Self-Launched 20-Day Vietnam & Thailand Adventure: Hanoi to Phuket

Fly into Noi Bai International Airport. Take the 86 airport bus (~£1) or a metered taxi (~£6) into the Old Quarter. Check into a hostel or guesthouse in the Old Quarter and spend the afternoon exploring Hoan Kiem Lake and the buzzing street life at your own pace.

🚌Airport bus 86 from Noi Bai to Old Quarter (~£1) or metered taxi (~£6)

🛏Hanoi Backpacker's Hostel, Old Quarter Hostel or similar guesthouse (~£10–15/night)

• →Arrive at Noi Bai International Airport
• →Take airport bus 86 or metered taxi to Old Quarter (~£1–6)
• →Check into hostel/guesthouse in the Old Quarter
• →Explore Hoan Kiem Lake and Ngoc Son Temple (free)
• →Wander Hanoi Old Quarter streets at own pace

A full day of Hanoi's top landmarks, all easily walkable or reachable by cheap taxi or Grab app. Visit Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum complex, One Pillar Pagoda, Temple of Literature, Hoa Lo Prison Museum and Tran Quoc Pagoda. Stop for a set-lunch at a local pho or bun cha restaurant. Entrance fees are minimal.

🚌Walking and Grab app taxis (~£2–4 total)

🛏Hanoi Backpacker's Hostel, Old Quarter Hostel or similar guesthouse (~£10–15/night)

• →Visit Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum & One Pillar Pagoda (entry ~£1)
• →Visit Temple of Literature (~£1.50)
• →Visit Hoa Lo Prison Museum (~£1)
• →Visit Tran Quoc Pagoda (free)
• →Visit Vietnam Museum of Ethnology or Women's Museum (~£1.50)
• →Lunch at a local Vietnamese restaurant (~£3–5)
• →Evening street food tour of Old Quarter

Book a 1-night Ha Long Bay budget cruise directly with operators like Paradise Sails, Bhaya or a GetYourGuide-listed provider. Shared minibus transfer from Hanoi is usually included in cruise packages (~4 hrs). Enjoy a limestone cave visit, kayaking, swimming and a seafood dinner on board.

🚌Shared minibus transfer included in most cruise packages from Hanoi

🛏Budget Ha Long Bay cruise cabin (e.g. Dragon Bay Cruise or similar, ~£55–80/night including meals)

• →Shared minibus transfer Hanoi to Ha Long Bay (~4 hrs, usually included in cruise price)
• →Ha Long Bay 1-night budget cruise
• →Visit Thien Cung or Sung Sot limestone cave
• →Kayaking or swimming in the bay
• →Seafood lunch and dinner included on cruise

Disembark after breakfast and a final limestone cave visit. Take the shared transfer back to Hanoi, then catch an afternoon budget flight to Hue with VietJet or Bamboo Airways (~£25–40). Alternatively take the Reunification Express overnight train (~£20). Check into your Hue guesthouse and relax.

🚌Budget flight Hanoi–Hue (~£25–40) or Reunification Express train (~£20)

🛏Hue Backpacker's Hostel, Cherish Hue or similar guesthouse (~£10–14/night)

• →Breakfast on board and final cave visit
• →Shared transfer back to Hanoi (~4 hrs)
• →Budget flight Hanoi to Hue with VietJet/Bamboo Airways (~£25–40) or overnight train (~£20)
• →Check in and relax in Hue

Explore Hue's remarkable imperial heritage. Take a dragon boat cruise along the Perfume River, visit Thien Mu Pagoda, the Hue Imperial Citadel and the royal tombs of Khai Dinh and Minh Mang. Stop at Dong Ba Market for lunch with Hue specialty dishes like bun bo Hue. Visit the conical hat and incense stick villages nearby.

🚌Hired bicycle (~£3/day) or Grab taxi (~£2–5 per trip)

🛏Hue Backpacker's Hostel, Cherish Hue or similar guesthouse (~£10–14/night)

• →Dragon boat cruise on Perfume River (~£5–8, book locally at the river bank)
• →Visit Thien Mu Pagoda (free)
• →Visit Hue Imperial Citadel (~£6)
• →Visit Khai Dinh King's Tomb (~£3)
• →Visit Minh Mang King's Tomb (~£3)
• →Visit Dong Ba Market (free)
• →Lunch at Dong Ba Market — Hue specialty dishes (~£3)
• →Visit conical hat and incense stick villages (free/small donation)

One of Vietnam's great scenic routes. Book a seat on an open-tour bus or shared minibus from Hue to Hoi An (~£6–10), which crosses the stunning Hai Van Pass. For a more adventurous option, hire a motorbike taxi (xe om) or join an Easy Rider tour over the pass (~£15–25). Arrive in Hoi An by afternoon and explore the lantern-lit Ancient Town.

🚌Shared minibus Hue–Hoi An via Hai Van Pass (~£6–10)

🛏Hoi An Backpacker's Hostel, Tribee Hoi An or similar guesthouse (~£10–16/night)

• →Shared minibus or open-tour bus Hue to Hoi An via Hai Van Pass (~£6–10)
• →Stop at Hai Van Pass summit for photos
• →Arrive Hoi An and check in
• →Evening walk through Hoi An Ancient Town (free, lantern-lit atmosphere)

A packed and fun day in Hoi An. Visit the local morning market, then head to Cam Thanh Eco-Village for a bamboo basket boat ride through the coconut palm waterways, including a net-fishing demo. In the afternoon, book a Vietnamese cooking class (widely available for ~£20–30 via GetYourGuide or local schools like Red Bridge or Thuan Tinh Island).

🚌Bicycle hire (~£2–3/day) or Grab taxi

🛏Hoi An Backpacker's Hostel, Tribee Hoi An or similar guesthouse (~£10–16/night)

• →Visit Hoi An central market (free)
• →Bamboo basket boat ride at Cam Thanh Eco-Village (~£10–15, book via GetYourGuide or directly)
• →Net fishing experience included with basket boat tour
• →Vietnamese cooking class — prepare 4–5 dishes, includes lunch (~£20–30)
• →Browse handmade nipa palm products at Cam Thanh

Take an early shuttle bus from Hoi An to Da Nang Airport (~30 mins, ~£4), then a budget flight to Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon) with VietJet or Bamboo Airways (~£25–40). Arrive, check in and spend the evening exploring the backpacker district around Bui Vien Street.

🚌Shuttle bus to Da Nang Airport (~£4) + budget flight (~£25–40)

🛏The Common Room Project, Hideout Hostel or similar (~£10–16/night)

• →Shuttle bus Hoi An to Da Nang Airport (~£4)
• →Budget flight Da Nang to Ho Chi Minh City (~£25–40)
• →Check in to hostel/guesthouse
• →Evening: explore Bui Vien Walking Street and local street food

Morning city walk to Independence Palace, Notre Dame Cathedral and the Central Post Office. Visit the War Remnants Museum (unmissable). In the afternoon, join a shared group day tour to Cu Chi Tunnels (~£12–18 via GetYourGuide or local agencies), which includes transport, a guide and the classic tunnel-crawling experience.

🚌Walking for city sights; group tour bus to Cu Chi Tunnels included in tour price

🛏The Common Room Project, Hideout Hostel or similar (~£10–16/night)

• →Visit Independence (Reunification) Palace (~£2)
• →Visit Notre Dame Cathedral and Central Post Office (free exterior)
• →Visit War Remnants Museum (~£2)
• →Shared group tour to Cu Chi Tunnels (~£12–18 via GetYourGuide, includes transport)
• →Explore tunnel systems and try local tea and cassava

Book a shared Mekong Delta day tour from HCMC (~£20–30 via GetYourGuide or local agents). Visit Vinh Trang Pagoda, take a sampan cruise on the Mekong, walk around Unicorn Island, visit a honey bee farm and coconut candy workshop, and cycle through Tan Thach village. Return to HCMC by evening.

🚌Shared group tour bus from HCMC included in tour price (~£20–30)

🛏The Common Room Project, Hideout Hostel or similar (~£10–16/night)

• →Shared day tour HCMC to Mekong Delta (~£20–30, includes transport and lunch)
• →Visit Vinh Trang Pagoda
• →Sampan cruise on Mekong River
• →Walk Unicorn Island and visit fruit plantation
• →Hand-rowed sampan through Thoi Son canal
• →Visit honey bee farm and coconut candy workshop
• →Cycling around Tan Thach village

Fly from Ho Chi Minh City to Bangkok Suvarnabhumi Airport with AirAsia, VietJet or similar (~£35–60). From the airport, take the Airport Rail Link to Phaya Thai station (~£1.50), then connect to your guesthouse by BTS Skytrain or taxi. Spend the evening exploring the Khao San Road area or Chinatown (Yaowarat).

🚌Budget flight HCMC–Bangkok (~£35–60) + Airport Rail Link (~£1.50)

🛏Lub d Bangkok Silom, NapPark Hostel or similar (~£12–18/night)

• →Budget flight HCMC to Bangkok (~£35–60)
• →Airport Rail Link from Suvarnabhumi to city centre (~£1.50)
• →Check in and explore Bangkok evening: Khao San Road or Yaowarat Chinatown

Use the BTS Skytrain, MRT and river express boat to get around Bangkok cheaply. Visit Wat Pho (Reclining Buddha) and Wat Traimit (Golden Buddha) on foot. Cross the Chao Phraya by ferry (~£0.30) to reach the Grand Palace area. Eat at local street food stalls — Bangkok's city transport is excellent, so skip the private car.

🚌BTS Skytrain/MRT day pass (~£3–5) + river express boat (~£0.50–1)

🛏Lub d Bangkok Silom, NapPark Hostel or similar (~£12–18/night)

• →Visit Wat Pho — Reclining Buddha (~£3.50)
• →Visit Wat Traimit — Golden Buddha (~£2)
• →River express boat along Chao Phraya (~£0.50–1)
• →Explore Bangkok street food and local markets
• →BTS Skytrain and MRT self-guided city exploration

Join a shared day tour from Bangkok to Maeklong Railway Market and Damnoen Saduak Floating Market (~£20–30 via GetYourGuide or Klook, includes transport and long-tail boat ride). Note from real travellers: this is a half-day trip at most — combine with an afternoon back in Bangkok exploring by BTS to make the most of your day.

🚌Shared tour minibus (included in tour price ~£20–30)

🛏Lub d Bangkok Silom, NapPark Hostel or similar (~£12–18/night)

• →Shared day tour to Maeklong Railway Market and Damnoen Saduak (~£20–30 via Klook/GetYourGuide)
• →Long-tail boat ride at Damnoen Saduak Floating Market
• →Lunch at local restaurant (included or ~£4 local)
• →Return to Bangkok by afternoon — explore by BTS Skytrain

Take the public train from Hua Lamphong or Bang Sue station to Ayutthaya (~1.5 hrs, ~£1–2) — far cheaper and more flexible than a private car. Explore the ancient temples: Wat Sri Sanphet, Wat Mahathat, Wat Phanancheong and Wat Yai Chaimongkol by bicycle hire (~£3). Take a boat trip to Bang Pa-In Royal Palace (~£3). Return to Ayutthaya station and board the overnight sleeper train to Chiang Mai (~£15–25 for 2nd class sleeper — book via 12go.asia in advance).

🚌Public train Bangkok–Ayutthaya (~£1–2) + overnight train to Chiang Mai (~£15–25)

🛏Overnight sleeper train (2nd class berth ~£15–25)

• →Public train Bangkok to Ayutthaya (~£1–2, ~1.5 hrs)
• →Bicycle hire in Ayutthaya (~£3/day)
• →Visit Wat Sri Sanphet, Wat Mahathat, Wat Phanancheong, Wat Yai Chaimongkol (entry ~£2–3 each)
• →Boat trip to Bang Pa-In Royal Summer Residence (~£3–4)
• →Board overnight sleeper train Ayutthaya to Chiang Mai (~£15–25, book in advance at 12go.asia)

Arrive at Chiang Mai station in the morning, take a red songthaew shared taxi to your guesthouse (~£1–2). Freshen up and head to Wat Phra That Doi Suthep — take a shared songthaew from near the University (~£1.50 each way). Explore the temple and enjoy views over Chiang Mai. Spend the evening in the Old City, visiting Tha Phae Gate and local night markets.

🚌Red songthaew shared taxi (~£1–2 per trip)

🛏Stamps Backpackers, Goodnight Chiang Mai or similar (~£10–15/night)

• →Arrive Chiang Mai by overnight train — red songthaew to guesthouse (~£1–2)
• →Visit Wat Phra That Doi Suthep by shared songthaew (~£1.50 each way, entry ~£2)
• →Explore Chiang Mai Old City and Tha Phae Gate (free)
• →Evening: Chiang Mai Night Bazaar or Sunday Walking Street

Book a full-day ethical elephant experience at Elephant Jungle Sanctuary or Elephant Nature Park (~£60–80, book directly on their website or via GetYourGuide). Transport, traditional Karen clothing, elephant feeding, mud spa, river bathing and a traditional lunch are included. This is one of the best days of the entire trip — prioritise booking in advance.

🚌Return transport from Chiang Mai included in sanctuary booking

🛏Stamps Backpackers, Goodnight Chiang Mai or similar (~£10–15/night)

• →Full-day ethical elephant sanctuary experience (~£60–80, book direct at elephantjunglesanctuary.com or GetYourGuide)
• →Transport to sanctuary included (~1.5 hrs each way)
• →Change into traditional Karen clothing
• →Make and feed elephant medicines
• →Mud spa and river bathe with elephants
• →Traditional lunch included

Fly from Chiang Mai Airport to Phuket with AirAsia or Nok Air (~£25–50). From Phuket Airport, take a shared minibus or public bus to Kata or Karon Beach (~£4–8). Check into a guesthouse or small resort near the beach. Spend the rest of the day relaxing.

🚌Budget flight Chiang Mai–Phuket (~£25–50) + shared minibus to beach (~£4–8)

🛏Lub d Phuket Patong, Kata Beach guesthouse or similar (~£14–20/night)

• →Budget flight Chiang Mai to Phuket with AirAsia/Nok Air (~£25–50)
• →Shared minibus or bus from Phuket Airport to Kata/Karon Beach (~£4–8)
• →Check in and relax — first look at the Andaman Sea

Free day to explore Phuket at your own pace. Kata and Karon beaches are excellent for swimming and sunbathing. Rent a scooter (~£6–8/day) to explore Promthep Cape, Rawai Beach or the Big Buddha. Try local seafood at Rawai Seafood Market in the evening.

🚌Scooter hire (~£6–8/day) or local tuk-tuk (~£3–5 per trip)

🛏Lub d Phuket Patong, Kata Beach guesthouse or similar (~£14–20/night)

• →Sunbathe and swim at Kata or Karon Beach (free)
• →Hire scooter to explore the island (~£6–8/day)
• →Visit Promthep Cape for sunset (free)
• →Visit the Big Buddha (~free, donations welcome)
• →Evening seafood dinner at Rawai Seafood Market (~£8–12)

Book a shared island-hopping speedboat tour to Phi Phi Islands or Khai Island (~£25–40 via Klook or GetYourGuide) for snorkelling, swimming and stunning scenery. Alternatively, explore Phuket Old Town's colourful Sino-Portuguese architecture, street art and local cafes. Evening: final dinner at a local restaurant.

🚌Songthaew to pier (~£2) + boat tour transport included in tour price

🛏Lub d Phuket Patong, Kata Beach guesthouse or similar (~£14–20/night)

• →Option A: Shared speedboat island-hopping tour to Phi Phi or Khai Island (~£25–40 via Klook/GetYourGuide)
• →Option B: Explore Phuket Old Town — colourful architecture, street art, local coffee shops (free/low cost)
• →Snorkelling gear included on most boat tours
• →Final evening dinner at a local Thai restaurant (~£6–10)

Final breakfast at your guesthouse or a local café. Browse Phuket Old Town or nearby markets for last-minute souvenirs. Take a shared minibus or Grab to Phuket International Airport for your onward flight home.

🚌Shared minibus or Grab to Phuket Airport (~£6–10)

🛏N/A — departure day

• →Final breakfast at local café (~£3–5)
• →Visit local markets for souvenirs (Kata Market, Weekend Market)
• →Shared minibus or Grab to Phuket International Airport (~£6–10)