Peru or Vietnam/ Cambodia?

VestanPance

littlereddevil wrote: »

I don't think North Vietnam has very good weather in November, or Hoi An. Hoi An is lovely, much smaller and more peaceful than Chiang Mai. I love HCM city but some hate it.

Hoi An is lovely, but November is the end of the wet season there and it's still prone to flooding at that time of year.

November in Vietnam the south will be warm and dry, the north cold and dry. Central region you'd visit at your own risk due to the weather, which is a shame as Hoi An and Hue are fantastic

As others have said two weeks isn't enough time to do both Vietnam and Cambodia. I'd do one or the other. Personally I much prefer Vietnam.

Rambosmum

We could go in December if the weather would be better?

I like experiencing different cultures, I hate the UK abroad type thing. We enjoy good food, walking, seeing sites, markets and the like. Prior to Thailand we've done a number of city breaks including Paris, Rome, Moscow and Cairo.

totallybored

Rambosmum wrote: »

We could go in December if the weather would be better?

I like experiencing different cultures, I hate the UK abroad type thing. We enjoy good food, walking, seeing sites, markets and the like. Prior to Thailand we've done a number of city breaks including Paris, Rome, Moscow and Cairo.

It might have been the time of year I was there (July/August) but I found Vietnam full of Aussies. Apart from Nha Trang which was a Russian package holiday hell.

VestanPance

Nha Trang is dull. It actually is Benidorm for Russians. Aussies are the main tourists over there (followed by Chinese and Russians), but it's easy to escape the tourist trail in Vietnam.

December should mean the worst of the weather has passed from the central region (Hoi An/Hue), which would make it better to visit. It would be cooler up north though. Hanoi would be fine, but if you planned on going to Sapa you'd better wrap up.

Due to the differing climate in the regions there isn't a best time. What you need to do is identify where you want to go and work out what month best works for those places. Sometimes it's just your luck. I was in Hoi An in November a couple of years ago for a few days and it was glorious sunshine the entire time I was there. Three days after I left the old town was flooded!

xxJudexx

I'm off to Cambodia for two weeks in November. From the research I have done it is the start of the dry season and temps should be in the mid 20's so not too hot to be able to be out all day. It does mean there will be more tourists around though as you can get around easier in the dry season. We are starting in Siem Reap for 5ish days then onto Battambang, then Phnom Penh and a couple of days detour to go to the Mondulkiri project in the jungle We are organising it all ourselves so then we have more flexibility if we want to move on sooner or later (and no internal flights either!). It will be a jam packed two weeks, so I'd say you have to choose just one country to explore it properly

richardw

PompeyPete wrote: »

Oops -sorry!:o
It's v.expensive though.

Expedia seem to have Vietnam Airlines flights at good prices sometimes.

gillpb

Ballard wrote: »

I've only been to South America once (Brazil/Argentina/Paraguay) and loved it but have been to Asia a lot. I've only been to Cambodia/Vietnam once and that was over ten years ago so can't offer you much in the way of advice.


One thing that tends to put me off South America is that direct flights are few and far between (and generally expensive). Whenever I've looked at flights they either involve flying via The States or Europe. Whilst this shouldn't be the deciding factor in a destination the idea of spending 7 hours in Madrid each way does put me off.

I went to Peru last year via Amsterdam and back via Paris. It is wonderful. You can book trips in country. There is an organisation - Traveller Not Tourist- their trips are cheaper than you can buy here and some of the money goes to an orphanage in Arequipa that is part of the organisation (my daughter worked there). You can also volunteer to help.


We went to Colca Canyon from Arequipa. You can also get a bus to Lake Titicaca and spend a night on a floating island. From there you can a bus to Cusco and the Inca Trail.


Some Spanish will help
it is a wonderful place, I always felt safe and everyone was very friendly.

Rambosmum

I *think* we've decided on Peru. Thanks guys.

Williewonthe

Rambosmum

18 months ago I went with two friends to Peru, Bolivia, Argentina and Brazil with Travelbag.

I have said elsewhere on the forum that there is no way on earth we would ever travel with Travelbag again but the people who handled our travel in Peru - Condor - were EXCELLENT and sorted out a serious problem for us. We can't praise them highly enough.

If you are only going to Peru don't miss out on a few days in the jungle around Puerto Maldonado. Try to stay at the Sandoval Lake Lodge. We went to Bolivia too but if you want to stay just in Peru, go by train from Cuzco to Puno and when in Puno go onto Lake Titicaca. South America is excellent. Don't miss it.

ibizafan_2

My afore-mentioned son has just returned from Peru and said it was one of the best countries he's ever been to, and he's been to a few!