Hello:

I live in DC and have a meeting in Hanoi at the end of July.

I would like to go from DC to Bangkok for 2-3 weeks then Angkot war for 4 days then to Hanoi for a week for the meeting (volunteer/own cost). I had travelled in VN before. The trip is 6/30 to 7/29/07.

Any advice on how best to do this is greatly appreciated.

I tried to take the Smartours but their schedule is rigid. Therefore, I can't fit my schedule in.

Thanks a million.

You'll probably do best with a ticket in and out of Bangkok, then add on your tickets to Siem Reap, Cambodia and Hanoi. I find I get the best prices on the airlines websites. You'll have many choices of carriers that service Bangkok. If you're willing to go to NYC, you can get a non-stop on Thai to Bangkok. Otherwise, you'll have to choose where you want your stop(s) to/from Bangkok.

From Bangkok, only Bangkok Air flies to Siem Reap. From Siem Reap VN Air flies to Hanoi. Since you can take Thai Air from hanoi back to Bangkok, look into getting an openjaw ticket on Thai Air into Bangkok and out of Hanoi - it may save you some money.

Hotels are easy to arrange via internet booking sites or with teh hotel directly. We can help you with that once you've decided on budget, etc.

take a look at air france...i flew from boston to bkk on air france last fall and it was fantastic...there is an all day lay-over at charles degaulle, but we rented a car and drove out into the country...

this flight goes on from bkk to hanoi a few days per week and to saigon the other days...

so you could buy a round trip DC to Hanoi with a stop in bkk and from there take a side trip to SR....

i suspect they would allow a stop over for free or for a small fee for you...

From D.C. your logical choice is United. You can fly from Dulles to Tokyo nonstop and connect to Bangkok.

By a one-way on Bangkok Air to SR and Vietnam Airlines to Hanoi.

From Hanoi you can fly to Hong Kong on VN Airlines. In Hong Kong you would return to D.C. on United with one stop in either San Fran or Chicago.

If you added Saigon to your itinerary you could fly there from Hanoi for about $90. From Saigon, United has a very early departure. The flight stops at Hong Kong and SFO enroute to Dulles.

Thank you very much. We will look at the airline websites based on your suggestions.

Would you please give us some ideas where we should visit in Thailand?

Thanks again.

bangkok for sure...the following wats: arun and po and marble
grand palace and v-mark palace
klong tour
jim thompson house

beaches: hua hin via car, or fly to one of the following ko samui, phuket, krabi or chang

many like chiang mai in the north or chiang rai and the golden triangle...

buy yourself a good thai tour book and that will answer many of your questions...

bangkok has fabulous hotels and many of us prefer to be on the river: oriental, peninsula, marriott resort, hilton, or sheraton orchid.....

along sukhumvit there are many hotels too: sheraton grand, westin grand, landmark, intercontinental, bangkok holiday inn..

wireless rd area has many hotels too: conrad, four seasons, hyatt, nei lert...plaza anthanee...