Vietnam, Cambodia & Thailand in 10 Days — Self-Launched
10 days · Vietnam, Cambodia & Thailand
Realistic Asia charges £1,195
No-markup version: ~£1,025 per person
Estimate only, not a guaranteed price. Always verify costs independently before booking.
A self-launched, solo-traveller version of Realistic Asia's 10-day Hanoi–Ha Long Bay–Hoi An–Siem Reap–Phuket private tour. You'll hit the same headline sites — a Ha Long Bay overnight cruise, Hoi An's Old Town, the full Angkor temple circuit, and beach time in Phuket — but independently: budget guesthouses and hostels instead of 4-star hotels, overnight/local buses and cheap regional flights instead of private cars, and self-booked day tours with local guides. Expect a fast pace with three countries and four moves in ten days; a light daypack and a mobile e-SIM make it much smoother. All costs are rough backpacker estimates in GBP and exclude international flights to/from the region.
Day-by-day
Arrive Hanoi & Old Quarter wander
Hanoi, Vietnam
Land at Noi Bai (HAN) and take bus 86 or the VinBus route into the Old Quarter for around £1.50–2 (taxis/Grab are £10–13). Check into a hostel or budget hotel near Hoan Kiem Lake, then spend the late afternoon drifting through the 36 streets, catching a sunset at Hoan Kiem Lake and grabbing bia hoi (fresh beer, ~40p a glass) and bun cha for dinner. Book your Ha Long Bay overnight cruise this evening via GetYourGuide or Klook so transfers are confirmed.
🚌Airport bus 86 ~£2; walking
🛏Hostel dorm or budget guesthouse in Old Quarter (£8–14)
- →Bus 86 airport transfer to Old Quarter
- →Self-guided Old Quarter walk
- →Hoan Kiem Lake and Ngoc Son Temple
- →Street food dinner: bun cha, bia hoi
Ha Long Bay overnight cruise
Ha Long Bay, Vietnam
Get picked up from your Old Quarter hostel early (most budget cruises include the shared minibus transfer — roughly 21⁄2–3 hours each way). Board a mid-range junk boat for the classic route through the limestone karsts: lunch on deck, kayaking and swimming stops, a limestone cave visit and sunset over the bay. Most cruises include lunch, dinner and breakfast; drinks are extra.
🚌Shared minibus Hanoi–Ha Long included with cruise
🛏Twin/dorm cabin on a mid-range junk boat (included in cruise price)
- →Shared minibus transfer included with cruise
- →Ha Long Bay overnight boat cruise
- →Kayaking and swimming
- →Limestone cave visit
- →Sunset on deck
Sunrise tai chi & back to Hanoi
Hanoi, Vietnam
Wake for optional tai chi on the sun deck, then a brunch on board before the boat docks and the shuttle returns you to Hanoi by mid-afternoon. Re-check into your Hanoi hostel, then use the evening to see a water puppet show (£4–5) or just eat your way through Dong Xuan night market.
🚌Shared minibus Ha Long–Hanoi included with cruise
🛏Hostel dorm or budget guesthouse in Old Quarter (£8–14)
- →Optional sunrise tai chi on deck
- →Return minibus to Hanoi
- →Water puppet show or night market
- →Dong Xuan Market
Fly or overnight train south to Hoi An
Hoi An, Vietnam
The fastest option is a cheap domestic flight Hanoi–Da Nang (VietJet/Bamboo, £35–55 booked early) plus a Grab or local bus (~£6) the 45 minutes to Hoi An. The atmospheric alternative is a soft-sleeper train to Da Nang (£20–30, 16+ hours) — Vietnam Railways' Reunification Express. Either way you land in Hoi An's riverside lanes; check into a guesthouse and spend the evening eating cao lau and watching lanterns light up by the Thu Bon River.
🚌Flight £45 or soft-sleeper train £25; Da Nang–Hoi An £6
🛏Guesthouse/budget hotel in Hoi An ancient quarter (£10–16)
- →Domestic flight Hanoi–Da Nang (or overnight train)
- →Grab/local bus Da Nang–Hoi An
- →Evening lantern stroll along Thu Bon River
Hoi An Old Town & cooking class
Hoi An, Vietnam
Old Town entry ticket is about £5 and covers Chua Ong Pagoda, the Phuc Kien Assembly Hall, Tan Ky ancestral house and the Japanese Covered Bridge — all walkable in a leisurely half-day. In the afternoon join a small-group market tour and cooking class (£20–28 via GetYourGuide, or the famous budget spots along Hai Ba Trung) to learn cao lau and white rose dumplings. Rent a bicycle (~£1.50/day) for the rice paddies if you have energy left.
🚌Walking / bicycle £1.50
🛏Guesthouse/budget hotel in Hoi An (£10–16)
- →Hoi An Old Town ticket: Chua Ong Pagoda, Phuc Kien Assembly Hall, Tan Ky House, Japanese Covered Bridge
- →Market tour + Vietnamese cooking class
- →Bicycle rental through rice paddies
Hoi An to Siem Reap
Siem Reap, Cambodia
This is the big travel day. Cheapest workable routing: shuttle to Da Nang (DAD) and fly to Siem Reap (REP) with a connection — book a VietJet/Bangkok Airways combo or a Da Nang–Siem Reap fare via Ho Chi Minh City, roughly £70–110. Land, apply for your Cambodia e-visa in advance (~£28) so immigration is quick, then take a tuk-tuk (£3–4) into town. Stay near Pub Street / Wat Bo; book your Angkor guide for tomorrow tonight.
🚌Flight £90; tuk-tuk £4
🛏Budget hotel/guesthouse near Wat Bo, Siem Reap (£9–15)
- →Da Nang–Siem Reap flight (via HCMC or direct seasonal)
- →Tuk-tuk into central Siem Reap
- →Book small-group Angkor day tour for next day
Angkor temples small-group day
Siem Reap, Cambodia
Take a shared small-group Angkor tour with an English-speaking guide (£22–30 via GetYourGuide/Klook, includes hotel pickup and an air-conditioned van). The classic circuit: Angkor Thom's South Gate, Bayon's face towers, Baphuon, the Elephant and Leper King terraces, jungle-swallowed Ta Prohm, then Angkor Wat itself — plus a sunset at Bakheng Hill or Pre Rup if you opt for the full day. The Angkor Archaeological Park pass is extra: £29 for one day. Recover on Pub Street afterwards.
🚌Shared tour van included; 1-day Angkor pass £29
🛏Budget hotel/guesthouse near Wat Bo, Siem Reap (£9–15)
- →Angkor Thom South Gate, Bayon, Baphuon, Elephant Terrace, Leper King Terrace
- →Ta Prohm jungle temple
- →Angkor Wat
- →Phnom Bakheng sunset
- →Pub Street evening
Siem Reap to Phuket
Phuket, Thailand
Morning tuk-tuk to Siem Reap airport and fly to Phuket (via Bangkok with AirAsia/Thai Vietjet, roughly £60–95 if booked ahead). Grab from Phuket airport to Kata or Karon (shared minibus £4–5, Grab ~£12). Swap temples for sand: settle into a guesthouse a few minutes' walk from Kata Beach and spend the afternoon swimming and eating cheap seafood at the night market.
🚌Flight £78; shared minibus £5
🛏Guesthouse/budget hotel 5–10 min from Kata Beach (£14–22)
- →Siem Reap–Phuket flight via Bangkok
- →Shared minibus to Kata/Karon
- →Afternoon at Kata Beach
- →Night market dinner
Phuket island-hopping or waterfall hike
Phuket, Thailand
Pick your day: a shared speedboat day trip to the Phi Phi islands or Phang Nga Bay (£32–45 via Klook/GetYourGuide, usually with lunch and snorkelling gear) is the headline option. Cheaper and quieter: rent a scooter (£6–8/day) or take a songthaew to Karon Viewpoint, Nai Harn Beach and the Kathu waterfall trail for a picnic. End with sunset at Promthep Cape.
🚌Scooter £7 or included in boat tour
🛏Guesthouse/budget hotel 5–10 min from Kata Beach (£14–22)
- →Phi Phi / Phang Nga Bay shared speedboat tour
- →or scooter loop: Karon Viewpoint, Nai Harn Beach, Kathu waterfall
- →Promthep Cape sunset
Phuket departure
Phuket, Thailand
Last morning swim and a walk through the local market for souvenirs and dried fruit, then shared minibus or Grab to Phuket International (HKT). If your flight is late, Banzaan Market and the Old Town's Sino-Portuguese streets are worth a couple of hours.
🚌Shared minibus/Grab to HKT airport £5–12
🛏N/A (departure day)
- →Morning beach swim
- →Local market souvenir shopping
- →Airport transfer
Self-launched vs. Realistic Asia
| This itinerary (self-launched) | Realistic Asia | |
|---|---|---|
| Price per person | ~£1,025 | £1,195 |
| Duration | 10 days | 10 days |
| Who books it | You and your group, direct | Tour operator, guided group |
| Savings | £170 per person (14%) | |
Estimate only, not a guaranteed price. Always verify costs independently before booking.
Want to see more Realistic Asia-style trips? Check them out here.~£1,025
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 & Thailand in 10 Days — Self-Launched cost?+
Doing it yourself with this self-launched itinerary costs an estimated £1,025 per person for 10 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 Realistic Asia?+
Yes — Realistic Asia charges around £1,195 per person for a similar tour. Doing the same route independently, using the same standard of accommodation and activities, costs an estimated £1,025 — a saving of roughly £170 (14%) per person.
How long is the Vietnam, Cambodia & Thailand trip?+
This itinerary runs 10 days, covering 10 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, adventure, beaches 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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