alison

I have read the guidebooks, searched this forum and TT, and still would like more input on what to CUT from the itinerary. We are middle aged couple traveling comfort class through Vietnam end of June/early July. Will have 15 or 16 nights there (not counting travel time) including Angkor Wat.

As of now, we are planning the typical itinerary from top to bottom and realize we can't do everything. So, looking for advice about what to cut. FYI, I have seen minority villages in Thailand and Laos, but significant other has never been to SEA. We like culture, history, walking and wandering. However, it will be steamy, oppresively hot. I don't want to be so hurried that we don't have time to occasionally "chill" and enjoy.

The problem is, it ALL sounds interesting!

If we could do everything it would look something like this:
Hanoi - 5 nights, including 1 night HaLong Bay
Sapa - 3 nights (2 night trains, 1 night hotel)
(fly to Hue)
Hue and Hoi An - 5 nights -- some combination of 3 and 2 nights in each. (Vin Moch tunnels from Hue?)
Fly to HCMC
HCMC - 2 or 3 nights (tunnels if we didn't see them in Hue)
DElta - 2 night trip or cruise with Basaac
Fly to SR if we return to HCMC, or boat to PP and overland or fly to SR if we go from Delta.
3 nights SR so we have 2 full days for Angkor Wat.
Fly SR to either BKK or SGN for flight to LAX.

Our choices seem to be:
1) Cut out Sapa - still would have to cut HCMC to barely a day.
2) Cut out Hue/Hoi An entirely, making everything else much more leisurely -- but this area sounds like we'd really like it.
3) Cut out Delta and HCMC, flying from Danang to SR (either on nonstop on a Friday, or connecting through SGN)
4) Cut HaLong Bay to give more time in Hanoi or another place to see some rural life. (this would have to be in addition to another cut.)

If we cut Sapa, perhaps we could see some rural life/villages outside Hanoi or Hue, as others have posted about. Sapa sounds fascinating, but the idea of packing and unpacking 3 times for train/hotel/train is not so great. Also, hiking there dependent on weather and it could be muddy in rainy season. Or, it could provide some respite from the HEAT in Hanoi.

As it's closer and our itinerary is planned, will have many more questions about specific places. For now, just trying to get some itinerary input based on what I've explained here.

Thanks so much -- couldn't plan a trip without Fodorites!

Kathie

Alas! That's always the most difficult question, what to cut.


The first recommendation I'd make it to expand your time at Angkor to three full days. It takes a full three days just to see the major temples. We spent a week and didn't see all of the accessible temples.

I think you need to either cut Hue/Hoi An (think of this as saving it for a future trip) or HCMC and the Delta.

VN itself is just too much for a mere two weeks. You're doing Angkor as well, so plan this trip to see a part of VN, and you can see another part on another trip.

patlanta

Please don't cut Halong Bay. I just gave up a tour with my usual touring group because their new itinerary didn't include Halong Bay, or any possibility--other than a separate trip--of getting there.

The reason this became my overriding reason is because the Fodor's Asia/Vietnam board had repeated messages about this being a "can't miss" sight. Now we'll find out, as I booked with a different agency.

maryanne1

Agree don't cut Halong Bay and stay overnight as you have planned. You will definitely see alot of the rural countryside as you travel there.
My first trip to Vietnam was similar to what you have planned except I did not do Sapa. Only you can decide what to cut. The tunnels you referred to are not the same. The Vin Moch tunnels are actually where people lived during the war. The Chu Chi tunnels outside Saigon are tunnels from which the soldiers used to fight the war.
If you enjoy wandering Hanoi is the ideal place to do this. Saigon is a smaller city area to wander,but both are very interesting.
I really liked going to the Mekong Delta. For me having been there on 2 different trip I would not want to cut that.
I also agree 3 days would be better in Angkor Wat.
Whatever you decide it will be a fascinating trip.
If you would like more help email me
[email protected].

smartcookie

If you are going to cut, I would first cut Sapa (too stressful for just 1 day there) and second cut the Delta cruise to 1 night. You can also cut 1 night from Hue/HoAn. I would not cut that part out altogether, but you can do it with 4 nights ok. I would NOT skip Halong Bay, 2 days in Hanoi, Hue/HoAn and Angkor Wat. If you cut any of the above, I would add the time to Angkor.

ylieberthal

We are in Hue right now. I think you can cut one day from Hanoi,but definitely visit Halong bay. Hoi An was quite small, only a few things to see. We spent today in Hue. I think two days here may be enough. Rather than the tunnel, I would suggest taking the mountain passIt's a beautiful ride and you will also see remains of the US military base at the top of the pass. Hope this helps.

chimani

But why must you try and do it all at once?

Doesn't make sense.

I agree you need at least three full days in Siem Riep (you won't go there again, so see it properly).

So concentrate on either northern or southern Vietnam, and leave the rest for another time.

I am off to Vietnam for my first visit soon. I have 16 days and will be arriving in HCMC and going no further north than Hue. And I still think I'd like a few extra days.

alison

WOW -- thanks everyone.
Ylieberthal, when you return, please post a trip report!

We plan to drive over the pass on the way from Hue to Hoi An. But thought we should see the tunnels either there or outside HCMC. (we are of the age that we experienced the war, what is called now in VN "the American war.&quot

Also, if we are going to skip Sapa, I had read that we could see some rural life in villages outside Hoi An and Hue, which is why I wanted to be sure to have enough time there.

It also seems like a LOT to fly to Central VN for only 4 nights in Hue/Hoi An.

thanks so much -- am interested in further input if anyone else wants to chime in!

you are a tremendous help...
alison
p.s. If we are able to fly out of BKK (still working on award tickets) then we would do Angkor Wat at the end of the trip and could do a full day in the Mekong Delta on the way to Chau Doc to overnight before taking the fast boat to PP and onwards to Siem Reap by plane or taxi. From what i understand this would also give us more opportunity to see life on the Mekong Delta.

smartcookie

You can go from HCMC to PP via Mekong Delta, 2 day 1 night tour. Many agencies offer that. It will involve a boat and a bus. It may make more sense for you. The bus between PP and Siem Reap is only $8 and takes 5.5 hrs. Not sure if flying is worth it.

What do you mean by "seems like a LOT to fly to Central Vietnam"? Are you talking in terms of cost or time? I think both are totally worth it. It's a quick flight for under $50 (www.ivuvu.com) from Hanoi and 4 days is how long you need in Hue/HoAn.

Bisbee

It has been called the American War in Vietnam for over 40 years.

gsbpro

I am also traveling to Vietnam and Ankor Wat in June/July with my wife and two teenage boys. I have penciled out a similar itinerary but decided to skip Sapa (Ours is we fly to HCMC, then through the delta to PP on to SR and then nonstop to Hanoi on to Hue/Hue An and back to HCMC. )Not staying as much as you in the Hanoi area.

There was no way I was missing Halong from what I had heard. So that is definitely in our itinerary.

Talked to a friend who visited Ankor Wat a few months back and said two full days was enough. I found flights from PP to SR that arrives in the AM and have the full day and the next (we may stay over for the next morning and take an afternoon flight to Hanoi). A little rushed but I like you try to fit it all in on trip.

My questions to the group are this:

1. are two days/one night enough for Halong?
2. is the trip from Hanoi to the Perfume Pagoda worth it or do you get enough of that traveling in other areas, particularly in the Hue/Hoi An area?
3. how long does it take to taxi/car from Hue to Hoi An?
4. in the delta, I am planning on traveling to Can Tho, staying over night, then on to Chau Doc, stay over night, then on to PP. does that sound about right or do I need more time in the delta and if so where?

alison

Hi GSBPRO,
Even though I haven't gone on this trip yet, I'm the original poster and have done so much research i thought i'd take a stab at answering your questions based on my research on thorn tree and this board.
1) HaLong Bay - consensus seems to be when short of time to do the one night trip
2) many posters said perfume pagoda was not worth it if short of time as much time to get there and very hot
3)I have been told car is 4 hours between Hue and Hoi An if we go over the pass (the scenic route) and to allow more time if we want to stop along the way (can't remember if the 4 hours includes some short stops). It can be done in an hour less through the tunnel I'm told.
4) Have corresponded with many people about the Delta part of the trip and came to exactly the conclusion you did -- overnight in Can Tho and then again in Chau Doc. Even got a proposal from a tour agency for just this trip. (may turn out that we have to skip delta and fly to Siem Reap given our time constraints)

have you thought of an open jaw ticket so you can fly into HCMC and out of Hanoi?

I would love to share research/travel tips. You can email me directly at [email protected]
Hope to hear from you!
alison

caldnj

I believe you have worked out a very good itinerary, but maybe you should try to lengthen your trip by a few days. If not, eliminate Sapa and reduce the Mekong delta to two days and one night. Whatever you do, do not skip Halong Bay or HoiAn.

In 2002 my wife and I took a 5 week trip of Thailand-Laos-Vietnam-Cambodia. The Vietnam part of that trip was very similar to your proposed route. For details and photos see the "Indochina" section of Our Travel Journals: www.evcal.org

alison

caldnj,
thanks so much for the link to your website. I enjoyed seeing the photos from where we will be going in Vietnam and Siem Reap as well as re-living my own experience in Luang Prabang. I was there just a few months after you -- in April 2002. What a special place.

unfortunately, we cannot lengthen our trip beyond the 16 nights we have there. Some have suggested that we will have seen much of river/rural life elsewhere and we can cut the delta entirely.
others say we should add a day at angkor wat.

when we travel in summer it will be hot and steamy everywhere, so we have to take into account that we will have to slow the pace a bit.
thanks for the advice!

gsbpro

Thanks Alison for the info. Very helpful. I will email you direct as we can compare some notes.

I cannot do an open jaw as we booked our flights on United using miles and they fly in and out of Saigon. We are, however, stopping in Hong Kong on the way back for no extra charge as our United flight flies through HK.

smartcookie

most of your questions have been answered above, but just wanted to add that 2 days/1 night Halong Bay is a popular trip and will take full 2 days, i.e. leave 8am and back 5pm the next day.

also, if you're only arriving to Siem Reap in the morning, you may not be able to see the temples that day, or not as much. most people head there in the morning before it gets hot. i would make sure to have 2 mornings at Angkor if you're going to keep it short. most people say you need 2-3 full days just to see the main temples, but this also depends on whether you get "templed out"

Kathie

gsbpro, only you can decide if two days at Angkor is enough for you. Do a bit of research on the temples ahead of time so you have a better idea of how much time you and your family want there. It is truly one of the wonders of the world. You wouldn't want to go half way around the world to see it and find you haven't allotted nearly enough time to enjoy it. I always recommend Dawn Rooney's book, Angkor as the best introduction and guidebook. As mentioned above, we spent a week there and would have enjoyed even more time.

You are also welcome to view our photos at www.marlandc.com which may give you a sense of how interested you are.

gsbpro

Thanks smartcookie and Kathie for the advice about Angkor Wat. I will take a closer look at this part of our trip. Kathie, thanks in particular for the link. That will help me immensely.

My follow up question would be about Ninh Binh area, and Tam Coc and if any of you have been there and if its worth the extra day (it’s a day trip right?)

Bisbee

If you're going to Halong Bay, then Tam Coc isn't necessary. Scenery is similar and the 2.5 hours each way in the car isn't the most enjoyable ride. Spend the day in Hanoi instead.

ylieberthal

We are just back from our trip to Bankok, VN and SR. Had a wonderful time! If you go to http://www.pacificdelighttours.com/a...08.htm#7AG16VB
you should find an approximation of the tour we took, but we added one extra night in BKK at the front end and 5 at the tail end. We met travelers along the way who had been to Sapa, but each time when we asked, they all said they would have skipped that part.