We are booking this through an agent, but it can be totally customized. So far we have the following:

Hanoi- 4 nights
Halong Bay-1 night
Hoi An -3 nights
Ho Chi Minh City -4 nights (includes 1 day on the Mekong Delta)
Siem Reap -3 nights
Bangkok- 4 nights

All connections are via flights, which means 4 internal flights plus our long flight from the US. All these flights are concerning! Has anyone done a similar trip with all of these flights? Also, we were thinking of adding 3 nights in Phuket in between Siem Reap and Bangkok (another flight!). Any thoughts? Is it worth it?

We've traveled extensively, but never to this part of the world. Most of our European trips have been with a 'slow travel' style with car or train, so this seems very daunting. I would appreciate your expertise and insights. By the way, this vacation includes transport to and from all airports being provided. TIA

Not by me but 'slow travel' in that region has often been recommended on this forum. Am not a slow travel person and think another night or two in Bangkok would be an improvement. Two more in Bangkok and one more in SR instead of Phuket.

Thanks Mr. W.

Yes, We have already dropped Phuket from the equation. Just too much. As much as I love the Slow Travel method, we only have so much time and money and I doubt we will ever be back to this part of the world. Trying to get a good taste of it all in around 22-24 days. I was thinking about adding another day to Siem Reap, so thanks for the heads up on that. Also toying with the idea of a driver to Phnom Penh (2 nights) and then bus or VIP van to SR, just to avoid one more plane ride. Any comments on that? Also, this was planned beginning November 20, but after reading a lot of other threads and sites, I'm now thinking February might be better weather wise. Hoping someone will make a suggestion about that. These regions vary so much that it seems hard to find the best window for dry weather.

For good climate data, see weatherspark.com https://weatherspark.com/

If you decide to use a driver while in Cambodia, consider taxicambodiatom.com – I found Tom Vichet and his drivers (whether car or tuktuk) to be admirable: Prompt, courteous, safe, and engaging.
https://taxicambodiatom.com/

Have you considered a river boat cruise from Siem Reap to HCMC, it’s about 7 days with a good mix of rural and city sites, plus a couple days in the delta ? Then to Hoi Ann for a few days, 5 or so in Hanoi can include an overnight to Ba Tulong bay (less crowded and similar to Halong). You’ve still got days to play with getting from Bangkok to SR.

>> just to avoid one more plane ride. Any comments on that?

It is a 1-hour nonstop flight from HCMC to Siem Reap.

You mentioned a car/bus trip over two+ nights. rometorio says 7-hour drive. By bus would be 6 hr to PP, 30-min transfer, and another 6hr for PP to Siem Reap, 8AM to 8:30PM.

By ground is slower than by plane, of course, but not really slow travel. IIUC, the idea of slow travel is to spend more time in fewer destinations to "get a feel of the place". Flying helps to do that if you don't drop a destination. Granted the ground travel offers some adventure including the risk of vehicle breakdown and/or delay due to accident and/or weather.

Sartoric, I do love that idea! Did you personally do it? If so, which specific cruise and which month? I have started looking at a few and the price variation is huge.

Sorry if this sounds brutal but if you want to enjoy this trip and NOT spend a very large proportion of your time looking out of bus windows or hanging around at airports you need to have a complete rethink. Spend some time on google maps for Rome2rio and check out how long it is going to take you to get from a to b to c , airport waiting times and checking in and out of hotels and I think you will find that you will be spending a huge portion of you time NOT seeing the places you came for.

Bear in mind that it will take at least 2-3 hours to get from central Saigon to the Mekong Delta and the same from Hanoi to Halong. Getting from Halong to Hoi an will probably mean a 3 hour drive from Halong to Hanoi airport a couple of hour waiting at the airport plus a couple of hour flight to Da Nang and a cap to Hoi An - effectively a whole day in transit arriving in Hoi An in the dark.

IMO one night stays in places like the delta and Halong are a waste of time - just too much boring travel there and back to make it worthwhile. Make it two nights min or leave out. you have about the right amount of time for Hanoi, Saigon, Bangkok and Siem Reap . Hoi An and Halong are jam packed with tourists and I would happily skip both but that is just my necessarily subjective view. Other places to consider would be Hue and Phong Nha Khe Be in the central region and the Highland north of Hanoi (both covered in the blog linked below

I agree wit Sartori's comments re travelling through the delta form Saigon to Phnom Penh, something we have done several times and loved every time . It does however take time - 5 days is ideal plus time in Phnom Penh. Some people do it with a tour or cruise but it is very easy (and a lot cheaper to DIY by boat , taxi and bus. There are post in our blog @ https://accidentalnomads.com/category/vietnam/ which provide details of our travels in that part of Vietnam and either parts of the country which may provide some ideas.

As to when to go; Nov -Feb is the dry season so you should be ok at anytime between those to months . November will probably be a bit greener as the rainy season will just have ended.

Thanks Crellston and you are not brutal. All that travel time is exactly why I posted on here. It does not make me happy to be on all those flights, however we are hoping to see as much as possible. I am looking into the cruise idea and will study your blog. I appreciate your knowledge of the area.

Yes, we did this cruise with Pandaw way back in 2011 I think. I can’t remember which month, the weather was mostly pleasant, if a little cold when we arrived to Hoi Ann.