21 days thailand and vietnam
Apr 21st, 2014, 02:07 AM
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21 days thailand and vietnam
I have an itinerary just would lke suggestions to whether its a good one really ! Its in november during loy kathrong which I believe from what I have read takes place 6th nov 14.
Arrive afternoon
04 bangkok , wander eat and sleep
05 bangkok grand palace and watch thai fight
06 afternoon flight to changmai , celebrate loy krathrong
07 chang mai , see elephants, massage
08 chang mai , trek
09 flight to krabbi , ?
10 krabbi ? Chill perhaps
11krabbi
12koh lanta /reilly, snorkel
13 koh lanta
14koh lanta krabbi flight to hanoi
15 flamingo motorbike tour northwest inc sapa
16 17 18 19 20 , 6am tour finish . Can I fit in halong bay ?
21fly to bangkok,
22 chataket market
23 fly home
concern I have is I would like to have fitted in kanchanaburi day trip also end of trip seems rushed and im not ending on a beach can anyone help . I am very indisisive would appreciate any help
Arrive afternoon
04 bangkok , wander eat and sleep
05 bangkok grand palace and watch thai fight
06 afternoon flight to changmai , celebrate loy krathrong
07 chang mai , see elephants, massage
08 chang mai , trek
09 flight to krabbi , ?
10 krabbi ? Chill perhaps
11krabbi
12koh lanta /reilly, snorkel
13 koh lanta
14koh lanta krabbi flight to hanoi
15 flamingo motorbike tour northwest inc sapa
16 17 18 19 20 , 6am tour finish . Can I fit in halong bay ?
21fly to bangkok,
22 chataket market
23 fly home
concern I have is I would like to have fitted in kanchanaburi day trip also end of trip seems rushed and im not ending on a beach can anyone help . I am very indisisive would appreciate any help
Apr 21st, 2014, 05:38 AM
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Some comments on your plan:
So you have two days in Bangkok - not nearly enough, IMO.
Then you go to Chiang Mai. Note that there are only two places to interact with elephants that treat their elephants humanely: The Thai Elephant Conservation Center, near Lamphang and the Elephant Nature Park. What are you interred in in terms of trekking? If you want to visit hill tribes that are still living their traditional life ways, you'll need to trek overnight a night or two to to get to a remote enough place. Day hikes to visit "hill tribes" will be disappointing commercial ventures.
I'd recommend that you choose one beach area, either Ko Lanta or Krabi are fine, so you have time to relax and explore. Moving around gives you less time to enjoy a place.
Your time in VN is fully booked. You cannot fit in Halong Bay.
Your trip is a bit rushed, but the only ways to change that are to add more days or cut a destination. If you would rather have beach time at the end, you would need to re-arrange things so that you go to the beach after your VN time. If you already have your tickets to/from SE Asia, then there is not a way to end with a beach, assuming your dates for VN are fixed.
So you have two days in Bangkok - not nearly enough, IMO.
Then you go to Chiang Mai. Note that there are only two places to interact with elephants that treat their elephants humanely: The Thai Elephant Conservation Center, near Lamphang and the Elephant Nature Park. What are you interred in in terms of trekking? If you want to visit hill tribes that are still living their traditional life ways, you'll need to trek overnight a night or two to to get to a remote enough place. Day hikes to visit "hill tribes" will be disappointing commercial ventures.
I'd recommend that you choose one beach area, either Ko Lanta or Krabi are fine, so you have time to relax and explore. Moving around gives you less time to enjoy a place.
Your time in VN is fully booked. You cannot fit in Halong Bay.
Your trip is a bit rushed, but the only ways to change that are to add more days or cut a destination. If you would rather have beach time at the end, you would need to re-arrange things so that you go to the beach after your VN time. If you already have your tickets to/from SE Asia, then there is not a way to end with a beach, assuming your dates for VN are fixed.
Apr 21st, 2014, 11:41 AM
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Great advise kathie well I got about 3.5 days in bangkok at end counting 21 and 22 at market .
Will i get the experience of hill tribes in vietnam will they be less commercialised and therefore should I miss that part of chang mai out ? Yes I have decided to just go to krabbi and if need be I can do a trip to phi phi .
Also how long do I need to see halong bay ?
No nothing is booked as yet as I say im indecisive so will end hol in krabbi i reckon . I will definately go to humane elephant sanctury I wont see the tigers as the clearly must sedate them. Also can you recommend some nice hotels not to overly plush travel lodge habe always done me .
Will i get the experience of hill tribes in vietnam will they be less commercialised and therefore should I miss that part of chang mai out ? Yes I have decided to just go to krabbi and if need be I can do a trip to phi phi .
Also how long do I need to see halong bay ?
No nothing is booked as yet as I say im indecisive so will end hol in krabbi i reckon . I will definately go to humane elephant sanctury I wont see the tigers as the clearly must sedate them. Also can you recommend some nice hotels not to overly plush travel lodge habe always done me .
Apr 21st, 2014, 11:47 AM
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Great advise kathie well I got about 3.5 days in bangkok at end counting 21 and 22 at market .
Will i get the experience of hill tribes in vietnam will they be less commercialised and therefore should I miss that part of chang mai out ? Yes I have decided to just go to krabbi and if need be I can do a trip to phi phi .
Also how long do I need to see halong bay ?
No nothing is booked as yet as I say im indecisive so will end hol in krabbi i reckon . I will definately go to humane elephant sanctury I wont see the tigers as the clearly must sedate them. Also can you recommend some nice hotels not to overly plush travel lodge habe always done me .
Will i get the experience of hill tribes in vietnam will they be less commercialised and therefore should I miss that part of chang mai out ? Yes I have decided to just go to krabbi and if need be I can do a trip to phi phi .
Also how long do I need to see halong bay ?
No nothing is booked as yet as I say im indecisive so will end hol in krabbi i reckon . I will definately go to humane elephant sanctury I wont see the tigers as the clearly must sedate them. Also can you recommend some nice hotels not to overly plush travel lodge habe always done me .
Apr 21st, 2014, 07:02 PM
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How about if you go from Chiang Mai straight to Hanoi, then spend time in Krabi or Koh Lanta ?
I really enjoyed Sapa, and Halong Bay was lovely in October, although it's very weather dependant. We had a couple of weeks in Hanoi, arranged multi night trips via our hotel which were very good and not expensive.
If you can wait until you get there to choose which days to visit which area, then a good agent/hotel desk tour person will be able to help you choose the best area according to the near term weather forecast.
Agree with Kathie that the hill tribe villages in Vietnam will be less commercial than those easily reached in Northern Thailand, I like all the hill tribes I've visited though.
Enjoy your planning !
I really enjoyed Sapa, and Halong Bay was lovely in October, although it's very weather dependant. We had a couple of weeks in Hanoi, arranged multi night trips via our hotel which were very good and not expensive.
If you can wait until you get there to choose which days to visit which area, then a good agent/hotel desk tour person will be able to help you choose the best area according to the near term weather forecast.
Agree with Kathie that the hill tribe villages in Vietnam will be less commercial than those easily reached in Northern Thailand, I like all the hill tribes I've visited though.
Enjoy your planning !
Apr 22nd, 2014, 11:12 AM
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Thanks again for your advise duly noted . I could go to vietnam then krabbi just thought I would then have to travel from krabbi to bangkok where vietnam I could go straight to bangkok . My mrs has just put a spanner in works she cant ride a motorbike and wants to think about doing a cbt ! Lol I have not told her about the sad tragedy that took place recently either but if you took notice of all the things that going on in the world ie malaysian plane , political unrest you would never step out of the house . May be back to drawing board, perhaps ! We shall see thanks again
Apr 27th, 2014, 10:10 PM
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While you're in BKK make sure you do a trip by public ferry up the river from Central Pier to the terminus at Nonthaburi, and back again. Make sure you get a public ferry and not a tourist ferry, here's the timetable...
http://www.transitbangkok.com/Chao_Phraya_Express.html
The Chao Phraya river is the heartbeat of BKK. You'll see some great sights as you speed up it.
On the way back you you could jump off at Pier 13 and visit the Khao San area, which although is the backpacker area has some lovely places to eat and drink, and if you feel like it swap notes with other travellers.
As a first time visitor another lovely spot is Lumphini Park. It provides a bit of oxygen and green space away from the madness of 24/7 BKK. Easy enough to reach by Skytrain, opposite Si Lom or Lumphini stations.
Personally, unless you've got something specific to detain you I'd limit my stay to 3 nights at the beginning, and one at the end of my trip to make sure I don't miss my flight home. Thailand is a lovely country and there's much more to see than claustrophobic. air polluted, 24/7 in your face Bangkok.
You also mentioned Kanchanaburi. I don't think a rushed one day trip does the place any justice. You need 3 nights or so, visit the area at your leisure and take in the atmosphere, of which there's plenty. Jeath Mueum, the Thai Burma Railway Museum, the Commonwealth War Cemeteries, a ride on the Death Railway to or from Nam Tok, and a visit to Hellfire Pass will soon fill in a couple of days. A couple of days more and you could continue west to Sangthlaburi and Three pagoda Pass on the Thai/Myanmar border. A beautiful and serene part of the world with hardly a tourist in sight.
http://www.transitbangkok.com/Chao_Phraya_Express.html
The Chao Phraya river is the heartbeat of BKK. You'll see some great sights as you speed up it.
On the way back you you could jump off at Pier 13 and visit the Khao San area, which although is the backpacker area has some lovely places to eat and drink, and if you feel like it swap notes with other travellers.
As a first time visitor another lovely spot is Lumphini Park. It provides a bit of oxygen and green space away from the madness of 24/7 BKK. Easy enough to reach by Skytrain, opposite Si Lom or Lumphini stations.
Personally, unless you've got something specific to detain you I'd limit my stay to 3 nights at the beginning, and one at the end of my trip to make sure I don't miss my flight home. Thailand is a lovely country and there's much more to see than claustrophobic. air polluted, 24/7 in your face Bangkok.
You also mentioned Kanchanaburi. I don't think a rushed one day trip does the place any justice. You need 3 nights or so, visit the area at your leisure and take in the atmosphere, of which there's plenty. Jeath Mueum, the Thai Burma Railway Museum, the Commonwealth War Cemeteries, a ride on the Death Railway to or from Nam Tok, and a visit to Hellfire Pass will soon fill in a couple of days. A couple of days more and you could continue west to Sangthlaburi and Three pagoda Pass on the Thai/Myanmar border. A beautiful and serene part of the world with hardly a tourist in sight.
Apr 27th, 2014, 10:20 PM
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Also have a look at having a trip on the Khlong (canal) Boats. Here's the timetable and route map...
http://www.transitbangkok.com/khlong_boats.html
http://www.transitbangkok.com/khlong_boats.html
Apr 28th, 2014, 05:31 AM
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We all like different things. Bangkok is my favorite city in the world, and there are plenty of other regulars here who say the same thing.
Yes, do take the water taxi - best way to get the some of the must-visit wats: Emerald Buddha, Wat Po, Wat Arun and the Grand Palace.
Yes, do take the water taxi - best way to get the some of the must-visit wats: Emerald Buddha, Wat Po, Wat Arun and the Grand Palace.
Aug 25th, 2014, 02:26 AM
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Hi guys thanks for all your help I still have yet to decide but I will do bkk then chaing mai then my trip to vietnam 5 day mbike tour then 2day junk cruise is already booked it then leaves 7 days to do as we wish ! I have in my head kanchanburi phuket phi phi if any one has the answer let me know please .
Sep 2nd, 2014, 10:40 AM
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I was up for just one country the mrs decided she wanted to go to vietnam so we got one week there 2 weeks thailand , damage is already done prachaup. Places are chaing mai hanoi then it an open itinerary suppose could stay in nam, do you have any suggestions ? Hi kathie, re: Bungalow ,well im not top class, as long is its clean and is cool £ 60pn
Sep 2nd, 2014, 05:28 PM
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Kathie is right on as always.Do not go to Trekking camps all Elephants are very, very abused.
Elephant Nature Park, might cost more but well worth it.All the money goes right back into the
Animals. No chains, no beating anymore, free roaming happy Eles
Elephant Nature Park, might cost more but well worth it.All the money goes right back into the
Animals. No chains, no beating anymore, free roaming happy Eles
