Side Trip from Hong Kong?
 

I will be in HK this January for about 10 days for a friend's wedding. We are looking to take a 3-4 day side trip...possibly to BKK? Is that too far to go for such a short time? Are there any other places near HK that would be a nice side trip for a few days? I have never been anywhere in Asia, so any ideas would be appreciated!

Just a suggestion...you might like to consider Macau. A couple of days might be enough...one to look around the main part ...a walk will show you the Portuguese influence amongst the Chinese. Stay overnight and the next day take a bus/walk trip to Coloane and Taipa. Don't forget to try the Macanese/Portuguese food ( especially those tarts!).Have fun!

Macau would be a good day trip or overnight. You can also go into southern China. You could go to Beijing (3 hour flight) and see the highlights in a three day visit (including the Great Wall). China would probably require that you have a visa. Taipei is not not far, less than 2 hour flight. Bangkok is also less than 3 hours, but I think it would require more time. Vietnam is also not far.

3-4 days would work well for a trip to Bangkok. You can fly non-stop from Hong Kong in less than 3 hours, and Bangkok time is one hour behind Hong Kong, so you "gain" an hour going out. 3 nights and 4 days would give you a great opportunity to see and enjoy the city. You could also just spend 2 nights and 3 days but you will be a bit more rushed.

As you will be in Hong Kong for so long, you hopefully can use some of that time to go to Macau which certainly is worth an overnight, but not 3-4 days, IMO. As noted above, hopefully you will also have time for trips to the outlying islands like Cheng Chau and Lamma. Also try to get to Shek-O beach on Hong Kong Island which is beautiful and quiet and a real change from the hustle of the other side of the island. Get a good guidebook to Hong Kong (Fodors is good) as you have so much time there.

Beijing would also work for 3-4 days, but it will be very cold in January, so bear that in mind. It certainly would not be crowded. You would have to bring a whole different set of clothes than you will need for Hong Kong (mid 70s and sunny, the best time to be there) or Bangkok (mid to upper 80s and humid, but you can lay by the pool which you could not do on Beijing. . . .)

3-4 days in not really enough for Vietnam, IMO. Taiwan is not really interesting at all, except for the museums.

I would not go to Bkk for just 3-4 days if this was my first Asia trip...I think Macau for a couple days plus HK for a week is a great combo. If u really want to add something then China - Xian or Beijing or Hanoi, Vietnam. Hanoi is only an hour away by air, is a small city so travel times within Hanoi are short and will give you a great intro to Vietnam for a future, longer trip! Bkk is amazing and I lived there and loved it but IMO 3-4 days is very rushed. The airport into the city will take u 45 mins one way, temps are high, the flight is not that short and in such a brief time u will barely skim the surface of such a fascintaing city...