Post: #1

We are in the very early stages of planning a Vietnam trip, our first in the area. We are a couple in our early 50s, and we are planning this for April-May 2017 for about 3 weeks, maybe 19-20 days on the ground.
We like nature, good food, photography, ruins, temples, small villages/towns, local markets. We don’t care for big cities, nightlife, beaches. A few museums are ok, but not too many.
Based on what I read, I think Hanoi and surrounding area would interest us. The following look interesting and I would like to know your thoughts on them: Sepa, Ha Giang, Halong Bay (overnight boat), Ninh Binh/Tam Coc, Mai Chau, Cao Bang, Bac Ha Market.

A few questions:
1) We would probably spend about 10 nights in this area. Is the above too much? What should we cut?
2) How difficult is the trekking in the Sepa area? We enjoy 2-3 hours leisure walks, but not difficult mountain treks. I associate “trekking” with Inca Trail in Peru, so is Sepa an area similar to that? We would not do the Inca Trail, is Sepa an area we should not consider?
3) One major thing we would like to see are the rice terraces, and I think Sepa is the place to see them. If not, please let me know and suggest alternatives.

One non-negotiable destination is Angkor Wat, and I think that would require 4 nights.
If the 10 nights plan for Hanoi area is ok, that would leave us 4 extra nights, and I’m thinking Hue and Hoi An. If we only have time for one, which one do you sugest?
Other places I looked at and considered: HCMC, mostly for the Mekong Deltatrip, Phnom Penh or Luang Prabang for the temples.

I’m sure I’ll have more questions later, but for now, please help me focus on what you think is the best choice (I know, such a personal decision). I don’t think this will be our only trip on this area so I am ok to leave some for the next trip. We usually do a country at a time, that’s why my option would probably be Hue and/or Hoi An.
Also, what would be a 2nd good time frame for the above itinerary? We can go any time of the year.
Thanks

Post: #2

This is not really a travel agency....Alice.