First time on the Forums!!!!
My husband and I will be travelling to Asia for the first time next February 2011. We want to do Bangkok and Koh Samui... but need a 3rd place to visit. We'll be in Asia for just under 2 weeks factoring in the travel time... 12 nights to be exact. We plan to do 4 nights in each city...

For our 3rd city, we're considering:

Chiang Mai
Angkor Wat (Siem Reap)
Hanoi
Ho Chi Minh City

In your experience, what do you think our 3rd city should be. We're open to anything...

Thanks,

Naty1

I would go to Chiang Mai.

Of those places, the most exceptional is Angkor Wat. Truly one of the wonders of the world. If you have any interest in Angkor go now.

Do some prep ahead of time - buy Dawn Rooney's book, Angkor: A Guide to Cambodia's Wonderous Temples. You can see our photos at www.marlandc.com

If you are not interested in the temples, why not go to the Golden Triangle area of Thailand? It's much more interesting and beautiful than Chiang Mai, IMO. Take a look at the Anantara at the Golden Triangle. You fly to Chiang Rai to get there.

Of the places you list, my second choice would be Hanoi.

Great! Thanks for your help Tere & Kathie!

I think we're going to go with Chiang Mai just to keep this trip Thailand only... and we'll combine Vietnam with Angkor Wat next time.

That way, this time we don't have to deal with visas, immigration, etc... and Chiang Mai & Koh Samui are only 1 hour away from BKK.

Thank you both again for your advice!!!

Hi Naty1,

My family just returns from a wonderful trip Thailand & Cambodia, with your 12nights i would suggest fly into Bangkok stay 4 nights, then fly to Chiang Mai for 04nights. After fly to Koh Samui for your rest. I’m not sure it has direct flight may be via Bangkok? I had flown direct with Thai air from Chiang Mai to Phuket.

Happy holiday…

Katina

Hi Katina,

Thanks for your advice! That's exactly what I'm going to do. Flights from BKK to CM & Koh Samui are very reasonable and about 1 hour in distance.

Thanks again,

Naty1

All Thailand Trip - this time. Chiang Mai is perfect for the third city.

My advice is to add time in Bangkok and subtract time in Chaig Mai.Or better yet - just do Bangkok and Koh Samui.

My vote is Chiang Mai too. And we enjoyed it much more than Bangkok.

Chiang Mai is easier and cheaper than Angkor Wat, but Kathie is right that the temples are truly wonderful. If it's in the budget, I would guestimate and extra $1000 US, I would definitely go to AW. You can save some money by trying for the Bangkok Airways Discovery Pass.

SR, all the way. Save VN for another trip and forget about CM!

Though I agree with the advice of Gpanda and Mango7 to go to Angkor Wat, I'm afraid that this issue was settled by the OP in April. Notice that this thread was resurrected in the last few days after a three-month hiatus.

Thx Will