Vietnam, Laos & Thailand: Riversides & Railways – Self-Launched

Fly into Noi Bai International Airport and take the 86 bus or a Grab taxi into the Old Quarter (~£2–4). Check into your hostel, shake off the jet lag, and take an evening stroll around Hoan Kiem Lake. Grab a bowl of pho and a Bia Hoi (street beer) for under £2.

🚌Airport bus 86 or Grab taxi to Old Quarter – ~£2–4

🛏Hanoi Old Quarter hostel dorm (e.g. Hanoi Backpackers Hostel or Old Quarter View Hostel) – ~£8–12/night

• →Hoan Kiem Lake evening walk
• →Bia Hoi corner street beers
• →Old Quarter exploration

Spend a full day exploring Hanoi's highlights independently. Visit the Temple of Literature, walk through the French Quarter, and take a free wander around the 36 streets of the Old Quarter. Book a street food walking tour via GetYourGuide for the evening (~£15–20).

🚌Walk or Grab bike – ~£2

🛏Hanoi Old Quarter hostel dorm – ~£8–12/night

• →Temple of Literature (entry ~£1.50)
• →Hoan Kiem Lake & Ngoc Son Temple (~£0.80)
• →Old Quarter 36 streets walk
• →Evening street food tour via GetYourGuide (~£15)

Optional: book a 1-day Ha Long Bay cruise via Klook or GetYourGuide (~£35–50 including transport from Hanoi). Alternatively, use this as a buffer day to organise onward travel and pick up a local SIM card (~£5, highly recommended). Book your overnight train south to Hue for tonight or the next evening.

🚌Day trip transport included in cruise package

🛏Hanoi Old Quarter hostel dorm – ~£8–12/night

• →Ha Long Bay day cruise via Klook (~£35–50)
• →OR Old Quarter wander & admin day
• →Buy local SIM card (~£5)

Board the Reunification Express overnight train from Hanoi to Hue. Book a soft sleeper berth through DulichVietnam.com.vn or Baolau.com for ~£18–25. It's a comfortable and scenic overnight journey — pack snacks from a convenience store before boarding.

🚌Reunification Express train Hanoi→Hue, ~14hrs – ~£18–25

🛏Overnight train soft sleeper berth – ~£18–25

• →Board Reunification Express overnight train
• →Stock up on snacks at Long Bien market or a convenience store

Arrive in Hue in the morning. Check in and hire a bicycle or motorbike (~£5–8/day) to explore at your own pace. Visit the Imperial Citadel (~£7), ride out to the Thien Mu Pagoda, and cruise the Perfume River by local boat (~£4). End the day with a bowl of Hue's famous bun bo Hue noodle soup.

🚌Bicycle/motorbike hire – ~£5–8

🛏Hue guesthouse or hostel (e.g. Hue Backpackers) – ~£8–12/night

• →Imperial Citadel (~£7)
• →Thien Mu Pagoda (free)
• →Perfume River boat ride (~£4)
• →Rent bicycle or motorbike (~£5–8/day)
• →Bun bo Hue lunch

Take a shared open-tour bus or Easy Rider motorbike tour over the legendary Hai Van Pass to Da Nang, then continue to Hoi An (~£6–10 total by bus, or ~£25–35 for a guided Easy Rider experience). Arrive in Hoi An in the afternoon and explore the lantern-lit Ancient Town.

🚌Open-tour bus Hue→Hoi An via Hai Van Pass – ~£6–10

🛏Hoi An hostel or guesthouse in the Ancient Town area (e.g. Hoi An Backpackers Hostel) – ~£8–14/night

• →Hai Van Pass transit (views optional stop)
• →Hoi An Ancient Town evening stroll
• →Lantern-lit riverside walk

Full day in one of Southeast Asia's most photogenic towns. Buy a combined Ancient Town ticket (~£4) covering several historic houses, the Japanese Covered Bridge, and clan halls. Consider getting something made by one of the famous local tailors (allow 24–48hrs for turnaround). Rent a bicycle to visit the nearby Tra Que vegetable village.

🚌Bicycle hire – ~£2

🛏Hoi An hostel or guesthouse – ~£8–14/night

• →Ancient Town ticket – Japanese Bridge, clan houses (~£4)
• →Tra Que vegetable village by bicycle (~£2 bike hire)
• →Tailor visit (optional)
• →Cao Lau & white rose dumplings for lunch

Enjoy a final morning in Hoi An before boarding an afternoon/evening sleeper bus to Nha Trang (~£10–14, ~12hrs). The Phuong Trang (FUTA) bus is a reliable option — book online or at any travel agent in town. Arrive in Nha Trang the next morning.

🚌FUTA sleeper bus Hoi An→Nha Trang – ~£10–14

🛏Overnight sleeper bus – ~£10–14

• →Final morning market browse
• →Book FUTA/Phuong Trang sleeper bus online (~£10–14)

Arrive early, check in, and hit the beach. Nha Trang's main beach is free and one of the best in Vietnam. Book a 4-island boat tour via a local operator or GetYourGuide (~£10–15 including snorkelling gear and lunch). The afternoon is yours — try fresh seafood at the Dam Market.

🚌Walk or Grab – ~£1–2

🛏Nha Trang hostel or budget guesthouse (e.g. Mojzo Hostel) – ~£8–12/night

• →Nha Trang Beach (free)
• →4-island snorkelling boat tour (~£10–15)
• →Dam Market seafood lunch

Spend a morning at the ancient Cham temples of Po Nagar (~£1.50 entry), then treat yourself to a mud bath at Thap Ba Hot Springs (~£8–12). The rest of the afternoon is free for the beach or exploring the night market.

🚌Local xe om (motorbike taxi) or Grab – ~£3

🛏Nha Trang hostel – ~£8–12/night

• →Po Nagar Cham Towers (~£1.50)
• →Thap Ba Hot Springs mud bath (~£8–12)
• →Nha Trang Night Market

Take an afternoon Reunification Express train from Nha Trang to Ho Chi Minh City (~£12–20, ~8hrs, book via Baolau.com). Arrive in the evening, check in to your hostel in the backpacker district (Bui Vien Street area), and take an initial wander.

🚌Reunification Express Nha Trang→HCMC – ~£12–20

🛏HCMC hostel in District 1 (e.g. Long Hostel or The Common Room) – ~£8–12/night

• →Reunification Express train south
• →Bui Vien Street evening explore

Explore HCMC's must-sees: the War Remnants Museum (~£2), Reunification Palace (~£2), and Ben Thanh Market. Book the Cu Chi Tunnels half-day tour for tomorrow, or do it today via GetYourGuide (~£10–15 including transport). Street food lunch in the market area.

🚌Walk, Grab or local bus – ~£2

🛏HCMC hostel District 1 – ~£8–12/night

• →War Remnants Museum (~£2)
• →Reunification Palace (~£2)
• →Ben Thanh Market
• →Book Cu Chi Tunnels tour (~£10–15)

Morning Cu Chi Tunnels tour (~£10–15 via GetYourGuide, includes return transport). Afternoon Mekong Delta boat trip or optional visit to the Cao Dai Temple at Tay Ninh. Back to HCMC for a final evening on Bui Vien Street.

🚌Tour transport included – ~£0 extra

🛏HCMC hostel District 1 – ~£8–12/night

• →Cu Chi Tunnels half-day tour (~£10–15)
• →Bui Vien Walking Street evening
• →Optional: Mekong Delta day trip add-on (~£12–18)

Begin the transit toward Laos. The most popular independent route goes HCMC → Phnom Penh by bus (~£8–12, ~6hrs via Mekong Express or Giant Ibis), then overland north. Alternatively, fly HCMC→Vientiane (~£50–80 with AirAsia/Vietjet) and proceed to the 4,000 Islands. Check visa requirements: Laos e-visa is ~£25–30.

🚌HCMC→Phnom Penh bus ~£8–12, OR flight HCMC→Vientiane ~£50–80

🛏Guesthouse en route or hostel in Phnom Penh/Vientiane – ~£8–12/night

• →Bus or flight toward Laos
• →Apply for Laos e-visa in advance (~£25–30)
• →Optional Cambodia transit stop in Phnom Penh

Arrive at Si Phan Don — the 4,000 Islands in the Mekong. Catch a local boat across to Don Det (~£0.50). Hire a bicycle (~£2/day) and pedal across the bamboo bridge to Don Khon to see Khon Phapheng Falls (largest waterfall in Southeast Asia by volume) and spot rare Irrawaddy river dolphins at sunset.

🚌Local boat + bicycle – ~£3

🛏Don Det riverside guesthouse or bungalow – ~£5–10/night

• →Boat to Don Det (~£0.50)
• →Bicycle hire (~£2/day)
• →Khon Phapheng Falls (~£2 entry)
• →Irrawaddy dolphin watching at Ban Hang Khon

Take a slow local boat or shared minivan north to Pakse (~£5–8, ~3hrs). Pakse is a relaxed river town at the confluence of the Mekong and Xe Don rivers. Explore the Champasak provincial market and rent a motorbike for tomorrow's Bolaven Plateau loop.

🚌Slow boat or minivan Don Det→Pakse – ~£5–8

🛏Pakse guesthouse (e.g. Lankham Hotel area) – ~£8–12/night

• →Slow boat or minivan to Pakse (~£5–8)
• →Champasak provincial market wander
• →Arrange motorbike hire for tomorrow (~£8–12/day)

A highlight of southern Laos: a self-launched motorbike loop through the Bolaven Plateau's coffee plantations, jungle waterfalls (Tad Fane, Tad Yuang), and minority villages. The short loop is completable in a day (~120km). Hire a semi-automatic from any guesthouse. Coffee tasting at a plantation is free or ~£1.

🚌Motorbike hire – ~£8–12/day, fuel ~£3

🛏Pakse guesthouse – ~£8–12/night

• →Bolaven Plateau motorbike loop (~120km)
• →Tad Fane waterfall viewpoint (free)
• →Tad Yuang waterfall (~£1)
• →Coffee plantation tasting (~free–£1)

An early morning VIP bus or shared minivan from Pakse heads north toward Vang Vieng (~£15–22, ~8–10hrs with a change or direct depending on service). Book through your guesthouse. Arrive in the afternoon and check in — Vang Vieng sits in a stunning karst limestone valley beside the Nam Song River.

🚌VIP bus or minivan Pakse→Vang Vieng – ~£15–22

🛏Vang Vieng hostel or riverside guesthouse (e.g. Vang Vieng Backpackers) – ~£6–10/night

• →VIP bus north (~£15–22)
• →Nam Song River sunset view on arrival

Rent a bicycle or e-bike (~£3–5) and explore the karst countryside. Visit Tham Chang cave (~£2), kayak the Nam Song River (~£8–12 half-day via a local operator), and take a dip at the Blue Lagoon (~£1.50 entry). Evenings in Vang Vieng have a great backpacker scene without being over-the-top.

🚌Bicycle/e-bike hire – ~£3–5

🛏Vang Vieng hostel or guesthouse – ~£6–10/night

• →Tham Chang Cave (~£2)
• →Nam Song River kayaking (~£8–12)
• →Blue Lagoon swim (~£1.50)
• →Bicycle/e-bike hire (~£3–5)

Morning bus or shared van from Vang Vieng to Vientiane (~£4–6, ~4hrs). Visit Patuxai Monument and Pha That Luang temple if time allows. Then take the 17:20 Lao-Thai Friendship Bridge train across the Mekong into Nong Khai, Thailand (~£1.50). Catch an overnight train or bus south toward Chiang Mai or Bangkok.

🚌Van to Vientiane ~£4–6 + Friendship Bridge train ~£1.50 + overnight train ~£12–20

🛏Overnight train sleeper or bus – ~£12–20

• →Bus Vang Vieng→Vientiane (~£4–6)
• →Patuxai Monument (free)
• →Pha That Luang temple (~£1)
• →Lao-Thai Friendship Bridge train (~£1.50)
• →Board overnight train/bus to Chiang Mai or Bangkok

Arrive in Chiang Mai in the morning. Check into your hostel in the Old City and pick up a free city map. Explore the 300+ temples — Doi Suthep is a must (~£2 entry, take a songthaew shared taxi for ~£1.50 each way). Browse the famous Night Bazaar in the evening. Book a Thai cooking class for tomorrow via GetYourGuide (~£20–28).

🚌Songthaew shared taxi to Doi Suthep – ~£1.50

🛏Chiang Mai Old City hostel (e.g. Stamps Backpackers or Deejai Backpackers) – ~£8–14/night

• →Doi Suthep Temple by songthaew (~£1.50 + £2 entry)
• →Old City temple trail (Wat Chedi Luang, Wat Phra Singh — free or ~£1)
• →Chiang Mai Night Bazaar
• →Book Thai cooking class (~£20–28)

Final day! Morning Thai cooking class (~£20–28, includes market visit, 4–5 dishes, and recipe booklet). Afternoon free for a Thai massage (~£6–10/hr), elephant sanctuary visit (book in advance, ~£50–70 for ethical sanctuaries like Elephant Nature Park), or final souvenir shopping. Head to Chiang Mai International Airport for your onward flight.

🚌Grab taxi to airport – ~£4–6

🛏Depart / airport hotel if late flight

• →Thai cooking class with market visit (~£20–28)
• →Optional: ethical elephant sanctuary (~£50–70, book ahead)
• →Thai massage (~£6–10)
• →Onward flight from Chiang Mai Airport