The route at a glance
This route links three of the region's great experiences: Bangkok, the temples of Angkor near Siem Reap in Cambodia, and a journey from the south of Vietnam to the north. It uses short regional flights for the longer distances, which saves days compared with going overland, and it can be run in either direction.
The nights below add up to fourteen. If you have a day or two more, add them to Hoi An or the north of Vietnam rather than adding another stop.
- Days 1 to 3: Bangkok, Thailand (3 nights).
- Days 4 to 6: Siem Reap and the temples of Angkor, Cambodia (3 nights).
- Days 7 and 8: Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam (2 nights), with an optional day trip to the Mekong Delta.
- Days 9 to 11: Hoi An, Vietnam (3 nights), flying into Da Nang.
- Days 12 to 14: Hanoi and Ha Long Bay or Ninh Binh, Vietnam (3 nights), flying home from Hanoi.
Bangkok: three nights
Bangkok is the natural starting point, with direct long-haul flights from much of the world. Give yourself a day to adjust to the heat and the time difference before tackling the big sights.
The Grand Palace and Wat Phra Kaew, home of the Emerald Buddha, are the city's most important sights and have a strict dress code: shoulders and knees must be covered, and you may be turned away otherwise. Wat Pho, next door, has a huge reclining Buddha and is the traditional home of Thai massage. Across the river, Wat Arun is best seen in the late afternoon.
Spend the rest of your time on the river boats that run along the Chao Phraya, in the street-food areas of Chinatown, in the markets, and in one of the city's green spaces such as Lumphini Park. The BTS Skytrain and MRT metro are the easiest ways to avoid the traffic. If you have a spare day, Ayutthaya, the former royal capital with its ruined temples, is an easy day trip by train or road.
Siem Reap and Angkor: three nights
From Bangkok, a short flight takes you to Siem Reap, the town closest to the temples of Angkor. Travelling overland by bus or private transfer is also possible but takes most of a day, so flying makes sense on a two-week trip.
Angkor was the centre of the Khmer Empire, which ruled much of mainland Southeast Asia for several centuries. The site is vast, and three days lets you see the main temples without rushing. Angkor Wat, the largest religious monument in the world, is the famous one, and many people go for sunrise. Angkor Thom, the walled city, contains the Bayon temple with its carved stone faces. Ta Prohm, with tree roots growing over its walls, is another highlight.
Further out, Banteay Srei has some of the finest carving at Angkor, and Beng Mealea is a largely unrestored temple in the forest. Hiring a driver with a tuk-tuk or car for the day is the usual way to get around, and an early start avoids the worst of the heat and crowds. Temple passes are sold for one, three or seven days, and you need to dress respectfully, with shoulders and knees covered, for the main temples.
Siem Reap itself is a relaxed town with markets, cafes and a lively evening scene. The US dollar is widely used in Cambodia alongside the Cambodian riel, and you may receive change in a mix of both.
Ho Chi Minh City and Hoi An: five nights
Fly from Siem Reap or via Phnom Penh to Ho Chi Minh City, still widely known as Saigon. It is a fast, noisy, energetic city of motorbikes, street food and French colonial buildings. The War Remnants Museum and the Cu Chi Tunnels, a half-day trip out of the city, cover the Vietnam War from the Vietnamese perspective and are sobering visits. A day trip to the Mekong Delta shows a completely different way of life, with boats, canals, orchards and floating markets.
Crossing the road in Vietnam takes some getting used to. The trick is to walk slowly and steadily, without stopping or running, so that motorbike riders can see where you are going and flow around you.
Next, fly north to Da Nang and transfer to Hoi An, about forty-five minutes away. Hoi An's old town, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, is a well-preserved trading port with merchant houses, temples and a Japanese covered bridge, lit by lanterns in the evening. Three nights gives you time to explore the old town, cycle out to the rice fields and the beach, visit the ruins of My Son, and have clothes made by one of the town's many tailors if you want to.
If you have the energy for a longer day, the Hai Van Pass, a mountain road between Da Nang and Hue, is one of the most scenic drives in the country, and Hue, the former imperial capital, can be visited from Hoi An.
Hanoi and the north: three nights
Finish with a flight from Da Nang to Hanoi, Vietnam's capital. The Old Quarter is a maze of narrow streets that were once each devoted to a single trade, and it is still one of the best places in the country for street food. Hoan Kiem Lake, the Temple of Literature and the Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum complex are the main sights.
From Hanoi, choose one excursion. Ha Long Bay, with thousands of limestone islands rising from the sea, is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and is best seen on an overnight boat trip, which lets you enjoy it after the day-trippers leave. Ninh Binh, sometimes described as Ha Long Bay on land, has similar limestone scenery with rice fields and rivers, and makes an easy day trip or a peaceful overnight stay.
If you have extra days, the mountain town of Sapa in the far north offers trekking through rice terraces and villages, but it needs at least two or three more nights to be worthwhile.
When to go
Weather is the trickiest part of planning this route, because the three countries, and the north and south of Vietnam, have different seasons. Broadly speaking, the period from November to March is the best compromise.
In Thailand and Cambodia, November to February is the cool, dry season and the most comfortable time to visit. March to May is very hot, and the rainy season usually runs from around June to October, with heavy downpours that often pass within a few hours.
Vietnam is long and its weather varies by region. The south is warm all year, with a dry season from about December to April. Central Vietnam, including Hoi An, is often at its best from about February to August, while October and November can bring heavy rain and occasional flooding. The north, including Hanoi, has a cool, sometimes grey winter from about December to February, and hot, humid summers.
Major holidays affect travel too. Lunar New Year, called Tet in Vietnam, usually falls in late January or February and is the biggest holiday of the year, when transport fills up and many businesses close for several days. Songkran, the Thai New Year in mid-April, is celebrated with huge water fights across Thailand.
Practical tips
Each country uses its own currency: the Thai baht, the Vietnamese dong and the Cambodian riel, with US dollars widely used in Cambodia. Cards are accepted in many hotels and larger restaurants, but cash is still needed for markets, street food and small businesses, and ATMs are easy to find in cities.
Entry requirements differ for each country and can change, so check official government sources for each one before you book. Leave plenty of time at airports for regional flights, and keep your onward travel details handy.
Pack light, breathable clothes, with at least one outfit that covers your shoulders and knees for temples. Sunscreen, insect repellent and a refillable water bottle are useful everywhere. Drink bottled or filtered water, and be cautious with ice and raw salads if you have a sensitive stomach.
Mobile data makes this route much easier, from booking ride-hailing cars and checking flight times to translating menus. A travel eSIM gives you mobile data abroad, and a regional plan can cover several countries on a single eSIM, so you do not need to buy a new SIM at each border. Our travel guides for Thailand and Vietnam have more on each country.
Staying connected: Thailand eSIM, Cambodia eSIM, Vietnam eSIM.