Vietnam forum

Hue / Hoi An or Mekong - Siem Reap overland?

sunday_stro-
ll

newbie
Posts: 2

Hi Everybody
I have almost three weeks in Vietnam which includes a few days at the end in Siem Reap to see Angkor Wat.
Not nearly enough time but it is all I can manage unfortunately.
I plan on seeing Hanoi, Halong Bay, maybe Sapa, Ho Chi Minh and the Mekong Delta.

My question is:
Do I include Hue / Hoi An in my trip or do I use that time and go overland from the Mekong to Siem Reap via Phnom Penh (via a local tour)?
Am having trouble deciding how to best spend my time.

Any advice would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks

#1 Posted: 19/12/2011 - 05:39
chinarocks

tuk tuk driver
Posts: 191

I think it would make sense to skip Hue and Hoi An , albeit Hoi An is a fantastic spot.

You would need roughly 10 days to do the North properly. Then another few for HCMC and the Mekong Delta. Assuming you have 19/20 days in total then I think Hoi An and Hue are a step too far.

It is quite easy to go from HCMC to PP through the Mekong Delta. From my experience, and if you have the time, you should try and do this on your own, and not as part of an organised tour. Better experience, meet more locals etc. However, if your aim is to get from HCMC to Siem Reap as fast as possible then maybe a tour will be better.

I would also look into flying from HCMC to Siem Reap, this could save you alot of time. Potentially quite expensive but save you a day or two possibly.

You may have already booked it but it would appear to me to be easier if you left out the Angkor element (and did Hoi An and Hue instead) and that way you will have seen a lot of Vietnam and can come back some other time for Cambodia. Just a thought.

Best of luck.

#2 Posted: 19/12/2011 - 06:15
vietnamvisi-
t1

backpacker
Posts: 12
Located in:
Private message

Posted from within Vietnam.

If you travel to Siem Reap , you should skip Hue and Hoi An . Visit Mekong delta and then take speed boat from Chau Doc to Phnom Penh and then take flight or car to Siem Reap is better.

But you have 3 weeks in Vietnam and Siem Reap, I think you can visit all. This is my brief:
Day 1 - 2: Ha Noi
Day 3-4: Ha Noi - Ha Long - train Sapa
Day 5-6: Sapa visit - train back Ha Noi
Day 7: Ha noi - flight to Hue
Day 8: Hue city
Day 9: Hue - Hoi An
Day 10: Hoi An visit
Day 11: Hoi An - Da Nang - flight to Nha Trang
Day 12: Nha Trang
Day 13: Nha Trang - flight Sai Gon
Day 14: Sai Gon & Cu Chi
Day 15: Sai Gon - Mekong
Day 16: Mekong - Chau Doc
Day 17: Chau Doc - speed boat to Phnom Penh
Day 18: Phnom Penh - flight Siem Reap
Day 19: Siem Reap
Day 20: Siem Reap
Day 21: Siem Reap - back home

Or after visit Mekong delta 2 days you back Sai Gon and then take flight from Sai Gon to Siem Reap and 4 days in Siem Reap.

Any more help or wish to make change, you can email to me: cuontheochieugio181@yahoo.com

#3 Posted: 19/12/2011 - 20:23