Hi there
I am going to vote for # 2. I would spend my 2 weeks traveling down to HCM from HAN. Fly to BKK.
VN has SaPa for trekking and hill tribes, the World Heritage Site of HaLong Bay, ancient capital of Hue, historic Hoi An, some beach time at Nha Trang and Mui Ne. Then get up in the highlands to visit DaLat. HCM, delta, and out. You get hill tribes, ancient cites, Cham ruins, bay tours, beach time, the delta and Mekong River all in 2 weeks.
I will let those who love Laos make their pitch.
Thank you!
Option 2 was my 1st instinct but a friend of mine has just left Laos and is making a mighty fine argument for it (to quote him - "The greatest place on earth!")
At the moment though, I still think I'm going with VN.
Thanks again
I absoluetly loved Laos and prefered it over Vietnam for a few reasons (less touristy, more relaxed, less crazy traffic ). However, since you're starting your journey in Vietnam I'd also chose option two, because otherwise you'd lose too much time travelling from one country to another.
Sure, you could fly from Hanoi to Luang Prabang or Vientienne (taking the bus is not recommended) but transport in Laos can be very slow and in two weeks you would not want to waste time of your holiday, trying to get from one place to another. Vegasmike's recommendations are great, definitely worth checking out all of these places!
Hi Yvonne
We travelled down from Hanoi to Ho Chi Min in 3 weeks and visited all the places Mike recommends, we had a fantastic time. Look at my Vietnam photo gallery. I have not been to Laos so cannot compare.
Jenny
Well, I think that u can travel around the famous place only. it would more interessting for you.
in some country there 's no many place that u can do many things.
By the way if u will go to Laos, i advise you to go to Luang Prabang, the town is very great
Hi Yvonne,
the Vietnam option is prevail. Air Asia have service in Vietnam. And Vietnam has more to see. If you fancy of Laos, should spend more days in Luang Prabang than Vientiane. The former is very nice and relax town.
If i were you, i will choose vietnam cause you flight to Hanoi at first.
You can take some days to visit Hanoi, there are a lot of things to see and do in Hanoi especially more than 180days more, we will celebrate 1000 years anniversary Thang Long - Hanoi, so it is really really interesting.
When you are in Hanoi, you should visit Hoan Kiem lake , temple of literature, dong xuan market, Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum............
And then after that you can move to Halong Bay or Sapa. These are two must see place in Vietnam.
And if you want to go Lao, I think you can take bus, sleeper or seat, it is ok. The price is not very high at all, (maybe coming back from Halong Bay and take bus to Vientiane . It is about 14 hours on bus. Seat ticket is much cheaper than sleeper.
Hello there,
Option 1 will be more tiring but you have the advantage of travelled to another country, Laos, which made it to 3 in total at the end of your travel while option 2, you only have 2 places in your travel diary. Since you have 2 weeks on hand, which may be rather short, perhaps you are right in choosing option no.2. Travelling in Hanoi if you skipped Sapa, 4 nights should be sufficient to include Hanoi city, Tam Coc/Hoa Lu and Ha Long Bay all on day tour basis. I did this when I was in Hanoi. If you chose to extend to Sapa, then it should fill up another 3 days which sum up to total of 6 nights, which means you only have another 8 nights. Travelling from Hanoi to HCM city through the open bus should take you another 1 day/night, so you have balance of 6 nights. For HCM city, you should spend about 4 nights to cover the city tour, Chu Chi Tunnel and Cao Dai Temple and the Mekong Delta or even Vung Tau. I spent 5 nights in HCM city but skipped Mekong Delta and Vung Tau from my itinerary. With this, you have balance of 3 nights to spend in Bangkok, sufficient for you to cover the tourist trails including Wat Phra Keaw, Grand Palace, Wat Pho, Wat Arun, Golden Mount, Erawan Shrine, shoppings at Suan Lum night market, the shopping districts within Siam. MBL and Central World and if you chance upon weekends, The Chatuchak market.
Option 2 will need to take you 4 nights in Hanoi, 1 night from Hanoi to Danang or Hue, 1 night from Danang or Hue to Savannakhet, Lao. From Savannakhet, you need to stay perhaps for another night before you could travel to Vientiane. In Vientiane, you can spend perhaps 2 nights there, which mean now you have another 5 nights. Travel from Vientiane to Bangkok takes another 1 night, so, you have balance of 4 nights in Bangkok, 1 extra day compared to Option 1, but with all the land transfer (this assumption was based on land travel), you will be rather worn down by end of the trip.
Hi there
I have flights booked for September - into Hanoi and out of Bangkok and have 2 weeks or so in between. I am really keen to do both Vietnam and Laos but recognise I can't do both so I need some advice. I've whittled it down to 2 options:
1. Travel down through Laos to Bangkok
2. Travel down to Ho Chi Minh and grab a cheap flight to Bangkok from there with Air AsiaAny thoughts are appreciated!
Yvonne
We liked Lao. People are way nicer, and view is great!
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