Thailand and Vietnam - February 2017

PompeyPete

Flights with Emirates to/from Bangkok booked, as are flights from Bangkok to/from Hanoi with NOK Air.

Itinerary [all times local]...

2 Feb - Fly Emirates from LGW @ 1335. Arrive Dubai 0035.

3 Feb - Fly Emirates from Dubai @ 0330. Arrive Bangkok 1235.

3 to 5 Feb [3 nights] - Bangkok [New Siam Palace View].

6 Feb - Taxi to Thonburi train station to catch the 0745 train to Kanchanaburi.

6 Feb - Arrive Kanchanaburi @ 1030.

http://wikitravel.org/en/Kanchanaburi

6 to 8 Feb [3 nights] - Kanchanaburi [Sky Resort].

9 Feb - Train back to Bangkok. Stay overnight [New Siam Riverside].

10 Feb - Fly NOK Air to Hanoi @ 1820. Arrive Hanoi @ 2005

10 to 14 Feb [5 nights] - Hanoi 3B Homestay in Hanoi Old Quarter.

15 Feb - Fly Vietnam Air to Quy Nhon @ 0740. Arrive 0915

http://wikitravel.org/en/Quy_Nhon

15 to 19 Feb [5 nights] - Quy Nhon. 6 nights at Ngoc Anh Hotel.

21 Feb - Fly Vietnam Air to Hanoi @ 1000. Arrive 1130

20 to 23 Feb [4 nights] - Hanoi [accom tbc].

24 Feb - Fly NOK Air to Bangkok @ 0905. Arrive Bangkok @ 1055.

24 to 26 Feb [3 nights] -Bangkok [New Siam Riverside].

27 Feb - Fly Emirates from Bangkok @ 2035. Arrive Dubai @ 0050

28 Feb - Fly Emirates from Dubai @ 0250. Arrive LGW @ 0640

richardw

Have you planned what to do in 5 nights in Hanoi?

PompeyPete

richardw wrote: »

Have you planned what to do in 5 nights in Hanoi?

No. Plenty of time between now and then to sort out the detail. But what we won't be doing is following the masses to Sapa and Halong Bay.

Weather might also play a part, so at the moment I don't intend booking any tours before we get there, and in any case we prefer DIY and public transport when we can. The hotel we're staying at, 3B Homestay, has an excellent website which seems to cover most things.

We've also got another 4 nights 20-23 Feb in Hanoi to play with.

richardw

9 nights is a bit too many for Hanoi unless you're doing side trips out of the city.

On the 20th February I'd go somewhere else instead of Hanoi.

PompeyPete

richardw wrote: »

9 nights is a bit too many for Hanoi unless you're doing side trips out of the city.

We will be doing day trips. Arrival nights from Bangkok and Quy Nhon will be eaten up by arriving late on, so 9 = 7.

We had 6 days in Saigon last September, and they flew by. I try and dig-up places that tourists rarely go to, and am usually rewarded by making that extra bit of effort.

PompeyPete

With MSE in mind, here's a couple of costings, all for two people...

- Return Emirates flights from LGW to Bangkok...£794.62

Note: there are several Emirates flights a day, so it's easy to choose flights that suit you, and particularly so if you want to avoid having the expense of Airport hotels.

- Return NOK Air flights from Bangkok to Hanoi...£167.87

I'll add to them as and when hotels etc appear on our bank statement.

pmramsay

If you have that amount of time in hanoi why not do halong bay 2-3 day tours with nights on the boat.

Doshwaster

Oh goodie. Another PP Expedition thread. I do enjoy reading about your travel plans

PompeyPete wrote: »

10 to 14 Feb [5 nights] - Hanoi 3B Homestay in Hanoi Old Quarter.

I've just looked that place up and it's right on the edge of the Old Quarter. Personally, I would have stopped closer to the lake but it's still a reasonable area and within walking distance of most places once you get your bearings. You could easily spend a few days exploring (and getting lost in) the maze of side streets.

I'd avoid taxis and cyclos as much as possible as they are just about the worst rip-off merchants I've come across in SE Asia.

In the Old Quarter head to Beer Corner, grab a tiny plastic stool, a cheap beer and just watch the world pass by
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9jerRrimCR4

littlereddevil

I couldn't be bothered with all that moving around!

PompeyPete

pmramsay wrote: »

If you have that amount of time in hanoi why not do halong bay 2-3 day tours with nights on the boat.

It doesn't appeal. We'd rather scrape below the surface of Hanoi, and hopefully see and experience some of the lesser known sights.

PompeyPete

littlereddevil wrote: »

I couldn't be bothered with all that moving around!

What would you consider a reasonable use of 3.5 weeks?