Self-Launched Cambodia Experience: Ho Chi Minh City to Bangkok Independently
9 days · Vietnam, Cambodia & Thailand
G Adventures charges £760
No-markup version: ~£372 per person
Estimate only, not a guaranteed price. Always verify costs independently before booking.
A self-launched, solo-friendly version of G Adventures' 9-day "Cambodia Experience" — same route from Ho Chi Minh City through Phnom Penh and Siem Reap to Bangkok, but using hostels and guesthouses, public buses, and self-bookable day tours instead of a guided group. You'll still hit the Cu Chi Tunnels or Mekong Delta, the Killing Fields and S-21, the full Angkor complex, and a Khmer cooking or dinner experience — just on your own schedule and for roughly a third of the tour price. Costs are approximate backpacker/budget-traveller estimates and exclude international flights.
Day-by-day
Arrive in Ho Chi Minh City
Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam
Fly into Tan Son Nhat (SGN) and take a Grab or the yellow 109 airport bus (~£0.40) into District 1. Check into a hostel in the Pham Ngu Lao / Bui Vien backpacker area. Spend the afternoon wandering the Notre Dame Cathedral area, the Central Post Office, and Ben Thanh Market, then eat a bowl of pho and a banh mi for under £5. Book tomorrow's day tour tonight through Klook or GetYourGuide — no need to commit in advance.
🚌Grab bike or bus 109 from the airport, ~£1-3
🛏Hostel dorm in District 1, e.g. a Pham Ngu Lao backpacker hostel (approx £10-12/night)
- →Self-guided walk: Ben Thanh Market, Central Post Office, Notre Dame Cathedral exterior
- →Evening street food crawl on Bui Vien / Co Giang
Cu Chi Tunnels or Mekong Delta day trip
Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam
Pick one day trip rather than trying to do both. The Cu Chi Tunnels half-day tour (book via Klook/GetYourGuide, ~£18-22 including transport) is shorter and leaves your afternoon free; the Mekong Delta full-day (My Tho/Ben Tre, ~£22-28) is a long day with roughly 5-6 hours of driving — worth knowing before you book, as reviewers of the original tour flagged exactly this. Back in the city by evening, hit the War Remnants Museum if you have energy, or just eat and rest before the border run tomorrow. Buy your Cambodia bus ticket tonight from a Pham Ngu Lao agent or 12Go.
🚌Included in day tour; no extra local transport needed
🛏Same hostel, Ho Chi Minh City
- →Cu Chi Tunnels half-day tour (self-booked)
- →OR Mekong Delta full-day tour (self-booked)
- →Optional: War Remnants Museum (~£2)
Bus across the border to Phnom Penh
Phnom Penh, Cambodia
Take a direct bus from Ho Chi Minh City to Phnom Penh via the Moc Bai–Bavet crossing — around 6 hours including the border stop. Book a Giant Ibis or Kumho Samco service (~£12-15, bookable on 12Go Asia or at the hostel desk) for a more comfortable coach than the cheaper minivans. Bring your e-visa printout or pay the ~£25 visa on arrival in USD cash, plus passport photos. Arrive in Phnom Penh late afternoon, check into a guesthouse near the riverside, and take a short self-guided walk along Sisowath Quay at sunset. Optional: hire a cyclo for an hour (~£3) for the classic Phnom Penh experience.
🚌Giant Ibis/Kumho Samco bus HCMC to Phnom Penh, ~£13
🛏Riverside guesthouse or hostel dorm, Phnom Penh (approx £10-14/night)
- →Self-guided Riverside/Sisowath Quay walk
- →Optional cyclo tour of the old quarter
Killing Fields and Tuol Sleng
Phnom Penh, Cambodia
A heavy but essential day. Start at Tuol Sleng Genocide Museum (S-21) when it opens at 8am (~£4), then take a tuk-tuk out to Choeung Ek Killing Fields (~£3-4 each way, or hire the driver for the half day for ~£10). Get the £3 audio guide at Choeung Ek — it's excellent and more informative than a rushed group tour. Afternoon: Royal Palace and Silver Pagoda (~£8) or the National Museum (~£4), then decompress at Russian Market. Grab a cheap Khmer dinner and book your bus to Siem Reap for tomorrow.
🚌Tuk-tuk hire for the day, ~£10
🛏Same guesthouse, Phnom Penh
- →Tuol Sleng Museum (S-21)
- →Choeung Ek Killing Fields with audio guide
- →Optional: Royal Palace & Silver Pagoda
- →Optional: Russian Market
Bus to Siem Reap and Phare Circus
Siem Reap, Cambodia
Morning bus from Phnom Penh to Siem Reap on Giant Ibis, roughly 6-7 hours (~£13-15, includes a stop and a packed snack). Arrive mid-to-late afternoon, check into a guesthouse in the Wat Bo or central area, and buy your Angkor pass early if you want the 3-day option (~£48 for 3 days, or ~£23 for one day) — passes are sold at the Angkor ticket office, not at the temples. In the evening, catch the Phare Cambodian Circus performance (~£15-18, book direct on their website or via Klook). It's a genuinely great show and the social enterprise supports local arts students.
🚌Giant Ibis bus Phnom Penh to Siem Reap, ~£14
🛏Guesthouse or hostel dorm in Siem Reap (approx £9-13/night)
- →Phare Circus performance (book direct)
- →Evening walk on Pub Street / Old Market
Angkor Wat sunrise and the small circuit
Siem Reap, Cambodia
Rent a tuk-tuk driver for the day (negotiate the night before, ~£15-18 for a full sunrise-to-sunset day, or ~£12 for the small circuit). Leave at 4:45am for sunrise at Angkor Wat, then continue to Bayon's stone faces, Angkor Thom, and the tree-strangled Ta Prohm. Skip paying for a formal guide and instead use the excellent written or audio guides at each site, or hire a licensed guide at the entrance for ~£12-15 if you want the history brought to life. Bring litres of water, sun protection, and breakfast snacks. Back in town, treat yourself to a Khmer cooking class or a traditional dinner with an Apsara dance performance (~£15-20, book via GetYourGuide or directly).
🚌Private tuk-tuk day hire, ~£16
🛏Same guesthouse, Siem Reap
- →Angkor Wat sunrise (3-day pass)
- →Bayon, Angkor Thom, Ta Prohm
- →Optional Khmer cooking class or Apsara dinner show
Outer temples and floating village
Siem Reap, Cambodia
Use the second day of your Angkor pass for the outer circuit — Banteay Srei (delicate pink sandstone carvings, ~45 min drive) and optionally Beng Mealea. Alternatively, take a half-day trip to the Tonlé Sap floating village at Kompong Khleang (~£15-18 with a shared boat trip) — go with a smaller local boat operator rather than a big group tour. Afternoon free for the Angkor National Museum (~£8) or a nap by the pool. Evening: night market, cheap BBQ, and an early night before a long travel day.
🚌Tuk-tuk or shared van for outer temples, ~£15
🛏Same guesthouse, Siem Reap
- →Banteay Srei and outer temples
- →OR Tonlé Sap floating village (Kompong Khleang)
- →Optional: Angkor National Museum
Cross into Thailand and travel to Bangkok
Siem Reap to Bangkok
The cheapest route: an early bus from Siem Reap to Poipet border (~£5-8, ~3 hours), walk through Thai immigration at Rong Kluea, then take a shared van or songthaew from Aranyaprathet to the train station and the ordinary third-class train to Bangkok (~£1, 5-6 hours, a genuinely fun experience). Faster alternative: a direct Siem Reap–Bangkok bus or minibus (~£15-20, 9-10 hours) bookable on 12Go. Arrive Bangkok in the evening and check into a hostel near Khao San or in the Banglamphu area. Note that overland border entries by land are usually visa-exempt for 15 days for most Western passports — double-check current rules for yours.
🚌Bus to Poipet (~£7) + shared van to Aranyaprathet (~£2) + train to Bangkok (~£1); or direct bus ~£18
🛏Hostel in Banglamphu/Khao San area, Bangkok (approx £10-15/night)
- →Overland border crossing at Poipet
- →Optional evening walk on Khao San Road
Bangkok and depart
Bangkok, Thailand
Spend the morning on a self-guided walk of the old town: Wat Pho (~£5, with the reclining Buddha), the Grand Palace if you want it (~£13, dress code enforced — cover shoulders and knees), and a ferry across the Chao Phraya (~£0.30). Alternatively take the free tourist boat on the river or ride the Skytrain for the views. Grab a last pad thai and mango sticky rice from a street stall, then head to Suvarnabhumi or Don Mueang airport via the Airport Rail Link (~£1) or a Grab (~£9). End of trip — add a night or two if you can, Bangkok rewards slow time.
🚌Airport Rail Link ~£1 or Grab to airport ~£9
🛏Check out — book an extra hostel night (~£12) if your flight is late
- →Wat Pho
- →Optional Grand Palace
- →Chao Phraya river ferry
- →Street food in Banglamphu
Self-launched vs. G Adventures
| This itinerary (self-launched) | G Adventures | |
|---|---|---|
| Price per person | ~£372 | £760 |
| Duration | 9 days | 9 days |
| Who books it | You and your group, direct | Tour operator, guided group |
| Savings | £388 per person (51%) | |
Estimate only, not a guaranteed price. Always verify costs independently before booking.
Want to see more G Adventures-style trips? Check them out here.~£372
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 Self-Launched Cambodia Experience: Ho Chi Minh City to Bangkok Independently cost?+
Doing it yourself with this self-launched itinerary costs an estimated £372 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 £760 per person for a similar tour. Doing the same route independently, using the same standard of accommodation and activities, costs an estimated £372 — a saving of roughly £388 (51%) 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 culture, budget, backpacker 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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