We are just back from an amazing 20-day vacation in Vietnam and Cambodia.

OUR BASES

These were our bases circled in red, we flew into Saigon, traveled north into the country, then flew into Siemreap and flew out of Phnom Penh:

Saigon [Ho chi min City] 2 nights [ Needed at least one more night]

Da Nang 2 nights [ Needed at least one more night] with day trip to Hoi An [Needed more time here as well]

Hue 2 nights

Hanoi 1 night

Sapa 2 nights

Hanoi 1 night again

Ninh Binh 1 night [ Needed at least one or 2 more nights]

Hanoi 1 night, flight to Siem Reap, Cambodia

Siem Reap/Angkor Wat 5 nights with day trip to Kulen mountains

Phnom Penh 2 nights [could have skipped but our international flights were out of it].

When to go ?

We usually avoid peak season and hot weather. Peak season is Nov-Feb, winter/dry season, with temperatures hovering at 30° Celsius/ 86° Fahrenheit or a lil below .[do factor in the latitude difference between North and South Vietnam, so weather is def not uniform through out the country!].

These countries being in the tropics are always hot and humid in general, we did not have too much choice because of our other commitments and somehow just scheduled the vacation from mid April, the fag end of spring . The weather was kind, not too blazing hot and we did manage to have a good time

What to see?

we avoided the war and conflict related sites in both Vietnam and Cambodia

We did read up on the history and were aware of the past but did not have the heart to see gruesome reminders [Vietnam: the Cu Chi Tunnels, the War Remnants Museum, the DMZ, and Con Dao Prison. the Imperial Citadel of Hue, My Lai Memorial, and the Ho Chi Minh Trail. Cambodia: Genocide museum etc ]

We skipped the floating villages in Cambodia Tonle Sap Lake and Vietnam Mekong Delta as well; we felt it was disrespectful to gawk at people living their lives there

Cultural sites/Temples, museums, palaces and nature were our priority.

Detailed Itinerary

Day 1 Thursday Apr 17 Saigon: Landed at 7:30 AM from New Delhi and 10:30 AM from Houston TX, Met up at HCMC airport, Checked into apt,

SIGHTS: Thiên Hậu Pagoda, Tue Thanh Assembly Hall, Minh Huong Assembly hall, Quan Am Pagoda, Giac Lam Pagoda

Day 2 Friday Apr 18 Saigon Jade Emperor Pagoda, PINK CHURCH Tân Định, Vinh Nghiem Pagoda, Post office, Book street, HCMC Fine Arts Museum, Minh Dang Quang Pagoda

Day 3 Saturday Apr 19 5.30 AM Flight to Da Nang, Da Nang Marble mt, Quan The Am Pagoda in Ngu Hanh Son District

Day 4 Sunday Apr 20 Hoi An Tan Ky ancient house, Quan Am Pagoda & Quan Cong Temple, Trung Hoa Assembly Hall, Hội Quán Fujian/ Phước Kiến/ Phuc Kien Assembly Hall, Trieu Chau Assembly Hall, traditional lantern boat ride.

Day 5 Monday Apr 21 Private taxi arranged by Hue Hotel, Linh Ung Pagoda Son tra peninsula, Hai Van Pass, Lang Co Beach, Lap An Lagoon, Thanh Toan Bridge, checked into apartment, then visited Hue Thien Mu Linh Mu Pagoda

Day 6 Tuesday Apr 22 Private taxi arranged by Hue Hotel, The Nguyen Dynasty Tombs [Khai Dinh, Minh Mang, Tu Duc Tomb] , Imperial Citadel, Hue Museum of Royal Antiquities, An Dinh Palace

Day 7 Wednesday Apr 23: Hue to Hanoi Flight at 6.45AM, checked into apt, Ho Chi Minh’s Mausoleum and his stilt house; the Presidential Palace; the nearby One Pillar Pagoda; Phu Tay Ho pagoda, Ngoc Son Temple

Day 8 Thursday Apr 24 7.30AM Sa Pa Express bus to Sa Pa, Fansipan Sun world, Sa Pa Square, Lake, Sunset

Day 9 Friday Apr 25 Sa Pa Lonely tree, O Quy Ho Pass Viewpoint, Heaven's Gate, Love waterfall. Silver waterfall

Day 10 Saturday Apr 26 7.30AM Sa Pa Express to Hanoi, Grocery run

Day 11 Sunday Apr 27 6.10AM train to Ninh Binh, Trang an boat ride, Chua Vang, Bai Dinh

Day 12 Monday Apr 28 Ninh Binh Đền Mẫu, Phố đi bộ, Ky Lan mountain complex silver pagodas, temple, Thai Vi Temple, Bich Dong Pagoda

Day 13 Tuesday Apr 29 National Fine Arts Museum, flight from Hanoi to Siem Reap

Day 14 Wednesday Apr 30 Angkor wat, Sunrise, Ta Prohm, Banteay Kdei and Royal bath (Srah Srang)

Day 15 Thursday May 1 Angkor Thom South Gate, Bayon,Wat Preah Ngok, Baphuon, Phimeanakas[earliest temple inside palace], Royal Palace, Ponds, Terrace of Elephants, Terrace of Leper King

Day 16 Friday May 2 Phnom Bakheng, Wat Preah Ang Kong Kumpel /Preah Ang Khmao, Victory Gate, Gate of the Dead, Prasat Chau Say Tevoda, Thommanon Temple, Prasat Ta Keo, Prasat Kravan, Pre Rup, Preah Khan

Day 17 Saturday May 3 Kulen Mountain, Banteay Srei temple, River of Thousand Lingas, waterfall and the Preah Ang Thom Pagoda with reclined Buddha.

Day 18 Sunday May 4 Giant Ibis to Phnom Penh, Wat Phnom, Wat Langka, Independence Monument

Day 19 Monday May 5 Royal Palace, National Museum of Cambodia

Day 20 Tuesday May 6 Flight back home

OUR MAP

All our sites are pinned, you can zoom in and read the text

https://www.google.com/maps/d/u/3/edit?mid=1u-bqSn7Yg2Xooaz_1TkLST2MhJ7U63Q&usp=sharing

Here are a few highlight pictures in the order of our visit

DAY 1: SAIGON/HO CHI MIN CITY

Awesome Ceramic Relief work

Quan Am, Goddess of Mercy

DAY 2 SAIGON/HO CHI MIN CITY

Pink Church

Quan Am [Goddess of Mercy] Pagoda

Pomello fruits

Dragon Balustrade

POST OFFICE French neoclassical style, remnant of colonial rule

BOOK STREET

MUSEUM

"Three Star Gods" or Sanxing, representing good fortune, prosperity, and longevity

Fu Lu Shou are three Chinese deities, collectively known as the "Three Star Gods" or Sanxing, representing good fortune, prosperity, and longevity, portrayed holding an iconic item unique to their auspiciousness: a baby for happiness, a ru yi or golden nugget (tong bao) for prosperity, and a peach of immortality for longevity

Maitreya/phật Di Lặc (di lặc) (Chinese: 笑佛, English: Laughing Buddha) brings joy, luck, and fortune, he's often depicted with a large belly, holding a money bag in his hand, and a big smile on his face. His money bag represents wealth and fortune, while his large belly represents kindness and warmth