Self-Launched South Vietnam & Cambodia: Ho Chi Minh City to Siem Reap in 12 Days

Arrive at Tan Son Nhat International Airport and make your way to your hostel or budget hotel in the backpacker district (Bui Vien Street area or District 1). Take the public bus (Route 109) from the airport for around £0.50, or grab a Grab taxi for roughly £3–5. Spend your first evening exploring the lively streets, grabbing a bowl of pho, and getting your bearings. Pick up a local SIM card at the airport or a nearby phone shop for around £5 including data.

🚌Public bus Route 109 from airport (~£0.50) or Grab taxi (~£4)

🛏Budget hostel dorm or private room in District 1 — e.g. Hop Inn Saigon or Shri Hotel & Spa (~£10–18/night)

• →Arrive at Tan Son Nhat Airport — take bus Route 109 (~£0.50) or Grab taxi (~£3–5) to District 1
• →Check in to budget hostel or guesthouse on or near Bui Vien Street
• →Pick up a local SIM card (~£5 with data)
• →Evening stroll along Bui Vien Walking Street and grab street food dinner

Spend the day exploring HCMC's iconic landmarks on foot and by cyclo. Start at Reunification Hall (entrance ~£1.50), then walk to Notre Dame Cathedral and the historic Central Post Office (free). Head to the ornate City Hall for photos (exterior only). In the afternoon, jump in a cyclo (negotiate ~£3–5 for a short tour) through Cholon (Chinatown) to visit the stunning Lady Thien Hau Temple (free) and browse the bustling Binh Tay Market. Lunch at a local com tam (broken rice) restaurant for under £2.

🚌Walking and cyclo (~£3–5)

🛏Budget hostel/guesthouse in District 1 (~£10–18/night)

• →Visit Reunification Hall (~£1.50 entry)
• →Walk to Notre Dame Cathedral and Central Post Office (free)
• →Photograph City Hall exterior (free)
• →Cyclo tour through Chinatown (~£3–5)
• →Visit Lady Thien Hau Temple (free)
• →Browse Binh Tay Market
• →Lunch at a local com tam restaurant (~£2)

Book a day trip from HCMC to both the Cao Dai Great Temple in Tay Ninh and the Cu Chi Tunnels. This is one of the most popular day trips from the city and can be booked via GetYourGuide for around £20–28 per person including transport and a guide. The Cao Dai noon ceremony (11am) is a highlight — colourful and spiritual. At Cu Chi, you can crawl through the famous underground tunnels used by Viet Cong fighters. Return to HCMC by early evening.

🚌Included in day trip booking (~£20–28)

🛏Budget hostel/guesthouse in District 1 (~£10–18/night)

• →Book Cao Dai + Cu Chi day trip via GetYourGuide (~£20–28 including transport & guide)
• →Attend the Cao Dai noon ceremony at the Great Temple (~11am)
• →Explore and crawl through the Cu Chi Tunnels
• →Return to Ho Chi Minh City by evening

Head to the Mekong Delta for a classic day trip from HCMC, easily booked via GetYourGuide or Klook for around £18–25 per person. Visit the beautiful Vinh Trang Pagoda near My Tho, take a motorboat along the Bao Dinh canal, then cruise on the Tien River to the four islands — visiting a coconut candy mill, cycling through local villages, and gliding through narrow waterways on a hand-rowed sampan. This is a fantastic introduction to delta life. Return to HCMC in the evening, then consider an overnight bus or early morning bus to Can Tho (book with Phuong Trang/FUTA Bus Lines, ~£5–7).

🚌Day trip transport included; Phuong Trang/FUTA bus to Can Tho (~£5–7)

🛏Budget guesthouse in Can Tho — e.g. Xuan Mai Hotel or Nambo Boutique Hotel (~£12–18/night)

• →Book Mekong Delta day trip via GetYourGuide or Klook (~£18–25)
• →Visit Vinh Trang Pagoda near My Tho
• →Motorboat tour on Bao Dinh canal
• →Cruise Tien River to the four islands
• →Cycle through Mekong Delta villages
• →Visit coconut candy mill
• →Hand-rowed sampan trip along small canal
• →Take evening/overnight Phuong Trang bus to Can Tho (~£5–7)

Rise early (5–6am) for the Cai Rang Floating Market — hire a boat direct from the riverside for around £5–8 per person for a 1–2 hour tour. Back in Can Tho, visit the Can Tho Museum (free–£1) and stroll the pleasant riverside. In the afternoon, take a bus to Chau Doc (Phuong Trang, ~£4, 2.5 hours). From Chau Doc, hire a local moto driver or join a small group tour to visit the incredible Tra Su Cajuput Forest (flooded bird sanctuary with boat through forest canals, ~£8–12), Sam Mountain, and the atmospheric Cave Pagoda (free entry).

🚌Phuong Trang bus HCMC–Chau Doc (~£4); local moto/tuk-tuk (~£3–5)

🛏Budget guesthouse in Chau Doc — e.g. Thanh Tinh Hotel or Victoria Chau Doc (~£12–20/night)

• →Early morning boat hire to Cai Rang Floating Market (~£5–8)
• →Visit Can Tho Museum (~free–£1)
• →Phuong Trang bus to Chau Doc (~£4, ~2.5 hours)
• →Visit Tra Su Wild Birds Sanctuary with boat through forest canals (~£8–12)
• →Visit Sam Mountain and Cave Pagoda (free entry, ~£2 moto up the mountain)

The scenic speedboat from Chau Doc to Phnom Penh is one of Southeast Asia's great border crossings — book directly with Hang Chau or Capitol Tour for around £18–25 per person. The boat departs ~8am and arrives in Phnom Penh around 1–2pm, travelling along the Mekong and passing through the Vietnamese–Cambodian border at Vinh Xuong/Kaam Samnor. Your Cambodian e-visa can be applied for in advance at evisa.gov.kh (USD $36, ~£28). On arrival in Phnom Penh, take a tuk-tuk to your guesthouse (~£2–3) and spend the evening exploring the riverside promenade and night food stalls.

🚌Chau Doc–Phnom Penh speedboat (~£18–25)

🛏Budget guesthouse or hostel near riverfront Phnom Penh — e.g. Top Banana Guesthouse or Mad Monkey Hostel (~£8–15/night)

• →Book Chau Doc–Phnom Penh speedboat (~£18–25, departs ~8am)
• →Cross Vietnamese–Cambodian border at Vinh Xuong/Kaam Samnor
• →Arrive Phnom Penh ~1–2pm
• →Tuk-tuk to guesthouse (~£2–3)
• →Explore Phnom Penh riverside and night food stalls
• →Note: Apply for Cambodian e-visa in advance at evisa.gov.kh (~£28)

Spend the day exploring Phnom Penh's main landmarks. Start at Wat Phnom (entry ~£1), then head to the stunning Royal Palace and Silver Pagoda (entry ~£6.50 combined). Walk to the National Museum (~£5 entry) to see the world's finest collection of Khmer art. In the afternoon, take a tuk-tuk to the nearby Mekong/Tonle Sap/Bassac river junction island for a short exploration, then finish the day with a sunset river cruise (bookable via GetYourGuide or local operators, ~£8–12). Many tours combine the sunset cruise with a stop near the Royal Palace riverfront.

🚌Tuk-tuk around city (~£4–6/day)

🛏Budget guesthouse/hostel Phnom Penh (~£8–15/night)

• →Visit Wat Phnom (~£1 entry)
• →Visit Royal Palace and Silver Pagoda (~£6.50 combined entry)
• →Visit National Museum (~£5 entry)
• →Tuk-tuk to Mekong Island (~£2–3)
• →Sunset boat cruise at river junction (book via GetYourGuide, ~£8–12)

Take a morning bus from Phnom Penh to Battambang with Mekong Express or Capitol Tour (~£7–10, ~5–6 hours). Settle into your guesthouse in this charming colonial town. In the afternoon, visit local pottery-making workshops — the village of Koh Char, just outside town, is famous for its earthenware potters and is a short tuk-tuk ride away (~£3). For dinner, arrange a home-cooked Cambodian dinner with a local family through your guesthouse or a community tourism operator such as Battambang Social Enterprise (~£8–12 per person) — a warm and genuine cultural experience.

🚌Phnom Penh–Battambang bus (~£7–10); tuk-tuk (~£3–5)

🛏Budget guesthouse in Battambang — e.g. Seng Hout Hotel or Bambu Hotel (~£10–18/night)

• →Morning Mekong Express or Capitol Tour bus from Phnom Penh to Battambang (~£7–10, ~5–6 hours)
• →Check in to guesthouse in Battambang
• →Tuk-tuk to Koh Char pottery village (~£3 tuk-tuk)
• →Home-cooked Cambodian dinner at local family's home via community operator (~£8–12)

Hire a tuk-tuk driver for the day (£10–15, well worth it) to cover Battambang's highlights. Admire French colonial architecture along the riverside, visit Wat Samrong Knong Buddhist temple, explore the atmospheric Ek Phnom temple ruins, cycle or drive through quaint villages and fruit farms, and stop at riverside pagodas. Don't miss the sobering Killing Cave at Phnom Sampeau with its glass memorial to Khmer Rouge victims (free, donation welcome). Cap the evening with the extraordinary spectacle of millions of bats pouring out of the Battambang Bat Cave at sunset — one of Southeast Asia's most jaw-dropping natural sights. Note: The famous Bamboo Train (Norry) is also nearby (~£3) — highly recommended as a quirky bonus activity.

🚌Tuk-tuk for the day (~£10–15)

🛏Budget guesthouse in Battambang (~£10–18/night)

• →Hire tuk-tuk driver for the full day (~£10–15)
• →Admire French colonial architecture along the riverside
• →Visit Wat Samrong Knong Buddhist temple
• →Visit Ek Phnom temple ruins
• →Tour local villages and fruit farms
• →Visit riverside pagodas
• →Visit Killing Cave at Phnom Sampeau (free, donation welcome)
• →Watch bats emerge at sunset from Battambang Bat Cave
• →Optional: Bamboo Train ride (~£3)

Travel from Battambang to Siem Reap by minivan or bus (~£5–8, ~3–4 hours) — book with Mekong Express or Giant Ibis. Alternatively, take the scenic boat across Tonle Sap Lake (seasonal, ~£12–15, ~4 hours) for stunning views of the floating villages. Arrive and check in to your hostel near Pub Street or the Old Market area. In the evening, treat yourself to a fine Khmer cuisine dinner with Apsara dance show — bookable via GetYourGuide or directly at venues like Koulen Restaurant (~£15–22 per person including dinner and show). Spend any remaining time exploring the vibrant night markets and Pub Street.

🚌Battambang–Siem Reap bus/minivan (~£5–8)

🛏Hostel or budget guesthouse in Siem Reap — e.g. Mad Monkey Siem Reap or Onederz Hostel (~£8–15/night)

• →Battambang to Siem Reap by minivan/bus (~£5–8) or scenic Tonle Sap boat (seasonal, ~£12–15)
• →Check in to hostel near Old Market/Pub Street
• →Fine Khmer cuisine dinner with Apsara dance show (~£15–22, book via GetYourGuide or Koulen Restaurant)
• →Optional: Browse Angkor Night Market and Pub Street
• →Optional: Khmer massage (~£6–10/hour) or fish massage (~£3–5)

Purchase a 1-day Angkor Pass at the official ticket gate (~£32). Hire a tuk-tuk driver for the day (~£12–15) to cover the Small Circuit. Start at the iconic Angkor Wat at sunrise for the best light and photos. Move on to the southern Gate of Angkor Thom, the enigmatic Bayon temple with its 216 stone faces, the Terrace of the Leper King, and the Terrace of Elephants. After a local lunch near the temples (~£3–5), visit the overgrown jungle temple of Ta Prohm (made famous by Tomb Raider), then Preah Khan. End the day watching the sunset from Pre Rup temple for incredible views over the jungle.

🚌Tuk-tuk for the day (~£12–15)

🛏Hostel or budget guesthouse in Siem Reap (~£8–15/night)

• →Purchase 1-day Angkor Pass at ticket gate (~£32)
• →Hire tuk-tuk driver for the day (~£12–15)
• →Sunrise at Angkor Wat
• →Visit southern Gate of Angkor Thom
• →Visit Bayon temple (216 stone faces)
• →Visit Terrace of the Leper King and Terrace of Elephants
• →Lunch near the temples (~£3–5)
• →Visit Preah Khan temple
• →Visit Ta Prohm temple
• →Sunset from Pre Rup temple

On your final day, take a half-day boat trip to Kampong Phluk, the extraordinary flooded mangrove village on Tonle Sap Lake — Southeast Asia's largest freshwater lake. Book a tour via GetYourGuide or directly with local operators in Siem Reap (~£15–22 including boat and transport). You'll glide through the submerged mangrove forest in a small wooden boat and visit the stilted village community. Return to Siem Reap by early afternoon for any last souvenir shopping at the Old Market before heading to Siem Reap International Airport for your onward flight. Tip: book your departure airport transfer in advance via Grab or your guesthouse (~£4–6).

🚌Tonle Sap tour transport included (~£15–22); airport Grab (~£4–6)

🛏Check out — allow time for airport transfer

• →Half-day boat trip to Kampong Phluk on Tonle Sap Lake (book via GetYourGuide, ~£15–22)
• →Boat trip through submerged mangrove forest
• →Visit stilted village community at Kampong Phluk
• →Return to Siem Reap for last-minute shopping at Old Market
• →Transfer to Siem Reap International Airport (~£4–6 via Grab)