BootsnAll Travel Community

I rarely stick to my itinerary, but I do always make them to get an idea of what I'll be able to see/do with the amount of time that I have. I will hopefully spend two months in Thailand, Cambodia, Laos and Vietnam (before moving on to China) in the beginning of next year. I've drawn up two possible routes (one including southern Laos and northern Vietnam, the other southern Vietnam and northern Laos), and would like to hear what people who've been to the region think about them; and if the time I've amounted for the places on it is realistic.

route 1:
* Bangok & around: 1+1/2 weeks
* Cambodian coast: 1/2 week
* Phnom Penh & Siem Reap/Angkor: 1 week
* follow the Mekong from Phnom Penh to Savannakhet: 1+1/2 weeks
* Hué/Da Nang/Hoi An area: 1 week
* Hanoi: 1 week
* far North of Vietnam: 1+1/2 weeks

route 2:
* first three weeks same as above
* Mekong-delta: 1/2 week
* Ho Chi Minh city & Da Lat: 1 week
* Hoi An/Da Nang/Hué area: 1 week
* Savannakhet & Vientiane: 1/2 week
* Northeastern Laos: 1/2 week
* Luang Phabang & around: 1 week
* far North of Laos: 1/2 week

This will be my first trip to Asia, I do have some travel experience, but not beyond Europe and North Africa so if anyone feels like telling me random things about travel in Asia I may not know, go ahead.

Any advice on places to stay etc. would be appreciated as well. Also if anyone will be in the same area at the same time (probably january-february) and would like to meet for a drink or travel together for a bit, let me know.

HI Seraphim-

I replied on TOB

Route 1 looks like a pretty good itinerary.
I have to say that if you've not been to Asia before, the life style, hygiene, hustle, lack of western facilities, food, safety etc can be daunting to say the least, a real culture shock at worst.
People react differently of course, and in the end, most westerners enjoy the experience.
However, language is a serious problem. From Antwerp, French is possibly your 3rd language so language will be less of a prob for you.
I generally suggest that westerners begin in Malaysia becoz it gives a very gentle introduction to Asia. It's the most westernised and most developed (except for Singapore). Bangkok is a fascinating city but if i was inexperienced in Asia, i wouldn't start there.
I came here from Australia and stayed permanently. It's a beautiful country.
Just my opinion.
Cheers

Have campervan, will travel.

I like itin #2, because it would be a shame to miss Saigon (even though its good for only a few days) and so much time in Hanoi. You won't get a real feel for VN unless you do both.

I also agree that 1 1/2 weeks in and around BKK is a little much. Best thing to do is fly in, do whatever you want in BKK for a couple days, and have your exit to the beach areas or northern Thailand clearly defined (e.g., how to get to the bus to leave BKK). BKK's allright, but its busy, polluted, noisy, and not easy to navigate if you don't speak Thai.

You might consider the Kim Cafe buses from Saigon northward to Hanoi. I haven't taken them on that route, but their Saigon tour buses are aircon and comfortable. Much nicer than the speeding Vietnamese minivans piloted by amphetamine-crazed drivers. Or you could take the local buses, but they are very slow and good only for the experience (unless you like you like the tiny Vietnamese bus seats and the industrial materials stacked in the aisles).