Mekong River Encompassed — Self-Launched: Siem Reap to Ho Chi Minh City
10 days · Cambodia & Vietnam (Mekong Delta)
G Adventures charges £1,650
No-markup version: ~£520 per person
Estimate only, not a guaranteed price. Always verify costs independently before booking.
A 10-day self-launched version of G Adventures' Mekong riverboat trip, following the same route — Angkor Wat sunrise, Tonle Sap and Kampong Chhnang, Phnom Penh's history, the Cambodia–Vietnam border at Vinh Xuong, and the floating markets and orchards of the Mekong Delta down to Ho Chi Minh City. Instead of a 28-passenger boutique riverboat, you travel the way locals and backpackers do: shared minivans, local express boats, ferries and the occasional slow boat, sleeping in guesthouses and budget hotels along the river. Every included highlight is replaced with a self-bookable equivalent (GetYourGuide/Klook for Angkor guides and Cu Chi, direct booking for the delta boat trips), costs are roughly a third of the operator price, and you gain the freedom to linger where you like.
Day-by-day
Arrive Siem Reap
Siem Reap, Cambodia
Land at Siem Reap–Angkor International Airport (SAI) and take a Grab or metered tuk-tuk into town (~£5–7, 45 min from the new airport). Check into a guesthouse or hostel in the Wat Bo / Old Market area, pick up a Cambodian SIM (Smart or Cellcard, ~£1.50 with data), and change some dollars — Cambodia runs largely on USD. Wander Pub Street and the Night Market for dinner. Book your Angkor pass online or at the Angkor Enterprise ticket office this evening or early tomorrow; do not buy from anyone on the street.
🚌Airport tuk-tuk/Grab ~£6
🛏Guesthouse/hostel in Siem Reap Old Market area (~£12–18/night)
- →Arrival + SIM card
- →Old Market & Night Market wander
- →Buy Angkor pass (1-day £29 / 3-day £48)
Angkor Wat sunrise, Bayon & Ta Prohm
Siem Reap → Kampong Chhnang
Leave your guesthouse at 4:45am in a tuk-tuk (~£15 for the full small-circuit day, or split with others found in your hostel). Watch sunrise over Angkor Wat, then explore Bayon's giant faces and the tree-swallowed Ta Prohm. A licensed guide is optional — GetYourGuide and Klook sell small-group Angkor guides from ~£15–22pp, or use the free audio commentary and read up in advance. Have lunch at New Hope Vocational Training Restaurant in Siem Reap, the same social enterprise the tour visits — it trains former street youth and funds a local school and clinic; a set lunch runs ~£6–8. In the afternoon take a shared minivan to Kampong Chhnang (~£10–12, 4–5 hrs) and check into a riverside guesthouse. Note: from March to August water levels drop and Tonle Sap crossings can be replaced by road — the minivan route is unaffected.
🚌Tuk-tuk ~£15 (shared); shared minivan Siem Reap–Kampong Chhnang ~£11
🛏Riverside guesthouse Kampong Chhnang (~£10–14/night)
- →Angkor Wat sunrise (pass £29)
- →Bayon & Ta Prohm
- →New Hope training restaurant lunch
- →Self-bookable Angkor guide via GetYourGuide ~£18
Tonle Sap villages: Koh Chen & Kampong Chhnang
Kampong Chhnang & Koh Chen, Cambodia
Bypass the riverboat by hiring a local longtail boatman at the Kampong Chhnang ferry landing (~£12–18 for a 2–3 hour charter, negotiable, split with others). Glide across to Koh Chen island to see the silver and copper workshops, and time your visit so you can chat with one of the older residents about life under the Khmer Rouge — islanders are usually happy to talk. Back on shore, explore the pottery and sugar-palm workshops around Kampong Chhnang and the bustling river market. Rent a bicycle (~£2–3/day) to reach the surrounding workshops and fish-farming settlements. Dinner at one of the riverfront noodle spots.
🚌Local longtail boat charter ~£15 shared; bicycle hire £2.50
🛏Riverside guesthouse Kampong Chhnang (~£10–14/night)
- →Koh Chen island workshops
- →Kampong Chhnang market & pottery villages
- →Cycling the countryside
Kampong Tralach vihara, then Phnom Penh by cyclo
Kampong Chhnang → Phnom Penh
Early tuk-tuk south to Kampong Tralach (~£12 round trip) to visit Wat Kampong Tralach Leu, a gilded 19th-century vihara set among rice paddies — you can cycle, tuk-tuk or hire a buffalo cart to get there. Continue to Phnom Penh by shared taxi or minivan (~£6–8, 2 hrs). In the afternoon take a traditional cyclo tour with a driver on the street (roughly £4–6/hour; negotiate, or message a driver via the PassApp ride-hailing app) past Wat Phnom, the colonial post office and Royal Palace, finishing with a sundowner at the Foreign Correspondents Club rooftop on the riverfront.
🚌Tuk-tuk to Kampong Tralach ~£12; shared minivan to Phnom Penh ~£7; cyclo tour ~£8
🛏Budget hotel/hostel Phnom Penh riverside (~£14–20/night)
- →Wat Kampong Tralach Leu vihara
- →Buffalo cart or bike ride through paddies
- →Phnom Penh cyclo tour
- →FCC rooftop sunset
Phnom Penh: S-21, Killing Fields & Apsara
Phnom Penh, Cambodia
A sombre but essential day. Taxi or tuk-tuk first to Tuol Sleng Genocide Museum (S-21) (£4 entry) then Choeung Ek Killing Fields (£5 entry), ideally with the audio guide (~£2) — GetYourGuide runs combined guided half-days from ~£15–20pp if you prefer a guide. Spend the afternoon at the National Museum or the Royal Palace & Silver Pagoda (~£8.50 combined), or rummage through the Russian Market. In the evening book an Apsara dance performance and dinner — the nightly shows at the National Museum or a restaurant such as Sovanna run ~£10–15 including a set menu.
🚌Tuk-tuk between sites ~£8 for the day
🛏Budget hotel/hostel Phnom Penh riverside (~£14–20/night)
- →Tuol Sleng S-21 (£4)
- →Killing Fields (£5 + audio)
- →Royal Palace & Silver Pagoda
- →Apsara dinner show ~£12
Cross the border: Chau Doc, Tra Su & Sam Mountain
Phnom Penh → Chau Doc, Vietnam
Take an early shared minivan south to the Kaam Samnor–Vinh Xuong border (~£12–15, 2.5–3 hrs, e-visa ready on your phone — apply for the Vietnamese e-visa online 5+ days ahead, ~£20). Continue to Chau Doc (~£8, 1–1.5 hrs). In the afternoon hire a motorbike driver or tuk-tuk to Tra Su cajuput forest bird sanctuary (~£15 round trip, ~£4 entry) for the rowboat ride through the flooded forest, then climb Sam Mountain for sunset over the delta and rice fields on the Cambodian border. Eat at the night market.
🚌Shared minivan to border + onward minivan ~£22; motorbike/tuk-tuk to Tra Su & Sam Mountain ~£15
🛏Guesthouse in Chau Doc (~£12–16/night)
- →Tra Su Bird Sanctuary (~£4)
- →Sam Mountain sunset
- →Chau Doc night market
Down the delta: Sa Dec, Vinh Long & Cai Be
Chau Doc → Sa Dec → Cai Be
Work north-east along the delta by local express boat or shared minivan. Stop in Sa Dec to see Kien An Cung Pagoda and the riverfront market, plus the colonial-era merchant houses (the Marguerite Duras 'Lover' house is a five-minute walk from the market). Continue to Vinh Long (~£6), then hop a small local boat across to An Binh island (~£3 return) for rice-popping workshops and paths between orchard homesteads. Continue to Cai Be by local boat or bus (~£4) and settle into a homestay among the canals.
🚌Local buses/shared minivans and boats along the delta ~£15 total
🛏Mekong Delta homestay near Cai Be (~£12–18/night, usually with breakfast)
- →Kien An Cung Pagoda & Sa Dec market
- →Colonial merchant houses
- →An Binh island rice-popping workshop
- →Cai Be canal lanes
Cai Be floating market, Thoi Son Island & My Tho
Cai Be → My Tho
Be on the water by 6am for the Cai Be floating market — a local boat charter is ~£10–14 for two hours; skip any boat ride bundled with a 'tour' in the market and just hire a boatman at the landing. Then work east to My Tho by bus (~£4, 2 hrs). Visit Vinh Trang Pagoda's giant laughing Buddha, then take a local ferry to Thoi Son (Unicorn) Island to see coconut candy and honey-farm workshops with tastings and fruit, and listen to don ca tai tu folk musicians (~£6–10 for the boat and visits). Ask your homestay to arrange a home-cooked delta dinner — a fitting substitute for the Captain's dinner.
🚌Local bus Cai Be–My Tho ~£4; boats ~£12
🛏Budget hotel/homestay My Tho (~£12–18/night)
- →Cai Be floating market (early)
- →Vinh Trang Pagoda
- →Thoi Son Island workshops & folk music
My Tho to Ho Chi Minh City + Cu Chi Tunnels
My Tho → Ho Chi Minh City
Take a morning local bus or shared van into Ho Chi Minh City (~£4, 1.5–2 hrs) and check in to a District 1 hostel or budget hotel. In the afternoon book Cu Chi Tunnels: a GetYourGuide/Klook half-day tour from District 1 runs ~£16–22pp including transport and entry, or DIY it — city bus #13 to Cu Chi town plus a short motorbike ride (~£3 plus £4 entry). Back in the city, finish with a bowl of pho and a bia hoi on Bui Vien or a quieter rooftop.
🚌My Tho–HCMC bus ~£4; Cu Chi tour transport included or ~£4 by public bus
🛏Hostel/budget hotel District 1, HCMC (~£15–22/night)
- →Cu Chi Tunnels (~£4 entry or ~£18 tour)
- →Ben Thanh market
- →Pho & street-food crawl
Depart Ho Chi Minh City
Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam
Check out at whatever time suits your flight. If you have hours to spare, the War Remnants Museum (£1.50), Reunification Palace and the Fine Arts Museum make an easy morning. Take Grab or the #109 bus to Tan Son Nhat Airport (~£1–4).
🚌Grab/bus to airport ~£3
🛏—
- →War Remnants Museum (optional)
- →Departure
Self-launched vs. G Adventures
| This itinerary (self-launched) | G Adventures | |
|---|---|---|
| Price per person | ~£520 | £1,650 |
| Duration | 10 days | 10 days |
| Who books it | You and your group, direct | Tour operator, guided group |
| Savings | £1,130 per person (68%) | |
Estimate only, not a guaranteed price. Always verify costs independently before booking.
Want to see more G Adventures-style trips? Check them out here.~£520
estimated per person
You never pay Travel Crew for this — you pay hostels, transport, and activity providers directly, the same as if you'd booked it all yourself.
This publishes your dates so other travellers can find and join you — no tour operator needed.
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Frequently asked questions
How much does Mekong River Encompassed — Self-Launched: Siem Reap to Ho Chi Minh City cost?+
Doing it yourself with this self-launched itinerary costs an estimated £520 per person for 10 days in Cambodia & Vietnam (Mekong Delta). This is an AI-generated estimate based on typical budget-traveller prices — actual costs will vary by season and how you book.
Is this cheaper than booking with G Adventures?+
Yes — G Adventures charges around £1,650 per person for a similar tour. Doing the same route independently, using the same standard of accommodation and activities, costs an estimated £520 — a saving of roughly £1,130 (68%) per person.
How long is the Cambodia & Vietnam (Mekong Delta) trip?+
This itinerary runs 10 days, covering 10 day-by-day stops through Cambodia & Vietnam (Mekong Delta).
How do I join this trip?+
You can join an existing open departure using this itinerary if one is scheduled, or launch your own departure with your own dates and invite other travellers to join you — no tour operator required.
Isn't it easier to just use a tour operator?+
Well, yes, a tour operator will book all the individual parts of your travel for you and provide a guide. That's obvious, but doing this has the potential to save the group thousands, which can in turn improve your itinerary substantially or save you huge amounts of money. Also, when you launch a departure, Travel Crew has tools in place to help you book the individual sections of the trip or make it easier for you to do this as a group. Really, you do not need a middle man. If you are more comfortable paying more and using a middle man, then you should certainly do this.
Is it safer to book through a tour operator?+
Arguably, there isn't much difference. A self-launched trip runs on the same principle as a group travel crew: collective responsibility, everyone looking out for each other, the same way it would if a group of friends organised the trip themselves — because that's exactly what's happening. You should always take out travel insurance before you go, self-launched or not; that doesn't change either way. Every open departure is published publicly with real dates and a real trip organiser, so it's never an anonymous arrangement, and our support team is reachable any time you need help, including in an emergency while you're away. Longer-term, we're building direct relationships with ground DMCs in popular destinations, offered as an optional paid add-on for extra on-the-ground support. Ultimately, though, the group is responsible for its own conduct and safety on a self-launched trip, same as on any trip you plan yourself.
What kind of trip is this?+
This is a culture, budget, backpacker trip through Cambodia & Vietnam (Mekong Delta), self-launched rather than run by a tour operator — you organise it with a group you find or bring yourself.
Would you like to name the operator, name the trip, or have any suggestions about how to improve this itinerary?
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