Discover Vietnam – Cambodia – Thailand in 22 Days

Three countries, one fast-moving adventure. This 22-day journey packs Hanoi, Halong Bay, Hue, Hoi An, Ho Chi Minh City, the Mekong Delta, Phnom Penh, Siem Reap, and Phuket into one carefully arranged route. I like the combination of major sights and local encounters, especially the family-run Mekong stay and countryside visit near Ba Vi. I also like that the package includes internal flights, sightseeing tickets, most meals, and airport transfers.

The trade-off is pace. You will cover long distances by road, bus, and plane, with several early starts and only one free day in Hoi An before reaching Phuket. At $2,481 per person, the price offers strong value for a guided Southeast Asia trip, but you must budget separately for international flights, visas, insurance, drinks, tips, and personal spending.

Key points at a glance

• Three countries in 22 days: Vietnam receives the most attention, followed by Cambodia’s royal sites and Angkor temples, then a relaxed finish in Phuket.
• A useful mix of transport: The plan includes flights from Hanoi to Hue, Da Nang to Ho Chi Minh City, and Siem Reap to Phuket, plus a bus from Ho Chi Minh City to Phnom Penh.
• Local life beyond the headline sights: Ba Vi villages, a family bungalow stay in the Mekong Delta, cycling on Oc Island, and a Hoi An market visit add welcome variety.
• A small group of up to 15 people: This is more manageable than a large coach tour, while still giving you the ease of organized transport and guides.
• A serious historical component: Hue’s imperial monuments, the Cu Chi Tunnels, Tuol Sleng, Choeung Ek, and Wat Thmey require time and emotional attention.
• Beach time at the end: Two free days in Phuket give you a chance to rest after three weeks of sightseeing and transfers.

Hanoi begins with a gentle landing

Your trip starts at Noi Bai International Airport, where a private driver meets you and takes you to your accommodation in central Hanoi. That door-to-door arrival transfer matters after a long international flight. You do not need to negotiate a taxi, locate a hotel, or figure out the city before you have slept.

The first full day leaves Hanoi for Ba Vi, about a 1.5-hour drive away. Here, you visit countryside villages and spend time with local residents, including Mr. Duo. The day runs about seven hours, so it is not merely a quick photo stop. You get a look at rural life before the trip turns toward Vietnam’s famous bays and cities.

I like this opening because Hanoi itself can feel intense at first. Traffic, scooters, food stalls, and narrow streets arrive all at once. Ba Vi gives you a quieter first impression of the country. The drawback is the drive. If your main interest is Hanoi’s Old Quarter, you may wish you had more unstructured time in the city.

Halong Bay brings two days on the water

On day three, you leave Hanoi and cross the Red River Delta, with rice paddies along the route to Halong Bay. The journey takes about four hours before you board the cruise. A seafood lunch, limestone formations, karst grottoes, and time on the sundeck fill the afternoon.

The overnight boat is one of the trip’s major scenic moments. You can watch the changing light over the water, then rise early for sunrise, breakfast, and Tai Chi on the deck. A cave visit follows before you return to Hanoi.

This two-day format is much better than trying to see Halong Bay in a rushed day trip. You have time to enjoy the setting instead of treating the bay as a roadside attraction. Still, the schedule is tightly timed. Sunrise, Tai Chi, breakfast, and the cave visit require an early start, and cruise conditions or weather can affect the program. The tour requires good weather, so keep that in mind when planning around fixed international flights.

Hoa Lu and Tam Coc show Vietnam at a slower pace

Day five pairs Hoa Lu with Tam Coc. The coach leaves Hanoi around 8:00 to 8:30 a.m. and takes roughly 2.5 hours to reach Hoa Lu, the former capital. You visit the ancient temples connected with the Le and Dinh dynasties, then stop for lunch.

Afterward, a boat carries you through Tam Coc, past limestone formations and into caves. An hour of cycling on quiet roads adds a welcome change from sitting in a coach. You return to Hanoi around 6:00 p.m.

This is a full day, but it is well balanced. The temple visit gives you cultural context, while the boat and bicycle ride let you experience the countryside at a human pace. Bring sun protection and water, even though tissues and water are provided on the coach. The long return to Hanoi means you should not expect a leisurely evening.

Hue brings emperors, markets, and royal tombs

A flight takes you from Hanoi to Hue on day six, with 20 kilograms of checked luggage included. The next day is one of the most history-heavy sections of the trip.

You begin with a dragon boat ride on the Perfume River to Thien Mu Pagoda. Then you enter Hue Imperial City, the former home of Vietnam’s Nguyen Dynasty. Halls, gardens, and antiques help explain the country’s royal past, but the site is large enough that comfortable walking shoes are essential.

The schedule continues to Dong Ba Market, where you can look at local food and goods. After lunch, you visit Khai Dinh’s tomb, known for its blend of Western and Vietnamese design, followed by the tomb of Minh Mang, prized for its formal architecture and setting. A complimentary herbal foot bath is included during the afternoon.

I like the range here. Hue is not reduced to one palace gate and a quick photograph. You see religious life, imperial power, everyday shopping, and royal burial grounds in one day. The weakness is the amount of ground covered. Five stops can feel tiring, particularly in hot weather. If you prefer slow museum visits, this day may feel too compressed.

Hoi An gives you food, old streets, and free time

On day eight, a private car transfers you from Hue to Hoi An. The ride takes about three hours, and the rest of the day is for hotel check-in and settling into the old town.

The following morning begins with a boat ride to Hoi An’s central market. An English-speaking guide explains noodles, fish, spices, herbs, rice, and grains. This is more useful than simply walking through the market with a camera because it connects what you see with the food you will eat across Vietnam.

Day ten is free. You can explore Japanese merchant houses, pagodas, temples, and old warehouses, or simply rest. This is one of the most important pauses in the program. After several organized days, you need time to set your own rhythm.

The main limitation is that Hoi An gets only one full free day. If you want tailoring, cooking classes, extensive shopping, or a beach visit, you will need to choose carefully. I would use the free day for a mix of wandering and rest rather than trying to add another packed excursion.

Ho Chi Minh City leads to the Mekong Delta

A flight from Da Nang to Ho Chi Minh City is included, again with 20 kilograms of checked luggage. Day eleven is mainly a transfer day, giving you a first evening in the city.

The next morning, you leave for Ben Tre in the Mekong Delta. The route takes about two hours. Your accommodation is Mekong Home, a family house with bungalows in a tropical garden beside the river. This is a valuable change from standard city hotels. You spend time in a family-run setting and see a quieter side of southern Vietnam.

On day thirteen, you cycle for two to two and a half hours toward Oc Island along a concrete track lined with fruit and coconut trees. You pass a local market and see ingredients used in daily cooking. After lunch and checkout around noon, you return to Ho Chi Minh City.

The Mekong section is among the most appealing parts of the route because it gives you an overnight stay rather than a quick river excursion. Cycling adds a physical element, though you should be comfortable riding for several hours. The return transfer to Ho Chi Minh City also makes this another active day.

The Cu Chi Tunnels add difficult wartime context

Day fourteen takes you about 1.5 hours outside Ho Chi Minh City to the Cu Chi Tunnels. The full visit lasts about six hours and explains the underground system, which extends for more than 220 kilometers and played an important role during the Vietnam War.

This stop is not light sightseeing. The tunnels are narrow, and the subject requires care. A guide can help place the site in context, but you should expect a serious and sometimes uncomfortable visit. The long drive is worthwhile if you want to understand how warfare affected ordinary life in southern Vietnam.

Phnom Penh combines royal beauty with Cambodia’s painful past

A bus carries you from Ho Chi Minh City to Phnom Penh in about six hours. This border crossing is slower and less comfortable than flying, but it links the two countries directly and avoids another airport day. Visa rules are your responsibility, so confirm requirements well before departure. The operator provides a visa invitation letter for arrival procedures, but you still need to meet the entry requirements.

In Phnom Penh, you visit the Royal Palace, Silver Pagoda, and Wat Phnom. The palace complex remains a royal residence, while the Silver Pagoda holds major cultural treasures, including a golden Buddha decorated with more than 2,000 diamonds. Wat Phnom, built on an artificial hill in 1373, offers a quieter religious stop.

Day sixteen changes tone. Tuol Sleng, once the S-21 prison, and Choeung Ek, commonly called the Killing Fields, document the crimes of the Khmer Rouge. Together, the sites take about four hours. You then visit the Russian Market, known for clothing, Buddha images, woodcarvings, silk, silver jewelry, and other goods.

I consider this portion essential, but emotionally demanding. Do not schedule it as a casual shopping morning followed by a quick museum stop. Give yourself time afterward to process what you have seen.

Siem Reap delivers the trip’s grandest temples

Another six-hour bus ride takes you from Phnom Penh to Siem Reap. In the afternoon, you visit Wat Thmey, which contains a glass-walled stupa holding victims’ bones, followed by Wat Memorial Mountain. This continues Cambodia’s difficult historical story before the next day turns to the Angkor temples.

The Angkor circuit includes Angkor Thom’s South Gate, Bayon, Ta Prohm, and Angkor Wat. Bayon is known for its many towers and carved faces. Ta Prohm, partly covered by jungle, is famous for its appearance in Tomb Raider. Angkor Wat is the largest temple in the complex, surrounded by a moat and a huge outer wall.

The temple day lasts about five hours, but expect plenty of walking and uneven surfaces. The schedule gives you a taste of the major sites, though Angkor is too large for one short visit to feel complete. If temples are your main reason for coming to Cambodia, consider adding personal time before or after the organized circuit if your overall plans allow it.

Phuket provides a needed finish

On day nineteen, you fly from Siem Reap to Phuket with 20 kilograms of checked luggage included. A private airport transfer takes you to your hotel, and the rest of the day is free.

Days twenty and twenty-one are open for beaches. Kata Beach is suggested as an option, with soft sand, palm shade, water sports, and a relaxed atmosphere. You can use these days to rest, visit other beaches, or simply recover from the trip’s steady movement.

This ending works well. The first three weeks are packed with temples, cities, historical sites, boats, buses, and flights. Two free beach days let you lower the pace. Phuket is not presented as a guided sightseeing destination, so you will need to arrange your own plans once there.

On the final day, you check out, visit local markets if time allows, and transfer to Phuket International Airport. Plan your departure flight around that airport transfer, and do not assume you can linger at the hotel after the noon checkout time.

What the $2,481 price really covers

At $2,481 per person, the package includes a great deal of practical infrastructure:

• Hotel accommodation, with the option of a 4-star package noted in the booking details
• English-speaking guides
• Sightseeing tickets listed in the program
• Breakfast for 21 days
• Eight lunches and two dinners
• Three regional flights with checked baggage
• The Ho Chi Minh City to Phnom Penh bus
• Private airport and hotel transfers
• Excursion transport
• Service charges, government tax, water, tissues, and 24/7 hotline support

That is strong value for a 22-day trip across three countries. You are paying for coordination as much as sightseeing. Flights, border transport, airport pickups, and multiple hotel transfers can become a headache when arranged independently.

The price does not include international flights, travel insurance, visas, drinks, tips, personal expenses, early check-in, late checkout, or holiday surcharges. Airport taxis between midnight and 5:00 a.m. can also cost extra. Add those costs before deciding that the advertised price is your full budget.

Who will get the most from this itinerary

I would recommend this trip if you want the main highlights without arranging every flight, transfer, and hotel yourself. It suits first-time visitors to Southeast Asia who enjoy guided sightseeing but still want free time in Hoi An and Phuket.

The maximum group size is 15, which should feel more personal than a large coach tour. The program also works for solo travelers. One solo guest specifically praised the planning and support, and named Linh as a particularly helpful travel consultant. Other strong praise centers on Linh, Jennifer Bui, and the guide Thang, who was described as patient, available, and attentive during the trip.

I would hesitate if you dislike early mornings, long road journeys, or tightly scheduled sightseeing. The itinerary has several six-hour transfer days, including the routes to Phnom Penh and Siem Reap. It also asks you to move through three countries in less than a month, so you will need energy and flexibility.

The operator contributes $20 from each booking to local community projects. That will not determine the trip’s quality, but it adds a useful social purpose to an already locally focused route.

FAQ

How long is the tour?

The tour lasts approximately 22 days, beginning at Noi Bai International Airport in Hanoi and ending with a transfer to Phuket International Airport.

What is the maximum group size?

The group can include up to 15 people.

Are internal flights included?

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

Is the international flight included?

No. International flights and departure taxes are not included.

Are meals included?

Yes. The package includes breakfast for 21 days, eight lunches, and two dinners. Drinks are not included.

Is travel insurance included?

No. You need to arrange travel insurance separately.

Do I need visas for the countries visited?

You must confirm and obtain all visa requirements before crossing borders. The operator provides a visa invitation letter for obtaining a visa on arrival, but visa responsibility remains with you.

What are the hotel check-in and checkout times?

Standard check-in is at 2:00 p.m., and checkout is at noon. Early check-in and late checkout are not included unless specifically stated.

What happens if bad weather cancels the tour?

If poor weather causes cancellation, you will be offered another date or a full refund. The experience is non-refundable and cannot normally be changed or amended after booking.

Should you book this Southeast Asia tour?

Book it if you want Vietnam’s strongest mix of city, countryside, food, imperial sites, river life, and wartime history, followed by Cambodia’s most important memorials and Angkor temples. The included flights, private transfers, small group size, and 24/7 support make the $2,481 price sensible for a first visit.

Think twice if you want a slow trip. This is a highlights tour with real local touches, not a relaxed month in one country. Pack light, confirm visas early, leave room in your budget for extras, and treat the Cambodia memorial days with respect. If that pace sounds right, this route gives you a remarkably broad first look at mainland Southeast Asia, with two beach days at the end to let it all sink in.