Adam Grinter wrote:
> "ginmill01" wrote in message
> news:KBSbf.3375$zu6.1673@fed1read04...
> > We are thinking about going to Bangkok, then driving in SE Asia,
> > specifically thru Thailand,Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia.
>
>
> Don't even consider driving yourself on your first trip to SE Asia.
Agree completely.
> After you have experienced Thailand, and observed the roads, you may choose
> to rent a car there, but there is no financial advantage over hiring a car
> and driver as required and letting someone else do the worrying.
Also very true.
> Remember that in Thailand, the basic rule on collisions is that the richer
> driver (ie. you) is at fault and must pay for both parties. After all, if
> you hadn't been there, it wouldn't have happened.
But that is just nonsense. In Thailand the basic rule is that if you're
at fault you pay.
This is a common complaint from farangs about driving in Thailand. The
actual fact is not that they had to pay because they were richer, but
rather than they ignored your first 2 suggestions and got burned. The
"rules of the road" in Thailand are not the same as the US or EU. To
the uninitiated it looks like pure chaos. So the farangs drive wildly,
get in an accident, whine that they are driving just like the Thai
(when in fact they are not) then when they have to pay say "I had to
pay just because I was richer. If I hadn't been there it wouldn't have
happened".
Reality is that they made a mistake when driving but won't acknowledge
it.
> In Vietnam, Laos and Cambodia, the outlook is quite a lot worse.
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