Discover Vietnam – Cambodia – Thailand in 22 Days

Angkor Wat, Halong Bay, the Mekong Delta, and Phuket’s beaches all appear in one 22-day trip. That is the appeal here: you get a broad first look at mainland Southeast Asia without having to stitch together every flight, border crossing, driver, and day tour yourself. I especially like the small maximum group of 15 and the built-in mix of guided sightseeing and free time. The Ben Tre stay, with bungalows in a family garden beside the Mekong, also gives the trip a more local feel than a chain of city hotels.

I like the practical design, too. Three internal flights save long overland journeys, while the bus from Ho Chi Minh City to Phnom Penh lets you see how the two countries connect. The drawback is pace: you change cities often, and several sightseeing days run long. You should be comfortable with early starts, road transfers, heat, stairs, and a schedule that rarely sits still.

Key points to know before booking

• Up to 15 people: A small group makes airport pickups, market walks, and guided temple visits easier to manage.
• Three major internal flights: The route includes Hanoi to Hue, Da Nang to Ho Chi Minh City, and Siem Reap to Phuket, with 20 kilograms of checked luggage per person on each.
• A real Mekong stay: You spend time at Mekong Home in Ben Tre, where bungalows sit in a tropical garden beside the river.
• Serious historical stops: Hue’s imperial sites, the Cu Chi Tunnels, Tuol Sleng, and Choeung Ek give the trip weight beyond beaches and monuments.
• Two free days in Phuket: You have time to choose your own beach plans after three weeks of organized touring.
• Good value for a packed route: At $2,481 per person, the price includes guides, transfers, tickets, breakfasts, eight lunches, two dinners, and key flights, but not international airfare, insurance, visas, drinks, or tips.

Hanoi begins with village life and street-level energy

Your arrival starts simply. A private driver meets you at Noi Bai International Airport with a sign bearing your name and takes you into central Hanoi. That door-to-door start matters after a long international flight, especially in a city where crossing a road can feel like a small act of courage.

Day two leaves the urban noise behind for Ba Vi, about a 1.5-hour drive from Hanoi. You visit picturesque villages and meet Mr. Duo, with the day focused on rural life rather than a long list of monuments. This is a useful early contrast: Hanoi gives you traffic, commerce, and old streets, while Ba Vi shows how daily life changes outside the capital.

You should allow about seven hours for this outing. The drive is part of the experience, but it also means the day is not a quick side trip. If you prefer a slow first few days after arrival, this schedule may feel demanding.

Halong Bay gives you one night on the water

On day three, you leave Hanoi for Halong Bay by air-conditioned bus. The route crosses the Red River Delta, where rice paddies provide a calmer view than the city streets. At the pier, you board a cruise among limestone formations and grottoes, with a seafood lunch and time on the sundeck.

The overnight cruise is one of the strongest parts of the route. You get more than a short boat ride and a photo stop. The evening and early morning hours let you see the bay at quieter times, and the following morning includes breakfast and Tai Chi on deck. You also visit a limestone cave before returning to Hanoi.

This portion depends on weather. The experience includes a poor-weather provision allowing a different date or a full refund if the activity is canceled, but you should still treat the bay cruise as a nature-based part of the trip rather than a guaranteed postcard day. A one-night cruise also leaves little room for schedule changes.

Hoa Lu and Tam Coc bring history and open country

Day five heads to Hoa Lu, the historic capital of Vietnam, after a roughly 2.5-hour coach ride from Hanoi. You visit the ancient temples of the Le and Dinh dynasties, then stop for lunch before taking a boat through Tam Coc.

Tam Coc is best understood from the water. Limestone formations rise around the route, and the boat passes into caves cut through the rock. An hour of cycling on quiet roads follows, giving you a change from sitting in vehicles and boats.

The full day returns you to Hanoi around 6 p.m. That makes this another long outing, but the combination works well. Hoa Lu supplies cultural context, while Tam Coc gives you a slower outdoor hour. Bring patience for the road time and comfortable clothing for the boat and cycling portions.

Hue connects royal buildings with local markets

You fly from Hanoi to Hue on day six, with 20 kilograms of checked luggage included. The day is mainly a transfer day, so do not count on a full sightseeing program after landing. Hotel check-in is normally at 2 p.m., while check-out is at noon unless an early or late arrangement is stated.

The next day packs in Hue’s main sights. You begin with a dragon boat ride on the Perfume River to Thien Mu Pagoda, then visit Hue Imperial City, the former home of Vietnam’s Nguyen Dynasty. The Citadel’s halls, gardens, and objects help explain the scale of royal Vietnam better than a quick museum visit would.

Dong Ba Market changes the mood. You can see local buying and selling, browse food and household goods, and pause for a more ordinary view of the city. After lunch, the route continues to Khai Dinh’s tomb, known for its mix of Western and Vietnamese design, then Minh Mang’s tomb, set in harmony with its surroundings. A complimentary herbal foot bath is included during the tomb outing.

This is a full sightseeing day, with five stops and several hours in a vehicle. If you enjoy architecture and court history, it may be a highlight. If you dislike compressed touring, the number of stops may leave you wishing for more time at each one.

Hoi An leaves room for food and free wandering

A private car takes you from Hue to Hoi An on day eight. Once settled, day nine begins with a boat ride to Hoi An’s central market. An English-speaking guide explains noodles, fish, spices, herbs, rice, and grains as you move through the food stalls and market lanes.

I like this kind of outing because it explains what you are seeing at meals later in the trip. You are not just handed a dish and told its name. You get a look at the ingredients and buying habits behind it.

Day ten is entirely free. Hoi An’s old quarter includes Japanese merchant houses, pagodas, temples, and old warehouses, but you are not forced into another organized excursion. You can spend the day walking, browsing, resting, or choosing your own meal. After several scheduled days, this pause is important.

The itinerary refers to the flight from Da Nang, the airport serving Hoi An, to Ho Chi Minh City. Your transfer to the airport is arranged, and 20 kilograms of checked baggage is included.

The Mekong stay adds a welcome change of pace

Ho Chi Minh City receives you on day eleven. The airport transfer is arranged, and the rest of that day is mostly for settling in. The following morning, you leave for Ben Tre in the Mekong Delta.

Mekong Home is a family house with several bungalows in a tropical garden beside the river. This is one of the most distinctive accommodation moments in the trip because it moves you away from a standard urban base. You get a closer look at life along the waterways and a quieter setting after Ho Chi Minh City.

Day thirteen includes a two to two-and-a-half-hour cycling trip on the island of Oc. The concrete track passes fruit and coconut trees and goes by a local market. Cycling gives the delta a more direct rhythm than simply riding past it in a coach, but you should be ready for heat and a fairly long ride.

You return to Ho Chi Minh City around midday after checking out. Day fourteen goes to the Cu Chi Tunnels, an underground system extending for more than 220 kilometers and tied closely to the Vietnam War. The site is about a 1.5-hour drive away, and the outing takes around six hours.

The tunnels are a serious historical visit, not just a curiosity. The space is narrow and the subject matter is military and political, so it may not suit everyone. Your guide can provide context, but the site itself asks you to think about the conditions in which the tunnel system was built and used.

Phnom Penh moves from royal splendor to national tragedy

Day fifteen uses an air-conditioned bus from Ho Chi Minh City to Phnom Penh. The trip takes about six hours, making this one of the longer transport days. The benefit is that you avoid another flight and travel directly between the two capitals.

In Phnom Penh, you visit the Royal Palace, the Silver Pagoda, and Wat Phnom. The palace remains a royal residence, while the Silver Pagoda holds major cultural objects, including a 90-kilogram golden Buddha covered with 2,086 diamonds. Wat Phnom, built on an artificial hill in 1373, gives the city one of its most important religious sites.

Day sixteen changes tone completely. Tuol Sleng, also called S-21, was a former school used as a prison by Pol Pot’s security forces. Choeung Ek, known as the Killing Fields, records the murder of about 17,000 people between 1975 and 1978.

These visits are essential for understanding Cambodia, but they are emotionally difficult. Plan for a quiet day and do not treat the museums as ordinary sightseeing stops. The Russian Market follows, offering clothing, Buddha images, woodcarvings, silk, silver jewelry, and other goods. That contrast between painful memory and everyday commerce can feel abrupt, yet it reflects the city’s complicated present.

Siem Reap puts Angkor at the center

A bus takes you from Phnom Penh to Siem Reap on day seventeen, another journey of about six hours. After arrival and hotel check-in, you visit Wat Thmey, which contains a glass-walled stupa holding bones of Khmer Rouge victims.

The next day is the trip’s architectural centerpiece. You visit Angkor Thom and its South Gate, then Bayon Temple with its carved towers and large faces. Ta Prohm follows, with trees and jungle growing through the temple complex. Its connection with the Tomb Raider film has made it especially familiar, but the site is more than a movie backdrop.

Angkor Wat comes later. The complex covers about 200 hectares and is surrounded by a moat and an exterior wall measuring roughly 1,300 by 1,500 meters. Two hours is enough to see major sections, but not enough to explore every corner. Wear practical shoes and expect walking over uneven surfaces.

The schedule places several major temples on one day. That is efficient, but tiring. I would treat Angkor as a place to pay attention rather than race through for photographs. The guide’s explanations will help, yet you should expect heat, walking, and crowds at popular points.

Phuket gives you two days to set your own rhythm

After Siem Reap, a private driver takes you to the airport for the flight to Phuket. This flight is included, with 20 kilograms of checked baggage, and a transfer meets you on arrival.

Days twenty and twenty-one are free. Kata Beach is offered as one example, with soft sand, shade, water sports, and an easygoing setting. The important point is that no beach excursion is forced into these days. After a route full of temples and transfers, you can rest, choose a beach, or make your own local plans.

The final day includes breakfast, hotel check-out, possible time for local markets and souvenirs, and transfer to Phuket International Airport. Plan your onward flight carefully around that transfer. International flights are not included, and the tour ends at Phuket airport.

What the $2,481 price really covers

At $2,481 per person, this is not a shoestring trip, but the price covers a lot of moving parts. You receive 21 breakfasts, eight lunches, two dinners, sightseeing tickets, English-speaking guides, private airport and hotel transfers, transport for excursions, the Hanoi to Hue flight, the Da Nang to Ho Chi Minh City flight, the Siem Reap to Phuket flight, taxes, service charges, water, tissues, and 24-hour hotline support.

The value is strongest if you would otherwise pay separately for several guides, airport pickups, flights, and cross-border transport. A group discount may also reduce the per-person cost, though the exact amount is not provided.

Budget extra money for drinks, personal purchases, tips, travel insurance, international airfare, e-Visas, and any holiday surcharges. Compulsory gala dinners may apply on December 24, December 31, or January 21, and public holidays in the three countries can bring added charges. Airport cab surcharges may also apply between midnight and 5 a.m.

Who should book this 22-day route

I would choose this trip if you want to see the major sights of three countries and prefer having the practical pieces arranged for you. It suits couples, families, solo visitors, and first-time visitors to the region who value local guides, private pickups, and a clear route.

It is less suitable if you want a slow holiday, dislike long road days, or prefer arranging each city yourself. The schedule includes free time in Hoi An and Phuket, but much of the middle is tightly planned. You also need to manage several border and flight details, including visa requirements. Passport name, number, expiry date, and country are required at booking, and visa responsibility remains with you.

The company contributes $20 from each booking to local community projects. That does not replace checking how the fund works, but it adds a useful social element to an already locally operated trip. Communication is another strong point: support staff such as Thang, Linh, and Jennifer Bui receive repeated praise for organizing transfers, adapting plans, and staying available. Treat those names as useful contacts tied to the booking process, not a promise that one specific person will guide every day.

Should you book it?

Book this tour if your priority is breadth, ease, and a strong first introduction to Vietnam, Cambodia, and Thailand. You will see royal cities, war sites, markets, rural villages, major temples, a river community, and two beach days in one organized sweep.

Skip it if you want long stays in fewer places or a flexible trip with plenty of unplanned mornings. The best match is someone who accepts early starts and long transfers in exchange for having the big route handled. Because the booking is non-refundable and cannot be amended, confirm your dates, passport details, visa needs, and international flight plans before paying.

FAQ

How long is the tour?

The trip lasts approximately 22 days, beginning in Hanoi and ending with a transfer to Phuket International Airport.

Where does the tour start?

The tour starts at Noi Bai International Airport in Hanoi, Vietnam. A private driver meets you there and transfers you to your accommodation.

Where does the tour end?

The tour ends at Phuket International Airport in Thailand. You should plan your onward international flight around the scheduled airport transfer.

How large is the group?

The maximum group size is 15 people.

Which flights are included?

The package includes flights from Hanoi to Hue, from Da Nang to Ho Chi Minh City, and from Siem Reap to Phuket. Each includes 20 kilograms of checked luggage per person.

Is transport between Ho Chi Minh City and Phnom Penh included?

Yes. The tour includes a bus from Ho Chi Minh City to Phnom Penh.

Are meals included?

The package includes 21 breakfasts, eight lunches, and two dinners. Drinks and personal expenses are not included.

Are visas included?

No. E-Visas are not included, and you are responsible for confirming and obtaining visa requirements before crossing borders. A visa invitation letter can be provided for obtaining a visa on arrival where applicable.

Can the booking be canceled or changed?

The experience is non-refundable and cannot be changed for any reason. If poor weather causes a cancellation, you will be offered another date or a full refund.