Self-Launched Southeast Asia: Pu Luong, Halong Bay & the Cardamom Mountains

Fly into Noi Bai International Airport and take the 86 airport bus into the Old Quarter (around £0.80). Check into a well-rated Old Quarter hostel or budget guesthouse. Spend the afternoon wandering the chaotic, atmospheric streets of the 36 Streets district. Grab a Bia Hoi (local draught beer, ~20p a glass) at a street corner and ease into Vietnam life. Budget dinner at a local pho spot on Ta Hien Street.

🚌Airport Bus 86 to Old Quarter (~£0.80)

🛏Hanoi Backpacker Hostel or Little Charm Hanoi Boutique Hotel — £12–20/night

• →Explore Hanoi Old Quarter's 36 Streets
• →Bia Hoi corner experience
• →Street food dinner in the Old Quarter

Book a women-led motorbike city tour through Hanoi Free Tour or XO Tours (self-bookable via their website, ~£25–35pp) — these organisations empower local women as guides, matching the spirit of the original itinerary. Visit Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum exterior and Ba Dinh Square (free), One Pillar Pagoda (free), Huu Tiep Lake, and Tran Quoc Pagoda (free). Return to the Old Quarter for a huge bowl of pho at a street restaurant (~£2). Afternoon free to explore Hoan Kiem Lake and Ngoc Son Temple (~£1 entry).

🚌Motorbike tour covers city; walking

🛏Hanoi Backpacker Hostel or Little Charm Hanoi Boutique Hotel — £12–20/night

• →Women-led motorbike city tour (XO Tours or Hanoi Free Tour, ~£30)
• →Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum & Ba Dinh Square
• →One Pillar Pagoda
• →Hoan Kiem Lake & Ngoc Son Temple
• →Street pho lunch

Book a well-reviewed 1-night Halong Bay cruise independently via GetYourGuide or direct with operators like Indochina Junk or Bhaya Cruises (mid-range junk boats, ~£80–120pp all-inclusive for 1 night including kayaking). Shared shuttle buses depart Hanoi Old Quarter from ~£8 return. Glide past limestone karsts, paddle a kayak through ancient caves, and enjoy onboard meals included. Far cheaper than a private premium booking — same iconic scenery.

🚌Shared shuttle bus Hanoi–Halong Bay (~£8 each way)

🛏Overnight on junk boat (included in cruise price)

• →Halong Bay overnight junk boat cruise (~£80–120pp, self-booked via GetYourGuide)
• →Kayaking through limestone caves
• →Sunset on deck with drinks

Return to Hanoi by midday shuttle, then catch a local bus or book a shared transfer to Pu Luong Nature Reserve (~4–5 hours, ~£10–15). Check into a local stilt-house homestay or eco-lodge in Ban Hieu or Pu Luong Eco Garden — these offer a genuinely authentic alternative to premium retreats at a fraction of the price (£18–30/night). Afternoon: walk the surrounding rice terraces at your own pace — no guide needed on the main trails. Soak in the scenery.

🚌Shared bus or minivan Hanoi to Pu Luong (~£12)

🛏Pu Luong Eco Garden or local stilt-house homestay — £18–30/night

• →Scenic bus/transfer from Hanoi to Pu Luong (~£12)
• →Arrive and explore rice terrace viewpoints on foot
• →Stilt-house homestay check-in

Join a local guided half-day trek along the rice terraces and through Thai ethnic minority villages (bookable directly at your guesthouse or via GetYourGuide, ~£15–20pp). Visit a working rice mill, interact with local villagers, and cycle along flat paddy paths (bike hire from homestay ~£3/day). Picnic lunch in the fields. Afternoon free to swim in a local stream or simply relax. Dinner at your homestay — homestyle Vietnamese cooking.

🚌Bicycle hire / walking

🛏Pu Luong Eco Garden or local stilt-house homestay — £18–30/night

• →Guided rice terrace and village trek (~£15–20, book via guesthouse)
• →Bicycle hire along paddy paths (~£3)
• →Homestyle dinner at homestay

Take a shared minibus or local bus back toward Hanoi or Ninh Binh (~£10), then board the Reunification Express train southbound to Hue (~£15–22 for a soft-seat or sleeper). The train journey is spectacular, hugging the coastline through the Hai Van Pass. Arrive Hue in the evening. Check into a budget guesthouse near the Citadel. Grab banh mi for dinner (~£1).

🚌Minivan to Ninh Binh/Hanoi (~£10) + Reunification Express train to Hue (~£18)

🛏Hue Backpackers or Jade Hotel Hue — £12–18/night

• →Hai Van Pass coastal train views
• →Explore Hue riverside on arrival

Hue was Vietnam's imperial capital — a UNESCO World Heritage city full of history. Hire a bicycle (~£3/day) or take a cheap xe om (motorbike taxi) to explore the Imperial Citadel (entry ~£6), the royal tombs of Tu Duc and Minh Mang (~£3 each), and Thien Mu Pagoda (free). Lunch on bun bo Hue (spicy noodle soup, ~£1.50) at a local stall. Evening: walk the riverside and try a Hue-style set dinner at a local restaurant (~£5–8).

🚌Bicycle hire (~£3) or motorbike taxi

🛏Hue Backpackers or Jade Hotel Hue — £12–18/night

• →Imperial Citadel (entry ~£6)
• →Royal Tombs of Tu Duc & Minh Mang (~£3 each)
• →Thien Mu Pagoda (free)
• →Bun bo Hue street lunch

Take a shared bus or tourist minivan from Hue to Hoi An (~2.5 hours, ~£6–8), crossing the dramatic Hai Van Pass by road. Check into a guesthouse in or near Hoi An Ancient Town. Explore the UNESCO-listed Old Town on foot (entry ticket ~£4.50 covers 5 heritage houses/assembly halls). Rent a bicycle (~£2/day) and pedal to the nearby beaches or through rice paddies. Evening: tailor street, lanterns, and riverside bars.

🚌Shared tourist minivan (~£7)

🛏Hoi An Backpacker Hostel or Vinh Hung Riverside Resort — £14–22/night

• →Shared bus/minivan Hue to Hoi An (~£7)
• →Hoi An Ancient Town walking exploration (entry ~£4.50)
• →Bicycle ride to An Bang Beach or through rice paddies
• →Lantern-lit riverside evening

Morning: join a half-day cooking class at the Morning Glory Cooking School or Red Bridge Cooking School (~£25–35pp, self-booked direct or via GetYourGuide) — market visit, boat ride, and hands-on Vietnamese cooking included. Afternoon free for beach, more cycling, or browsing Hoi An's famous tailors. Evening: book your overnight bus or train to Ho Chi Minh City for the following day.

🚌Bicycle / walking

🛏Hoi An Backpacker Hostel or Vinh Hung Riverside Resort — £14–22/night

• →Vietnamese cooking class with market visit (~£30, GetYourGuide)
• →Free afternoon at An Bang Beach or Old Town
• →Book overnight transport to HCMC

Arrive in Ho Chi Minh City by overnight bus or train from Da Nang/Hoi An (~£12–18 sleeper). Check into a guesthouse in District 1 or the backpacker district (Pham Ngu Lao). Rest up, then explore: Ben Thanh Market, the War Remnants Museum (~£2 entry, powerful and essential), and the Reunification Palace (~£2.50). Evening: rooftop bar sundowners followed by street food dinner in the backpacker area.

🚌Overnight sleeper bus from Da Nang/Hoi An (~£15)

🛏The Hideout Hostel or Bui Vien backpacker guesthouse — £10–18/night

• →War Remnants Museum (~£2)
• →Reunification Palace (~£2.50)
• →Ben Thanh Market browse
• →Street food dinner in Pham Ngu Lao

Book a self-guided cycling day trip to the Cu Chi Tunnels via GetYourGuide or Klook (~£25–35pp including bike, guide, and entry). You'll pedal through rural villages and farmland before reaching the tunnels — an extraordinary underground network used during the Vietnam War. Crawl through tunnel sections, see trap demonstrations, and learn from knowledgeable local guides. Return to HCMC by late afternoon. Evening: explore Dong Khoi street and try a rooftop bar.

🚌Cycling tour transport included

🛏The Hideout Hostel or Bui Vien backpacker guesthouse — £10–18/night

• →Cycling day trip to Cu Chi Tunnels (~£30, GetYourGuide/Klook)
• →Tunnel crawl experience
• →Village cycling through rural paddies

Take a budget flight from HCMC to Phnom Penh (Vietjet, Cambodia Angkor Air, ~£40–65 booked in advance). Alternatively, cross overland by bus via the Moc Bai–Bavet border (~£10–15, ~6–7 hours total). Get a Cambodian e-visa in advance (~£28). Check into a guesthouse near the riverfront. Afternoon: walk along the Tonle Sap–Mekong riverside. Visit the Royal Palace and Silver Pagoda (entry ~£7). Evening: Riverside dining.

🚌Budget flight (~£50) or overland bus (~£12)

🛏Mad Monkey Hostel Phnom Penh or Number 9 Guesthouse — £12–20/night

• →Budget flight or overland bus HCMC to Phnom Penh (~£50 avg)
• →Royal Palace & Silver Pagoda (~£7)
• →Riverside walk and dinner

A sobering and important day. Visit the Tuol Sleng Genocide Museum (S-21 Prison, entry ~£5) and the Choeung Ek Killing Fields (~£5 with audio guide) — deeply moving sites essential to understanding Cambodia's recent history. Afternoon: explore the Central Market (Phsar Thmei) for street snacks and browse local produce. Sunset drinks at a riverside bar. Dinner: Khmer street food — fish amok, loc lac, and fresh spring rolls.

🚌Tuk-tuk (~£8–12 for the day)

🛏Mad Monkey Hostel Phnom Penh or Number 9 Guesthouse — £12–20/night

• →Tuol Sleng Genocide Museum (~£5)
• →Choeung Ek Killing Fields (~£5 with audio)
• →Central Market exploration
• →Khmer street food dinner

Take a shared bus or taxi from Phnom Penh toward the Cardamom Mountains region — either to Koh Kong town (~£10–14 by bus, ~4 hours) or to Chi Phat village, a community ecotourism hub. Book a trekking package through the Chi Phat Community-Based Ecotourism (CBET) project directly (chipatecotourism.org, ~£25–40/day including guide, food, and basic accommodation in a ranger station or community guesthouse). This is community-run wilderness trekking at its best — and directly funds conservation.

🚌Shared bus Phnom Penh to Koh Kong (~£12) + longtail boat to Chi Phat (~£5)

🛏Chi Phat community guesthouse or ranger station — £15–25/night (included in CBET package)

• →Bus from Phnom Penh to Koh Kong/Chi Phat (~£12)
• →Check in to Chi Phat community ecotourism programme
• →Introductory jungle walk

Full day trekking through dense primary rainforest with a local CBET guide. Look out for gibbons, hornbills, elephants (rare but possible), and the extraordinary biodiversity of one of Southeast Asia's last great wildernesses. Trek to a jungle waterfall for a refreshing swim. Community-cooked lunch in the forest. Evening: fireflies, jungle sounds, and stargazing from your guesthouse porch.

🚌Trekking on foot

🛏Chi Phat community guesthouse — included in CBET package

• →Full-day jungle trek with CBET local guide (included in package)
• →Wildlife spotting — gibbons, hornbills, reptiles
• →Jungle waterfall swim
• →Community-cooked dinner

Morning: kayak along jungle rivers with your CBET guide, paddling through mangroves and spotting wildlife from the water. Afternoon: return to Koh Kong town by longtail boat. Explore Koh Kong's sleepy riverside, grab a Khmer lunch, and relax. Evening: book your onward transport to Bangkok (Thailand border crossing at Hat Lek–Ban Pakard).

🚌Longtail boat to Koh Kong (~£5)

🛏Koh Kong guesthouse (e.g. Paddy's Bamboo Guesthouse) — £10–15/night

• →Kayaking through Cardamom jungle rivers (included in CBET package)
• →Longtail boat return to Koh Kong (~£5)
• →Explore Koh Kong riverside
• →Book transport to Bangkok

Cross the Hat Lek–Ban Pakard border from Cambodia into Thailand (Thai visa on arrival free for most nationalities, 30 days). Take a shared minivan or bus from the border to Bangkok's Eastern Bus Terminal or Suvarnabhumi (~£10–18, ~4–5 hours). Check into a hostel in Bangkok's Khao San Road area or hip Silom neighbourhood. Evening: explore Khao San Road, grab pad thai from a street cart, and celebrate reaching Bangkok!

🚌Shared minivan/bus border to Bangkok (~£15)

🛏Lub d Bangkok Silom or NapPark Hostel Khao San — £14–22/night

• →Border crossing Hat Lek to Ban Pakard (visa on arrival free)
• →Bus/minivan to Bangkok (~£15)
• →Khao San Road evening exploration
• →Street food dinner

Full day exploring Bangkok's highlights. Take the Chao Phraya Express Boat (~£1) to Wat Pho (Temple of the Reclining Buddha, ~£5) and Wat Arun across the river (~£1.50). Explore the Grand Palace (~£14, worth every baht). Afternoon: navigate via BTS Skytrain (~£1.50 per hop) to the trendy Chatuchak Weekend Market or Asiatique The Riverfront. Evening: Tuk-tuk to a rooftop bar then street food at a night market — mango sticky rice, pad kra pao, satay.

🚌Chao Phraya boat (~£1) + BTS Skytrain (~£3 total) + tuk-tuk (~£5)

🛏Lub d Bangkok Silom or NapPark Hostel Khao San — £14–22/night

• →Wat Pho — Temple of the Reclining Buddha (~£5)
• →Wat Arun (~£1.50)
• →Grand Palace (~£14)
• →Chao Phraya Express Boat (~£1)
• →Night market street food feast

Final morning in Bangkok. If time allows, explore the vibrant street art of Talat Noi neighbourhood or browse MBK Center for last-minute gifts. Grab a farewell khao man gai (Hainanese chicken rice, ~£2) from a street stall. Head to Suvarnabhumi Airport via the Airport Rail Link from Phaya Thai station (~£5, 30 mins). Farewell, Southeast Asia!

🚌Airport Rail Link Phaya Thai to Suvarnabhumi (~£5)

🛏Check-out — departure day

• →Talat Noi street art neighbourhood
• →Last street food breakfast (khao man gai, ~£2)
• →Airport Rail Link to Suvarnabhumi (~£5)