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Vietnam, Laos, Cambodia and a bit of Thailand in 5 weeks

sven365

newbie
Posts: 1

Hi All

I am after a bit of help.

We have 6 weeks, and the last week of this we plan to spend diving in Ko tao and chilling on the beach in a resort.

So basically, we have 5 weeks..

We have specific flights, so we need to fly into either Hanoi, or Ho chi minh and depart from Bangkok.

Bearing this in mind, what would people recommend is the best way to get a trip in the time we have. what route would you take?

One option is to fly into Hanoi, then go anti clockwise down to Bangkok, as we want to go to Chang Mai and then fly into cambodia, missing out southern vietnam all together.

Or to fly into Ho Chi Minh, and go the other way, missing out northern vietnam.

Any advice by people that have done this trip is welcomed as we are stuck!

I know people will say, its for you to decide, but with the time we have, we realise we wont be able to do everything, so are thinking that maybe missing southern vietnam and going another time, when we have the time to do it may be better.

Thanks.

#1 Posted: 16/6/2010 - 22:20
Nokka

tuk tuk driver
Posts: 240
Located in:
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People seem to fall into 2 camps when it comes to Vietnam. Those who prefer the north and those who prefer the south. Obviously, until you've been to them both you cannot know which camp you fall into.

I much preferred the north. Hanoi, for me, was much more interesting and beautiful than Saigon. There is Halong Bay, which is awesome; Sapa for some trekking; plus try to get as far south as Hoi An and Hue. For me that part of the country was far more beautiful and exotic than the south. The south is more about seeing how the country is expanding commercially.

From North Vietnam, travel over to Northern Laos, which was another great highlight for me. Its possible to get to Northern Thailand from there reasonably easily, though I was personally disappointed by Chiang Mai. Then down to Bangkok.

Or from Laos you could travel down to Cambodia before moving on to Ko Tao.

If you go 2 weeks for N Vietnam, 2 weeks for Laos, 1 week Cambodia - its just about doable. Any more than that & I would say you were rushing it.

#2 Posted: 17/6/2010 - 18:34