Southeast Asia forum

3 week itinerary to Thailand, Cambodia, Vietnam

jessel

newbie
Posts: 2

Hey guys, just wanted to run my proposed itinerary by you, as its doing my head in, and would be nice to have another perspective. If you could let me know if I am doing too much, if its overly ambitious or recommendations. I know 3 weeks is way too short to try and do what I'm proposing, but thats all the time I can commit!
Day 1 (Sun 19th June) – Arrive in Bangkok (8am) – Spend day in Bangkok – markets/temples
Day 2 (Mon 20th June) – Leave to Koh Chang - (6 hr trip) à arrive mid afternoon
Day 3 (Tue 21st June) – Spend day in Koh Chang
Day 4 (Wed 22nd June) – Leave Koh Chang for Siem Riep (Cambodia) – Whole day
Day 5 (Thu 23rd June) – Spend day in Siem Riep/Angkor Wat
Day 6 (Fri 24th June) – Leave Siem Riep (am) à Phnom Penh – 6 hours. Evening in PP
Day 7 (Sat 25th June) – Spend day in Phnom Penh
Day 8 (Sun 26th June) – Leave Phnom Penh (am) à HCMC (Saigon) – 6 hours. Evening in HCMC
Day 9 (Mon 27th June) – HCMC
Day 10 (Tue 28th June) – HCMC Mekong Delta Tour.
Evening – Night Sleeper to Nha Trang SE4 (23.00 depart – 05.33 arrival) (£13)
Day 11 (Wed 29th June) – Arrive in Nha Trang (05.33) – BEACH
Day 12 (Thu 30th June) – Spend day in Nha Trang
Evening – Night sleeper to Hoi An SE6 (23.49 depart – 10.18 arrival) (£15)
Day 13 (Fri 1st July) – Arrive in Hoi An (10.18)
Evening – Night Sleeper to Hanoi (£24)
Day 14 (Sat 2nd July) – Arrive in Hanoi (am) – Spend day in Hanoi
Day 15 (Sun 3rd July) – Ha Long Bay Boat Cruise – Saigon Cafe Tours/Heritage Tours
Day 16 (Mon 4th July) – Ha long Bay
Day 17 (Tue 5th July) – Hanoi
Day 18 (Wed 6th July) – Morning flight from Hanoi to Bangkok. Spend day in Bangkok
Day 19 (Thu 7th July) – Spend day in Bangkok
Day 20 (Fri 8th July) – Bangkok, Fly out in evening àBKK-LHR

Will probably spend another day in Koh Chang, given how long it takes to get to Siem Reap

#1 Posted: 28/5/2011 - 19:29
busylizzy

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Jessel - it won't be the first time I've said it, and it probably won't be the last. You're trying to do way too much. Have you actually counted up how many days you will be spending travelling? Even when travelling overnight, you will not be getting a great sleep and will find that you are too tired to enjoy your daytime sight-seeing.

Honestly - one day (or less?!) spent in places like each in Siem Reap and Hoi An is just a waste of time. Yes, I appreciate that you 'only have 3 weeks' but aim for quality rather than quantity. Otherwise a year from now you will look back on your trip and it's going to be a big blur (mostly memories of the view from bus windows as the country whizzes by).

Some suggestions - pick and choose from the following:
- Skip Koh Chang - you'll have beach time in Nha Trang.

- OR.. skip Nha Trang. It's not all that special anyhow. Instead, save your self some time, and fly from HCMC to Danang (20 mins from Hoi An), and add the extra days there. There is also a good beach near Hoi An if you want some beach time.

- Spend more time in Siem Reap. One day there is not worth bothering with, IMHO.

- OR.. skip Cambodia altogether. You are hardly there long enough to appreciate the country and culture anyhow. Go straight from Bkk - HCMC and spend some more quality time in Vietnam.

Good luck!

#2 Posted: 29/5/2011 - 05:26

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As you grow older, you'll find the only things you regret are the things you didn't do.
Rasheeed

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Cut a country.

#3 Posted: 29/5/2011 - 09:20

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Banlung, Footy, and everything else that makes me more authentic than you
busylizzy

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Rasheed says it so much more concisely than me!

#4 Posted: 29/5/2011 - 10:14

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As you grow older, you'll find the only things you regret are the things you didn't do.
jessel

newbie
Posts: 2

Haha Cheers guys

In all honesty, I thought it was going to have to go that way, and Cambodia was looking like the country to miss, but given its location between the two, I thought it made more sense to incorporate it into the trip.

I have edited the original, so am going to focus more on Thailand and Vietnam and will miss out Cambodia.

Cheers for the input and time taken to read the itinerary!

#5 Posted: 30/5/2011 - 05:10
caseyprich

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For a one day tour of the Mekong Delta you won't see much - but if you give yourself two nights minimum in Can Tho (One day to get there and the next to do the floating market and a canal trip) the canal trip in the morning ends very early and you'll have all the rest of the day and evening to explore a very interesting little town without being too rushed.

#6 Posted: 30/5/2011 - 07:36