces such as Yunnan, Zhejiang, Anhui and Heilongjiang.

Vietnamese tourists arrive in Lijiang.

Meanwhile, northwest Yunnan’s Lijiang welcomed its very first tour group from the overseas since the end of COVID-19 pandemic. On March 30, 72 tourists from Vietnam arrived in Lijiang with excitement and curiosity. “I love Lijiang so much. I want to let more friends back in Vietnam know about Yunnan’s unique landscapes and cultures,” said Dao Mai Dung, one tourist.

Travels in Thailand are convenient and safe

In the eyes of many Chinese tourists, Thailand has always been a special place. Thinking of the beaches, scuba diving and nightlife there, they simply can’t wait to be back to Thailand！

Coast of an island in Surat Thani province, Thailand

On March 26, Lucky Air resumed its direct international flight from Kunming to Chiang Mai. At present, Chinese passengers can fly from over 70 destinations across China to Bangkok and Chiang Mai via Kunming, and enjoy special offers on domestic flights. On March 28, an airplane of Sunan Ruili Airlines took 122 passengers from Yunnan’s Xishuangbanna to Chiang Mai. This air route had been halted for over 3 years before this date. From now on, three flights between Xishuangbanna and Chiang Mai will be available each week.

Chinese tourists are ready to depart for Thailand in Guangzhou.

As to the recent concerns about whether it’s safe to travel in Thailand, the Thai Embassy in China has published an announcement, stating that the safety issue is crucial to all Chinese tourists in Thailand, and the government will take more measures to make sure that all visitors can travel in the country safely.

Reported by Yao Chengcheng and Li Zha; trans-editing by Wang Jingzhong; proofreading by Zhang Ruogu, Wang Huan and Wang Shixue