30th Birthday Holiday in April/May

kirtsypoos

Hi PompeyPete, thanks for the info - I hadn't even thought about Vietnam but will have a look into it - sounds like a viable option, and it would be nice to go somewhere a bit different.

Luckily we aren't too worried about accommodation the night before if needed as we have family around London, Liverpool and Newcastle plus various other places so hopefully we can stay over with family or friends.

NiftyDigits

A current example, although I would never suggest someone should book via eDreams is open jaw with Air China to BKK from the 1st of May to the 15th for £262.36. You'd need to add a one way from Liverpool or London to CDG from £46.
But in this case, I wouldn't be keen to deal with eDreams(too stressful waiting for what they may try to pull) and the flight times aren't great. A stopover in Beijing(with free Transit Visa) might be fine once, but perhaps not both ways.
So just an example.
In addition, you can fly into Vietnam(Saigon/Ho Chi Minh) and fly out of BKK for the same price as above or in and out of SGN for £246. But again that fare is only with eDreams, so I'm sceptical.
You can also leave a week earlier, 24th of April to the 8th of May for the same prices as above..
Overall, not a terrible deal, especially if you'd like to visit both countries. Though two weeks might not be enough. You can share one hold luggage between you(if you take EasyJet from Liverpool or London) in addition to your hand luggage to keep costs down. In fact you probably won't need hold luggage at all on the way out.
It will most certainly be a memorable 30th birthday trip.

NiftyDigits

As for accommodation, you could easily get away with £20 per day(£10 each). It can be done. You won't be staying in 5* places, but not in squalor either. Travel light so that you can move around easily.
PP and I are here to give advice on having fun and keeping within budget.
Room in Bangkok within budget: New Siam II

If on a tight budget you can still get a basic bungalow close to the beach on Samui for £11(£5.50 per person). Even on Chaweng. There is something for all budgets if you are willing to compromise. Basic room, bigger party budget. Nicer room, buy your drinks at the 7/11 It's all part of the experience.

You can even fly with British Airways in a roundabout way for around £350. But that leaves you with only £350. Still doable with £350 each over two weeks.

PompeyPete

This was our itinerary and costing for our 4 week trip to Vietnam...

Day1: Arrive at 1250 Saigon with Qatar Airways
Day 2: Saigon
Day 3: Fly Vietjet to Dalat (50 minute flight).
Day 4 to 7: Dalat
Day 8: Fly Vietnam Airways to Da Nang (80 minute flight).
Day 9 to 12: Danang
Day 12: Train to Hue.
Day 13 to 16: Hue
Day 17: Bus or train/bus to Hoi An.
Day 18 to 23: Hoi An
Day 24: Fly Vietjet Danang to Saigon.
Day 25 to 27: Saigon
Day 28: Saigon. Evening flight to London via Doha

Accommodation, all comfortable B&B has come out at...

Saigon (District 1) - Hong Han Hotel. £31 for 2 nights

Dalat - Dreams Hotel. £94 for 5 nights...

Danang - Rainbow Hotel. £78 for 4 nights...

Hue - Mondial Hotel. £122 for 5 nights...

Hoi An - Travel Lodge Hotel for 7 nights. £136 for 7 nights...

Saigon (District 1) - Duc Vuong Hotel. £86 for 4 nights.

Expenditure for both of us...

Return Flights - LHR ro SGN £864
Internal Flights x 3 - £189
Hotels (27 x B&B) - £547
Visas inc authorisation letters - £72 [not required for 15 days or less]
TOTAL = £1,672

Believe it or not our total spending money on top of the above came to £325.

So the cost for the total trip came out at v.slightly under £2,000 for 4 weeks.

For a 2 week trip I'd have cut out Danang and Hue, and taken a night from Dalat and Saigon. So doable on your budget.

kirtsypoos

That sounds amazing, thank you both so much.

I think we are leaning towards Thailand at this point, but Vietnam is definitely going to be on the future list. I didn't realise how reasonable places were!