Travel Guides & Tips in this video
After a month in China, Joel Friend and his companion set out from Yangshuo for Hanoi. They take a Didi and a high-speed train to Nanning, then learn that the direct train to Hanoi is no longer running and switch to a bus. The overland route continues to the China–Vietnam border, where Joel describes the crossing as a smooth, theme-park-like experience. In a closing Q&A, he discusses safety, dumplings and noodles, solo travel, visas, regional costs and keeping cash as a backup. He also mentions student discounts on national park tickets and chocolate he recommends trying. The trip closes their China journey as they travel into Vietnam.
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More about the current video:(Published on 2024-08-18)
Leaving Yangshuo for Vietnam
Joel Friend and his companion begin a long overland journey after spending a month traveling in China. They leave Yangshuo by Didi and take a high-speed train to Nanning. They had expected to find a direct train to Hanoi, but learn that it is no longer running, so they look for another route and choose a bus. The bus trip includes a stop at a service station. The pair discuss the uncertainty of finding transport and the adjustments that shape their final journey out of China.
The border crossing is the highlight of the trip. Joel compares the infrastructure and process to a theme-park ride and describes the crossing as smooth. The video follows the procedures on the way into Vietnam, where the travelers conclude the China portion of their journey. Their route makes the trip a combination of a ride-hailing car, high-speed rail, road travel, and border formalities.
Questions about travel in China
A Q&A covers subjects viewers have asked about. Joel says he felt China was one of the safest places he had visited and mentions security cameras and people generally keeping to themselves. Dumplings were his favorite food, and he liked the thicker noodles in soup. He says he did not meet many solo travelers in the places he stayed; most foreigners he encountered were couples or groups.
He describes visa rules as complicated, noting that some nationalities have visa-free stays of 14 days and that a 144-hour transit visa is available in some cities. His own two-year multiple-entry visa required applying at a Chinese visa center in his home country. Costs depend on the destination: Shanghai and Beijing are more expensive than Yangshuo, while train fares and national park tickets can add up and food is generally affordable. He recommends keeping cash available because digital payment may not work for a foreign visitor. The travelers also suggest carrying student ID for possible national-park ticket discounts, trying chocolate, and watching for a later video about things they wish they had known before traveling in China.
FAQs (From the traveler's perspective)
- Q: Did you feel safe in China?
- A: Joel says China was one of the safest places he had visited. He noticed security cameras and says people generally kept to themselves during his travels.
- Q: What was your favorite food in China?
- A: Joel names dumplings as his favorite and says he particularly enjoyed the thicker noodles served in noodle soups.
- Q: Was Zhangjiajie, also called Avatar National Park, overrated?
- A: Joel does not think so. He says staying inside the national park gave them a special experience and helped them avoid crowds, though he expects the main tourist areas to be busy.
- Q: Did you come across many solo travelers?
- A: Not in the places where they stayed. Joel says most of the foreigners they met were traveling as couples or in groups.
- Q: What is the visa process like for China?
- A: Joel describes it as difficult. He says some nationalities can visit visa-free for 14 days and that a 144-hour transit visa is available in certain cities. The travelers got a two-year multiple-entry visa by applying at a Chinese visa application center in their home country.
- Q: Is it expensive to travel China?
- A: It depends on the destination. Joel compares Shanghai and Beijing as more expensive with Yangshuo as cheaper. High-speed train fares and national-park tickets can add up, while food is generally affordable.
- Q: Would you recommend having cash in China?
- A: Yes. Joel recommends keeping cash as a backup because WeChat Pay or Alipay may not work for a foreign visitor, for example if a phone dies or a digital payment fails.
