Asia - Help me pick a 3rd destination in SE Asia

I will be visiting Hong Kong and Bali, Indonesia in October. I decided to extend my trip by several days and I would like to add an additional destination to the trip. I would be flying round trip from Hong Kong and do not mind connecting to get to the destination. I have already visited Singapore, Bangkok, Phuket, Kuala Lumpur, and Ho Chi Minh City. I am looking for something new. Right now I'm leaning toward Cambodia to visit Phnom Penh and Siem Reap / Angkor Wat, but I'm open to other suggestions if you have them!! Perhaps Myanmar or the Phillipines?? Thanks!!

Siem Reap is a good idea Angkor is worth 3 or 4 days and is THE must see in SE Asia IMO. Phnom Penh is underwhelming. Hanoi is charming and Ha Long Bay is another must see. I'd book last minute after seeing what's going on with the Monsoon. In the PI, Palawan is the most beautiful place I've been in Asia. It's a short hop from MNL. wj

Right now I'm leaning toward Cambodia to visit Phnom Penh and Siemens Reap / Angkor Wat, but I'm open to other suggestions if you have them!! Perhaps Myanmar or the Phillipines?? Thanks!!



Siemens Reap? :D Those Germans and their corporations are everywhere these days!

Yeah that's a good idea for a few extra days if you don't mind spending some cash on airfare. My other suggestion would be to pick somewhere else in Indonesia and go there.

Siemens Reap? :D Those Germans and their corporations are everywhere these days!

Yeah that's a good idea for a few extra days if you don't mind spending some cash on airfare. My other suggestion would be to pick somewhere else in Indonesia and go there.

Ugh, darn iPad autocorrect!!

I wouldn't mind extending my stay in Indonesia, but I was only able to push back the HKG-US flight as there is no decent award availability to change DPS-HKG.

Most of the trip is miles / points so I don't mind dropping some cash on the REP flights.

Siem Reap is a good idea Angkor is worth 3 or 4 days and is THE must see in SE Asia IMO. Phnom Penh is underwhelming. Hanoi is charming and Ha Long Bay is another must see. I'd book last minute after seeing what's going on with the Monsoon. In the PI, Palawan is the most beautiful place I've been in Asia. It's a short hop from MNL. wj

Hmmm... I think I'll hold off on the Phillipines until I can spend more time there.

Do you think Phnom Penh is worth at least a day? I may book an award HKG-BKK-PNH/BKK-HKG and just pay for the PNH-REP-BKK flights. I've also read about bus service and boat service between Phnom Penh and Siem Reap. Aside from the cost savings, think the trip is worth it for the scenery? I can always cancel the award to PNH at no cost if the monsoon is bad.

Hmmm... I think I'll hold off on the Phillipines until I can spend more time there.

Hm. You said several days, so I think it would be right to give us an estimate so we can help you better. ;)

I can suggest the Philippines though in October: it's low season (although this coincides with the end of first semester classes, so expect some tourist traffic), the weather should be fine unless global warming proves me otherwise, and there are now direct flights between DPS and MNL. You can hop off to Palawan, or maybe Boracay if you'd like. :)

Hm. You said several days, so I think it would be right to give us an estimate so we can help you better. ;)

I can suggest the Philippines though in October: it's low season (although this coincides with the end of first semester classes, so expect some tourist traffic), the weather should be fine unless global warming proves me otherwise, and there are now direct flights between DPS and MNL. You can hop off to Palawan, or maybe Boracay if you'd like. :)

Unless award availability changes I have to fly back to HKG on the 14th, then I'd fly to the 3rd destination that night or the next morning. My flight back to the US is on the morning of the 20th so I'd need to be back in HKG by the night of the 19th. So I have 4-5 days depending on flight times.

I believe PNH is definitely a worthwhile stop. I stayed for two days there and enjoyed the relaxed atmosphere and immersing myself in 'real' Cambodia. REP is extremely touristy due to Angkor Wat so PNH was a nice change from that.

Last time I took the bus from PNH to REP. The bus is modern and fairly comfortable for such a poor country. However, the road is tight and I don't remember the scenery being particularly great. If you do take the bus, I suggest you be ready to sleep, it'll make the time pass faster. Also, don't get food from the roadside stalls before departure, I got sick from a sandwich. terrible.


Hmmm... I think I'll hold off on the Phillipines until I can spend more time there.

Do you think Phnom Penh is worth at least a day? I may book an award HKG-BKK-PNH/BKK-HKG and just pay for the PNH-REP-BKK flights. I've also read about bus service and boat service between Phnom Penh and Siem Reap. Aside from the cost savings, think the trip is worth it for the scenery? I can always cancel the award to PNH at no cost if the monsoon is bad.

Not southeast but you could always try Seoul. :) Just for something completely different. I like how active and alive the city feels. Now is a decent time to go, before the paved roads start to bake in the height of summer.

I agree that Cambodia is a fine idea. The other possible option might be Hanoi and that part of Vietnam since you have only been to HCMC already.

I think Siem Reap is the best choice. The ruins there are incredible.

Another possibility -- Shanghai.

Any reason why you don't want to pick something accessible from Bali (and yet very different?) that is still Indonesia.

All within 80 minutes flight of Bali.

Yogyakarta (for Borobudur, Prambanan - second only to 'Siemens Reap' :D)
Labuan Bajo (for Komodo)
Lombok (for beaches, much better beaches than Bali, and Mount Rinjani).

and so many more...

Definitely so much within easy reach that doesn't have to be a new country?

Any reason why you don't want to pick something accessible from Bali (and yet very different?) that is still Indonesia.

All within 80 minutes flight of Bali.

Yogyakarta (for Borobudur, Prambanan - second only to 'Siemens Reap' :D)
Labuan Bajo (for Komodo)
Lombok (for beaches, much better beaches than Bali, and Mount Rinjani).

and so many more...

Definitely so much within easy reach that doesn't have to be a new country?

Yes, when I extended my trip there was availability to change the HKG-JFK flight but no availability to change the DPS-HKG flight. So unless availability opens up, I will have to make the side trip out of HKG.

I will look into those places if availability changes. Thank you!

Given that you are locked into returning to HKG and then must make another loop, I think Cambodia is the very best suggestion I've heard for a few days' trip. A day or so in Phnom Penh and 3 in Siem Reap area. If you have additional time, Battambang and/or Kampot/Kep on the coast would also be worthy additions. I recommend making this your plan and just keeping your current flights as is. Maybe book an award HKG-PNH-HKG (I assume HKG-REP does not exist), then purchase an Angkor Air internal ticket one way PNH-REP and maybe car back....depends on total time you have and whether a 3rd city is in the mix. I'd seriously leave BKK out of the mix--it seems to serve no purpose except as transport hub.

Given that you are locked into returning to HKG and then must make another loop, I think Cambodia is the very best suggestion I've heard for a few days' trip. A day or so in Phnom Penh and 3 in Siem Reap area. If you have additional time, Battambang and/or Kampot/Kep on the coast would also be worthy additions. I recommend making this your plan and just keeping your current flights as is. Maybe book an award HKG-PNH-HKG (I assume HKG-REP does not exist), then purchase an Angkor Air internal ticket one way PNH-REP and maybe car back....depends on total time you have and whether a 3rd city is in the mix. I'd seriously leave BKK out of the mix--it seems to serve no purpose except as transport hub.

Thank you. I'm feeling confident Cambodia is the right choice. I was originally thinking of booking TG to PNH using miles but then I realized a N. Asia to S. Asia award would be too pricey. I'll most likely redeem more BA miles for the HKG-PNH nonstop. :)

Thank you. I'm feeling confident Cambodia is the right choice. I was originally thinking of booking TG to PNH using miles but then I realized a N. Asia to S. Asia award would be too pricey. I'll most likely redeem more BA miles for the HKG-PNH nonstop. :)

Do you have any UA MP miles or only US Dividend Miles? If you also have UA MP miles HKG-PNH-HKG via BKK is 25K miles for Economy and 35K miles for Business. UA considers HKG in the same zone as Cambodia.
https://www.united.com/web/en-US/content/news/United_Award_Chart_2012-03-03.pdf

Looking at the UA award calendar it looks like there is wide-open availability for October. If you don't have the miles now, you could apply for a UA-Chase credit card and get 50K-60K miles (depending on your spend) with no annual fee the first year.

Given the choices you mentioned I agree that Siem Reap is the best. Halong Bay/Hanoi would also be an excellent choice.

Cambodia is very nice - and from Phnom Penh the fast / speed boat through the Tonle Sap is an interesting way to get to REP - though many hang out on the roof, it's not excessively safe, with insufficient places to hold on to. The return can be made by bus or van - 314 km, so it may take longer and is dustier than the speed boat. And one can fly, of course.

We have a member who went to Phnom Penh as a Fellow for Kiva, and she is still there over 18 months later - Giblet.

If you go to Phnom Penh, please be aware that there are active groups of Filipinos around town trying to rope tourists into a card game scam.

If you are white and walking in any tourist area, there is a very good chance that a Filipino (perhaps claiming to be Cambodian or Malaysian) will approach you and say "hey, nice shirt, nice necklace, etc." Then it will be "Where did you get it/How long are you in town for/where are you from?" Then it's "Oh my sister is moving to your city to study, please come to my house so that you can tell my mother/sister it is a safe place."

Then we you get to their house, you get drugged or roped into a card game and extorted for money.

Lots of reports of this going on in Phnom Penh right now and tourists getting robbed/ripped off for large amounts of money. Some knucklehead tried the "nice shirt" opening line on me last week.

It's not a reason to avoid Phnom Penh, it's just something to be aware of so that you can tell them to get lost if they approach you.

http://www.phnompenhpost.com/index.php/2012042555765/National-news/blackjack-scam-a-bust-for-tourists.html

If you go to Phnom Penh, please be aware that there are active groups of Filipinos around town trying to rope tourists into a card game scam.
...
Lots of reports of this going on in Phnom Penh right now and tourists getting robbed/ripped off for large amounts of money. Some knucklehead tried the "nice shirt" opening line on me last week.

It's not a reason to avoid Phnom Penh, it's just something to be aware of so that you can tell them to get lost if they approach you.



This has been going on in Bangkok for years, and the perpetrators aren't necessarily Filipino. In fact, this is rather a well-known scam in parts of SE Asia....nothing new. You'd have to be pretty dense (or pretty greedy) to fall for this one. Regardless of city where you encounter this, it's best to just keep on walking, don't engage. I don't advocate stopping and taking a combative stance, nor telling these sorts to "get lost" as nasty tones of voice have a way of escalating and there's plenty of weaponry percolating in PP's underbelly.

Well, it is is new for Phnom Penh because a year ago your chances of being approached in this type of scam in Phnom Penh were virtually zero and now it seems that if you go out sightseeing for the day your chances of being approached may be more than 50%. The scammers are all over the city now and making a real nuisance of themselves. The perpetrators don't necessarily have to be Filipino but by all accounts they are, in fact, Filipino.

^ Siem Reap/Angkor Wat ^

Definitely. One of the most impressive places I've seen.

I too was going to suggest a side trip to Borobodur until I realised your constraint regarding your HKG-DPS-HKG flights.

Given that you'll be experiencing a big city (Hong Kong) as well as a relaxed tropical island (Bali), I'd suggest a charming town as the third leg of your trip. Siem Reap / Angkor Wat is an excellent idea, but I'd also throw in the idea of Penang. For me, it's an underrated destination - hands-down the best street food in Asia, lots going on in the cutting-edge gentrifying areas of downtown colonial Georgetown, and a wonderfully comfortable vibe of friendly locals who are not constantly trying to peddle trinkets and stuff to you.

I will be visiting Hong Kong and Bali, Indonesia in October. I decided to extend my trip by several days and I would like to add an additional destination to the trip. I would be flying round trip from Hong Kong and do not mind connecting to get to the destination. I have already visited Singapore, Bangkok, Phuket, Kuala Lumpur, and Ho Chi Minh City. I am looking for something new. Right now I'm leaning toward Cambodia to visit Phnom Penh and Siem Reap / Angkor Wat, but I'm open to other suggestions if you have them!! Perhaps Myanmar or the Phillipines?? Thanks!!

Since you are already in Indonesia (Bali) why don't you go to Yogyakarta? You can visit the Keraton (the Royal Palace) and also the Borobudur temple (not exactly in Yogyakarta) but close enough.

Malioboro street is also quite interesting to visit.

Yes, when I extended my trip there was availability to change the HKG-JFK flight but no availability to change the DPS-HKG flight. So unless availability opens up, I will have to make the side trip out of HKG.

I will look into those places if availability changes. Thank you!

Opsss did not read that you have contrainst on the flight...

So your side trip should be "close" enough to HKG then.

Flight between BKK-PNH/REP may not necessary cheap.

Why don't you check HAN which is quite close to HKG or may be TPE? TPE may be interesting place to visit for few days