6 weeks in Vietnam, Laos and Cambodia
 

We are retired professionals and seasoned independent world travellers in our early 60's.

We have read up quite a bit for this trip for 4-5 weeks and would like suggestions for the best itinerary/route.

We read that stopping over in Bangkok to book for connecting flights/train/hotels would be most economical.

Please recommend the best downtown 4-5* hotel in Bangk. and travel agencies to do these bookings.

How about the best websites for itinerary and bookings for independent travellers for these 3 countries?

Is it best to start travelling from S. to N. in terms of weather at this time of the year?

Your assistance in our initial planning is so very much appreciated.

Do you know knowledgeable & reliable travel agencies in Toronto for this region?

Travelling Victor

When are you planning to be in asia? Because, while you may find better air prices once there, if you are there at high season, you may not be able to get any tickets to places like Siem Reap; Those flights are limited in number and fixed price on Bangkok Airways....

There is a Bangkok agent, Eddie at Seatours, that several here have recommended, but I have never been able to get an email response from him.

Downtown hotel in Bangkok? Do you mean in the shopping disrtrict or on the river? I love the Peninsula, others here have their favorites. Type Bankgkok hotels into the search box above and you'll get a lot of info.

I've found that the hotel websites give the best deals, and offer you flexibility if you need to change your travel plans. Sites such as sawadees.com often offer hotels with taxes and breakfast included, so that cam be worth pricing them first.

In November, North to South might be best, as the overall weather gets colder.

Thank you SO much Icuy for quick response.

Sorry, forgot to post the date. We are planning the last week of Feb. as Chinese New Year two weeks before and after Feb. 7th is a big deal in Vietnam thus many things will be fully booked.

Our initial plan to fly into Bangkok was just to book international/domestic flights/trains/hotels between and within these 3 countries.

On second thought, since we've been to Thailand, we should consider skipping it and book hotels on line and international flight straight from Toronto Canada to Hanoi or Siem Reap.

I understand the Bangkok new airport is way out of the city and there is only one so so and expensive hotel with snail-pace traffic jam.

The cities/sites we are interested are: Angkok Wat, Luang Prabang, Hanoi, Halong Bay, Sapa (maybe because we have visited hilltribes in Thailand), Danang/Hoi An/Hue and maybe Saigon to do the Mekong Delta boat trip.

I think we will only spend 5 weeks, not 6. Do you have suggestions what I must book from Canada and what I can book after arriving in Vietnam/Laos/Cambodia?

Your continued support is much appreciated.

Advice from anyone who has made this trip is also encouraged and appreciated.

Travelling_Victor

Hi Victor - I'm in Toronto and traveled to Thailand, Cambodia and Lao this past January. We booked our own flights via the Circle Pacific Airpass and then the Discovery Airpass for Cambodia/Lao. Other friends of ours did a similar trip and used a travel agent they highly recommend - I'll find her name for you if you like.

Oops - meant to post a link to our blog so you can see our Cambodia/Lao pages - on the left margin......

And this time I actually put in the link!

http://lizandrichardsa.typepad.com/2...age/index.html

First of all the new airport is only slightly further out than the old one which is still being used for some domestic flights. The hotel at the airport is good but most people opt to get one in the city depending on how long a layover.

You will be travelling at a busy time and therefore you should have all your hotels and flights booked as soon as possible. For flying into laos and Cambodia you could save money by using the Bangkok Air Discovery Pass. They have an office in Toronto.

There are no direct flights from Toronto to Laos or Cambodia. You will have to fly through an asian hub such as Tokyo, Hong Kong or Bangkok as examples. Your best bet might be to HH and then on to Hanoi to tour Vietnam. If you plan to do a Mekong Delta boat trip you could end it in Phnom Penh Cambodia. Spend a day or two here (well worth it in my opinion) and then fly, bus or taxi to Siem Reap. Fly from SR to Laos and from there back to Hong Kong through Hanoi or Bangkok.

A tour agency that I have used in the past is Tour East http://www.toureast.com/wwte/Index.asp.

Forgot to say that if you give us a hotel price range, then hotels in that range could be recommended.

You should check out www.Frommers.com suggested itinerary for "28 days in Vietnam and Cambodia". The cheapest way to do this would probably be to fly into Bangkok and then take a flight to Hanoi through Nok Air or Air Asia from there. Then you can go south through Vietnam, to Cambodia, and fly to LP from Siem Reap. Then, you'll have to fly back to Bangkok from LP. Another good website to check out for itineraries is www.Travelfish.org.

If you're flying within Vietnam, you can book your internal flights via www.ivuvu.com. You can book the flights from LP to Bangkok and from Siem Reap to LP via www.laoairlines.com or www.vayama.com.

Hi to all our kind travelling mentors,

We finally spent 2 hrs. last night booking Intl. flights using Aeroplan miles. Both ways we have two stopovers....sounds nasty but waited too long.

We are flying into Saigon Feb 21 and out of Hanoi Mar. 26 for 4.5 weeks total, avoiding Bangkok since we've been there.

Next stage of planning is which flights/hotels we must book ourselves before departure in high season of Feb/Mar?

1. Mekong Delta to PP
2. PP to Hue
3. Hue to Hanoi
4. Hanoi - LP
5. Hanoi - Halong Bay

Is this the best route to hit all these places?

Thanks so much for your input

Travelling_Victor

Elizabeth_S, which part of Toronto are you from? We are at Bayview and Finch area.

Hi Scotters,

We are looking for hotels in the 4-5 star range in central locatiions. Thanks for your continued support.

Travelling_Victor

Hi Elizabeth_S,

Can you please forward the name of your travel agent you mentioned earlier. Thanks, Travelling_Victor

Hi Victor - the TA is

Kathii Benn
KBenn Travel
[email protected]

K. Benn Travel
1299 Yonge Street,
Toronto, Ontario M4T 1W6
Phone: 416-934-0994

I don't know her but our friends swear by her - they usually stay really high end - fair warning!

We're in South Etobicoke by the Lake - question regarding your itinerary - are you going to Siem Reap?

Since you will be landing in Saigon then after seeing the sites here, the Mekong Delta Trip to Phnom Penh (2 or 3 day trip) is the next logical step as you have outlined. I assume you are going to Siem Reap also. From there you can fly to LP on Laos airlines (Wed/Fri/Sat/Sun) and from LP fly to Hanoi by either Laos or Vietnam Airlines. From Hanoi vist the other places that you list.

As for hotels in PP I would suggest you have a look at the following

Amanjaya - a little over priced but excellent.
http://www.amanjaya.com/

Bougainville - This is where I have stayed. http://www.bougainvillierhotel.com/index.php

Cambodianna - http://www.hotelcambodiana.com/

Imperial Garden - http://www.imperialgarden-hotel.com/

In SR you will find the hotels are all overpriced compared to other places. Here are some suggestions.

FCC Angkor - http://www.fcccambodia.com/angkor/

Prince D'Angkor - http://www.princedangkor.com/

Vivtoria Angkor Resort - http://www.victoriahotels-asia.com/e...kor-resort-spa

Sokha - http://www.asiarooms.com/cambodia/si...&_spa.html

I usualy stay at the Bopha Angkor but it is only 3 star but is very good - http://www.bopha-angkor.com/

There are many others such as the Hotel de la Pair and the Sofitel which I consider just too expensive for what you get.

To get the best rates it is usually through a hotel discounter rather than directly from the hotel but there are exceptions.

I do not know Vietnam so leave kotels to others.

I don't think there is a flight from PP to Hue. Silk Air flies from Siem Reap to Danang, so you can do that, see HoAn and taxi to Hue for 4 hrs.

Both in Cambodia and Laos US dollars are used. There are ATM macines in both PP and SR and they give out US$. I don't think LP has any yet but I could be wrong. Your Canadian bank card is fine for withdrawals from thes ATMs, both Plus and Cirrus. Book your hotel as soon as possible and while our dollar is strong against the us$

Hi our helpful friends, can you please help us find a charming quiet hotel in Saigon for 8 nights around and a bit over $100/night.

We tried Guoman Hotel - they are full.

We tried Army Hotel, but have trouble getting through to them.

Can you please forward 2-3 names for Hanoi?

Much much appreciated.

you should check out reviews for hotels on www.travelfish.org. tripadvisor.com is also a good one for reviews. check the top-rated there.