Korean Job Discussion Forums

[neil537]

I am planning a trip to SE Asia in May/June, and am looking for some advice with regards on where to go.

I am flying into Hanoi on the morning of 29th May, and flying out of Bangkok on the 17th June. So, that gives me about 3 weeks to play with.

What should I do....where should I go?

The only things I know I definitely want to do/see are:

Halong Bay
Ankor Wat
Vietcong tunnels (either Vinh Moc or Cu Chi)

Apart from that I'm open to suggestion. I've heard good things about Laos (especially Luang Prabang) but would I have enough time to visit there as well as Vietnam and Cambodia? My budget would probably stretch to one or two domestic flights but I'd like to do some overland travel too.

Any ideas/advice greatly appreciated.

[cazador83]

i just did this and got back last week! i had about 4 weeks and planned the same vacation as you. i flew into hanoi and flew out of bangkok. it still was not enough time to do everything properly...i did manage to do it all, but was in a rush in some parts, and i also had 1 more week than you.

i'd suggest picking up lonely planet's Vietnam, Cambodia, Laos, and the Greater Mekong (also includes Bangkok). its perfect for everything you want to do, and includes itinerary suggestions.

to me, halong bay was not worth it. there are only a few times of the year when the visibility is good (so i hear). it was ok, but not awesome really (i did the 1 day tour whereas most people recommend the 2day to do it properly).

if i could go back, i'd skip the northern half of vietnam altogether.

after hanoi, i went to Hoi An. its a very nice, quaint town with great charm. food is awesome by the river. the thing to do here is get custom made suits, etc. if youre not interested in that, then keep going. i liked it, though.

then down to some beaches. nha trang and mui ne are the most famous. nha trang was nicer (famous for scuba diving...it was awesome), but mui new has some pretty cool sand dunes a little outside of town. maybe you should pick one or the other. i liked nha trang better.

saigon (hcmc)..just another big city. not much to do (hanoi is even worse, i really dont recommend it). try to see the mekong delta, if even as a day trip. i didnt have time but heard it was awesome.

from hcmc, i got a bus to phnom penh. you only need a day to see the killing fields and to shoot an ak-47. then head to siem reap to see angkor wat. most people recommend at least 3 days, i did it in 2 and felt that i saw most of the main stuff.

since i was running out of time, i flew from siem reap to ventienne. you dont need to stay there at all, nothing to do. just try to see vang vieng (tubing down the river is pretty cool) and luang prabang (cool waterfall, elephant riding, etc.).

i flew out of luang prabang to bangkok, also to save time. i ended up spending about $200 altogether for those flights from siem reap-ventienne and from luang prabang to bangkok.

suggestion: if you really dont have time to go up to northern laos, which you may not, i'd say just go to pakse, in southern laos. you can get a bus from phnom penh, and thats supposed to be really cool. 4000 islands in the river and home to the almost-extinct freshwater dolphins.

if you dont have time for laos at all, i'd say relax more in cambodia and go to the beach at sihanoukville. or just go back to bangkok and see some beaches near there. hope this has helped you.