Asia - Best city for 3 days that has cheap flights from BKK?

It looks like I'll have a few free days in Thailand in March. The plan was to stay in the Phuket area for 4 or 5 days and then head to BKK for 2 or 3 days. However, I was able to grab an earlier flight to BKK, so will have 3 days alone before the other party arrives. I haven't been to that part of Asia before, and am thinking of heading to either SIN or KUL. I only picked those cities because I can get cheap flights between Thailand and them.

What cities in that region would you recommend for 3 days for someone traveling alone?

I like Saigon and I think it works well if you're on your own. Though its modernising, alot of life is still on the street. Saigon people are not shy with foreigners and its easy to hook up with people.

Tickets to BKK from SGN are cheap - not sure about the other way round. A few years back I picked up a cheap AirFrance ticket BKK/SGN/BKK in C. I was the only PAX in C. One of the FAs told me that were loads were light on this segment and that is why they discount. I still get emails from AirFrance promoting offers on this route - sometimes including hotel.

You would have to factor in the time and cost of getting a visa.

I wrote some stuff in response to moondog's similar request: http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/showthread.php?t=646335

It's not cheap to fly there, but Siem Reap (REP) is home to the truly amazing Angkor monuments. Three days is about the right amount of time there and, depending on your tastes, the costs on the ground are anywhere from incredibly cheap to good value for money.

- Michael

I found SIN much much better than KUL. Actually, I'm making my fifth trip to SIN in March and am heading to Hanoi rather than Phuket as I normally do.

It's not cheap to fly there, but Siem Reap (REP) is home to the truly amazing Angkor monuments. Three days is about the right amount of time there and, depending on your tastes, the costs on the ground are anywhere from incredibly cheap to good value for money.

I agree Siem Reap would be the most interesting (apart from Bagan which is not easy to get to). However cost of 5 star accomodation is not cheap (you are looking at USD200 upwards) but there are of course cheaper locally run alternatives if you are willing to sacrifice on service and comfort.

If you need a cheap place to kill some time, KUL is the place to be with 4/5 star accomodation costing only a fraction of what is being charged in SIN. However I do find SIN to be a more tourist friendly city.

I like Saigon and I think it works well if you're on your own. Though its modernising, alot of life is still on the street. Saigon people are not shy with foreigners and its easy to hook up with people.

Tickets to BKK from SGN are cheap - not sure about the other way round. A few years back I picked up a cheap AirFrance ticket BKK/SGN/BKK in C. I was the only PAX in C. One of the FAs told me that were loads were light on this segment and that is why they discount. I still get emails from AirFrance promoting offers on this route - sometimes including hotel.

You would have to factor in the time and cost of getting a visa.

I wrote some stuff in response to moondog's similar request: http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/showthread.php?t=646335

I second SGN, great city. And my flight SGN-HKG was also quite empty and cheap

Thanks for the replies folks. I think I've narrowed it down to either SIN or SGN. I have not been to either city/country before.

The benefits of SIN are cheaper plane ticket (JetStar) and better flight times (I would be able to stay an extra day in SIN because JetStar has a morning flight to HKT. Plus, no need for a visa.

Benefit of SGN is that it's a sexier location than SIN. I don't know many people who have been to SGN. Starwood also has a nice looking hotel that's only a category 2.

Starwood also has a nice looking hotel that's only a category 2.

Sheraton Saigon has been moved to Category 3 for more than a year.

Thanks for the replies folks. I think I've narrowed it down to either SIN or SGN. I have not been to either city/country before.

The benefits of SIN are cheaper plane ticket (JetStar) and better flight times (I would be able to stay an extra day in SIN because JetStar has a morning flight to HKT. Plus, no need for a visa.

Benefit of SGN is that it's a sexier location than SIN. I don't know many people who have been to SGN. Starwood also has a nice looking hotel that's only a category 2.


Take SGN, I think I said this before but you can almost feel the country developing its so buzzing....I stayed at the Sofitel in SGN, managed to snag a very good rate for executive room with very large balcony...

Benefit of SGN is that it's a sexier location than SIN. I don't know many people who have been to SGN. Starwood also has a nice looking hotel that's only a category 2.

An additional comment I would make is that Saigon is changing rapidly. I'm sure it will still be great in a few years time, as it was when I first went there in 1993. I don't live there anymore, but return 2 or 3 times a year. I'm horrified at how much has changed between visits... New buildings going up, traffic getting worse, prices rising etc. Some changes good, some bad. Even the airport is getting a new terminal building.

For this reason, you might take the view that its better to go now rather than later, whereas its easier to make SIN wait.

Sheraton Saigon has been moved to Category 3 for more than a year.

Ah, right you are. I had looked at SPG hotels in REP and saw the nice looking cat 2 there.

Ah, right you are. I had looked at SPG hotels in REP and saw the nice looking cat 2 there.

Sheraton has a good location, pretty much in the centre. Riverside Renaissance, Caravelle, Park Hyatt are other big posh hotels with good location. Rex and the Continental are famous French built/gov run centrally located hotels.

Smaller private hotels ("minihotels") are cheaper - nearer US$20/night.

Flights from BKK to SGN are not nearly as cheap as flights to SIN or KL via Tiger Airways or Air Asia. Expect to pay $250-300 r/t to SGN, while you could get to the others for around $100 r/t.

You could fly to Hanoi for approx $150 on Air Asia, but they don't fly to SGN.

Yes, HCMC is changing, but it's not for everyone. The pollution and crazy traffic put some people off. Most people seem to prefer Hanoi. If I had never been to that part of Asia before, I'd be headed to Siem Reap to visit Angkor Wat.

You could fly to Hanoi for approx $150 on Air Asia, but they don't fly to SGN.

Yes, HCMC is changing, but it's not for everyone. The pollution and crazy traffic put some people off. Most people seem to prefer Hanoi. If I had never been to that part of Asia before, I'd be headed to Siem Reap to visit Angkor Wat.

Yep I think if I could get to Hanoi for less than Saigon, then I might go there too. Hanoi is on a more human scale, has its lakes and a slower pace. When I worked in Saigon, I'd often spend a weekend in Hanoi just to get away from it all.

Also if the OP dislikes the heat, Hanoi is cooler than Bangkok/Saigon in March. Never been to Siem Reap.

Yep I think if I could get to Hanoi for less than Saigon, then I might go there too. Hanoi is on a more human scale, has its lakes and a slower pace. When I worked in Saigon, I'd often spend a weekend in Hanoi just to get away from it all.

Also if the OP dislikes the heat, Hanoi is cooler than Bangkok/Saigon in March. Never been to Siem Reap.

Siem Reap in March will be hot - similar to Saigon/Bangkok. And the heat may be a factor for some when clambering over and around temple ruins.

I would also prefer Hanoi to Saigon, both generally and especially at that time of year. Since the OP will be in BKK already, I think it would be interesting to visit someplace that is very different from BKK -- and IMO, SIN, KUL and SGN (big, buzzing cities, very much on the move) are all more similar to each other and to BKK than are places like HAN and REP. Visiting one of the latter two places will give you a very different picture of Asia.

Another possibility is Luang Prabang - easy to get there from BKK, and a truly magical place , one of my favorites in SE Asia. And (like Cambodia and Vietnam) it's a place that is changing very fast, thus making it worthwhile to see as soon as you can.

- Michael

Definitely try SIN. If you're that close, might as well try it once. Easy to get to and easy to enjoy.

It's not clear if the OP has ever been to Chiang Mai. If not, I definitely recommend that destination as it is completely different from either Bangkok or Phuket and is the least expensive flight by far. Other than that, I would put Siem Reap ahead of Singapore or KL.

It's not clear if the OP has ever been to Chiang Mai. If not, I definitely recommend that destination as it is completely different from either Bangkok or Phuket and is the least expensive flight by far. Other than that, I would put Siem Reap ahead of Singapore or KL.
I would take Luang Prabang over Chiang Mai any time. IMO, Luang Prabang is what Chiang Mai markets itself to be, but hasn't been for a very, very long time.

- Michael

Regarding SGN vs. HAN: since you'll be alone (and assuming you don't speak Vietnamese) one thing to consider is the average English proficiency in SGN is far higher than in HAN. Of course SIN won't be a problem in that area.

If I were living in SE Asia SIN would be high on my list, but for a short trip I find many other cities far more interesting. SIN is great for food and high end shopping, and you're likely to spend any savings in airfare and then some given much higher price levels than in SGN.

one thing to consider is the average English proficiency in SGN is far higher than in HAN

Is this based on personal experience or is it scientific fact? ;)

Is this based on personal experience or is it scientific fact? ;)

Probably missing the humour... but...

When I went to Hanoi in 1993, almost nobody spoke English. I stayed in the Dan Chu hotel on Trang Tien - it was before all the minihotels appeared. One receptionist had some English, the rest spoke mainly German or Russian as foreign languages. Some of the older people in Hanoi spoke French. In Saigon, things were much easier. Especially in the 1960s and until 1975, English teaching was widespread in the south for obvious reasons. It was the "language of the enemy" in the north. I know two elderly persons who learnt English in Hanoi during that time - it was because of their connections and their jobs in progaganda. Post 1975, English teaching virtually stopped. After the mo cua (open door) policy in 1986 and especially the collapse of the USSR in 1989, it restarted. But in Hanoi there was a lack of teachers - French then Russian had been the primary foreign languages. In the south there was no such shortage.

Things are better now, and for younger people - perhaps the under 20s, there isn't much difference. But above that age, Saigon is still ahead of Hanoi. Especially amongst the over 40s, you are more likely to find English speakers in Saigon rather than Hanoi. Sometimes you find random examples of people in Saigon - eg cyclos, taxi drivers etc., who worked for the Americans during the war and still have excellent English. Often that connection prevented them from getting decent jobs after the war. I can think of a couple of guys I know well who are in their 60s who are pretty fluent that worked for the US military. You can often tell.. British English is generally taught in Vietnam, but these guys still have an American accent. It is also the case that more people in the south have family connections overseas than in the north. Many have used this to get their kids some education overseas - so they've returned with a better standard of English.

A final factor is that I feel Saigon people are just a little more outgoing than their northern counterparts. I've found "people on the street" more likely to strike up a conversation - and less shy to try their English.

I'm with Michael for a complete change of pace from Bangkok and Phuket I would vote for Luang Prabang. It is such a nice place and much cooler, and pleasant than tourist trap or Phuket or the frenetic pace of Bangkok. The dollar is really strong against the kip (10,000 kip to the dollar) and the town is so pleasant. The food is great and inexpensive, beautiful scenery and the nicest people I have encountered in all my travels.