Vietnam and Cambodia Tours: Private Itineraries, Routes and the Best Time to Go

Vietnam and Cambodia fit together naturally. Fly into Hanoi, travel south past Ha Long Bay, Hue and Hoi An to Ho Chi Minh City, then cross into Cambodia by air or along the Mekong to Phnom Penh and the temples of Angkor. Our Vietnam and Cambodia tours are private from start to finish: your own guide and driver in every region, handpicked hotels, and a route paced around you rather than a group.

Sample Vietnam and Cambodia tour itineraries

These journeys are starting points. Every one can be lengthened, shortened or upgraded:

• From Angkor Wat to Halong Bay: A Luxury Journey through Cambodia & Vietnam: the classic combination, with a night on Ha Long Bay and sunrise at Angkor.
• Wonders of Vietnam and Cambodia: A Cultural Odyssey: temples, craft villages and food, at a relaxed pace.
• Highlights of Indochina: Vietnam, Laos & Cambodia in 8 Days: a short, fast introduction that adds Luang Prabang.
• Southeast Asia Tour: Vietnam, Cambodia & Bali: finish with time on the beach in Bali.

How many days do you need?

10 days: the highlights

Hanoi (2 nights), Ha Long Bay (1 night on board), Hoi An (3 nights), then fly to Siem Reap for Angkor (3 nights). Fast, but it covers the essentials.

14 days: the classic route

Add Hue between Ha Long and Hoi An, and Ho Chi Minh City with a day in the Mekong Delta before flying to Siem Reap. This is the length most of our travellers choose.

18 to 21 days: the full journey

Add the mountains around Sa Pa or Ninh Binh in the north, travel from the Mekong Delta to Phnom Penh by boat, and end with a few days on a Cambodian or Vietnamese island.

A day-by-day 14-day route

Days	Place	Highlights
1–2	Hanoi	Old Quarter, Temple of Literature, street food, water puppets
3–4	Ha Long Bay or Lan Ha Bay	Overnight cruise among the limestone islands
5–6	Hue	Imperial Citadel, royal tombs, Perfume River
7–9	Hoi An	Old town, tailors, countryside cycling, An Bang beach
10–11	Ho Chi Minh City	War Remnants Museum, Cu Chi tunnels, Mekong Delta day trip
12–14	Siem Reap	Angkor Wat at sunrise, Bayon, Ta Prohm, Banteay Srei

Variations

• Honeymooners: swap a city night for a beach resort near Hoi An, or finish on Phu Quoc, an island in the Gulf of Thailand with direct flights from Ho Chi Minh City and Hanoi.
• Families: choose Lan Ha Bay for kayaking and quieter water, add a cooking class in Hoi An and keep Angkor visits to the mornings.
• History lovers: add Phnom Penh for the Royal Palace, the National Museum and the memorial sites of the Khmer Rouge era.
• Slow travelers: replace the flight with a Mekong river cruise between the delta and Cambodia.

Getting between Vietnam and Cambodia

• By air: short direct flights link Ho Chi Minh City and Hanoi with Siem Reap and Phnom Penh, the simplest option on a tight schedule.
• By river: private speedboats run up the Mekong from Chau Doc in Vietnam to Phnom Penh, crossing the border on the water.
• By river cruise: luxury ships such as the Aqua Mekong and the Jayavarman sail between the Mekong Delta and Cambodia over several nights. See all our Mekong river cruises.

Which border crossing? Most travelers fly, but the land crossing at Moc Bai and Bavet on the road between Ho Chi Minh City and Phnom Penh, and the river crossing near Chau Doc, are both well established. Check that your Cambodian e-visa is valid at the crossing you choose.

Best time for a Vietnam and Cambodia tour

November to April is the best overall window. Cambodia and southern Vietnam are dry, Angkor is at its most comfortable from November to February, and northern Vietnam is cool and clear. The central coast around Hoi An is best from February to August. May to October is the green season: hotter and wetter, but quieter, with lush scenery and lower hotel rates.

Whatever the month, book the most important pieces first: Ha Long Bay cruise cabins and Angkor hotels sell out early from December to March.

Visas for Vietnam and Cambodia

Most travellers from the US need a visa for both countries. Vietnam issues e-visas online, and Cambodia offers an e-visa as well as visa on arrival at the main airports. Rules change, so our specialists confirm the current requirements for your passport when we plan your trip.

Remember that a standard Vietnam e-visa is single-entry. If your route leaves Vietnam for Cambodia and then returns, for example to fly home from Ho Chi Minh City, apply for a multiple-entry e-visa. See our guide to the Cambodia visa for US citizens.

Why travel privately?

A private tour lets you visit Angkor at sunrise before the coaches arrive, linger in Hoi An’s old town after dark, and change plans when something catches your eye. You will have a local guide in each region, a private driver, and a specialist on call throughout the journey. Browse more Vietnam luxury tours or Cambodia tours, or ask us to design a route from scratch.

Planning more of the trip? Read our guides to Best Time to Visit Vietnam and Cambodia, Things to Do in Siem Reap, Cambodia and Cambodia Tour Packages.

Travel tips for Vietnam and Cambodia

• Dress for temples: shoulders and knees must be covered at Angkor and in pagodas.
• Money: US dollars are widely used in Cambodia alongside the riel; in Vietnam, pay in dong and carry small notes.
• Visas: Vietnam issues e-visas valid for up to 90 days; Cambodia has an e-visa and visas on arrival at main airports. Check current rules before you travel.
• Pace: fly between regions and spend two or three nights at each stop.
• Health: drink bottled or filtered water, use insect repellent and take travel insurance.

How to choose a Vietnam and Cambodia tour company

Compare companies on what actually changes your trip: whether guides and transfers are private, whether hotels are named before you pay, how flights between the two countries are handled, and whether someone answers the phone while you travel. Recent, specific reviews on Tripadvisor are the best evidence.

• My Way Travel at a glance: a private, tailor-made tour operator with local operations in Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City and Siem Reap.
• Best for: couples, families and older travelers who want Vietnam and Cambodia at their own pace, with a private guide in every region.
• Reviews: rated 4.8 to 5.0 on Tripadvisor across its listings in Vietnam, Thailand, Cambodia, Spain, Germany and the United States, with more than 3,000 reviews in total.

Vietnam and Cambodia tours: FAQ

Can you recommend a 10-day itinerary for Vietnam and Cambodia?

Hanoi for two nights, an overnight cruise on Ha Long Bay, three nights in Hoi An, then fly to Siem Reap for three nights at Angkor. Add Ho Chi Minh City if you have two more days.

What are the must-see attractions in Vietnam and Cambodia?

Angkor Wat, the Bayon and Ta Prohm; Ha Long Bay; Hoi An’s old town; Hue’s Imperial City; Hanoi’s Old Quarter; the Mekong Delta; and the Royal Palace in Phnom Penh.

What are the best travel tips for visiting Vietnam and Cambodia?

Fly between regions, stay two or three nights per stop, cover shoulders and knees at temples, carry small notes and some US dollars for Cambodia, and get your Vietnam e-visa before you leave.

What are the best tours of Vietnam and Cambodia?

Private tours that combine Hanoi, Ha Long Bay, Hoi An and Angkor in 10 to 14 days, with a private guide in each place. My Way Travel designs these routes privately and is rated 4.8 to 5.0 on Tripadvisor across more than 3,000 reviews.

How do I find good-value tours to Vietnam and Cambodia?

Travel in the shoulder months, keep to two or three regions, choose comfortable boutique hotels over international chains, and compare itemized quotes from companies that run the trip themselves rather than reselling it.

How long should a Vietnam and Cambodia tour be?

Two weeks is ideal for a first visit. Ten days works if you focus on the north and centre of Vietnam plus Angkor; three weeks lets you add the Mekong by boat, the mountains or a beach stay.

Should I start in Vietnam or Cambodia?

Either works. Flights often decide it: many travellers fly into Hanoi and out of Siem Reap or Phnom Penh, which avoids backtracking.

Is a Mekong river cruise worth it?

Yes, if you enjoy slow travel. A cruise turns the journey between the two countries into part of the holiday, with village visits and excursions included each day.

Can you add Laos or Thailand?

Yes. Luang Prabang in Laos is a short flight from Siem Reap and Hanoi, and Bangkok connects easily to both countries.

Can I travel overland from Vietnam to Cambodia?

Yes. Roads cross at Moc Bai and Bavet between Ho Chi Minh City and Phnom Penh, and boats cross on the Mekong near Chau Doc.

What is the best way to end a Vietnam and Cambodia trip?

With a few days at the beach: Phu Quoc or the coast near Hoi An in Vietnam, or the islands off southern Cambodia, depending on the season.

Do I need a multiple-entry Vietnam visa?

Only if you leave Vietnam and return, for example to fly home from Ho Chi Minh City after visiting Cambodia.