is Trat/Koh Kong to Hanoi by bus a good idea in Oct

[Birdman]

with backpacks, 4 weeks time, many stops on the way and back via Laos

[phuketrichard]

will have to head to pp after koh kong/SHV

than easy bus up

Suggest,

koh Kong-PP- Siem Rep for temples than over to hanoi unless u want see Saigon.

[Birdman]

Thank you, I meant the weather and possible conditions on the way and It's monsoon.

[craigt3365]

Since you've got the time, it should be a problem. I went several years ago and our 5 hour journey turned into 12. Roads were flooded and washed out. It was great as locals were stationed at these spots and for a nominal fee, helped push the cars and buses across, pointing out the areas to avoid.

It won't be all rain, but you'll get a lot, that for sure. You just never know what's going to happen.

[Lakegeneve]

Thank you, I meant the weather and possible conditions on the way and It's monsoon.

It is the last month of the rainy season. If you look at rainfall charts the ave rainfall plummets in Oct compared with 2 months prior - have a look. Very little ave rainfall.

However, one can never predict a late typhoon which becomes a low depression might hit around that time and dump rainfall from Vietnam to Thailand.

Your question is really pointless though without at least an idea of which route you are thinking as road & travel conditions vary greatly. There are probably 5 main routes between your 2 stated points - 3 involving Laos - and many possibilities arise from those 5 main routes.

[Birdman]

very flexible the route. Which one can you recommend considering climate, nature and culture, relatively easy to access with absolute no interest in beaches.

[Lakegeneve]

very flexible the route. Which one can you recommend considering climate, nature and culture, relatively easy to access with absolute no interest in beaches.

Obviously do a lot of reading. There are probably many blogs where people have done sections of this trip if not the whole potential journey you are contemplating. I done a few sections at different times but nothing so long all in one go.

The 5 main routes I was thinking were;

1) Trat-Buriram(direct bus)-Khon Khen-Vientiane-Vang Vien -(could do a side trip to Luang Prabang)- Phonsavan (Land of Jars)- border (Nam Xoi)-Hanoi

2)Trat-Buriram-Mukdhan-Savannakhet-Seno-Sepon-border(Lao Bao)-Dong Ha (central coast just south of DMZ) then work your way up to Hanoi or go south first to Hue, Danang & Hoi Ann

(I have done the reverse from Vietnam across Laos to Mukdahan back in 2007). A tour guide friend says this gets many thai travelers doing this route to vietnam these days,

3) Trat-Buriram-Ubon-Chong Mek (border)-Pakse

a) then either north thru Laos and then onwards to Vietnam central coast via a few options,

b or SE to Bo Y (border) and explore the Vietnam Central Highlands (very beautiful) before hitting the coast and making your way slowly north

4)Trat-Aran (border)-Poipet-Siem Reap-make your way across to Stung Treng somehow-Dom Kralor(border)- infamous 1000 islands on the Mekong - Don Khon- then Pakse- then either north of the options in (3)

Note: this is the only Laos border crossing where you need to already have a Laos visa ie. not available at the border.

b ) option to avoid Aran Poipet border and use the little used Daum Lem-Phrum (border crossing to Pailin. (Though stay on the beaten path as UXOs are an issue. Also many old KR live in these parts) Then make your way to Sisophon or longer via Battambang before SR.

5) Trat-Hat Lek(border)-Koh Kong-(daily bus) Sihanoukville-Kampot-Phnom Den-Mekong Delta-Can Tho-HCM - then work your way the whole Vietname coast

b ) option of Sihanoukville-PP-Stung Treng-continue as in (4)

Note, visas at border crossings: vietnam border crossings all require a prior Vietnam visa (Not available at any border - unless you are an ASEAN passport holder) in the passport where as Cambodia & Laos can be obtained at all crossings (save for the one mentioned in (4))

Many, many options arise from these 5 main route possibilities depending on what entices and interests you.

you want to make sure you have time after Hanoi to visit Halong Bay and or Sapa/ surrounding mountains before you fly out.

It would probably pay to have mutiple entry visas for Laos, Cambodia and/or Vietnam (though costs have increased significantly this year) to give you options should you wish to return to one or the other

The crazy trip

A broad grand trip might be something like Trat-Koh Kong-Kampot-Mekong Delta-back into Cambodia to PP-SR-Stung Treng-Pakse-Veitnam Central Highlands-Hoi Ann-Danand-Hue-old DMZ-up to Vinh-Nam Can(border)back into Loas-Phonsovan(land of Jars)-Luang Prabang-Udomxai-Tay Trung(border) back into Vietnam- the infamous Dien Bien Phu-Son La - Hanoi

- that would give you 6 World Heritage sites by my count and a very diverse unique itinerary.

However, in 4 weeks this would be too much travelling (perhaps 2 months is ok).

Research, have a broad plan with rough time frames and most of all, be flexible. Mutiple visas for 1 or 2 countries will assist on the latter. I think the LP Mekong Countries guide has some suggested trips so would be worth a peruse.

Hopefully, others here have also some advice/experiences to add..........