We have laid out a 6 week trip to Southeast Asia. Unfortunately, we are limited to a window from mid January 2010 until the end of February. While I appreciate that Bangkok is better earlier in Jan., we can't leave that early. We are trying to be sure that we are allotting appropriate time for the various locations and would appreciate your comments on whether to shorten or lengthen the time scheduled for each location.

1. Thailand
Day 1-6: Bangkok
Day 7-Trip to Sukhothai (possible day trip to Sri Satchanalai)
Day 8
--Transit to Chiang Mai
Day 9
--Day trip to Wat Phra That Doi Suthep
Day 10 --Transit to Chiang Rai
Day 11

2. Laos
Day 12 --Transit to Luang Prabangand
Day 13

3. Vietnam
Day 14--Transit to Hanoi
Day 15
Day 16
Day 17
Day 18
--Transit to Halong Bay
--Return to Hanoi
Day 19
--Transit to Hue
Day 20
--Transit to Hoi An
Day 21
Day 22 --Transit to Ho Chi Minh City
Day 23
Day 24
Day 25
Day 26

4. Cambodia
Day 27 --Transit to Phnom Penh
Day 28
Day 29
Day 30 --Transit to Siam Reap/Angkor Wat
Day 31,32,33

Day 34 --Transit to Phnom Penh and Fly to Singapore

5. Singapore
Days 35-40

This sounds like a great trip. I'm envious. I might add a day in Luang Prabang and another in Siem Riep, but aside from that nit-picking , the itinerary looks really. good.

I agree. You need more time in Luang Prabang. Also, depending on what you want to accomplish, you may enjoy more time Chiang Rai and northern Thailand. You will also probably be happier doing an overnight to Halong Bay from Hanoi. All-in-all, sounds like a great trip.

I agree with Craig - more time in LP - a great place to rest up, relax and recover from the travel, and an overnight for Halong Bay - the drive each way takes too much of the day otherwise. Personally, I'd take the time from Bangkok or Saigon, but I'm not a big fan of either city. Looks like a good trip!

Agree looks like a great trip.

Also agree one more day in LP would be nice as a winding down period.

I would also shave one day from Phnom Penh and add it to Siem Reap.

Assuming most of these "transits" are flights? Overland travel can be time consuming.

Ditto on the Luang Prabang thoughts. Its a place that forces you to slow down and that's the only way to really experience it.

Also, you probably do not need a whole day to see Doi Suthep. You can do it in the morning. It is approx. 30 minutes drive one way.

Chiang Mai has some other pretty wats and a decent crafts market if you're there on the right day (sunday, if I recall correctly). Also, you can do a cooking course while you're there.

If the flights are still operating you can fly with Bangkok Airways Bangkok to Sukhothai and then contine with them and fly to Chiang Mai, so no need to go back through Bangkok. Silk Air fly from Siem Reap to Singapore on certain days.

I think it looks good - yup, more time in L.P.

I see one big mistake and one possibility. The mistake is the one day trip to Halong Bay and back - it's just awful. 6 hours in a bus to see not much. Read up on the posts in here. I can't go thru it again.

The possibility: Go from Chiang Rai to Luang Prabang by overnight boat. Check this out:
http://www.asian-oasis.com/Luang.html

It's easy to sort out. I've done it, it's fun and a great way to arrive in L.P.

I second the Dogster's Chiang Rai-Luang Prabang travel method. This will give much more flavor of the land than air travel.

There's a reason why we all say more LP time. It's best enjoyed slowly.

And while I'm in a helpful mood, look at this:

http://www.pandaw.com/mekong-memories-p-1072.html

That'll get you from H.C.M.C to Phnom Penh along the Mekong Delta in a very nice way indeed. That's three flights I've saved you, and two good adventures for free.

If you're nice to me I'll tell you more things.

And while we're discussing transit, I would recommend a car or bus for the PP to Siem Reap leg, so you'll get a look at the countryside. If dogster's boat is out of your price range, there are other outfits that will get you from Saigon to PP on the river, which is definitely worthwhile - the change in the landscape at the border shouldn't be missed.

Totally agree thursday. Planes and boats and cars and... ah! your specialty.. trains! We haven't got a train for them yet. It's all variations on a theme, eh? Much more fun than a thousand planes. And, if they follow instructions, perfectly comfortable.

After perusing their previous posts, thursday, I reckon Mr. and Ms. roosevelt can probably squeeze out enough for a Pandaw or two. I hope so, then they can stay at some excellent hotels on their way.

I am so appreciative to all of you for your help. I am hoping that Kathie (not quite sure how she spells her name) will chime in. Dogster, I do intend to look at some of the posts that I have saved so that I can incorporate some of the info into the broad itinerary as we break down each country

"We haven't got a train for them yet" - easily fixed, dogster! Leaving aside the fabulous bamboo express, for which you have to go to Battambang, all the Vietnamese transits could be done by train.

I was going to suggest the Bangkok to Chiang Mai night train, but that doesn't go through Sukhothai, only to Phitsanulok.

I might be tempted to go back to Bangkok from Siem Reap, and take the train down the Malay peninsula, but that is a long trip, although there are several worthwhile stops along the way. Actually, now I think about it, there's a fancy train that does that route if they're going high-end - www.orient-express.com/web/eoe/eoe_a2a_home.jsp.

Roosevelt, you have a great trip planned!

I agree with several other comments about Luang Prabang. Do add at least one more day - I'd prefer to add two.

Not that you necessarily need it at this point because you have gotten such good advice above, but here is another strenuous recommendation that you increase your time in Luang Prabang.

I am also fretting over how quickly you are passing through Hue. It depends upon your preferences, of course, but if you are at all interested in the Citadel and imperial tombs, a little more time would be advisable. The cultural tone in Hue is also very different from that in Hanoi and HCMC and that may be worth sampling. I would consider shaving time off Hanoi or HCMC and extend a bit in Hue. Just a thought.

the dogster doth love boats

I do indeed, mang. One day I will expand on this topic but, frankly, the fewer people know about how excellent they are, the better. More room for me.

Hi Dogster. What is your favourite boating excursion in Thailand? I've never even done a klong tour, lol. Thanks

I don't have one in Thailand. In my quest to sail every navigable inch of river I do have the River Kwai in my sights. There is a 7 day river cruise there but, frankly, it looks so dreadful that I've left it till last.

Dreadful in that truly awful Thai/Asian 'tourist' way, sanitised, concrete and dull, full of manufactured tourist attractions perfect for elderly Australian package tourists on a Women's Day World Tour. Soon I'll be one of them - but not quite yet.

Mekong river cruises all have an element of that, on the Vietnam side, at least. River cruise or floating junk, everybody ends up at the same places.