daria26

Hello!
Can anyone recommend any good tour operators for Indochina? I have found this fabulous trip with OAT tours: Ancient Kindgoms and the tour consists of the four countries and lasts 19 days. The price is 3395 with flight included. But I wanted to shop around anyway, any suggestions will be appreciated!

Kathie

Four countries in 19 days is a bad idea unless it's just one stop in each country. That's one of the big problems with tour companies - they want to cram in as many stops as possible, which means you have no time to do/see/experience anything about these four countries.

The only part of the trip that OAT might be able to do more cheaply than you can on your own is the transpacific airfare. Otherwise you can get better hotels, spend your time the way you want to, etc, by doing it on your own. Frankly, I don't recommend any tour operators for SE Asia as it is so easy (and inexpensive) to do on your own. For price comparisons, you could contact Tonkin Travel (a VN company) and ask for a quote for a similar trip. WHile Tonkin should be able to get you good prices on hotels in VN, and maybe in Cambodia, you are better off doing the other reservations yourself.

Pause and consider what you want to do/see/experience in these countries - prioritize. Then look at how much time you have and plan a trip with your interests in mind. Anyplace that is worth going to is worth spending a minimum of three nights (that's only two full days), and probably four nights.

sf7307

Anyplace that is worth going to is worth spending a minimum of three nights (that's only two full days), and probably four nights.


I agree with most of what Kathie has said (although 4 countries isn't really meaningful - is it 4 locations, or are there multiple stops within a country?), except for the above. We just returned from SE Asia - we were in 3 countries (counting Hong Kong as a country), but 4 stops in Vietnam, only one in Cambodia and Hong Kong. We spent 5 nights in Hanoi, but only 2 each in Hue and Saigon, and 3 in HoiAn, and those amounts were perfect for the particular locations. I wouldn't have known what to do with myself if I had another day and night (or more) in Hue and/or Saigon. Our trip was 22 days including travel days (and including the day you lose crossing the International Date Line going) - we left on a Saturday and returned on a Saturday. Any less than that and something would have had to give. Our trip consisted of:

Hanoi - 5 nights and 5 full days (including a day trip to Halong Bay)

Hue - 2 nights and 1-1/2 days

HoiAn - 3 nights and 2-1/2 days

Saigon - 2 nights and 1-1/2 days

Siem Reap - 4 nights and 3-1/2 days

Hong Kong - 4 nights and 3/-1/2 days

daria26

Thank you for this valuable information: it's 3 stops in Cambodia, 3 in Laos and I think 2 in Thailand. I am a young female traveller that is going alone and do not feel comfortable doing it by myself - hence me looking for an escorted tour. My priority is Laos and cambodia and I'm glad they are doing vietnam for 2 nights, I don't mind seeing that. Again thank you!

live42day

I just returned from a month in Laos on my own, there were many women young and old travelling on thier own too, but if you are not comfortable then I understand. You can always get local tours when you arrive too and that is a good way to meet up with like minded people.

HappyTrvlr

OAT appeals to mature travelers. Perhaps you can find a group tour that caters to a younger age group.

thursdaysd

I thought OAT attracted older travelers? I had a very bad experience with them in Thailand, but I know a lot of people like them.

I'd suggest that you take a look at Intrepid, if you really want a tour, but southeast Asia is awash in young independent travelers - you can connect on trains or buses, or in cheaper accommodation.