Prepare a trip
 

My wife entrusted me to book a trip for 2 people during 3 weeks. We aim to visit two countries but we don’t know which ones (China-Vietnam, Vietnam-Laos), travel by ourselves (for bumming abound as our youth) and book something with a travel. Does anyone have some comments for my 2 ideas?

China-Vietnam
Shanghai – Kumming - Lao Cai – Sapa – Hanoi - Hoi An – Hue - Nha Trang - Saigon during 3 weeks, is it too much crammed?
Kumming – Lao Cai alone in train? I read old bad reports about this train. Is it better now? Is it easy to pass the boarder?

Vietnam-Laos
Why services in Laos are more expensive than Vietnam and others Indochina countries? http://www.kensingtontours.com/tours/asia/laos .
For example accommodations. Prices from local travel agencies are more competitive. It’s more flexible too, there are shorts trips like this: http://www.vietnamstay.travel/laos-t...avel-laos.html .

To finish, there are some sea cruises in Vietnam? I mean a real sea cruise, not a local sampan?
Greeting,

I traveled from Kunming to Hanoi (via Nanning) by train in 2004. The mountain train that crossed the border to Lao Cai was taken out by a landslide a decade ago and is still not running. For how to do that route by sleeper bus see: http://www.seat61.com/Vietnam.htm#Kunming

I had no difficulty crossing the border on the Nanning-Hanoi route, and according to seat61 the train is much improved from when I did it. See: http://www.seat61.com/Vietnam.htm#Na...i%20by%20train

I rarely book anything in SEA through an agency. I book my hotels directly (or on arrival) and book local transport after I arrive. If you are looking at Luang Prabang it has become a tourist mecca in recent years and prices have risen accordingly (and you should book ahead).

I'd suggest you visit VN and Laos or just VN with three weeks.

Cruise in VN? Many people visit Halong Bay and stay overnight on a junk. I don't know of longer sea cruises. Of course, international cruise lines do have cruises that stop in one or more places in VN, but I don't think that is what you are looking for.

I agree to do Vietnam and Laos. China is just to big of a country to stick on with Vietnam. We did a two week trip to Vietnam and booked everything myself, which was not difficult.

Here is a link to my trip report with pictures:
http://www.fromhometoroam.com/catego...hristmas-2011/

Yes, there are just local cruises in Vietnam (Mekong and Halong bay). Nothing about a longer national sea cruise or a national company.
There are international trips, it’s too long:
http://www.kensingtontours.com/tours...and-and-cruise
Travel during 3 weeks only in South-east Asia and add in my trip two local cruises: Mekong and Halong bay cruises.
http://www.vietnamstay.travel/vietna...ong-style.html
I was wondering about the Mekong? The development of the River is controversial (dams…). For a quiet and authentic trip, which is the best?
in Laos? http://www.luangsay.com/program_itin....php?ShowID=13 or from Saigon to Siem Reap? http://www.vietnamstay.travel/vietna...-holidays.html

Very easy to travel in South East Asia is easy.