Vietnam forum

If you could possibly change your flight plans a little (using open jaw - into Cambodia and out of Vietnam) Cambodia would make more sense and save quite a bit too. Your plans to go directly to Sapa from the airport will not work too well - I would stay in Hanoi for a day or two first. I also think 6 nights in the Delta is about 2 days too long. I would skip Hue too - I think you'll get quite a bit of history in Siem Reap!

Remember that June will be EXTREMELY HOT in the lowlands!

Thank you for your replies,

daawgon -

I have return flights booked for Sydney to Ho Chi Minh and I don't think they can be changed. Was advised to make the side trip into Cambodia. Wish I had thought of flying there first! Like the idea of saving money where I can.

travellings-arah -

I was planing on basing myself in the main hubs and travelling out from there. Only concrete plan was a couple of days in the Delta. Would love any suggestions you might have on what tours to take/where to go to take advantage of my time. The rushed second part of the trip is a esult of me wanting to spend my birthday on Halong Bay...may have to rethink that part. Obviously there are good reasons why parts are touristy and attract many people. I do want to see these as well but am interested in getting a look a the local life in Vietnam. Not keen on too many big crowds either.

Maybe when in the north a better plan would be to spend 1 night after flying in from Cambodia ans then heading off to Sapa and then only 3 night in Hanoi on my return?

Thanks you again for your help....very much appreciated.

This is my first time planning a trip of this length and first time in Vietnam so I am finding it a little overwhelming with all the blogs out there. Especially those that do not paint the country in a postive light!

You would be better to base yourself in Hoi An rather than Danang (it's about 20-30min drive away, and Hoi An is far more interesting). The trip from Hoi An to Hue to 4 hrs by bus or 2.5 hr by train. I'd forget about doing it as a day trip by bus; the possibility of doing it by train I guess depends on the train times - but personally, I don't think I'd bother.

Also - keep in mind that if you arrive in Vietnam twice, you will need to visa's. Personally, I'd save Cambodia for another trip and focus on Vietnam this time around. There's so much to see as it is!

Posted from within Vietnam.

Why don't you take fly to Siem Reap first and visit Siem reap, teh take flight to Ho Chi Minh and make south to north of trip in Vietnam. This is more reasonable than and you can save your money for return flight.

This is my suggestion:
Siem reap - flight to Ho Chi Minh - Mekong Delta - Dalat - Hoi An - Hue - Ha Noi - Ha Long Bay - flight back ho Chi Minh.

If your flight is booked, you plan is ok. However, you can shorten tiem in Hochiminh or Ha Noi to make speed boat from Chau Doc in mekong delta to Phnom Penh and then to Siem Reap. Around Ha Noi there are much things to see such as Hoa Lu Van long, Cuc Phuong NP...