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Vietnam, Cambodia (Angkor Wat), & Thailand - Help With Itinerary

Vietnam, Cambodia (Angkor Wat), & Thailand - Help With Itinerary

Old Oct 19th, 2002, 01:59 PM
  #1  
Anna, Neil, Mike
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Vietnam, Cambodia (Angkor Wat), & Thailand - Help With Itinerary

We have 3 weeks (22 nights total) beginning in mid-January 2003. This is the rough draft of our itinerary, we're looking for comments and suggestions. We plan to fly between cities.

Vietnam
Hanoi 4 nights (less if we don't go on some side trips)
-De Syloia Hotel?
-day trip to Halong Bay? (Will it be too cold in January? We're from Wisconsin so it probably won't feel that cold. We've seen limestone karsts in southern China (Guilin/Yangshuo) and in southern Thailand -is Halong similar? If so, should we skip it adding days to other areas?)
-should we go to Sapa?

Hue/Hoi An 3 nights
-should we stay in both cities?
-hire a driver for some scenic drives
-the guys want to go to the DMZ
-I'd like to have some clothing made in Hoi An

Saigon 2 nights
-Cu Chi tunnels
-day trip to the Mekong Delta

Siem Reap, Cambodia 5 nights
-Angkor Village Resort
-need guide recommendations

Then finishing up in Thailand
Railay Beach 5 nights
Bangkok 3 nights
(visited both places last year, want to return to Railay and be in Bangkok for the Weekend Market).
 
Old Oct 20th, 2002, 04:41 AM
  #2  
daniel
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Bonjour Anna
Hanoi is the most beautiful city of Vietnam. Halong bay won't be too cold in Jan. (we where there last Christmas)but it is quite similar to Yangshuo (where there in april). In hanoi we met a lot of people who told us that the trip to Sapa was the highlight of their journey in Vietnam. But it is maybe a bit on the cool side in jan.
We didn't like Hue and I would not recommend more than one night. On the other hand Hoi An is a very very nice little town with a lot of character...and tourist but it is ok: find the Tam Tam cafe for good music and drinks. Saigon for 2 nights is ok but the mekong delta trip will take you at least 2 days from HCM. Angkor Wat is ok on a 5 days visit.You will have to buy the 3 days pass for the temples and hire a driver to go around. Don't worry, as soon as you arrive, your hotel will have their own people who will offer you to drive around at a fee that goes for 10$ a day.
For more infos ,send email
Daniel
 
Old Oct 20th, 2002, 09:35 AM
  #3  
Kathie
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I can't help on Viet Nam, as I haven't been there yet. But I was in Siem Reap for a week last year. I also stayed at the Angkor Village Resort. The hotel has their own cadre of drivers and guides and can set you up. I'd buy the week pass for US$60. A three day pass is $40. Decide whether you want a guide and driver or just a driver. If you buy Dawn Rooney's book, Angkor, you can easily self-guide. With three of you, you'll want a car and driver, rather than three motodops (motorcycles with drivers). You'll appreciate having an air-conditioned vehicle to retreat to between temples. Standard rates for an air-conditioned car and driver run from $20-25. At Angkor Village you'll pay $25 a day. A guide is another $20-25 per day. We opted for a car and driver. he was great, and we tipped him generously at the end of our trip. By the way, the resort arranged airport transfers as well (we used our regular driver.)

You can photos of our trip on my friend's website: www.marlandc.com
 
Old Oct 20th, 2002, 07:48 PM
  #4  
Marilyn
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Dawn Rooney's book is great, but please buy it before you get to Cambodia. All the copies sold in Cambodia are knock-offs and the author gets no royalties at all. YOu can get it easily in Bangkok, but best to get it before you go so you can start to read about this fabulous place.
 
Old Oct 21st, 2002, 06:51 AM
  #5  
Anna
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Daniel, I appreciate your thoughts on Vietnam. I think we may stay use Hoi An as our base for the area. I think we may fly into Danang, I've read that there are a lot of scenic drives in the area.

Kathie, did you have a standard or deluxe room at Angkor Village? I'm trying to decide if it's worth the extra money. I really enjoyed the website and pictures.

Marilyn, I've heard about Dawn Rooney's book and plan to order it before we go.

Thanks to each of you for your helpful posts.
 
Old Oct 21st, 2002, 07:00 AM
  #6  
Kathie
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I think the deluxe room is worth the few extra dollars at Angkor Village. Ask for a room on the second floor. Those rooms have soaring ceilings.

Enjoy a wonderful trip!
 
Old Oct 27th, 2002, 05:38 AM
  #7  
Howard
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Hi Anna, Neil, and Mike. My wife and I just got back from our honeymoon (3 weeks in Thailand, Cambodia, and Vietnam!) so I have a few suggestions on your itinerary.

Two days in Saigon is more than enough and I agree that the Mekong Delta is going to take 2 days, not one. I didn't think Cu Chi was worth a day trip.

Some people will probably disagree, but I think you can do Angkor Wat in 3 days. There's not much else to do in Siem Reap, and three days is ample time to see the temples. If you want a recommendation on a guide, you should consider Eath Sovann (he goes by "David"). He was recommended by the Sofitel Hotel and charged us $15 for the whole day (driver not included). He's a former math teacher and an extremely nice and gentle guide. If you want to contact him, his e-mail address is [email protected]. Maybe you could arrange a special multi-day tour package with him.

I also recommend that you guys go to the Tunle Sap lake while in Siem Reap. We had a great time. Have lots of fun!
 
Old Dec 1st, 2002, 04:43 AM
  #8  
Suzanne
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Can't help with Vietnam, but on Siem Reap, if you are planning to travel to the outlying temples (e.g., Banteay Samre and Banteay Srei) then 5 days will be ample. I can recommend an excellent guide, LY Ponheary. Several posters from this site have used her and expressed satisfaction. She also has a guesthouse, which I did not stay in, but others have and were pleased. You can contact her at [email protected]. She charges $20/day and another $20 for car.

Definitely second the idea to visit Chatachuk weekend market in Bangkok. The selection and prices are exceptional.
 
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