1

First, invite you to click appropriate links (HK, cheap sleeps, SEA) in my sigline. In the SEA page, be sure to see Travelfish and Tales of Asia. Also spend time on this forum and read back through posts. Researching the trip is part of the fun.

Outdoors in SE Asia are generally no match for North America or Europe - not to mention the Himalayas. Some trekking around Sapa in northern VN; also in Laos, northern Thailand, and Burma.

Best beaches are Thai. Wide range of scenes, from major prostitution scene, to upscale to remote.

Best food is in Thailand. In Bangkok check out the food courts in malls. Siam Paragon (downstairs) has the best - very inexpensive. Cheaper and still good is the upstairs mall in Big C (pick up some items in the grocery to expand your meal). Chiang Mai is cheaper and as good. The Airport Mall has two food courts downstairs. The larger one is fabulous. Vietnamese food also very good. Here is a tribute to food in Asia (HK, VN, Thai): https://picasaweb.google.com/109537175190450928722/2012FoodInAsia02.

2

Going to keep an eye on this post as we are doing the same thing from August (along with 3 young kids).

So far, our plans for the 100 days include:
Fly into Ho Chi Minh City and then go overland to Hanoi
Hanoi - Chengu for Pandas
Chengdu - Xian
Xian - Beijing
Beijing - Shanghai (hubby wants to go on the super fast train)
Shanghai and surrounds - Hangzhou
Hangzhou - Yangshou
Yangshou - Hanoi
Hanoi - Laos
4 weeks in Laos (Vientiene, Luang Prabang, and the list goes on)
go down the Mekong to Cambodia and spend 3-4 weeks there,
then continue down the Mekong back to Vietnam and depart back to Perth.

Thailand would be good too, but alas, will run out of time!

3

OP and #2
You have so much time. You should be able to see so many great sights in that time and you should be able to go at a slow pace which is so much better for SE Asia than trying to see it all and shoot from one town to the next.

#2.
That looks an interesting itinerary. Just how many places do you intend to go in Vn?

4

So actually you want to know whats to see and whats to avoid?

5

I'm always surprised that posts like this even get a response.

6

Ya you're kind of right JJack, silly question indeed. I guess I am more interested if anyone has had some epic route for a similar period of time. Of if there are any red flags of places to completely avoid or absolutely not miss.

Thanks.

7

I have read the guides,but they are not always right! So after peoples thoughts and opinions. Doesn't hurt to ask what to see/not to see. Especially travelling with kids. JJack must have travelled extensively with kids for his response, and that is great! We haven't, overseas anyway. Enjoyed Chengdu and now in Xi'an, and off to Beijing tonight - Golden Week is great!