advice on my itinerary Vietnam and Cambodia
 

Hi
I am travelling to Vietnam and Cambodia (may be also Luang Prabang in Lao) for 19 nights in March 2011 with my husband. We are hoping to see all the main sites of each country should have few days beach relax (thinking Nha Trang or Phu Qoc). What would you suggest?

Can you please advise which flights to start?

I would love to hear your thoughts and feedback. Thanks everyone in advance.

Beth

You think you are going to see all of the main sites in both Cambodia and VN (and maybe Luang Prabang) in 19 days and have a few days at the beach? Let me suggest that you will need to choose carefully what you want to see rather than thinking you can see it all in 19 days.

Travel in SE Asia takes time. It will often take you close to a full day to get from check out at one hotel to check in at your hotel in your next destination. So you will need to plan four nights in a location to have three full days. At four nights per location, you could visit 5 locations in 19 nights.

Start by plotting out your itinerary. Decide what are the most important things for you to do/see/experience. We can help you more if we have this info.

do not understand your flight question....do you mean flts to SEA or flights within SEA?

Hi Beth, remember that you will have a visa issue if you leave VN (ie go to Cambodia) and return. You would need a multi-entry visa or get a new one in Cambodia. So you are better off to hit Cambodia before or after VN.

I have been to both Nha Trang and Phu Quoc and I liked them both a lot, though they are very different. Nha Trang is more upscale touristy with TONS of western tourists, ie English and Aussies. Phu Quoc is more quaint with most tourists from Russia, in my experience. Again, both are great so it really depends what you are after.

I have also been to Angkor Wat and would not miss that one. Three nights is plenty, unless you are very into that sort of thing.

Angkor Wat!
Stay in Siem Reap.

Thanks for all great information; we're on the ground for 20 days.

We're flying United air to/from home in Spokane, and wish fly into Hanoi so I'm thinking:

4 nights Hanoi (we wish to have 01nit on junk boat Ha Long)
5 nights Danang & Hoi An
3 nights Nha Trang
4 nights Ho Chi Minh City
3 nights Siem Reap see Angkor wat (fly via thailand back to HOME)

I could take one night away from Ho Chi Minh City and stay more for Nha Trang or Angkor wat.

Thoughts?

I think that is a good itinerary. One of the Saigon days you can do a day trip to the Mekong Delta.

It takes three full days just to visit the major temples at Angkor. If you have more interest, you'll want more time. We spent a week and would have loved even more time. Others are templed out after three days. Get a copy of Dawn Rooney's book, Angkor: A guide to Cambodia's Wonderous Temples to learn about the temples and get a sense of how long you want to have there. If it were me (and it isn't) I'd take a day away from HCMC and maybe even a day from DaNang and Hoi An to add to Angkor.

Do consider that there isn't a lot a Da Nang to see other than the excellent Cham Museum. Hue has more to see. So if you have 5 days in the area, do add in Hue.

Have a wonderful trip!

one more nite for angkor and 1 less nite for saigon

I'd cut back on Danang and Hoi An and add to Hanoi, especially if you're doing an overnight on Halong Bay - that eats two days. Personally, I'd also spend less time in Nha Trang (and go to Mui Ne instead), but I'm not a beach person.

Agree with Kathie that you need give some thought to how much time you need for Angkor Wat. I had two and a half days the first time, and wound up going back for more.

I would suggest you go to Phu Quoc instead of Nha Trang. Nha Trang is very built up and touristy and there is a beach in Phu Quoc that has made it to the Top 10 beaches in the world! Vietnam airlines have regular flights between HCMC and Phu Quoc and are great value if you book ahead. Dont take any time away from Hoi An- its amazing. I also recommend you hire a motorbike whilst you are in Hoi An / Danang and do the Hi Van Pass - It is jaw droppingly beautiful! This trip took us about 2 hrs each way- and we stopped at Lo Co on the other side of the Pass for lunch before heading back. Its a very pretty fishing town.

You should take a day trip to the Mekong Delta while you are in HCMC- try and get a tour that will include some floating markets!

For an alternative insight into Vietnam (and a glimpse of this journey over the Hi Van Pass) check out the TOP GEAR VIETNAM special, which you can watch on you tube.

Siem Reap deserves 3 nights. That is ample time.

Remember, you can't do everything on one trip is SEA. As others have said inter SEA travel is time consumming. You can go back again , and again like a lot of us do. Don't spend all your time getting from A to B. Stay and enjoy fewer sights and you will get more out of the trip, than seeing the inside of a car or plane.