Cambodia forum

Hi,

It is very tight and you'd better start booking those flights (and rooms) for that period

Trains are out of the question since you can only go Hanoi to HCMC by train but it would take too much time.
Bus from HCMC to PP is an option. Also bus PP to SR is an option

Perhaps a day less in PP or leave it out altogether (it's the least interesting city of the three). SR, Hanoi and HCMC deserve a little more time.

My recommendation would be:
3 night in Hanoi for colonial charm and so on
fly Hanoi -HCMC
3 nights HCMC to get the energy buzz that symbolizes Vietnam
6 am bus HCMC -PP
1 night PP. If you take a very early morning bus you have the afternoon to visit royal palace and nat. museum. Next morning visit Khmer Rouge sights and travel to SR in the afternoon.
fly/bus/boat/taxi PP -SR depending on budget/time/interest
3 nights SR to see the temples and perhaps unwind by the pool

tight but possible

Completely agree with leaving a place out (and I would choose PP) but I looked at it again and think it can work since travel times are actually not that long in the last part of the trip.

if you break it down it can be done:
1. arrival in Hanoi
2. full day Hanoi
3. full day Hanoi
4. transfer to HCMC which will take up most of the day
5. full day HCMC
6. full day HCMC (optional day tour to cu chi tunnels or mekong delta)
7. transfer (flight or bus) to PP in morning, full afternoon in PP
8. morning PP, transfer to SR (flight or taxi) and visit temple in afternoon/evening
9. full day SR
10. fly out

Hanoi doesn't have that many real "must see" sights, that you need two days to visit, nor any feasible day-trip options (Ha Long bay is very tiring in a day) but the Old quarter is charming to wander around. Depending on interest you could do a day less in Hanoi and 1 more in SR to visit temples or lie by a pool.

That sounds like a better plan and it will be an all flights affair.
You'll have most likely a flight HCMC to SR (don't know of any flights from Hanoi to SR).

Those flights usually make a stop in PP on way up or down
HCMC- PP- SR- HCMC or HCMC-SR-PP-HCMC
Return ticket would be best since neither SR nor PP serve intercontinental flights (if that applies to you). You do have interternational flight to Vietnam entering Hanoi and leaving HCMC.

As for the itinerary I would then add a night to Hanoi area and spend a night in Halong so you won't feel so rushed.

1. arrival Hanoi
2. full day Hanoi
3. few hours Hanoi, afternoon transfer to Halong, spend night on boat/Cat Ba/Halong city
4. boat trip, transfer back to Hanoi
5. transfer to HCMC
6. HCMC
7. HCMC
8. transfer to SR, visit 1 temple late afternoon
9. full day SR

That's the best I can do for you

One country...

Personally, I much prefer Hanoi to HCMC, and think you will get more of a Vietnam 'flavour' by staying there. It depends what you're interested in, but if it's food, buildings, everyday life, history etc, I'd go for thousand year old Hanoi every time.

Halong Bay is beautiful, and well worth the effort. Spending a night on a boat is a great idea, and you won't feel like you just spent all your time sitting on a minibus! If you're booking a tour to do this (the easiest way) then make sure you are clear about the timetable and allow an hour or two extra, just in case.


For Siem Reap, I'd try to make sure you have a day and a half at the temples - one day doesn't really do them justice, unless you just want a quick impression. There are so many temples, and the complex is large - it's not like the Taj Mahal or Forbidden City, where there's one big attraction in one place.