Self-Launched Spirit of Southeast Asia: Vietnam, Thailand & Bali in 16 Days

Land at Noi Bai International Airport and take the 86 express bus into the city centre (~£0.80, ~45 mins) or a metered taxi (~£6). Check into a hostel or budget guesthouse in the Old Quarter — the best base for exploring. Spend the evening wandering Hoan Kiem Lake, grabbing a Bia Hoi (street beer) and getting your bearings on Hanoi's chaotic, charming streets.

🚌Bus 86 from Noi Bai Airport to Old Quarter (~£0.80) or metered taxi (~£6)

🛏Old Quarter backpacker hostel dorm or budget guesthouse (e.g. Hanoi Backpackers Hostel, The Vintage Hanoi) — approx £10–16/night

• →Stroll Hoan Kiem Lake and Ngoc Son Temple (free)
• →Explore the Old Quarter's 36 streets
• →Street food dinner — try bun cha and banh mi

Take an early bus or booked day tour from Hanoi to Ninh Binh (~2.5 hrs). Visit Hoa Lu ancient capital, rent a bicycle to explore the surrounding villages (~£1.50), take a 1.5-hour bamboo boat ride through the rice paddy waterways of Tam Coc (~£3), then climb the ~500 steps of Mua Cave (Dragon Peak) for panoramic karst views. Return to Hanoi in the evening. Budget day tours from Hanoi covering all sites can be booked via GetYourGuide for ~£18–25pp.

🚌Limousine bus Hanoi–Ninh Binh return via Vexere or direct booking (~£5–8 return)

🛏Old Quarter hostel, Hanoi (same as Day 1) — approx £10–16/night

• →Visit Hoa Lu ancient capital
• →Cycling tour around local villages (~£1.50 bike hire)
• →Bamboo boat ride at Tam Coc (~£3)
• →Climb Mua Cave (Dragon Peak) — ~500 steps, stunning views

Catch an overnight sleeper bus or train from Hanoi to Sapa (~5–6 hrs by bus, departing evening or morning). Budget sleeper buses run frequently from My Dinh bus station and cost ~£7–10 on Vexere. Arrive in Sapa, check into your guesthouse and spend the afternoon acclimatising — stroll the town market, take in the misty mountain scenery and plan your trek with your accommodation host.

🚌Sleeper bus Hanoi to Sapa via Vexere (~£7–10) or overnight train + minibus (~£12–15)

🛏Sapa budget guesthouse or small hotel (e.g. Sapa Cozy Hotel, Hmong Sapa Hotel) — approx £10–15/night

• →Sapa town market exploration
• →Views over Muong Hoa Valley
• →Trek planning at guesthouse

Join a full-day trekking tour (~12 km) through the stunning rice terraces, visiting Y Linh Ho and Lao Chai (Hmong minority villages) and Ta Van (Dzay people). Many local guides offer this directly or book via GetYourGuide for ~£15–20pp including a home-cooked lunch at a local family. Overnight in a traditional homestay bungalow in the valley — one of the highlights of the entire trip.

🚌Walking (guided trek departs from Sapa town)

🛏Local homestay bungalow in Lao Chai or Ta Van — approx £8–12/night (often includes dinner and breakfast)

• →12 km guided trek through Muong Hoa Valley rice terraces
• →Visit Y Linh Ho village (Hmong minority)
• →Visit Lao Chai village (Hmong minority)
• →Visit Ta Van village (Dzay people)
• →Home-cooked lunch at local family
• →Overnight homestay in village bungalow

After a local homestay breakfast, continue trekking (~8 km) to Giang Ta Chai (Red Dzao minority) and Su Pan (Hmong minority), passing a waterfall, rattan bridge and bamboo forest. Return to Sapa town, then catch an afternoon sleeper bus or train back to Hanoi overnight. You'll arrive back in Hanoi the following morning — or rest a night in Sapa if you prefer a slower pace.

🚌Sleeper bus Sapa to Hanoi (~£7–10) via Vexere

🛏Old Quarter hostel, Hanoi — approx £10–16/night

• →8 km morning trek to Giang Ta Chai and Su Pan villages
• →Visit waterfall and rattan bridge
• →Walk through bamboo forest
• →Return to Hanoi by sleeper bus

Book a 2-day/1-night Ha Long Bay cruise — one of Vietnam's unmissable experiences. Budget cruises start from ~£55–80pp and include transport from Hanoi, all meals, kayaking, a limestone cave visit and swimming. Look at operators like Bhaya, Peony Cruise or Grey Line for mid-range options bookable on GetYourGuide or direct. Depart Hanoi mid-morning by included shuttle, board your junk boat and cruise the UNESCO-listed karst landscape.

🚌Shuttle bus Hanoi to Ha Long Bay included in cruise package (~3.5 hrs each way)

🛏Budget cruise cabin on Ha Long Bay — approx £55–80pp for 2D/1N including meals and transport

• →Cruise through Ha Long Bay limestone karsts and grottoes
• →Visit a limestone cave (included on most cruises)
• →Kayaking through floating villages
• →Swimming off the boat
• →Seafood lunch and dinner on board

Enjoy a final morning on the bay — most cruises include a morning activity before returning to Hanoi by early afternoon. From Hanoi, take a budget flight to Da Nang (~1 hr, book with VietJet or Bamboo Air from ~£20–35). From Da Nang airport, take a taxi or Grab car to Hoi An (~£6–9, ~45 mins). Check into your Hoi An guesthouse and take an evening stroll through the lantern-lit ancient town.

🚌Cruise shuttle to Hanoi (included); VietJet/Bamboo Air flight HAN–DAD (~£20–35); Grab taxi Da Nang to Hoi An (~£6–9)

🛏Hoi An Old Town guesthouse or hostel (e.g. Hoi An Backpacker Hostel, Little Riverside Hoi An) — approx £10–18/night

• →Final morning on Ha Long Bay (tai chi on deck, breakfast)
• →Return shuttle to Hanoi
• →Budget flight Hanoi to Da Nang
• →Grab taxi to Hoi An Ancient Town

Hoi An is best explored at your own pace. Rent a bicycle (~£1.50/day) and weave through the UNESCO-listed Ancient Town's merchant houses, assembly halls and tailor shops. Head to An Bang or Cua Dai beach for the afternoon. In the evening, the town glows with paper lanterns — magical. Optionally, book the Ba Na Hills Golden Bridge day trip via GetYourGuide (~£35–45pp including cable car and lunch — cheaper than the operator's quoted $80).

🚌Bicycle hire (~£1.50); local motorbike taxi to beach (~£2 each way)

🛏Hoi An Old Town guesthouse (same as Day 7) — approx £10–18/night

• →Rent bicycle and explore Hoi An Ancient Town (~£1.50)
• →Visit Japanese Covered Bridge and merchant houses (Ancient Town ticket ~£4)
• →Afternoon at An Bang Beach
• →Lantern-lit evening stroll
• →Optional: Ba Na Hills & Golden Bridge full-day tour via GetYourGuide (~£35–45pp)

Take a morning Grab taxi or minibus from Hoi An to Da Nang airport (~£6–9). Fly Da Nang to Bangkok Suvarnabhumi or Don Mueang on AirAsia, VietJet or Thai Lion Air (~£35–60, book in advance). Arrive Bangkok in the afternoon or evening — take the BTS Skytrain or airport rail link into the city (~£1.50–3). Check into a Sukhumvit or Silom hostel and explore a night market for dinner.

🚌Grab taxi Hoi An to Da Nang (~£6–9); AirAsia/VietJet flight DAD–BKK (~£35–60); BTS/Airport Rail Link (~£1.50–3)

🛏Bangkok budget hostel or guesthouse (e.g. Lub'd Silom, NapPark Hostel, HQ Hostel) — approx £12–20/night

• →Morning transfer to Da Nang airport
• →Budget flight to Bangkok
• →BTS Skytrain from airport to accommodation
• →Evening street food at a Bangkok night market

Spend the day on Bangkok's essential temple circuit — all reachable by river boat (Chao Phraya Express, ~£0.50 per hop) or tuk-tuk. Visit the dazzling Grand Palace and Wat Phra Kaew (Emerald Buddha) — combined ticket ~£14. Walk to nearby Wat Pho to see the giant Reclining Buddha (~£4). Cool off with mango sticky rice from a street stall. Book entry tickets on Klook for a slight discount and to skip queues.

🚌Chao Phraya Express river boat (~£0.50 per hop); BTS Skytrain (~£0.80–1.50); tuk-tuk (~£2–4)

🛏Bangkok hostel (same as Day 9) — approx £12–20/night

• →Visit Grand Palace and Wat Phra Kaew — Emerald Buddha (~£14 combined ticket)
• →Visit Wat Pho — Reclining Buddha (~£4)
• →Chao Phraya river boat hopping (~£0.50/trip)
• →Street food lunch near Tha Tien pier
• →Optional: Traditional Thai massage at Wat Pho school (~£7 for 30 mins)

Book a day trip to Maeklong Railway Market and Damnoen Saduak Floating Market via Klook or GetYourGuide (~£18–25pp including transport and long-tail boat ride — much cheaper than a private tour). Watch the famous market stalls fold back as the train passes, then cruise through the canal-side floating market. Alternatively, DIY it: take a public van from Victory Monument to Damnoen Saduak (~£1.50) and a songthaew to Maeklong (~£0.50), though joining a shared tour is easiest value here.

🚌Shared day tour from Bangkok including transport (~£18–25pp via Klook/GetYourGuide); or public van from Victory Monument (~£1.50 each way)

🛏Bangkok hostel (same as Day 9) — approx £12–20/night

• →Maeklong Railway Market — watch the famous train pass
• →Long-tailed boat ride through canals (~30 mins, included on tours)
• →Damnoen Saduak Floating Market — browse boat vendors
• →Optional: Paddle your own boat at the floating market (~£3)

Fly Bangkok to Bali (Ngurah Rai Airport) with AirAsia, Lion Air or Scoot — typically 4–5 hrs, from ~£40–70 booked in advance. Take a metered taxi or pre-booked Grab-equivalent (Gojek) from the airport to Kuta or Seminyak (~£4–8). Check into your Bali guesthouse, hit the beach and grab a sunset Bintang at a beachside warung.

🚌AirAsia/Lion Air flight BKK–DPS (~£40–70); airport taxi to Kuta (~£4–8)

🛏Kuta or Seminyak budget guesthouse or hostel (e.g. Puri Garden Hotel, Tribal Bali Hostel) — approx £10–16/night

• →Morning flight to Bali
• →Check into Kuta/Seminyak guesthouse
• →Afternoon at Kuta Beach (free)
• →Sunset stroll and dinner at a beachside warung

Book a shared day tour from Kuta/Seminyak to Ubud and surrounds — easily bookable via Klook or GetYourGuide for ~£18–28pp. Covers the Barong Dance performance, Celuk village (silver work), Mas village (woodcarving), Banjar Compound, Ubud town, the sacred Tirta Empul Holy Spring Temple at Tampak Siring, and Kintamani volcano viewpoint with a buffet lunch overlooking Mount Batur. Afternoon free in Ubud for the market and monkey forest.

🚌Shared Ubud/Kintamani day tour including transport (~£18–28pp via Klook/GetYourGuide)

🛏Kuta/Seminyak guesthouse (same as Day 12) — approx £10–16/night

• →Traditional Barong Dance performance
• →Visit Celuk village (gold and silver crafts)
• →Visit Mas village (woodcarving)
• →Explore Ubud — Monkey Forest, Ubud Market
• →Visit Tirta Empul Holy Spring Temple at Tampak Siring
• →Kintamani village viewpoint over Mount Batur
• →Buffet lunch at Kintamani restaurant (included on most tours)

Book a second shared day tour covering Bali's northern highlands — Bedugul resort, the local fruit and vegetable market, the stunning Ulun Danu Beratan Temple floating on Lake Bratan, and the iconic sea temple at Tanah Lot for sunset. These shared tours run from ~£15–22pp via Klook or GetYourGuide and include buffet lunch. Alternatively, rent a scooter (~£4/day) and do it independently for even more savings.

🚌Shared Bedugul/Tanah Lot day tour (~£15–22pp via Klook); or scooter hire (~£4/day)

🛏Kuta/Seminyak guesthouse (same as Day 12) — approx £10–16/night

• →Visit Bedugul resort and local fruit market
• →Visit Ulun Danu Beratan Temple on Lake Bratan
• →Tanah Lot Sea Temple at sunset
• →Optional: water activities or beach time
• →Optional: souvenir shopping

Your free day in Bali — and Southeast Asia at its most indulgent on a budget. Head to Seminyak or Canggu for beach clubs, or make the day trip to Uluwatu Temple for dramatic clifftop views and a Kecak Fire Dance at sunset (~£5). Treat yourself to a traditional Balinese massage at a local spa (~£6–10 for 60 mins). Stock up on sarongs and silver at Kuta's Beachwalk or the artisan markets. Splurge on a sunset dinner without blowing the budget.

🚌Local Gojek/Grab rides (~£1–4 per trip); taxi to Uluwatu (~£6 each way)

🛏Kuta/Seminyak guesthouse (same as Day 12) — approx £10–16/night

• →Morning beach time at Seminyak or Canggu
• →Optional: Uluwatu Temple and Kecak Fire Dance at sunset (~£5 + taxi ~£6)
• →Balinese traditional massage (~£6–10 for 60 mins)
• →Souvenir shopping at Kuta or Seminyak market
• →Sunset dinner at a Jimbaran beach seafood warung

Last morning in Bali — grab a final breakfast at a local warung (a full nasi goreng for under £2), do any last-minute shopping at the airport or a nearby market, and head to Ngurah Rai International Airport. Pre-book a Bluebird taxi or Gojek for a fixed fare to the airport (~£4–8 from Kuta). Safe travels — you've done Southeast Asia the independent way!

🚌Bluebird taxi or Gojek from Kuta to airport (~£4–8)

• →Final breakfast at a local warung
• →Last-minute souvenir shopping
• →Transfer to Ngurah Rai International Airport