Self-Launched Vietnam, Laos & Temples of Cambodia (G Adventures Signature Equivalent)
18 days · Vietnam, Laos & Cambodia
G Adventures charges £9,100
No-markup version: ~£888 per person
Estimate only, not a guaranteed price. Always verify costs independently before booking.
An independent, self-launched version of G Adventures' 18-day National Geographic Signature journey from Ho Chi Minh City to Siem Reap. You'll cover the same route — Saigon and the Cu Chi Tunnels, the Mekong Delta, Hoi An, Hue, Hanoi, Ninh Binh, Luang Prabang and Angkor — but book everything yourself: sleeper buses and trains, budget airlines, hop-on walking tours, day trips via GetYourGuide/Klook, and hostel or guesthouse stays instead of five-star hotels. You'll miss out on the private expert access (War veteran tunnel guide, after-hours bridge tours, National Geographic grantee sessions, private villa concerts), but you can replicate the experiences of each place at a fraction of the price. Costs are rough estimates for a mid-range backpacker travelling solo.
Day-by-day
Arrive Ho Chi Minh City
Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam
Land at Tan Son Nhat and take a Grab bike or taxi (~£3-4) to District 1. Settle into a hostel dorm or private room in the backpacker belt around Bui Vien / Pham Ngu Lao. Evening: walk to the Ben Thanh night market or grab a bowl of pho for dinner. Pick up a local SIM (Viettel or Mobifone, ~£5 for 30 days data).
🚌Grab/taxi from airport ~£3-4
🛏Hostel dorm in District 1 (~£8-12/night) or budget private room (~£18)
- →Airport transfer
- →Bui Vien evening walk
- →SIM card setup
Saigon city highlights
Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam
Self-guided walking day. Visit the Reunification Palace (entry ~£2.50), Notre Dame Cathedral exterior and the Central Post Office. Join a free walking tour (tip-based) from the backpacker area in the afternoon to get oriented. Lunch at a KOTO-style social enterprise or any street stall in Ben Thanh market. Evening: rooftop coffee or a Vietnamese cooking class if you want a group activity.
🚌Walking + occasional Grab bike (~£2)
🛏Hostel dorm in District 1
- →Reunification Palace entry
- →Notre Dame Cathedral & Central Post Office
- →Free walking tour (tip ~£4)
- →Ben Thanh market
Cu Chi Tunnels & Saigon street food
Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam
Book a half-day Cu Chi Tunnels tour via GetYourGuide or Klook (~£18-22, includes transport and guide). Standard tours don't include a veteran, but many operators use local guides who lived through the war. Return to the city for a self-guided street food crawl — try bun cha, banh mi and egg coffee around District 1.
🚌Included in tunnel tour + walking
🛏Hostel dorm in District 1
- →Cu Chi Tunnels half-day tour (GetYourGuide/Klook)
- →Street food crawl
Mekong Delta to Can Tho
Can Tho, Vietnam
Take a public bus or minibus from Saigon to Can Tho (~4 hrs, £5-7 via FUTA or Phuong Trang). Optional en-route stop at a cacao farm near My Tho if you book a shared Mekong day boat (~£15). Settle into a guesthouse in Can Tho by the river and eat dinner at the night market.
🚌FUTA/Phuong Trang sleeper or seated bus ~£6
🛏Guesthouse in Can Tho (~£10-14)
- →Mekong Delta scenic drive/bus ride
- →Can Tho riverside night market
Cai Rang Floating Market & fly to Da Nang
Can Tho → Hoi An, Vietnam
Book a small boat tour to Cai Rang floating market (~£8-12, departs ~5.30am from the Can Tho pier). Return to the city, then take a bus back to Saigon for a cheap flight to Da Nang (VietJet/Bamboo, ~£30-45 one hour flight). From Da Nang airport, a Grab or shuttle to Hoi An is ~£8-10 (30 min). Evening stroll through Hoi An Ancient Town after dark (entry ticket ~£4).
🚌Boat tour ~£10, bus ~£6, flight ~£35, transfer ~£5
🛏Hostel or guesthouse in Hoi An (~£9-15)
- →Cai Rang floating market boat tour
- →Hoi An Ancient Town evening walk
Hoi An: noodles, tailoring & lanterns
Hoi An, Vietnam
Self-book a Vietnamese cooking or noodle-making class in Hoi An via Klook/GetYourGuide (~£18-25, includes market visit and lunch). Afternoon free to rent a bicycle (~£2) and cycle to An Bang beach or explore the tailor shops. Evening: walk the Japanese Covered Bridge (entry included in old town ticket) and float a lantern on the Thu Bon River (~£1).
🚌Bicycle rental ~£2 + walking
🛏Hostel or guesthouse in Hoi An
- →Cooking/noodle-making class
- →An Bang beach cycling
- →Japanese Covered Bridge
- →Lantern floating
Scenic train over Hai Van Pass to Hue
Hue, Vietnam
Ride the Reunification Express from Da Nang to Hue (~2.5 hrs, soft seat ~£5-8). Sit on the right side for the Hai Van Pass coastline views. Arrive in Hue and check into a guesthouse in the backpacker area near Pham Ngu Lao. Afternoon: explore the Imperial City by bicycle or on foot (entry ~£5). Evening: royal-style dinner at a local restaurant near the river.
🚌Train Da Nang to Hue ~£6
🛏Guesthouse in Hue (~£9-14)
- →Hai Van Pass train ride
- →Hue Imperial City entry
- →Perfume River evening walk
Perfume River, pagoda & fly to Hanoi
Hue → Hanoi, Vietnam
Take a river boat to the Thien Mu Pagoda (~£3-5 each way by small boat). Visit a Nguyen Emperor's tomb, e.g. Tu Duc or Khai Dinh (~£4-6 each). Try a Buddhist vegetarian lunch at a local restaurant. Afternoon flight Hue to Hanoi (VietJet/Bamboo, ~£30-45, 1hr15). Check into a hostel in the Old Quarter.
🚌Boat ~£4, flight ~£38, Grab ~£4
🛏Hostel in Hanoi Old Quarter (~£8-13)
- →Thien Mu Pagoda
- →Nguyen Emperor's tomb
- →Vegetarian lunch
- →Flight to Hanoi
Hanoi: Ho Chi Minh Complex, bridge & night market
Hanoi, Vietnam
Self-guide the Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum and Presidential Complex (free entry, closed Mondays/Fridays, mornings only). Book a foot massage at a social enterprise spa (~£8-12). Walk the Long Bien Bridge at sunset. Evening: street food tour via GetYourGuide (~£20) covering bun cha and egg coffee, or DIY around Ta Hien and the Old Quarter. Optional water puppet show (~£5-8).
🚌Grab bike ~£2
🛏Hostel in Hanoi Old Quarter
- →Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum & One Pillar Pagoda
- →Social enterprise foot massage
- →Long Bien Bridge walk
- →Street food tour
- →Water puppet show (optional)
Ninh Binh: Van Long & limestone karsts
Ninh Binh, Vietnam
Take the public bus (or a shared limousine van, ~£5-8, 2 hrs) from Hanoi to Ninh Binh. Rent a bicycle (~£2) and cycle to Van Long Nature Reserve for a small boat ride through the karsts (~£5-7, ~1.5 hrs). Optional: Trang An boat trip (~£7) if you want the more famous option. Overnight in Tam Coc village with its rice paddies and guesthouses.
🚌Bus Hanoi–Ninh Binh ~£6, bicycle ~£2
🛏Guesthouse in Tam Coc (~£10-15)
- →Van Long Nature Reserve boat trip
- →Local cycling
- →Tam Coc village evening
Cuc Phuong & endangered primate rescue
Ninh Binh, Vietnam
Cycle or hire a Grab to the Endangered Primate Rescue Center at Cuc Phuong National Park (~£15 by Grab, or £3 by bicycle + park entry ~£3). Self-guided visit to see rescued langurs and pangolins (donation appreciated). Optional guided walk in the national park (~£8-10). Return to Ninh Binh in the afternoon and eat at a local restaurant in Tam Coc.
🚌Grab/cycle + park entry
🛏Guesthouse in Tam Coc
- →Endangered Primate Rescue Center
- →Cuc Phuong National Park entry
- →Optional guided jungle walk
Fly Ninh Binh → Hanoi → Luang Prabang
Luang Prabang, Laos
Bus back to Hanoi (~£6) and catch a flight to Luang Prabang (Vietnam Airlines/Lao Airlines, ~£80-120 with a connection or direct if available). On arrival, complete the Lao immigration card online beforehand (within 3 days of arrival). Take a shared tuk-tuk from the airport (~£4). Book a guesthouse in the old town. Evening: explore the night market on Sisavangvong Road, sit at a riverside restaurant.
🚌Bus ~£6, flight ~£100, tuk-tuk ~£4
🛏Guesthouse in Luang Prabang old town (~£12-18)
- →Flight to Luang Prabang
- →Night market on Sisavangvong Road
Luang Prabang: temples & Ock Pop Tok
Luang Prabang, Laos
Visit Wat Xieng Thong (~£2.50 entry) in the morning. Join a free walking tour or a monk chat at one of the temples. In the afternoon, drop into the Ock Pop Tok Living Crafts Centre (~£3-5 entrance, free tuk-tuk from town centre) and join a half-day natural dyeing or weaving workshop (~£25-35) if you want the hands-on experience. Sunset at Mount Phousi (~£2).
🚌Walking + tuk-tuk ~£2
🛏Guesthouse in Luang Prabang old town
- →Wat Xieng Thong
- →Ock Pop Tok dyeing/weaving workshop
- →Mount Phousi sunset
Alms giving, Kuang Si Waterfall & bears
Luang Prabang, Laos
Rise at 5.30am to observe the sacred alms-giving ritual along Sakkaline Road — purchase sticky rice from a local vendor (~£1) and watch respectfully from a distance. Later, take a shared tuk-tuk to Kuang Si Waterfall (~£8-10 return). On the way, visit the Tat Kuang Si Bear Rescue Centre (free with waterfall entry ~£2.50). Swim in the turquoise pools. Return to town for dinner.
🚌Shared tuk-tuk ~£9
🛏Guesthouse in Luang Prabang old town
- →Alms-giving ritual
- →Kuang Si waterfall & bear rescue centre
- →Swimming
Luang Prabang → Siem Reap
Siem Reap, Cambodia
Morning free for a slow breakfast and last-minute shopping at the morning market. Fly Luang Prabang to Siem Reap (Lao Airlines/Vietnam Airlines via Vientiane or Phnom Penh, ~£100-150, 3-5 hrs total). Complete Cambodia e-Arrival online beforehand; Cambodian e-visa or visa on arrival ~£25-30. Take a tuk-tuk to your hostel near Pub Street (~£4).
🚌Flight ~£120, tuk-tuk ~£4
🛏Hostel or guesthouse in Siem Reap (~£8-14)
- →Flight to Siem Reap
- →Pub Street evening walk
Angkor Wat & the small circuit
Siem Reap, Cambodia
Book a private tuk-tuk driver for the day (~£15-18) and a 1-day Angkor pass (~£30). Start at Angkor Wat for sunrise (leave ~4.30am), then Tuk-tuk to Bayon (face temple) and Ta Prohm (jungle-overgrown tree temple). Return to the guesthouse to cool off, then visit the old market in the evening. You can also book a group sunrise tour via GetYourGuide (~£35 including guide).
🚌Tuk-tuk ~£17
🛏Hostel or guesthouse in Siem Reap
- →Angkor Wat sunrise
- →Bayon Temple
- →Ta Prohm
- →Angkor 1-day pass
Kampong Kleang stilt village & Conservation D'Angkor
Siem Reap, Cambodia
Book a shared tuk-tuk to the Kampong Kleang floating village and take a wooden boat through the stilt houses (~£15-20 including boat and tuk-tuk, book through your guesthouse or Klook). In the afternoon, visit the Conservation D'Angkor workshops (near Wat Thmei, entry by donation ~£3-5) to see sandstone restoration in progress. Farewell dinner at a social enterprise like Spoons or New Hope.
🚌Tuk-tuk + boat ~£20
🛏Hostel or guesthouse in Siem Reap
- →Kampong Kleang stilt village boat trip
- →Conservation D'Angkor visit
- →Social enterprise dinner
Depart Siem Reap
Siem Reap, Cambodia
Breakfast at a local café, a final wander around the old market for souvenirs, then a tuk-tuk to Siem Reap International Airport (~£4) for your onward flight. If you have time, the Angkor National Museum (~£8) or a cheap massage (~£5) makes a good final morning.
🚌Tuk-tuk to airport ~£4
🛏None
- →Old market shopping
- →Optional Angkor National Museum
- →Airport transfer
Self-launched vs. G Adventures
| This itinerary (self-launched) | G Adventures | |
|---|---|---|
| Price per person | ~£888 | £9,100 |
| Duration | 18 days | 18 days |
| Who books it | You and your group, direct | Tour operator, guided group |
| Savings | £8,212 per person (90%) | |
Estimate only, not a guaranteed price. Always verify costs independently before booking.
Want to see more G Adventures-style trips? Check them out here.~£888
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 Self-Launched Vietnam, Laos & Temples of Cambodia (G Adventures Signature Equivalent) cost?+
Doing it yourself with this self-launched itinerary costs an estimated £888 per person for 18 days in Vietnam, Laos & 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 G Adventures?+
Yes — G Adventures charges around £9,100 per person for a similar tour. Doing the same route independently, using the same standard of accommodation and activities, costs an estimated £888 — a saving of roughly £8,212 (90%) per person.
How long is the Vietnam, Laos & Cambodia trip?+
This itinerary runs 18 days, covering 18 day-by-day stops through Vietnam, Laos & 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, Laos & 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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