- Planning A Trip To Vietnam (And Maybe Beyond)
- Introduction: Vietnam, Laos, & Cambodia
- Review: Park Hyatt Saigon
- Cu Chi Tunnels: What You Need To Know About Visiting These Vietnam War Sites
- Nam Nghi Phu Quoc Review (A Hyatt Unbound Collection Property)
- Airbnb Review: Orchid House Hoi An
- Visiting Hoi An, Vietnam: Delightfully Touristy (No, Really!)
- Review: Hilton Hanoi Opera Hotel
- Visiting Hanoi, Vietnam: 6 Things I Loved (And You Might Too)
- Review: Song Hong Business Lounge Hanoi Airport (Priority Pass)
- Lao Airlines ATR 72 Hanoi To Luang Prabang
- Review: Satri House Hotel Luang Prabang
- Visiting Luang Prabang, Laos: Social Responsibility In A Tourist Mecca
- Applying For A Cambodia E-Visa With A US Passport
- Review: Park Hyatt Siem Reap
- Angkor: Practical Tips For Visiting The Ancient City
- Cambodia Angkor Air ATR 72 Siem Reap To Phnom Penh
- Phnom Penh, Cambodia: I’m In Love
- Raffles Hotel Le Royal Phnom Penh Review
Last September I shared some details of a trip that my cousin Heather and I were planning with our moms. We’ve been talking about taking our moms on a trip to Vietnam for a few years now. It’s not somewhere either of them would naturally go on their own, and the kind of trip we’re envisioning isn’t necessarily conducive to a big family trip with kids and spouses, so we’ve kept it simmering on the backburner.
Of course, the nice thing about having general trip ideas in mind is that when a screaming deal comes along, you can quickly take advantage of the opportunity without having to pause to circle the wagons and gather opinions. So when the recent Hong Kong Airlines fares were published I did a quick check of school and work calendars, purchased four tickets, and then waited until I knew the fares would be honored before asking everyone if they wanted to go.
The obvious downside of that approach is that it doesn’t allow for much nuanced planning or consideration of the itinerary ahead of time. So while I had our flights, and a rough idea of things I though we might enjoy, I asked for help from the hive mind here at filling in the outline.
The response was tremendous, and I’m so appreciative of the details and suggestions you all shared.
As our trip approaches I wanted to provide some more details as to what we’ve planned out, but also wanted to keep all those useful comments intact, so this post is going to be an update of the original. Given that so many of us will be headed to Vietnam this year because of either the Hong Kong Airlines or Cathay Pacific fares, I’m hopeful this will be helpful. Definitely don’t skip the comments.
Just Vietnam, or Cambodia and Laos too?
One of the big things we had to decide was whether to spend the entire time in Vietnam, or to take advantage of the fact that we were so conveniently located to other places we might want to explore.
With 15 full days we could easily spend the entire time taking a very leisurely trip through Vietnam, as there’s so much that interests me there, and I’m intrigued by the idea of taking a slow trip through a country, since that’s something I don’t generally get to do.
But the only time I’ve spent in Cambodia was a spur-of-the-moment weekend trip to Siem Reap after a wedding in Malaysia a few years ago, where my husband had food poisoning almost the entire time. I’d love to go back to the country and see Phnomh Penh, and maybe more of the less-touristy areas.
But Laos has also been high on my list of places to visit for ages, and I haven’t made it there yet. So it might be nice to spend a few nights in Luang Prabang at least, if only to get a taste of a country that we’d want to come back and experience more thoroughly in future.
I realize that could easily be three (or more) trips, but part of the point of this is to show our moms places they wouldn’t otherwise see, so bopping around to several cities might be interesting for them.
Factors to consider
One, we’ll be there in February, so I’m not sure the weather will be quite warm enough to spend time out on Ha Long Bay, or do some of the other “must dos” in the northern part of the country. But I’ve heard mixed reports on that.
Also, we’ll be there in February — which means smack-dab in the middle of the Tết holiday. Which from what I understand means that many things will be shut down.
(These are some of the other things you should think about in advance, so you don’t book tickets and then realize “damn, I just booked a third-consecutive trip to Asia over the lunar New Year.” I spend a lot of time thoughtfully considering other people’s travel, and very little on my own, clearly.)
And another factor — my mom is really, really, interested in archaeology.
Like, you know the roughly 40% of most natural history museums where the displays are just full of awls and pottery shards, and you can’t help but wonder “okay, but who actually cares about seeing these?” — my mom loves that stuff.
So I think going to the region and not setting aside some time for exploring temples in Angor would be a bit sad for her (though she would never complain about it).
Finally, I am (theoretically) going to try not to work as much on this trip. Which ironically makes connectivity even more important. When we were in Thailand a few years ago this worked out perfectly, as we had fabulous internet everywhere we stayed, so I could comfortably work for a few hours in the morning before everyone else started their day, check in maybe once in the afternoon, then wind down the evening by wrapping things up from my inbox.
This strategy works really well for me with the time zones in Asia, provided the internet is fast and reliable. When it’s not, the few hours of efficient morning work turns into a frustrating 10-hour slog. Which, that’s also doable if we’re in a certain place for a few days — Heather frequently has taken our moms out to do stuff while I work — but I don’t love missing out, and if we’re traveling at a faster pace that all ends poorly.
Factors I hadn’t fully considered, but have ended up being important
While our final itinerary is much less break-neck than my first version (thanks for the revisions!), it’s still pretty fast.
Visas
All three of the countries we’ll be visiting require visas for US Citizens, and while they can be arranged on arrival, it’s always better to have paperwork done ahead of time when you can.
Vietnam offers single-entry eVisas online, in what I thought was a quick and painless process until I applied for our Cambodian visas, which made the Vietnam application look like a goat rodeo in comparison. Multi-entry Vietnam visas are much more expensive, and don’t seem to be available online, so in the interest of simplifying life a bit, we re-structured our itinerary so that we’d only be entering Vietnam once.
This is somewhat counter-intuitive in terms of distances and relative geography, but in many ways makes things a little easier.
Flight schedules
Based on your experiences, and the relatively short timeframe for this trip, we cut out any potential overnight train rides. I’m a little bummed about that, because I think it would be a unique thing to do, but given everything involved that’s probably a solo or with-husbands-not-moms transportation option.
Instead we’re flying between all of our destinations, and given the density of our trip I prioritized non-stop flights whenever possible. While Vietnam is well-connected by air, Laos isn’t to the same extent, and I didn’t want to spend 6-7 hours taking two flights with a connection when a non-stop flight even theoretically existed.
So for example, there are non-stop flights between Luang Prabang and Siem Reap, but not to Phnom Penh. And there are flights to/from Singapore and several cities in Thailand, but the only Vietnamese city with non-stop flights to Luang Prabang is Hanoi.
That made the obvious decision for the latter part of our itinerary to be Hanoi > Luang Prabang > Siem Reap > Phnom Penh.
The times of these flights have also had an outsized impact. On the day that makes sense for us to fly from Hanoi to Luang Prabang there is only one flight (other days have multiple frequencies), and it’s at 7PM. Thus we’ve worked backwards from that to determine when we want to arrive in Hanoi, how we’ll structure our activities, etc.
Weather (and wardrobes)
This is one of those aspects that could totally have gone the other way — it’s not like you can’t just pack to accommodate whatever weather you might encounter — but in the interest of streamlining and making it easier for our moms, we’re trying to stick to just a few microclimates.
Thus once we decided we definitely wanted to spend time in Luang Prabang and Siem Reap (where it is likely to be very warm), we chose to limit our time in the cooler climates of northern Vietnam. I’ll just have to go back!
And rather than staying in Da Nang (which has some nice-looking beach resorts), our time on the central coast will be spent in the thick of Hoi An’s Ancient Town, since that seems like it will be a better base for us if it does indeed rain everyday.
The itinerary we’ve settled out on
Here’s a map for a bit of context:
This has gone through several evolutions, and while I wouldn’t say it’s perfect, I think it will work well for us given all the variables:
- Arrive in Ho Chi Minh City (just after midnight), spend that night and the following night
- Fly to Phu Quoc in the late afternoon, spend three nights enjoying the island’s beaches
- Take an evening flight to Da Nang (this is our only connecting flight, with a stop in SGN), spend three nights in Hoi An, where we’ve booked two rooms with a shared bath in a charming little guest house
- Fly to Hanoi in the morning, giving us two full days and one night to explore the city
- Fly to Luang Prabang in the evening, spend three nights
- Fly to Siem Reap in the afternoon, with just enough time to enjoy sunset in Angkor on arrival, spend two nights
- Morning flight to Phnom Penh, going directly from the airport out to the Killing Fields then the S21 museum before settling in at the hotel then exploring the city for a night before catching our flight home in the morning
That’s still a pretty fast trip (or glacially-slow, depending on how you feel about seven different hotels in 15 days), but my hope is that it will still be a comfortable pace, while allowing us to show our moms several different areas and experiences.
My asks of OMAAT readers
Even with our trip outlined — or perhaps especially now that we have an idea of where we’ll actually be going — what would you all do?
I really want to make this a special trip for our moms (though I can hear the chorus of every mom reading this saying “It will be special because they’re with you!” and that is probably true), and would like them to be able to experience as much of the region as possible.
So, are there things that you’ve done (or have always wanted to do)? We have hotels lined up, but are there can’t-miss activities in these cities, restaurants you’ve loved (or hated), or an incredible local guide that just changed your perspective on an area? Other thoughts and recommendations for a trip like this?
I’d love to hear it all — even if there’s stuff you think doesn’t make sense for this group, other readers might enjoy it, and I love collating these references for future. You guys always have the best tips, and I really appreciate your input. 🙂
Beyond just this specific question, how do you approach planning trips when you’re traveling with family?
https://www.latimes.com/travel/la-tr-vietnam-20180218-story.html
Enjoy!
I think you'll love VietNam. We are currently in Hoi An on a 6 week trip to SE Asia. This is my second trip to VietNam and could not wait to return. (First trip was in 2007 and there have been so many changes.) The food is terrific and the people are wonderful. We went to Laos first and then will end up in Cambodia. Luang Prabang was a truly wonderful surprise and we wish...
I think you'll love VietNam. We are currently in Hoi An on a 6 week trip to SE Asia. This is my second trip to VietNam and could not wait to return. (First trip was in 2007 and there have been so many changes.) The food is terrific and the people are wonderful. We went to Laos first and then will end up in Cambodia. Luang Prabang was a truly wonderful surprise and we wish we'd have had much more time there.
The main thing I want to say is the weather has been fine. There is definitely a temperature swing between areas (we started in Kuala Lumpur where the heat index was over 100), It was chillier in Hanoi and Halong Bay, but in some ways it was a nice relief from the heat. Hue and Hoi An are warmer but not hot. But we are expecting tropical heat again in Saigon. Just layer, bring fleece or a light puff jacket for the north and you will be fine. Also, laundry is cheap. We just had 3 kilos of laundry washed for 105,000 Vietnamese Dong (or less than $5).
Recently returned from a 3 week trip to SE Asia, flying out of Paris (promotional Oman Air J class tickets) to Bangkok. Evening arrival, no visiting, just a night stop to recuperate from the long flight at the excellent airport Novotel. Then morning Bangkok Air to Chiang Mai (2 nights at enjoyable and brand new X2 Riverside Resort). We were there over Loy Kratong, the lights festival, which gave the city extra vibe. Next: driver...
Recently returned from a 3 week trip to SE Asia, flying out of Paris (promotional Oman Air J class tickets) to Bangkok. Evening arrival, no visiting, just a night stop to recuperate from the long flight at the excellent airport Novotel. Then morning Bangkok Air to Chiang Mai (2 nights at enjoyable and brand new X2 Riverside Resort). We were there over Loy Kratong, the lights festival, which gave the city extra vibe. Next: driver to Chiang Rai and visit to the the Golden Triangle (2 nights at Le Meridien). On with driver to Lao border crossing at Huang Say (do get your visa before leaving the US) and down the Mekong River to Luang Prabang. We went with Mekong Cruises ... small group, excellent food and guide, night stop in wonderful Luang Say Lodge. In November/December early morning can get chilly on the river but with a sweater or the on-board ponchos you will survive until the thermometer hits the 30-ies at noon. Two nights in Luang Prabang were included in our cruise package. There is a choice of boutique hotels. We stayed at Maison Dalabua which was neat and shared UNESCO World Heritage protected lily ponds with the fabulous Manda de Lao restaurant. Everything in town was walking distance from the hotel. LP is a mini Chiang Mai with even more temples per square kilometre and wonderful river vistas. Good food and bars everywhere. From LP we flew with Vietnam Airlines to Hanoi (again, make sure you get visas before leaving the US). 2 nights at the Pan Pacific, on the edge of the Old City. We had a room on the 17th floor (Club), overlooking the beautiful West Lake and its temple complex. We stayed 2 nights, then on to Ha Long (Orchid Cruises' newest ship, Peony, which cruises the quietest area of the bay complex ... most enjoyable ... the vistas, the top notch accommodation on the boat, the wonderful food and excellent guides). After the cruise two more nights at the Pan Pacific in Hanoi. Make sure you visit the city's excellent museums (closed on weekends) ... the city prison (remember Hanoi Hilton?), the Arts Museum, the Women's museum ... . From Hanoi we flew to Phu Quoc ... this was the only downside of the trip ... if you are expecting tropical beaches ... forget it ... it's building sites everywhere ... the new Intercontinental is in an area that reminded me of Dubai 20 years ago, with cranes and monster construction projects in progress all around it. We stayed at a Sofitel MGallery in the island's little capital. No mistaking this hotel was beautiful and had a private beach (meaning they had 2 guards permanently warding off passers by)... but once you went outside you were in the dirt I saw someone else write about ... not to mention the hordes of Chinese and Russian package tour tourists ... not the tropical beaches and Robin Crusoe environment we were expecting. I think we would have been better off picking one of the Thai islands for our beach rest. Before flying home we made a last stop (2 nights) in HCMC, staying at the centrally located Park Hyatt. HCMC is different from Hanoi in that it looks like a Western city, with highrises everywhere. Do take time to visit the Palace of the former president of South Vietnam and to stroll around the War Museum. Both Hanoi and HCMC share the curse of millions of motorbike riders. It takes courage and skill to cross a road, even at protected crossings for pedestrians. Take care, especially when travelling with older people. You need eyes everywhere as a pedestrian. The trick is never to stop walking once you started crossing. They will drive around you. Alltogether we enjoyed this trip. Top notch service and excellent food and lodgings all around. We did not go to Cambodia which we visited as a side trip to a vacation in Thailand a few years back.
What a great read! I'm planning a week in Luang Prabang in November before cruising the Mekong to Huay Xai for the Gibbon Experience.... then on to Chiang Mai for a few days before taking the overnight train to Bangkok & flying home. So its fabulous to hear so many rave reviews of Luang Prabang .
Talking of trains - do check out www.seat61.com/Vietnam for great up to date invaluable train information.
I have...
What a great read! I'm planning a week in Luang Prabang in November before cruising the Mekong to Huay Xai for the Gibbon Experience.... then on to Chiang Mai for a few days before taking the overnight train to Bangkok & flying home. So its fabulous to hear so many rave reviews of Luang Prabang .
Talking of trains - do check out www.seat61.com/Vietnam for great up to date invaluable train information.
I have travelled alone in 2016 & with my husband in 2017 and had great experiences on Vietnam's good train network.
I too got in on the purchase of two F tickets for YVR - HAN in September and I'm taking my 87 year old mother! Although her health has declined, I hope she is well enough to take that walker of her's on another trip to Asia. We are planning on spending a few days in Vancouver so The comments here have been fantastic and I look forward for your trip review.
Tiffany what an exciting trip. I love all these places but would have two comments that differ a bit from what others have written on here - I love Da Nang and have been there many times but in feb the weather will not be quite warm enough there to do truly enjoy the beach, so I think your plan is correct eg stick to Hoi An and enjoy it.
Also, PP is a...
Tiffany what an exciting trip. I love all these places but would have two comments that differ a bit from what others have written on here - I love Da Nang and have been there many times but in feb the weather will not be quite warm enough there to do truly enjoy the beach, so I think your plan is correct eg stick to Hoi An and enjoy it.
Also, PP is a fantastic city, but I think you’ll find that the Killing Fields and S-21 are both incredibly sobering and deeply horrifying things to see - I certainly wouldn’t recommend doing them both in the same day and certainly not “on the way from the airport” - do one of them only, after dropping all your things off. The Killing Fields involves a fair amount of walking, some of it over human remains coming up through the ground even, and is not at all the type of thing you’d carry luggage through. After seeing one of them go to something more uplifting - a wander around Wat Phnom or the Royal Palace, maybe and a nice meal somewhere along the river. Do stay at Raffles Hotel Le Royal while you are there, or at a minimum go for a drink at the Elephant Bar there. Enjoy the trip!
Don't miss Halong Bay, near Hanoi.
A lot of great ideas, which are all helping me plan a family trip to Vietnam. I enjoyed visiting Vietnam for work and plan to bring my family there soon on vacation. I would like to include a couple of days at a beach. Any ideas on the best beach(es) in Vietnam? I have limited experience with the beaches in both Danang and Hoi An. In my opinion the beaches in Danang were barren. The...
A lot of great ideas, which are all helping me plan a family trip to Vietnam. I enjoyed visiting Vietnam for work and plan to bring my family there soon on vacation. I would like to include a couple of days at a beach. Any ideas on the best beach(es) in Vietnam? I have limited experience with the beaches in both Danang and Hoi An. In my opinion the beaches in Danang were barren. The sand was fine and the water was reasonable (although not clear at all), but there was nothing attractive: flat, featureless, no trees, no shade, nothing but water and sand and glaring sun. It reminded me of parts of Iraq, but with a big flat expanse of water in front of me. I much preferred the beaches in Hoi An, if for nothing else they had some trees and grass along the beach that you could retreat to. I welcome any suggestions, but with a caveat: I don't want to travel all the way down to Phu Quoc. After reading the above suggestions, I think we will skip HCMC and points further south, and stick to Hanoi, Halong Bay, and the Hoi An area, so ideally our beach getaway would be somewhere in that stretch. But I'd be willing to go a bit further south than Hoi An for good beach with decent accommodations (the wife, you know) and a nice town/village. On a side note: I had a couple of suits made in Hoi An; they were, by far, the lowest quality suits I've ever owned. I had suits made in Seoul and Hong Kong, and the quality in both those places far exceeded the quality I experienced in Hoi An. The cheapest suits at Men's Warehouse are better quality than the suits I unfortunately bought in Hoi An. I later sold both Hoi An suits to a couple of SoFla Haitians for a total of $4, and I consider myself the winner of that deal. But I really enjoyed Hoi An. I love it, it's a great place to spend a couple of nights, and thank you in advance for any beach ideas.
I agree with Elliot. It takes time to transition between cities and countries, and you will be tired when you get off your incoming flight. Going more than 3 places in 15 days is too much. You will spend all of your time in transit. Take some time to enjoy the local food and atmosphere. (I am going to Vietnam in February for 15 days as well. Hoi An/ Da Nang; Hanoi; and Da Lat.)...
I agree with Elliot. It takes time to transition between cities and countries, and you will be tired when you get off your incoming flight. Going more than 3 places in 15 days is too much. You will spend all of your time in transit. Take some time to enjoy the local food and atmosphere. (I am going to Vietnam in February for 15 days as well. Hoi An/ Da Nang; Hanoi; and Da Lat.) I would like to go to Sapa, but I could probably spend a week in each place already. If you have not traveled a lot in Southeast Asia, be prepared for some transit delays/cancellations and other transportation headaches. It is part of the experience, but you want to make sure you are not in a hurry. Laos and Cambodia will probably still be around for your next trip.
Too much, too fast!! Do your moms a huge favor and slow down and savor the experiences of fewer places instead of rushing thru them. Your itinerary reminds me of "If it's Tuesday, it must be Belgium." I date myself.
I'm on the run today but a couple of quick points to consider if you can:
1. If you can manage a stopover in Hong Kong for Chines New Year, Feb 5 and 6, you are in for an experience you will not forget from the amazing fireworks over Victoria Harbour to doing a traditional holiday Dim Sum brunch at an authentic Chinese location (not a Western hotel eatery).
2. Halong Bay is a must...
I'm on the run today but a couple of quick points to consider if you can:
1. If you can manage a stopover in Hong Kong for Chines New Year, Feb 5 and 6, you are in for an experience you will not forget from the amazing fireworks over Victoria Harbour to doing a traditional holiday Dim Sum brunch at an authentic Chinese location (not a Western hotel eatery).
2. Halong Bay is a must do experience from its befitting appointment as a UNESCO site to its time-travel-like visit to an area where the mountains and most important, the people have not changed much over the centuries.
3. If you include Cambodia, book intra Cambodian flights directly with Bayon Airlines. Travel between Siam Reap, Phnom Phen and Sinoukville is fast and incredibly cheap (US$20-30 per segment or so. Do not book on Travelocity or similar or you will pay much more). Definitely fly these segments. Driving would take forever.
Have a great trip. I've done trans-pacific well over 100 trips for work and fun and it never gets old.
You should do 2 nights in Hoi An and take the overnight train from Da Nang to Hanoi.
I got back from a trip to SE Asia a week ago. Here's what I'd suggest:
I agree with the person who said to just go to Hanoi, Hoi An, Siem Reap, and LP. If you pack too much in, you get less, not more. Divide the time about equally between those destinations. I did not go to Laos, but I talked to several people who really liked it.
If you are going to get...
I got back from a trip to SE Asia a week ago. Here's what I'd suggest:
I agree with the person who said to just go to Hanoi, Hoi An, Siem Reap, and LP. If you pack too much in, you get less, not more. Divide the time about equally between those destinations. I did not go to Laos, but I talked to several people who really liked it.
If you are going to get tailored clothing in Hoi An, I would allow 3 nights because you may need multiple fittings. I went to Peace Tailors, and found their workmanship was excellent. There are around 5 tailors that hotels tend to recommend, with excellent reputations, but they may be more expensive. As a guideline, if a tailor has been around for at least 15 to 20 years, that's a good sign.
If possible, don't decide about Halong Bay too far in advance. From what I heard, winter weather in northern VN is quite variable. Bring a winter jacket, but you don't need many clothes because most hotels will do your laundry for you. I arrived in Hanoi in late December and it was around 50 degrees F the whole day and didn't get much warmer. And the dampness made it feel even chillier. If it rains, you might enjoy the Vietnamese Women's Museum.
Siem Reap was very hot. Best to start out very early in the morning. By 11 AM it was too hot for me to continue exploring the temples. Capris work, as they cover your knees.
I heard stories that some people had their bags stolen in PP. Apparently there is organized crime there, the criminals may be armed, and the police don't help. I heard that you should not walk around alone at night and you should keep your purse close to you, if you carry a purse at all. So I did not go there.
Other things you should know:
1. In SE Asia, always carry toilet paper with you.
2. Don't bring expensive shoes. Vietnam has a real problem with garbage all over. If it rains, the sidewalks and streets may not dry. So your shoes will get quite wet, and this is not clean water, but water contaminated by garbage. What this means is that your shoes will get dirty and will smell bad. You may want to throw them away at the end of the trip.
3. In VN many taxi drivers are dishonest. Even getting a cab with a meter is not always a solution, as I encountered a "fake meter" in one. Best to have your hotel or restaurant call you a cab whenever possible.
4. In Cambodia, the US dollar is also the national currency, and it is preferred to Cambodian currency by most places.
5. For a VN visa your photos have to be 4 cm x 6 cm.
Tiffany - We went to Cambodia a few years ago, and the jungle in the western part of the country was a huge highlight. You can stay there in comfort, if not downright luxury - this is where we stayed:
https://rainbowlodgecambodia.com/
...which was absolutely stunning. There's another one down the river a bit that looks even more spectacular, but at the time it was a lot more expensive:
https://ecolodges.asia/
Anyway, these are off the beaten...
Tiffany - We went to Cambodia a few years ago, and the jungle in the western part of the country was a huge highlight. You can stay there in comfort, if not downright luxury - this is where we stayed:
https://rainbowlodgecambodia.com/
...which was absolutely stunning. There's another one down the river a bit that looks even more spectacular, but at the time it was a lot more expensive:
https://ecolodges.asia/
Anyway, these are off the beaten track, yet easy to get to. The lodges will arrange for a car and driver, and the drive through the Cambodia countryside is beautiful (on good quality roads).
Also, some of the beaches near Sihanoukeville are beautiful. We stayed on Otres Beach for a few days, and it was very relaxing. I saw some of the most amazing sunsets I've ever seen.
Finally, we really enjoyed our interactions with the Cambodian people, who on the whole are warm and friendly to foreigners.
Whatever you choose, have a great trip!
The SGN-PNH Qatar 5th freedom route is jolly handy of you need to clock up a few more points prior to status renewal deadline especially during one of QR's x2 x3 x4 type promos.
My wife and I just arrived in Siem Reap today, so I'd really like to know more about the whole food poisoning thing, if it's not too much trouble.
@ Christian -- To be fair, I actually don't know if it was from Cambodia. Previously we'd been in Malaysia, where he was a groomsman in a wedding, so between all the Heng Dai activities and the aunties wanting to feed strange foods to the white boy, he'd had a lot going on. And he's not a particularly discerning eater, so I couldn't point you to an exact cause.
I think if you practice normal precautions you'll be fine!
@Tiffany -- One recommendation: My favourite restaurant in Hanoi was called Quan an Ngon. Some years ago the owner went round the city and collected some of the best streetfood sellers and put them all around a courtyard in a restaurant setting. A terrific experience. Some pics of the place are here: https://www.asia-bars.com/2016/06/quan-an-ngon-authentic-vietnamese-street-food-restaurant-in-hanoi/
Personally I think this is bonkers. It's so rushed it will all run together. You're blowing nearly half your trip on the overhead of traveling between destinations. In short, it's exactly the kind of trip that most of my US award booking clients start off wanting to book, and what I usually convince them to drop half of the legs from in order to keep it sane.
They always thank me afterward. You will too....
Personally I think this is bonkers. It's so rushed it will all run together. You're blowing nearly half your trip on the overhead of traveling between destinations. In short, it's exactly the kind of trip that most of my US award booking clients start off wanting to book, and what I usually convince them to drop half of the legs from in order to keep it sane.
They always thank me afterward. You will too. Cut out half of the destinations and one of the countries, and you'll have a great trip. Even then, though, travel will take a lot more out of your mom than it will from you. Adjust accordingly.
All 3 countries are interesting, and different.
When in Saigon take an hour to visit the war museum. It is quite shocking but an element of history that should not be forgotten.
When I visited it was an excellent counter balance to what I thought I knew from the news programs at the time.
Hai Van Pass is awesome I did it on a motorcycle but if you are extremely prone to car sickness then maybe its not the best.
I would just note I spent 11 days in Vietnam last year and did not experience any of the negative things described by the comment that was bashing vietnam. The food was excellent and I did not get food poisoning. The only problem in vietnam that I experienced was the traffic. Crossing the street is a real life game of frogger. I am not exaggerating. You will understand when you get there especially in HCMC...
I would just note I spent 11 days in Vietnam last year and did not experience any of the negative things described by the comment that was bashing vietnam. The food was excellent and I did not get food poisoning. The only problem in vietnam that I experienced was the traffic. Crossing the street is a real life game of frogger. I am not exaggerating. You will understand when you get there especially in HCMC and Hanoi. I have experienced ALL of those negative things in Thailand but not one of them in Vietnam. Given your extensive experience in travel I highly doubt you will run into an obstacles that you can not handle.
I would cut out Pnom Penh, but that appears to be your exit point to fly home so probably not a viable option. I would strongly consider dropping a night from Hoi An and add it to Hanoi since you really won't have enough time in Hanoi with this schedule. Hoi An is not that large and two nights is sufficient. Its a shame you are missing other highlights of Vietnam such as Halong Bay...
I would cut out Pnom Penh, but that appears to be your exit point to fly home so probably not a viable option. I would strongly consider dropping a night from Hoi An and add it to Hanoi since you really won't have enough time in Hanoi with this schedule. Hoi An is not that large and two nights is sufficient. Its a shame you are missing other highlights of Vietnam such as Halong Bay and Hue and some of the countryside. If you could drop one night from Phu Quoc (in addition to one night from hoi an) then you could have four nights in hanoi and actually do an overnight to Halong bay where you stay on one of the boats, but if maximum beach time is an essential component to the trip then that wouldn't be possible.
One suggestion - I'd say you're playing with fire planning a sunset tour of Angkor Wat after an afternoon arrival in Siem Riep, especially since you wrote that you have "just enough time" to pull it off. All it takes is a relatively minor flight delay and/or traffic issue to get you there 15 minutes too late and wreck your plan. Or at least cause you to have to hurry and leave everyone in a bad mood. Let's just say, I've been burned by this a time or two.
@ MeanMeosh -- Oh, for sure. It's a plan (and something we'll have logistics prepared for), but if it doesn't happen, it doesn't happen. I tend to be a pretty relaxed traveler, but on our last trip with our moms we found it worked better for everything if there was a...more scheduled approach to the day. But I'm pretty zen about it all when it's actually happening.
Throw out Phu Quoc!
It's a tourist trap with tourist trap prices. Not at all impressive for a beach. Spread your 3 nights among the other locations.
If you really want to do Phu Quoc you can always do it on a short turnaround with some error fare in the future.
So you hats your readers or something? Finding the start of the new comments is impossible without wading through dozens of old ones. Even leaving a new comment is painful because of having to scroll so far. This should have been a new post with a link to the old one. Please don't recycle posts in future it really, really irritates.
@ Bour -- Well, all the comments have dates and timestamps, but the nature of OMAAT is that some posts are just going to have a ton of comments, so there will always be some scrolling. Appreciate the feedback!
I'm at the JW Marriott Phu Quoc now and wow. The architecture of the place is amazing. The whole reosort is themed after a school. It's quite something.
@ Jack -- Glad you're enjoying it! From the pictures it looked like the theming might be a bit too over the top. How is it in person?
I can't add much that hasn't already been said except to say that Phnom Penh is the one destination that I have visited that far exceeded my expectations. We did a private architecture tour there (two actually) and it was one of my most memorable traveling experiences seeing colonial buildings and how they had been repurposed by residents. Plus we got to look through some abandoned buildings and see a lot of stuff that we...
I can't add much that hasn't already been said except to say that Phnom Penh is the one destination that I have visited that far exceeded my expectations. We did a private architecture tour there (two actually) and it was one of my most memorable traveling experiences seeing colonial buildings and how they had been repurposed by residents. Plus we got to look through some abandoned buildings and see a lot of stuff that we would never have seen without a guide.
Also the Raffles does an excellent and very reasonably priced afternoon tea.
@ Mark -- That's reassuring! We don't have very much time in Phnom Penh, and it seems to be a somewhat polarizing city, but I'm looking forward to it.
Hey Tiffany, I think besides these noisy cities in Vietnam like Hanoi and Saigon, you should try some more small but peaceful cites in the south of Vietnam, like Can Tho, and there is a nicest resort here, the Azerai, which is new and worth for money, and I think you should try and review them on OMAAT. There are 3 flights per day from Hanoi to Can Tho (VCA). Thank you!
Just did a Vietnam trip. I'm an archaeology buff like your Mom and Hoi An is the perfect place for that. I recommend going to see the My Son sanctuary (you can hire a car for about $35, go in the early morning or late afternoon so you can be there right after opening/right before closing so you have the place to yourself), and taking a trip to Hue. You can hire a car for...
Just did a Vietnam trip. I'm an archaeology buff like your Mom and Hoi An is the perfect place for that. I recommend going to see the My Son sanctuary (you can hire a car for about $35, go in the early morning or late afternoon so you can be there right after opening/right before closing so you have the place to yourself), and taking a trip to Hue. You can hire a car for about $70-90 and they will drive you to Hue over the beautiful Hai Van Pass and you can visit the old Hue citadel and some of the tombs of the Nguyen dynasty emperors. And dont miss the old town at night, where you can light a lantern and make a wish and put it on the water, if you're into that kinda stuff.
@ Laurel -- How was the drive over the pass? It sounds gorgeous, but two of us are extremely prone to carsickness, so I had sorta shelved the idea.
Lots of good advice in the comments. My expat family has been living in Hanoi for a few years. Can confirm that trains are not the way to go. Comments on them being grungy, noisy, old are correct. Halong Bay is now only a 2 hour journey by car as they have opened a freeway. Go on a weekend and it will be crowded and likely an unpleasant experience (boarding process, crowds). However once you...
Lots of good advice in the comments. My expat family has been living in Hanoi for a few years. Can confirm that trains are not the way to go. Comments on them being grungy, noisy, old are correct. Halong Bay is now only a 2 hour journey by car as they have opened a freeway. Go on a weekend and it will be crowded and likely an unpleasant experience (boarding process, crowds). However once you get on a boat the crowds tend to dissipate. Recommend checking around for a tour that hits an adjacent bay. Since you are only staying 1 night in Hanoi, you can stay just about anywhere. The JW Marriott and Intercontinental 72 are really nice, but 30 to 40minutes away from the action. A taxi or Grab Car will get you down to the tourist area (Old Quarter/Hoan Kiem Lake). I would recommend the Intercontinental Westlake to be a shorter taxi ride. If you want to walk it and don't mind a bit older place, the Hilton Opera is walking distance to the Old Quarter. The Metropole is the most expensive hotel to find and even closer the tourist district. If you stay there call ahead and ask for the bomb shelter tour (haven't done it but people told me about it). I haven't stayed there, but heard the history is interesting.
@ Vince in Vietnam -- Great tips, thanks!
I love Phum Baitang hotel in Siem Reap. Even if you don't stay at the hotel, going there for a drink and watching the sunset over the hotel's rice paddies will be an awesome experience.
Ha Long Bay was amazing even though it was not sunny. We went through Genesis Cruises and the food was great, kayaking fun and the amazing cave was simply amazing. I personally would not miss Ha Long Bay. JW Marriott has activities all day long for kids and adults to keep you busy including paddle boarding and kayaking and biking. A very relaxing stay.
@ Pam Iorg -- Glad you're having a wonderful trip!
I am in Vietnam now. Went to Hanoi for 2 days then 7 days at Phu Quoc in the amazing JW Marriott here. Best use of Marriott points ever - just an amazing hotel!! You should definitely check it out!! I think it is worth the flight over just to stay here!!
We visited Luang Prabang in November 2017, and had a very enjoyable stay at 3 Nagas. Highly recommended. And even if you're not staying there, they have a lovely open air restaurant. Temples in the city are wonderful. The food everywhere was extraordinarily delicious. As others have recommended, a trip to Kuang Si waterfalls is a must. We also thoroughly enjoyed a boat trip to Pak Ou caves, with a lovely lunch on board during...
We visited Luang Prabang in November 2017, and had a very enjoyable stay at 3 Nagas. Highly recommended. And even if you're not staying there, they have a lovely open air restaurant. Temples in the city are wonderful. The food everywhere was extraordinarily delicious. As others have recommended, a trip to Kuang Si waterfalls is a must. We also thoroughly enjoyed a boat trip to Pak Ou caves, with a lovely lunch on board during the return trip.
Visited Hanoi a few years ago, and I can recommend a couple of cultural experiences. One was a lovely concert of traditional music. The venue was a restored house in the old city. French colonial if I recall correctly. The other was a performance of water puppets. Huge fun and like nothing I've ever experienced elsewhere. Ask about both at your hotel if interested.
And, of course, Angkor Wat will be a highlight.
Enjoy your trip!
@ YULtide -- Wonderful recommendations, thank you. The water puppets were actually something we were considering, so will make sure to fit that in!
Hi Tiffany. Please do NOT go to Phu Quoc. It is really average and the last time I was there (9 months ago) half the island was still one big construction site. There is really nothing idyllic about it. I would use those 3 days in Danang (2 days at the beach) and Hanoi (1 day to go to HLB) instead. Hope you have a wonderful trip and safe travels!
@ ASEAN Traveller -- Yikes! I will cross my fingers that since we're not staying in the main resort area that it won't be that bad.
I would stay in a beach resort in Da Nang, as it is less than half an hour into Hoi An. They Hyatt Regency has 3-bedroom apartments with 2 baths that are very reasonable. In Hanoi you can book a private boat at a reasonable price - driver takes you out, you have lunch on the water and tour some of the caves etc. And definitely go to Siem Reap. The Meridien is nice if you don't want to spring for the Park Hyatt.
@Jeff
Knock yourself out, man.
If you enjoy a place replete with trash, where nobody washes their hands, picks their nose, and then stirs your rice with their hands before serving it to you, while others skin frogs alive, and cage and beat dogs — if you really enjoy that kind of experience, then be my guest.
All so you can brag to your buddies how cheap your vacation was, no?
Too much in the itinerary. Skip PP. Hanoi is more interesting than HCMC. Halong Bay is overrated and dirty. Luang Prabang, Siem Reap,Hanoi, Hoi An are absolutely worth it.
Im just back from my second visit to Vietnam.
For mine, give Phu Quoc a mis. Nice beach at resort by Intercontinental but overall....boring and way too much construction.
Use the extra days to take a cruise on the Mekong in a private teak boat. We toke one that had 2 berths and 6 staff....magic
In Hanoi, you must stay in the Old Quarter
I really enjoyed Hue. Luang Prabang+ Hoi An must see
Just a few comments from my experience:
Pnom Penh and Da Nang are pretty boring. There is nothing to do in Phu Quoc. You will be bored after one day.
Avoid trains in Vietnam. There are several low cost airlines like vietjet in the area. But flights are often delayed. So plan accordingly.
Cars with drivers are cheap and good. Hotels can help you booking (just ask for an 'outside car' and refuse...
Just a few comments from my experience:
Pnom Penh and Da Nang are pretty boring. There is nothing to do in Phu Quoc. You will be bored after one day.
Avoid trains in Vietnam. There are several low cost airlines like vietjet in the area. But flights are often delayed. So plan accordingly.
Cars with drivers are cheap and good. Hotels can help you booking (just ask for an 'outside car' and refuse the 'hotel car'). Taxis are also good, just take the official ones at the taxi stand at airports and make sure the meter is on. Don't take taxis waiting in front of tourist places and restaurants. They are often scams. Flag one down driving by or use Grab (like Uber).
You are trying to do too much in not enough time.
Halong Bay can be relatively cold in February. Unless you are in the far south the weather is often not good enough for a beach vacation.
Saigon including the tunnels is good for a day, but not for longer.
Touristy thing will be open during Tet, but a lot of the local shops and markets will be either completely closed or only partially open.
RE: Phu Quoc, you should definitely check out the JW Marriott Phu Quoc. It's only 35,000 Marriott points/night and we had a wonderful time staying there. The fictional University theme is pretty odd and fairly ostentatious but it doesn't detract from the fact that the resort is gorgeous, beautifully designed with very high service standards. Red Rum is the best restaurant by some distance and we also had incredible spa treatments there (try the spa "buffet" offer).
Too Much! This looks to me like an 18 year olds itinerary. Reduce destinations. I would lose Phu Quoc and possibly Phnom Penh. Spend more time in Siem Riep (for archeology and great lux hotels) and Luang Prabang (for temples, monks, and r’n’r). Asian beach destinations - as a rule are over-rated. You will find the heat extremely enervating. Do not try and plan too much. Start early, break for the afternoon, and go out...
Too Much! This looks to me like an 18 year olds itinerary. Reduce destinations. I would lose Phu Quoc and possibly Phnom Penh. Spend more time in Siem Riep (for archeology and great lux hotels) and Luang Prabang (for temples, monks, and r’n’r). Asian beach destinations - as a rule are over-rated. You will find the heat extremely enervating. Do not try and plan too much. Start early, break for the afternoon, and go out in the cool evening. Have travelled to all these countries (more than once) - but we spent 7 days in Siem Reid - and still didn’t cover everything we wanted to.
Slightly off topic, but this may be of import to you. I suspect I'm about your mom's age, and I had a pretty wicked experience in Siem Reap. In my haste to explore temples, we went out a few hours after our arrival in Cambodia. The combination of heat, humidity and jet lag - and I was not a pretty sight. Thankfully, my husband - being the good doctor he is - immediately recognized what...
Slightly off topic, but this may be of import to you. I suspect I'm about your mom's age, and I had a pretty wicked experience in Siem Reap. In my haste to explore temples, we went out a few hours after our arrival in Cambodia. The combination of heat, humidity and jet lag - and I was not a pretty sight. Thankfully, my husband - being the good doctor he is - immediately recognized what was wrong with me.....so a manic search for some saltines and Gatorade was underway. It would have been so much easier to have thrown in the powdered stuff along with electrolyte replacement pills.
Overall this looks like a fabulous trip. I did a lot of these same things a few years ago when I went. Luang Prabang was absolutely the highlight. You have to be willing to chill completely when you’re there. I had no issues with WiFi when there. Be sure you get up early and see the monks headed to the monastery at least one day. It’s elegant and serene. As for phnomh penh. I’m jealous...
Overall this looks like a fabulous trip. I did a lot of these same things a few years ago when I went. Luang Prabang was absolutely the highlight. You have to be willing to chill completely when you’re there. I had no issues with WiFi when there. Be sure you get up early and see the monks headed to the monastery at least one day. It’s elegant and serene. As for phnomh penh. I’m jealous you’re spending as much time there as you are. I liked it and was t there long enough. One rev- don’t try to see the killing fields and that museum all in one day. It’s simply too much really depressing crap for one day. But worthwhile. And the city is cool.
One question- what do you do for work that never allows you to take a proper vacation? I have 4 weeks a year and can completely separate.
Overall- you have a great itinerary. Have fun!
@Rob,
perhaps you would be better off staying home in your trailer.
I have been to Vietnam twice, and will return later in the year.
It is a beautiful country, a great place to visit.
@Tiffany -- Nice to see you included Phu Quoc. Just a tip: I definitely wouldn't stay along the main strip of hotels – it seemed quite artificial and Phuket-ish to me. Stay round the coast a bit – like the Mango Bay Resort area.
I thought HCMC a bit underwhelming compared to the rest of Vietnam. And Phnom Penh was one of the most disappointing places I've ever been. But I've heard great things about Luang Prabang.
@ Malc -- Agreed. The area down by the JWM looked a little Orlando-esque to me, so we're staying at a smaller property on the northwest side of the island.
I went on two week trip to Vietnam Jan-Feb 2018 (did not go during Tet). We started in Ho Chi Minh city. We did a self guided walking tour through the city and the market. I think my favorite thing we did in the south was a day tour on a boat In the Mekong river that included a bike trip, orchard tour, and a locally made lunch. We also stopped in Da nang, nha...
I went on two week trip to Vietnam Jan-Feb 2018 (did not go during Tet). We started in Ho Chi Minh city. We did a self guided walking tour through the city and the market. I think my favorite thing we did in the south was a day tour on a boat In the Mekong river that included a bike trip, orchard tour, and a locally made lunch. We also stopped in Da nang, nha Trang, phong nha, Hoi An and Hanoi. My favorite thing in the north was definitely our ha long bay trip (technically bai tu long bay). It was an over night cruise. I have read that the day cruises are more touristy because most of the boats stay in ha long bay. Longer cruises can make it further out into the less congested area. It was beautiful. The pictures don’t really do it justice. That being said the views that you may have during that time of year are really hit or miss. We lucked out and got good weather (still cool temps). One nice thing about there over night cruise was an option to do a kayak trip once the boat anchored in bai tu long. We kayaked to an uninhabited island and hung out on the beach and then kayaked back. It was quite memorable. The weather in the south and the north is considerably different. I definitely wish a had a warmer jacket in Hanoi and pretty much wore shorts the whole time in Ho Chi Minh city. As for traveling during Tet, my mother, who is native to Vietnam, and father have been in Vietnam during Tet and they also said they didn’t find anything that was open. We used Uber for getting around Vietnam but I don’t believe that it’s an option anymore (some type of issue with local taxis). If you do hire a driver or taxi, ALWAYS exit on the curb side of the vehicle. Scooters are everywhere. You will most likely hit one with a door exiting out of the street side. Your trip sounds amazing! Hope you enjoy :)
@ Sarah B -- Sounds like a wonderful trip, thank you!!
I went a year ago at the exact same time - Feb during Tet. We went to Hanoi, Hoi An and Hue. By far the highlight was Ha Long Bay - do not let the chillier temps dissuade you, the scenery was just as beautiful and you can still do most of the outdoor (and even on water) activities. Admittedly, it was not raining on the days we went, so that could pose more of...
I went a year ago at the exact same time - Feb during Tet. We went to Hanoi, Hoi An and Hue. By far the highlight was Ha Long Bay - do not let the chillier temps dissuade you, the scenery was just as beautiful and you can still do most of the outdoor (and even on water) activities. Admittedly, it was not raining on the days we went, so that could pose more of a spoiler, but we still found the scenery and comfort of the boat we were on (Orchid Cruise, which I’d highly recommend).
We found issues with Tet to be mostly logistical. Yes, some places close and it’s not the ideal time to travel as a westerner, but mostly you just need to plan everything now. Don’t wait until you get there to book tours, transportation, etc. We were in Hoi An during Tet itself and didn’t book things like this - it was not a disaster, just meant that it took a lot of calling around and we had to settle for tour operators, restaurants, etc that were not always our first choice (and also had to pay more). That said, I wasn’t disappointed with anything on the trip.
I’d also second the recommendation to consider Hue. It’s a really lovely drive from Hoi An and lots to see and do there.
Lastly, if you’re flying on VN in economy, check out the very cheap upgrade options. They don’t clear until the day before, but you can request an upgrade in advance (I want to say they were $10-$20). All of ours cleared the day before (not eligible for lounge access, but for the price worth it).
@ Darin -- So helpful, thank you! We are definitely going to be aggressive about getting things booked this week.
And the tip about the upgrades is perfectly timed. For a couple of the flights later in the trip I went ahead and booked business, as the price difference was less than the excess baggage fee would have been (and I suspect bags will be heavy later in the trip), but I'll definitely look into that for the others.
As an alternative in Siem Reap, we visited the silk farm. You get to see the entire production of silk products from start to finish. Very interesting and you get to support women from the local community as that is one of their causesfocus as well as being shown around by very competent locals. Plus a chance to buy the very lovely products from their shop...:-)
I really didn't care for Hanoi at all. Ha Long Bay (or rather Bai Tu Long Bay, the quiet area with virtually no other boats) was an amazing experience though. I'd limit time in Hanoi and do an overnight on a boat, we went with Indochina Junk (one of the few operators who venture out to Bai Tu Long Bay), Dragon Legend boat (more on the expensive side, but a high quality offering; you definitely...
I really didn't care for Hanoi at all. Ha Long Bay (or rather Bai Tu Long Bay, the quiet area with virtually no other boats) was an amazing experience though. I'd limit time in Hanoi and do an overnight on a boat, we went with Indochina Junk (one of the few operators who venture out to Bai Tu Long Bay), Dragon Legend boat (more on the expensive side, but a high quality offering; you definitely get what you pay for with those cruises). For the record, I'm not a water/cruise person AT ALL.
Forgot to proofread, ignore the countless spelling errors.
We did an incredible motorbike tour leaving from Hue. Took us through the countryside, and we went to rice patties, tea houses, it was the highlight ouf our trip. We booked it through urban adventures, but there are plenty of operators to chose from.
@ Charlie -- That sounds right up our alley, thank you!
In Siem Reap, look at:
- Embassy. All female run restaurant. Stunning food and concept.
- Sala Lodges. You say your accommodation is booked, but that place is very special.
- Phare. Cambodian Cirque du Soleil? Touristy but wonderful.
I was astonished at the quality of the made to measure clothing in Hoi An. The town is famous for tailoring. The price/product ratio at Yaly was really good. Think about what you...
In Siem Reap, look at:
- Embassy. All female run restaurant. Stunning food and concept.
- Sala Lodges. You say your accommodation is booked, but that place is very special.
- Phare. Cambodian Cirque du Soleil? Touristy but wonderful.
I was astonished at the quality of the made to measure clothing in Hoi An. The town is famous for tailoring. The price/product ratio at Yaly was really good. Think about what you might want made before you go otherwise you i) waste the opportunity ii) end up with something you haven't thought through. Or at least I do!
@ JT -- Thank you! The tailoring is one of the things we're most looking forward to in Hoi An!
Rather than Ha Long Bay, consider a Lan Ha Bay cruise out of Cat Ba Island. We did so last January and hardly saw another tour boat on the water (and we saw more highly-endangered Cat Ba lemurs than we saw tourists). I won’t pretend to be an expert, but Cat Ba seems to be more of a domestic tourist destination than an international tourist destination, so that’s kind of fun and means there are...
Rather than Ha Long Bay, consider a Lan Ha Bay cruise out of Cat Ba Island. We did so last January and hardly saw another tour boat on the water (and we saw more highly-endangered Cat Ba lemurs than we saw tourists). I won’t pretend to be an expert, but Cat Ba seems to be more of a domestic tourist destination than an international tourist destination, so that’s kind of fun and means there are some perfectly comfortable family-run hotels which go for like $15/night in the low season.
There’s a new bridge which is supposed to really simplify the process of getting out to Cat Ba...not that it was especially difficult before. And I really benefited from the ease of access to Hai Phong airport, which was much easier to reach from Cat Ba than Hanoi would have been.
Tiffany, as one sees in the comments, it totally depends whether one *wants* a more mainstream, Eurodisney, sanitized version of Indochina or whether one would like to experience more "reality". I am in the region about three months a year (there seems some really heave credentialism going on here ;-) ) and I would say the following:
1. Your schedule is very nice and very doable; don't let anyone tell you otherwise - for the...
Tiffany, as one sees in the comments, it totally depends whether one *wants* a more mainstream, Eurodisney, sanitized version of Indochina or whether one would like to experience more "reality". I am in the region about three months a year (there seems some really heave credentialism going on here ;-) ) and I would say the following:
1. Your schedule is very nice and very doable; don't let anyone tell you otherwise - for the trip and the people you're planning, it's absolutely adequate.
2. For me, LP is Eurodisney and does *not* retain much of its original charm, but it totally caters for Western eco-conscious luxury tourists. Don't look for "real" and enjoy that.
3. SR is a great, real city - people here who suggest it's a tourist trap have just seen one side of it; it's their fault, not the city. My advice is to get a tuktuk with a designated, English-speaking driver for your entire stay (he will be loyal to your tip, not commissions) and discuss with him (and reception) what temples to visit. You'll see what I mean; more details in this thread make no sense seeing the mass of readers. :-)
4. PP is great (also as a case study for Chinese colonialism right now) but indeed more real and boring than the tourist centers. Use you Grab app and go around with tuktuks; flexible and cheap. I hated the two museums you mention, Killing Fields is privatized to foreigners, completely unethical by local standards, and ghoulish. I strongly recommend the National Museum (also the one in SR) precisely because it's an unairconditioned Gesamtkunstwerk, not some modern curated education thing; the collection itself is superb.
Clothes: In all places you go to, while it would be kind if everyone's shoulders and knees are always covered, the rest never need be, at no time and in no situation; otherwise, hat and flops.
Enjoy this great trip!
@ Quincy -- That's very helpful, thank you!
I would suggest dropping Phu Quoc from the itinerary and spend more time in Hanoi and Hue . Apart from Sao beach which was admittedly nice but also littered with trash in the greenery after the sand ,I found Phu Quoc a huge disappointment .
Tiffany, I say this from the bottom of my heart, with nothing but good intentions -- do NOT go to Vietnam.
It is DIRTY, the locals will try to rip you off at every turn, the hygienic conditions in general, but specifically those related to food, are simply deplorable, and you and your family are almost certain to get at least one bout of food poisoning.
There is trash EVERYWHERE, with plastic and Styrofoam...
Tiffany, I say this from the bottom of my heart, with nothing but good intentions -- do NOT go to Vietnam.
It is DIRTY, the locals will try to rip you off at every turn, the hygienic conditions in general, but specifically those related to food, are simply deplorable, and you and your family are almost certain to get at least one bout of food poisoning.
There is trash EVERYWHERE, with plastic and Styrofoam simply being thrown wherever is deemed convenient (a.k.a., anywhere and everywhere). They treat animals with zero regard and respect, and it's shocking and incredibly sad to see how they have zero regard for the environment. Anything that moves gets killed, beaten, tortured, or eaten. After going to Vietnam, I was genuinely depressed for several months, and going there caused me to lose any remaining hope that we as a species will survive.
I repeat: do not go. It is a gut-wrenchingly abysmal place with deplorable conditions that will make you lose any and all faith in humanity. This is not intended to be a "trolling" comment or anything of the sort, I genuinely don't want you to have to suffer while being there.
@ Rob -- I'm sorry you had such a poor experience. Hopefully ours is better!
When I travel with my mom we usually do 2, maybe 3 places in a 2 wk trip. Jetlag and all the airplane travel between locations take time away from sightseeing. We did 5 days in Siem Reap and were glad we did!
@ Meghan -- Yeah, with my mother-in-law we'd probably only do two places in this amount of time, but my mom is about 10 years younger, and pretty spry. We're still going to be careful to alternate busy days/destinations with rest times though.
Hi Tiffany,
Long-time reader and long-time resident of Southeast Asia (also with a bit of an archaeological bent myself). While, of course, we all have different interests and different styles of travel, I’d recommend skipping out on a few places to allow for a more relaxed time in others.
I’d leave out Saigon, Phnom Penh and Danang. While these cities certainly have merits of their own, other places offer more charm and character.
Luang Prabang....
Hi Tiffany,
Long-time reader and long-time resident of Southeast Asia (also with a bit of an archaeological bent myself). While, of course, we all have different interests and different styles of travel, I’d recommend skipping out on a few places to allow for a more relaxed time in others.
I’d leave out Saigon, Phnom Penh and Danang. While these cities certainly have merits of their own, other places offer more charm and character.
Luang Prabang. An absolutely charming gem. Worth 2–4 days, although I could easily stay for weeks. Lots of nice places to stay, but I especially love Satri House, a hotel in former Laotian prince’s house. Khaiphaen restaurant.
If you’re considering a river cruise, vatphou [.] com do a very nice three-day cruise in southern Laos that takes in Wat Phou, a temple complex that predates Angkor.
Hanoi. Yes, it will be cool(er) and misty in February. Arguably, this adds to the charm of the city and makes wandering around more pleasant than in the broiling weather the rest of the year. A street food tour is a must. These guys are tops: streetfoodtourshanoi. The Sofitel Metropole is kind of unrivalled (although be sure to stay in the historical wing). The hotel has been witness to so much history; the free bunker tour is quite remarkable. 2–4 days.
Hoi An. Train ride from Hanoi: I thought it very pleasant, but obvs not everyone’s cup of tea. If time is an issue, it’s a very quick flight (there’s also an SQ fifth-freedom route to Siem Reap that may come in handy). For the archaeologically minded, a day trip to Mỹ Sơn is fantastic. Perhaps 2–3 days in town and 2–3 days at the Intercontinental Danang resort.
Angkor— save the best for last? Siem Reap town is nothing special, but of course you’re there for Angkor Wat, which would certainly be of interested to your mum. My most recent trip, I added in a side trip to Preah Vihear — a mountaintop Angkorean temple with literally no one there. There road is much improved now and can be combined with visits to Koh Ker, Beng Mealea and other basically unvisited sites on a (very long) day trip or easy overnight. Grand Hôtel d’Angkor for the full Catherine Deneuve Indochine vibe. Cuisine Wat Damnak, Franco-Khmer food, voted one of the best restaurants in Asia. 3–5 days, depending on your tolerance for temples.
Wish you and your mum (and your cousin and aunt) an absolute wonderful trip. — Look forward to hearing about the itinerary you choose; and of course about the trip itself! :-)
Tiffany - I have traveled extensively in South East Asia and am there every summer flying on CX, JL etc. thanks to blogs like yours! Everyone travels differently, has different interest, etc. so you can decide what works best, but this seems rushed to me. If I had 15 days I'd stick to Vietnam but even if you did multiple countries, places deserve more time. So of your list, this is what I think.
...
Tiffany - I have traveled extensively in South East Asia and am there every summer flying on CX, JL etc. thanks to blogs like yours! Everyone travels differently, has different interest, etc. so you can decide what works best, but this seems rushed to me. If I had 15 days I'd stick to Vietnam but even if you did multiple countries, places deserve more time. So of your list, this is what I think.
- Siem Reap: Unfortunately, a touristy shit hole only there to serve tourists. Thankfully, it's got good hotels to escape to and some very nice restaurants. The temples need 3-4 days if you want to see them and also not be templed out. Unfortunately, you'll be there will thousands of other tourists. I would recommend starting your day early - like being at the temples by sunrise and taking a break during the day and then going out in the evening. By 9 am the main temples are filled with tour groups. More days also allow you to see some temples further out - with less tourists - like beng mealea. The most atmospheric ones are harder to reach to ... like the roads are narrow that don't allow buses! Since I've only seen them in the summer, we went very early and were back by 10 am for a late breakfast, lounge by the pool or sleep (it was hot!) and then head out again at 4pm for the evening and sunset. We weren't seeing just temples all day then.
- PP: Certainly deserves a couple of days. The genocide museum is like nothing I've seen, the FCC bar overlooking the Mekong is one of my favorite bars, it's got good restaurants cafes and a burgeoning art scene, not to mention the royal palace and some touristy stuff, but it's also the center of Cambodian performing arts. Siem Reap is a tourist zoo, but PP is a real Cambodian city.
- The Tonle Sap: Asia is famed for its river journeys but this one .. I don't know. The villages on it are very poor and it reminds me of those images of western tourists gawking at slums/poverty...
- LP: Northern Laos (north of LP) is stunning and I was just also in Luang Prabang in August.. I spent 4 days here and could have spent more. It's touristy but somehow retains it's charm. In August there were plenty of tourists and lots of French families and Chinese, I imagine lots more in Feb. The waterfalls outside the town are amazing especially in the summer - do visit at least one. Near Kuangsi they also have Laos' first dairy farm serving the freshest mozarella. Manda de Laos - is a stunningly beautiful restaurant (and hotel and even the overwater bungalows are only USD 100). If you were without your moms I would say journey further up one of the Mekong tributaries and those boat journeys are far more interesting I think. Laos is changing, and changing fast. We took a boat from the Thai border on the Mekong to LP, and that journey is beautiful. the first day is almost like complete wilderness but the second you know the bridges and dams are coming,
Vietnam - HCMC is ok, but you should overnight in Cantho and see the Mekong/river life there which I think would be more interesting than the Tonle Sap.. Hanoi deserves 3-4 days, and Halong Bay is touristy as hell but it's the 80/20 rule. 80% of tourists go to 20% of the places. Even a two day trip is only 24 hours on the water so it's the dirtiest touristy part. You need to venture much further - and no one allocates 5 days to Halong Bay do they? Plus technically there are 3 named bays with Halong just one of them.
Hoi Ann and LP have similarities, they are both old towns with architecture/temples/ etc.. and Hue deserves a couple days at least.. it's more of a Vietnamese city than Hoi Ann which is far more touristy. Folks don't like Hue (it was completely bombed out) but I think the historical sites in Hue would take up 2 days at least.
If I was doing this I would do:
- Saigon and Cantho (for the Mekong, overnight in Cantho don't do the day tours)
- PP for 2 days
- Car to SR - so you can see beng mealea and the bakong temples on the way
- Cambodian Temples from SR
- Fly to Danang- but stay in/near Hoi An- can also add beach time.
- Hue, HoiAnn (and please rent a car to drive you between the two over the Hai Van pass - stunning scenery). Hue has more archaeological things for your mom as does HoiAnn which also approximates LP (although LP is bigger in scope and more interesting overall, but I think Laos deserves its own trip).
this gives you a nice mix of modern Asian city (HCMC, PP), unesco town (Hoi Ann), beach access (Danang, Hoi Ann), and ancient temples and ruins (Siem Reap and Hue), plus the Mekong/river life (Cantho, PP)
I would skip LP and Hanoi area- they are further up and you wouldn't do justice to them.
You'll have a great time whatever you decide .. south east asia is an amazing part of our planet.
@Tiffany I did a very similar itinerary several years ago but, in reverse.
Day 1 - Arrive Hanoi in morning, see Hanoi
Day 2, 3 - Transfer to Halong Bay, overnight cruise, transfer back to Hanoi, afternoon water puppet show in Hanoi
Day 4,5 Fly to Luang Prabang, enjoy
Day 6, 7, 8 Fly to Siem Reap
Day 9, 10 - Fly to Phnom Penh
Day 11 - Saigon
@Tiffany I did a very similar itinerary several years ago but, in reverse.
Day 1 - Arrive Hanoi in morning, see Hanoi
Day 2, 3 - Transfer to Halong Bay, overnight cruise, transfer back to Hanoi, afternoon water puppet show in Hanoi
Day 4,5 Fly to Luang Prabang, enjoy
Day 6, 7, 8 Fly to Siem Reap
Day 9, 10 - Fly to Phnom Penh
Day 11 - Saigon
Day 12, 13 - Hue
Day 14 - Private driver to Danang, fly to Macau
Day 15 - In evening take Turbojet to HKIA, fly overnight to Seoul
Day 16 - Day in Seoul, night flight back to US
To do it over again I would do Hoi An instead of Hue. It's a coin flip between the two but, I feel Hoi An might have been more "atmospheric" if that makes any sense.
Lots of great comments, my wife and I did a 14 day trip to Vietnam and Cambodia last year. We visted HCMC, Phnom Penh and Siem Reap. Added to this was a three night river trip on the Mekong from HCMC to Phnom Penh with Pandaw river cruises. Exceptional trip to experience the Mekong River and see life on the River. We decided to hire a driver from Phnom Penh to Siem Reap, what a...
Lots of great comments, my wife and I did a 14 day trip to Vietnam and Cambodia last year. We visted HCMC, Phnom Penh and Siem Reap. Added to this was a three night river trip on the Mekong from HCMC to Phnom Penh with Pandaw river cruises. Exceptional trip to experience the Mekong River and see life on the River. We decided to hire a driver from Phnom Penh to Siem Reap, what a trip!!! If you want to play chicken on the road for six hours, this is for you. Never again, just sat back and closed our eyes. Four days in Siem Reap gave us a great insight to Angkor Wat and surrounding area.
Central and North Vietnam and Laos on another trip.
Have a great time.
My wife and I stayed at Le Meridien Saigon during Tet Holiday 2018. There were fireworks the evening before the big day. The hotel invited all the SPG guests to a viewing party in the Club Lounge. Drinks and canapés. It was a good spot to watch from as the fireworks were on the river just a couple of blocks away. The big event was the next morning next door at the Lotte Hotel. They...
My wife and I stayed at Le Meridien Saigon during Tet Holiday 2018. There were fireworks the evening before the big day. The hotel invited all the SPG guests to a viewing party in the Club Lounge. Drinks and canapés. It was a good spot to watch from as the fireworks were on the river just a couple of blocks away. The big event was the next morning next door at the Lotte Hotel. They had a full-on Dragon Dance performed in front of the hotel. If you are there it happens early 8:00ish if my memory is correct. But, go outside and walk over to the Lotte to watch. We were lazy and tried to watch from our room overlooking the Lotte but most of the performance was blocked by the portico covering the front driveway. There was also a massive blocks long flower display on Duong Nguyen Hue Street a short walk from the hotel. You are correct that the city shuts down the evening before and for the next day or two. Finding a taxi was a challenge. We did meals at the hotel as that was about the only way to find food. Great experience, in a large city. Don’t be afraid to go during Tet. Out in the countryside YMMV.
What about one of those weeklong cruises down the Mekong?
Look at cruising Ha Long Bay out of season, in peak season it is said that you can see all attractions by mearly walking from one boat to the other across any stretch of water, when we travelled, the early mist, which in itself was quite surreal cleared by noon and we would have encountered only 3 other boats in the 2 days of cruising. When booking a cruise book a cabin as far forward as possible, rear cabins are generally above kitchens and crew quarters.
Do Vietnam plus either Laos or Cambodia. Not all 3.
Also, do a google search, as Vietnam is surprisingly kid and family friendly. Though I would mainly also search what will and won't be open while you are there.
I lived in vietnam for the first 20 years of my life, and come back regularly to visit still. Imo, it is better to avoid train or bus as much as possible and fly as much as you can. The rail and road infrastructure in Vietnam is still very bad. Since you are gonna be in Danang, I would recommend you to spend sometimes in IC Danang. Imo, it is the best IC in the...
I lived in vietnam for the first 20 years of my life, and come back regularly to visit still. Imo, it is better to avoid train or bus as much as possible and fly as much as you can. The rail and road infrastructure in Vietnam is still very bad. Since you are gonna be in Danang, I would recommend you to spend sometimes in IC Danang. Imo, it is the best IC in the world. I didnt see Phu Quoc island in your list, but if you are going there, the JW Mariott there is also lovely.
Hanoi...
I am doing
...->BOM -> VTE (Vientiane, Laos) -> REP (Siem Reap) -> BKK ->...
for the 2018 Year-end Asian Escapade™.
I considered sticking Da Nang, VN, in there after Laos but could not find any award tickets available with any of the region's *A carriers, and was not willing to cough up any cash. I am due a return to VN, as the last time I was there (SGN) was 2013. I might do SGN again, but more likely Hanai or Da Nang for something new for YEE 2019.
Tiffany,
I will second Debit (never thought I would) and say that you should make posts like these once a week about a specific place or region and let people sound off in the comments with their experience/suggestions. These tips are GOLD.
Hi Tiffany - Great comments and suggestions here.
I would lop-off Phnom Penh and any thought of train/bus/private car transfer this way you can maximize travel time between destinations and add +1 more day to Siem Reap, +1 more day to Luang Prabang. Vietnam Airways hops around the country, is efficient, and you can accrue Skymiles.
We did 2 nights in Siem Reap, with two full 10hr days touring the vast temple complex...
Hi Tiffany - Great comments and suggestions here.
I would lop-off Phnom Penh and any thought of train/bus/private car transfer this way you can maximize travel time between destinations and add +1 more day to Siem Reap, +1 more day to Luang Prabang. Vietnam Airways hops around the country, is efficient, and you can accrue Skymiles.
We did 2 nights in Siem Reap, with two full 10hr days touring the vast temple complex of Angkor Wat. It was not enough! We had no down time to just take in and relax + marvel at the spectacle of it all, nor could we see the outlying ruins and River of 1000 Lingas which reportedly is worthwhile. Next trip I will go back for 3 nights, 4 full days. Traveling to Cambodia with your Mom to see this is a must since her passion is archeology.
Likewise, I just spent 4 nights in Luang Prabang which was perfect. Sitting in cafes riverside, strolling thru town, the waterfalls, boat to Buddha caves - it really is magical. And at a relaxing pace.
Have you thought of just doing South Vietnam-Luang Prabang-Siem Reap? Maybe save Hanoi and Ha Long Bay (which are great) for another trip? The weather can be a gamble. On our trip,
it was cool, misty with fog. The fleece jacket zip-ups saved the day, but by no means was it beach weather. Danang and Hoi An were also in the low 60s this was last week of Jan. We stayed at the Four Seasons-Nam Hai... no one was pool side, nor at the beach!
This is sure to be an epic trip. Let us know how you structure your itinerary :-)
I agree that Siem Reap is a must visit, why not do one week in Vietnam (consider Ninh Binh instead of Halong Bay), then Siem Reap for a couple of days. And then for the grand finale go to Bagan (bike around) or spend a couple of days in Bhutan (hike Tiger's Nest)?
I spent a week in Vietnam this year - landing into Saigon right on the eve of new year and while we were told everything would be expensive or closed - we didn’t really experience that.
If you are there during Tet - try be in HCMC - they have one of the most amazing floral displays taking up an entire street which is in place for about 7 days - yes it is...
I spent a week in Vietnam this year - landing into Saigon right on the eve of new year and while we were told everything would be expensive or closed - we didn’t really experience that.
If you are there during Tet - try be in HCMC - they have one of the most amazing floral displays taking up an entire street which is in place for about 7 days - yes it is full of thousands of people - but the display is amazing and seeing it at day and night is a sight to behold, and we discovered it by fluke.
Vietnam is amazing - and just seeing the different architecture styles between the North and South is amazing.
In Hanoi - I know it’s tempting to stay in a hotel linked to loyalty - but don’t be afraid of the $40 a night hotel rooms. We stayed at this little property Essence Hanoi Hotel and Spa, and in exchange for a good trip adviser review we were upgraded to their top rooms each stay - and they looked after our luggage when we traveled away for a couple of nights.
I’d recommend when in Hanoi - head to Ha Long Bay - but use one of the companies that visit Bai Tu Long Bay instead. Same beautiful scenery but less crowds - if you need a starting recommendation - IndiChina Junk were great to deal with. On the more expensive side - but a nice bit of luxury and great entry into cruising.
For different scenery again Nha Trang has nice beaches and the bay is beautiful.
Flights around Vietnam are cheap - and if you book VN economy you can bid for upgrades on the cheap with optiontown (we had success on 3 out of 4 flights for a business upgrade). I found booking direct with the airline was 1/4 of online travel agents prices once I actually converted the Vietnamese Dong back to my currency.
Be careful with visas for Vietnam - make sure you get them right as they are not very forgiving (nothing cash in the hand and a few hours won’t fix).
I’ve not been to Pnom Phen or Laos - but would say you need to enjoy the hidden areas around Angkor Wat. Once you see the main temples - there are so many more just on the outskirts that are virtually empty. So invest in a local private guide and driver so you can go at yours and your mums pace and enjoy the hidden treasures as well as the busy touristy cliches.
@Tiffany -- I was underwhelmed by Laos and Cambodia, whereas Vietnam was one of the best two or three countries I've ever visited. Of course, it depends what one's interests and preferences are, but for culture, countryside, people, and food, I vastly preferred Vietnam.
I also would urge less time in HCMC and more in Hanoi. I'd also explore the north more. You could also consider Phu Quoc at the bottom of the country....
@Tiffany -- I was underwhelmed by Laos and Cambodia, whereas Vietnam was one of the best two or three countries I've ever visited. Of course, it depends what one's interests and preferences are, but for culture, countryside, people, and food, I vastly preferred Vietnam.
I also would urge less time in HCMC and more in Hanoi. I'd also explore the north more. You could also consider Phu Quoc at the bottom of the country. I found it quite beautiful. See Travelfish's page: https://www.travelfish.org/location/vietnam/mekong_delta/kien_giang/phu_quoc_island
@Tiffany -- I was slightly underwhelmed by Laos and Cambodia, whereas Vietnam was one of the best two or three countries I've ever visited. Of course, it depends what one's interests and preferences are, but for culture, countryside, people, and food, I vastly preferred Vietnam.
I also would urge less time in HCMC and more in Hanoi. I'd also explore the north more. You could also consider Phu Quoc at the bottom of the...
@Tiffany -- I was slightly underwhelmed by Laos and Cambodia, whereas Vietnam was one of the best two or three countries I've ever visited. Of course, it depends what one's interests and preferences are, but for culture, countryside, people, and food, I vastly preferred Vietnam.
I also would urge less time in HCMC and more in Hanoi. I'd also explore the north more. You could also consider Phu Quoc at the bottom of the country. I found it quite beautiful. See Travelfish's page: https://www.travelfish.org/location/vietnam/mekong_delta/kien_giang/phu_quoc_island
I'd recommend you to stay a little longer in Hanoi. Of all cities in Vietnam, we enjoyed it the most by far. It's a really big city, but is still cozy in some way. We really liked strolling down the streets. It's far more fun to be there than to be in Ho Chi Minh.
Thank you for this topic Tiffany - I'm planning this trip myself right now so this information is perfect! Lots of great input here. I've been to Cambodia before and really liked it, but it will be my first time to Vietnam.
Hi Tiffany -
Long time reader, first time poster. I would recommend a stop over in Siem Reap. If you do, would love to show you and your family around. Have been working here for about 9 years and I’m part of a local tour company that visits the Tonle Sap Lake in a meaningful way. Feel free to message me with any questions in general and all the best from Siem Reap
Laos is magical, recommend Vang Vieng and Plain of Jars in Phonsavan.
For Cambodia, I loved Angkor Wat and visited a number of temples and sites; but some try to over do it...temple fatigue can set in.
My favorite spot in Cambodia was Kampot...small town on a river, very quiet and relaxing. Nearly everything is shuttered by 10pm but the best food of my trip plus lots of easy day trips.
On the topic of SGN-PNH I'm not so sure the Qatar flight with Avios is really a great deal. I checked a random date one way in February. You can fly Cambodia Angkor for $63 per person, or use Qatar for 4,500 Avios plus $66 per person. It's another case of where the "carrier imposed surcharges" are more than the price of an available cash ticket. Sure, you have to take fees into account if...
On the topic of SGN-PNH I'm not so sure the Qatar flight with Avios is really a great deal. I checked a random date one way in February. You can fly Cambodia Angkor for $63 per person, or use Qatar for 4,500 Avios plus $66 per person. It's another case of where the "carrier imposed surcharges" are more than the price of an available cash ticket. Sure, you have to take fees into account if you're going to check bags , but it's less than an hour of flying, so I'm perfectly fine with an LCC that gets me where I'm going. I'd keep the Avios for another day.
Hanoi and Northern Vietnam are lovely in February! Don't skip them! Like LA vs. NYC, Madrid vs. BCN, Rio vs. SP, and other city pair rivalries, folks have strong feelings about Hanoi vs. HCMC. I prefer the former due to the coziness of the old quarter, the more apparent French influence, and proximity to Sa Pa and the mountains...but HCMC has its charms as well. The center of the country is stunning if you like...
Hanoi and Northern Vietnam are lovely in February! Don't skip them! Like LA vs. NYC, Madrid vs. BCN, Rio vs. SP, and other city pair rivalries, folks have strong feelings about Hanoi vs. HCMC. I prefer the former due to the coziness of the old quarter, the more apparent French influence, and proximity to Sa Pa and the mountains...but HCMC has its charms as well. The center of the country is stunning if you like smaller cities and beaches...Da Nang and Hue are getting more and more commercialized, but getting out to the surrounding villages is great. I would spend the whole 15 days exploring Vietnam - there's just so much to see and the people are warm and friendly, plus February is, I find, an ideal time to visit the country because it is mild and sunny and dry. If you want to see Ha Long Bay, just a warning: it is, sadly, heavily polluted and over-touristed...check out Bai Tu Long Bay instead - same area, same formations, but much more clean and without the hoards. Try your best to get to Luang Prabang, perhaps at the end of the trip: just so relaxing, beautiful, and peaceful!
I would turn things around a bit.
From Hong Kong take the Lanmei Arilines flight to Phnom Penh.
Then continue to Luang Prabang as described.
Fly from there to Saigon (non stop flights possible).
Then fly to Da Nang, get a car with driver to Hoi An and then to Hue and around there (inexpensive, any hotel concierge can do that on short notice, just ask for outside car. not hotel...
I would turn things around a bit.
From Hong Kong take the Lanmei Arilines flight to Phnom Penh.
Then continue to Luang Prabang as described.
Fly from there to Saigon (non stop flights possible).
Then fly to Da Nang, get a car with driver to Hoi An and then to Hue and around there (inexpensive, any hotel concierge can do that on short notice, just ask for outside car. not hotel car).
Take flight from Hue to Saigon and then back from there.
You could turn Hue and Da Nang around or do the trip backwards.
This will save you the double entry into vietnam (does any of you need a visa?) and minimizes the number of flights/long trips.
I did ten days in vietnam as part of a larger trip. It wasn't enough time. It takes awhile to move around the country and I would hardly say I was moving at a leisurely pace. Honestly I'd recommend the entire trip be spent on vietnam. I haven't been to Laos but have spoken with people who have been there. Its alright but the tourist infrastructure isn't as setup yet and there isn't a ton...
I did ten days in vietnam as part of a larger trip. It wasn't enough time. It takes awhile to move around the country and I would hardly say I was moving at a leisurely pace. Honestly I'd recommend the entire trip be spent on vietnam. I haven't been to Laos but have spoken with people who have been there. Its alright but the tourist infrastructure isn't as setup yet and there isn't a ton to see there. Basically its a good place to maybe bum around but it will be a time sink and I would never recommend it to someone who only has two weeks and is trying to do a first trip to vietnam. I've been to cambodia ankor wat and the capital. Give the capital in cambodia a pass. Siem reap is fine if you want to show them ankor wat but I would limit it to that and vietnam and no more. Travel is slow in that part of the world. Also look into places like Hoi An. Hanoi has enough to see to easily fill three days not even counting Halong bay so one night is really missing out on a lot. I suggest you read up on vietnam a lot more since there is a massive amount to see and do there and some of the stuff takes a bit of time to get to and from. Also, domestic flights are cheap there so don't mess around with trains as they can be painfully slow. Hanoi when compared to Saigon is incredibly different so its not like seen one city seen them all. I was in Hanoi in August and honestly it was the most extreme heat and humidity I have experienced in the world and I have been in the jungles of SE Asia in August as well! I enjoyed Vietnam a lot more than I ever suspected and the food was outstanding.
Greatest advice I can give on this is in Saigon book the Le Meridien or another Western hotel brand and in Hanoi pay out of pocket for a boutique hotel in the old quarter.
Vietnam is such an amazingly beautiful country- hope you have the best trip!
I was in HCMC and Hanoi for the majority of February of this year. It's hot. F'in hot. Even up in Sapa. The only thing to consider is whether it's rainy/overcast during a Ha Long visit. If you can play it by ear, do it. Also, Tet. Damn near everything was shut down for nearly a week. Touristy stuff was open, as well as restaurants near tourist areas, but the rest of Vietnam sure as hell ain't working.
I'll start by saying I have no experience of 'north' Vietnam, so can't comment on that.
Based on my experience, and your parties described needs - i suggest the following:
Luang Prabang - is wonderful for Monks, Mekong and small asian town perfection. It also has a few Accor properties (bless French colonialism). We stayed at what is now the Sofitel, but was the Hotel de la Paix in the old Governers residence, and gaol....
I'll start by saying I have no experience of 'north' Vietnam, so can't comment on that.
Based on my experience, and your parties described needs - i suggest the following:
Luang Prabang - is wonderful for Monks, Mekong and small asian town perfection. It also has a few Accor properties (bless French colonialism). We stayed at what is now the Sofitel, but was the Hotel de la Paix in the old Governers residence, and gaol. Gorgeous! Its on the edge of 'town' which makes it desirable. The whole place is so small, you can get to anywhere by a reasonable stroll, or a quick tuk tuk ride. There is enough to do for 3 or more days, especially if you want to take things slowly.
Siem Reap - 2 nights is nowhere near enough time, especially if you have an amateur archaeologist with you. We did it over 10 days, taking our time, and having days off to avoid temple ruin fatigue. Start early in the morning so you are at some sites by dawn with guide and driver, and get home in the early afternoon is my advice. Its a while ago since I was there (only 1 x 5 star hotel then - now there are many). You can do the main sites (Angkor Wat, Ta Prom etc) in a few of days - but you should really spend the time and see the stunning red Banteay Srei and even the River of a Thousand Lingas - which are outside the main drag, and much less busy with tourists. If you can fit it in your schedule - I would say minimum 3 full days, 5 if you can fit it.
Phnom Penh - meh - 15 years ago, it was interesting, no high rise. Now it is just another developing Asian city, with tall buildings, and designer shops. Perfectly fine to be in (we have friends there) but would not make a special trip. On the other hand - if you can hire a car or van and driver, DO go to Kep (about 3 hours drive) - full of mid-century French 'beach' houses, slowly being restored. Stay at Knai Bang Chatt - which is one of the restored mid-century buildings. Eat at the many crab shacks on the beach or at the Sailing club http://www.knaibangchatt.com/the-sailing-club/ - and yes the evenings do look that good.
Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon) - I love this city - especially when I remember growing up to the news reports of the Vietnam War, and what we (Australians) and the USA did to the place. The resilience and friendliness of the people is amazing. If you want modern comfort points hotel - stay at the Intercontinental Asiana in a club room, and you will be treated amazingly well (https://wp.me/p99oNJ-1C). If you want a bit more of the colonial feel, then try the Majestic. If you want an over-the-top-contemporary-designer hotel then try the Reverie. Or the minimal Park Hyatt. Here are my reports on hotels and what to do in Saigon - but definitely read 'The Quiet American' before/while you're there. https://www.2paxfly.com/2017/08/28/hcmc-saigon-to-everyone-else/
Ok, that's more than my 2¢ worth.
Fly to Hue and review the awesome lounge at the airport
Hi Tiffany...been planning my trip to Northern Vietnam for a year! Going in a few weeks. Re Halong Bay...is usually 3 hours between Hanoi and cruise departures, but Orchid Cruises departs from a different marina, and is closer to Hanoi, so less time getting to boat. Given that it is Tet, if you must travel by train, for sure get a reservation. In Hanoi, consider a street food tour...the food in Vietnam supposed to be...
Hi Tiffany...been planning my trip to Northern Vietnam for a year! Going in a few weeks. Re Halong Bay...is usually 3 hours between Hanoi and cruise departures, but Orchid Cruises departs from a different marina, and is closer to Hanoi, so less time getting to boat. Given that it is Tet, if you must travel by train, for sure get a reservation. In Hanoi, consider a street food tour...the food in Vietnam supposed to be fantastic, this would be great way to get a sampling. And good news...a new business class lounge was just added to Priority Pass at Hanoi airport.
Tiffany if you want to show your mum an amazing time from an archaeology perspective take her to Algeria one day for at least 2 weeks and you will both seriously love it.
Guaranteed!
You can get VN visas online now. At least basic single entry ones
Lots of good ideas. Flyertalk has some great experts on the region. There are some archaeology things in Vietnam. But for sure I think you should go to Siem Reap for several days. I like Luang Prabang, but given your timeframe I'd say save for another trip. Phnom Penh is a traffic choked nightmare these days.
The travel agent I use in SE Asia refuses to book any trips to Vietnam during Tet because so...
Lots of good ideas. Flyertalk has some great experts on the region. There are some archaeology things in Vietnam. But for sure I think you should go to Siem Reap for several days. I like Luang Prabang, but given your timeframe I'd say save for another trip. Phnom Penh is a traffic choked nightmare these days.
The travel agent I use in SE Asia refuses to book any trips to Vietnam during Tet because so much is closed.
In the end 15 days isn't that much time. I think you should limit your trip to Vietnam and Siem Reap.
I agree strongly with Nicole, do Vietnam and Laos.
...Also someone suggested being driven and frankly that's the only way to get off the tourist track. It's not that expensive and you will see things and eat food unlike 99% of the rest of the tourists.
Lastly, do not do Visa on Arrival. Unless you like flying for 15 hours only to wait in a confusing line for an hour upon arrival.
I agree strongly with Nicole, do Vietnam and Laos.
Also someone suggested being driven and frankly that's the only way to get off the tourist track. It's not that expensive and you will see things and eat food unlike 99% of the rest of the tourists.
Lastly, do not do Visa on Arrival. Unless you like flying for 15 hours only to wait in a confusing line for an hour upon arrival.
In 4 arrivals to SGN in the last 18 months, by having my Visa already AND Sky Priority (expedited Immigration line). I've had checked bag and thru immigration and customs to be out in the street in 15 minutes.
Check the Vietnamese Embassy online, if you can't get to a consulate, you can fo it by mail in the USA. I got my visa at the consulate in NYC and it took all of 15 minutes.
I think Tet u.s earlier this year. It will affect the first 2 weeks in Feb. Schools start again on the 11th.
Agree with the various OPs that you should skip PNH and spend more time in HAN. You could even skip LPQ as it is lovely but not so interesting from an archeological perspective. Beaches? I’m not a beach person myself but if you are using them as downtime it could be ok. It’s just there is so much interesting stuff that isn’t a beach you should focus on.
Consider that your Moms are a little older and not the seasoned whirlwind travelers either . Things like overnight train rides might be enough to run them ragged . What is fine and exciting for you could become an ordeal for them . All your plans sound good , just not in fifteen days .Remember that you and they are facing 20+ hours just flying across the Pacific . Remember , this trip is supposed to be for them .
There's a lot of painfully inaccurate information in the comments. While I appreciate that some have spent a few weeks in this part of the world, a fly by night tourist doesn't catch the nuances. A few bits of advice from someone who lives in Vietnam and has been there for years:
1. Do not take the night train to Hue. You will not sleep. The night train is gimmicky but is overall an extremely...
There's a lot of painfully inaccurate information in the comments. While I appreciate that some have spent a few weeks in this part of the world, a fly by night tourist doesn't catch the nuances. A few bits of advice from someone who lives in Vietnam and has been there for years:
1. Do not take the night train to Hue. You will not sleep. The night train is gimmicky but is overall an extremely uncomfortable experience. The train switches tracks and couples and decouples cars through the night. It's impossible to sleep through. I'm not sure Hue is worth visiting at all.
2. Hanoi is dreadful in February and March. I'm not saying don't go, but be prepared for AQI 200+, misty rain and cold temperatures. Ha Long Bay is not worth visiting at this time of year.
3. If you spend Tet in Vietnam, it's best if it's spent in Hanoi or HCM. While in the past everything shut down, that's changing quite a bit. Restaurants will be open and life will be happening. It's actually a great time to be there because it's much quieter than usual. Don't get caught in a second tier city during Tet, however as things will be closed.
4. Luang Prabang is a genuine gift. Go. I've never met someone who hasn't loved it.
5. Don't take the bus to PP from HCM. Period.
Tiffany,
You need to post trip reports like this once a month. The comments section is priceless. Amazing amount of experience and knowledge in the comments.
No offense but a lot of other posts are complete crap and not useful to a broad groupgroupogroupgroup of people: new route, new plane order, hiring, firing, new champagne, new livery. Fun to know but mostly useless.
This is however worth saving and referring to later when planning a trip.
Food in Luang Prabang is fantastic. Sure you've had your fill of Thai and Vietnamese food. Lao food is different and noteworthy in its own right. There are many good restaurants to choose from, each offering outdoor seating on quiet streets or beside the Mekong that immerse you in the setting of the country. English translated menus are the norm. This is yet another reason to include Luang Prabang in your itinerary.
Do Laos now! You should go there now before the highway and rail line to China are finished and it is overrun with tour groups. Luang Prabang is fantastic for taking a slow time, drinking beer, and watching the Mekong flow.
As someone who (gladly) frequently travels with my mother in her early 70s, that schedule might be a tad aggressive. My mom's still in great shape and pretty adventurous, but she doesn't have the stamina she once had. Hot, humid weather especially tires her out. That won't be as much of an issue in February but still something to be mindful of. I might suggest incorporating a "break day" every 5 days or so, with...
As someone who (gladly) frequently travels with my mother in her early 70s, that schedule might be a tad aggressive. My mom's still in great shape and pretty adventurous, but she doesn't have the stamina she once had. Hot, humid weather especially tires her out. That won't be as much of an issue in February but still something to be mindful of. I might suggest incorporating a "break day" every 5 days or so, with either a 3rd day wherever you are, or just a day of doing nothing (and that includes no travel - even spending half a day flying from one place to another gets really tiring when you're already feeling beat). That'll also give you a couple of days during the trip to catch up on work.
Hi Tiffany,
I don't know if it would interest you (or your mom), but google Banteay Chmarr. I went there totally unplanned on the way from Thailand to Siem Reap. I hadn't heard about this place at all before I met these two travellers in the train and we ended up visiting this amazing ruined temple together before going to Siem Reap. It was one of my memorable trips as I hadn't even known...
Hi Tiffany,
I don't know if it would interest you (or your mom), but google Banteay Chmarr. I went there totally unplanned on the way from Thailand to Siem Reap. I hadn't heard about this place at all before I met these two travellers in the train and we ended up visiting this amazing ruined temple together before going to Siem Reap. It was one of my memorable trips as I hadn't even known about this place (let alone planned to go there at all) but I was really glad I did.
Dear Tiffany,
I live in Ho Chi Minh City, I am a big fan of your blog and posts.
I can help you with living and going around here.
you can contact me any day!!
More than happy to help an OMAAT fellow!
I’ve lived in Hanoi for 3 years. In general Hanoi is a much nicer city to visit than Ho Chi Minh City. It’s an ancient city which kept most of its heritage, unlike HCMC which builds newer and higher. Other nice places to visit include SaPa, HaLong Bay, NinhBinh, DaLat. But holidays in Vietnam in February is not ideal because of Tet (same is true for Cambodia and Lao). Many things close down and what’s...
I’ve lived in Hanoi for 3 years. In general Hanoi is a much nicer city to visit than Ho Chi Minh City. It’s an ancient city which kept most of its heritage, unlike HCMC which builds newer and higher. Other nice places to visit include SaPa, HaLong Bay, NinhBinh, DaLat. But holidays in Vietnam in February is not ideal because of Tet (same is true for Cambodia and Lao). Many things close down and what’s opened tends to be overcrowded with Vietnamese or Chinese tourists and 30% mark up. Northern Vietnam is likely to be chilly (10 degrees C) and rainy. Likewise for Danang. It may not be ideal beach weather because of rain et rather cool weather. If you want to chill on the beach in February in Vietnam, Phu Quoc Island is a much safer choice for weather. Another factor to consider: flights between Vietnam/SiamReap/LuangPrabang tend to be quite pricy. Vietnam Airlines seems to have a quasi monopoly on the routes and it’s priced accordingly, especially around Tet season. So worth checking that if budget is an issue.
A brief overnight in Hanoi, maybe? That's selling it short, IMO. It's far, far more interesting than PP and well worthy of a couple of days, or longer.A few nights at Ha Long Bay as well ( more interesting than beach resorts around Danang).
I visited VN in Feb and didn’t like my time in Ha Noi. It’s colder and more dreary than the rest of the country. Therefore, I think a trip to Ha Long Bay would be wasted. Perhaps go to Nha Trang instead if you love seafood and beaches? It Is like a Vietnamese version of HNL except with more Chinese tourists.
I really enjoyed Da Nang, that city has the most honest and friendliest locals....
I visited VN in Feb and didn’t like my time in Ha Noi. It’s colder and more dreary than the rest of the country. Therefore, I think a trip to Ha Long Bay would be wasted. Perhaps go to Nha Trang instead if you love seafood and beaches? It Is like a Vietnamese version of HNL except with more Chinese tourists.
I really enjoyed Da Nang, that city has the most honest and friendliest locals. It also has really good seafood. I’m not a fan of Saigon aka HCMC.
You could try to add the central highlands like Kontum and Pleiku. It’s different compared to the tourist Ha Noi, Da Nang, and Saigon.
Looks a bit busy with a lot of time traveling. Siem Reap is a fantastic location and I would do it for 3 nights next time, with time spent exploring some of the further out temples. I also like how you are wrapping it up with a few days on the beach, as this should return you home nice and relaxed. Have fun and I'll be patiently waiting for another amazing trip report.
Was in Vietnam/Cambodia this past March. I did as a group tour but had just about the right balance of days. The Halong Bay cruise while really nice could really be skipped unless you really want to experience it. Hoi An is worth a few days if only to have clothes custom made quickly and inexpensive! A cooking class there if you have time. Camb9dia if you do that beyond the temples is the Cambodian...
Was in Vietnam/Cambodia this past March. I did as a group tour but had just about the right balance of days. The Halong Bay cruise while really nice could really be skipped unless you really want to experience it. Hoi An is worth a few days if only to have clothes custom made quickly and inexpensive! A cooking class there if you have time. Camb9dia if you do that beyond the temples is the Cambodian Circus- no animals but instead for street kids trained in acrobatics. Lots of awesome NGO run restraunts in Siem Reap.
Luang Prabang without a doubt is the best option on your list. 3 to 4 days
Siem Reap is worth it.
Penang, Malaysia worth it.
There are some phenomenal less touristed spots in South Thailand and North Thailand that might be worth visiting.
The weather in North Vietnam is February is different than the rest of SE Asia. Better times of year to go there.
-Ryan
I did this trip in November. I went from North to South in Vietnam and then to Cambodia. I flew into Hanoi through Seoul and out of Bangkok (no direct flights from Siem Reap). A few observations.
1. Hanoi is relatively far north and fairly cold. I was there in November and it was very rainy and cloudy. Similarly if you want the blue water in Hau Long Bay it won't be like that...
I did this trip in November. I went from North to South in Vietnam and then to Cambodia. I flew into Hanoi through Seoul and out of Bangkok (no direct flights from Siem Reap). A few observations.
1. Hanoi is relatively far north and fairly cold. I was there in November and it was very rainy and cloudy. Similarly if you want the blue water in Hau Long Bay it won't be like that in February. That said Hanoi was fine with a light jacket. I also went to Sapa for two days. It was freezing cold (0 c). Definitely would avoid.
2. The central part of the country (Danang, Hue and Hoi) was my favorite. I would have spent less time in the north and more time there.
3. HCM was neat but 2-3 days is fine.
4. There are cheap and easily accessible flights between all the major cities. People forget its around 1000 miles between HCM and Hanoi. Value your time and take a plane.
5. 3 days for Siem reap was good.
6. I would look at some of the tour companies. I got a great deal for guide and driver 4 star hotels. I
Don't go to Phnom Penh, it's just another city and not enjoyable in the least. It's like Jakarta with slightly less traffic so.......
Having just visited Vietnam Over spring break in March, I would stay in Vietnam the entire time. There’s just so much to see and do in the one country. I had my wife, three kids and a cousin...doing it with older parents will be different but youll be happy focusing on the single country. I made the decision to stay in country early on. I’d also recommend a North to South or South to North...
Having just visited Vietnam Over spring break in March, I would stay in Vietnam the entire time. There’s just so much to see and do in the one country. I had my wife, three kids and a cousin...doing it with older parents will be different but youll be happy focusing on the single country. I made the decision to stay in country early on. I’d also recommend a North to South or South to North itinerary.
I’m a very particular and detail oriented trip planner and felt like this was a big time investment with family and I wasn’t about to hear a bunch of complaining. So I enlisted a high end tour company to arrange pretty much everything we did except hotels and flights (I used points, naturally). While expensive, it was money well spent. We had very comfortable van transport, amazing guides in all locations and insight into so many aspects of Vietnamese culture only afforded to those with a knowledgeable, local guide.
I noticed others complaining about the beaches...we spent a week at Six Senses Ninh Van Bay. Gorgeous, secluded, amazing. You also have Amanoi. Both are central coast between NaTrang and DaNang so quite easy to get to and offer a nice rest as you journey up/down the country.
I took the train from Nha Trang to Ho Chi Minh. You/family need to be hardened travelers to enjoy the train journey even in sleeper berths especially if your first trip to Vietnam and time spent better being someplace. I recommend spending more time in fewer places. Luang Prabang, SGN, and Hanoi, a good base for Halong Bay, deserve more than one full day. Phnom Penh didn't seem very interesting but S-19 and the killing...
I took the train from Nha Trang to Ho Chi Minh. You/family need to be hardened travelers to enjoy the train journey even in sleeper berths especially if your first trip to Vietnam and time spent better being someplace. I recommend spending more time in fewer places. Luang Prabang, SGN, and Hanoi, a good base for Halong Bay, deserve more than one full day. Phnom Penh didn't seem very interesting but S-19 and the killing fields are a must even if very sobering. Private guides can be arranged in advance in many places. They are a better value than most group tours. You control the schedule, get better info, and avoid all the places that want to sell stuff that the group tours force you to go to.
One night in Hanoi. Why bother?
Ha Long Bay is unique on the planet and meriting an overnight visit.
You could easily spend a month just getting to know Vietnam! You will love it so much and fall in love with the people! I spent 6 days in Saigon alone! While there you have to go to the War Restoration Museum, Cu Chi tunnels and the Mekong River/Floating Markets. This means about 3 full days in Saigon. Don't underestimate Vietnam's size, it's HUGE and the trains do suck! Buses are better. Da lat and...
You could easily spend a month just getting to know Vietnam! You will love it so much and fall in love with the people! I spent 6 days in Saigon alone! While there you have to go to the War Restoration Museum, Cu Chi tunnels and the Mekong River/Floating Markets. This means about 3 full days in Saigon. Don't underestimate Vietnam's size, it's HUGE and the trains do suck! Buses are better. Da lat and Hue are good stops in the middle of Vietnam. Da nang is also a good stop for that new bridge with the giant golden hands! There are full day and even overnight cruises in Ha Long Bay! Also, in February, Hanoi might be kind of cold but Saigon was hot when I went during Tet. Things do shut down during Tet but the new year celebrations are pretty cool. Not a bad time of year to go!
Tiffany,
I hope I can provide some useful feedback, given all the great information you have shared on OMAAT. I have been to Siam Reap, Ho Chi Minh City, and DaNang/Hoi An. Cambodia and Vietnam were on different trips for me, Cambodia in late January/early February and Vietnam the next year in late February/early March. I spent two nights each in Siam Reap and HCMC, and that was enough time for me. If your/Heather's moms...
Tiffany,
I hope I can provide some useful feedback, given all the great information you have shared on OMAAT. I have been to Siam Reap, Ho Chi Minh City, and DaNang/Hoi An. Cambodia and Vietnam were on different trips for me, Cambodia in late January/early February and Vietnam the next year in late February/early March. I spent two nights each in Siam Reap and HCMC, and that was enough time for me. If your/Heather's moms are not experienced traveling in Asia, HCMC can be kind of intimidating (crossing streets, general chaos). It also is hot and humid even in dry season in February. I waited until March to visit DaNang hoping for better beach weather than February, but one of four days was a complete rainout, there was some other rain, and the ocean was not as calm and clear as I like. I also decided to skip Hanoi/Halong Bay because I thought it might be too cold, but people I met in DaNang said they had nice weather (pretty warm and sunny). I regret not visiting northern Vietnam and plan to go back sometime for it.
@David L
I would recommend 2 days each in Hanoi and Saigon before venturing off to other places in those regions. These two cities will be your base when traveling in the north or south before heading out to the natural wonders outside the city.
When traveling within each region, there's a good bus system that will connect you to other places. However, when traveling to another region, take the plane as it is cheap...
@David L
I would recommend 2 days each in Hanoi and Saigon before venturing off to other places in those regions. These two cities will be your base when traveling in the north or south before heading out to the natural wonders outside the city.
When traveling within each region, there's a good bus system that will connect you to other places. However, when traveling to another region, take the plane as it is cheap and much faster. The domestic low cost airlines are Vietjet and Jetstar. However, the national airline, Vietnam Airlines, has much better service and better planes but it can expensive.
If your mother is into archaeology then you should be considering the Plain of Jars in Laos. There simply isn't anything like it anywhere else in the world. There are multiple sites and I would definitely recommend that you include the main site for the scale - the area covered is surprising large - but also at least one of the smaller sites. I caught one at sunset and had it to myself - absolutely...
If your mother is into archaeology then you should be considering the Plain of Jars in Laos. There simply isn't anything like it anywhere else in the world. There are multiple sites and I would definitely recommend that you include the main site for the scale - the area covered is surprising large - but also at least one of the smaller sites. I caught one at sunset and had it to myself - absolutely magical.
There are three downsides though.
1. It's a bit hard to reach - the nearest airport is Phonsavan.
2. Hotel choices are limited. It's not dire but there aren't luxury choices
3. The main site has a reputation as being one of the most dangerous archaeological sites in the world. That's exaggerated, I think. The mines and bombs have been cleared from the main site - just don't stray.
The Plain of Jars is unforgettable. An adventure. But including it in an itinerary requires commitment.
In Ho Chi Minh there is a fantastic Renaissance. Great views, close to markets and great food. Cu Chi Tunnels private tour via boat is amazing as well.
What do you mean by " and maybe beyond "?
It sounds like you are already looking down on Vietnam and more for those countries you called beyond.
Calling countries just as "beyond" on the title shows how narrow minded and conservative you are and you think you are better than those. And you do sound dumb conservative Moran time to time.
People like you shouldn't travel. Stay in Midwest.
You must not be from westcoast.
I believe that QR flys the A330 to PNH. I wish they would send the 787 though, PNH needs more love from airlines.
It depends on the moms' energy and stamina to change locations every 2 days, specially after the long flight and time difference from the US to Asia. Personally, with parents, I would stick to two places max on a 2 week vacation to thoroughly enjoy each place, get comfortable, explore in depth, etc. I know its tempting to hop around and see everything you wanna see but when you're with older people who dont really...
It depends on the moms' energy and stamina to change locations every 2 days, specially after the long flight and time difference from the US to Asia. Personally, with parents, I would stick to two places max on a 2 week vacation to thoroughly enjoy each place, get comfortable, explore in depth, etc. I know its tempting to hop around and see everything you wanna see but when you're with older people who dont really visit that part of the world it might be a different experience. Less is more.
I loved Luang Prabang. Very much worth a visit, for as long as you can spare.
I did Vietnam last February and just something to be aware of - it can be rainy that time if year (and it was for me, like a million percent). So, if you have beach days planned, be prepared to move onto Plan B if needed.
Also stayed in a Fab overwater bungalow between Hue & Hoi An (in...
I loved Luang Prabang. Very much worth a visit, for as long as you can spare.
I did Vietnam last February and just something to be aware of - it can be rainy that time if year (and it was for me, like a million percent). So, if you have beach days planned, be prepared to move onto Plan B if needed.
Also stayed in a Fab overwater bungalow between Hue & Hoi An (in theory you could base there and day trip to either). Search my site for cupping therapy if you care (I don't want to spam your readers).
You'll have fun no matter what!
I took a riverboat trip from “Saigon” to Siem Reap in 2012, and it was one of my best trips ever. Highly recommended, and not very expensive. I posted a thread of pictures and comment here:
https://www.kboards.com/index.php?topic=127437.0
Except for the pic of Angkor Wat in the first post, all pictures are mine. I have no financial association with anything at the site.
The most popular temples at Angkor Wat were absolutely jammed with tourists...
I took a riverboat trip from “Saigon” to Siem Reap in 2012, and it was one of my best trips ever. Highly recommended, and not very expensive. I posted a thread of pictures and comment here:
https://www.kboards.com/index.php?topic=127437.0
Except for the pic of Angkor Wat in the first post, all pictures are mine. I have no financial association with anything at the site.
The most popular temples at Angkor Wat were absolutely jammed with tourists when I was there. You can get an hour or two of relative peace and quiet for an hour or two after opening in the morning while most tourists are eating breakfast. I was able to hire a car and driver by the day, and they took me to some off the beaten path temples that were amazing. There were signs up warning of mines, and we had to stay in cleared areas, but it was great. We almost had the places to ourselves, and the little kids and not learned to beg for candy or sell postcards! If your mom is really into such things, there are some places on the Mekong where you can see carved markings that were magical symbols (often carved underwater) intended to increase the river flow and the bounty of fish. I found them fascinating, but visibility may vary based on time of year and river level.
Forget about the beach in Vietnam, it is full with Chinese tourists.
Visit Myanmar (Bagan, Inle Lake)! You can review Emirates’ fifth freedom from Phenom Penh to Yangon.
Lived in hanoi for 3 years. Would suggest you allocate more time there. Sgn is a big typical asian city, Hn has charm.
Walk thru the old quarters, get a drink on the outside deck on sofitel tower ( not the metropole) at sundown. Get cha ca, from a local shop ( not cha ca la vong!).
Get up real early and go to the flower market in the lake district.
Do NOT...
Lived in hanoi for 3 years. Would suggest you allocate more time there. Sgn is a big typical asian city, Hn has charm.
Walk thru the old quarters, get a drink on the outside deck on sofitel tower ( not the metropole) at sundown. Get cha ca, from a local shop ( not cha ca la vong!).
Get up real early and go to the flower market in the lake district.
Do NOT try to drive yourself. There are fundamental differences in the rulea of the road, even tho it looks similar at first glance .
I found Da Nang kinda boring from a tourist perspective and in Feb the weather isn't that warm to get a great beach experience. Hoi An was better. I love the trains in Veitnam, if you are flying everywhere you should at least take one train journey.
My wife and I are in our early 60's, travel a lot and are doing a trip to Hanoi, Luang Prabang and Chiang Mai over New Year 2018/19. Fast paced 2 nights at a time trips are great for younger people but ....if the Mom's are close to our age a slightly slower paced trip may allow them to absorb the exoticism of this part of Asia a lot better. Don't forget the time diff....
My wife and I are in our early 60's, travel a lot and are doing a trip to Hanoi, Luang Prabang and Chiang Mai over New Year 2018/19. Fast paced 2 nights at a time trips are great for younger people but ....if the Mom's are close to our age a slightly slower paced trip may allow them to absorb the exoticism of this part of Asia a lot better. Don't forget the time diff. and jet lag which is harder to adjust for (a) older and (b) not frequent travelers. Personally speaking for a 1st time visit to the region I consider Hanoi (and yes, one should never visit Hanoi without a trip to Ha Long Bay tourists notwithstanding!) - Luang Prabang - Siem Reap (Angkor & surroundings) to be a phenomenal trip. Hoi An is terrific for the beach and the Nam Hai (now the Four Seasons) but...a beach is a beach is a beach.
In any case......wishing you all a wonderful trip and great "adventures" of consciousness!
I'm not sure about your concerns regarding weather. It's never "cold" in Vietnam.
There's a site I use a lot in trip planning; weatherbase.com
At the very top (not the lower "trick search"), enter any city, anywhere. Great data.
Enjoy your trip.
@ colleen -- Well, I read in a couple of places that the northern coastal areas were likely to be cool and foggy during that time? I will check out that site, thank you!
Sihanoukville and the nearby islands are worth a few days. I’d do that before Phnom Penh
@ Eric - Great post. Concise and to the point. 2 questions - how many days in Hanoi and in Saigon? And what would be your recommendation on travel between the regions?
@Tiffany: Me and my wife went and did a SGN-HAN-REP-PHN trip in January 2018. The weather was perfect (nice and warm) wherever we went. I wore just a T shirt even in the evening or at 5 am in Siam Reap when we were waiting for the sunrise.
HaLong bay your Mom would absolutely love! A most amazing scenery! We lucked out big time because 2 months before our departure a new company called...
@Tiffany: Me and my wife went and did a SGN-HAN-REP-PHN trip in January 2018. The weather was perfect (nice and warm) wherever we went. I wore just a T shirt even in the evening or at 5 am in Siam Reap when we were waiting for the sunrise.
HaLong bay your Mom would absolutely love! A most amazing scenery! We lucked out big time because 2 months before our departure a new company called ERA Crusies was launched with brand new cruise ships. Those cruise ships there are small, maybe two dozen rooms at the most. For us, we again were lucky because the company was new, there were only FIVE of us on the ship on that day! The crew were fantastic, so eager to provide fantastic service. I would highly recommend them (ERA Cruises). Have a great time there!
I also agree- Pnom Penh not worth it.
Siem Reap certainly is. Also, as someone mentioned, the boats don’t run between PP and SR during the dry season. And for older parents, the boat ride might be very uncomfortable and unbearably hot
Planning trips with family vs friends vs us results in signifantly different trips for me. This is because needs and wants are so varied. My parents are almost 80 so they can only handle so much travelling in a short amount of time - last family trip was 2 cities in 10 days vs 4 cities in 10 days with my friends!
That said, when I travel with family it is usually all about them...
Planning trips with family vs friends vs us results in signifantly different trips for me. This is because needs and wants are so varied. My parents are almost 80 so they can only handle so much travelling in a short amount of time - last family trip was 2 cities in 10 days vs 4 cities in 10 days with my friends!
That said, when I travel with family it is usually all about them as I get great pleasure knowing they enjoy themselves. My best family trip was when we took my 3 year old niece to Disney and I spent more time in lines (for her) and waiting for her with all her stuff (lol) to finish rides with her grandparents (ie I rarely took any rides myself,) and I never had a better time at Disney.
Plan what you think your mom would love but never ask for and I think it will be one if your best trips ever.
You should consider Bai Tu Long Bay instead of Halong Bay. It is part of the same area, but much less crowded. The contrast with Halong Bay was startling.
We took a private junk for a couple of days and really loved it. A magical experience. There are several sizes, so there might be one big enough for your whole group. We went with a company called Indochina Junk and were very impressed with...
You should consider Bai Tu Long Bay instead of Halong Bay. It is part of the same area, but much less crowded. The contrast with Halong Bay was startling.
We took a private junk for a couple of days and really loved it. A magical experience. There are several sizes, so there might be one big enough for your whole group. We went with a company called Indochina Junk and were very impressed with them. And the food our onboard chef made for us was very good!
Also, if you are looking for a beach vacation, Hoi An in February may not meet your needs. It tends to be on the cool side then. Sometimes quite rainy, too. Look into that before you decide.
Also in Vietnam, look into Ninh Binh. Gorgeous area, with the same dramatic soaring karst landscapes as The Halong Bay area, but it is located inland, closer to Hanoi. You can take little boats rowed by Vietnam women into idyllic areas, and the boats even go into caves. We stayed at Tam Coc Garden resort, and loved it.
Another vote for Luang Prabang. Make sure you make time to go to he waterfall.
I've been to Vietnam 8 times and even studied abroad there as an undergraduate student, so I feel like an expert on this topic. 15 days in enough if you want to experience the North, Central, and South.
North: Hanoi, Sapa, Halong
Central: Hue, Da Nang, Hoi An
South: Saigon, Nha Trang, Dalat, or Mekong Delta
There's so much more to visit within these regions, but these are the highlights.
Spending around...
I've been to Vietnam 8 times and even studied abroad there as an undergraduate student, so I feel like an expert on this topic. 15 days in enough if you want to experience the North, Central, and South.
North: Hanoi, Sapa, Halong
Central: Hue, Da Nang, Hoi An
South: Saigon, Nha Trang, Dalat, or Mekong Delta
There's so much more to visit within these regions, but these are the highlights.
Spending around 5 days good enough for each region. If you have the absolute urge to visit another country, you can visit Cambodia from Saigon via bus (Tourist bus). I have not been to Laos to comment, but I've found buses that go there from Hanoi.
Go to Amanpulo Resort in the Philippines. It is a Anan hotel.
From Wikipedia this is how you get the resort:
Access to the resort from Manila is through Ninoy Aquino International Airport. The resort is serviced by Island Aviation of the Soriano group. Private charter airlines also may provide flight to the island through its private airstrip.
Hi Tiffany,
I am Vietnamese, my hometown is in Saigon, I live in California but go back to VN once a year. I also have some suggestions similar to other readers:
1) Recommend to visit Ha Long Bay since you are already in Hanoi ( 4 hr bus ride from Hanoi city)
2) 1 night in HCM city and 2 night in Hanoi sound better becuase Ha Long Bay already take 1...
Hi Tiffany,
I am Vietnamese, my hometown is in Saigon, I live in California but go back to VN once a year. I also have some suggestions similar to other readers:
1) Recommend to visit Ha Long Bay since you are already in Hanoi ( 4 hr bus ride from Hanoi city)
2) 1 night in HCM city and 2 night in Hanoi sound better becuase Ha Long Bay already take 1 full day and there is not much to do in HCM city
3) Book hotel near Ben Thanh Market in HCM City, so you can just walk to their poppular night market and visit to Bui Vien street at night to see night life actions lol
4) Skip the train from Hanoi to Danang, flying will save you time and energy to explore Danang.
5) Visit Bana Hill if time permit in Danang
6) Normally I recommend street foods but it is a hit or miss, even I got stomach ache sometimes lol, so best to avoid it.
7 ) Some recommend restaurants:
- Ngon Restaurant on 18 Phan Boi Chau Street, Hanoi
- Bun Cha Huong Lien on Le Van Huu Street , Hanoi (food is quite good, this is where Obama an Anthony Boudain ate together)
- Fresh seafood in Danang of course :)
Thanks to this site for tips and tricks, I managed several First class flight on Singapore Airlines and Japan Airlines from US to VN , here is a short clip of my SQ F flight: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N9v5X5Eg0ZE&t=53s
This is the kind of trip I would take, but would never recommend to others :)
Having been to all of the proposed cities/areas except Phnom Penh, I would suggest leaving off Luang Prabang and Hanoi (even though I love those cities) and adding those days in elsewhere and have a much more leisurely trip. I would highly recommend the InterContinental Da Nang Sun Peninsula Resort (https://www.ihg.com/intercontinental/hotels/us/en/danang-city/dadha/hoteldetail?cm_mmc=GoogleMaps-_-IC-_-VN-_-DADHA), especially if you have some IHG points...
This is the kind of trip I would take, but would never recommend to others :)
Having been to all of the proposed cities/areas except Phnom Penh, I would suggest leaving off Luang Prabang and Hanoi (even though I love those cities) and adding those days in elsewhere and have a much more leisurely trip. I would highly recommend the InterContinental Da Nang Sun Peninsula Resort (https://www.ihg.com/intercontinental/hotels/us/en/danang-city/dadha/hoteldetail?cm_mmc=GoogleMaps-_-IC-_-VN-_-DADHA), especially if you have some IHG points to burn, as long as you don't mind being well outside of the city center, since you mentioned beaches and Hoi An. It has an incredibly beautiful and secluded beach of its own and they run a free shuttle to Hoi An twice a day, so you can easily day trip it. They also run free shuttles into Da Nang multiple times per day, and they can arrange a car to take you to Hue for the day, though the drive is fairly long and will cost you (I paid by the hour, 8 hours total, which was enough to see the Citadel, but not much else in town, with a lunch of Bun Bo Hue before and a couple of beers afterward to beat the heat). Your mom will love Angkor Wat and the other nearby temples, as well as the Citadel.
I'd highly recommend the Park Hyatts in Siem Reap (https://www.hyatt.com/en-US/hotel/cambodia/park-hyatt-siem-reap/repph?src=agn_pfx_prop_sem_repph_other_PFX_SEARCH_GOOGLE_ASPAC_REPPH_AO_BR_GENERIC_WW_EN_AO_BR_BMM_Extended_WW_EN_park+hyatt+cambodia) and HCMC/Saigon (https://www.hyatt.com/en-US/hotel/vietnam/park-hyatt-saigon/saiph?src=agn_pfx_prop_sem_saiph_other_PFX_SEARCH_GOOGLE_ASPAC_SAIPH_AO_BR_ROOMS_US_EN_AO_BR_Exact_City_US_EN_hyatt+saigon), especially if you have Hyatt free nights/points/suite upgrades to burn. Both of them are exceptionally beautiful properties, well located and not too pricey in terms of cash or points considering the amenities.
If you do go to Luang Prabang, I give high marks to the Three Nagas (https://www.accorhotels.com/gb/hotel-9641-3-nagas-luang-prabang-mgallery-by-sofitel/index.shtml). It's a lovely, traditional hotel right in the center of town and it's reasonably priced.
Safe travels!
I agree forget Phnom Penh. 3 Days Siem Reap is absolute minimum in my opinion. We went there on a trip to Thailand and Cambodia and it was the highlight of that trip.
We hired a driver and if you email me, I will find his info for you. His name was Jimmy Cheam. He had a Toyota Van, speaks English well and was ridiculously cheap. All of his suggestions were very good. Also...
I agree forget Phnom Penh. 3 Days Siem Reap is absolute minimum in my opinion. We went there on a trip to Thailand and Cambodia and it was the highlight of that trip.
We hired a driver and if you email me, I will find his info for you. His name was Jimmy Cheam. He had a Toyota Van, speaks English well and was ridiculously cheap. All of his suggestions were very good. Also in Siem Reap A trip to the floating villages should be included.
In Vietnam, We went to Bai Tu Long Bay (Somewhat less touristy and crowded) on an overnight boat - The Dragon Legend. We had a wonderful time but unless you are going in a warmer time of year - it is quite cold and damp and dreary. The ship we were on was very comfortable and the food was great.
We also spent 3 nights in Hanoi and felt it was barely enough. I found it fascinating.
Hope this helps.
Joe
(BTW, I met you at FTU NYC this year.)
Just went to Luang Prabang. It’s a beautiful city. Waterfalls nearby are breathtaking. Amantaka was an awesome property, too! Siem Reap is not a nice city, but Angkor Wat is obviously one of the world’s best sites. Angkor Thom is definitely excellent, too!
Please check the availability of boat trip between Pp and Siam Reap as there is a dry Season. As someone mentioned Pp nothing special but u cam see most luxurious cars per sq mile outside Dubai
Luang Prabang is an amazing experience. It somehow manages to feel like an island oasis inside a landlocked country. The pace feels slow and relaxing, but it's full of delicious food and drink and amazing temples to visit. Laos was the highlight of my trip to Vietnam.
Do Vietnam then either Laos or Cambodia, not both, to give yourselves more time. Driving takes a lot longer than we anticipate there, although I second what another reader said and suggest hiring a driver. Getting out of the central areas is a great way to really get to know a place, and only one day at each place is pretty quick. A half day trip to My Son from Hoi An will make your mom happy!
We just got back from a SE Asia trip yesterday, and stayed 5 days in Luang Prabang - it was magical - we rented scooter there which gave us so much freedom to get around and explore off the beaten path. It’s definitely in the top 5 most beautiful and amazing places i’ve been to. We also spent 1 night in Hanoi before catching our flight home, it was an amazing and probably good for 2-3 nights. Due to a massive thunderstorm we really couldn’t go out much.
I haven't spent a ton of time in that part of Southeast Asia, but my husband and I loved our quick 36 hours in Siem Reap and the Angkor complex (and unlike your mom, we're not exactly museum types). Beng Mealea, about an hour outside of the city, was a big highlight, and definitely worth the detour.
Le Meridien Angkor was a great use of then-SPG points and would definitely scratch the internet itch....
I haven't spent a ton of time in that part of Southeast Asia, but my husband and I loved our quick 36 hours in Siem Reap and the Angkor complex (and unlike your mom, we're not exactly museum types). Beng Mealea, about an hour outside of the city, was a big highlight, and definitely worth the detour.
Le Meridien Angkor was a great use of then-SPG points and would definitely scratch the internet itch. They took care of all of our temple tours (again, not always our style but it sure was efficient) and our driver was more than amenable to our last-minute "take us to your favorite temple" request.
Have fun!!
Very excited for you. I have been to Siem Reap and would say since your mom loves archaeology, it’s a must stop. Can’t advise much about Luang Prabang or other Vietnamese cities since I never been there before but will be going a month after you. My understanding is car ride from Hanoi to Ha-Long bay is 4.5 hours each way. However, one can take a helicopter which shrinks the time to about an hour...
Very excited for you. I have been to Siem Reap and would say since your mom loves archaeology, it’s a must stop. Can’t advise much about Luang Prabang or other Vietnamese cities since I never been there before but will be going a month after you. My understanding is car ride from Hanoi to Ha-Long bay is 4.5 hours each way. However, one can take a helicopter which shrinks the time to about an hour each way....makes day trip possible. That’s how we plan to do it. Enjoy tour trip! I’m taking Korean Air in F to Asia thanks to articles on this website. Can’t wait!
Do less Phnom Penh, or skip it altogether. Add a day to Siem Reap. Definitely, definitely Louang Prabang.
I grew up in this region, and still make the trip back twice a year. As a lightning-paced traveler myself, I think this more or less is fine, minus the trains (unreliable, slow, and just terrible quality overall). 2 nights in HCMC is fine. Cu Chi will require at least a half-day, but well worth it. Avoid the bus to PP at all costs. The fifth freedom QR route is perfect in this regard. 2...
I grew up in this region, and still make the trip back twice a year. As a lightning-paced traveler myself, I think this more or less is fine, minus the trains (unreliable, slow, and just terrible quality overall). 2 nights in HCMC is fine. Cu Chi will require at least a half-day, but well worth it. Avoid the bus to PP at all costs. The fifth freedom QR route is perfect in this regard. 2 nights each in PP and REP are fine, as is 2 nights in LPQ (especially if you stay at Amantaka). Hanoi is worth more than one night -- spend two nights here, really soak in the French Quarter (plus lots of new hotels have opened here, though I personally still prefer the Metropole). Avoid the train to Hue -- domestic flights are cheap, frequent, and reliable. VN J domestic fares are very reasonable as well. Hue does not come close to the grandeur of Angkor Wat in any way, so I personally would either add an extra day for Danang and Hoi An (day trip) or continue down to Nha Trang for more beach time that's a little less crowded than Danang (would recommend the Six Senses property here).
I don't know how you go to Hanoi and not make a side trip to the Ha Long Bay caves. They are amazing.
The multiple entry visa is no big deal, it just costs a little more. I used a Vietnam company, then had the visa applied in my passport upon arrival. There was one person in front of us, and took about 20 minutes extra (including waiting) at the airport.
I had more...
I don't know how you go to Hanoi and not make a side trip to the Ha Long Bay caves. They are amazing.
The multiple entry visa is no big deal, it just costs a little more. I used a Vietnam company, then had the visa applied in my passport upon arrival. There was one person in front of us, and took about 20 minutes extra (including waiting) at the airport.
I had more time, but went Hanoi - Siem Reap - Phnom Penh - Ho Chi Minh - Hue - Vientiane
February also starts getting very hot.
I personally would recommend AGAINST train between Hanoi, Hue, and Da Nang, for 3 reasons:
1. Trains in VN suck. They are old, mostly filthy, and their networks are pretty bad.
2. Hai Van Pass, man! You won't have that much fun on train over this awesome mountain pass.
3. Food :-). The greatest joy of traveling down Vietnam coastline is her bountiful seafood offering.
So, I would recommend hiring a car...
I personally would recommend AGAINST train between Hanoi, Hue, and Da Nang, for 3 reasons:
1. Trains in VN suck. They are old, mostly filthy, and their networks are pretty bad.
2. Hai Van Pass, man! You won't have that much fun on train over this awesome mountain pass.
3. Food :-). The greatest joy of traveling down Vietnam coastline is her bountiful seafood offering.
So, I would recommend hiring a car (and a driver; can't drive in VN, won't attempt to), drive from Hanoi to Ha Long Bay, spend a day there (it's breathtaking, I will assure you), then drive down to Hue, let your mom go crazy for a while (there are a *lot* of architecture there to go crazy over; I need to go back there...), drive down to Hoi An, eat some cao-lau, drive up to Da Nang, fly out.
On a separate note: staying 2 nights in Ho Chi Minh City and 1 day in Hanoi sound, well, wrong. Don't get me wrong, Ho Chi Minh City is awesome (hometown). However, sight-seeing wise, Hanoi is much better. So much more historical fun stuffs to see. You can do day trip around the Red River delta (and, Ha Long Bay).
Another idea: fly to Hanoi and drive down to Ho Chi Minh City, visiting Ha Long Bay, Phong Nha national park, Hue, Da Nang, Hoi An, Nha Trang, Phan Rang (or Phan Thiet). You have the capital and her goodies (Hanoi), the ex-capital and HER goodies (Hue, Hoi An), natural beauties (Phong Nha, Nha Trang, Phan Rang), some older Champa buildings (near Phan Thiet). Plus, have I mentioned seafood? SEAFOOD!!!!
My husband and I did Laos and Vientam in April. Luang Prabang is definitely a must. Halong Bay was a bug disappointment with tons of tourists everywhere. Danang is ok for two nights and as a base for Hoi An. We took a train from Hue to Danang and it was spectacular. You can check out my blog.
@ Aleš -- Thank you! I am worried about the tourist factor of Ha Long Bay as well.
Overall, though, your timeline is appropriate, giving the right amount of time in each city. Fly from Hanoi to Danang. I did that and it's easy. The beaches around there and Hoi An are fantastic. I did not make it to Hue, but I'd recommend it.
Also, i REALLY liked Phnom Penh and am bummed I didnt get to spend more than a day there. The sights - the killing museums and the museum...
Overall, though, your timeline is appropriate, giving the right amount of time in each city. Fly from Hanoi to Danang. I did that and it's easy. The beaches around there and Hoi An are fantastic. I did not make it to Hue, but I'd recommend it.
Also, i REALLY liked Phnom Penh and am bummed I didnt get to spend more than a day there. The sights - the killing museums and the museum regarding the Khmer Rouge - are harrowing and sobering, but they really do provide the context for why the country is the way it is today. And the city is cool other than that, with great food and great scenery on the river banks. I think overall for 15 days your itinerary works. And I had no troubles with speedy internet when I was in any of these places - and that was 8 years ago. enjoy!
Four Seasons Hoi An would be an amazing way to end your trip!
@ BA -- It looks gorgeous, and I would love to stay there, but for the nights we'd be there rates are $675/night (plus 10% tax and 5% service charge), and we'd need two rooms, so that's unfortunately far out of the budget.
Luang Prabang is magical. and still somewhat undiscovered. seeing the monks early in the morning making their way to their temple is truly a special sight. I highly recommend going there and just totally chilling for a few days. It's especially great after the frenetic pace of some of the larger cities in Vietnam. I loved it.