luvsmacca

Hello
I am just starting to plan for a trip to Viet Nam and Camboida for late 2010. I know it is very early but planning is half the fun of the trip for me.

I am looking for an organized trip that includes meals, lodging, hotels and transportation. I know a lot of you will advise to go it on my own but that is not how I want to travel in Asia. I travel extensively and usually do it independently but I am taking my daughter this time and want to do a tour.

Does anyone have any suggstions for companies to check out? We are looking for 12 to 14 days and want to go in either Nov or Dec.

Thanks in advance

northie

we have used World Expeditions for touring Vietnam.They offer a wide variety of tours including helping the community ones.

silverwool

I've travelled with Travel Indochina and found them very good. Maximum of 15 people in a group and western and local guide with more than 7 people. Less than 7 only local guide. They do not include all meals which I feel is an advantage as you are less restricted in choice of venue, menus etc.

However like many of the people here I've moved on to independent travel. I'd also suggest that 12 to 14 days is not very long for Vietnam and Cambodia. You've got to consider travel time. I'd consider Vietnam or Cambodia unless its a brief introduction and you are planning to return.

banares

I used Bangkok-based Royal Exclusive Travel for my 8day/7night trip to Cambodia (Siem Reap and Phnom Penh). The tour was written up in Frommers. They also do Vietnam and other Asian countries. Website is www.royalexclusive.com

We had a car with driver and a guide in each city. Between SR and PP, we travelled by boat.
By the way, it was very hot in Jan when we went. So touring was done early in the morning and late afternoon. The tour info we got listed more temples than what we covered, but we did hit the main sites. Only breakfast was included, but meals are very inexpensive there. I have very sensitive digestive system; we stuck to decent-looking restaurants where there were tourists, and managed to avoid getting sick.

International flight was not included, but that is easy enough to arrange. Airport to hotel transfer is included.

Judysfinds

Our trip is planned for Oct/Nov of this year. I have done extensive research and have received quotes from 7 tour agencies. We designed the trip ourselves with the help of these great travel forums and will be traveling on a private tour of 24 days in VN, Cambodia, Laos and ending in Bangkok. I prefer to have someone else make the arrangments as it gives me confort in knowing all is planned, I then just enjoy.
We will be using Tonkin Travel, Nhung is our representative, as they have been the most professional, most responsive, very helpful with suggestions and the best price.
Email me if you would like benefit of my research.

danjagrrl

Judysfind - I would love it if you would share your research with me - as I am thinking of VN, Cambodia & BBK as well. I can be reached at danjagrrl <at> gmail <dot> com --- thanks

1010925

Hi Judysfind, We are just starting our research and would really appreciate your findings. Thank you for sharing.

Grumbo

I am in the process of planning a trip to Vietnam next month and have also been using Tonkin Travel (Huong as representative) and they have been very responsive and their prices very competitive. I email him during the day and get a response usually around 11pm ET in the US.

amirao

Hi Judysfinds, I too would love to be able to share your research - we are planning our honeymoon in Dec/Jan. My email is [email protected]... Thank you so much!

BostonGal

I recently used Ethnic Travel for a northern Vietnam daytrip. They specialize in longer trips though, so they do have experience with lodging and meals, not just quick daytrips. I chose them because of their focus on sustainable travel and homestays. They were a wonderful company to work with and they have a nice variety of options for tours. Check them out!

four_maccas

Hi, our family (husband and I in late 40's and 2 sons (14&16)at the time) travelled to Vietnam and Cambodia with World Expeditions back in 2005, leaving from Australia on 26th December.

While it was a group trip there is a limit to group size (max 12 at the time) and we found ourselves in a group of 7. The Vietnam component of our trip was 20 days and the Cambodian section was a week. We took these as two separate trips and found our family to be the only ones on the Cambodian leg.

Basic itinerary for Vietnam was as follows:
Day 1&2 - Ho Chi Minh City
Day 3-6 - Mekong Delta sidetrip including a Home Stay, which was one of the highlights of the trip
Day 7-Flight to Da Nang then onto Hoi An
Day 8&9 - Hoi An
Day 10-12- Hue then overnight train to Hanoi
Day 13 - Hanoi
Day 14-16 -Hill tribe trek (another highlight) then return to Hanoi
Day 17-19 - Halong Bay then return to Hanoi
Day 20 - Hanoi

For the Cambodian component we flew into Phnom Penh where we spent 2 days before being driven to Siem Reap for around 5 days. While the guide we had in Phnom Penh was fantastic the fellow we had for Siem Reap left a lot to be desired and, in hindsight, we could have organised this part of the trip ourselves.

This was our 2nd trip with World Expeditions (the first being back in 1986 to Everest Base Camp) and their professionalism and attention to detail was just as good the second time around.

Judysfinds

Hadn't checked site for a while and see some of you would like my research on our trip. Please email me, it helps to have edress doesn't it.
[email protected]

funnetbabe

I have used this company for Vietnam only, reliable and great service, .check it out.
http://www.buffalotours.com/