Upscale Trip-Vietnam , Cambodia
 

Not being knowledgable at all,I know you people certainly are. I love the advice here. When is the best time to go? Are you better off on a cruise-can you see it just as well or do you recommend a land tour.? I prefer a smaller group as opposed to a larger one. Any recommendations for a tour based in canada(preferably although not mandatory). How long in Vietnam or should it be longer in Vietnam,how long in cambodia? What are the best months to go?
My thanks

The best time to go is between November and Febuary weather wise but it is also peak tourist season. Vietnam can be done on your own but for first time visitors to asia a tour would probably be best. Cambodia can easily be done on your own for the the capital Phnom Penh and Siem Reap for the angkor wat temples. Flights from Vietnam are available from Hanoi and Sagon.
For tours from Canada you could check the the following tour companies.

Tour East http://www.toureast.ca

Meridian Holidays
http://www.meridianholidays.com/canada_index.html

LTI Tours
http://www.ltitours.com/

A couple of thoughts... For Cambodia, December-January is the best time. For VN, as it's a long, thin country, it is affected by three different monsoon systems. Check www.weatherbase.com for each city you are interested in.

When you ask about cruises, I'm not sure what you mean. There is a Mekong River cruise on the Pandaw that sounds lovely (do a search here, a guy named Mitch04 did a review), but by no means covers much of the two countries. There are large ship cruises that stop at ports of call like Danang, but they offer only the briefest glimpses of ths country. By no means would I recommend such a cruise to someone who is interested in visiting VN or Cambodia.

If you have traveled elsewhere in the world on your own, you could certainly travel to Vn and Cambodia without a tour. get yourself a good guidebook and start deciding exactly where you want to go - you can't see it all in one trip!

You may want to explore a private package/tour which will give you the best of both worlds - you will have a guide and driver when needed and be on your own when desired. You can set the itinerary and the agenda. You can pick your hotels and any amenities and activities you desire. The tour company will work with you and make recommendations.
Suggest you look through this Forum by searching for guides and travel agents in each country you wish to visit. Contact a few agencies and/or guides with your preferences and see what develops.

Thank you-any other fabulous tours to this area?

The most fabulous tour to Vietnam & Cambodia is the one you design yourself, staying exactly where you want to stay and seeing only what you want to see.

For some ideas of places to stay:
Cambodia
www.hoteldelapaixangkor.com

Hanoi
http://www.sofitel.com/sofitel/fiche...he_hotel.shtml

Beach in Vietnam
http://www.sofitel.com/sofitel/fiche...he_hotel.shtml

The Pandaw Company does fabulous cruises, with considerable repeat bookings because they are so good. I have photos at www.jmprphotography.com

The cruises operate both ways between Saigon and Siem Reap.

The prices are great value considering they include all meals at generally 2 on-shore excursions each day. Also included, I believe (as things have changed since I did my cruise in 2006) are soft drinks, local beers and local wines (can't recommend the local wines though!!!) plus endless tea, coffee, and bottled water.

The website is www.pandaw.com