Help planning Vietnam

[labguides]

We are in the very beginning stages of planning trip to Vietnam. We might include New Zealand. I have NO idea where to start other than purchasing some tour books. My DH does not want to do a cruise. We are would prefer a tour of Vietnam and do New Zealand on our own. We would plan to be gone 4 weeks max.

We need to use American Express points to get to that area of the world. Any help with that?

Any and all ideas of getting started planning this trip will be appreciated.

In the meantime, we have a week at Grand Timber in Breck. :-)

[Mimi39]

Almost three years ago we went to Vietnam and Cambodia and used www.vietnamopentours.com -- they have set itineraries or can customize one special to your interests. We traveled with friends from Australia and had private tours, not the group in and out of the bus sort of thing. Everything went very well and we were happy with Open Tours services. Here is our itinerary:

Day 1 (Sunday) 1 nt Saigon and half day tour
Day 2 (Monday) Fly to Siem Reap, visit temples around Ankor or/and town
Day 3 (Tuesday)Ankor Wat(sunset is particulary nice too)
Day 4 (Wed) Fly Siem Reap to Saigon, free time
Day 5 (Thurs)Full day tour to Mekong Delta
Day 6 (Fri) Fly to Danang, visit places of interest, drive to Hoi An
Day 7 (Sat) Hoi An tour and free time
Day 8 (Sunday)Drive to Hue via Hai Van pass, Tour Hue
Day 9 (Monday)Boat tour on Perfume River Hue and free time
Day 10(Tues) Fly Hue to Hanoi, half day free Hanoi, evening water puppet
show
Day 11(Wed)Day tour Hanoi and free time
Day 12(Thurs)Drive to Halong Bay, tour and overnight on Junk
Day 13(Fri)Return to Hanoi PM, Victoria Express to Sapa(leaves Hanoi about
9.30pm)Sleeper on train
Day 14(Sat)Sapa tour/trek? and overnight Victoria Hotel as per package
Day 15(Sun) Free day in Sapa,(perhaps more hilltribe villages) depart for
Hanoi 9.30pm. overnight sleeper
Day 16(Mon)Arrive Hanoi 7.00am - home