BananaBandit

are there any actual developments, or does this subject remain a theoretical exercise for farang seeking to spar and insult each other's intelligence?

Is it safe to travel by car from say Pakse (Champasak) to Attapeu or Salavan? Let's say you want to leave Lao and explore central Vietnam (I'm not talking about Da Nang or Hue, but instead the smaller, more obscure central Viet provinces). Does anyone know the safest routes to take, or the dangerous ones to avoid? I saw a YouTube of a Thai guy who likes to explore central Vietnam. Some of the towns he visited seemed interesting. But his journey along mountainous roads without guardrails but with blind turns and large oncoming trucks seemed like a suicide mission.

is it now open to cross?

What's a question that staff ask at non-tourist-area Lao hotels/guesthouses that most native Isan speakers would likely not understand, at least not on first mention? ( hint: The Isan speakers would almost certainly understand the individual words comprising the question, but they would likely not have encountered the question itself, unless they have sufficient experience in Laos. )

Just want to double-check: Are they still unlimited?

Not safe in what way might I ask?

So, in the event that the Thai authorities start enforcing this stuff, how will they know the amount that we must pay? Will they just tell us to state a number, or will they ask to see the U.S. tax returns?

I believe I have the correct disease in mind. I spend the majority of my life near the Mekong River, and I like to explore outdoors. I've spent a few years like this already, and well might spend the rest of my life in this fashion. What are the chances that (if not vaccinated) I would eventually get the Japanese encephalitis (or some other similar mosquito-borne condition) that would result in permanent neurological issues?

I hadn't thought of these. I'd just assumed they'd penetrated the whole world at this point, unless someone like that fat boy in North Korea pulls the plug on your connection.

I've only ever spent a few days in Cambodia. But it was enough to see that Phnom Penh seems a bit dodgier than most cities on mainland SEA. I've read quite a few reports of Westerners getting robbed/assaulted in Phnom Penh. And I realize that some of those casino towns — Bavet, Poipet, Sihanoukville — have some seriously sketchy people. But what about the less hedonistic places — Battambang, Kampot, Rattanakiri, Stung Treng, etc. Are these places where foreigners get attacked for their stuff?

How do you have it proofread an essay? Do you just paste in the whole essay?

I finally got around to asking it some questions. It largely comes across as the “smart kid” in high school. Uses big words. Sounds impressive at first. But then you realize you don't really remember anything specific that it says. Because it's not really giving you anything. It just says sweet nothing in a way that seems intelligent on the surface. I fail to understand how this thing has replaced human endeavors.

A lot of us have experience living in villages in Isan. Whether it's a good decision or not, many farang have been doing it for many years: It's a widely accepted situation. What interests me right now is if anyone here has any personal experience or specific knowledge about farang living in a village in Laos, Cambodia or Vietnam?? I assume it's far less common than farang living in Isan villages. But is it something that a farang can actually manage in those countries? My suspicion is that it's significantly more difficult, due to a higher presence of opportunistic crime in Cambodia and local government nuisance in Laos and Vietnam. Am I off the mark?

Does any venue in Vietnam or Thailand cash travelers checks anymore? I realize they largely belong to a bygone era. I've never even had one in my life. But an elderly family member in the U.S. wants to give me some so they don't go to waste. Is there anything anyone can do with these things at this point?

good to hear!