Hi

My husband and I (29 and 34) are planning our first trip to S.E. Asia this fall. We would like to go to Vietnam with a 3/4 day side trip to Cambodia to vist Angkor. However, I've recently been thinking that maybe we should go to Thailand instead-- especially after reading an interesting thread about the food, markets and temples in Bangkok.

One alternative is that we could go to Thailand for 7/8 days in May/June in addition to our trip to V & C(14 days) at the end of September. Would this be Asia overload ? I am a bit concerned as my husband is more of a hawaii man and I don't know if he'll enjoy the Asian experience.

One other thing we are concerned about is the weather as we'd like to spend about 6/7 days relaxing at the beach during our 2 week trip. Is the weather better in Vietnam or Thailand at that time of year?

Does anyone have any thoughts on where we should go first?

Sorry for all the questions but if anyone can help it's you lot!

Thanks (in anticipation)!

Hi, rodash17!

If you go to Thailand in May/June for about a week or so, you could split your time between Bangkok and Koh Samui. Koh Samui enjoys good beach weather at that time of year. I have gone there for 4 years running in early June, and have always had nice weather.

Whatever you choose, enjoy your travels!

Its tough to overload on Asia. Thailand is probably the best place to visit first but it will be HOT in both May/June and in September but then again its rarely cool in Thailand. The same goes for Viet Nam.

Your 7/8 days trip poses challenges. I personally would not go to Asia for 7 or 8 days. Its just not worth the time it takes to get there.

Assuming you take my advice and go to Hawaii for those 7/8 days, that leaves Thailand as your destination for the 14 days. You haven't said whether flights to and from are included in your allotted time. You can do Bangkok, Koh Samui or some other east coast resort and check out northern Thailand or Cambodia, I think. The pace in SE Asia is slow - allow time to savor it.

september in thailand can be very wet....just a warning...

you would be better to go in may/june to thailand.....but for one week, it is both tooooo far and toooo expensive, imo

Thanks for the advice guys!

I am actually based in the UK, so an 8 day trip in May to Thailand may not be so bad (in terms of flight times). However, we may now go to Europe in May and plan instead to go to Vietnam or Thailand + Cam. in September/October.

We haven't got any definite vacation days booked out just yet, so we could be pretty flexible with when we go in the fall- anywhere from Sept. 1 to Oct 31 for 13/14 days (not including our flights from London to BKK and back).

Our must see on the trip is Angkor Wat in Cambodia, so we need at least 2/3 days there. Otherwise, I would like to go to Bangkok and then perhaps to a beach resort, preferably one without loads of backpackers. One thing, which you may all think is stupid, that puts us both off going to Thailand is the drugs scene and stories about people getting framed for smuggling etc. Is this just a big Hollywood myth or should we be careful while we are there?

We also heard that the weather may be better in Vietnam at that time of year compared to Thailand (esp. in the central zone around Nha trang and Hue). Is this true? Is is true that Vietnam feels like Thailand did 50 years ago in terms of having fewer tourists and being less commercialised?

Many thanks for your thoughts and viewpoints.

rodash17

for the fall then, i would go as late in october as i could....the prices for hotels stay low until oct 31, btw...

The weather in Central and Southern Vietnam will be wet during your time period.

Take a look at weatherbase.com for temps and rainfall. Thailand is a very good place to begin exploration of Asia. There are wonderful things to do and see and the food is great. We've been there from boston each of the last six years. It is magical. Magic does not get wet.

Hi, Who told you that Vietnam is like Thailand 50 years ago? Maybe there was a 0 too much. Sure Vietnam is not so (over)developed as Thailand is now. But its not so far behind, maybe 10 years or so. Really laidback countries in SEAsia are eventually Myanmar and Laos. Even Cambodia is moving very fast and nothing is there anymore like is was 5 or 10 years ago.
I visited Thailand for the 1st time almost exactly 40 years ago and compared to today it was stoneage. No skyscrapers, no 5 stars (except Oriental and Erewan) and more waterways (khlongs) than roads in Bangkok. Just Chiang Mai, Pattaya and Bangkok existing on the touristic map. And the only tourists GIs on R+R from Nam and Japanese groups.
Nowadays several beach places in Thailand are not much different from Waikiki. And Bangkok has more highrisers as London.
As the other Fodorites mentioned, I would not go twice and short. Try to make it 3 weeks and you can combine both countries. In September/October there is is almost no difference weatherwise.

rodash17,

I have also been debating between a Vietnam or Thailand vacation in September. I have decided to hold off because of weather. Weather undeground reported that Bangkok averages 16 inches of rain in September. I just wanted to pass that along. I would be fine with rain in the cities, but we want to enjoy the beaches for a few days as well.

Recently returned from SE Asia mid Feb. Spent month in Vietnam, Bangkok, Siem Reap and HK. Do not miss the temples at Angkok Wat. See my recebt SE Asia post.

I wouldn't completely dosmiss going to Thailand in June for 8-9 days. I would just look at the one location for such a short trip. I travel from Southern regional Australia and we went to Phuket last year in August for 7 nights and still had a great time. Our main flight from Melbourne is only 9 hours but we also had to connect with a flight from our home town which was almost 2 hours, so it proberbly felt more like a 12-13 hour journey. Once you are there, you forget about how long it took and you will still get a week to relax before the return trip. If you can afford to go twice go for it. It will give you a nice little taste of what to expect on your longer trip. If you can fly direct from London to Phuket like we can from Melbourne, then this would be the best option. I have been in June a few times and had a bit of rain but still plenty of sunshine. A great place to stay at this time of the year would be Le Meridian near Patong. It is on its on semi-private beach which is reasonably sheltered from the strong currents the other more open beaches experience at that time of year so swimming will still be an option. If you have to pass through Bangkok, then Koh Samui will be the preferred destination for June as rain is much less common on the Gulf side of Thailand at that time of year. I wouldn't recommend overnighting in Bangkok on a short trip as you do need a few days to get used to Bangkok before you start to enjoy it. You could save Bangkok for your later trip and combine it with Cambodia/Vietnam.
Most people I know that have been to THailand either want to go back or do go back several times, so there is nothing wrong with going twice in the same year for 2 shorter trips if your budget and time permits.