caseyjohn

Hi. We're going to Thailand/Cambodia/Vietnam in March and are trying to figure out air travel. We'd like to go Bangkok - Siem Reap - Hanoi - Chaing Mai. Any suggestions? Do we have to return to Bangkok in between Siem Reap and Hanoi? And should we make any flight arrangements in advance or wait until we arrive in bkk? Thanks.

JamesA

The best routing would be Bangkok-Siem reap-HCMC-Hanoi-Bangkok-Chiang Mai-Bangkok. But this would be on various carriers so it doesn't work out that cheap.
If you want to do it cheaper you need Bangkok Airways BKK-Siem reap return. Then either Thai/Vietnam Airlines/Air France(AF often have promotion fares) for BKK-Hanoi return,
The you have multiple choice on the Bangkok-Chiang Mai Route of Thai/Bangkok Airways/Thai Air Asia/One-Two-Go.
If planning from overeas you can't use 'One-Two-Go' as no online reservations.

IF Bangkok Airways is doing a promotion you can get BKK-Siem reap for US$170 return, otherwise it's US$270 return.

BKK-Hanoi is about US$250 return ( again, AF have good fares on the route ).

BKK-Chiang Mai will vary, on Thai standard return roughly US$130. Bangkok Airways similar, unless they have some promotion. Thai Air Asia is a Budget carrier and if you are used to that you know the good and the bad, can be very cheap to book early but there is no flexibility.

I would first check the airline sites, draw out a map, put in your fare options and then work out the best routing. Thai Air Asia is 'Air Asia' websites.

Yoy can find all those airlines and their websites on www.Kooloo.com, under the 'Airlines' Section.

http://www.kooloo.com/bin/hyperseek....egory=AIRLINES

JamesA

Forgot to mention, if you want Siem reap-Hanoi as far as I recall you fly Siem reap - Ho Chi Minh City and tehn change flights for Hanoi, they have 2 flights Siem reap-HCMC per day but onlt the earlier one gets you a same day connection up to Hanoi, all those with Vietnam Airlines.

March should not be 'tto bad' to get seats but do check the bangkok Airways site becasue they sometines have deals that you can only purchase outside of Thailand.

caseyjohn

Thanks for the helpful info JamesA.

twoaussies

My husband and I spent December doing a similar trip, with the exception of Chiang Mai. We flew Delta/Korean from L.A. to Bangkok, then one way to Siem Reap, direct flight to Hanoi; then worked our way down the Vietnamese coast and to Bangkok.
Firstly, tickets are cheaper bought in the country. In October Vietnam Airlines did not sell tickets directly in the U.S. you had to go through Travelocity or Expedia. I pulled up all their prices. Then our guide in Siem Reap for the temples asked if she could buy tickets for us. Her travel agent price for direct flight from S.R. to Hanoi was $160; as opposed to Expedia price of $272. Expedial was $162 for S.R. to Hanoi via HCMC. I hate wasting travel time in airports.
The U.S. had made an agreement with Vietnam to fly directly into Hanoi (dont quite know when that starts). but you might want to investigate flying to either Hong Kong or Seoul and directly into Hanoi. Then to Siem Reap. Dont know if you can fly directly to Chiang Mai, but you could go to Bangkok, then fly or train.
How much time do you have?
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