Halong Bay to Angkor Wat: Self-Launched Southeast Asian Journey

Fly into Noi Bai International Airport and make your way into the city. Take the 86 airport bus (~£1) or a metered taxi/Grab (~£6) to your hostel in the Old Quarter. Spend the evening wandering Hoan Kiem Lake, grabbing a bia hoi (street beer) and soaking up the chaotic charm of Hanoi. Walk the famous 'Train Street' at dusk if timing allows.

🚌Airport bus No. 86 (~£1) or Grab taxi (~£6) into the Old Quarter

🛏Hanoi Backpackers Hostel or similar Old Quarter dorm (~£10/night)

• →Arrive at Noi Bai Airport, take Grab or bus to Old Quarter
• →Stroll around Hoan Kiem Lake and Ngoc Son Temple
• →Explore Hanoi Old Quarter streets
• →Try bun cha or pho at a local street food stall

Spend a full day exploring Hanoi's most iconic landmarks. Most sights are walkable or a short Grab ride apart. Visit Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum (free exterior, small fee inside), One Pillar Pagoda, Temple of Literature (~£1.50), the Vietnam Museum of Ethnology (~£2.50), and Hoa Lo Prison (~£1.50). Book a self-guided walking tour via GetYourGuide or simply use a free map — Hanoi's Old Quarter is compact and rewarding to explore on foot.

🚌Walking and Grab rides (~£3 total)

🛏Hanoi Backpackers Hostel or similar Old Quarter dorm (~£10/night)

• →Visit Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum and One Pillar Pagoda
• →Explore Temple of Literature (~£1.50 entry)
• →Visit Hoa Lo Prison museum (~£1.50 entry)
• →Visit Vietnam Museum of Ethnology or Women's Museum (~£2.50)
• →Wander Tran Quoc Pagoda by West Lake

Book a shared 2-day/1-night Halong Bay cruise independently — dozens of reputable operators depart daily from Hanoi. Budget operators like Indochina Junk or Cat Ba Ventures offer shared group cruises including transport from Hanoi, all meals, cave visits, kayaking and swimming for around £70–£90 per person. Book directly via their websites or GetYourGuide. The minibus departs Hanoi Old Quarter hotels around 8am and returns the following afternoon.

🚌Minibus Hanoi–Halong Bay included in cruise package (~£80 all-in)

🛏Shared overnight cruise boat cabin (included in cruise price, ~£80 total for 2D/1N)

• →Minibus transfer from Hanoi to Ha Long Bay wharf (~3.5hrs)
• →Board shared overnight cruise boat
• →Sail through limestone karst scenery
• →Visit Sung Sot (Amazing) Cave
• →Swim and kayak in Halong Bay waters
• →Seafood dinner on board

Wake early for sunrise over the bay, visit a floating fishing village, then return to Hanoi by early afternoon. From Hanoi, take the Reunification Express overnight train (or a budget flight) to Da Nang, then a local taxi or Grab the 30km to Hoi An (~£5). Budget flights on VietJet or Bamboo Airways from Hanoi to Da Nang cost around £20–£40 if booked in advance. Arrive in Hoi An by early evening and explore the lit lanterns of the Ancient Town.

🚌Cruise return transfer to Hanoi included; budget flight Hanoi–Da Nang (~£30 VietJet/Bamboo); Grab Da Nang–Hoi An (~£5)

🛏Hoi An Backpackers Hostel or Tribee Hoi An, dorm (~£10/night)

• →Sunrise viewing and cruise through Halong Bay islands
• →Visit floating fishing village
• →Return to Hanoi by minibus
• →Budget flight or train from Hanoi to Da Nang
• →Grab/taxi from Da Nang to Hoi An (~30km, ~£5)
• →Evening stroll in Hoi An Ancient Town

Hoi An's Ancient Town is UNESCO-listed and best explored on foot or by bicycle (hire for ~£1.50/day). Buy a combined heritage ticket (~£4) to access key sites including the Japanese Covered Bridge, Phuc Kien Assembly Hall, and Sa Huynh Museum. In the afternoon, take a boat trip along the Thu Bon River (~£3) to Kim Bong Village on Cam Kim Island to see traditional wood carving workshops. In the evening, release a lantern on the river for ~£1.

🚌Bicycle hire (~£1.50); local boat trip (~£3)

🛏Hoi An Backpackers Hostel or Tribee Hoi An, dorm (~£10/night)

• →Hire a bicycle to explore town (~£1.50)
• →Buy heritage ticket and visit Japanese Covered Bridge, Phuc Kien Assembly Hall (~£4)
• →Visit Sa Huynh Museum
• →Boat trip on Thu Bon River to Kim Bong Village (~£3)
• →Wander night market and try Cao Lau noodles

Take a Grab back to Da Nang Airport (~£5) and fly to Ho Chi Minh City (Tan Son Nhat) — budget fares start from £20–£40 with VietJet or Bamboo. Alternatively, take a sleeper bus from Hoi An to HCMC (15hrs, ~£10) if you're happy to travel overnight. From HCMC airport, take the 109 bus (~£0.50) or a Grab (~£5) to District 1. Spend the afternoon settling in and exploring the Ben Thanh market area.

🚌Grab to Da Nang Airport (~£5); budget flight (~£30); airport bus 109 or Grab into city (~£4)

🛏The Common Room Project or similar District 1 hostel, dorm (~£10/night)

• →Grab to Da Nang Airport (~£5)
• →Budget flight Da Nang to Ho Chi Minh City (~£30)
• →Check in to hostel in District 1
• →Explore Ben Thanh Market area
• →Visit War Remnants Museum (~£2)
• →Stroll Bui Vien walking street in the evening

Start the morning with a self-guided walk around District 1: Notre Dame Cathedral (free), Central Post Office (free), Reunification Palace (~£2 entry). In the afternoon, join a shared group day trip to the Cu Chi Tunnels — easily bookable via GetYourGuide or Klook for around £10–£14 including return transport. You'll crawl through the famous wartime tunnel network, see war artefacts, and sample local food from the tunnel period. Return to HCMC by evening.

🚌Walking and Grab in city (~£3); shared Cu Chi Tunnels tour transport included in tour price

🛏The Common Room Project or similar District 1 hostel, dorm (~£10/night)

• →Self-guided walk: Notre Dame Cathedral, Central Post Office (free)
• →Visit Reunification Palace (~£2 entry)
• →Shared day trip to Cu Chi Tunnels via GetYourGuide/Klook (~£12 inc. transport)
• →Explore tunnels and wartime exhibits
• →Street food dinner in District 1

Take a shared minibus from HCMC to My Tho (~2hrs, ~£4), then continue to Ben Tre by local boat and on to Can Tho by afternoon bus (~£5 total). Alternatively, book a shared Mekong Delta day/overnight tour from HCMC via GetYourGuide (~£20–£30) that covers My Tho, Tortoise Islet, Ben Tre sampan rides, coconut candy tasting, and drops you in Can Tho. Arrive in Can Tho by late afternoon and visit the riverside market area.

🚌Shared minibus HCMC–My Tho (~£4); local boats included in delta stops; bus to Can Tho (~£5)

🛏Nam Bo Boutique Hotel or similar budget guesthouse in Can Tho (~£14/night)

• →Shared minibus HCMC to My Tho (~£4)
• →Visit Vinh Trang Pagoda
• →Boat ride along Mekong River
• →Visit Tortoise Islet, taste local fruit
• →Hand-rowed sampan in Ben Tre
• →Visit An Khanh family business, taste coconut candy
• →Bus onward to Can Tho (~£5)

Rise early (5am) to catch the Cai Rang Floating Market by boat — hire a local boat from Can Tho wharf for ~£4 return. Back for breakfast, then take a shared bus or minivan from Can Tho to Chau Doc (~3hrs, ~£4). In the afternoon, hire a motorbike taxi or join a small group tour (~£8) to explore Tra Su Bird Sanctuary — a flooded cajuput forest teeming with storks, cranes, and ibises. Optionally visit Sam Mountain and the Cave Pagoda at sunset.

🚌Local boat for floating market (~£4); shared bus Can Tho–Chau Doc (~£4); motorbike taxi to Tra Su (~£3)

🛏Chau Pho Hotel or similar budget guesthouse in Chau Doc (~£14/night)

• →Early morning boat to Cai Rang Floating Market (~£4)
• →Observe vermicelli soup production and river commerce
• →Bus Can Tho to Chau Doc (~3hrs, ~£4)
• →Explore Tra Su Bird Sanctuary by rowing boat (~£8)
• →Optional: climb Sam Mountain and visit Cave Pagoda

The express speedboat from Chau Doc to Phnom Penh is one of Southeast Asia's great border crossings. Book directly at the Chau Doc wharf or via your guesthouse (~£18–£22, ~5hrs). The boat passes through lush riverbanks, rural Vietnamese villages, and into Cambodia — a visa on arrival is available at the border (~£28). Arrive in Phnom Penh late afternoon. Check in, then explore the riverside Sisowath Quay and grab Khmer street food at the Night Market.

🚌Express speedboat Chau Doc–Phnom Penh (~£20 inc. border transfer)

🛏Mad Monkey Phnom Penh or similar hostel, dorm (~£10/night)

• →Express speedboat Chau Doc to Phnom Penh via Mekong (~5hrs, ~£20)
• →Vietnam–Cambodia border crossing (visa on arrival ~£28)
• →Check in to hostel in Phnom Penh
• →Walk riverside Sisowath Quay
• →Explore Night Market and try Khmer cuisine

Spend the day exploring Phnom Penh's cultural highlights. The Royal Palace and Silver Pagoda (~£8 combined), National Museum (~£5), Independence Monument (free), Wat Phnom (free), and Central Market (Phsar Thmey, free) are all within easy tuk-tuk or walking distance. In the evening, book a sunset cruise on the Mekong River — small shared boats depart from the riverside for around £5–£8. Note: the Tuol Sleng Genocide Museum (~£6) is a sobering but important addition if time allows.

🚌Tuk-tuk around city (~£5 total)

🛏Mad Monkey Phnom Penh or similar hostel, dorm (~£10/night)

• →Visit Royal Palace and Silver Pagoda (~£8 combined)
• →Visit National Museum (~£5)
• →Walk to Independence Monument (free)
• →Visit Central Market (Phsar Thmey, free)
• →Visit Wat Phnom (free)
• →Optional: Tuol Sleng Genocide Museum (~£6)
• →Sunset cruise on Mekong River (~£6)

Take the Giant Ibis or Mekong Express bus from Phnom Penh to Siem Reap (~6hrs, ~£10–£12) — widely regarded as the best budget bus in Cambodia, with air-con, Wi-Fi, and a snack included. Alternatively, share a taxi (~£12–£15, ~5hrs). In the afternoon, head to Tonle Sap Lake and join a shared boat trip to the floating village (~£8–£10 via GetYourGuide or local operators at the dock). The lake is Southeast Asia's largest freshwater lake and the floating communities are extraordinary.

🚌Bus Phnom Penh–Siem Reap (~£11); tuk-tuk to Tonle Sap and back (~£4)

🛏Mad Monkey Siem Reap or Onederz Hostel, dorm (~£10/night)

• →Giant Ibis or Mekong Express bus Phnom Penh–Siem Reap (~6hrs, ~£11)
• →Check in to Siem Reap hostel
• →Tuk-tuk to Tonle Sap Lake (~£4 return)
• →Shared boat trip to floating village on Tonle Sap (~£9)
• →Evening stroll on Pub Street and Old Market

Rise before dawn and hire a tuk-tuk driver for the day (~£12–£15) to cover the main Angkor circuit. Watch sunrise over Angkor Wat — one of the world's great travel experiences. Purchase a 1-day Angkor Pass (~£32) at the main ticket gate. Follow the 'Grand Circuit' taking in Angkor Wat itself, Angkor Thom (including Bayon temple with its iconic stone faces), Terrace of the Elephants, Terrace of the Leper King, Baphuon, and Ta Prohm (the 'Tomb Raider' temple). Your tuk-tuk driver will know the route well — tip generously.

🚌Full-day tuk-tuk hire for Angkor circuit (~£14)

🛏Mad Monkey Siem Reap or Onederz Hostel, dorm (~£10/night)

• →Pre-dawn tuk-tuk to Angkor Wat for sunrise
• →Purchase 1-day Angkor Pass (~£32)
• →Visit Angkor Wat temple complex
• →Visit Angkor Thom and Bayon Temple (iconic stone faces)
• →See Terrace of the Elephants and Terrace of the Leper King
• →Visit Baphuon temple
• →Visit Ta Prohm (jungle-covered temple)

Enjoy a final Khmer breakfast — try a bowl of bor bor (rice porridge) or nom banh chok (noodles) from a local market stall. If your flight is late, explore the colourful Old Market (Psar Chas), pick up souvenirs along the Artisans Angkor workshop (~free to browse), or hire a tuk-tuk for a quick spin through the quieter temple of Preah Khan. Transfer to Siem Reap Airport by tuk-tuk (~£4). Note: a Cambodia departure tax is typically included in your airline ticket.

🚌Tuk-tuk to Siem Reap Airport (~£4)

🛏Check out — no accommodation needed

• →Final Khmer breakfast at local market stall
• →Browse Psar Chas (Old Market) for souvenirs
• →Optional: visit Artisans Angkor workshop (free entry)
• →Optional: visit Preah Khan temple
• →Tuk-tuk transfer to Siem Reap International Airport (~£4)