Help in planning trip to VietNam, Cambodia, Laos
 

My husband and I are trying to plan a trip to Vietnam,Laos and Cambodia. We can take 3 weeks. Can someone out there give us a rough outline of how much time we should spend in each country?

I would pick northern or southern Vietnam with your time constraints, and then consider a side trip to Siem Reap or Luang Prabang. With only 3 weeks, doing 3 countries would be very rushed. If you really wanted to go to three countries, you could do 1 week each Hanoi or HCMC, Siem Reap and Phnom Penh, and Luang Prabang, with side day trips from each place. But to get a better feeling of the countries you visit, more than a week is needed.

I agree with Kim. If you really want to see three countries, have very limited goals in each. If it were me (and it isn't) I'd opt for north VN (one week), spending time in Hanoi with a side trip to either Ha Long Bay or Sapa depending on your interest. Then, as Kim says, in Cambodia, about 5 days in Siem Reap and 2 in Phnom Penh, and in Laos, I'd opt for 5 days in Luang Prabang and two in Vientienne. By no means will you have "seen" each country, but you will have had enough time in each location to have a real sense of place.

Thank you both Kim and Kathie for your advice! We would love to take more than 3 weeks and will work on it.. I know I will have lots more questions too.

My husband and I have limited vacation time so we are flying into Bangkok, staying near airport for the night. Then on to Angkor Wat for 3 nights, Luang Prabang for 4 nights and Hanoi/Halong Bay for 4 nights. For some this might seem too short or harrowing but we like a lively pace and don't spend much time relaxing poolside or sitting in our hotel. We'll rest when we get home.