Lao Cai Travel Forum

Not being a hardened traveller I am looking for some practical advice. I'm off to Lao Cai, Vietnam, next week to assist on some film shoots, staying in the households we are filming in. Has anyone any advice as to useful things to take, wear etc? I understand the weather is humid and damp? As we will be trekking about a bit, with cameras, I need to be as comfortable as possible so as not to effect filming. Thanks to anyone that can help. x

Wow! What an adventure you have ahead of you. I found this, http://www.itisnet.com/english/asia/vietnam/laocai/e-laocai.htm?o=0 little guide on Lao Cai. It says the few hotels it has are very expensive, $7-$10. Yikes. Anyway, they have a little info at http://www.itisnet.com/english/asia/vietnam/e-viet-gen.htm#Anchor7438. The trouble is, the temperature varies not only from north to south, but also by altitute, etc. My opinion, wear light fabric (cotton) earth tone clothes, shorts and 'trekky' outfits while working and long pants at guests homes to conservatively blend in more. I was in Vietnam in October and it was unbelievably hot in the south and central highlands, but I wore slacks comfortably in Hanoi. Up in the mountains near the Chinese border in November, I suspect you'll be comfortable. the guide says you'll need a jacket in the am, but I defy you to find a Vienamese person who owns a jacket. Don't forget to take gifts for hosts and their children, maybe ink pens, etc.

Oh, and watch out for the snakes.

I think you're going to need some warm clothes, a mid-weight fleece plus a lightweight gore-tex shell because you're coming on to the drizzly and rainy season. You can also pickup a rain pancho with hood for cheap in Hanoi [get one that goes down to your knees] though this might affect your 'view' for filming. Hope you're going up to Sapa or other interesting villages.

Hi Baj
We traveled to Lao Cai, Sapa and wre trecking around. We stayed in local households in Tavan (check my Lao Cai and Tavan pages). A great advanture. The most important thing is to protect yourself and your shooting gear from water. I guess if you are a profesional photografer you have some suitable covers for your camera. If you don't take care of it. As for yourself a light raincoat with a hood should do it. Don't forget waterproof shoes. As you are trecking around. you will most probably encaounte rice teraces, which are all over, and full with water. Even if you don't intesionaly run into them, walking around them might end up with wet feet. As for the temprature, I don't think you need a heavy coat, just something to keep you warm in the chill.
If you are shooting in the minority vilages, they are not very strong with electicity power, so you have to cary all you need in this aspect.
Enjoy