Best of Vietnam & Cambodia – Self-Guided

Arrive at Noi Bai International Airport. Take the 86 public bus or a pre-booked airport minivan (~£2–4) into the Old Quarter. Check into your hostel, get oriented, and explore the narrow lanes of the 36 Streets on foot. Grab a bowl of pho and a bia hoi (street beer) to kick things off.

🚌Airport bus 86 or minivan to Old Quarter – ~£2–4

🛏Hostel dorm in the Old Quarter (e.g. Little Charm Hanoi Hostel or Vietnam Backpacker Hostels) – ~£8–12/night

• →Explore Hanoi Old Quarter on foot
• →Visit Hoan Kiem Lake and Ngoc Son Temple
• →Try street food: pho, bun cha, banh mi
• →Bia Hoi corner for cheap local beer

Spend a full day soaking up Hanoi's history and culture. Visit the Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum complex, the Temple of Literature, and the Vietnam Museum of Ethnology. In the evening, catch a traditional Vietnamese water puppet show at the Thang Long Theatre — bookable directly at the door for ~£3.

🚌Walking and local taxi/Grab app – ~£3

🛏Hostel dorm in the Old Quarter – ~£8–12/night

• →Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum & One Pillar Pagoda (free/~£1)
• →Temple of Literature (~£1.50 entry)
• →Vietnam Museum of Ethnology (~£2 entry)
• →Water Puppet Show at Thang Long Theatre (~£3)

Take a booked shuttle bus from Hanoi to Ha Long Bay (~3.5 hrs, £5–8). Board a budget cruise for a 2-day/1-night trip through the UNESCO-listed karst seascape. Budget cruises include meals, kayaking, and cave visits. Book in advance via GetYourGuide or direct with operators like Indochina Junk or Bhaya alternatives.

🚌Shuttle bus Hanoi to Ha Long – ~£6

🛏Included on overnight cruise boat – budget cabin ~£55–70 for 2D/1N all-in

• →Shuttle bus Hanoi → Ha Long Bay
• →Board overnight cruise boat
• →Kayaking through limestone karsts
• →Visit Surprising Cave (Hang Sung Sot)
• →Sunset on deck with included meals

Morning activities on the bay — swim, kayak, or watch the sunrise from deck. Check out after lunch and take the return shuttle to Hanoi. Rest at the hostel or explore any remaining Hanoi sights. Prepare for the overnight train to Hue.

🚌Return shuttle Ha Long → Hanoi (~£6), Reunification Express overnight train Hanoi → Hue (~£20)

🛏Overnight train sleeper cabin to Hue (~£18–25 soft sleeper)

• →Morning kayaking or swimming
• →Sunrise on deck
• →Return shuttle to Hanoi
• →Book and board overnight train to Hue

Arrive in Hue by morning after the overnight train. Check into your guesthouse and freshen up. Spend the day exploring the Imperial Citadel and the Forbidden Purple City — Vietnam's answer to Beijing's Forbidden City. Hire a bicycle (£2/day) to explore at your own pace. Try Hue's famous bun bo Hue (spicy beef noodle soup) for lunch.

🚌Arrive by overnight train, bicycle hire locally – ~£2

🛏Budget guesthouse or hostel in Hue – ~£8–14/night

• →Imperial Citadel & Forbidden Purple City (~£7 entry)
• →Thien Mu Pagoda (free)
• →Rent a bicycle to explore (~£2/day)
• →Try bun bo Hue at a local restaurant

Hire a motorbike or join a shared 'Easy Rider' motorbike tour to visit the Royal Tombs of Tu Duc and Minh Mang (~£3–5 each). Optional: book a shared minibus DMZ tour (Demilitarised Zone) — bookable at any local travel agent for ~£12–18 — to visit Khe Sanh, the Ben Hai River, and Vinh Moc tunnels.

🚌Motorbike hire ~£6/day or Easy Rider shared tour

🛏Budget guesthouse or hostel in Hue – ~£8–14/night

• →Royal Tomb of Tu Duc (~£4 entry)
• →Royal Tomb of Minh Mang (~£4 entry)
• →Optional DMZ shared tour (~£15)
• →Dong Ba Market for local shopping

Take a local open-tour bus or book a private transfer over the spectacular Hai Van Pass to Hoi An (~3.5 hrs, £5–10). The pass offers breathtaking coastal views — ask to stop at the top for photos. Arrive in Hoi An, check in, and wander the lantern-lit Ancient Town in the evening.

🚌Open-tour bus or shared minivan Hue → Hoi An via Hai Van Pass – ~£7

🛏Hostel or guesthouse in or near Hoi An Ancient Town – ~£9–15/night

• →Scenic drive over Hai Van Pass
• →Arrive and check into Hoi An
• →Explore Hoi An Ancient Town (entry ticket ~£3.50)
• →Japanese Covered Bridge
• →Evening lantern-lit streets and riverside bars

Hoi An is famous for its tailors, food, and nearby beaches. Spend the morning getting measured at a tailor (budget £20–40 for a custom garment). Rent a bicycle (~£2) and cycle to An Bang Beach in the afternoon. In the evening, consider a street food tour or cooking class bookable via GetYourGuide (~£20–25).

🚌Bicycle hire – ~£2

🛏Hostel or guesthouse in Hoi An – ~£9–15/night

• →Visit a local tailor (~£20–40 optional)
• →Cycle to An Bang Beach (~£2 bike hire)
• →Street food walking tour or cooking class via GetYourGuide (~£22)
• →Cao Lau noodles for lunch (local dish)

Take a Grab or taxi to Da Nang Airport (~30 mins, ~£6) and catch a budget domestic flight to Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon) with VietJet, Bamboo, or Vietnam Airlines (~£25–45 booked in advance). Arrive in HCMC, catch the 109 airport bus or a Grab to District 1. Check in and explore the lively Bui Vien backpacker street.

🚌Grab to Da Nang Airport (~£6) + budget domestic flight (~£35) + airport bus 109 to D1 (~£1)

🛏Hostel dorm in District 1 (e.g. The Common Room Project or Saigon Backpacker Hostel) – ~£8–14/night

• →Transfer to Da Nang Airport
• →Budget flight to Ho Chi Minh City
• →Check in to hostel in District 1
• →Explore Bui Vien Walking Street
• →Ben Thanh Market visit

Start the day at the War Remnants Museum — one of Southeast Asia's most powerful and important museums (~£2 entry). In the afternoon, take a shared half-day tour to the Cu Chi Tunnels (~£10–15 via GetYourGuide or local agents), the underground network used by Viet Cong during the Vietnam War. Return to HCMC for a rooftop bar sunset.

🚌Grab rides + shared Cu Chi tour transport – ~£5

🛏Hostel dorm in District 1 – ~£8–14/night

• →War Remnants Museum (~£2)
• →Reunification Palace (~£2)
• →Shared half-day tour to Cu Chi Tunnels (~£12)
• →Rooftop bar in District 1 for sunset

Join a shared day trip to the Mekong Delta (~£15–20 via GetYourGuide or local guesthouses). Visit floating markets, rice paper and coconut candy workshops, and ride sampan boats through narrow canals. This is one of the most rewarding day trips from HCMC. Return to the city by evening.

🚌Included in shared day tour from HCMC – ~£18 total

🛏Hostel dorm in District 1 – ~£8–14/night

• →Shared Mekong Delta day tour (~£18)
• →Sampan boat ride through canals
• →Visit floating markets
• →Rice paper and coconut candy factory visits
• →Local lunch included in most tours

Take a shared bus from Phạm Ngũ Lão Street (District 1) to Phnom Penh, Cambodia (~6–7 hrs including border crossing at Moc Bai/Bavet, ~£10–15 with Mekong Express or Giant Ibis). Obtain your Cambodia e-visa in advance (£28). Arrive in Phnom Penh by early evening and explore the riverside promenade.

🚌Shared bus with Mekong Express or Giant Ibis – ~£12

🛏Hostel or budget guesthouse near riverside Phnom Penh – ~£8–14/night

• →Shared bus Ho Chi Minh City → Phnom Penh (~£12)
• →Vietnam/Cambodia border crossing (Moc Bai/Bavet)
• →Check into Phnom Penh hostel
• →Riverfront Promenade evening walk
• →Dinner at riverside restaurant

A deeply important and moving day. Visit the Tuol Sleng Genocide Museum (S-21 Prison) and the Choeung Ek Killing Fields to understand Cambodia's tragic recent history under the Khmer Rouge. In the afternoon, visit the stunning Royal Palace and Silver Pagoda. Audio guides available at both genocide sites — highly recommended.

🚌Tuk-tuk or Grab rides around city – ~£5

🛏Hostel or budget guesthouse in Phnom Penh – ~£8–14/night

• →Tuol Sleng Genocide Museum / S-21 Prison (~£5 + audio guide)
• →Choeung Ek Killing Fields (~£6 incl. audio guide)
• →Royal Palace & Silver Pagoda (~£6.50)
• →National Museum of Cambodia (~£5)

Take the Giant Ibis or Mekong Express bus from Phnom Penh to Siem Reap (~6 hrs, ~£10–12) — the most comfortable and reliable option. Arrive in the afternoon, check into your hostel near Pub Street, and explore the vibrant night market and Angkor Night Market in the evening.

🚌Giant Ibis or Mekong Express bus – ~£11

🛏Hostel dorm in Siem Reap (e.g. Mad Monkey or One Stop Hostel) – ~£6–12/night

• →Bus Phnom Penh → Siem Reap (~£11 Giant Ibis)
• →Check into hostel near Old Market
• →Explore Pub Street and Night Market
• →Angkor Night Market

The highlight of the trip. Rise before dawn and hire a tuk-tuk (~£12–15/day for full Angkor circuit) to reach Angkor Wat for sunrise — one of the world's great travel experiences. Spend the day exploring Angkor Thom, the Bayon temple, and Ta Prohm (the 'Tomb Raider' temple overgrown with tree roots). A 1-day Angkor pass costs £32. Stay hydrated and wear sunscreen!

🚌Tuk-tuk hire for full day Angkor circuit – ~£13

🛏Hostel dorm in Siem Reap – ~£6–12/night

• →Angkor Wat sunrise
• →Angkor Thom & The Bayon
• →Ta Prohm (Tomb Raider temple)
• →Baphuon Temple
• →Terrace of the Elephants

Use your Angkor pass or upgrade to a 3-day pass (£55) to explore the outlying temples — Banteay Srei (the 'Citadel of Women', famous for intricate pink sandstone carvings) and Pre Rup. In the afternoon, arrange a tuk-tuk to Tonle Sap Lake to see the remarkable floating villages (~£8–12 boat trip). Sunset over the lake is spectacular.

🚌Tuk-tuk hire – ~£13

🛏Hostel dorm in Siem Reap – ~£6–12/night

• →Banteay Srei temple (~30km from Siem Reap)
• →Pre Rup and East Mebon temples
• →Tonle Sap floating village boat tour (~£10)
• →Sunset over Tonle Sap Lake

A relaxed final full day. Visit the Artisans Angkor workshop (free entry) to see traditional Khmer crafts being made and pick up ethical souvenirs. Treat yourself to a traditional Khmer massage (~£6–8/hr). Browse the Old Market (Psar Chas) for last-minute shopping. Enjoy a farewell dinner of Khmer amok curry at a local restaurant.

🚌Tuk-tuk or walking – ~£3

🛏Hostel dorm in Siem Reap – ~£6–12/night

• →Artisans Angkor workshop (free)
• →Traditional Khmer massage (~£7)
• →Old Market (Psar Chas) shopping
• →Farewell dinner: Khmer amok curry
• →Pub Street for final night out

Check out and take a tuk-tuk to Siem Reap International Airport (~£5). Depending on your flight time, you may have a few hours to grab a final Cambodian iced coffee (kafe tuk doh ko) and reflect on an incredible 18-day journey. Most travellers connect via Bangkok, Kuala Lumpur, or Singapore for onward international flights.

🚌Tuk-tuk to airport – ~£5

• →Final breakfast at local café
• →Tuk-tuk to Siem Reap Airport (~£5)
• →Depart Siem Reap