On 3 October my (Thai) wife and I will be flying o/w on AirAsia to HCMC (from BKK). From there we will go by road (bus) to PP then on to Siem Reap, also by road (bus) and after a few days in Siem Reap will return to Thailand via the Poipet/Aran border crossing. Will probably stay in HCMC for a few days and a couple days in PP and several in Siem Reap. While in HCMC we may make a trip up to Nha Trang. Can anyone recommend decent but inexpensive places to stay in these places? The backpacker area in HCMC would probably be ok. We're not looking for the cheapest. Also any suggestions about the trip would be appreciated i.e. places to eat, sights to see etc. In 2006 we spent a week in Hanoi and in 1995 I was in HCMC/Nha Trang for a week so we are a little familiar with what to expect but hardly "old hands". Thanks for any suggestions.

In HCMC, I usually stay at Lac Vien $30-40 a night which is located just off Pham Ngu Lao in the backpacker area and fairly central. Good size rooms (some with baths), free wifi (like nearly all Viet hotels), breaky and cable. Your PP bus departs one street away. There are many other cheaper hotels in the same lane. http://www.lacvienhotel.com/intro.htm

In Nha Trang, I usually stay at the Golden Hotel which is one street back form the beach, at the front room on the 10th floor as it has a huge balcony with great uninterupted views of the beach. $20-25 wifi, cable but no breaky.

In PP, Paragon Hotel is a good choice as on Sisowath (wifi) with river views. $20-30. And walking distance to many sights and restaurants. Plenty of other places to stay nearby as well. You'll see it is located on this map at the corner of street 136 and Sisowath.

http://www.canbypublications.com/maps/ppmaphhr.htm (The candy publication guides give great info for PP & SR).

Siem Reap, where to start as there are now so many new hotels. I like to stay around the old market area given the restaurants and shops nearby. Golden View is a cheaper good option, http://www.goldentemplevilla.com/ but i have stayed larger hotels in the $40-50 range nearby but would have to check at home for the names as cannot remember.

That is a start off the top of my head.

in HCM I stay at the Hosen on Thi Sach (booking available thru agoda.com), about USD35 per night, includes breakfast...central, cheap, clean and comfortable...

The Okay Guesthouse in Phnom Penh, about a k from Riverside, will give you a nice room for $4-15, depending on what you want.

Most tuk tuk drivers on Riverside know it.