Southeast Asia forum

First answer: no
Second answer: why?

Unless being on transit is your idea of a vacation, I'd say no.

30 days for four countries -- I wouldn't do it, but if someone wanted to, assuming they're looking to do the highlights and were happy to pony up with the flights, here is my four country in 30 days Travelfish extravaganza!

For the sake of simplicity I'm assuming a Bangkok arrival and departure point

Day: 1 Arrive Bangkok
Day: 2 Bangkok
Day: 3 Morning flight to Trang, pick an island and doss.
Day: 4 Doss
Day: 5 Doss
Day: 6 Doss
Day: 7 Drag yourself out of hammock, return to Trang for flight back to Bangkok & night trian to Chiang Mai
Day: 8 Chiang Mai
Day: 9 Chiang Mai then flight to Luang Prabang
Day: 10 Luang Prabang
Day: 11 Luang Prabang
Day: 12 Luang Prabang then flight to Hanoi
Day: 13 Hanoi
Day: 14 Hanoi
Day: 15 Ha Long Bay
Day: 16 Ha Long Bay
Day: 17 Hanoi then night train to Sapa
Day: 18 Sapa
Day: 19 Sapa
Day: 20 Sapa then night train back to Hanoi
Day: 21 Flight to Da Nang , transit to Hoi An
Day: 22 Hoi An
Day: 23 Hoi An
Day: 24 back to Da Nang and flight to Saigon
Day: 25 Saigon
Day: 26 bus to Phnom Penh
Day: 27 Phnom Penh
Day: 28 bus to Siem Reap
Day: 29 Siem Reap
Day: 30 Siem Reap with an afternoon flight back to Bangkok and exit

The above strieks me as pretty nuts, but people do it, and I've seen people do much crazier trips -- I met a Japanese guy in Kathmandu once who was on a four day holiday -- to Thailand, India and Nepal ... he said next time he's only do two countries! So you could be trying to do more LOL

So the above starts with a "relaxing" island period, but as it progresses you get less and less time in each place and you spend more and more time travelling and less time laying around smelling the flowers.

If you are serious about doing something like this, you should look into Bangkok Airway's Discovery Airpass (story here)

At the end of the day, I'd say you're better off seeing less and slowing down, but if you want to take in the highlights on a whistle-stop tour, it is certainly possible.

Good luck!

it should be doable if you concentrate on just one area in each country.

start of with a few days in bangkok
fly to hanoi and stay in the area (including halong bay) for ~1 week
fly to luang prabang and make your way by bus to vientiane (also ~1 week)
fly to siem reap, explore angkor, then bus to phnom penh (again ~1 week)
fly back to bangkok

thanks everyone, I will let you know the route i pick. I am going to narrow down the countries and go for some thing with that is not too relaxing but not to stressful and bus filled. I'll stick with two countries, if i have to. I am spending the month before in India and being from the USA i don't get many opportunities to travel for this long so i want to see and experience a lot.

John (MAC)

Now that starrchild tells us he's a yank and he'll have spent a month in India prior to SE Asia, I get the feeling that all the preparatory planning undertaken prior to leaving will be left in India.

Given this, it may well turn out to be After India, I need a relaxing holiday, where's the nearest chill-out zone.

Cheers

starrchild

I get your message.

When you say 'intense vacations' are you referring to much speed across the landscape, or focussing on places to get an intensity of experience?

Cheers

starrchild, I'll comment along the proposal...

Bangkok Nov 15 -17
Ayutthaya Nov 17-19
Phitsanulok Nov 19-21
Sukhothai Nov 21-23

I don't know your intentions to this point, but you may like to consider reducing time here to save for 'elsewhere'. For me, I'd just head for Phitsa and spend a day or two at Sukhothai. That being because Ayutthaya and Sukhothai have many similarities and i like the vibe of Sukhothai much better. But, as others have pointed out, if you can get yourself to Ayatthuya, you can spend time there and catch the overnight train to Phita.. (to arrive in the wee hours).

Chiang Mai Nov 23-25
Chiang Khong : Nov 25-27 Get visa

To those that live in Chiang Khong it's a nice town. To westerners, its neither here nor there. There is a 5 hour mini-bus from Chiang Mai to Chiang Khong that gets you there about 3pm. It takes from a few minutes to an hour to do the journey from the mini-bus to Huay Xai (across the Mekong), get your visa and go have a drink! and be ready for the next part of your journey. So, I doubt you'd need 2 days here.


Huay Xai (laos) Nov 27 leave Thailand early to catch slow boat
Pakbeng: Night of 27th leave morning of 28th
Luang Prabang 28 - Dec3:

Merely out of curiosity, you're spending 6 days at LP, yet only 1 at Chiang Mai. Any reason?

Hanoi: Dec 3-6
Sapa: Dec 6: Train to Sapa
Sapa: Dec 7-8

I'm assuming you are flying LP - HaNoi. Why leave for Lao Cai [for SaPa] on a Sunday? Did you read about BacHa??? Maybe read this post for better options.

Hanoi: Dec 9 train back from Sapa
Ha Long Bay: Dec 10-13

HaLong Bay is a great experience. But, absolutely wonderful when in fine weather. December may be wet (keep an eye on it with this site ). If so, you might pre-pay your money and find you're left at the wharf twiddling your toes. So, keep an eye on the weather, and don't book till you know it'll be OK. Also, if you have the inclination look at Columbus for your 'tour' - read here and for the website .

Hanoi Dec 14: flight back to Bangkok

Cheers

i was living in kampala uganda

Hi Bruce Thanks so much
As for the the six days in LP, i was thinking that I could add two or three of those to another stop, but not sure where yet.

matheusvdd

May I suggest that your post really needs to be a fresh one. This is because everyone will be able to see and you may get better answers.

In the first instance, go here:

http://www.travelfish.org/board/topic/indochina

Then, scroll down to the bottom and make a (new) post.

ps. maybe you can cut'n'paste from above to the new post.

Cheers