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Best of Vietnam & Cambodia


Image of a backpacker walking towards a temple in Phnom Penh in Cambodia - KILROY
View the full itinerary as a list

Recommended duration

5 weeks

Countries visited

Vietnam, Cambodia and Thailand

Travel type

Backpacking

Included

Flights, accommodation and volunteer project

Book this itinerary
Experience the highlights of Vietnam from north to south before spending two weeks teaching English to children from poorer backgrounds in the village of Samraong in Cambodia.

Start in Hanoi with a few days at leisure to explore the city before cruising the stunning waters of Halong Bay and Cat Ba. A two-week accommodation and transport package will take you down the coast of Vietnam to Ho Chi Minh City, stopping at Ninh Binh, Hue, Hoi An, Nha Trang and Da Lat along the way. Make your own way to Phnom Penh for two nights at the SLA Boutique Hostel before continuing to Siem Reap for a guided tour of the spectacular Angkor Wat. Then it's time to give back to the local community with a two-week volunteer project in the village of Samraong. To finish your trip, fly to Bangkok with two nights' hostel accommodation and a few days to enjoy this backpacker favourite.

*From price per person based on shared accommodation

What's included
  • Flight to Hanoi from the UK
  • Flight from Siem Reap to Bangkok
  • 3-day Halong Bay and Cat Ba cruise
  • 15-day accommodation and transport package from Hanoi to Ho Chi Minh City
  • 2 nights' hostel accommodation in Phnom Penh
  • Guided tour of Angkor Wat with three nights' dorm accommodation in Siem Reap
  • 2-week volunteering project in Samraong
  • 2 nights' hostel accommodation in Bangkok
  • Flight home from Bangkok
  • Booking fees
  • You own travel specialist
What's not included:
  • Travel Insurance (but we can help you with that)
  • Vaccinations (ask us about our discount with Nomad Travel)
  • Meals (other then those included in the tours/packages)
  • Optional activities
  • Transport from Ho Chi Minh City to Phnom Penh and Phnom Penh to Siem Reap (local buses available)

Travel suggestion: Vietnam & Cambodia

Home - Hanoi – Hue – Hoi An - Nha Trang – Dalat - Ho Chi Minh City – Phnom Penh - Siem Reap - Bangkok - Home

This itinerary is just a suggestion and can be customised to suit your unique travel plans. Make it longer, make it shorter. Add in the things you want to do. Get in touch with our travel experts to turn this itinerary into your dream Vietnam and Cambodia combo trip.

Vietnam Hanoi

Welcome to Hanoi and the start of your adventure! Give yourself a few days to explore the city and visit some of the main attractions, including the Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum, the nearby Presidential Palace, Ho Chi Minh's Stilt House, and the One Pillar Pagoda, plus the Temple of Literature (Van Mieu-Quoc Tu Giam), Vietnam's first national university, known for its beautiful architecture and peaceful gardens.

Hanoi is a city that is best enjoyed sat on a small plastic stool on a busy street corner with a cold local beer. And don't miss out on Hanoi's famous street food scene by exploring the night markets in the Old Quarter. Try local delicacies such as grilled meats, spring rolls, and egg coffee.

Vietnam Halong Bay cruise

After your time in Hanoi, you'll be picked up and transferred to the world-famous Halong Bay for a two-night cruise around the karst islands. You'll get off the beaten track to explore the equally beautiful but less famous Lan Ha Bay, situated to the east of Cat Ba Island.

There'll be time for hiking in the lush Cat Ba National Park, kayaking at Trong Cave and swimming on Monkey Island. At night, stargaze on the upper deck with a cool drink in hand. At the end of the cruise, you'll be taken back to Hanoi.

Vietnam Hue & Hoi An

After meeting your new travel buddies in Hanoi, you'll all travel to Ninh Binh, known as the "Halong Bay on Land". Here you'll have a full day at leisure to explore the stunning scenery. Then you'll take the night train to Hue.

The historic city of Hue is located on the banks of the Perfume River and was Vietnam's capital city until 1945. You'll have two days to explore the city independently. Highlights include the sprawling Imperial City, the iconic Thien Mu Pagoda, the Royal Tombs and the traditional craft villages where you can see how they make those famous conical hats.

Next up is Hoi An - a popular stop on every backpacker's trip through Vietnam. This little town is famous for its tailoring services. Get a suit made in a day or design your own new sneakers. And all for a great price.

While you're waiting for your new wardrobe, go and explore the beautiful old centre of this colourful town. Hoi An features a mix of Vietnamese, Chinese, Japanese and European architecture, and its cultural heritage is part of the reason why Hoi An was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1999.

Another top tip for Hoi An is to hire a bike - you can explore the surrounding area independently or join a guided tour to visit local villages.

Vietnam Nha Trang & Dalat

Hop aboard another sleeper train and get off at the beach town of Nha Trang. This place is perfect if you need a party fix or just some R&R at the beach. You have two nights here before continuing to the famous mountain retreat town of Dalat.

The cooler climate of Dalat offers a welcoming change for your sunburned beach body. Dalat is the perfect base for exploring further off the beaten path. You could hop on the back of an Easy Rider bike and follow winding paths through lush mountains for a few days. Just ask your KILROY travel advisor and they can tell you more about this unique motorbike experience.

Vietnam Ho Chi Minh City

Your last stop in Vietnam is the pearl of the south at the edge of the Mekong Delta: Ho Chi Minh City, or Saigon as it was originally named.

This is a great destination to sample all that Vietnamese cuisine has to offer. There are Pho stalls on literally every street corner. Take a seat on one of the teeny-tiny plastic stools. Order an ice cold can of Saigon beer and watch the hustle and bustle of the city.

If you fancy getting out of the city, why not add some extra days to relax on white sand beaches under coconut palm trees, swimming in crystal clear waters? Sounds good, right? Either fly or bus and boat to Phu Quoc island and you get just that. We can help you get there, just ask!

Cambodia Phnom Penh to Siem Reap

We've given you some free time to make your own way across the border into Cambodia. Make your way to Phnom Penh where you've got two nights of accommodation in a lovely hostel in the city. Spend some time independently exploring the sights before making your own way to Siem Reap.

Check into our fun hostel in Siem Reap and get comfortable. The next day it's time to visit the famous temple complex of Angkor. The whole park stretches over 400 sq. km, which could keep you busy for weeks exploring the remains of the ancient Khmer Empire. We'll take you on a guided tour to the famous Angkor Wat, as well as the more hidden jungle temples of Ta Prohm, Bayon and Baphuon.

After a full day of temple exploration, you will head out to Tonlé Sap, the largest freshwater lake in Southeast Asia. A sunset cruise and cold beers are included!

Take the rest of your time in Siem Reap to relax by the pool, get a massage or explore the area on your own.

Cambodia Volunteering in Samraong

For those who really want to immerse themselves in the local culture and want to make an impact during their trip, we have included a two-week volunteer programme near Siem Reap.

The Greenway School in the Pul village of Samraong teaches English to children from poorer backgrounds, who otherwise could not afford education. Don't worry if you've never taught before - the local teacher will have class plans ready and just needs the help of volunteers to assist in their classes.

Creative ideas from volunteers are always welcome, so if you bring a skill you would like to teach, that's awesome! This programme is all about exchanging knowledge and culture. Your accommodation is a volunteer house on-site, which you share with other participants. So not only will you meet local children, but you will also live very closely with like-minded volunteers from all over the world. After two weeks you may not even want to leave (not a problem - we can always sort that out for you).

Thailand Bangkok

After your stint volunteering, fly to Bangkok and stay for a couple of nights in our funky hostel it the Siam area. Here you've got a few days to go shopping in one of the super large (and air conditioned) shopping malls or visit local markets to get your last souvenirs. Lie down for a Thai Massage or an epic night out with backpackers from all over the world on the infamous Khao San Road.

We've included a return flight back to the UK. But if you've got something else in mind, our travel experts can arrange onward transport to the next destination in your journey.

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