I agree that a certain degree of carefulness and common sense is good to have when travelling in SEAsia. But that goes for everywhere in the world one travel. There are for scams going on for sure here and there. But seek advice from long time expats or thai locals, not some random backbackers and not from a random tour operator ghat also do printings, laundry service and rent out scooters.

Ted I have read about a bus scam between Bangkok and Chiang Mai. But that is not gonna happen if you buy your tickets at the official ticket office at a bus station and not at a doubious guesthouse in Khao San rd or similar. Stay clear of the private tour operators operating from Khao San rd and other backpacker areas and you will not get scammed. I have taken long distance buses all over Thailand (earlier on before low price flights came and before I started to ride bikes in the country) and I have never experienced any scams. As I mentioned before, most long distance bus stations in bigger cities are situated a bit outside of the city centre so expect to get transport from bus stations to city center. This goes for Chiang Mai, Bangkok, Udon Thani, Phuket etc. Take the buses and the bus companies thai citizens use and you will be fine.

I have also taken the Huay Xai - Luang Prabang boatrip on the Mekong River and nobody got kicked out and no scams at all.

In my experience - and I have travelled quite a but in SEAsia you are much more likely to get scammed in Vietnam or Cambodia, omg even buying a cup of coffee they can scam you, not to mention bus and train tickets, guesthouse rooms etc.

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