Self-Launched Heart of Vietnam & Thailand: Halong Bay, Mekong, Chiang Mai & Bangkok

Fly into Tan Son Nhat International Airport (SGN). Take the bus route 109 into the city centre for around £0.50, or a metered Vinasun/Mai Linh taxi for ~£5. Check into a hostel in the Bui Vien or Pham Ngu Lao backpacker district — a lively base full of street food, rooftop bars, and fellow travellers. Spend the evening exploring District 1 on foot, grabbing a bowl of pho and a bia hoi (fresh draught beer) for under £3.

🚌Bus 109 from airport ~£0.50 or metered taxi ~£5

🛏Bui Vien Walking Street hostel or guesthouse (e.g. Long Hostel, Mad Monkey HCMC) — dorm ~£8, private ~£18

• →Arrive at Tan Son Nhat Airport and take bus 109 or metered taxi to city centre (~£1–5)
• →Check into hostel in Pham Ngu Lao/Bui Vien backpacker district
• →Self-guided evening walk around District 1 — Ben Thanh Market area
• →Street food dinner: pho, banh mi, bia hoi (~£3–5)

Book an independent day trip to the Mekong Delta from HCMC via GetYourGuide or Klook (typically £18–25 per person including transport, boat trip, and lunch). Visit Vinh Trang Pagoda, take a sampan boat along the Mekong River to Ben Tre Coconut Island, taste tropical fruits and honey tea, watch coconut candy being made, and have a traditional Vietnamese lunch under the trees. An optional bike ride around the village is usually available on-tour for a small extra fee. Return to HCMC in the evening.

🚌Included in day tour booking from HCMC

🛏Bui Vien Walking Street hostel (same as Day 1)

• →Book Mekong Delta day tour via GetYourGuide or Klook (~£18–25 pp, includes transport & lunch)
• →Visit Vinh Trang Pagoda — largest pagoda in the Mekong Delta (free entry)
• →Sampan boat trip along the Mekong River to Ben Tre Coconut Island
• →Tropical fruit tasting, honey tea/wine, and coconut candy shop demonstration
• →Optional: bike ride around the village (~£2 extra)
• →Return to Ho Chi Minh City by early evening

Start the morning with a half-day Cu Chi Tunnels tour booked via GetYourGuide or Klook (~£12–18 pp including transport from HCMC). Explore the wartime tunnel network, learn about Vietnamese resistance history, and try traditional manioc (guerrilla food). Optional: fire an AK-47 or MK16 at the shooting range for an extra fee. Return to HCMC, collect your bags, and head to the airport for an afternoon/evening budget flight to Hanoi with VietJet Air or Bamboo Airways (~£25–40 booked in advance). Check into a hostel in Hanoi's Old Quarter.

🚌Cu Chi tour transport included. Airport taxi/bus ~£3. Flight HCMC–HAN ~£25–40

🛏Hanoi Old Quarter hostel (e.g. Hanoi Backpackers Hostel, Vibe Hostel) — dorm ~£7, private ~£16

• →Half-day Cu Chi Tunnels guided tour via GetYourGuide/Klook (~£12–18 pp)
• →Explore the tunnel network and learn about the Vietnam War
• →Taste traditional manioc — guerrilla food of the Viet Cong
• →Optional: shoot AK-47 or MK16 at the on-site firing range (~£1 per bullet)
• →Return to HCMC and check out of hostel
• →Budget flight HCMC → Hanoi with VietJet/Bamboo Airways (~£25–40, book ahead)
• →Check in to Old Quarter hostel on arrival in Hanoi

Book a 2-day/1-night Halong Bay cruise directly with a reputable operator such as Indochina Junk, Dragon Legend, or via GetYourGuide/Klook (~£80–110 pp including transfers from Hanoi, all meals, kayaking, and cave visits). Shared minibus transfers pick up from Hanoi's Old Quarter around 7:30–8am and travel via the scenic Red River Delta route to Halong City (~3.5 hrs). Board your traditional junk boat, enjoy a seafood lunch on deck, kayak through limestone karsts, and anchor in a sheltered lagoon for a spectacular seafood dinner.

🚌Shared minibus Hanoi → Halong Bay (included in cruise package)

🛏On-board cabin on Halong Bay cruise junk (included in cruise price)

• →Shared minibus transfer from Hanoi Old Quarter to Halong Bay pier (~£5–8, included in most cruise packages)
• →Board 2D/1N Halong Bay junk cruise (book via Klook/GetYourGuide or direct: ~£80–110 pp)
• →Scenic cruise past limestone islets and karst formations
• →Kayaking through caves and lagoons
• →Shore excursion on limestone island
• →Seafood dinner on board while anchored in the bay

Rise early for a Tai Chi lesson on the sundeck with the bay views to yourself. After breakfast, join a guided cave exploration to see dramatic stalagmites and stalactites (typically included in the cruise). Enjoy a final lunch on board before disembarking and taking the shared return transfer to Hanoi (~3.5 hrs), arriving by early evening. Spend the night in the Old Quarter and explore the Hoan Kiem Lake area, night market, and legendary bia hoi corner.

🚌Return shared minibus Halong Bay → Hanoi (included in cruise package)

🛏Hanoi Old Quarter hostel (e.g. Hanoi Backpackers, Vibe Hostel) — dorm ~£7, private ~£16

• →Sunrise Tai Chi lesson on the junk's sundeck
• →Guided cave exploration — stalactites and stalagmites (included in cruise)
• →Final lunch on board the junk
• →Shared minibus transfer back to Hanoi Old Quarter (included in cruise)
• →Self-guided evening walk around Hoan Kiem Lake and Hanoi Night Market
• →Bia hoi corner — fresh draught beer from ~£0.30 a glass

Head to Noi Bai International Airport for a budget flight to Chiang Mai. Air Asia and VietJet typically offer direct or one-stop routes for £40–70 booked in advance. Upon arrival at Chiang Mai International Airport, take the shared red songthaew (red truck taxi) into the Old City for ~£1.50, or an airport taxi for ~£5. Check into a hostel near the Tha Phae Gate or Nimman area. Spend the evening exploring the Sunday Walking Street (if applicable) or local temples on foot, and sample northern Thai dishes like khao soi (curry noodle soup).

🚌Budget flight HAN–CNX ~£40–70. Songthaew from airport ~£1.50

🛏Chiang Mai Old City hostel (e.g. Stamps Backpackers, Deejai Backpackers) — dorm ~£8, private ~£20

• →Budget flight Hanoi (HAN) → Chiang Mai (CNX) with AirAsia or VietJet (~£40–70, book ahead)
• →Shared red songthaew from airport to Old City (~£1.50) or metered taxi (~£5)
• →Check in to hostel near Tha Phae Gate or Nimman area
• →Self-guided evening walk in the Old City — explore moat-side temples
• →Dinner: khao soi (northern Thai curry noodles) at a local restaurant (~£2–3)

Spend a full day at an ethical elephant sanctuary outside Chiang Mai. Highly recommended options include Elephant Nature Park (founded by Lek Chailert) or Elephant Jungle Sanctuary — both can be booked directly or via GetYourGuide/Klook for ~£55–75 pp, including round-trip transfers from your hostel, lunch, and a full day of one-on-one elephant interaction. Feed, walk, play, and bathe with rescued elephants in a responsible, no-riding environment. Return to Chiang Mai in the late afternoon. Evening free to explore Nimman Road's cafes and street food.

🚌Return transfers from hostel to sanctuary included in booking

🛏Chiang Mai Old City hostel (same as Day 6)

• →Full-day ethical elephant sanctuary visit (Elephant Nature Park or Elephant Jungle Sanctuary — book via GetYourGuide/Klook or direct: ~£55–75 pp)
• →Meet, feed, walk, and bathe with rescued elephants
• →Included lunch at the sanctuary
• →Round-trip transfers from Chiang Mai hostel (included in most packages)
• →Evening free: explore Nimman Road cafes and street food stalls

Check out and take a songthaew or taxi to Chiang Mai Airport for a short budget flight to Bangkok (~45 mins, ~£20–35 with AirAsia, Thai Lion Air, or Nok Air). Arrive at Don Mueang (DMK) or Suvarnabhumi (BKK) airport and take the Airport Rail Link (from BKK, ~£1.20) or a public bus (from DMK, ~£0.60) into the city. Check into a hostel on Khao San Road or in the Silom area. Spend the evening exploring the neighbourhood — Khao San Road's street food scene, or the riverside area near Wat Arun.

🚌Taxi to CNX airport ~£3. Flight CNX–BKK ~£20–35. Airport rail/bus ~£0.60–1.20

🛏Bangkok hostel (e.g. NapPark Hostel @ Khaosan, Lub d Bangkok Silom) — dorm ~£9, private ~£22

• →Songthaew or taxi to Chiang Mai Airport (~£2–5)
• →Budget flight Chiang Mai (CNX) → Bangkok (BKK/DMK) with AirAsia/Nok Air (~£20–35, book ahead)
• →Airport Rail Link from Suvarnabhumi to city centre (~£1.20) or public bus from Don Mueang (~£0.60)
• →Check in to hostel on Khao San Road or Silom area
• →Evening walk along Khao San Road or Chao Phraya riverside — street food dinner (~£3–5)

Pack a full day of Bangkok's most iconic sights. Start early with a self-booked day tour via GetYourGuide covering the Mae Klong Railway Market (Rom Hoop), a long-tail boat through Bangkok's canals to Damnoen Saduak Floating Market, and the major temples — or explore the temples independently by tuk-tuk and BTS Skytrain. Visit Wat Traimit (Golden Buddha), Wat Pho (Reclining Buddha, ~£5 entry), and Wat Benchamabophit (Marble Temple, ~£2 entry). Book the floating market and railway market as a half-day tour (~£18–25 via GetYourGuide/Klook, includes transport). Grab lunch at the floating market stalls (~£4–6).

🚌BTS Skytrain day pass ~£5. Long-tail boat and market transport included in tour booking

🛏Bangkok hostel (same as Day 8)

• →Half-day Railway Track Market (Mae Klong/Rom Hoop) & Damnoen Saduak Floating Market tour via GetYourGuide (~£18–25 pp, includes transport)
• →Long-tail boat trip through Bangkok's canal network (~included in tour or ~£8 self-booked)
• →Explore Floating Market — local Thai food and souvenirs
• →Visit Wat Traimit — world's largest solid gold Buddha (entry ~£3)
• →Visit Wat Pho — Reclining Buddha, Bangkok's oldest temple (entry ~£5)
• →Visit Wat Benchamabophit (Marble Temple) — entry ~£2
• →Evening: Chao Phraya riverside or Khao San Road night market

Enjoy a final Thai breakfast at a local café — try jok (rice porridge) or pad kra pao with a fried egg (~£2). Depending on your flight time, there may be time for a final wander around a nearby temple or a riverboat ride on the Chao Phraya Express (~£0.50). Take the Airport Rail Link to Suvarnabhumi (BKK, ~30 mins, £1.20) or a taxi to Don Mueang (DMK, ~£8–12 depending on traffic). Check in for your departure flight home.

🚌Airport Rail Link BKK ~£1.20 or taxi to DMK ~£8–12

🛏N/A — departure day

• →Final Thai breakfast at a local café — jok or pad kra pao (~£2)
• →Optional: Chao Phraya Express boat ride (~£0.50) or final temple visit
• →Airport Rail Link to Suvarnabhumi Airport (~£1.20, 30 mins) or taxi to Don Mueang (~£8–12)
• →Depart from Bangkok