Itinerary Advice SE Asia 5 weeks
 

Hi Folks,

So our itinerary has come together and we've tried to drop a number of stops. Can you please let me know what you think of this?

Arrive BKK
BKK
BKK
BKK-PP (asia air)
PP
PP-Siem Riep (bus)
Siem Riep
Siem Riep
Siem Riep
Siem Riep-Hanoi (vietnam air/laos air)
Hanoi
Hanoi
Hanoi
Hanoi-Halong Bay
Halong Bay
Halong Bay-Hanoi
Hanoi-LP (vietnam air/laos air)
LP
LP
LP
LP
LP
LP
LP
LP-Huay Xi (boat)
CR
CR
CM
CM-Koh Samui (Bankgok Air)
Koh Samui
Koh Samui
Koh Samui
Koh Samui
Koh Samui
Koh Samui to BKK (Bangkok Air)
Depart BKK

Overall, it looks pretty good. For me, there isn't nearly enough time in Bangkok, but I don't know whether you've been to any of these places before and what your interests are.

Are you taking a one-day boat between LP and Huay Xi or one with an overnight stop?

We aren't big city people, which is why there is not a lot of time in Bangkok. Also, we know we will return there, vs. Cambodia and Laos. But we may add a little more time on the end to BKK, having less time in Koh Samui.

We haven't decided yet on the boat from Laos to Huay Xi, we can take time from either side if we need to add more. Do you have a recommendation?

I haven't done the boat ride, so I don't have a specific recommendation other than don't take the "fast boat" as it's dangerous. I know there are several options. Personally, I'd love to do the Luangsay sometime, but it is the priciest option. I think I'd enjoy a night in a village by the river.

Your reasoning about Bangkok makes sense to me. I just love Bangkok (I'm very much a city person) and no matter how long I stay it's never enough.

That really looks good! Lots of time in my fave LP. Not sure about two nights in Halong Bay, I found one enough, but if you're going to kayak I could understand two.

I'm sad about missing Hoi An and Hue. But I really wanted to do the boat trip from Laos to Thailand.

If we have 4 days in Northern Thailand, how should we spend them? CR and CM or just CR? Ideas would be most welcome!

I would take a day from LP and add it to BKK. LP is great, but BKK is our favorite city in the world.

Looks a great itinerary. We did the CR to LP boat trip last year and chartered a boat to ourselves in Chiang Khong? It worked out cheaper than the Luangsay and we stayed the night in Pakbeng (the hotel was fine but Pakbeng itself is not, IMO, worth seeing. Our experience was marred by the smoke from the farmers burning the forest so be careful when you do this trip (we went in March/April). You should also be aware that much of the forest along the river is now gone so don't expect pristine rainforest.
http://www.fodors.com/forums/threadselect.jsp?fid=27

Given the amount of time you have, as long as you don't mind roughing it a bit, check out the far north of Laos, Muang Sing, Luang Namtha etc. It is fantastic! For a bit more info see this thread