Discover Vietnam – Cambodia – Thailand in 22 Days

Three countries, one very full journey. This 22-day Southeast Asia tour links Hanoi, Hue, Hoi An, Ho Chi Minh City, the Mekong Delta, Phnom Penh, Siem Reap, and Phuket in one carefully arranged trip. I like the strong mix of major sights and local encounters, especially the Ba Vi countryside visit and the family-run stay beside the Mekong River. My main caution is simple: this is a fast-moving program, with several long road days, internal flights, and very little spare time in some cities.

I also like the practical handling of the trip. Private airport transfers, three regional flights with 20 kilograms of checked luggage, an English-speaking guide, sightseeing tickets, and a 24-hour support line remove much of the usual fuss. The tradeoff is the non-refundable booking policy, so you need firm dates and suitable travel insurance before paying.

Key points at a glance

• Three countries in 22 days: You move from Vietnam’s old imperial cities to Cambodia’s temples and Thailand’s beaches.
• A real local touch near Hanoi: Ba Vi includes village life, a visit to Mr. Duo, and a countryside setting far from city traffic.
• Two very different Mekong experiences: You spend time at a family house in Ben Tre, then cycle through coconut and fruit-growing country.
• Angkor is given proper attention: Bayon, Ta Prohm, and Angkor Wat are all included on the Siem Reap temple day.
• The difficult history is not skipped: Hue’s royal past is followed by the Cu Chi Tunnels and Cambodia’s Tuol Sleng and Choeung Ek sites.
• A soft landing in Phuket: Two free beach days provide welcome breathing room after three weeks of sightseeing.

What the $2,481 price really covers

At $2,481 per person, the price is strong for a 22-day, multi-country package, provided you want most of the planning handled for you. The cost includes 21 breakfasts, eight lunches, two dinners, sightseeing tickets, guide services, local transport, airport transfers, and three internal flights.

Those flights cover Hanoi to Hue, Da Nang to Ho Chi Minh City, and Siem Reap to Phuket. Each includes 20 kilograms of checked luggage, an important detail when you are packing for three climates and moving hotels often.

You still pay for international flights, visas, insurance, drinks, tips, personal purchases, and some holiday surcharges. Airport cab surcharges may apply for transfers between midnight and 5 a.m. You should also check the cost of any required e-visas before you commit, since visa arrangements remain your responsibility.

The package includes accommodation, but the supplied details do not name the hotels or specify one fixed hotel category. One booking party paid for a four-star option and described the hotels as very good. I would ask for the exact hotel list and room category before paying, especially if location matters to you.

Hanoi begins with food, villages, and city energy

Your arrival is at Noi Bai International Airport, north of Hanoi. A private driver meets you with a sign bearing your name and takes you into the city, which is a welcome service after a long international flight.

Hanoi is your base for the first several nights. The schedule gives you a useful mix: a countryside day, Ha Long Bay, and the limestone scenery of Ninh Binh. You do not get a dedicated full-day city tour in the supplied program, so use free moments for Hanoi’s old quarter and local food.

Day two heads to Ba Vi, about 90 minutes from central Hanoi. The visit focuses on small villages and rural life, including time with Mr. Duo. This is one of the more appealing parts of the trip because it gives you a look at daily life beyond monuments and traffic.

The Ba Vi outing lasts about seven hours, with no admission charge listed. Expect a full day away from the city, so comfortable shoes and protection from sun or rain make sense.

Ha Long Bay works best as an overnight cruise

On day three, you leave Hanoi and cross the Red River Delta toward Ha Long Bay. The drive is about four hours, followed by a six-hour cruise program. Rice paddies and limestone formations provide the visual change you want after city streets.

Lunch is seafood, and the cruise includes time on the sundeck among the bay’s karst islands and grottoes. The next morning begins with sunrise views, breakfast, and Tai Chi on deck before a cave visit.

You return to Hanoi on day four for another overnight. The cruise is a major highlight, but it also brings the usual weather risk. The operator states that the experience requires good weather. If poor conditions force cancellation, you are offered another date or a full refund.

The practical point is that Ha Long Bay is not a quick photo stop. You sleep aboard the boat and see the bay at two different times of day, but the transfer days are long. If you dislike scheduled transport, this section may feel tightly packed.

Hoa Lu and Tam Coc show Vietnam at a slower pace

Day five combines Hoa Lu and Tam Coc. The coach leaves Hanoi around 8:00 to 8:30 a.m. for the roughly 2.5-hour journey to Hoa Lu, the former capital associated with the Dinh and Le dynasties.

You visit ancient temples before lunch, then take a boat through Tam Coc. The route passes limestone formations and caves, followed by an hour of cycling on quiet roads.

I like the contrast here. The temples offer historical context, while the boat and bicycle ride let you see the countryside at ground level. The drawback is another long day, with a return to Hanoi around 6 p.m. You should not expect a lazy river outing followed by an early night.

Hue brings imperial Vietnam into focus

Day six is mainly a transfer day. After checking out, you fly from Hanoi to Hue, with 20 kilograms of checked luggage included. The flight saves considerable road time, though airport transfers and check-in still make this a half-day operation.

Hue’s main sightseeing day is ambitious. You begin with a dragon boat along the Perfume River to Thien Mu Pagoda, then visit the Imperial City, the former home of Vietnam’s Nguyen Dynasty.

After the Citadel, you stop at Dong Ba Market. This is a useful addition because it shifts the focus from royal buildings to food, commerce, and ordinary local life. It is also a good place to see the kinds of ingredients and goods used in the region.

The afternoon covers Khai Dinh’s tomb and Minh Mang’s tomb. Khai Dinh’s monument mixes Western and Vietnamese design, while Minh Mang’s tomb is known for its formal architecture and setting. A complimentary herbal foot bath is included during the day.

The schedule lists roughly eight hours of stops, with several separate visits. I would pace myself and carry water, even though water and tissues are provided on coaches. Hue rewards attention, but this is not a day for rushing through every site without pauses.

Hoi An gives you room to slow down

On day eight, a car takes you from Hue to Hoi An. The drive lasts about three hours, and the rest of the day is for hotel check-in and settling in.

Day nine begins with a boat ride to Hoi An’s central market. An English-speaking guide explains local noodles, fish, spices, herbs, rice, and grains. This is a small but worthwhile choice because food markets tell you more about a place than a quick restaurant meal does.

Day ten is free. You can walk among Japanese merchant houses, pagodas, temples, and old warehouses, or simply take a slower day after the heavy sightseeing in Hue.

That free day is valuable. Hoi An is one of the few places where you are not pushed from one scheduled stop to the next. I would use it for wandering, eating, and returning to the old town at your own pace rather than adding another organized excursion.

The Mekong Delta trades hotels for local life

On day eleven, you fly from Da Nang, the airport serving Hoi An, to Ho Chi Minh City. A private transfer takes you to your hotel after arrival.

The next day, you travel to Ben Tre in the Mekong Delta. The drive takes about two hours, and you stay at Mekong Home, a family house with bungalows in a tropical garden beside the river.

This is one of the tour’s most personal elements. The setting under coconut palms and the family-run accommodation offer a clear change from city hotels. It also gives you a better sense of how the delta functions as a lived-in farming and river region, not simply a sightseeing backdrop.

Day thirteen includes a two to 2.5-hour cycling trip to Oc Island along a concrete track lined with fruit and coconut trees. You pass a local market and see ingredients used in everyday cooking.

After lunch and checkout around noon, you return to Ho Chi Minh City. The overnight stay in the delta is short, so you should view it as a focused sample rather than a long rural retreat. Still, it is a good use of the schedule and more distinctive than another night in a city hotel.

Ho Chi Minh City and the Cu Chi Tunnels

The Cu Chi Tunnels take up most of day fourteen. The site lies about 1.5 hours from Ho Chi Minh City and includes a historic underground network extending for more than 220 kilometers.

The visit deals with the Vietnam War and the military role of the tunnels. This is not a light attraction, and the confined setting may not suit everyone. I would approach it as a serious historical site rather than a theme-park stop.

The six-hour excursion leaves you with limited time for Ho Chi Minh City itself. The program does not list a separate city tour, so you will need to use free time around your hotel for the city’s streets, markets, and food.

Phnom Penh confronts Cambodia’s past and present

Day fifteen is a long cross-border bus ride from Ho Chi Minh City to Phnom Penh, taking about six hours. Border crossings can make a travel day feel longer, so keep your passport and visa documents easy to reach.

In the afternoon, you visit the Royal Palace, Silver Pagoda, and Wat Phnom. The Royal Palace remains a residence of Cambodia’s king and royal family. The Silver Pagoda contains major cultural treasures, including a 90-kilogram golden Buddha covered with more than 2,000 diamonds.

Wat Phnom, built on an artificial hill in 1373, gives the day an older religious landmark before the next morning’s difficult history.

Day sixteen visits Tuol Sleng Genocide Museum, the former S-21 prison, followed by Choeung Ek, commonly called the Killing Fields. These places document the crimes of the Khmer Rouge, including the imprisonment, torture, and deaths of thousands of people.

The afternoon ends at the Russian Market, where you can look for clothing, Buddha images, woodcarvings, silk, silver jewelry, and other goods. The order of the day matters: make space for the emotional weight of the morning before shopping.

Siem Reap and the temples of Angkor

Day seventeen brings another six-hour bus journey, this time from Phnom Penh to Siem Reap. You check into your hotel and visit Wat Thmey, which contains a glass-walled stupa holding the bones of victims of the Khmer Rouge.

The following day is devoted to Angkor. You begin at Angkor Thom and its South Gate, then visit Bayon, with its famous carved faces and 54 towers. Ta Prohm follows, where trees and jungle cover parts of the temple complex.

The final major stop is Angkor Wat. The temple covers about 200 hectares and is enclosed by a moat and large exterior walls. It is a huge site, so two hours gives you an important first look, but not time to examine every corner.

I like the selection of three temples because each offers a different mood: Bayon’s stone faces, Ta Prohm’s jungle setting, and Angkor Wat’s scale. The schedule is still tight, and heat, walking, and crowds can make this a demanding day. Bring water, wear shoes suited to uneven ground, and treat the temple day as a major physical outing.

Phuket supplies two days of breathing room

Day nineteen begins with a flight from Siem Reap to Phuket, including 20 kilograms of checked luggage. A private transfer takes you to your hotel, and the remaining time is free.

Days twenty and twenty-one are open beach days. Kata Beach is offered as an example, with soft sand, palm shade, water sports, and a relaxed setting. No Phuket excursions are included, so you choose how much activity or rest you want.

After nearly three weeks of transfers and sightseeing, this pause is smart. You can use it for the beach, local markets, or simply a quiet day before flying home. The final day includes breakfast, checkout, time for souvenir shopping, and a transfer to Phuket International Airport.

Plan your departing flight around that transfer. The tour ends at the airport, not with another hotel night.

How the organization affects your trip

The maximum group size is 15 people, which is small enough for guides to keep the group together without creating a giant coach-party feel. Transport varies between private cars, air-conditioned buses, and scheduled flights.

The strongest organizational feature is support. A 24-hour hotline, named airport pickups, and door-to-door transfers can make a large difference when you cross three countries. Several bookings were praised for careful planning and for staff members such as Linh, Jennifer, and Thang. Thang was singled out for being patient, available, and helpful during the trip.

You should still expect a structured holiday. There are early starts, long road transfers, frequent hotel changes, and six travel days that are partly or mostly about getting from one place to another. The program is best for someone who values coverage over free time.

A $20 contribution from each booking supports local community projects connected with the operator. That is a positive feature, though I would not treat it as a substitute for checking how the program fits your own travel values.

Who should book this 22-day trip?

I would recommend it to a first-time visitor to Southeast Asia who wants Vietnam, Cambodia, and southern Thailand in one booking. It suits you if you want major sights, local food experiences, internal transport, guides, and airport help arranged in advance.

It is also a good match for solo travelers, couples, and families who do not want to coordinate several regional flights and border transfers themselves. The small group limit and 24-hour support add reassurance.

I would hesitate if you prefer long stays in each city, independent hotel choices, or unplanned days. I would also think twice if long bus rides are a problem. Phnom Penh to Siem Reap and Ho Chi Minh City to Phnom Penh each take about six hours, while the Ninh Binh and Ha Long Bay sections also involve substantial road time.

The cancellation terms deserve careful attention. This experience is non-refundable and cannot be changed for any reason, apart from a poor-weather cancellation handled by the operator. Buy travel insurance, confirm passport and visa requirements, and make sure your dates are solid before booking.

Should you book it?

Book this tour if your goal is to see the main sights of Vietnam, Cambodia, and Thailand without spending weeks arranging transport and hotels yourself. The best parts are the variety, the Mekong family stay, the Ba Vi countryside visit, the strong Angkor day, and the two free days in Phuket.

Skip it if you want a slow, independent trip. At $2,481, the value is good for the included flights, meals, tickets, transfers, guides, and support, but you pay for that convenience with a brisk pace. For a first Southeast Asia trip, I think the balance works, as long as you arrive ready for early mornings, long rides, and a lot of memorable places in a short time.

FAQ

How long is the Discover Vietnam, Cambodia, and Thailand 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 countries does the tour visit?

It visits Vietnam, Cambodia, and Thailand, including Hanoi, Hue, Hoi An, Ho Chi Minh City, Phnom Penh, Siem Reap, and Phuket.

Are internal flights included?

Yes. Flights from Hanoi to Hue, Da Nang to Ho Chi Minh City, and Siem Reap to Phuket are included. Each flight includes 20 kilograms of checked luggage per person.

Are meals included?

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

Is airport transportation included?

Yes. Door-to-door pickup and drop-off by private car are included. The final transfer takes you to Phuket International Airport for your flight home.

What is the maximum group size?

The tour has a maximum of 15 participants.

Are visas included?

No. Visa requirements and obtaining the correct visas are your responsibility. The operator will provide a visa invitation letter for obtaining a visa on arrival where applicable.

Can I cancel or change the booking?

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.