Vietnam & Cambodia Self-Launched: Hanoi to Angkor in 14 Days
14 days · Vietnam & Cambodia
Legend Travel Group charges £1,616
No-markup version: ~£735 per person
Estimate only, not a guaranteed price. Always verify costs independently before booking.
A self-launched, independent version of Legend Travel Group's 14-day Vietnam & Cambodia group tour — same route (Hanoi, Halong Bay, Hoi An, My Son, Hue, Ho Chi Minh City, Cu Chi, Mekong Delta, Siem Reap/Angkor) but booked piece by piece: hostel/guesthouse stays, sleeper trains and budget flights, street food, and GetYourGuide day tours instead of a fully guided coach. Roughly half the price of the operator's package plus internal airfare and guide fee.
Day-by-day
Arrive Hanoi — Old Quarter orientation
Hanoi, Vietnam
Fly into Noi Bai (HAN). Skip the included private transfer and take the Vietnam Airlines/Circle K minibus or bus 86 from the airport to the Old Quarter (~£1.20) or a Grab bike/car (~£5-8). Check into a hostel or budget boutique hotel around Ma May / Hang Bac. Spend the afternoon wandering Hoan Kiem Lake, the 36 Streets and the night market (weekends). Grab a bia hoi and bun cha dinner for under £5.
🚌Bus 86 or Grab from Noi Bai airport, ~£1.20-8
🛏Old Quarter hostel or budget hotel (dorm £6-9, private double £14-20)
- →Hoan Kiem Lake walk
- →Old Quarter 36 Streets
- →Night market (weekends)
- →Street food dinner
Hanoi highlights self-guided day
Hanoi, Vietnam
Do the operator's city tour independently on foot — most sites cluster around Ba Dinh. Start early at Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum and his stilt house (free, closed Mon/Fri), then One Pillar Pagoda, Tran Quoc Pagoda on West Lake, and the Temple of Literature. In the afternoon visit Hoa Lo Prison ("Hanoi Hilton", ~£1.50) and either the Museum of Ethnology or the Vietnamese Women's Museum (~£2 each). Optional evening water puppet show at Thang Long Theatre (~£4-6).
🚌Walking + occasional Grab bike, ~£3
🛏Old Quarter hostel or budget hotel
- →Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum & stilt house
- →One Pillar Pagoda
- →Tran Quoc Pagoda
- →Temple of Literature
- →Hoa Lo Prison
- →Water puppet show (optional)
Halong Bay overnight cruise (budget junk boat)
Halong Bay, Vietnam
Book a 2-day/1-night Halong Bay cruise directly with a local operator (e.g. a mid-range junk via Klook or a Hanoi booking office) — the shared-coach pickup from the Old Quarter is included in most cruise prices, ~£85-120 per person for a decent boat with kayaking, cave visit and meals. Cruise past the karst islands, kayak or swim, explore Amazing/Sung Sot Cave and watch sunset from the top deck. Cheaper than the operator's private cruise but same scenery.
🚌Shared shuttle bus Hanoi–Halong (included in cruise), ~£0 extra
🛏Overnight on a budget/mid-range junk boat, twin share (included in cruise price)
- →Halong Bay junk boat cruise
- →Kayaking
- →Amazing Cave (Sung Sot)
- →Swimming stop
- →Sunset on deck
Halong to Hoi An via Hanoi
Hoi An, Vietnam
Cruise back to the harbour in the morning, then shuttle back to Hanoi. Fly from Noi Bai to Da Nang in the late afternoon/evening with VietJet or Bamboo (~£40-60 one way, booked 2-4 weeks ahead — this replaces the operator's internal flight surcharge). From Da Nang, take a Grab (~£8) or local bus 1 to Hoi An (~£1). Evening stroll through the lantern-lit Ancient Town (entry ticket ~£3.50).
🚌Shuttle + VietJet Hanoi–Da Nang flight ~£50 + Grab/bus to Hoi An ~£5
🛏Hoi An guesthouse or budget hotel (£10-18 double)
- →Morning cruise through the islands
- →Hoi An Ancient Town by night
- →Lantern-lit riverside walk
Hoi An Ancient Town & Kim Bong Village
Hoi An, Vietnam
Self-guided walking day in the UNESCO Ancient Town: Japanese Covered Bridge, Tan Ky Old House, assembly halls and the Sa Huynh Museum with the combined Old Town ticket (~£3.50 for 5 sites). In the afternoon rent a bike (~£1) and cycle to Kim Bong carpentry village, or take a short boat trip on the Thu Bon River (~£3). Evening: lantern making class or a cooking class (~£15-20 via Klook) — the perfect Hoi An experience.
🚌Bicycle rental ~£1, boat trip ~£3
🛏Hoi An guesthouse or budget hotel
- →Ancient Town heritage ticket
- →Japanese Covered Bridge
- →Kim Bong Village by bike
- →Thu Bon River boat trip
- →Lantern making or cooking class
My Son Sanctuary sunrise tour
My Son, Vietnam
Book a small-group My Son Sanctuary tour on GetYourGuide (~£15-22 including transport and guide) with an early 5am departure to beat the crowds and heat, or hire a Grab out and back for ~£15. Explore the Cham towers and learn about the Cham civilisation. Back in Hoi An by lunchtime — spend the afternoon at An Bang or Cua Dai beach and get something tailored at one of Hoi An's famous tailors.
🚌Shared tour minibus or Grab, ~£18
🛏Hoi An guesthouse or budget hotel
- →My Son Sanctuary UNESCO site
- →Cham tower exploration
- →An Bang beach afternoon
- →Tailor-made clothing (optional)
Hai Van Pass to Hue
Hue, Vietnam
Take the local bus or a shared limousine van from Hoi An to Hue (~£7-10, 3-4 hrs) — the classic route over the Hai Van Pass with stops at Lang Co Beach and the Marble Mountains if you book a 'Hai Van Pass transfer' with a small operator (~£15). Alternatively hire an Easy Rider motorbike guide (~£25) for the most spectacular way over the pass. Arrive Hue and explore the riverside and Dong Ba Market in the evening.
🚌Hai Van Pass shared transfer bus/van ~£10-15
🛏Hue guesthouse or budget hotel (£9-16 double)
- →Hai Van Pass
- →Lang Co Beach stop
- →Marble Mountains (optional)
- →Dong Ba Market
Hue Imperial City & Perfume River
Hue, Vietnam
Rent a bicycle or Grab to explore the Imperial Citadel and Purple Forbidden City (~£3.50 entry). Cycle out to Thien Mu Pagoda on the Perfume River, then visit the tombs of Emperor Tu Duc and Khai Dinh (each ~£3.50). Alternatively take a Perfume River dragon boat one way (~£4). Stop at Thuy Xuan incense village on the way back. Hue's imperial cuisine (bun bo Hue) is a must for dinner.
🚌Bicycle rental ~£2 + Grab ~£5
🛏Hue guesthouse or budget hotel
- →Imperial Citadel & Forbidden City
- →Thien Mu Pagoda
- →Tu Duc Mausoleum
- →Khai Dinh Mausoleum
- →Thuy Xuan incense village
- →Perfume River boat trip
Reunification Express or flight to Ho Chi Minh City
Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam
Take the Reunification Express overnight or afternoon train from Hue to Saigon (soft sleeper ~£25-35, 20+ hrs) for the authentic slow-travel option — or fly VietJet Hue/Da Nang to Saigon in ~1.5 hrs (~£30-45). Check into a District 1 hostel or budget hotel near Bui Vien / Pham Ngu Lao. Evening: street food crawl around Ben Thanh night market and a rooftop beer.
🚌Reunification Express soft sleeper ~£30 or flight ~£40
🛏District 1 hostel or budget hotel (£8-18 double)
- →Reunification Express train ride
- →Bui Vien walking street
- →Ben Thanh night market food crawl
Saigon city sights & Cu Chi Tunnels
Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam
Morning self-guided walk past Notre Dame Cathedral, the Central Post Office and Reunification Palace (entry ~£2.50). Afternoon: book a half-day Cu Chi Tunnels small-group tour on GetYourGuide or Klook (~£15-20 incl. transport) — crawl through sections of the tunnel complex and try the wartime cassava snack. Back in the city for dinner; consider a motorbike night food tour (~£18).
🚌Walking + Cu Chi tour minibus ~£18
🛏District 1 hostel or budget hotel
- →Notre Dame Cathedral (exterior)
- →Central Post Office
- →Reunification Palace
- →Cu Chi Tunnels half-day tour
Mekong Delta day trip (My Tho & Ben Tre)
Mekong Delta, Vietnam
Join a small-group Mekong Delta day tour from Saigon (~£18-25 on GetYourGuide/Klook) covering My Tho, a boat ride on the Mekong, coconut candy workshops, bee farms, a sampan row through the canals and Vinh Trang Pagoda. Back in Saigon by early evening for your last night in Vietnam.
🚌Tour minibus to My Tho, ~£22
🛏District 1 hostel or budget hotel
- →Mekong River boat trip
- →Coconut candy & bee farm visits
- →Sampan canal row
- →Vinh Trang Pagoda
Fly to Siem Reap — Angkor Thom & sunset
Siem Reap, Cambodia
Fly Saigon to Siem Reap (~£55-80 one way with VietJet/AirAsia via a booking site, or consider a bus via Phnom Penh if time allows). Arrive, get your Angkor pass (1-day $37 / 3-day $62, ~£29/£49 — buy online in advance). In the late afternoon hire a tuk-tuk (~£12 for the day) to Angkor Thom: South Gate, Bayon's faces, Terrace of the Elephants, Baphuon and Phimeanakas, finishing with sunset from Phnom Bakheng or Pre Rup.
🚌Flight Saigon–Siem Reap ~£65 + tuk-tuk ~£12
🛏Siem Reap guesthouse or budget hotel (£8-16 double)
- →Angkor Thom & South Gate
- →Bayon Temple
- →Terrace of the Elephants
- →Baphuon
- →Sunset at Phnom Bakheng
Angkor Wat sunrise & the grand circuit
Siem Reap, Cambodia
Hire a tuk-tuk driver for a full day (~£18-25) or book a small-group sunrise tour (~£15-20). Catch sunrise at Angkor Wat, explore its galleries and central sanctuary, then Ta Prohm (Tomb Raider temple), Banteay Kdei, Takeo, Thommanon and Chau Say Tevoda. Optionally add the pink-sandstone Banteay Srei (~£8 extra in tuk-tuk) if you have energy. Evening at Pub Street or the night market.
🚌Tuk-tuk full-day hire ~£20
🛏Siem Reap guesthouse or budget hotel
- →Angkor Wat sunrise
- →Ta Prohm
- →Takeo
- →Thommanon
- →Chau Say Tevoda
- →Banteay Srei (optional)
- →Pub Street evening
Siem Reap departure
Siem Reap, Cambodia
Slow morning — visit the Angkor National Museum (~£10) or the Psa Leu market for souvenirs, then take a tuk-tuk to Siem Reap International Airport (~£4-5) for your flight home. If time allows, a Tonle Sap floating village trip can be squeezed in before departure.
🚌Tuk-tuk to Siem Reap airport ~£5
🛏—
- →Angkor National Museum (optional)
- →Psa Leu market shopping
- →Tonle Sap floating village (optional)
Self-launched vs. Legend Travel Group
| This itinerary (self-launched) | Legend Travel Group | |
|---|---|---|
| Price per person | ~£735 | £1,616 |
| Duration | 14 days | 14 days |
| Who books it | You and your group, direct | Tour operator, guided group |
| Savings | £881 per person (55%) | |
Estimate only, not a guaranteed price. Always verify costs independently before booking.
Want to see more Legend Travel Group-style trips? Check them out here.~£735
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 Vietnam & Cambodia Self-Launched: Hanoi to Angkor in 14 Days cost?+
Doing it yourself with this self-launched itinerary costs an estimated £735 per person for 14 days in Vietnam & Cambodia. 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 Legend Travel Group?+
Yes — Legend Travel Group charges around £1,616 per person for a similar tour. Doing the same route independently, using the same standard of accommodation and activities, costs an estimated £735 — a saving of roughly £881 (55%) per person.
How long is the Vietnam & Cambodia trip?+
This itinerary runs 14 days, covering 14 day-by-day stops through Vietnam & Cambodia.
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, adventure, foodie trip through Vietnam & Cambodia, 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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