Epic Vietnam to Cambodia: Self-Launched Adventure

Touch down in Vietnam's buzzing capital. Check into a hostel in the Old Quarter — the heart of backpacker Hanoi — and orient yourself with a self-guided walk around Hoan Kiem Lake and the 36 Streets. The welcome meeting Intrepid runs on Day 1 is replaced by simply reading up on your onward journey tonight. Grab a bia hoi (draught beer, ~30p a glass) at a plastic-stool street stall on Ta Hien Street and soak it all in.

🚌Taxi or bus from Noi Bai Airport to Old Quarter (~£3–6 by bus 86, or ~£8 by Grab taxi)

🛏Old Quarter hostel dorm (e.g. Hanoi Backpackers Hostel, Old Quarter) — ~£10/night

• →Self-guided walk around Hoan Kiem Lake and the Old Quarter
• →Bia hoi on Ta Hien Street ('Beer Street')
• →Optional: Hanoi Street Food Tour via GetYourGuide (~£23)

A full free day in Hanoi. Visit the Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum complex (entrance ~£3), the Temple of Literature (~£1.50) and the Vietnam Museum of Ethnology (~£2). For lunch, head to KOTO restaurant on Van Mieu Street — a social enterprise training disadvantaged youth in hospitality. In the evening, stroll the pedestrianised streets around Hoan Kiem Lake or catch a traditional Water Puppet Show (~£4, book at the Thang Long Theatre).

🚌On foot or by Grab bike (~£1–2 per ride)

🛏Old Quarter hostel dorm — ~£10/night

• →Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum & One Pillar Pagoda (~£3)
• →Temple of Literature (~£1.50)
• →Vietnam Museum of Ethnology (~£2)
• →Traditional Water Puppet Show (~£4)

Take the public bus and ferry combo from Hanoi to Cat Ba Island — the largest island in the Lan Ha Bay / Ha Long Bay archipelago. Book a Lan Ha Bay day cruise directly or via GetYourGuide (~£30–40 including kayaking, lunch and a sunset viewpoint). The same limestone karst scenery as Ha Long Bay at a fraction of the tour-group price. Watch the sunset from the Cat Ba Island viewpoint or the Cat Co beaches.

🚌Public bus from Hanoi My Dinh station to Hai Phong, then ferry to Cat Ba Island — total ~£10–14 and 3.5 hours

🛏Guesthouse on Cat Ba Island (e.g. Cat Ba Dream Hotel or similar) — ~£12/night

• →Lan Ha Bay cruise with kayaking and seafood lunch (book direct or via GetYourGuide, ~£30–40)
• →Sunset at Cat Co 3 Beach

Take the morning ferry back to the mainland and then a bus to Ninh Binh (~3 hours). In the afternoon, hire a bicycle (£1–2/day) and ride to the ancient citadel of Hoa Lu, visiting the 17th-century temples of King Dinh and King Le — entry is around £1.50. The surrounding landscape of karst mountains and rice paddies is stunning on two wheels. Check into a guesthouse near Tam Coc.

🚌Ferry from Cat Ba to Hai Phong, then bus to Ninh Binh — ~£10–14, approx 4 hours total

🛏Guesthouse near Tam Coc (e.g. Tam Coc Garden Resort or local family guesthouse) — ~£12/night

• →Cycling to Hoa Lu Ancient Citadel (~£1.50 entry)
• →Temples of King Dinh and King Le
• →Self-guided bike ride through rice paddy scenery

Spend the morning exploring more of Ninh Binh. Lace up your boots for the hike up Mua Cave — 500 steps to panoramic views over Hoa Lu and the Ngo Dong River (~£1.50 entry). Or take a rowing boat through the Tam Coc or Trang An gorges past limestone caves and temples (~£5–7, book at the gate). In the evening, transfer to Ninh Binh station and board the overnight Reunification Express train to Hue.

🚌Overnight Reunification Express train, Ninh Binh to Hue — ~£18–22, approx 13 hours

🛏Overnight train — soft sleeper berth ~£18–22 (book via Vietnam Railways website or Baolau.com)

• →Mua Cave hike with panoramic views (~£1.50 entry)
• →Trang An boat trip through limestone gorges (~£5–7)
• →Overnight train to Hue

Arrive in Hue and check in. Spend the day exploring the Imperial Citadel and Forbidden Purple City (~£5), then hire a bicycle or motorbike to visit the Royal Tombs — Tu Duc's tomb is the most impressive (~£3.50 entry). Jump on a dragon boat cruise up the Perfume River to Thien Mu Pagoda (~£4, negotiate at the riverbank). In the evening, seek out a local family restaurant for a home-style dinner — look for restaurants around Dinh Tien Hoang Street. Intrepid's included home-cooked dinner can be replicated by booking a local family dining experience via GetYourGuide (~£12).

🚌Arrived by overnight train. Local tuk-tuks and bicycle hire (~£2/day) for sightseeing

🛏Budget hotel or guesthouse in Hue (e.g. Hue Serene Palace Hotel or similar) — ~£13/night

• →Imperial Citadel & Forbidden Purple City (~£5)
• →Perfume River dragon boat cruise to Thien Mu Pagoda (~£4)
• →Tomb of Emperor Tu Duc (~£3.50)
• →Local family dining experience or street food dinner

Take a shared shuttle bus from Hue to Hoi An (~£6–8, 3 hours) — many hostels and travel agents sell these. The route crosses the spectacular Hai Van Pass, so grab a window seat. On arrival in Hoi An, do a self-guided walking tour of the Ancient Town (single entry ticket covers most sites — ~£5). Visit the Japanese Covered Bridge, Tan Ky Old House, Fujian Chinese Assembly Hall and the waterfront. The Old Town is gloriously walkable and lights up with lanterns at dusk.

🚌Shared shuttle bus Hue to Hoi An — ~£6–8, 3 hours (book at hostel or local travel agent)

🛏Hostel or guesthouse in Hoi An (e.g. Hoi An Chic Hotel or The Hoi An Backpackers Hostel) — ~£11/night

• →Self-guided Hoi An Ancient Town walking tour (entry ticket ~£5)
• →Japanese Covered Bridge
• →Tan Ky Old House
• →Lantern-lit waterfront at dusk

Hire a bicycle (~£1.50/day) and pedal out to Tra Que Vegetable Village (~3km from town). Many local operators offer a garden-to-table cooking class here starting with a tour of the organic gardens and ending with a freshly cooked lunch — book directly at the village or via GetYourGuide (~£20–28). The afternoon is yours: browse the Central Market, visit a tailor for custom-made clothing (Hoi An is famous for same-day tailoring), or take a cooking class. In the evening, stroll the lantern-lit streets for photos.

🚌Bicycle hire for the day (~£1.50)

🛏Hostel or guesthouse in Hoi An — ~£11/night

• →Cycling to Tra Que Vegetable Village (~£1.50 bike hire)
• →Garden-to-table cooking class with lunch (~£20–28 via GetYourGuide)
• →Hoi An Central Market browsing
• →Optional: visit a same-day tailor

Board a direct bus or shared shuttle from Hoi An to Quy Nhon (~5.5 hours, ~£8–12). This underrated coastal city is a favourite among travellers in the know. On arrival, explore the beachfront and grab lunch at a local seafood restaurant. In the afternoon, visit the Cham towers — Banh It Tower or Canh Tien Tower (Bronze Tower) offer great hilltop views and cost just ~£0.60 entry each. In the evening, try local specialities like banh xeo tom nhay (prawn pancakes) and bun ca (fish noodle soup) at street stalls near the beach.

🚌Shared shuttle or open bus from Hoi An to Quy Nhon — ~£8–12, ~5.5 hours

🛏Budget hotel in Quy Nhon (e.g. Seagull Hotel or Avocado Hotel) — ~£12/night

• →Banh It Cham Tower visit (~£0.60)
• →Canh Tien (Bronze) Tower (~£0.60)
• →Quy Nhon beach walk
• →Local street food dinner — banh xeo, bun ca

A free morning in Quy Nhon. Head to Ky Co Beach (accessible by boat, ~£5 return) for pristine blue-green water, or take a boat to Hon Kho Island for snorkelling (~£8–12) — available March to September. Alternatively, explore the Con Chim Ecological Zone for paddleboarding or fishing (~£8–12). Pack snacks for the overnight train tonight — the Quy Nhon train station (Dieu Tri station, ~10km from town, ~£2 by taxi) connects to Ho Chi Minh City.

🚌Grab taxi to Dieu Tri train station (~£2–3), overnight Reunification Express to Ho Chi Minh City — ~12.5 hours

🛏Overnight train — soft sleeper berth from Dieu Tri to Ho Chi Minh City — ~£20–25 (book via Baolau.com or Vietnam Railways)

• →Ky Co Beach day trip (~£5 boat fare, dry season only)
• →Hon Kho Island snorkelling (~£8–12, dry season only)
• →Con Chim Ecological Zone paddleboarding (~£8–12)
• →Overnight train to Ho Chi Minh City

Arrive into Ho Chi Minh City early and check in. Head to Ben Thanh Market for a self-guided morning market experience — grab a bowl of pho with the traders. Walk to the Reunification Palace (~£2) and Notre Dame Cathedral nearby. Replicate Intrepid's included local market visit and coffee experience by spending the morning independently at Ben Thanh or Binh Tay Market, and stopping for a cà phê sữa đá (iced condensed milk coffee) at a local café. In the evening, join your fellow travellers for dinner on Pham Ngu Lao backpacker street.

🚌Arrived by overnight train. Local by Grab bike/taxi (~£1–3 per ride)

🛏Hostel in District 1 (e.g. The Common Room Project or Saigon Backpackers Hostel) — ~£10/night

• →Ben Thanh Market self-guided visit and breakfast pho
• →Cà phê sữa đá (iced coffee) at a local café
• →Reunification Palace (~£2)
• →Dinner on Pham Ngu Lao Street

A free day to explore at your own pace. The War Remnants Museum is a must (~£1.50) — deeply moving and informative. The Cu Chi Tunnels make a great half-day trip — book a shared tour via GetYourGuide (~£12–16 including transport and entry). Alternatively, take a guided day trip to the Mekong Delta (~£20–28). In the evening, explore rooftop bars in District 1 or the craft beer scene on Bui Vien Walking Street.

🚌Grab bike/taxi for local travel (~£1–3 per ride); Cu Chi tour includes transport

🛏Hostel in District 1 — ~£10/night

• →War Remnants Museum (~£1.50)
• →Cu Chi Tunnels half-day tour via GetYourGuide (~£12–16)
• →Optional: Mekong Delta day trip (~£20–28)
• →Rooftop bar or Bui Vien Walking Street in the evening

Travel by public bus from Ho Chi Minh City to Phnom Penh — the most common route for independent travellers. Book with Mekong Express or Giant Ibis for a comfortable, reliable journey (~£10–13). The trip includes two border crossings (Moc Bai / Bavet); have your Cambodian e-visa ready (apply in advance at evisa.gov.kh, ~£27). On arrival in Phnom Penh, take a tuk-tuk to your guesthouse and do a self-guided orientation walk along the riverside promenade. Treat yourself to a Khmer massage at Seeing Hands (~£6), which trains visually impaired masseurs.

🚌Public bus Ho Chi Minh City to Phnom Penh with Mekong Express or Giant Ibis — ~£10–13, ~7.5 hours

🛏Guesthouse or hostel in Phnom Penh (e.g. Eighty8 Backpackers or Mad Monkey Phnom Penh) — ~£10/night

• →Riverside promenade orientation walk
• →Khmer massage at Seeing Hands (~£6)
• →Cambodian street food dinner near Riverside

Start with a local breakfast at Phsar Chas (Old Market). Then make the sobering but essential visit to Tuol Sleng Genocide Museum / S21 (~£5) and the Killing Fields of Choeung Ek (~£5) — a tuk-tuk between the two costs ~£5–8. In the afternoon, visit the Royal Palace and Silver Pagoda (~£8) or Wat Phnom (~£1). For the sunset, take an independent tuk-tuk to the riverfront and book a short sunset cruise along the Tonle Sap and Mekong rivers — public tourist boats depart from the promenade (~£5–8 including one drink). End the evening at a rooftop bar.

🚌Tuk-tuk for all sightseeing — ~£5–10 for the day

🛏Guesthouse or hostel in Phnom Penh — ~£10/night

• →Tuol Sleng Genocide Museum / S21 (~£5)
• →Killing Fields of Choeung Ek (~£5)
• →Royal Palace & Silver Pagoda (~£8)
• →Sunset river cruise on the Mekong/Tonle Sap (~£5–8)

Take a public bus from Phnom Penh northward toward Siem Reap, stopping at Kampong Thom (~3 hours, ~£5–7). From here, hire a tuk-tuk to Sambor Prei Kuk (~30km, ~£8–10 return) — a fascinating UNESCO-listed pre-Angkorian temple complex surrounded by jungle. Rent a bicycle at the site to explore the temple groups and nearby village. Watch local families working rice fields and handicrafts. Stay overnight in a simple guesthouse in Kampong Thom rather than pressing on, to replicate the homestay feel of the Intrepid itinerary.

🚌Public bus Phnom Penh to Kampong Thom (~£5–7, 3 hours); tuk-tuk to Sambor Prei Kuk (~£8–10 return)

🛏Simple guesthouse in Kampong Thom (e.g. Arunras Hotel) — ~£10/night

• →Sambor Prei Kuk pre-Angkorian temple complex (~£3 entry)
• →Bicycle ride through surrounding villages
• →Village life observation — rice farming and handicrafts

Continue north by bus or shared taxi from Kampong Thom to Siem Reap (~2.5 hours, ~£4–6). Check into a hostel in the centre and spend the afternoon exploring the Angkor National Museum (~£10) to prepare for tomorrow's temple visit. In the evening, stroll Pub Street and the Old Market area for dinner — opt for a Khmer restaurant rather than tourist traps; Fish Amok is a local favourite. Buy your Angkor pass today at the official ticket office (3-day pass ~£55) to beat the morning crowds.

🚌Bus or shared taxi from Kampong Thom to Siem Reap — ~£4–6, ~2.5 hours

🛏Hostel in Siem Reap (e.g. Mad Monkey Siem Reap or Onederz Hostel) — ~£9/night

• →Angkor National Museum (~£10)
• →Purchase Angkor temple pass (3-day ~£55, 1-day ~£33)
• →Old Market area dinner — try Fish Amok

Set your alarm early and hire a tuk-tuk (~£15–20 for the full day) to reach Angkor Wat for sunrise — one of the world's great travel experiences. Spend the morning at Angkor Wat, then visit Bayon Temple at Angkor Thom, the Elephant Terrace and jungle-smothered Ta Prohm (the 'Tomb Raider temple'). Intrepid uses a women-focused tuk-tuk company for their guided tour — replicate this by asking your hostel to connect you with a female-run tuk-tuk service such as those supported by Tuk-Tuk Tourism for Women (TTTW) in Siem Reap. Pack water and sunscreen.

🚌Tuk-tuk from Siem Reap to Angkor complex and around (~£15–20 for the day)

🛏Hostel in Siem Reap — ~£9/night

• →Angkor Wat sunrise (included in Angkor pass)
• →Bayon Temple at Angkor Thom
• →Ta Prohm jungle temple
• →Elephant Terrace & Baphuon
• →Full-day tuk-tuk hire (~£15–20, request women-operated service)

Travel from Siem Reap to Sihanoukville by direct bus (~£10–14, 8–9 hours, or take a domestic flight for ~£30–50 to save time). From Sihanoukville port, catch a speedboat ferry to Koh Rong Island (~£8–10, 45 minutes — GTVC or Speed Ferry Cambodia). Check into a beachside guesthouse and spend the evening on the beach. Koh Rong is famous for bioluminescent plankton — wade into the shallows after dark for a magical natural light show.

🚌Bus Siem Reap to Sihanoukville (~£10–14, 8–9 hours) or domestic flight (~£30–50); speedboat ferry to Koh Rong (~£8–10)

🛏Beach bungalow or guesthouse on Koh Rong (e.g. Tree House Bungalows or Nest Beach Club) — ~£14/night

• →Ferry crossing to Koh Rong Island
• →Beach sunset and relaxation
• →Bioluminescent plankton night swim

A paradise rest day on Koh Rong. Spend the morning on Long Set Beach or hire a kayak to explore the island's coastline (~£5–8). Walk the jungle trail to Lonely Beach (~1.5 hours each way) for a more secluded swim. In the afternoon, join a snorkelling trip departing from Koh Touch village (~£10–15). Watch the sunset with a cold Angkor beer and enjoy fresh grilled seafood from the beach barbecues in the evening.

🚌On foot and kayak on the island

🛏Beach bungalow or guesthouse on Koh Rong — ~£14/night

• →Beach day on Long Set or Lonely Beach
• →Kayak hire (~£5–8)
• →Snorkelling trip (~£10–15)
• →Sunset and grilled seafood dinner on the beach

Take the morning ferry back to Sihanoukville and then travel overland to Bangkok. The classic backpacker route: shared taxi or bus to Phnom Penh (~£6–10), then cross the border at Poipet/Aranyaprathet into Thailand, and take a bus or train to Bangkok (total ~£20–28, 12–14 hours). Alternatively, if time is precious, take a direct bus from Sihanoukville to Bangkok via Phnom Penh with operators like Mekong Express (~£25–30, book the day before). Arrive in Bangkok and check into a hostel on Khao San Road or in the Silom/Sathorn area.

🚌Ferry Koh Rong to Sihanoukville (~£8–10); bus/shared taxi to Bangkok via Phnom Penh and Poipet border (~£20–28); total ~12–14 hours

🛏Hostel in Bangkok (e.g. NapPark Hostel or Lub d Bangkok Silom) — ~£11/night

• →Overland border crossing Cambodia to Thailand
• →Arrival in Bangkok — evening street food on Khao San Road or Yaowarat (Chinatown)

Your final day in Bangkok. Explore the Grand Palace and Wat Phra Kaew (~£12) in the morning, then take a longtail boat along the Chao Phraya River to Wat Arun (Temple of Dawn, ~£1.50). Browse Chatuchak Weekend Market if visiting on a Saturday or Sunday, or explore the street food scenes of Yaowarat (Chinatown). Bangkok's BTS Skytrain and MRT metro make getting around easy (~£0.50–1.50 per journey). Head to the airport via the Airport Rail Link (~£1.50) or Grab taxi (~£8–12) for your onward flight.

🚌BTS Skytrain/MRT metro (~£0.50–1.50 per journey); Airport Rail Link to Suvarnabhumi (~£1.50)

🛏Hostel in Bangkok — ~£11/night (or check out if flying today)

• →Grand Palace & Wat Phra Kaew (~£12)
• →Longtail boat to Wat Arun (~£1.50)
• →Chatuchak Weekend Market (Sat/Sun)
• →Yaowarat Chinatown street food