Thailand & Vietnam: Mountains & Coastlines – Self-Launched
21 days · Thailand & Vietnam
G Adventures charges £2,100
No-markup version: ~£1,180 per person
Estimate only, not a guaranteed price. Always verify costs independently before booking.
A 21-day independent version of G Adventures' "Thailand & Vietnam: Mountains & Coastlines – Plus", running from Bangkok to Ho Chi Minh City. Same route — Bangkok canals, the River Kwai, Erawan's turquoise falls, Sukhothai by bike, Chiang Mai street food, then Hanoi, Nha Trang's beaches, Phong Nha caves, Hue, Hoi An and Saigon — but self-booked using hostels and guesthouses, local buses, overnight trains and cheap flights. Costs are approximate backpacker-level estimates in GBP.
Day-by-day
Arrive Bangkok
Bangkok, Thailand
Land at Suvarnabhumi or Don Mueang and take the Airport Rail Link (45 THB, ~£1) or a metered taxi (~350 THB) into the Khao San / Banglamphu area. Check into a hostel dorm, grab your first pad thai from a street cart, and wander the riverside at sunset to shake off the jet lag.
🚌Airport Rail Link + walking, ~£2
🛏Hostel dorm in Banglamphu, ~£10/night
- →Airport Rail Link to city
- →Khao San Road evening stroll
- →Street food dinner
Bangkok temples & klongs
Bangkok, Thailand
Do the Wat Pho and klong tour independently: walk to Tha Chang pier and hire a longtail boat for the back canals (~1,200 THB split between travellers, or join a Klook shared klong tour for ~£12). Enter Wat Pho for the Reclining Buddha (200 THB) and cross to Wat Arun by the 4 THB river ferry at sunset.
🚌Chao Phraya ferries + walking, ~£3
🛏Hostel dorm in Banglamphu, ~£10/night
- →Longtail klong boat tour
- →Wat Pho Reclining Buddha
- →Wat Arun river crossing
Bangkok to Kanchanaburi — Bridge on the River Kwai
Kanchanaburi, Thailand
Take a minivan from Mo Chit or the Southern Bus Terminal to Kanchanaburi (~2.5 hrs, 150 THB). Ride the historic Burma Railway train across the Bridge on the River Kwai (100 THB). Bed down in one of the floating raft houses on the river.
🚌Minivan Bangkok–Kanchanaburi, ~£4
🛏Floating guesthouse on the Kwai, ~£12/night
- →Local train over the River Kwai bridge
- →War cemetery visit
- →Riverside raft house evening
Erawan Waterfall & Seven Tiers
Erawan National Park, Thailand
Bus or songthaew out to Erawan National Park (entry 300 THB). Hike the jungle trail to all seven tiers of turquoise pools and swim in the emerald water. Return to Kanchanaburi for dinner on the night market.
🚌Local bus to Erawan, ~£4
🛏Guesthouse in Kanchanaburi, ~£12/night
- →Erawan Waterfall hike and swim
- →Night market dinner
Kanchanaburi to Sukhothai
Sukhothai, Thailand
A long travel day: bus or minivan via Bangkok to Sukhothai (~7 hrs total). Arrive by evening and stay in New Sukhothai near the bus station.
🚌Bus via Bangkok, ~£14
🛏Guesthouse in New Sukhothai, ~£11/night
- →Scenic overland travel day
Sukhothai Historical Park by bike
Sukhothai, Thailand
Rent a bicycle (~50 THB/day) and explore the UNESCO Historical Park — Wat Mahathat, giant seated Buddhas and lotus ponds. Evening at the Sukhothai night market with local specialties.
🚌Bicycle rental, ~£1
🛏Guesthouse in New Sukhothai, ~£11/night
- →Bicycle tour of Historical Park
- →Wat Mahathat visit
- →Night market street food
Sukhothai to Chiang Mai
Chiang Mai, Thailand
Bus to Chiang Mai (~5 hrs). Settle into the Old City and head straight for the Sunday Walking Street or Night Bazaar for khao soi and mango sticky rice.
🚌Bus Sukhothai–Chiang Mai, ~£10
🛏Hostel dorm in the Old City, ~£9/night
- →Old City wander
- →Street food crawl
- →Night market
Chiang Mai — temples, markets & cooking class
Chiang Mai, Thailand
Morning climb up Doi Suthep for city views. In the afternoon book a half-day Thai cooking class (GetYourGuide/Klook, ~£28) that includes a market visit, or a Night Bazaar-focused street-food crawl with a local guide.
🚌Songthaew and walking, ~£3
🛏Hostel dorm in the Old City, ~£9/night
- →Doi Suthep temple
- →Thai cooking class with market visit
Chiang Mai to Hanoi
Hanoi, Vietnam
Fly from Chiang Mai to Hanoi (budget airline VietJet/AirAsia, ~£55 booked ahead). Take the airport bus #86 into the Old City (~30,000 VND) and find a dorm in the Hoan Kiem area.
🚌Flight + airport bus, ~£58
🛏Hostel dorm in Old Quarter, ~£10/night
- →Flight to Vietnam
- →Hanoi Old Quarter evening walk
- →Beer corner on Ta Hien street
Hanoi — Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum & Hoan Kiem
Hanoi, Vietnam
Walk the Hoan Kiem lake circuit at dawn, visit the Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum complex and the Temple of Literature. In the afternoon take a grab-bike to Tran Quoc Pagoda on Tay Ho's eastern shore (~£1 ride, free entry).
🚌Grab bikes and walking, ~£3
🛏Hostel dorm in Old Quarter, ~£10/night
- →Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum
- →Temple of Literature
- →Tran Quoc Pagoda
Hanoi to Phong Nha caves
Phong Nha, Vietnam
Take the overnight or day train from Hanoi to Dong Hoi (~£18, ~10 hrs) or a sleeper bus to Phong Nha village. Set up base in the town of Phong Nha, gateway to the caves.
🚌Train Hanoi–Dong Hoi, ~£18
🛏Guesthouse in Phong Nha, ~£9/night
- →Sleeper train along the coast
- →Arrive Phong Nha village
Phong Nha — Paradise Cave & boardwalks
Phong Nha-Ke Bang, Vietnam
Book a DIY motorbike or shared tour to Paradise Cave, the longest dry cave in Asia, and walk the wooden boardwalk past massive white crystal stalactites (entry ~250,000 VND). Optional afternoon dip at the Botanic Garden and dark cave zipline.
🚌Motorbike rental or shared tour, ~£6
🛏Guesthouse in Phong Nha, ~£9/night
- →Paradise Cave boardwalk
- →Phong Nha Botanic Garden swim
- →Dark Cave zipline (optional)
Phong Nha to Hue
Hue, Vietnam
Bus from Phong Nha to Hue (~4 hrs, ~£6). Check into a riverside guesthouse, then explore the Imperial Citadel (entry ~200,000 VND) and the Perfume River embankment at dusk.
🚌Local bus, ~£6
🛏Guesthouse in Hue, ~£9/night
- →Imperial Citadel
- →Dong Ba market
- →Perfume River sunset
Hue motorbike tour & noodle cooking class
Hue, Vietnam
Hire a motorbike driver guide (Grab or a hostel-arranged rider, ~£18 for a half-day) to tour the Tomb of Tu Duc and Thien Mu Pagoda — the classic Hue motorbike experience. In the afternoon join a bun bo Hue cooking class (~£18) covering the city's famously diverse noodles.
🚌Motorbike driver hire, ~£18
🛏Guesthouse in Hue, ~£9/night
- →Motorbike driver tour of royal tombs
- →Bun bo Hue noodle cooking class
Hue to Hoi An via Hai Van Pass
Hoi An, Vietnam
Take the scenic train or a shared car over the Hai Van Pass to Danang, then a local bus to Hoi An (~£8 total). Evening wander through Hoi An's lantern-lit Old Town.
🚌Train/shared car + bus, ~£8
🛏Hostel dorm in Hoi An, ~£8/night
- →Hai Van Pass coastal route
- →Hoi An Old Town lantern evening
Hoi An Old Town & cooking
Hoi An, Vietnam
Self-guided walking tour of the Old Town: Japanese Covered Bridge, Tan Ky ancestral house, and Chinese assembly halls (combined ticket ~120,000 VND). Afternoon cycle to An Bang or Cua Dai beach, then a Hoi An market-to-table cooking class (~£22).
🚌Bicycle rental, ~£1
🛏Hostel dorm in Hoi An, ~£8/night
- →Old Town walking tour
- →Beach cycle
- →Hoi An cooking class
Hoi An to Nha Trang
Nha Trang, Vietnam
Overnight sleeper bus or train from Danang to Nha Trang (~£22, 10–12 hrs). Arrive refreshed and settle into a guesthouse a few streets back from the beach.
🚌Sleeper train/bus, ~£22
🛏Guesthouse in Nha Trang, ~£10/night
- →Sleeper train along the coast
Nha Trang beach day
Nha Trang, Vietnam
Relax on the long city beach, or take a cheap local boat to Hon Mun or Hon Tre for snorkelling (~£15 with boat and lunch). Evening at the Nha Trang night market for seafood barbecue.
🚌Local taxi/boat, ~£6
🛏Guesthouse in Nha Trang, ~£10/night
- →Beach day
- →Island snorkelling boat trip (optional)
- →Seafood night market
Nha Trang to Ho Chi Minh City
Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam
Fly or take the comfortable day train/bus south to Saigon (~£35 flight or ~£20 train). Arrive and check into a District 1 hostel near Bui Vien.
🚌Flight/train, ~£35
🛏Hostel dorm in District 1, ~£10/night
- →Travel to Saigon
- →Pham Ngu Lao evening
Saigon — Cu Chi tunnels & city
Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam
Half-day Cu Chi Tunnels tour (~£12, bookable on Klook) plus city sights: War Remnants Museum (~40,000 VND), Reunification Palace and Ben Thanh Market. Dinner on the Bui Vien backpacker strip.
🚌Tour bus + Grab, ~£6
🛏Hostel dorm in District 1, ~£10/night
- →Cu Chi Tunnels tour
- →War Remnants Museum
- →Ben Thanh Market
Depart Ho Chi Minh City
Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam
Final morning for last-minute banh mi and souvenir hunting, then bus #109 or taxi to Tan Son Nhat Airport for your flight home.
🚌Bus #109 to airport, ~£1
🛏—
- →Last banh mi breakfast
- →Airport transfer
Self-launched vs. G Adventures
| This itinerary (self-launched) | G Adventures | |
|---|---|---|
| Price per person | ~£1,180 | £2,100 |
| Duration | 21 days | 21 days |
| Who books it | You and your group, direct | Tour operator, guided group |
| Savings | £920 per person (44%) | |
Estimate only, not a guaranteed price. Always verify costs independently before booking.
Want to see more G Adventures-style trips? Check them out here.~£1,180
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 Thailand & Vietnam: Mountains & Coastlines – Self-Launched cost?+
Doing it yourself with this self-launched itinerary costs an estimated £1,180 per person for 21 days in Thailand & Vietnam. 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 £2,100 per person for a similar tour. Doing the same route independently, using the same standard of accommodation and activities, costs an estimated £1,180 — a saving of roughly £920 (44%) per person.
How long is the Thailand & Vietnam trip?+
This itinerary runs 21 days, covering 21 day-by-day stops through Thailand & Vietnam.
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 backpacker, gap-year, budget trip through Thailand & Vietnam, 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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