Please help refine my Asia itinerary

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I would do Singapore for 3 nights, Bangkok for 4-5 nights and then add a beach in Thailand to make up the rest of the time.

Bali?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Would be grateful for your advice.

I am going to Asia over winter break 2026/2027 with DS16 and DD11. Our dates are somewhat fixed and so is our entry point - we arrive to Singapore on December 20th and have to leave for the US on January 2nd at the latest. The flight to Singapore is ticketed, the flight back is open so far.

Currently the plan is to spend 4 nights in Singapore and 5 nights in Hong Kong. This leaves four nights in the middle for another destination, and I need help picking it out. We love cities but I think it would be good to have a break and do something else in between two big cities, perhaps a beach or something nature or culture-focused. We love food, walking around, being in cities, some culture and museums, nature and hiking, and water sports. No interest in Disney or theme parks or shopping. No Japan or Korea on this trip. Prefer places with a direct flight between destinations.

Currently I'm thinking about either a) Angkor Wat, b) Koh Samui, or c) do Thailand and Vietnam after Singapore instead of going to Hong Kong. I was enchanted with with the idea of Ha Long bay, but getting there doesn't seem straightforward, while Siem Reap and Koh Samui both have direct flights into Singapore and Hong Kong.

I have only traveled in Asia for work and frankly did not see much apart from the airport lounge and my hotel room as it was very intense.

What destination do you think would make sense for 4 days or so between Singapore and Hong Kong? Grateful for your advice.

Bali

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Would be grateful for your advice.

I am going to Asia over winter break 2026/2027 with DS16 and DD11. Our dates are somewhat fixed and so is our entry point - we arrive to Singapore on December 20th and have to leave for the US on January 2nd at the latest. The flight to Singapore is ticketed, the flight back is open so far.

Currently the plan is to spend 4 nights in Singapore and 5 nights in Hong Kong. This leaves four nights in the middle for another destination, and I need help picking it out. We love cities but I think it would be good to have a break and do something else in between two big cities, perhaps a beach or something nature or culture-focused. We love food, walking around, being in cities, some culture and museums, nature and hiking, and water sports. No interest in Disney or theme parks or shopping. No Japan or Korea on this trip. Prefer places with a direct flight between destinations.

Currently I'm thinking about either a) Angkor Wat, b) Koh Samui, or c) do Thailand and Vietnam after Singapore instead of going to Hong Kong. I was enchanted with with the idea of Ha Long bay, but getting there doesn't seem straightforward, while Siem Reap and Koh Samui both have direct flights into Singapore and Hong Kong.

I have only traveled in Asia for work and frankly did not see much apart from the airport lounge and my hotel room as it was very intense.

What destination do you think would make sense for 4 days or so between Singapore and Hong Kong? Grateful for your advice.

Bangkok Thailand. Check weather. Add 2-4 days for jet lag/flight issues/weather on both ends of trip especially if kids are going back to school immediately after New Year's day (for example schools in some parts of Midwest USA do not go back until January 10 or something).

[Anonymous]

Manila

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Would be grateful for your advice.

I am going to Asia over winter break 2026/2027 with DS16 and DD11. Our dates are somewhat fixed and so is our entry point - we arrive to Singapore on December 20th and have to leave for the US on January 2nd at the latest. The flight to Singapore is ticketed, the flight back is open so far.

Currently the plan is to spend 4 nights in Singapore and 5 nights in Hong Kong. This leaves four nights in the middle for another destination, and I need help picking it out. We love cities but I think it would be good to have a break and do something else in between two big cities, perhaps a beach or something nature or culture-focused. We love food, walking around, being in cities, some culture and museums, nature and hiking, and water sports. No interest in Disney or theme parks or shopping. No Japan or Korea on this trip. Prefer places with a direct flight between destinations.

Currently I'm thinking about either a) Angkor Wat, b) Koh Samui, or c) do Thailand and Vietnam after Singapore instead of going to Hong Kong. I was enchanted with with the idea of Ha Long bay, but getting there doesn't seem straightforward, while Siem Reap and Koh Samui both have direct flights into Singapore and Hong Kong.

I have only traveled in Asia for work and frankly did not see much apart from the airport lounge and my hotel room as it was very intense.

What destination do you think would make sense for 4 days or so between Singapore and Hong Kong? Grateful for your advice.

Bali

Flight is about 3 hours from Singapore (Singapore airlines) and Singapore and Bali in same time zone.

[Anonymous]

Malaysia

[Anonymous]

I lived in several Asian countries for over 10 years.

Don’t go to norther VN in winter. It’s gray and cold. I’ve done a Ha Long Bay cruise in summer and in winter, and it was a night and day difference (summer way better). I also went up to Sapa in January and it was freezing cold and our hotel lost power, and we did not have good views because of the cold and fog.

For winter in Thailand, go to Phuket over Koh Samui. The Andaman side is less prone to rain that time of year and late December is the perfect time, though most expensive.

Agree that HK is basically just a big city. It has good food, but I wouldn’t spend 4 days there after also spending several days in Singapore.

Angkor is amazing, do that!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Manila

What? No.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I can't imagine spending so much time in singapore and hongkong. 5 nights in hongkong? even 4 nights in singapore is alot.

+1

I live in Singapore. You can see everything you want to see in 2-3 days.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I lived in several Asian countries for over 10 years.

Don’t go to norther VN in winter. It’s gray and cold. I’ve done a Ha Long Bay cruise in summer and in winter, and it was a night and day difference (summer way better). I also went up to Sapa in January and it was freezing cold and our hotel lost power, and we did not have good views because of the cold and fog.

For winter in Thailand, go to Phuket over Koh Samui. The Andaman side is less prone to rain that time of year and late December is the perfect time, though most expensive.

Agree that HK is basically just a big city. It has good food, but I wouldn’t spend 4 days there after also spending several days in Singapore.

Angkor is amazing, do that!

PP, thank you very much for these recommendations, especially for the tip to opt for Phuket over Koh Samui. I think I am sold on this, especially because I just checked and there are nonstop flights to Siem Reap from Phuket airport (but not from Koh Samui). Yes!

So, it is looking like Singapore-Phuket-Angkor Wat-Hong Kong. Great! No backtracking and experiencing a bit of everything.

[Anonymous]

I’d do phu quoc island in Vietnam in between those city trips. It will be warm and beachy

5 nights in Hong Kong is fine as you’ll take the train to Shen zen and also do a trip to Macau.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I’d do phu quoc island in Vietnam in between those city trips. It will be warm and beachy

5 nights in Hong Kong is fine as you’ll take the train to Shen zen and also do a trip to Macau.

Does Shen Zhen do visa on arrival for Americans though? I don’t need a visa for China but my kids will.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:In English, you arrive "in" a country, not "to" a country.

I agree….😂😂😂

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Also, wouldn’t Da Nang be too cold for the beach in January?

No necessarily. It was in the 80s when we were in central Vietnam in January. However, the rainy season will be just coming to an end there, so you won’t be able to count on good beach weather. It rained at least part of every day we were in central VN in early January. Fine for sight-seeing — just grab an umbrella — but not good for the beach.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I’d do phu quoc island in Vietnam in between those city trips. It will be warm and beachy

5 nights in Hong Kong is fine as you’ll take the train to Shen zen and also do a trip to Macau.

Does Shen Zhen do visa on arrival for Americans though? I don’t need a visa for China but my kids will.

Yes, visa on arrival. And personally I’d want some beach time in Vietnam between cities