Travel in China and Indochina - Early January or Late February?

[dino2067]

I’m considering two Azamara Asia cruises in 2010 with similar itineraries…one in early January which includes Sihanoukville and one extra day in Bangkok (Klong Toey), the other in late February with 2 days in Hanoi (Halong Bay):

 

Early January:

 

Hong Kong, China (2 days)

At Sea

Hue (Danang), Vietnam (1 day)

At Sea

Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam (2 days)

At Sea

Sihanoukville, Cambodia (1 day)

Bangkok(Klong Toey),Thailand (3 days)

At Sea

Singapore (2 days)

 

Late February:

 

Singapore (2 days)

At Sea

Bangkok(Klong Toey),Thailand (2 days)

At Sea

Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam (2 days)

At Sea

Hue (Danang), Vietnam (1 day)

Hanoi (Halong Bay),Vietnam (2 days)

At Sea

Hong Kong, China (2 days)

 

Our intent is to stay a week pre or post cruise and explore China either ending or starting in Hong Kong with a possibility of visiting some or all of the following depending on the time constraints and the time of year:

 

Beijing - Xian - Shanghai - Guilin - Guangzhou

 

My concern about the January trip is the winter weather in China and what sites/areas would be accessible if there was inclement weather. My concern about the March trip would be related to traveling around the time of Tet in Vietnam or the Spring Festival in China and the availability of private tours, accommodations, flights, etc. during this time.

 

Any insights from those that have traveled during these times of year would be most appreciated!

 

Best regards,

 

Kathleen

[greatam]

I’m considering two Azamara Asia cruises in 2010 with similar itineraries…one in early January which includes Sihanoukville and one extra day in Bangkok (Klong Toey), the other in late February with 2 days in Hanoi (Halong Bay):

 

 

Our intent is to stay a week pre or post cruise and explore China either ending or starting in Hong Kong with a possibility of visiting some or all of the following depending on the time constraints and the time of year:

 

Beijing - Xian - Shanghai - Guilin - Guangzhou

 

My concern about the January trip is the winter weather in China and what sites/areas would be accessible if there was inclement weather. My concern about the March trip would be related to traveling around the time of Tet in Vietnam or the Spring Festival in China and the availability of private tours, accommodations, flights, etc. during this time.

 

Any insights from those that have traveled during these times of year would be most appreciated!

 

Best regards,

 

Kathleen

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IF it was my cruise, there would be no discussion. Second one- late February

 

TET is Feb 10, 2010, Spring Festival (Chinese New Year) is Feb. 14.

 

Looks like you would miss both of those. And you will have enough time to REALLY see Halong Bay and hopefully spend the night on a Chinese junk.

 

Not only that, you will end up in Hong Kong. Easier to get from HKG to the Chinese mainland. You can even take a train, bus or ferry from Hong Kong to Shenzhen (MUCH cheaper hotels than in HKG). You can go see Macau from Shenzhen (spectacular fireworks nightly and the new casinos are Las Vegas in Asia). And often, air is cheaper from Shenzhen than it is from HKG (for your intra China trip).

 

Weather will be warmer in China. You won't miss anything except a beach in Sihanoukville. One other thing-the port in Bangkok-a little info:

 

"Khlong Toei (also Klong Toey, Thai: คลองเตย) is a district in central Bangkok, long known for substandard housing. It is bordered by the Chao Phraya River and contains major port facilities. It is also the name of a major market, though not touristic. The market is served by the Bangkok Metro station Khlong Toei on Rama IV Road."

 

http://insearchofbangkok.blogsome.com/2005/07/07/journey-into-klong-toey-slum/

 

Enjoy!!!!

[dino2067]

Thanks so much for the response…lots of great information.

 

And you will have enough time to REALLY see HalongBay and hopefully spend the night on a Chinese junk.

 

I believe that in my searches through the Asia board that you are the one that mentioned renting a private junk overnight which I would be most interested in finding more about if you are willing to expand upon it.

 

In addition, you have mentioned Indochina Travel for setting up more comprehensive private tours/travel in the region (I’m NOT a “group” tour type of gal)...do they also cater to those of us that are DIY(if feasible which it isn’t always) ala carte sort of travelers? Or are there other agencies better suited to that in the region? We love to journey down the roads less traveled and visit/stay at lesser known places but certainly don't want to be stupid about it.

 

One other thing-the port in Bangkok-a little info:

 

I chuckled a bit regarding this information only in that it could be quite an eye opener to an unsuspecting traveler…I’ll certainly check into my alternatives for this port.

 

Not only that, you will end up in Hong Kong. Easier to get from HKG to the Chinese mainland. You can even take a train, bus or ferry from Hong Kong to Shenzhen (MUCH cheaper hotels than in HKG). You can go see Macau from Shenzhen (spectacular fireworks nightly and the new casinos are Las Vegas in Asia). And often, air is cheaper from Shenzhen than it is from HKG (for your intra China trip).

 

Your info. regarding Shenzhen is most interesting and something I will look into. Here is a hypothetical question to you…if you had 7 or 8 days on mainland China (starting the journey from Hong Kong), what would be the highlights that you would want to see/visit?

 

Best regards,

 

Kathleen

[greatam]

IF it was my trip, I would do the following (and of course, I don't know your dates, so some of this may HAVE to change):

 

Fly from HKG or Shenzhen (depends on the airfare) to Wuhan

 

Yangtze River cruise on one of the Regal ships-Wuhan to Chongqing-4 days You REALLY see China on the backwaters of the Yangtze. And the dam is simply fascinating (at least to me, but I like industrial things and how the world works, NOT so much museums)

 

Day 5-fly from Chongqing to Chengdu and go see the pandas. The pandas MAY disappear (plus I LOVE wildlife and don't suffer a lot of museums)

 

Day 7-fly to Beijing-go to Tiannemen Sq, Forbidden City, all the normal Beijing stuff

 

Day 8-go to the Great Wall, fly home.

 

If you give me dates and interests, I will put together some kind of itinerary that you could at least begin with.

 

As for Halong Bay-there are so many new junks and of course each more spectacular than the last.

 

I have stayed on the Huong Hai and the Dragon Pearl. Both have AIR CONDITIONING, which is important as the cabins are not huge and the air gets stuffy. Some of the newer junks have windows that open, so in February, it would be delightful to open the windows.

 

Here is a good list. http://www.halongjunk.net/index.html

 

Start looking through and read the descriptions. Then you can ask questions. STAY AWAY from the Emeraude. LOTS of 20 something backpackers and the "party" goes on all night. We were anchored next to the Emeraude when I was on the Dragon Pearl. Party all night with people diving off the decks at 2:00AM. Not my idea of peaceful and relaxing.

 

You may want to get a few from your cruise to share the junk. Otherwise, you either have to pay for the entire boat (they usually discount it if you want private) or take your chances with your fellow travelers. I have done it both ways-paid for the entire boat ($650.00 in 2005) and just booked a cabin. As it happened, when I just booked the cabin, me and DH were the only ones-Huong Hai, so a private boat with just us.

 

To DIY with IndoChina, you MUST have a plan in mind. Otherwise, Patrick has no idea what you want and will recommend things that may not be interesting to you. So give me some thoughts for your port stops and I will recommend things that you could get Patrick to make arrangements for.

 

As for Shenzhen-if you only have a week or so, you really don't have enough time to see Macau and stay in Shenzhen for more than an overnight. IF the airfare is cheaper from Shenzhen, this hotel is NEXT to the ferry from Hong Kong and also the ferry to Macau. The HKG harbor view rooms are simply spectacular. And when you leave HKG to the Chinese mainland, all immigration procedures are done at the ferry terminal.

 

http://www.nanhai-hotel.com/

 

Here is the ferry schedule to Macau (and also HKG). There are quite a few different ferries to and from HKG.

 

http://www.shenzhenparty.com/content/hongkong_shekou_zhuhai_ferry_schedule

 

 

Going TO HKG (for a plane), you can use the ferry from Shenzhen, check in AND clear all immigration and customs BEFORE you board the ferry. When you get to HKG, you are IN THE AIRPORT. No clearing security, no anything except go to the gate. You are bussed from the ferry terminal in the airport to the airport gates. Easiest way I have ever found to fly out of HKG.

 

Hopefully, I answered some of your questions. Please post answers. My help is freely offered.

[dino2067]

Hopefully, I answered some of your questions. Please post answers. My help is freely offered.

 

Yes, you have answered some of my questions, I DO appreciate your help and input...thank you! What I will do is take some time to digest all of this and come back to post an intelligently comprehensive answer to your inquiries.

 

Best regards,

 

Kathleen

[dino2067]

Below is the itinerary of the Azamara cruise in 2010:

 

Sat, Feb 20 Singapore

Sun, Feb 21 Singapore Depart 1PM

Mon, Feb 22 At Sea

Tue, Feb 23 Bangkok(Klong Toey),Thailand Arrive 2PM

Wed, Feb 24 Bangkok(Klong Toey),Thailand Depart 4PM

Thu, Feb 25 At Sea

Fri, Feb 26 Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam Arrive 12PM

Sat, Feb 27 Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam Depart 4PM

Sun, Feb 28 At Sea

Mon, Mar 01 Hue (Danang), Vietnam Arrive 7AM; Depart 6PM

Tue, Mar 02 Hanoi (Halong Bay),Vietnam 1PM

Wed, Mar 03 Hanoi (Halong Bay),Vietnam 9PM

Thu, Mar 04 At Sea

Fri, Mar 05 Hong Kong, China Arrive 7AM

Sat, Mar 06 Hong Kong, China

 

 

I had an interesting discussion with DH on what/where he would like to focus on seeing/visiting while in Vietnam as he has spent time there (as many did) and I have not. His familiarity with the region though is primarily in the lush central highlands of Vietnam as well as parts of Laos and Cambodia which with this type of trip and time constraints involved would probably not be feasible to visit. But that does leave open the possibility to do a land based trip at another point in time. He and I both love photography and enjoy the cultural side of a region…the history, the countryside, the local customs and the local people in particular and while not overtly interested in making a point to see military tourist attractions or most “touristy” kinds of attractions in general for that matter, we are also not opposed to them if they happen to be there along the way and we find some cultural interest in them. I am also NOT a big “shopper”…I far more enjoy my experiences rather than “things”. Following the “roads less traveled”(would LOVE to do a train trip in the region) is what tends to appeal to the both of us when we travel.

 

If we are somewhere where it is feasible to go explore on our own, we are more than comfortable and happy to do so but also know the value of a really good guide…particularly those that have a great passion for and pride in their country. At a minimum, reliable pick up/drop off service is also nice (and sometimes critical) to have available, depending upon what we choose to do.

 

We have thought about possibly at the Bangkok port, going to the airport and taking a quick flight to Cambodia and do an overnight stay to see the Angkor Wat area…I don’t know, however, if that is too ambitious given the time constraints. At the Saigon port, I haven’t investigated enough so I’m open for suggestions. In Danang we can see Hoi An as a possibility along with going further to Hue…but again, the time constraints will come into play. In Halong, my druthers would be to do an overnight in a junk (saving a trip to Hanoi for another time)…but would obviously have to work out the logistics because of when the ship arrives/leaves to correspond in chartering a junk.

 

In China, we are wide open to suggestions. I love the idea of the Yangtze trip, however, considering the time of year and looking at the Regal’s 2008 & 2009 calandars, it may be a toss up whether it would be available when we are there in 2010 (in 2008, the sailings began end of February, in 2009, the sailings show starting in mid-March). While I know that this trip is not until 2010, we may have to have a plan B as backup to think about.

 

Hopefully this small tome will give you some insight and answers…and I DO appreciate the time you have taken thus far in response to my inquiries.

 

Kathleen