Spending 3 weeks (full 21 days) in Vietnam/Cambodia in April. Need help with our itinerary. Flying into and out of Ho Chi Minh from the US. Preliminary plan:

1-2 days Ho Chi Minh
4 Days Mekong area, islands?
2 days Phnom Penh
4 days Siem Riep
2-3 days Hanoi/Halong Bay
4? days Central Vietnam - My Son? etc.
1-2 days Ho Chi Minh

In north vietnam, from Hanoi is it worth a trip up to Sapa? Can it be done as a day trip or is overnight needed? What is 'must see' in central vietnam on our way back from Hanoi back to Ho Chi Minh for our return flight? How about a visit to Phu Quoc island while we're in the Delta? Or is there a better island to visit?

Recommend flying from Phnom Penh to Siem Riep? I heard its also possible to go by boat trips up the river, how long does this take? Is the scenery worth it?

Our interests are temples and ancient sites, hiking, birdwatching, bicycling, snorkeling.

Looking for comments/suggestions. Thanks.

i think you might want a bit more time in hanoi and less in saigon...

This is what I have so far. Should I take a day away from Saigon? Recommend adding it to Mekong delta (Can Tho or Chau Doc?), or what? Don't think we have time to add in Sapa, and I've seen mixed comments on Sapa. Appreciate suggestions. Thanks

Apr 4 Arrive Ho Chi Minh 11:00 PM Sheraton Saigon
5 Full Day in Saigon Sheraton Saigon
6 Full Day in Saigon Sheraton Saigon
7 To Mekong Delta Can Tho half day Victoria Can Tho
8 Can Tho full day Victoria Can Tho
9 Car to Chau Doc 3 hr Chau Doc half day Victoria Chao Doc
10 Travel to Phnom Penh half day Phnom Penh Phnom Penh
11 Phnom Penh Full Day
12 Phnom Penh Half Day Travel to Angkor Wat Le Méridien Angkor
13 Angkor Wat Full Day Le Méridien Angkor
14 Angkor Wat Full Day Le Méridien Angkor
15 Angkor Wat Full Day Le Méridien Angkor
16 Siem Reap Le Méridien Angkor
17 Morning Fly to Hanoi Hanoi Hanoi
18 Halong Bay Halong Bay Cruise
19 Halong Bay Hanoi
20 Full Day Hanoi Hanoi
21 Fly Hanoi to Hoi An Hoi An
22 Day at My Son? Hoi An
23 Hoi An eve Fly to Ho Chi Minh Marriott Renais Saigon
24 Full Day in Saigon Marriott Renais Saigon
25 Full Day in Saigon
26 Depart: HO CHI MINH 1:00 AM

"Recommend flying from Phnom Penh to Siem Riep? I heard its also possible to go by boat trips up the river, how long does this take? Is the scenery worth it?"

I would recommend taking the boat from Chau Doc to PP, but not from PP to Siem Reap (see talesofasia.com for why). Take the bus or a private car from PP to Siem Reap so you can see some of the countryside.

I prefer Hanoi to Saigon, and think you are short-changing Hanoi, but some people prefer Saigon. Definitely plan to visit My Son, and if possible the Champa museum in Danang as well.

No question, you don't have time or Sapa. Hanoi certainly deserves more time that you've given it. Pause and consider what you might cut. Is Halong Bay a priority? Some people love it, some not, but cutting that would give you more time in Hanoi. Or perhaps you could move one day from HCMC to Hanoi.

Thanks for your input. We could certainly take one day away from HCMC (3 days there instead of 4, but we arrive really late so the first HCMC day will probably be a late start) and add a day to Hanoi or the Mekong Delta, but not both. As it is, we have two days in Hanoi (The 17th and 20th). Our time in the Mekong Delta is pretty brief, 2 nights Can Tho and 1 night Chau Doc, would like to know if people recommend adding the day in the Delta or Hanoi at expense of HCMC?

cmlong, I just noticed on another thread that you are back. Welcome home! Will you post about your trip? Were you happy with your itinerary?

I also have two specific questions, if you don't mind. 1) Did you get to My Son? (I got sick in Danang and had to cancel that day-trip last year so I am curious.) 2) What was your Mekong Delta experience like?

Yes, I'm back. Had a good trip, the itinerary worked out pretty well, but there are some things I'd change if I could. Less time in cities, more time in rural areas. We're birdwatchers, so we were shocked how FEW birds we say in the region, maybe because of bird flu? We did get to My Son, and it was quite a letdown having already been to Angkor area temples. Also, it was far enough outside Hoi An that we did it as a half-day group trip instead of on our own (we had a private guide for Angkor), and were given very little time there which was disappointing since that was one of the places we actually saw some interesting birds. If you've been to Angkor, you didn't miss much at My Son. Also, part of it was off limits for reconstruction. We enjoyed the Mekong Delta, especially boat rides up the side canals/channels, floating market, visits to plantations, I recommend going there. I don't really have time to write up a full trip report, prob will post in pieces about specific topics.

Thanks -- this is helpful.