Self-Launched Southeast Asia Explorer: Ho Chi Minh City to Bangkok

Fly into Tan Son Nhat International Airport (SGN) and take the public bus 109 or a GrabCar (~£3-5) to your hostel in District 1 — the backpacker hub. Check in, freshen up, and head to Ben Thanh Market on foot for a first taste of Vietnamese street food. Grab a bowl of pho or bún bò Huế from a street stall for under £2. Tonight is yours to explore the city's buzzing streets and bars.

🚌Airport bus 109 to city centre (~£0.70) or GrabCar (~£3-5)

🛏The Common Room Project or Bui Vien Hostel (District 1) — dorm ~£8-12/night, private ~£18-25/night

• →Arrive and transfer to hostel in District 1 via Grab or bus
• →Explore Ben Thanh Market on foot
• →Street food dinner in the backpacker district

Book a half-day Cu Chi Tunnels tour via GetYourGuide or directly at your hostel — group tours run from ~£10-14pp including transport. In the afternoon, make your own way to the Reunification Palace (entry ~£2) and the War Remnants Museum (entry ~£1.50) by walking or taking a Grab. Both are sobering, essential stops.

🚌Cu Chi tour includes transport; Grab or walking in the afternoon

🛏The Common Room Project or Bui Vien Hostel (District 1)

• →Half-day shared group tour to Cu Chi Tunnels via GetYourGuide (~£10-14pp)
• →Self-visit to Reunification Palace (~£2 entry)
• →Self-visit to War Remnants Museum (~£1.50 entry)

Join a budget Mekong Delta day/overnight tour from your hostel or book via GetYourGuide (~£20-30pp). These typically include a Cao Dai temple stop, sampan boat cruise, floating market visit, cottage industry stops, and an overnight at a local homestay-style guesthouse with dinner included. A highly popular and easy-to-book experience.

🚌Minibus and boat included in tour package

🛏Homestay guesthouse in Mekong Delta (included in tour price)

• →Book Mekong Delta overnight tour including floating market, sampan cruise and homestay (~£20-30pp)
• →Visit a Cao Dai temple en route
• →Evening dinner at homestay guesthouse

Continue your Mekong Delta tour with a morning village walk around your homestay area. Transfer onwards by shared minivan or local bus to Chau Doc (~£3-5). In the late afternoon, hire a motorbike taxi (xe om) or join a cheap local tour to Sam Mountain for £1-2 — the sunset views stretching into Cambodia are spectacular. Spend the evening exploring Chau Doc's riverside independently.

🚌Shared minivan Mekong Delta to Chau Doc (~£3-5)

🛏Murray Guesthouse or Thanh Tra Hotel, Chau Doc (~£12-18/night)

• →Morning village walk around the homestay area
• →Transfer to Chau Doc by shared minivan or local bus (~£3-5)
• →Xe om or cheap tour to Sam Mountain for sunset (~£1-3)

Take a shared minivan from Chau Doc to the Tinh Bien/Phnom Den land border (~£5-8). Note: get your Cambodian visa on arrival here (bring a passport photo and USD cash, ~£25-30). Cross into Cambodia and continue by shared taxi or minivan to Kampot (~£5-10 total from border). Visit La Plantation pepper farm independently or on a short tuk-tuk tour (~£3-5). In the evening, hire a tuk-tuk or local boat for a cheap sunset cruise on the Kampot River (~£5-8).

🚌Shared minivan Chau Doc to border (~£5), shared taxi/minivan border to Kampot (~£5-10)

🛏Mea Culpa or Two Moons Hostel, Kampot (~£8-15/night)

• →Cross Tinh Bien/Phnom Den land border (visa on arrival ~£25-30 USD)
• →Shared transport to Kampot (~£5-10 from border)
• →Visit La Plantation pepper farm by tuk-tuk (~£3-5 tuk-tuk hire)
• →Sunset river cruise on the Kampot River (~£5-8)

Book a day trip to Koh Tonsai (Rabbit Island) from Kampot. Local boats run from Kep port (~30 min drive from Kampot by tuk-tuk, ~£3). Return boat tickets cost around £5-8pp. Spend the day swimming in warm turquoise water, lazing under palm trees and eating fresh seafood from beach shacks. Return to Kampot in the afternoon.

🚌Tuk-tuk to Kep port then local boat to island

🛏Mea Culpa or Two Moons Hostel, Kampot (~£8-15/night)

• →Tuk-tuk to Kep port (~£3)
• →Return boat to Koh Tonsai / Rabbit Island (~£5-8pp)
• →Swimming, relaxing and seafood lunch on the island (~£5-8 for food)

Optional early morning walk to the Kampot fish market before breakfast. Then take a shared minivan or bus from Kampot to Phnom Penh (~3.5 hrs, ~£5-8 via Mekong Express or Giant Ibis). Check in to your guesthouse and spend the afternoon exploring the Central Market and Russian Market at your own pace. Wander the riverside promenade in the evening.

🚌Mekong Express or Giant Ibis bus Kampot to Phnom Penh (~£5-8)

🛏Mad Monkey Phnom Penh or Eighty8 Backpackers (~£10-18/night)

• →Optional early morning visit to Kampot fish market
• →Shared minivan/bus Kampot to Phnom Penh (~3.5hrs, ~£5-8 with Mekong Express or Giant Ibis)
• →Explore Central Market and Russian Market independently
• →Evening stroll along the Phnom Penh riverside

A powerful and sobering day of sightseeing. Start at Tuol Sleng Genocide Museum (S21) — entry ~£3, audio guide recommended (~£3 extra). Take a tuk-tuk (~£3-5) to the Killing Fields of Choeung Ek (~£5 entry including audio guide, which is genuinely excellent and not to be skipped). In the late afternoon, visit the Royal Palace and Silver Pagoda (~£10 combined entry). Tuk-tuk around the city for the day costs around £8-12.

🚌Tuk-tuk around Phnom Penh (~£8-12 for the full day)

🛏Mad Monkey Phnom Penh or Eighty8 Backpackers (~£10-18/night)

• →Tuol Sleng Genocide Museum (S21) (~£3 entry + £3 audio guide)
• →Killing Fields of Choeung Ek (~£5 entry with audio guide)
• →Royal Palace and Silver Pagoda (~£10 combined entry)
• →Tuk-tuk between sights (~£8-12 for the day)

Take a morning bus or shared minivan from Phnom Penh to Siem Reap (~6-8 hrs, ~£8-12 with Giant Ibis, which is the most reliable option). Ask the driver to stop at Skuon for the famous fried spiders if you're feeling brave! If you'd like to visit Sambor Prei Kuk (a UNESCO pre-Angkorian site), consider hiring a private taxi for the day (~£35-45 between a small group) as public transport to this site is limited. Arrive in Siem Reap in the evening.

🚌Giant Ibis bus Phnom Penh to Siem Reap (~£8-12)

🛏Onederz Hostel or Mad Monkey Siem Reap (~£8-15/night)

• →Bus/minivan Phnom Penh to Siem Reap with Giant Ibis (~6-8hrs, ~£8-12)
• →Optional stop at Skuon (fried spider market)
• →Optional detour to Sambor Prei Kuk pre-Angkorian temples (best by shared private taxi ~£35-45/car)

Purchase a 3-day Angkor pass (~£55) at the official ticket office. Hire a tuk-tuk for the day (~£12-15) to cover the main circuit: Angkor Wat, Angkor Thom, the Bayon, Baphuon, Banteay Kdei and Ta Prohm. Start at dawn (5:30am) for sunrise at Angkor Wat — absolutely unmissable. In the evening, choose a temple viewpoint for sunset. Carry water and snacks as it's a big day on your feet.

🚌Tuk-tuk from Siem Reap to Angkor complex (~£12-15/day)

🛏Onederz Hostel or Mad Monkey Siem Reap (~£8-15/night)

• →3-day Angkor pass purchase (~£55 — covers days 10, 11)
• →Sunrise at Angkor Wat (depart hostel ~5am)
• →Angkor Thom and the Bayon temple
• →Banteay Kdei and Ta Prohm (jungle temple)
• →Tuk-tuk for the full day (~£12-15)

Use your 3-day Angkor pass to visit Banteay Srei (35km from Siem Reap) — book a tuk-tuk or negotiate with a driver for the half-day (~£15-20 return including wait time). The intricate pink sandstone carvings here are among the finest Khmer art ever created. Return to Siem Reap for a free afternoon: explore the Old Market, Pub Street, or optionally book a boat trip on Tonle Sap Lake (~£10-15pp via GetYourGuide).

🚌Tuk-tuk to Banteay Srei and back (~£15-20)

🛏Onederz Hostel or Mad Monkey Siem Reap (~£8-15/night)

• →Tuk-tuk to Banteay Srei temple (35km, ~£15-20 return)
• →Explore Siem Reap's Old Market and Pub Street
• →Optional: boat trip on Tonle Sap floating village (~£10-15 via GetYourGuide)

Take a GrabCar or tuk-tuk to Siem Reap-Angkor International Airport (SAI). Book your own budget flight to Bangkok Don Mueang (DMK) with AirAsia or Cambodia Angkor Air — book in advance for the best prices (~£35-65 one-way). From Don Mueang, take the A1 bus to Mo Chit BTS station (~£0.80) or the A2 shuttle, then the BTS Skytrain to your hostel area (Silom, Sukhumvit or Khao San Road). Spend the evening exploring Bangkok's famous street food scene.

🚌Tuk-tuk/Grab to SAI (~£5-8); AirAsia flight (~£35-65); Bangkok airport bus + BTS (~£1-2)

🛏Lub d Bangkok Silom or NapPark Hostel @ BTS Ekkamai (~£12-20/night)

• →Airport transfer to SAI by tuk-tuk or Grab (~£5-8)
• →Budget flight Siem Reap (SAI) to Bangkok Don Mueang (DMK) with AirAsia (~£35-65, book in advance)
• →Airport bus A1 from Don Mueang to Mo Chit BTS (~£0.80), then BTS to hostel
• →Evening street food exploration around Khao San Road or Yaowarat (Chinatown)

Head to Tha Tien pier and jump on a public Chao Phraya Express Boat (~£0.50-1) or hire a long-tail boat for a canal tour (~£10-15pp for a shared boat). Visit Wat Pho (Reclining Buddha, entry ~£4) independently — it's right next to the river. Cross by ferry (~£0.15) to visit Wat Arun (Temple of Dawn, entry ~£2). Walk or take a tuk-tuk to the Grand Palace and Wat Phra Kaew (Emerald Buddha, entry ~£13). Remember to dress modestly — shoulders and knees covered. Evening: explore a street food market like Or Tor Kor or the Chatuchak area.

🚌Chao Phraya Express Boat, cross-river ferry, tuk-tuk (~£5-10 total)

🛏Lub d Bangkok Silom or NapPark Hostel @ BTS Ekkamai (~£12-20/night)

• →Public Chao Phraya Express Boat or shared long-tail canal tour (~£0.50-15)
• →Wat Pho – Reclining Buddha (~£4 entry)
• →Wat Arun – Temple of Dawn (cross-river ferry ~£0.15, entry ~£2)
• →Grand Palace & Wat Phra Kaew / Emerald Buddha (~£13 entry)
• →Evening street food market (Or Tor Kor or Chatuchak)

Enjoy a final breakfast of pad kra pao or khao tom from a street stall (~£1-2). Depending on your flight time, you might squeeze in a visit to a rooftop café or the floating market at Taling Chan. Transfer to Suvarnabhumi (BKK) by the Airport Rail Link (~£1.20 from Phaya Thai) or to Don Mueang (DMK) by bus. Safe travels!

🚌Airport Rail Link to Suvarnabhumi (~£1.20) or A1/A2 bus to Don Mueang (~£0.80)

• →Final Thai street breakfast (~£1-2)
• →Optional morning visit to Taling Chan floating market
• →Transfer to airport: Airport Rail Link to Suvarnabhumi (~£1.20) or bus to Don Mueang (~£0.80)