Planning 2 Week Trip to Thailand/Vietnam + Week on Liveaboad

[Scubagolf]

My wife and I (experience = 200/300 dives) are starting to plan a trip in early 2019 starting with 10-12 days topside touring Vietnam and Thailand followed by a week on a liveaboard. We are thinking a small size group tour for the Vietnam/Thailand part, and a “luxury” liveaboard, possibly in the Similan Islands on the west coast of Thailand. Any suggestions for a topside tour operator and/or liveaboards?

 

[stevenl]

Of course, I'd be happy to help you with the liveaboard.

 

[Colombia Dive Adventures]

sorry wrong topic

 

[outofofficebrb]

I have no feedback or experience with Thailand liveaboards but 10-12 days for land in Thailand and Vietnam doesn’t sound like enough. Could you do just one or the other? (Thailand was fantastic!) Then again, I could easily burn many days at the beaches.

 

[Trailboss123]

I have no feedback or experience with Thailand liveaboards but 10-12 days for land in Thailand and Vietnam doesn’t sound like enough. Could you do just one or the other? (Thailand was fantastic!) Then again, I could easily burn many days at the beaches.

I could be wrong, but I interpreted @Scubagolf to be saying that they plan on 10-12 days of topside travel in Vietnam and Thailand (I assume Vietnam first) and then an additional week on a liveaboard in Thailand. If I am correct, I am just going to comment on the Vietnam portion at this point and will need some additional info and confirmation B4 commenting on other ideas.

Topside in Vietnam, depending on # of days, I would prioritize the following:
1. Hanoi is an amazing city. I just love it for so many reasons.
2. Halong Bay is a must see and must do. Give yourself 2 days and 1 night on a houseboat. Plenty of tour companies in Hanoi offering this trip with daily departures from various downtown Hanoi locations.
3. Since you posted on Scubaboard and are a diver, then I'd make my way south from Hanoi along the coast via train/bus and give myself a few days in the gorgeous and historic Portuguese/Vietnamese port town of Hoi An. I would also, at a bare minimum, give myself a 2 tank boat dive excursion from Hoi An out to the Cham Islands. Great day of diving and buffet lunch on one of the island beaches. Cham Island Diving – Hoi An, Vietnam or Hoi An Diving Center, Five Star PADI Scuba Dive Center - Hoi An Diving Center, Five Star PADI Scuba Dive Center
4. I would go nowhere near Saigon and then just hop over to Thailand for the remainder of your topside days prior to a liveaboard.
5. If I were to do a liveaboard out of Thailand, then I am heading up to the Similans or Mergui Archipelago (Burma/Myanmar) for sure.
6. Your timing is perfect in terms of time of year to dive and visit these 2 great countries. Dry season and cooler topside temps.

 

[outofofficebrb]

I could be wrong, but I interpreted @Scubagolf to be saying that they plan on 10-12 days of topside travel in Vietnam and Thailand (I assume Vietnam first) and then an additional week on a liveaboard in Thailand.

That's what I thought it meant, too. 10-12 days for both countries doesn't sound like enough! You could easily do just Thailand in 10-12 days. Minimal time in Bangkok (2 days), Chiang Mai (so much to do here!...minimum 3-4 days), then go south for the beaches to bum on those for a bit before hopping onto a liveaboard. They could even go to Cambodia and see Angkor Wat, etc., if they have never been there before and have an interest in archaeological ruins.

 

[LiveaboardCom]

That's what I thought it meant, too. 10-12 days for both countries doesn't sound like enough! You could easily do just Thailand in 10-12 days. Minimal time in Bangkok (2 days), Chiang Mai (so much to do here!...minimum 3-4 days), then go south for the beaches to bum on those for a bit before hopping onto a liveaboard. They could even go to Cambodia and see Angkor Wat, etc., if they have never been there before and have an interest in archaeological ruins.

I'd highly recommend Angkor Wat - it's stunning!

 

[LiveaboardCom]

My wife and I (experience = 200/300 dives) are starting to plan a trip in early 2019 starting with 10-12 days topside touring Vietnam and Thailand followed by a week on a liveaboard. We are thinking a small size group tour for the Vietnam/Thailand part, and a “luxury” liveaboard, possibly in the Similan Islands on the west coast of Thailand. Any suggestions for a topside tour operator and/or liveaboards?

The Dive Andaman is beautiful and I'd definitely recommend that vessel for a luxury liveaboard. They cater for 14 divers and have similans safaris at that time of year, as you'd expect. The Giamani and Miss Moon cater for a maximum of 10 divers and are less luxurious but offer the benefit of small group size.