Indochina Explorer, Self-Launched: Vietnam, Cambodia & Laos in 15 Days
15 days · Vietnam, Cambodia & Laos
Legend Travel Group charges £1,891
No-markup version: ~£782 per person
Estimate only, not a guaranteed price. Always verify costs independently before booking.
A self-launched version of Legend Travel Group's 15-day fully guided Indochina loop, rebuilt for independent travellers. You start in Ho Chi Minh City, work north through the Mekong Delta, Hanoi, Halong Bay and the Mai Chau valley, fly to Siem Reap for the Angkor temples, then slow down through Luang Prabang, Vang Vieng and Vientiane. Everything the tour does with a guide — Cu Chi Tunnels, a Halong Bay overnight cruise, Angkor with a tuk-tuk driver, the Pak Ou caves boat, Khouangsi waterfall — is bookable yourself through GetYourGuide, Klook, local guesthouses or straight at the ticket office. Internal flights are the backpacker version (VietJet/AirAsia rather than a charter block), and long legs use sleeper buses, the Reunification Express and night flights. Costs here are per person, rough backpacker/comfort-hostel rates in GBP, excluding international flights to/from the region.
Day-by-day
Land in Ho Chi Minh City
Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam
Fly into Tan Son Nhat (SGN). Skip the hotel-arranged airport pickup: Grab from the airport to District 1 runs about £3-4, or bus 109/152 for under £1. Base yourself in the Pham Ngu Lao / Bui Vien backpacker area for cheap guesthouses, or splurge a little on a District 1 boutique hotel. Spend the afternoon walking Dong Khoi and the riverside, then do a self-guided street food crawl: banh mi (£1), bun bo Hue, and a bia hoi corner beer for 30p.
🚌Grab from SGN airport ~£3.50
🛏Guesthouse or 2-3* hotel, District 1 / Pham Ngu Lao (£12-18)
- →Settle in District 1
- →Riverside sunset walk
- →Bui Vien street food crawl
City landmarks + Cu Chi Tunnels
Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam
Do the classic city sights on foot and for free: Notre Dame Cathedral (exterior — still under restoration), the Gustave Eiffel-designed Central Post Office, the Reunification Palace (entry ~£2), and the War Remnants Museum if you have time (~£1.50). In the afternoon book a shared Cu Chi Tunnels half-day tour via Klook or GetYourGuide (~£10-13 including transport and entrance) — the group bus version is exactly what the tour uses. Evenings: Ben Thanh night market.
🚌Walk + Grab within city (~£2); Cu Chi transport included in tour
🛏Guesthouse or 2-3* hotel, District 1 (£12-18)
- →Notre Dame Cathedral
- →Central Post Office
- →Reunification Palace
- →Cu Chi Tunnels half-day tour (Klook/GetYourGuide, ~£12)
Mekong Delta day trip, night flight to Hanoi
Mekong Delta → Hanoi
Book a small-group Mekong Delta day trip from District 1 (~£16-20 on Klook, covering My Tho, Vinh Trang Pagoda, coconut-candy islands and a rowing boat through the canals — the same stops as the tour). Back in the city by early evening, grab your bag and head to SGN for a budget flight north. VietJet and Vietnam Airlines both fly SGN-HAN for £30-50 if booked a few weeks out; land late and take a Grab (~£4) into the Old Quarter.
🚌Mekong tour bus included; VietJet/Vietnam Airlines SGN-HAN flight ~£35-50; Grab from Noi Bai ~£4
🛏Hostel or budget hotel, Hanoi Old Quarter (£12-18)
- →Mekong Delta small-group day trip (~£18)
- →Vinh Trang Pagoda
- →Coconut candy island & canal rowboat
Hanoi's big-hitters on foot
Hanoi, Vietnam
Hanoi's headline sights cluster tightly and cost almost nothing: Tran Quoc Pagoda, the Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum complex (free, mornings only, closed Mon/Fri), the One Pillar Pagoda, the Temple of Literature (~£1.50), the Museum of Ethnology (~£2) and Hoa Lo Prison (~£1.50). Chain it together as a self-guided walking loop or jump on a £3 hop-on city bus. Lunch at a bun cha stall (~£2). Evening: bia hoi corner and a water puppet show if you fancy it (~£3).
🚌Walk + occasional Grab (~£3)
🛏Hostel or budget hotel, Hanoi Old Quarter (£12-18)
- →Tran Quoc Pagoda
- →Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum complex
- →One Pillar Pagoda
- →Temple of Literature
- →Museum of Ethnology
- →Hoa Lo Prison
Halong Bay overnight cruise
Halong Bay / Lan Ha Bay, Vietnam
Book a 2-day/1-night budget-to-mid-range Halong or Lan Ha Bay cruise directly with a local operator (~£75-110pp all-in with transfers, all meals, kayaking and cave visits — GetYourGuide and Klook list the same boats the tour uses). Expect: shuttle pickup from the Old Quarter ~8am, junk boat boarding, lunch on deck, Amazing Cave / Luon Cave kayaking, sunset on the top deck, and a cooking demo or squid fishing after dinner. Sleep on the boat.
🚌Shuttle bus Hanoi–Halong included in cruise (~£ part of package)
🛏Overnight on a mid-range junk boat, twin share (£ included in cruise price)
- →Overnight Halong/Lan Ha Bay cruise
- →Amazing Cave
- →Kayaking in Luon Cave
- →Sunset on the top deck
- →Squid fishing
Sunrise on the bay, back to Hanoi
Halong Bay → Hanoi
Wake for sunrise on the water, do tai chi on deck if the boat runs it, then visit a floating fishing village before brunch and the shuttle back to Hanoi (arrive ~4-5pm). Evening free: wander the Old Quarter, eat bun cha or pho, and browse the night market if it's a weekend. Good night to book your onward transport for the Mai Chau leg.
🚌Return shuttle included in cruise package
🛏Hostel or budget hotel, Hanoi Old Quarter (£12-18)
- →Sunrise on the bay
- →Floating fishing village
- →Hanoi Old Quarter evening walk
Hanoi to Mai Chau Valley
Mai Chau / Ba Khan, Vietnam
Take a Limousine-style minibus or local bus from Hanoi's My Dinh station to Mai Chau (about 3.5-4h, £6-10 booked via your guesthouse or vexere.com). Stay in a Thai stilt-house homestay or a valley guesthouse near Lac or Pom Coong village (£10-15). Afternoon: walk to a Muong village and up the West Hill viewpoint over the rice paddies. Many homestays put on a traditional dance evening for guests — ask when you book.
🚌Minibus/bus Hanoi–Mai Chau ~£8
🛏Thai stilt-house homestay or valley guesthouse, Mai Chau (£10-15)
- →Muong village walk
- →West Hill viewpoint
- →Traditional dance evening at the homestay
Valley trek, back to Hanoi
Mai Chau → Hanoi
Morning trek on the East Mountain / Ban Lac loop (2-3h, unguided is fine — trails are well-worn and homestays sketch maps). Lunch at the homestay, then the afternoon minibus back to Hanoi (£8). Evening in the Old Quarter; stock up on snacks and a SIM top-up for Cambodia and Laos.
🚌Minibus Mai Chau–Hanoi ~£8
🛏Hostel or budget hotel, Hanoi Old Quarter (£12-18)
- →East Mountain valley trek
- →Village lunch
- →Hanoi Old Quarter
Fly to Siem Reap
Hanoi → Siem Reap, Cambodia
Fly Hanoi to Siem Reap (Vietnam Airlines, VietJet or AirAsia via either direct or a quick connection; £60-90 one-way booked ahead). On arrival, apply for the Cambodian e-visa in advance (~£25) or get visa-on-arrival. Grab/tuk-tuk to town ~£3. Base near Wat Bo or Sok San Road in a guesthouse or small hotel (£12-20) — much cheaper than the resort strip. Evening: Pub Street for a £4 dinner and a sunset beer, or the Phare Cambodian Circus if you want a show (~£14).
🚌Hanoi–Siem Reap flight ~£75; tuk-tuk from airport ~£3
🛏Guesthouse or small hotel, Siem Reap (£12-20)
- →Fly to Siem Reap
- →Wat Bo / riverside wander
- →Pub Street evening
Angkor Wat and the small circuit
Angkor Archaeological Park, Cambodia
Buy the 1-day Angkor pass at the ticket office (£30). Rent a tuk-tuk driver for the day (~£15-18, split between two) and run the classic circuit: Angkor Wat at sunrise, Ta Prohm (the Tomb Raider temple), Banteay Kdei and Preah Khan. If you want Banteay Srei, add ~£8 for the extra distance or book a Klook small-group Angkor day tour (~£22) which handles the logistics for you. Pack water, a hat and breakfast — food inside the park is pricey.
🚌Tuk-tuk driver for the day ~£16 (shared)
🛏Guesthouse or small hotel, Siem Reap (£12-20)
- →Angkor Wat sunrise
- →Ta Prohm
- →Banteay Kdei & Preah Khan
- →Optional Banteay Srei
Angkor Thom, then fly to Luang Prabang
Siem Reap → Luang Prabang, Laos
Early tuk-tuk out to Angkor Thom's South Gate, then walk the Bayon (face towers), the Terrace of the Elephants, Terrace of the Leper King, Baphuon, Phimeanakas and the Royal Enclosure — all on your day-3 Angkor pass if you buy a 3-day pass instead of 1-day (worth it, £52 vs £30). Afternoon flight Siem Reap to Luang Prabang via Pakse/Vientiane or direct on Lao Airlines/Vietnam Airlines (~£90-120). Get the Laos e-visa in advance (~£35). Check into a guesthouse in Luang Prabang's old town (£15-22) and walk the night market.
🚌Tuk-tuk ~£8; Siem Reap–Luang Prabang flight ~£100
🛏Guesthouse, Luang Prabang old town (£15-22)
- →Angkor Thom South Gate
- →Bayon Temple
- →Terrace of the Elephants
- →Baphuon & Phimeanakas
- →Luang Prabang night market
Luang Prabang: temples, Pak Ou caves, Khouangsi waterfall
Luang Prabang, Laos
Start with the 5:30am alms-giving on Sakkaline Road (buy sticky rice from a street vendor, ~£1, and keep your distance respectfully). Then Wat Xieng Thong (~£2), Phosi market, and a slow boat up the Mekong to Pak Ou Caves (~£8-10 return, includes Ban Xanghai whisky village stop). Afternoon: shared tuk-tuk or songthaew to Khouangsi Waterfall (~£5-8 return with a group), swim in the turquoise pools and walk the forest trails, stopping at the bear sanctuary. Sunset at Wat Phabath or Mount Phousi (~£2).
🚌Songthaew/tuk-tuk and Mekong slow boat ~£15 total
🛏Guesthouse, Luang Prabang old town (£15-22)
- →Morning alms-giving
- →Wat Xieng Thong & Wat Sene
- →Pak Ou Caves by slow boat
- →Ban Xanghai village
- →Khouangsi Waterfall & bear sanctuary
- →Mount Phousi sunset
Luang Prabang to Vang Vieng
Vang Vieng, Laos
Take the morning minivan or VIP bus Luang Prabang–Vang Vieng (5-6h over the mountains, £10-14 booked via your guesthouse or 12go.asia) — or the new Laos-China railway for a faster, smoother ride (~£8-12, book via LCR app or agent). Vang Vieng guesthouses and small hotels run £12-20. Afternoon: cycle out to the rice paddies and the Nam Song riverside; optionally tube the river (£5) or hike up to Nam Xay viewpoint for sunset (£1.50 entry).
🚌Minivan or Laos-China railway ~£12
🛏Guesthouse or small hotel, Vang Vieng (£12-20)
- →Mountain drive/rail through northern Laos
- →Cycle the Nam Song valley
- →Nam Xay viewpoint sunset
- →Optional river tubing
Vang Vieng to Vientiane
Vientiane, Laos
Morning minivan or train down to Vientiane (3-4h, £7-10). Afternoon city loop on foot or by bicycle: Wat Sisaket (~£1), Haw Phra Kaew / Wat Prakeo (~£1), Patuxay monument (free, climb the top for £0.30), and That Luang Stupa (~£1). Evening on the Mekong promenade for sunset and a night market dinner — Lao larb and sticky rice for about £3.
🚌Minivan/train Vang Vieng–Vientiane ~£9; bicycle hire ~£2
🛏Guesthouse or budget hotel, Vientiane (£15-22)
- →Wat Sisaket
- →Haw Phra Kaew
- →Patuxay Monument
- →That Luang Stupa
- →Mekong sunset promenade
Vientiane and out
Vientiane → Wattay Airport
Last morning: coffee on the Mekong, the morning market, or the COPE visitor centre (free, worth 90 minutes). Grab or the airport shuttle bus to Wattay (VTE) — the bus is about 60p, a Grab roughly £3. Fly out, or continue overland to Thailand via the Nong Khai friendship bridge (~£1 bus + visa-free entry if eligible).
🚌Grab or bus to VTE airport ~£3
🛏—
- →Morning market
- →COPE visitor centre
- →Departure transfer
Self-launched vs. Legend Travel Group
| This itinerary (self-launched) | Legend Travel Group | |
|---|---|---|
| Price per person | ~£782 | £1,891 |
| Duration | 15 days | 15 days |
| Who books it | You and your group, direct | Tour operator, guided group |
| Savings | £1,109 per person (59%) | |
Estimate only, not a guaranteed price. Always verify costs independently before booking.
Want to see more Legend Travel Group-style trips? Check them out here.~£782
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 Indochina Explorer, Self-Launched: Vietnam, Cambodia & Laos in 15 Days cost?+
Doing it yourself with this self-launched itinerary costs an estimated £782 per person for 15 days in Vietnam, Cambodia & Laos. 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 Legend Travel Group?+
Yes — Legend Travel Group charges around £1,891 per person for a similar tour. Doing the same route independently, using the same standard of accommodation and activities, costs an estimated £782 — a saving of roughly £1,109 (59%) per person.
How long is the Vietnam, Cambodia & Laos trip?+
This itinerary runs 15 days, covering 15 day-by-day stops through Vietnam, Cambodia & Laos.
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 culture, adventure, backpacker trip through Vietnam, Cambodia & Laos, 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?
Drop your comment below — if you've done a similar route, tell us what worked, what you'd add, or what you'd skip.
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