Cambodia Experience: Self-Launched Ho Chi Minh City to Bangkok
9 days · Vietnam, Cambodia & Thailand
G Adventures charges £905
No-markup version: ~£425 per person
Estimate only, not a guaranteed price. Always verify costs independently before booking.
A self-launched version of G Adventures' 9-day "Cambodia Experience": same route from Ho Chi Minh City through Phnom Penh and Siem Reap to Bangkok, but with hostels and guesthouses instead of tour hotels, local buses and budget flights instead of group transport, and self-bookable guides for the Killing Fields, S-21 and Angkor Wat. You'll still catch sunrise over Angkor, ride a cyclo through Phnom Penh and eat a Khmer meal at a social enterprise — you just arrange it yourself and save roughly two-thirds of the tour price. Costs are approximate backpacker rates in GBP per person and exclude international flights.
Day-by-day
Arrive Ho Chi Minh City
Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam
Land at Tan Son Nhat and take bus 109 or a Grab bike/taxi (~£2-3) into District 1. Check into a hostel dorm or private room around Pham Ngu Lao / Bui Vien. Remember Vietnam now requires an online Pre-Arrival Declaration within 3 days of arrival at Tan Son Nhat — do this before you fly. Evening: walk to the Ben Thanh night market, grab a bowl of pho (30,000-60,000 VND / £1-2) and a bia hoi, and orient yourself for the days ahead.
🚌Airport bus 109 or Grab (~£2-3)
🛏Hostel dorm or budget hotel, District 1 (£8-14)
- →Arrival and hostel check-in
- →Ben Thanh night market food crawl
- →Bui Vien walking street
Mekong Delta or Cu Chi Tunnels
Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam
Free day to pick your own adventure. Option A: a full-day Mekong Delta tour (My Tho/Ben Tre — boat through palm canals, coconut candy workshops, villages) bookable on GetYourGuide or Klook from ~£25-30. Option B: the Cu Chi Tunnels half-day tour (~£12-18), with the option to combine with countryside cycling. Book the evening before at your hostel or online. Back in the city by late afternoon — try banh mi and a rooftop beer for sunset.
🚌Included in day tour pickup, or local bus 13 to Cu Chi (~£1)
🛏Hostel dorm or budget hotel, District 1 (£8-14)
- →Full-day Mekong Delta boat tour (self-booked)
- →Or Cu Chi Tunnels half-day tour
- →Street food dinner in District 1
Cross the border to Phnom Penh
Phnom Penh, Cambodia
Travel day. Cheapest route: book a direct Ho Chi Minh City–Phnom Penh sleeper or daytime bus with Giant Ibis, Mekong Express or Kumho Samco (~£12-18, 6-7 hours) which handles the Moc Bai/Bavet border crossing for you — have your Cambodia e-visa (~$30, apply online at least 3 days ahead) and a passport photo ready. Alternatively fly HCMC–Phnom Penh (~£50-70) if you'd rather save the day. Arrive Phnom Penh, check into a guesthouse near the riverside, then take a self-hired cyclo loop past Wat Phnom, the Royal Palace and the National Museum (~£4-5 for an hour). Dinner at Friends the Restaurant (social enterprise) on Street 13.
🚌Direct bus HCMC–Phnom Penh, ~£12-18 (6-7 hrs)
🛏Riverside guesthouse or hostel, Phnom Penh (£8-15)
- →Border crossing Moc Bai/Bavet
- →Self-hired cyclo tour of central Phnom Penh
- →Wat Phnom visit
- →Dinner at Friends the Restaurant (social enterprise)
Killing Fields and S-21
Phnom Penh, Cambodia
The heavy, essential day. Tuk-tuk to Choeung Ek (Killing Fields) early (~£8-10 return with waiting) and take the excellent audio guide (~£5 entry incl. audio) — the grounds stand as a memorial with stupas of victims' skulls and mass graves. Return to town and visit Tuol Sleng Genocide Museum (S-21) (~£5 entry, audio guide ~£3) — go with the audio rather than a guide for the most moving experience. Afternoon to reset: Royal Palace & Silver Pagoda (~£8) or the National Museum (~£8), then the Russian Market for cheap eats and souvenirs. Optional evening: Phare Circus (~£14-16 via GetYourGuide or direct) — acrobatics, live music and Cambodian storytelling.
🚌Tuk-tuk to Choeung Ek and around town (~£8-10)
🛏Riverside guesthouse or hostel, Phnom Penh (£8-15)
- →Choeung Ek Killing Fields with audio guide
- →Tuol Sleng Museum (S-21)
- →Royal Palace & Silver Pagoda (optional)
- →Phare Circus (optional evening)
Road to Siem Reap
Siem Reap, Cambodia
Morning minibus or bus Phnom Penh to Siem Reap via National Road 6 (~£9-13, 5.5-6.5 hours) — book the day before at your guesthouse or on BookMebus/Giant Ibis. Stop for a roadside num pang or fried noodles en route. Arrive Siem Reap, check into a hostel or guesthouse around Wat Bo / Old Market. Buy your Angkor pass this evening (1-day $37, 3-day $62 — if you want two temple days, the 3-day is better value) at the Angkor Enterprise ticket office, then wander Pub Street and the night market for dinner.
🚌Minibus Phnom Penh–Siem Reap, ~£9-13 (6 hrs)
🛏Hostel or guesthouse, Siem Reap (£8-15)
- →Scenic drive via National Road 6
- →Buy Angkor temple pass
- →Old Market and Pub Street evening
Angkor Wat Sunrise and the Small Circuit
Siem Reap, Cambodia
Up at 4:30am — hire a tuk-tuk driver for the day (~£15-18, split with hostel friends) and head to Angkor Wat for sunrise over the towers. Book a licensed guide for the complex via GetYourGuide (~£30-45 shared) or use the excellent free audio app plus the guidebook. Continue to Bayon's giant stone faces, the Terrace of the Elephants and tree-entangled Ta Prohm (Tomb Raider temple). Back in town by early afternoon for a nap and a pool. Evening: eat at a social-enterprise training restaurant in Siem Reap (Try Sokkhak River, Haven, or Marum) to mirror the G for Good Khmer meal — expect ~£5-8.
🚌Tuk-tuk hired for the day (~£15-18 shared)
🛏Hostel or guesthouse, Siem Reap (£8-15)
- →Angkor Wat sunrise
- →Bayon and the Small Circuit
- →Ta Prohm
- →Khmer dinner at a social-enterprise restaurant
Angkor Grand Circuit and Tonle Sap
Siem Reap, Cambodia
Second temple day: hire a tuk-tuk again (~£15-18) for the Grand Circuit — Preah Khan, Neak Pean, Ta Som and Pre Rup for sunset, or go further afield to Banteay Srei (the pink sandstone 'citadel of women', ~£20 tuk-tuk return, ~45 mins each way). Afternoon option: Tonle Sap floating village at Kompong Khleang (~£18-25 with boat) or the Angkor National Museum (~£10). Last chance for the night market — pick up Cambodian pepper and coffee to take home.
🚌Tuk-tuk day hire (~£15-20 shared)
🛏Hostel or guesthouse, Siem Reap (£8-15)
- →Grand Circuit temples
- →Or Banteay Srei
- →Tonle Sap floating village (optional)
- →Angkor National Museum (optional)
Fly to Bangkok
Bangkok, Thailand
Short taxi to Siem Reap–Angkor International Airport for a budget flight to Bangkok (AirAsia, Thai AirAsia or similar, ~£45-70, ~1h15). Complete your Thailand Digital Arrival Card (TDAC) online within 3 days of arrival — you'll be asked for it at immigration. Airport Rail Link into the city (~£1) and check into a hostel in Banglamphu/Khaosan or Silom. Afternoon and evening: Wat Pho and the Reclining Buddha (~£5), ferry across the Chao Phraya (~£0.40), and a street-food crawl in Chinatown (Yaowarat) — pad thai, grilled seafood and mango sticky rice for under £8.
🚌Flight Siem Reap–Bangkok ~£45-70; Airport Rail Link ~£1
🛏Hostel dorm or budget hotel, Bangkok (£10-18)
- →Budget flight to Bangkok
- →Wat Pho and Reclining Buddha
- →Chao Phraya river ferry
- →Yaowarat Chinatown street-food crawl
Bangkok and depart
Bangkok, Thailand
Final morning to suit yourself: the Grand Palace and Emerald Buddha (~£13), a longtail boat through the khlongs (~£10-12), or a lazy breakfast and last-minute shopping at Chatuchak (weekends) or MBK. Airport Rail Link or a Grab to Suvarnabhumi or Don Mueang for your flight home. Depart at any time.
🚌Airport Rail Link or Grab to airport (~£1-4)
🛏None (departure day)
- →Grand Palace and Emerald Buddha (optional)
- →Khlong longtail boat (optional)
- →Last shopping and departure
Self-launched vs. G Adventures
| This itinerary (self-launched) | G Adventures | |
|---|---|---|
| Price per person | ~£425 | £905 |
| Duration | 9 days | 9 days |
| Who books it | You and your group, direct | Tour operator, guided group |
| Savings | £480 per person (53%) | |
Estimate only, not a guaranteed price. Always verify costs independently before booking.
Want to see more G Adventures-style trips? Check them out here.~£425
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 Cambodia Experience: Self-Launched Ho Chi Minh City to Bangkok cost?+
Doing it yourself with this self-launched itinerary costs an estimated £425 per person for 9 days in Vietnam, Cambodia & Thailand. 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 G Adventures?+
Yes — G Adventures charges around £905 per person for a similar tour. Doing the same route independently, using the same standard of accommodation and activities, costs an estimated £425 — a saving of roughly £480 (53%) per person.
How long is the Vietnam, Cambodia & Thailand trip?+
This itinerary runs 9 days, covering 9 day-by-day stops through Vietnam, Cambodia & Thailand.
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 adventure, culture, foodie trip through Vietnam, Cambodia & Thailand, 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?
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