South East Asia first timer, help needed! 3 weeks
 

Hi guys!

We're planning on going to south east Asia for 3 weeks in April. My flights are booked already and I land in Phnom Penh and leave from Ho Chi Min.

It's part of our honeymoon trip so we're thinking of flying everywhere. Is this going to be feasible?

We were planning on the following:

2 nights Phnom Penh
5 nights Siem Reap
3 nights Luang Prabang
1 night Nong Kiaow
Back to Luang Prabang 1 night
1 night Vang Vieng
Back to Luang Prabang 1 night
2 night Hanoi (1 night on ha long bay)
5 nights hoi an ( mainly here just for a beach destination )
3 nights ho chi min

We wanted a mixture of culture, adventure and relaxation.

Is Hoi An the best place for a beach destination on our journey? I'd be open to any other suggestions which fit in better.

Are we being a little ambitious with the time we got?

Any tips, recommendations would be appreciated!

Each time you change locations it will eat up half a day to a whole day, so staying in fewer places will help.

I really don't understand your Laos itinerary, you are back and forth to Luang Prabang several times - it makes so sense. The roads in Laos are rough and planning on driving back and forth that much will be exhausting.

Two nights in Hanoi, one of which is on Halong Bay makes no sense at all. It's a 6 hour drive each way to Halong Bay. So your Hanoi time consists mostly of driving time. Hanoi itself is a fascinating city and deserves some real time. Five nights in Hoi An is long time. Hoi An is really not a great beach destination. People either love Hoi An ("quaint" "charming") or not - ("touristy.") If you want a beach destination in this area, DaNang has been developing its beaches and there are now a couple of well-reviewed resorts on that beach.

Simplify your itinerary as much as possible. Cut out long drives, and make sure you are spending your time where you want to be.

Luang Prabang to Vang Vieng is a very scenic, hilly, twisty bends trip by bus. Takes 6 hours plus in each direction.

Why not have 2 nights in Vang Vieng, then bus to Vientiane. A night there and fly to your next destination.

Vang Vieng is surrounded by gorgeous countryside, and good fun. Hire a pushbike and get into the countryside.

Thanks for the speedy reply Kathie, just had a quick discussion and we're going to cut out Vang Vieng all together.

Thanks for the DaNang suggestion, reviews sound good!

Here's the revised trip:

2 nights Phnom Penh
5 nights Siem Reap
6 nights Luang Prabang
1 night Nong Kiaow (4 hour drive from Luang Prabang)
3 night Hanoi (1 night on ha long bay)
4 nights Da Nang
3 nights Ho Chi Min

Work in progress!..........

Thanks LancasterLad now I want to go Vang Vienne again haha, this is going to be difficult

Cutting destinations is always the hardest thing. But you will be happier with fewer stops.

Your second itinerary is an improvement but I would be inclined to make a few alterations.

Unless you really love temples, I would reduce the time in Siem Reap to 4 nights which will be plenty of time to see the main temples and some of the smaller ones.

I would add at least another night to Hanoi otherwise you will see very little of the city IAs you will spend a considerable amount of time travelling to and from Halong Bay. I would suggest that you consider Bai Tu Long bay as an alternative as there are far fewer tourists there and the scenery is the same.

Having just spent 4 days in Da Nang, I would leave this out completely. China Beach is very nice and there are few very nice resort hotels, Hyatt, Pullman and Intercontinental but aside from that, the backdrop of China Beach is a building site along much of its length. Fine if all you want is a nice hotel and not venture out and about but I think you could be disappointed. An alternative would be to spend your beach time South of Phnom Penh as there are some fantastic beach resort hotels down there ideal for a honeymoon! Or go with the original plan of a few nights in or near Hoi Am, again some fantastic beach hotels in that part of the country

Finally, I would suggest spending an additional night in Nong Khiaw. LP is alovely place but you will have seen it all in two or three days.

Congratulations BTW!

Thank you crellston!

So I think I've settled on an itinerary, certainly looks less manic than before:

2 nights Phnom Penh
5 nights Siem Reap

3 nights Luang Prabang
2 night Nong Kiaow
1 night Luang Prabang

2 night Hanoi
2 night on Bai Tu Long with Indochina
1 night Hanoi

3 nights Da Nang/Hoi An

3 nights Ho Chi Min

Appreciate all the help so far guys!! Hotels next hah!

What is your nightly budget for hotels?

Much better itinerary gc84

Budget wise I'm looking around £80 a night, would stretch further if somewhere is amazing, it is my honeymoon after all.

£80 will get you some very nice hotels in most of these places. My in languor would be to spend less in some places and splash out more on others.

If you book direct with the hotels you will often get a great price and make sure you email the general manager to advise that it is your honeymoon you will almost certainly get special treatment in. Probably a free room upgrade.

A couple of places we will be staying at over the next few weeks include http://www.theteahouse.asia in Phnom Pen - around £30 and the Pullman Saigon Central a 5* in HCMC - I will try to remeber to report back just in case they turn out to be terrible.

In Luang Prabang I would take a look at the Apsara, although it is a while since we stayed there. Also the 3 Nagas is very nice.

Thanks for the recommendations crellston, i'll check them out!

Just realised we only have 1.5 days in Phnom Penh and 5.5 days in Siem Reap, would you suggest 2.5 days in Phnom Penh and 4.5 days in Siem Reap?

Personally, I would spend all the time I could in Siem Reap. But consider your own interest in temples ruins. We spent a week there, but then, we are temple fanatics.

Thanks Kathie! do u have any hotel recommendations too? based on £80 max...

I would spend the extra time in Phnom Penh which really need two days to see the main sights. But like Kathie suggests, you mind to determine your own interest in temples