beachlova99

Hi,

I am a single mother traveling with two kids ages 11 and 9 to Vietnam and Cambodia in November. Kids have traveled quite a bit before and are very adventurous travelers. I am maximizing this trip for them. Can you please critique the trip for me please ? Thanks a lot.


Here is the schedule -

Day 1 - Hanoi sightseeing. Water Puppets etc.
Day 2 - Shuttle to Halong bay
Day 3 - Halong bay
Day 4 - Shuttle from Halong bay to Ninh Binh
Day 5 - Tom Coc and then take a night train to Hue
Day 6 - Hue
Day 7 - Hoi Ann
Day 8 - Hoi Ann and night train to Saigon
Day 9 - Saigon
Day 10 - Mekong delta tour
Day 11 - Mekong delta tour and flight from Saigon to Siem Reap in the night
Day 12 - Angkor Wat
Day 13 - Angkor Wat
Day 14 - fly out of Cambodia.

needmorevacation

I'm guessing you land in Hanoi on 'Day 0'?

I would give Hanoi more than one day, and I'd give Siem Reap more than 2.

beachlova99

Yes. Arriving in Hanoi on 0. Siem Reap is worth more than two days but I felt the kids will be bored by the end of day two. There is only so much of the temples they can take in at that age.

What else is there in Hanoi ? Also, what should I cut to make more time in Hanoi ?

thanks

LancasterLad

Too much imo. Looks alright on paper, but travelling on whatever transport you use can be slow. More = Less.

I'd definitely cut out Hue, and it'd take you at least half a day on Day 7 to get to Hoi An from Hue by either road or train. So I'd stay on the train on Day 5/6 and get off at Da nang. Then Vinasun or Mai Linh taxi to Hoi An [45 minutes @ about 400k dong].

Hoi An is magical from late afternoon onwards. We just had a v.enjoyable week there. You'll want a two least 2 nights there.

By cutting Hue, you can add that day/night to Hanoi. Agree with the last post by beachlova99 about getting 'Temple Fatigue' at Angkor.

LancasterLad

<<<Agree with the last post by beachlova99 about getting 'Temple Fatigue' at Angkor.>>>

Oops. Now I've gone back to the top of the thread I've realised you're the OP!

If you don't know what there is to do in Hanoi, then that suggests you haven't got a good Vietnam Guidebook! Get hold of the last edition of Lonely Planet, that'll offer plenty of suggestions. Use LP as a good friend, especially for things to do and the v.useful maps.

Kathie

I agree with LL that you are trying to do too much. I think you need to cut out (at least) one destination - maybe cut Halong Bay, or the Mekong Delta or...