Itinerary
 

Hello! I wanted to get your thoughts on my proposed IT to SE Asia (Thailand, Cambodia, Vietnam). Note this is a 2 wk trip.

Nov 12 - arrive in Bangkok at midnight - staying 2 nights; I've been here before, bf hasn't but the plan is to see more of the city - walk around, eat street food, visit custom suit shop, maybe a market.
Nov 14 - leave BKK for Chiang Mai for lantern festival (2 nights) - giving 2.5 days
Nov 16 - leave CM (take night flight) for either Phuket or Krabi (any suggestions welcome here betw the 2)
Nov 19 or 20 - leave for Siem Reap and stay there 2 nights
Nov 22 - leave for Hoi An
Nov 25 - Ho Chi Minh
Nov 26 - Fly out of HCM

I've done the temple thing, so I don't have the desire to see EVERY single one. Would rather spend more time on the beach or city, rather than running from sight to sight. If you have off the beaten path must sees or suggestions in any of these places, please share!

My first impression is that you're being overly generous in your count of the days you have in each location. 2 nights generally means 1 full day in a place. Travel days are largely lost in the relocation effort. So I definitely see problems in that regard with your current itinerary. For instance, Chiang Mai (2 nights) = travel 1 day, arrive in the afternoon, sleep, a full day, sleep, then a travel day. So you see it isn't 2 1/2 days, more like 1 1/2.

I count 13 full days, starting on the 13th, ending on the 25th. With this in mind you might consider what's least important to you that you could cut, leaving yourself a bit more, if not generous, time in the ones left. To my way of thinking, in general, I'd rather have 3 days in 1 place than 1 day each in 3 places.

Since yo usar you have done the temple thing, why go to Siem reap? Hardly worth the time and trouble for only 2 nights. And how do you propose getting between Siem reap and Hoi An? That will take up a a whole day of travel.

To much jumping around. As MmePerdu says, if you are staying two nights in a place, you'll only have one day to see/do/experience. With two weeks, I'd choose not more than three stops. Otherwise, you'll be spending way too much time in transit. Right now you have 5 stops.

I count 6 locations, including BKK & HCM. I also considered the difficulty of getting to Hoi An, no trains, no airport so it will, indeed be an all-day affair no matter where you start. I don't suggest you cut it, I love the place, but if you keep it, throw the time needed both ways into the mix.

I'd consider either staying in BKK or go on directly to Chiang Mai. Or have you considered Hanoi? I suspect getting to Hoi An from Hanoi will be easier from there than Siem Reap, altho I've only gotten there from Hanoi. There are beaches on the coast of Vietnam, not a beach person but my LP VN points in particular to Nha Trang. So starting in fabulous Hanoi, on to beautiful Hoi An (fly into Danang or take the marginal overnight train for an "adventure"), on to the "dazzling white sands" of Nha Trang, finish in HCM. Boxes ticked, easy in 2 weeks.

Ok, well from all of your thoughts, think I will nix Cambodia and focus on Thailand and Vietnam. Plus, it does appear to be difficult to fly from Siem Reap to Hoi An. Would you recommend Hoi An during Nov? I have been reading about rain / possible flooding but that it is usually a threat in early Nov - so would I be risking it in late Nov?

No, I do not recommend Hoi An at any time in November. November is typically very rainy and there is often flooding then severe enough to cause loss of life. So if you want to go to VN in Nov, choose the north or the south, but not central VN.

I was in northern & central VN in late September & October so I defer to Kathie's information in that regard.

What would you say to weather in Hanoi in Nov?

I'm getting "homesick" for Hanoi.

Last time I visited Vietnam, in October, there were flooding rains every day in Hue and Hoi An. How do you plan to get from Thailand to Vietnam, by air? Remember, Vietnam is a visa country that you have to apply for in advance where as Thailand is not.

Yes, I would fly from Phuket to Hanoi. Trying to find the quickest route w/out much of a layover. Yes, I know we will need a visa - thanks!

Flying from Phuket to Hanoi will require a layover in Bangkok.