I am planning our trip next summer which includes 3 of us, my husband, my son who will be almost 15 and myself. We are pretty set on China but were thinking of adding another place to vist for about 10-13 days. (Flight would be from HK)Originally I was thinking of VN which included Hanoi, HCMC, Hue and Hoi An, but then I started reading about Bali and wonder if that would be a better place for us to visit. Has anyone been to both places? I know they are very different but what was your experience in both? Having never been to Asia would you recommend one over the other? We all enjoy both the countryside and cities.

They are very different. Which one is best for you would depend a lot on your interests.

Bali has better developed traveler infrastructure than VN does. Service in VN can be a bit rough around the edges (by this I mean that there are sometimes odd errors or oversights, the service people are often more earnest than warm) and, in fact, reminds me of the service in China, but the Balinese are very gracious and welcoming.

There is, of course, a lot of Chinese influence in VN, whereas Bali will be an entirely different cultural experience.

If you opt for Bali, you have enough time to stay both at a beach and inland near Ubud. Bali has some really lovely hotels. Bali, of course, is a much longer flight away from HK than is VN.

Bali may be better for your leisure trip. But if you like a culture or adventure trip, Vietnam will be your choice.

While I certainly enjoyed visiting Vietnam (Sapa and surrounding hilltribes, Hanoi, Hue, Hoi An, Mui Ni Beach, not HCMC). I did enjoy 3 days among the hill tribes north of Hanoi (60 miles from the Chinese border), hiking through villages and attending three markets (one I rated A). Hanoi had its charms and has some notable sights and nice walking areas but was, for me, still a big noisy city. Hue was spectacular for its history and classical Vietnamese architecture. Hoi An is an enjoyable laid back town but I wouldn't count it among the memorable small towns in Asia.
I found Bali much more compelling. I have a lasting impression of the people; they are engaging, gentle and open. I had more meaningful interactions and personal experiences with locals in Bali in 12 days than I did with people in Vietnam in 16 days. I felt welcomed everywhere. The Bali guides are more used to listening to what the travel wants and knocking themselves out to provide it, as opposed to the Vietnamese guides who tend to provide cookie cutter tours and explanations.
The scenery is Bali is stunning almost everywhere. Scenery is lovely is only some parts of Vietnam. The Balinese arts are part of their daily lives so you see how traditional arts are made and how they are integral to the living culture of the people.
As Kathie notes Vietnam hospitality service is well meaning but for me Bali hospitality is heartfelt. A Balinese hotel attendant might invite you to visit their family compound in a nearby village or bring so a small gift as a gesture of friendship.
Bali's tourism has not fully recovered from the 2002 Kuta bombing (old hands correct me if I'm wrong) and they are eager for tourism. If you do not go at peak, peak season, you can negotiate better hotel rates than those advertised and enjoy greater attention to detail in the guest rooms in most places. keep asking us questions.

Thank you all. It looks like we will be visiting Bali after everything I read. I know we plan on splitting up our time (beach) and Ubud. For the beach people recommended Sanur or Sayan. Does anyone have favorite hotels both in Ubud and the beach? I have been on Tripadvisor but there are many listed.

For a first-timer to Southeast Asia, I recommend Bali hands-down. I know both countries pretty well, and while I am very fond of Vietnam, I know I would never let my Mom, Sister, and nephews make their first foray into Southeast Asia there. While Vietnam has a good infrastructure, it has rough edges and the Vietnamese themselves are pushy, aggressive hagglers and touters.

I wrote a few articles about travel in Bali - feel free to make use of them:

http://www.associatedcontent.com/art...ia.html?cat=16

http://www.associatedcontent.com/art...li.html?cat=16

http://www.associatedcontent.com/art...on.html?cat=16

Nice generalization about the Vietnamese! Not too smart!

In case you misunderstand, I mean that YOU are not too smart to write such a generalization. And to plug your articles on another thread.

"the Vietnamese themselves are pushy, aggressive hagglers and touters." Well, some of them are, although they have nothing on a lot of Indians I remember. But I agree with eks that this is a gross generalization.

Unlike some of the posters here I have good memories of the Vietnamese. I don't know about the service in expensive hotels, but in the cheaper hotels I stayed in it was fine, and when I went back to one hotel after a gap of two years the staff still recognized me. After one train trip from Hanoi to Hue, I was given a ride to my hotel by one of the people in my compartment. His daughter acted as my translator with the other Vietnamese.

If you're looking for 5 star hotels and expensive restaurants, I suppose Vietnam might be a disappointment, but that's not why I went.

"the Vietnamese themselves are pushy, aggressive hagglers and touters."
Good job all Americans are not simplistic and judgemental!