Departure in a week and a half for Burma, Angkor Wat/Cambodia & Vietnam
Jul 11th, 2011, 06:42 PM
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Departure in a week and a half for Burma, Angkor Wat/Cambodia & Vietnam
Will post a trip report upon my return I have used the advice of Fodorites as I planned our trip albeit voyeuristically. Bangkok will be our base. We depart almost immediately for Siem Reap and three nights at La Residence d Angkor...we'll explore the temples and hopefully have a trip up to Tonle Lake...we know it'll be hot and wet...we'll fly back to Bangkok for a half day tour of the grand palace and canals of the city. We'll stay at the Peninsula Hotel for the night. The next day we're back to the airport headed to Yangon/Rangoon. We'll do a half day tour: markets, the Shwedagon pagoda and the colonial areas...we 'll stay one night at the Governors Residence. Morning departure on flight for Bagan.
From Bagan we board the Road to Mandalay. We're doing the four night cruise to Mandalay. We'll find a good spot for the sunset and I've arranged forMin Thu to meet me at the jetty a five a.m. For a sunrise horse cart tour. The balloons don't run this time of year so I hate to miss that but we'll do the best we can. This boat run seems to be the only departure this time of year so it'll be interesting. I assume there's a bit of weather risk but the average highs and lows and rainfall is not much different than Florida which is where I live so we'll see...The next few nights we'll spend aboard taking in life along the Irrawaddy. Mandalay, Sagaing and Mingun...Flight from Mandalay to Yangon to Bangkok...another night at the Peninsula before morning flight to Hanoi...
Nine days in Vietnam: Hanoi; Halong bay; cuc phuong np; Hue; Hoi An and Saigon....it's a lot to do but we'll likely not be back...I'll let you know if we bit off too much ...all I know is I can't wait! Any must eat restaurants or travel secrets are appreciated. I leave on Friday July 22...
From Bagan we board the Road to Mandalay. We're doing the four night cruise to Mandalay. We'll find a good spot for the sunset and I've arranged forMin Thu to meet me at the jetty a five a.m. For a sunrise horse cart tour. The balloons don't run this time of year so I hate to miss that but we'll do the best we can. This boat run seems to be the only departure this time of year so it'll be interesting. I assume there's a bit of weather risk but the average highs and lows and rainfall is not much different than Florida which is where I live so we'll see...The next few nights we'll spend aboard taking in life along the Irrawaddy. Mandalay, Sagaing and Mingun...Flight from Mandalay to Yangon to Bangkok...another night at the Peninsula before morning flight to Hanoi...
Nine days in Vietnam: Hanoi; Halong bay; cuc phuong np; Hue; Hoi An and Saigon....it's a lot to do but we'll likely not be back...I'll let you know if we bit off too much ...all I know is I can't wait! Any must eat restaurants or travel secrets are appreciated. I leave on Friday July 22...
Jul 12th, 2011, 06:23 PM
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IMHO: please don't eliminate Halong Bay. We were there in 2005 and spending a night on a boat in the Bay was a memorable experience.
Make sure you eat at Mango Rooms in Hoi An. It's a great restaurant.
Safe travels.
Make sure you eat at Mango Rooms in Hoi An. It's a great restaurant.
Safe travels.
Jul 13th, 2011, 03:40 PM
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Everything's got a bit of compromise to it...my dad particularly wanted to see Vietnam. We'll def be on the go. Ideally we'd have a lot more time. In fact I wanted to leave Saigon off and concentrate mostly in the north but we probably won't be back and pops wanted to see it all...
Yangon I took some liberties With what we'd see....my plan is to wind up at the Shwedagon pagoda and stay after the sun goes down. These things have to take enough time to absorb the mood and spirit of the place...
For me, Vietnam will be a great time to eat...I'm keen to see Halong bay which looks very picturesque but I'm also taking a side trip to the conservation center at cuc phuong on the way back to hanoI as I have a particular interest in pangolins and wildlife.
Yangon I took some liberties With what we'd see....my plan is to wind up at the Shwedagon pagoda and stay after the sun goes down. These things have to take enough time to absorb the mood and spirit of the place...
For me, Vietnam will be a great time to eat...I'm keen to see Halong bay which looks very picturesque but I'm also taking a side trip to the conservation center at cuc phuong on the way back to hanoI as I have a particular interest in pangolins and wildlife.
Jul 13th, 2011, 05:28 PM
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Sounds like much excitement in store. Since you asked for tips and are going to Mingun, I know that the volunteer nurse at the Old Folks Home would be most grateful for any medicines that you might care to bring along..from my trip report of 2010:
<Next and last stop: The Mingun Old People’s Home, final resting place of elders whose families are either non-existent or unable to care for them. Having lost both of my parents not many years ago, I was hesitant about this visit, fearing that I would find it too depressing. Thankfully, I followed the group and, in doing so, found a rather pleasant scene. The airy one-story concrete buildings, some bearing plaques proclaiming that they had been constructed with the help of grateful relatives of current or former residents, stretch along the riverbank on a leafy site in the center of the hamlet. We were welcomed and allowed to enter both the male and female residences. The residents appeared to be well fed and well cared for.
Most interesting was our visit to the infirmary, staffed by a smiling and angelic volunteer nurse who proudly told us, in very good English, that her son is attending medical school partly through the generosity of a visiting Australian tourist. There were three medical doctors among our group and they were particularly interested in the supply of medicines that had been donated by visitors. Respiratory ailments, diabetes and high blood pressures are the dominant complaints and donations for these, and other supplies, are gratefully accepted and can be sent c/o Mingun Old People’s Home. >
<Next and last stop: The Mingun Old People’s Home, final resting place of elders whose families are either non-existent or unable to care for them. Having lost both of my parents not many years ago, I was hesitant about this visit, fearing that I would find it too depressing. Thankfully, I followed the group and, in doing so, found a rather pleasant scene. The airy one-story concrete buildings, some bearing plaques proclaiming that they had been constructed with the help of grateful relatives of current or former residents, stretch along the riverbank on a leafy site in the center of the hamlet. We were welcomed and allowed to enter both the male and female residences. The residents appeared to be well fed and well cared for.
Most interesting was our visit to the infirmary, staffed by a smiling and angelic volunteer nurse who proudly told us, in very good English, that her son is attending medical school partly through the generosity of a visiting Australian tourist. There were three medical doctors among our group and they were particularly interested in the supply of medicines that had been donated by visitors. Respiratory ailments, diabetes and high blood pressures are the dominant complaints and donations for these, and other supplies, are gratefully accepted and can be sent c/o Mingun Old People’s Home. >
Jul 13th, 2011, 05:50 PM
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Have a wonderfuly trip!! You will see lots. How exciting to be so close to departure!! Remember if you are feeling rushed it is your trip so you can decide not to do something you may have thought you would get done in that particular afternoon & just slow down a little.
Jul 18th, 2011, 07:05 PM
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Just returned from a whirlwind tour of Cambodia and Vietnam, among other places.
A few quick comments about C and V, since that's where our overlap is. Not sure how much flexibility you have in your schedule.
Cambodia was definitely a highlight for us. Temples were amazing, but the people were the most amazing. Would have stayed longer if possible. Heartbreaking history and incredibly heartwarming people.
Very much enjoyed the zippy-ness of Ho Chi Minh city. Try to visit Cu Chi tunnels (very interesting, though can be mobbed with tourists) and Mekong Delta.
We loved Hoi An and could have stayed there for several days. If you like beautiful beaches and a picturesque town, you will like it too. The resorts are gorgeous and this will be a high-end resort town within the next 5 years if not sooner, I think.
Skipped the historical sights in Hue in order to stay in Hoi An an extra day, but did have to spend the night in Hue. Stayed at a lovely historic hotel, but Hue itself is ho-hum and dumpy. Would have much preferred staying longer in Hoi An, despite the fact that we love history. Was extremely hot - too hot to spend sightseeing when we could have been on the beach, not to mention Hue was the 5th stop on the trip and we were pooped.
Hanoi was a bit disappointing. Lake area and area around the Opera House are nice. Much preferred HCM city, though. If you are going to Hanoi and love nature, then Halong Bay is a must. It is breathtaking and unlike anything I've seen before, and I've seen a fair amount. Did an overnight on the Emeraude and could have easily stayed another night and made a couple more stops.
We stayed mostly at 4 star hotels - one 5 star, I think - and they were all lovely, clean, and well-serviced with very good restaurants. In fact, we found the hotel food to be consistently good and often better than the highly rated restaurants in our tour book. Was travelling with a very discriminating crowd (think Four Seasons, Mandarin Oriental), and everyone was very happy w/the accomodations.
A few quick comments about C and V, since that's where our overlap is. Not sure how much flexibility you have in your schedule.
Cambodia was definitely a highlight for us. Temples were amazing, but the people were the most amazing. Would have stayed longer if possible. Heartbreaking history and incredibly heartwarming people.
Very much enjoyed the zippy-ness of Ho Chi Minh city. Try to visit Cu Chi tunnels (very interesting, though can be mobbed with tourists) and Mekong Delta.
We loved Hoi An and could have stayed there for several days. If you like beautiful beaches and a picturesque town, you will like it too. The resorts are gorgeous and this will be a high-end resort town within the next 5 years if not sooner, I think.
Skipped the historical sights in Hue in order to stay in Hoi An an extra day, but did have to spend the night in Hue. Stayed at a lovely historic hotel, but Hue itself is ho-hum and dumpy. Would have much preferred staying longer in Hoi An, despite the fact that we love history. Was extremely hot - too hot to spend sightseeing when we could have been on the beach, not to mention Hue was the 5th stop on the trip and we were pooped.
Hanoi was a bit disappointing. Lake area and area around the Opera House are nice. Much preferred HCM city, though. If you are going to Hanoi and love nature, then Halong Bay is a must. It is breathtaking and unlike anything I've seen before, and I've seen a fair amount. Did an overnight on the Emeraude and could have easily stayed another night and made a couple more stops.
We stayed mostly at 4 star hotels - one 5 star, I think - and they were all lovely, clean, and well-serviced with very good restaurants. In fact, we found the hotel food to be consistently good and often better than the highly rated restaurants in our tour book. Was travelling with a very discriminating crowd (think Four Seasons, Mandarin Oriental), and everyone was very happy w/the accomodations.
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