Southeast Asia Explorer: Self-Launched Vietnam, Cambodia & Thailand
14 days · Vietnam, Cambodia & Thailand
Exodus charges £3,299
No-markup version: ~£570 per person
Estimate only, not a guaranteed price. Always verify costs independently before booking.
A self-launched version of Exodus's 14-day Southeast Asia Explorer (AOX): Ho Chi Minh City to Bangkok across Vietnam, Cambodia and Thailand. You'll ride the Cu Chi tunnels, drift through the Mekong Delta, cross the land border into Kampot, swim off Koh Tonsai, face Cambodia's recent history in Phnom Penh, watch sunrise over Angkor, and finish with Bangkok's canals and temples — all using local buses, boats, trains and budget guesthouses instead of private minibuses and hotels. Costs are rough backpacker estimates in GBP; book day tours the evening before or via GetYourGuide/Klook.
Day-by-day
Arrive Ho Chi Minh City
Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam
Land at Tan Son Nhat, take a Grab or the yellow 109 airport bus (about 20,000 VND / £0.65) into District 1. Check into a Pham Ngu Lao backpacker guesthouse, wander Ben Thanh Market and the Reunification Palace area, then eat bánh mì and bún thịt nướng from a street stall. Sort your Cambodia visa online tonight if you're heading for the land border later in the trip.
🚌Airport bus 109 or Grab from SGN
🛏Pham Ngu Lao guesthouse, District 1 (dorm or private budget room)
- →Ben Thanh Market wander
- →Street food dinner in District 1
Cu Chi Tunnels & city highlights
Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam
Join a half-day Cu Chi Tunnels group tour booked via GetYourGuide or any District 1 travel agent (about £15–20 including transport and entry). Back in the city by mid-afternoon, walk to the War Remnants Museum (£1.50) and the Reunification Palace, or do a free walking tour of the old town if you'd rather skip the tunnels' crowds.
🚌Shared minibus to Cu Chi; walking/Grab in town
🛏Pham Ngu Lao guesthouse
- →Cu Chi Tunnels half-day tour
- →War Remnants Museum
- →Independence Palace
Into the Mekong Delta
Cai Be / Vinh Long, Vietnam
Book a Mekong Delta two-day tour through a District 1 agent or Klook (about £55–70 including transport, boat, homestay and meals) — this is the simplest self-launched way to string Cai Be, the floating market and Chau Doc together. You'll visit a Cao Dai temple en route, board a sampan through the canals and sleep in a family homestay with mosquito nets provided.
🚌Shared minibus to Cai Be, then sampan boats
🛏Mekong Delta homestay guesthouse (simple, fan, shared bathroom)
- →Cao Dai temple stop
- →Sampan canal cruise
- →Coconut candy cottage industry visit
Delta village walk, Sam Mountain & Chau Doc
Chau Doc, Vietnam
Morning village walk and boat crossing to Vinh Long with your group, then continued by minibus to Chau Doc. Climb Sam Mountain for sunset views toward Cambodia, then eat dinner on the riverfront. If you're doing it solo, local buses run Chau Doc–Long Xuyen for around £3 but the tour bus is easier.
🚌Boat + shared minibus; local bus alternative
🛏Chau Doc budget hotel near the river
- →Delta village walk
- →Sam Mountain sunset
- →Chau Doc night market
Cross into Cambodia — Kampot & sunset cruise
Kampot, Cambodia
Take a bus to the Tinh Bien/Phnom Den land crossing (visa on arrival, bring a passport photo and USD cash — e-visas are not accepted here). Note: this leg is fiddly independently, so a Kampot-bound minibus tour or a Chau Doc–Kampot shared taxi (£20–30) is worth it. Detour to La Plantation pepper farm for lunch and a free guided pepper tour, then check into a riverside guesthouse and join a sunset boat cruise on the Kampot River (£3–5).
🚌Shared taxi/minibus over Tinh Bien–Phnom Den border
🛏Kampot riverside guesthouse
- →La Plantation pepper farm tour
- →Kampot River sunset cruise
Koh Tonsai (Rabbit Island)
Kep / Koh Tonsai, Cambodia
Take a tuk-tuk or rent a scooter to Kep (30 min), then the local boat from Kep pier to Koh Tonsai (about $10 return). Swim, laze on the palm-backed beach and eat grilled seafood from a shack. Boats typically return around 3–4pm — agree your return time with the boatman before you set off.
🚌Tuk-tuk to Kep + local island boat
🛏Kampot riverside guesthouse
- →Koh Tonsai beach day
- →Seafood lunch on the island
Bus to Phnom Penh
Phnom Penh, Cambodia
Optional early fish-market walk in Kampot, then the local bus or shared minivan to Phnom Penh (about 3–4 hours, £5–8; book via your guesthouse or VET/Champa Mekong). Check in near the riverfront and explore the Russian Market or Central Market in the afternoon. Cheap eats along Street 172.
🚌Local bus or shared minivan, Kampot to Phnom Penh
🛏Riverside/Street 172 budget guesthouse
- →Kampot fish market (optional)
- →Russian Market
- →Riverfront walk
Tuol Sleng, Killing Fields & Royal Palace
Phnom Penh, Cambodia
Hire a tuk-tuk for the day (about $20–25, split between two or three people) to cover Tuol Sleng Genocide Museum ($5 inc. audio guide), Choeung Ek Killing Fields ($6) and the Royal Palace & Silver Pagoda ($10). It's a heavy day content-wise — take it slowly and give yourself time to breathe between sites. Shoulders and knees covered for the palace.
🚌Day-hire tuk-tuk
🛏Riverside/Street 172 budget guesthouse
- →Tuol Sleng Genocide Museum (S21)
- →Choeung Ek Killing Fields
- →Royal Palace & Silver Pagoda
Overland to Siem Reap via Sambor Prei Kuk
Siem Reap, Cambodia
Skip the flight and take the long road: a Phnom Penh–Siem Reap bus (6–8 hours, £10–12, e.g. Giant Ibis or Mekong Express) or a shared minivan will run through Skuon's spider market. To include Sambor Prei Kuk pre-Angkorian temples you'll either need to hire a private car with driver for the day (£50–70) or take a bus and add a detour by tuk-tuk from Kampong Thom — factor an extra half day if doing it independently. Arrive Siem Reap, buy your Angkor pass tonight (£26 for 1 day, £64 for 3 days) and watch the sunset over the temples, which is free with a valid pass.
🚌Long-distance bus or shared minivan + tuk-tuk detour
🛏Siem Reap guesthouse near Pub Street
- →Skuon spider market stop
- →Sambor Prei Kuk temples (optional detour)
Full day at Angkor
Siem Reap, Cambodia
Hire a tuk-tuk driver for the Angkor small circuit (about $18–25 for the day, split between passengers) and start at sunrise at Angkor Wat. Hit Angkor Thom and the Bayon, Ta Prohm with its jungle roots, and Banteay Kdei. A licensed guide isn't necessary but a good driver-guide costs around $45 extra — worth it for the history. Bring water, and note your pass starts when you first scan it.
🚌Tuk-tuk day hire for the Angkor circuit
🛏Siem Reap guesthouse
- →Angkor Wat sunrise
- →Bayon & Angkor Thom
- →Ta Prohm
- →Banteay Kdei
Banteay Srei & free afternoon
Siem Reap, Cambodia
Tuk-tuk out to Banteay Srei (35km, about $25 return) for the finest Khmer carvings, past paddy fields and villages. Afternoon free: cycle to Tonle Sap floating village ($15–20 boat trip) or just wander Siem Reap's old market. Optional Phare Circus in the evening (£12–18).
🚌Tuk-tuk to Banteay Srei
🛏Siem Reap guesthouse
- →Banteay Srei temple
- →Tonle Sap floating village boat (optional)
- →Phare Circus (optional)
Fly Siem Reap to Bangkok
Bangkok, Thailand
Fly SAI–DMK on AirAsia, Thai Vietjet or Thai AirAsia (booked early, £50–80 one way). Take the A1 airport bus from DMK to Mo Chit BTS (£0.70) and stay around Khao San or Silom. Evening: street food at Yaowarat (Chinatown) or a night at the Ratchada night market.
🚌Flight SAI–DMK + A1 bus/BTS into town
🛏Khao San Road or Silom hostel/guesthouse
- →Yaowarat Chinatown street food
- →Evening walk along the river
Bangkok canals and temples
Bangkok, Thailand
Take the Sathorn pier long-tail boat or the cheaper local Chao Phraya Express Boat (15 THB) — a canal boat ride through Thonburi runs around £15 per boat if you share. Visit the Grand Palace & Wat Phra Kaew (£13), then Wat Pho (£6) and its 46m reclining Buddha. Shoulders and knees covered; the palace is cash-only and closes at 3.30pm. Optional Wat Arun across the river at sunset (£2.50).
🚌Chao Phraya boat + walking
🛏Khao San Road or Silom hostel/guesthouse
- →Long-tail canal boat ride
- →Grand Palace & Wat Phra Kaew
- →Wat Pho
- →Wat Arun (optional)
Trip ends in Bangkok
Bangkok, Thailand
Breakfast and out — take the Airport Rail Link from Phaya Thai to Suvarnabhumi (£1) or the A1 bus to DMK (£0.70). If you have a late flight, leave bags at your hostel and squeeze in one more temple or a Thai massage before heading out.
🚌Airport Rail Link or A1 bus
- →Airport transfer
Self-launched vs. Exodus
| This itinerary (self-launched) | Exodus | |
|---|---|---|
| Price per person | ~£570 | £3,299 |
| Duration | 14 days | 14 days |
| Who books it | You and your group, direct | Tour operator, guided group |
| Savings | £2,729 per person (83%) | |
Estimate only, not a guaranteed price. Always verify costs independently before booking.
Want to see more Exodus-style trips? Check them out here.~£570
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 Southeast Asia Explorer: Self-Launched Vietnam, Cambodia & Thailand cost?+
Doing it yourself with this self-launched itinerary costs an estimated £570 per person for 14 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 Exodus?+
Yes — Exodus charges around £3,299 per person for a similar tour. Doing the same route independently, using the same standard of accommodation and activities, costs an estimated £570 — a saving of roughly £2,729 (83%) per person.
How long is the Vietnam, Cambodia & Thailand trip?+
This itinerary runs 14 days, covering 14 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, backpacker, 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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