Indochina Self-Launched: Vientiane to Luang Prabang, Hanoi, Halong, Hoi An, Mekong, Angkor Wat & Phnom Penh

Land at Wattay airport and take a shared tuk-tuk or the airport bus (about £1) into the centre. Check into a guesthouse near Nam Phu fountain. Do your own orientation loop on foot: Patuxay Monument, the French colonial shophouses along Samphanet Road, Wat Si Muang, and finish with a Beerlao on the Mekong riverside promenade watching the sun drop over Thailand on the far bank.

🚌Airport bus or shared tuk-tuk from Wattay (~£1); everything else on foot

🛏Budget guesthouse/hostel dorm or private room near Nam Phu, Vientiane (~£9)

• →Self-guided walk: Patuxay Monument
• →Wat Si Muang
• →Mekong riverside sunset
• →Vientiane Night Market (if open)

Morning DIY temple circuit: Wat Sisaket (the city's oldest temple, with thousands of Buddha images), Wat Phra Keo (now the religious art museum), That Luang Stupa and the morning market (Talat Sao). Afternoon at the Lao National Museum. In the evening, take the overnight sleeper VIP bus from Vientiane's Southern Bus Terminal to Luang Prabang (approx 11–12 hours, ~£18–22) — cheaper than the flight the tour uses and saves a night's accommodation.

🚌Overnight VIP sleeper bus Vientiane → Luang Prabang (~£20)

🛏Overnight sleeper bus (reclining berth included in ticket)

• →Wat Sisaket entry (10,000 kip)
• →Wat Phra Keo
• →That Luang Stupa
• →Talat Sao morning market
• →Lao National Museum

Arrive early morning and check in. Book a shared slow-boat Mekong trip to the Pak Ou caves (the operator runs these from the boat landing near Wat Xieng Thong, ~£12–15 including stops). Stop at Ban Muangkeo whisky village for a shot of Lao-Lao rice whisky, then cross to Ban Xangkhong for paper-making and silk weaving. Alternatively book the same trip via GetYourGuide the night before. Sunset from Mount Phousi (20,000 kip) and the Night Market on Sisavangvong Road afterwards.

🚌Shared Mekong longtail boat to Pak Ou (~£13)

🛏Hostel or guesthouse in Luang Prabang old town (~£10)

• →Pak Ou Caves boat trip
• →Ban Muangkeo whisky village
• →Ban Xangkhong silk & paper village
• →Mount Phousi sunset (20,000 kip)
• →Luang Prabang Night Market

Set an alarm for the 05:30 tak bat alms-giving along Sisavangvong Road — sit respectfully on the pavement, keep your head below the monks' and don't photograph with flash. Then the Royal Palace National Museum (closed Tuesdays), the Central Market and a coffee by the Mekong. Afternoon flight Luang Prabang → Hanoi on Lao Airlines or Vietnam Airlines (~£60–75 booked ahead); note the operator quoted US$95 for the same leg. Land in Hanoi and take bus 86 or a Grab into the Old Quarter (~£3).

🚌Lao Airlines/Vietnam Airlines Luang Prabang → Hanoi (~£65); Bus 86 into the city (~£3)

🛏Hostel dorm or budget hotel in Hanoi Old Quarter (~£8)

• →Sunrise monk alms collection
• →Royal Palace National Museum
• →Luang Prabang Central Market
• →Old Quarter evening wander & bia hoi corner

Self-guided day covering the tour's optional Hanoi itinerary. Walk or Grab between: Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum complex and stilt house (free, mornings only, closed Mon/Fri), One Pillar Pagoda, Temple of Literature (30,000 dong), Hoa Lo Prison (30,000 dong), Tran Quoc Pagoda and a loop of West Lake, then Hoan Kiem Lake and Ngoc Son Temple. Book a Thang Long water puppet show ticket (from ~£4) at the theatre or via Klook for the evening. Eat bun cha for lunch and pho bo for dinner.

🚌Walking plus a couple of Grab rides (~£4 total)

🛏Hostel dorm or budget hotel in Hanoi Old Quarter (~£8)

• →Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum & stilt house (free)
• →One Pillar Pagoda
• →Temple of Literature
• →Hoa Lo Prison
• →Tran Quoc Pagoda & West Lake
• →Hoan Kiem Lake / Ngoc Son Temple
• →Water puppet theatre (~£4)

Book a 2-day/1-night Halong Bay cruise independently on Klook or GetYourGuide — the mid-range budget boats (not luxury) run about £95–120 per person including transfers from Hanoi Old Quarter, all meals, kayaking, a cooking demo and a cave visit. The coach picks you up around 08:00. Afternoon of kayaking near the floating pearl farm, a swim and climb at Titop Island, and sunset on the sundeck. Squid fishing off the stern after dinner is free.

🚌Shuttle coach Hanoi → Halong included in cruise package

🛏Twin/dorm cabin on a budget Halong Bay junk boat (included in cruise price)

• →Kayaking at Pearl Farm Village
• →Titop Island swim & viewpoint climb
• →Cooking class demonstration
• →Sunset party & squid fishing

Tai chi on the sundeck at dawn, then Sung Sot (Surprise) Cave before brunch and the coach back to Hanoi. Use the afternoon to pick up laundry and a banh mi, then board the Reunification Express (SE3/SE19 sleeper) from Hanoi station at around 19:30, arriving Hue about 14 hours later. Book a soft-sleeper 4-berth online on dsvn.vn or via 12Go Asia for roughly £25–30.

🚌Halong → Hanoi shuttle (included); Reunification Express soft sleeper Hanoi → Hue (~£28)

🛏Overnight soft-sleeper train Hanoi → Hue

• →Tai chi on sun deck
• →Sung Sot (Surprise) Cave
• →Brunch on board
• →Overnight train experience

Arrive Hue mid-morning, drop bags and cycle or Grab out to the Tomb of Tu Duc (150,000 dong) and Tu Hieu Pagoda, the monks' pagoda made famous by Thich Nhat Hanh. Then take a shared limousine van or open bus over the Hai Van Pass to Da Nang (~£6–8, 3 hours), stopping at the Marble Mountains (40,000 dong) and the Cham Museum (60,000 dong) if you split the journey. Continue 45 minutes south to Hoi An and check into a riverside homestay.

🚌Bicycle/Grab in Hue (~£2); shared limousine van Hue → Hoi An via Hai Van Pass (~£7)

🛏Hoi An homestay or hostel in the ancient town (~£10)

• →Tomb of Emperor Tu Duc
• →Tu Hieu Pagoda
• →Hai Van Pass drive
• →Marble Mountains
• →Cham Museum (optional)

Buy the 120,000 dong old-town ticket (5 heritage sites) and do the loop yourself: Japanese Covered Bridge, Tan Ky House, the Pottery Museum, Chua Ong Pagoda and Hoi An Market. Afternoon free — rent a bike (£1) for the rice paddies and An Bang beach, or book a half-day cooking class (~£15–20 via Klook) which many solo travellers rate as the highlight. Evening: lanterns along the Thu Bon river and cao lau noodles for dinner.

🚌Bicycle rental (~£1)

🛏Hoi An homestay or hostel in the ancient town (~£10)

• →Hoi An old-town ticket: Japanese Covered Bridge, Tan Ky House, Pottery Museum, Chua Ong Pagoda
• →Hoi An Market
• →Optional cooking class (~£18)
• →An Bang beach by bike

Take the local shuttle or Grab to Da Nang airport (30–40 min, ~£4) and fly VietJet or Bamboo Airways to Ho Chi Minh City (~£30–45 one way if booked ahead; the operator quoted US$115). Alternatively the Reunification Express from Da Nang to Saigon takes about 20 hours in a soft sleeper for ~£30. Land at Tan Son Nhat, take Grab bike or bus 109 into District 1, and spend the evening on Bui Vien walking street or eating at a District 4 street-food stall.

🚌Grab to Da Nang airport (~£4); VietJet/Bamboo flight to SGN (~£38); Grab into the city (~£3)

🛏Hostel dorm in District 1 or Pham Ngu Lao (~£8)

• →Bui Vien walking street
• →District 4 street food
• →Ben Thanh night market

Book a half-day Cu Chi Tunnels tour on Klook or GetYourGuide (~£15–18 including transport and guide) for the morning — the tunnel section is 70km out of town so a group minibus is far cheaper than DIY. Afternoon self-guided city walk: Reunification Palace (65,000 dong), Notre Dame Cathedral exterior, the Old Saigon Post Office, Jade Emperor Pagoda and the War Remnants Museum (40,000 dong, very affecting). Finish at Ben Thanh Market.

🚌Shared minibus for Cu Chi (included in tour); walking plus Grab (~£3)

🛏Hostel dorm in District 1 or Pham Ngu Lao (~£8)

• →Cu Chi Tunnels half-day tour (~£16)
• →Reunification Palace
• →War Remnants Museum
• →Notre Dame Cathedral & Old Post Office
• →Jade Emperor Pagoda
• →Ben Thanh Market

Join a small-group Mekong Delta day trip via Klook or GetYourGuide (~£20–28) — this matches the operator's included excursion to Vinh Trang Pagoda, a boat ride on the Mekong, Unicorn Island orchards, fruit tasting, a Ben Tre coconut-candy workshop and a bicycle loop through village lanes. Traditional southern Vietnamese music (don ca tai tu) is performed at the orchard stop. Back in Saigon by early evening.

🚌Shared minibus and Mekong boat included in day trip

🛏Hostel dorm in District 1 or Pham Ngu Lao (~£8)

• →Vinh Trang Pagoda
• →My Tho boat excursion
• →Unicorn Island orchard walk & fruit tasting
• →Ben Tre coconut workshops
• →Traditional music performance
• →Village bicycle ride

The tour flies, but the classic backpacker route is the direct long-distance bus from Saigon's Pham Ngu Lao to Phnom Penh (~£12–16, 6–7 hours with Giant Ibis or Kumho Samco, frequent departures, visa assistance on board). Alternatively fly for ~£45. In Phnom Penh, check in near the riverside, then walk the Sisowath Quay promenade, Wat Phnom and the evening food stalls. Sort out your e-visa online in advance (~£28) to avoid border-agent fees.

🚌Giant Ibis/Kumho bus Saigon → Phnom Penh (~£14)

🛏Hostel dorm or guesthouse near Sisowath Quay (~£8)

• →Sisowath Quay riverside walk
• →Wat Phnom
• →Central Market (Phsar Thmei)
• →Riverside night market

Book the audio guide at Tuol Sleng Genocide Museum (S-21) and take a tuk-tuk 15km out to Choeung Ek Killing Fields (~£4 each way by tuk-tuk, or join a shared half-day tour ~£12). Both are heavy, so pair them with something lighter afterwards: the National Museum (Khmer art, ~£2.50), the Royal University of Fine Arts dance rehearsal if you can catch one, and Russian Market for souvenirs. Dinner at a riverside restaurant with a traditional Apsara dance performance (many restaurants run free shows with dinner).

🚌Tuk-tuk to Choeng Ek and around town (~£8 total)

🛏Hostel dorm or guesthouse near Sisowath Quay (~£8)

• →Tuol Sleng Genocide Museum
• →Killing Fields of Choeung Ek
• →National Museum
• →Royal University of Fine Arts (Apsara dance)
• →Russian Market

Take the local bus or shared minivan from Phnom Penh to Siem Reap (~£12–15, 6 hours with Giant Ibis or Virak Buntham) — the same road the tour's coach uses. Sleep, then use the afternoon to buy your Angkor pass at the ticket office (1-day $37, 3-day $62; the 3-day is often better value if you want a slow pace) and pick up a bicycle or rent a scooter for the temples. Evening: Pub Street or the quieter Wat Bo area food stalls.

🚌Giant Ibis/Virak Buntham bus Phnom Penh → Siem Reap (~£14)

🛏Hostel or guesthouse near Wat Bo / central Siem Reap (~£9)

• →Angkor ticket office (pass purchase)
• →Siem Reap old market
• →Wat Bo area food stalls

Rent a tuk-tuk driver for the day (~£18–22 for the whole vehicle, so £10–11 each if you share with hostel-mates, or ~£15 solo) and run the small circuit at your own pace: Angkor Wat before 07:00 for the dawn light, then Angkor Thom's South Gate, Bayon's smiling faces, Phimeanakas and the Royal Enclosure, the Terrace of the Elephants and Terrace of the Leper King, and Ta Prohm's jungle-strangled walls. End with sunset from Pre Rup. A licensed guide for the day adds ~£35; a good guidebook app does the job too.

🚌Private tuk-tuk for the full circuit (~£16 shared or ~£18 solo)

🛏Hostel or guesthouse near Wat Bo / central Siem Reap (~£9)

• →Angkor Wat sunrise
• →Angkor Thom South Gate
• →Bayon Temple
• →Phimeanakas & Royal Enclosure
• →Terrace of the Elephants & Leper King
• →Ta Prohm
• →Pre Rup sunset

Morning half-day trip to Tonle Sap lake to see the floating village of Kompong Khleang or Kompong Phluk by shared boat (~£15–20 through your hostel or GetYourGuide) — floating homes, schools and shops depending on the season's water level. Back in town by early afternoon to buy last-minute souvenirs at the Old Market and catch your onward flight from Siem Reap airport. If your flight is late, watch sunset over the Srah Srang baray from a tuk-tuk.

🚌Tuk-tuk to Tonle Sap and airport (~£8)

🛏None (departure day)

• →Tonle Sap floating village boat trip (~£17)
• →Kompong Khleang floating schools
• →Old Market souvenir shopping