Vietnam and Cambodia Trip Advice please

Hi

I would really appreciate thoughts and advice on the following trip

Hanoi 4 nights

Fly to

Hue 2 Nights

Train to

Na Trang 2 nights

Fly to

Ho Chi Min 3 nights

Boat through the Mekong to

Phnom Phen 2 nights

Private car transfer to

Siep Riep for 4 nights

Taxi to Thai border and then coach to Bangkok.

Any advice on if this is realistic or agents who can help, we don%26#39;t have a massive budget but a wee bit too old for roughing it. Many thanks in advance, we are going in 6 weeks so starting to panic !!!

Vietnam and Cambodia Trip Advice please

Hi Shelly,

Your trip%26#39;s length depends on your side trip also.

For example, if you want to be in Halong Bay %26amp; Sapa during your stay in the North, 4 nights are not enough. If you plan not to go to Sapa but Halong Bay only, in this case you can shorten your stay in the North to 01 night in Halong Bay and 02 nights in Hanoi, then you can have 01 night in Hoian after 2 nights in Hue.

So my suggestion for your trip will be follow:

Hanoi : 2 nights

Halong Bay 01 night

Fly to Hue

Hue 2 nights

Open bus from Hue to Hoian

01 night in Hoian

Train Danang - Nhatrang

Nhatrang 02 nights

Golden Train (or Blue train) Nhatrang - HCM city

HCM city : 03 nights (incl 01 night in Mekong delta)

Fly or bus to Phnompenh (boat trip is a bit dangerous)

Phnompenh 02 nights

Coach (or car) from Phnompenh to Siem Riep)

Siem Riep 04 nights

Fly to Bangkok by Bangkok Air (it is more safe than taxi from Siem Riep to the boarder)

For your internal flights and accomodation in Vietnam, you can try TF Travel, Exotisimo or some other agents for best rate.

For your bus/ coach from HCM city to Phnompenh, it is easy to buy in Detham / Pham Ngu lao areas.

For your flight from Siem Riep to Bangkok you can book online with Bangkok Air

For your accomodation in Cambodge, you can try some Cambodian agents.

The above are just my suggestions. Hope others can give more suggestions that suit your plan

Vietnam and Cambodia Trip Advice please

Hi Thanks for your help, I do appreciate your input its so difficult knowing where to start.

Hi.

Difficult to know what to recommend in detail without knowing your likes/dislikes etc. But from what you have said about being a bit old for roughing it a couple of comments:

Unless you want a train experience - fly, the trains can be interesting. We didn%26#39;t like Nha trang as much as other places especially Hoi An. If you want a couple of beach days you can do that at Hoi An with the bonus of great restaurants and shopping.

With hotels you don%26#39;t need to pay a fortune for good quality. In May we will be staying at

Hanoi - Gia Tinh

Hoi An - Thuy Duong 3

HCMC - Spring Hotel

Haven%26#39;t stayed at Gia Tinh before but recommendations are good. Other two we have stayed at twice before and like for service and location.

I think I would include either Halong or Sapa in your Hanoi stay.

It is all fairly easy to DIY - especially now Vietnam Airlines are doing on-line bookings for domestic routes.

Good luck with the planning I am sure you will love the place.

Cheers

I was in Vietnam in September. Depending on what you like you might want to consider HoiAn vs Na Trang for the two nights. It is a wonderful walking town with tailors, good restaurants, Vietnamese crafts and silks, etc.

I went from Siem Reap to Bangkok by bus with no problems. There are several bus companies that sell tickets. I paid $12. They pick you up at your hotel and take you to the bus. Large tour bus with air conditioning. Road is dirt and bumpy. You walk to Thai border crossing and then catch your connecting bus to Bangkok.

You will have a wonderful time.

Hi,Think Halong bay is a must even if its only for 1 night.Also think you would enjoy the boat trip from the Mekong to PP.You can book that when you get to Saigon as there are a few to choose from.

If you have not already done so get the latest lonely planet book on Vietnam its must.

Don%26#39;t panic its easy to organise things here and you could wait until you arrive in Hanoi to finalise everything.

Thanks so much your advice has been much appreciated and we are now changing to try and accomodate Sapa and Halong day trip at the expense of Hue and Na Trang and somehow fit in Hoi An, so little time ! Many thanks once again

took the bus trip saigon/pp/siem reap at Xmas time as I was travelling alone and car too expensive.I am woman in early sixties and had no problems, met Australians, Germans, Americans etc. on bus.

Left Saigon at 7.00am on Sapaco bus(Mekong Express and a few others do this trip as well.) Bus had toilet on board. Comfortable seats, just do not take seats on back row. 6 hours to Phonm Penh including border stop. Luggage was not taken off bus at border, passengers got off (bus courier had collected passports, visa applications etc on bus and he process them all). Name was called out, collected pasport then back on bus.

Arrived in Phnom Penh at bus office, luggage came off bus and we waited 15 mins. Bus arrived loaded up and off again. About 6-7 hours to Siem Reap (waited a while at ferry crossing as was very busy).

All in all, I enjoyed the bus trip as it was all in daylight except last hour and a half and you really get to see the countryside and all the small villages etc. I would do it again without hesitation only cost I think about $22.00 in all.

Tickets can be purchased at Sapaco office on Pham Ngu Lau in advance and you can pick seats.

This has been so helpful thankyou and reassuring that we can book some things on arrival, have decided (after much debate) to fly from Hanoi to HCM and spend the extra time at Sapa or Halong Bay. Perhaps have to save the middle bit for another trip I guess it is supposed to be a holiday so don%26#39;t want to spend it racing everywhere. Thanks for the detail on the coach between Hanoi and PP, sounds great.

Hi

I would also recommend Hoi An it was one of our favourite places in Vietnam, try and see it if you can!

Cheers

LW-UK :-)