1

This is not an enormous help ,but you have asked for advise and since no one else has posted yet !!.... Please google Hanoi ,read up and put that as # one on yr list , then coming down stream ,check out another world heritage site ,,,Hoi An . And treat yourself to a Pho and ''fresh ''not deep fried spring rolls

2

Stay in Vietnam. Not enough time for Cambodia.

3

If you want to visit HCMC and Hanoi also, perhaps open bus tour is a good choice. I think it is affordable, it is about 40 USD for a tour from hanoi to saigon. (it is cheaper than booking a flight from Hanoi to Saigon or vice versa) You can search on google to find information about this.
Last time I visited vietnam, i enter by air and leave by train so I think it's ok to do so. Vietnam is really a good place to spend your vacation :). I've never been to Vietnam on Xmas period so I don't have any exp about this. But I used to book my flight from http://www.vietnamairlines.com/ and my visa from http://www.vietnamimmigration.com
As far as i know, vietnam airlines is the very famous airline service in Vietnam. I don't know for sure about vietnamimmigration.com but most of my friends access this website to get their visa to vietnam.
I used to visited vn and if you have any concern, you can send me a message, maybe i could help

4

You don't have enough time, even 12 days in Vietnam is very rushed. I would look at a guide book and see which places to want to visit most. It is hard for me to advise as everyone has different tastes/interests etc. 12 days I would just stick to Hanoi and Hue/Hoi An areas. If flying to and from Europe I would look at flights to Bangkok and then cheap flights with Air Asia to/from HCMC and/or Hanoi.

5

My first trip to VN was for just twelve days. It was enjoyable but subsequent longer trips have been far more worthwhile.
Perhaps you should just do some of the main places and fly. Hanoi-Hue (or Da Nang if Hoi An is high on your agenda) and finally HCMC.

I should skip Cambodia this time. Remember if your flights are in and out from VN then you would need a multi-entry visa. If you spend less than twelve days in VN then I would say that was an unnecessary expense.

6

hi everyone

Thanks so much for the great advice and apologies in the delayed thanks. For personal reasons, I couldnt make it to Vietnam at Xmas, but maybe it was a blessing as 12 days would have been a tight squeeze. I'm planning to go in May now, for 3 1/2 weeks. I have the same dilemna though - so any suggestions? I am not sure the best place to start or end, and whether to do return flights out the same city, or in and out of different places.

Again, all feedback is welcome!

Thanks,
S

7

I would start a new thread.
Certainly 3.5 weeks is so much better