Mekong Delta and Siem Reap-Advice please
 

Travelling with my husband, 3 children, and my mum. Doing an Intrepid tour thru Vietnam which ends with a couple of days in Saigon.
I have allowed 2 extra days for Saigon, mainly so we can go to the Mekong Delta. Do you think it best to stay in Saigon and do day trip to Delta (potentially saving a day), or more fun to stay in Delta? Any suggestions re homestay/ boat/ guide? 1 or 2 days?
Then going to Chiang Mai but tempted to stop for 2 nights in Siem Reap. Should i make the Delta a day trip to allow an extra night in Siem Reap? About to start booking flights so advice appreciated. Thanks!

It takes a full three days just to see all of the major temples at Angkor. If you also want a school visit and/or to visit Tonele Sap, that's another day. I would not go to Siem Reap and stay a mere two nights, as it really will only give you one full day at the temples. I recommend that you have at least four nights in Siem Reap. I'd cut CM if need be to vist Angkor (but then, I'm not fond of CM). It's really a stunning place, and one that is changing rapidly. See it now.

I agree with Kathie, you need plenty of time for the temples. If you skip CM, you could consider getting from Saigon to Phnom Penh by boat, which would give you a view of the delta and is an interesting way to cross the border. I did it with Delta Adventure Tours, but there are other more upmarket companies that also go (Victoria, I think). Then you can fly or take a bus on to Siem Reap.

Thank you very much for your input. I now have to shave time off either Mekong Delta or Chiang Mai to have more time in Siem Reap.
Thanks
Bernie

I've read that if you hire a comoetent tour guide,along with your driver (drivers are not tour guides), that you can see the temples in a full day, ending at dusk. I don't plan on spending 3 full days there; there's just not time for everything all the time!

No, you can't see "all" the temples in one day! Unless, perhaps, by "see" you mean "drive past". Consider that Dawn Rooney's guide lists 10 separate groups with 41 temples or terraces. You can spend a couple of hours (at least) at Angkor Wat alone to examine all the carvings.

The first time I went I was there for two and a half days, and knew I had to go back to see more. And the more competent the guide the longer it's likely to take, as she'll have more to tell you.

Shriba, thursdays is right - "all" the temples?? I spent a week and didn't see them all - there are dozens of accessible temples. If you have so little interest, you might as well skip Angkor.

On any trip, you have to decide what is important to you and what isn't. There is no way to see "everything." So if Angkor isn't a priority for you, don't go.

Sure, you can spend a full three to four days hearing everything there is about each and every temple, but I wouldn't want to miss an entire city to do it! Not everyone has all that time to devote to it. A good guide can help narrow it down.
If you don't have the time, you don't have the time!

... and I didn't say "all" the temples! Jeez!

Traveling with children presents other things to take into consideration. How old are the kids - if not teens can they cope with the heat and how interested would they be in seeing the temples for more than one day. Even some teenagers would be hard pressed to keep their interests for more than that. It all depends on your kids. The airfare from Saigon is not cheap for 5 people so you would have to weigh the cost with spending 2-3 days and is it really worth it. For adults yes with children ??

"and I didn't say "all" the temples!" - you're right. Sorry. I must have been distracted by my horror at the thought of trying to see Angkor Wat in only one day. Don't forget that's it's very hot and humid, most people head for AC or a pool during the middle of the day.

What is it you're hoping for from your visit?

Actually that's a good cross section of view points. My 3 kids are 7-12 yrs and will have been on a 15 day Intrepid tour in Vietnam . I doubt they will want to linger longer at temples , but interspersed with a visit to the floating villages etc I think they will love it.
January is a good time for travelling Vietnam -so do you think the humidity in Cambodia will have abated by Jan. ?
Thanks

No, it's always humid in Cambodia. You'll appreciate the air-conditioned car and you daily mid-day rest for a swim and lunch.