Lev

Hi,
A native Vietnamese who used to work with me said: 'It's under communism. However, they're very nice to tourists. Just go as a group with a tour guide. Don't go anywhere by yourself. If anything happens, nobody would know where you are.' Therefore I decided to go with a tour. The itinerary:
Hanoi (the city - 1 day, Holong Bay Excursion - 1 day, Pottery village of Bat Trang - 1/2 day), Hue - 1.5 day - the town, cruise on the Perfume river, Thien Mu Pagoda, etc.), Hoi An - 1 day, Danang - 1 day, Saigon (1 day the city, 1 day - My Tho - Mekong Delta),Siem Reap, Cambodia - Ankor Wat, Tenle Sap Lake floating village - 2 days, 2 days Bangkok and back to the USA. How does it sound? Will I miss anything significant in Vietnam and Cambodia if go with this tour? And another question, if I go in the beginning of November can I expect a rainy weather?

hobbes

Wow. I think you are trying to cover too much ground in this tour. Also, I do not know that you need to do Vietnam thru a tour - we went ourselevs and it is fine. I think Hanoi needs at least 2 days (we spent 3) and Halong Bay separately 1. I would not bother to go to Danang for 1 day. Instead add it to Saigon as in the 1 day you ahve given it you will get no feel for the city. IMO Hoi An also 1 day is very short. Finally 2 days in Siem Reap is very short unless you actually want to see only the main temple Angkor Wat and do the floating village trip. To see only the main temples - Bantey Srei, Ta Phrom, Angkor Thom and Angkor Wat - at a hectic pace takes 2 days.

Kathie

Yipes! This is way too much to do in such a short time. You won't have a chance to enjoy any of it.

Many of us on this board have traveled independently to VN and Cambodia. There is absolutely no reason to go on a tour. Decide what is most important for you to see, do, experience, get yourself a good guidebook, and you can do it oyurself with a lttle help from people on this board. It will be less expensive too!

rhkkmk

it is a good basic trip...i disagree with your friend about VN...it is totally safe and you will not feel any pressure from the government...

i think this trip is one or two days short on angkok wat...if you are doing the lake that takes time, at least 1/2 day...you really need 2 full days minimum to see the main temples..

also do not underestimate the jet lague upon arrival...may take 2 days to get over...

Susan13

Hi Lev,

My husband and I were just there a few months ago without a tour and it was fine. Tourists really aren't affected by communism. The itinerary you're considering is too packed. Vietnam is a charming country and running around like that you'll miss the vibe of the place. Also, seeing only Angkor Wat is a shame in Cambodia.

Please check out our article on Cambodia: http://www.thirteenmonths.com/cm06_lowdown.htm

and the photos of places you'd miss: http://www.thirteenmonths.com/cmA.htm

and lo-down on Hanoi: http://www.thirteenmonths.com/vn04_hanoilowdown.htm

and lo-down on Ho Chi Minh: http://www.thirteenmonths.com/vn08_hochiminhlowdown.htm

Good luck with planning!
Susan

paigeTN

Susan,
The photos are absolutely beautiful! Thank you for sharing them.

Wanda1

yes photos really took me back to my trip. May I ask what camera you used. I must get a better camera. Thank you

Neil_Oz

Lev, I've found that Vietnamese- Australians seldom offer objective advice about the country, and I suspect that Vietnamese-Americans are no different. Most carry a log-sized chip on the shoulder about the post-1975 regime (which like China's is "communist" in name only).

Throughout Vietnam you'll find independent travellers taking advantage of the natural courtesy of the Vietnamese people. Not to put too fine a point on it, your pal's warning is crap.

That aside, you're setting yourself a horribly punishing schedule - you appear to be visiting 3 countries in 2 weeks or less. We found that 20 days didn't do Vietnam justice, never mind anywhere else. With such limited time a tour may well be your best option, but you'll need to scale back. Even if you concentrate solely on Vietnam I think you should skip Da Nang and even Hue in favour of more time in Hanoi, Ha Long Bay, Hoi An and Saigon/Mekong Delta.

In answer to the question "Will I miss anything significant in Vietnam and Cambodia if go with this tour?", I think you'll miss everything of significance, unless your aim is to tick off a list of sights. SE Asia, at least outside cities like Saigon, moves at a more relaxed pace than ours - if you don't have time to slow down and absorb what's around you, you might go home with a lot of photos and fleeting impressions but you'll have missed something of value.

Subway_Scoundrel

I am in Vietnam right now and trevelling alone and not on a tour. There are no problems. I would just make sure you take metered taxis from airports. There are many French and Aussie tourists and several americans. No problems. You should either stay longer or cut out something. I would cut out Danang or save Bangkok for another trip. It takes a while to get to these places and you will spend too much time on the road and in airports. I have gone to Hanoi, Halong Bay, Hue, Hoi An, HCMC and then Bangkok to catch the flight. I will be here 2 weeks and could have used a few more days. I see very many woman here some appear to be alone. It is rainy right now but kind of gives it a good feeling. They sell tarps and unbrellas for less than a $1 so I would not pack any rain gear or much of it.