Vietnam, Cambodia & Laos

marie63

Hi There.
Looking for a bit of advice
A friend & I are planning a trip to V,C & L in november. It started out as Vietnam & Cambodia only but this trip has now grown legs as we are now incorporating Laos.
Looking at a compay called 'On the Go' joining tour in Vientiane Laos & taking in main sights in Laos, Vietnam & Cambodia where tour ends. 22 day trip. Has anyone travelled with this company before, comments appreciated. Has anyone any other recommendations? Thanks.:D

HankScorpio1985

marie63 wrote: »

Hi There.
Looking for a bit of advice
A friend & I are planning a trip to V,C & L in november. It started out as Vietnam & Cambodia only but this trip has now grown legs as we are now incorporating Laos.
Looking at a compay called 'On the Go' joining tour in Vientiane Laos & taking in main sights in Laos, Vietnam & Cambodia where tour ends. 22 day trip. Has anyone travelled with this company before, comments appreciated. Has anyone any other recommendations? Thanks.:D

My number 1 tip....ditch the tour company and do it yourself. You will save money and it's very easy to organise things by yourself. However, if you are only going for 22 days then you may want to leave out a country or maybe stick with the company if that's not possible. I do think you will miss out on so much though especially if you go in an organised tour. If I was you I would leave out Laos, fly into Hanoi and travel down the coast to Ho Chi Minh and then into Cambodia and fly home from Phnom Penh probably via Bangkok or KL to save money.
Hanoi
Halong Bay
Sapa
Hoi An
Nha Trang
Ho Chi Minh
Phnom Penh
Sihanoukville
Battambang
Siem Reap

marie63

Thanks HankScorpio. Yes we thought about doing it ourselves but due to the limited time, have decided to go with a tour company. Cheers Marie

Awesomeness

As hank said I a not sure what places the tour will go to put fitting the 3 into 22 days is a lot. I barely did Vietnam and cambodia in 6. I guess if youare flying it saves a couble of days I spent on buses but there is so much to see and do its best not to rush

I've met people doing tours before.. If you're young, you'll hate it. Everyone who wants to have fun regrets it. If you're older and don't want to deal with actually organising travel and meeting people, do the tour.

HankScorpio1985

Deleted User wrote: »

I've met people doing tours before.. If you're young, you'll hate it. Everyone who wants to have fun regrets it. If you're older and don't want to deal with actually organising travel and meeting people, do the tour.

+1

marie63

Now we have decided to take Hank's advice and do it ourselves. Alot of work done but undecided on way from Siem Reap to bangkok. Flights are expensive for a 1 hr journey, guide book says its 5-6 hrs by bus or we could take a taxi? Does anyone have any suggestions? What are delay at border like? Any advice would be really appreciated. Many thanks. Marie

Border crossings generally aren't bad enough to warrant buying flights.. Be careful of night buses though cause you can be sitting at the border waiting for it to open.

HankScorpio1985

Guide book says 5-6 so that's if you're lucky. I think mine took 8 hours but I was dreadfully hungover and didn't pay much attention.There was a big hold up at the border because it was lunchtime when we got there. Unless you have money to burn don't take the flight. Is the reason you are heading to Bangkok because you are flying home from there?

marie63

Thanks HankScorpio, Yes we are flying back from Bangkok but when I investigated flights, I was quoted €270 for one way from Siem Reap to Bangkok so hence the re think. Did you just get a bus to the border & then another one to Bangkok or was it the same one all the way? Thanks a bunch for your info. Marie

Awesomeness

marie63 wrote: »

Thanks HankScorpio, Yes we are flying back from Bangkok but when I investigated flights, I was quoted €270 for one way from Siem Reap to Bangkok so hence the re think. Did you just get a bus to the border & then another one to Bangkok or was it the same one all the way? Thanks a bunch for your info. Marie

I got one to the border and then another one to bangkok but was arranged through the hostel in Siem reap and had someone from there with us. Once we walked over border other bus was waiting. so while its 2 buses its with same group and your not waiting on different services

If ya haven't booked return flights yet, think about flying out of singapore.. I got a really cheap from phnom penh to singapore last year and then ya don't have to deal with the border and ya can see an extra place.