Holidays! Thailand and Vietnam

[Sher16]

Hey!

As per title, I am hoping to go to Thailand then Vietnam in may!


I have been reading up, and fancy staying in 2 places in Thailand and maybe the same in Vietnam! Think will do Thailand first as then can go via road to ho chi minh city (saigon- incase i have it wrongly spelt! ;-) ) and stay there for a couple of nights then go to Nha Trang for the remainder....

Has anyone done something similar? Can you recommend good companies to book with? Our return flight would need to come back from a different place we landed in; unless we travel back to bangkok again.

Can anyone share their experiences?
Places to go? Places to avoid?

So far i am thinking Koh Samui, Phi phi and phuket in Thailand....

And ho chi minh (saigon), and nha trang in vietnam. Are those all recommended?

Also re travel has anyone hired a car to travel bangkok-ho chi minh city...its 90min? Or would you recommend taking a bus(or similar?)

Look fwd to hearing anyones experiences who have visited that part of the world!

Em

 

[jacqueline]

I traveled to Phuket when I lived in Hong Kong so a bit different journey to what you are planning but I can tell you it is very touristy, lots of German tourists when we were there, and a very popular destination. I would say if you can try to go to Bangkok as well.

 

[Rubytues]

Hey!

As per title, I am hoping to go to Thailand then Vietnam in may!


I have been reading up, and fancy staying in 2 places in Thailand and maybe the same in Vietnam! Think will do Thailand first as then can go via road to ho chi minh city (saigon- incase i have it wrongly spelt! ;-) ) and stay there for a couple of nights then go to Nha Trang for the remainder....

Has anyone done something similar? Can you recommend good companies to book with? Our return flight would need to come back from a different place we landed in; unless we travel back to bangkok again.

Can anyone share their experiences?
Places to go? Places to avoid?

So far i am thinking Koh Samui, Phi phi and phuket in Thailand....

And ho chi minh (saigon), and nha trang in vietnam. Are those all recommended?

Also re travel has anyone hired a car to travel bangkok-ho chi minh city...its 90min? Or would you recommend taking a bus(or similar?)

Look fwd to hearing anyones experiences who have visited that part of the world!

Em

Hi, I spent sone time in Thailand a good few years back but not in the places you mention (Bangkok & Pattaya)
As far as travel agents go I hear lots of good things about STA Travel. They're pretty good on the kind of thing you want and good when on a budget.
Hope this helps x

 

[Studiosparkle]

Hiya, I was born in Bangkok, you will have a fab time. Let me know if you need any info re: Bangkok. I don think it takes 90 mins on a taxi or bus from Bangkok to ho chi min city!I think it's more like a couple of days. X mona

 

[josheardown]

So envious! You will have an amazing time! Thailand is such an easy country to travel around, you will have no probs - lots of options!

I would personally fly betwen Bangkok and Ho Chi Minh City to save time. If this is a good option for you, I recommend www.skyscanner.net for checking flights. We flew with Bangkok Airways a few times when in Thailand - they have their own site, so worth a look. Also have done in the past - arrive at Bangkok and sort it from there!

As for over land, have done quite a lot of bus travel in Thailand too and have been really impressed by the quality of the services. Good value, comfortable, clean and plenty of rest stops. Poos on our national express!

Happy holidays, I'm sure you'll have an amazing time! One the best parts of the world in my opinion - lush lush lush! xxx

 

[Sher16]

Hiya, I was born in Bangkok, you will have a fab time. Let me know if you need any info re: Bangkok. I don think it takes 90 mins on a taxi or bus from Bangkok to ho chi min city!I think it's more like a couple of days. X moma

Oh no really!!! I read that on a visit vietnam website thats its 1hr 30min car journey ! Lol i did think it didnt seem right....

I think we will do two - three places in thailand and same in vietnam....

Does anyone know anything about vietnam battlefield tours??

Will look at sta travel! Thanks all! Xxx

 

[Sher16]

Hi, I spent sone time in Thailand a good few years back but not in the places you mention (Bangkok & Pattaya)
As far as travel agents go I hear lots of good things about STA Travel. They're pretty good on the kind of thing you want and good when on a budget.
Hope this helps x

What were pattaya and bangkok like???

Alot of friends recommend avoiding bangkok and phuket and to focus more on the other places :-( so keen to hear other views too! X

 

[HollyGold]

Hey my dad lives in Bangkok, I lived with him for 5 years till I was 16, I went to a international school.

Best days of my life I loved it.

I go every yea to see my dad and I always find something new to do, there is so much. X

 

[Ljw88]

Its approximately 600 from thailand to vietnam, the flight time is around 1 hr 30 mins, the drive time would be several days as previously stated! But its definately worth it and buses travel frequently. Altho my advice on such a tight schedule would be to fly! Try airasia i flew around south east adia and loved ot! Hth!

 

[Studiosparkle]

Love love Bangkok, amazing food. Lots of luxurious spa places! Oh foot massage! When I'm home I go for a foot massage everyday.

No comment for Pattaya, too touristy for me unless you go to north Pattaya. I could recommend some lovely and peaceful islands.

Holly which school,did you go?

 

[sunshineinme]

Hi hun, my friend lives in Thailand and has got a tourist business helping people to travel around Thailand and finding them accommodation, connections etc.

He 's based at Kih Phanagan which in my opinion is million times nicer than Koh Samui. I spent 2 nights at Koh Samui and really didn't enjoy the atmosphere and tiny beaches

I will pm you the details of his website etc. X

 

[laurat]

Travel by bus is so easy over there and really comfortable.

I landed in Phuket and was really disappointed with it but that could have been down to just being nervous on first few days.

I loved the islands. My favourite being Ko Tao and Ko Phangan. I found Ko Samui quite touristy although still beautiful. Ko Phi phi is so lovely, really loved it there.

Bangkok was great too. Can't speak loads about as I wish i had spent more time there!

What are you looking for? A beach break? Then do some Island hopping. More cultural? Id stick to the mainland.

 

[Sher16]

Travel by bus is so easy over there and really comfortable.

I landed in Phuket and was really disappointed with it but that could have been down to just being nervous on first few days.

I loved the islands. My favourite being Ko Tao and Ko Phangan. I found Ko Samui quite touristy although still beautiful. Ko Phi phi is so lovely, really loved it there.

Bangkok was great too. Can't speak loads about as I wish i had spent more time there!

What are you looking for? A beach break? Then do some Island hopping. More cultural? Id stick to the mainland.

I think we want a mix! Want to see loads but enjoy the beautiful beaches...


Have contacted STA travel as per an earlier post recommending them....and they are looking up stuff with the following itinerary for me;

Thailand:
-phuket
-koh samui
-koh phangan (hopefully catch a full moon party lol!)
-koh phi phi
(2-3 days in above places poss longer in phi phi)

Vietnam
-ho chi minh city
-nah trang

I really like the look of all of those. Really fancied bangkok too but everyone i know who has been said not to go! So it mega puts me off....! I am so indecisive so it doesnt help!

Wish I could take 3months out and bugger off travelling....the places look so amazing

Thanks all for your help so far! X

 

[Rubytues]

I think we want a mix! Want to see loads but enjoy the beautiful beaches...


Have contacted STA travel as per an earlier post recommending them....and they are looking up stuff with the following itinerary for me;

Thailand:
-phuket
-koh samui
-koh phangan (hopefully catch a full moon party lol!)
-koh phi phi
(2-3 days in above places poss longer in phi phi)

Vietnam
-ho chi minh city
-nah trang

I really like the look of all of those. Really fancied bangkok too but everyone i know who has been said not to go! So it mega puts me off....! I am so indecisive so it doesnt help!

Wish I could take 3months out and bugger off travelling....the places look so amazing

Thanks all for your help so far! X

Sounds great! Hope you get sorted
Regards to Bangkok, it's great!
A real culture shock and definitely worth a visit...all be it a short one!
If you have time try and get a couple of days because you may regret going to Thailand and not visiting Bangkok.
X

 

[Sher16]

Sounds great! Hope you get sorted
Regards to Bangkok, it's great!
A real culture shock and definitely worth a visit...all be it a short one!
If you have time try and get a couple of days because you may regret going to Thailand and not visiting Bangkok.
X

Thats what i said too! Hopefully i land in bangkok and have a day before my next flight....;-)

 

[Sher16]

Its approximately 600 from thailand to vietnam, the flight time is around 1 hr 30 mins, the drive time would be several days as previously stated! But its definately worth it and buses travel frequently. Altho my advice on such a tight schedule would be to fly! Try airasia i flew around south east adia and loved ot! Hth!

Lol im not up for driving 600miles! My clearly faulty source is now no more. Will fly ;-) ha ha we are on a tight timescale and want to see as much as poss!!! X

 

[Studiosparkle]

Well if you ever decide to go to Bangkok just let me know, i can recommend some places to stay and places to see. Like the most beautiful royal palace and temples - things like that. Well , shopping! you cant beat Bangkok!

Phuket is very commercialised, it depends what youwant. Phiphi is gorgeous. there are so many other islands which are beautiful and less commercial.

 

[Sher16]

Well if you ever decide to go to Bangkok just let me know, i can recommend some places to stay and places to see. Like the most beautiful royal palace and temples - things like that. Well , shopping! you cant beat Bangkok!

Phuket is very commercialised, it depends what youwant. Phiphi is gorgeous. there are so many other islands which are beautiful and less commercial.

If you have time pls do mail me some info re bangkok! I'm not ruling anywhere out atm and wouldnt mind seeing all these places! Also re phiphi - i was under impression it wasnt commercialised at all...yet...:-( so if you can recommend better islands pls do!

Am excited ) cant wait to go x

 

[laurat]

It would make more sense and save travel time if you visited Phi Phi after or before Phuket as they are close.

If you are going phuket-->samui + phangan --> phi phi that means crossing the mainland twice.

We flew in to phuket, stayed for a while, got a boat to phi phi, boat to krabi and then picked up a bus to take us to next ferry crossing in surat thani for samui.

So we did phuket-->phi phi-->samui-->phangan-->ko tao--.bangkok

I found Ko Phi Phi really commercialized. I could be totally wrong here but I think that it solely relies on tourism. The boat trips take you to the island where The Beach was filmed so its a big draw. Every other shop is a dive shop or boat trip. Having said that..it was amazing and I would want to go back!

Accommodation is easy to come by..when you are on ferry's or coach trips you will have people trying to get you to come and stay at their hostel. Nothing wrong with this but look to see where it is first. We went with some people when we arrived at Ko Phangan and it was so far away from the main part of the island! We only stayed 2 nights and then trekked back to the main part.

 

[Sher16]

It would make more sense and save travel time if you visited Phi Phi after or before Phuket as they are close.

If you are going phuket-->samui + phangan --> phi phi that means crossing the mainland twice.

We flew in to phuket, stayed for a while, got a boat to phi phi, boat to krabi and then picked up a bus to take us to next ferry crossing in surat thani for samui.

So we did phuket-->phi phi-->samui-->phangan-->ko tao--.bangkok

I found Ko Phi Phi really commercialized. I could be totally wrong here but I think that it solely relies on tourism. The boat trips take you to the island where The Beach was filmed so its a big draw. Every other shop is a dive shop or boat trip. Having said that..it was amazing and I would want to go back!

Accommodation is easy to come by..when you are on ferry's or coach trips you will have people trying to get you to come and stay at their hostel. Nothing wrong with this but look to see where it is first. We went with some people when we arrived at Ko Phangan and it was so far away from the main part of the island! We only stayed 2 nights and then trekked back to the main part.

I figured this out - so we are gonna do like west then east...fancying koh tao - heard good things about it so perhaps will jaunt there too!

Thanx for all your advice gals xxxx