The itinerary below works. It has been tested by enough travelers to know where the friction points are. It covers Hanoi, Ha Long Bay, Hoi An, Ho Chi Minh City, the Mekong Delta, and Siem Reap with Angkor Wat. That is six destinations in fourteen days, which is already one too many for some people. Read the section on what to cut before booking anything.
The route at a glance
The plan moves south through Vietnam, crosses into Cambodia overland via the Mekong Delta, then finishes at Angkor. Flying into Hanoi and out of Siem Reap avoids backtracking.
| Day | Location | Highlight | Overnight |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Hanoi | Arrival, Old Quarter walk | Hanoi |
| 2 | Hanoi | Temple of Literature, Hoa Lo Prison, street food | Hanoi |
| 3 | Ha Long Bay | Cruise, kayaking, cave visit | Boat or Cat Ba |
| 4 | Ha Long Bay to Hanoi | Return, evening flight to Da Nang | Hoi An |
| 5 | Hoi An | Old town, tailor shops, lantern boats | Hoi An |
| 6 | Hoi An | My Son sanctuary or cooking class | Hoi An |
| 7 | Hoi An to Ho Chi Minh City | Flight, District 1 evening | HCMC |
| 8 | Ho Chi Minh City | War Remnants Museum, Cu Chi tunnels | HCMC |
| 9 | Mekong Delta | Can Tho, floating market at dawn | Can Tho |
| 10 | Can Tho to Phnom Penh | Border crossing at Moc Bai or Vinh Xuong | Phnom Penh |
| 11 | Phnom Penh | Royal Palace, Tuol Sleng, Killing Fields | Phnom Penh |
| 12 | Phnom Penh to Siem Reap | Bus or flight, evening Pub Street | Siem Reap |
| 13 | Siem Reap | Angkor Wat sunrise, temple circuit | Siem Reap |
| 14 | Siem Reap | Banteay Srei, departure | - |
This is a fast pace. It works for travelers who sleep well on overnight transport and do not need a rest day every third day. If that sounds exhausting, read the cutting section below.
Days 1 to 3: Hanoi and Ha Long Bay
Hanoi rewards slow mornings. The Old Quarter's 36 streets each carry a traditional trade, and the best way to understand the layout is to walk it without a map for the first hour. Start at Hoan Kiem Lake, cross into the maze, and let the motorbike traffic teach you how to cross a road in Vietnam.
Day two covers the Temple of Literature, the Hoa Lo Prison museum, and a bowl of bun cha for lunch. The Ho Chi Minh mausoleum is free but only open mornings and closed on Mondays and Fridays. Check the dress code before going.
Book the Ha Long Bay cruise before arriving in Hanoi. Walk-in bookings at the marina cost more and the good boats sell out days ahead. One night on the water is enough for most travelers. Two nights only makes sense if you want kayaking and a beach stop without rushing.
The bus from Hanoi to Ha Long takes about 2.5 hours. Most cruises include pickup. Return by late afternoon on day four, fly to Da Nang (about 1 hour 20 minutes), and take a 45-minute transfer to Hoi An.
If caves interest you more than limestone karsts, swap Ha Long for Phong Nha Ke Bang National Park. The trade-off is extra travel time. Phong Nha sits near Dong Hoi, roughly halfway down the coast, and the caves there are genuinely world-class.
Days 4 to 6: Hoi An
Hoi An is the part of the trip most people wish they had booked longer. The old town is small, walkable, and best experienced before 8am when the tour buses have not arrived. The Japanese Covered Bridge, the assembly halls, and the riverside cafes fill a full day without effort.
Day six offers a choice. My Son sanctuary, the Cham temple complex 40 km inland, takes half a day and pairs well with a riverboat return. A cooking class costs $25 to $40 (650,000 to 1,040,000 VND) and includes a market visit. Both are worthwhile. Neither is essential if the budget is tight.
Hoi An's tailors can produce a suit in 24 hours. Quality varies enormously. Ask to see finished garments before committing, and never pay the full amount upfront.
The beach at An Bang is a 10-minute bicycle ride from the old town. It is quieter than Da Nang's My Khe and has enough restaurants to spend an afternoon.
Hoi An floods during the October and November monsoon. Streets near the river become impassable for a few hours at a time. Check the forecast if traveling in those months.
Days 7 to 9: Ho Chi Minh City and the Mekong Delta
Fly from Da Nang to Ho Chi Minh City in about 1 hour 20 minutes. District 1 puts you within walking distance of the War Remnants Museum, the Notre Dame Cathedral, and the Ben Thanh market. For a different side of the city, District 3 has better coffee and fewer tourists.
The Cu Chi tunnels are a half-day trip. Go early to avoid the heat and the crowds. The Ben Duoc site is less visited than Ben Dinh and worth the extra 20 minutes in the car.
Day nine heads to the Mekong Delta. Can Tho is the base for Cai Rang floating market, which peaks between 5am and 7am. Sleep in Can Tho, not in a day-trip hotel on the outskirts. The market is the reason to come this far south.
If the schedule allows, add a night in Ben Tre or Tra Vinh for a slower delta experience. The day-trip version of the Mekong is a tourist conveyor belt. Two days is the minimum for anything that feels real.
Day 10: crossing into Cambodia
Three land crossings connect southern Vietnam to Cambodia. The table below compares them.
| Crossing | Route | Travel time | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Moc Bai / Bavet | HCMC to Phnom Penh | 6 to 7 hours by bus | Most popular, busiest, easiest |
| Vinh Xuong / Kaam Samnor | Chau Doc to Phnom Penh | 5 to 6 hours by boat | Scenic Mekong route, slower |
| Ha Tien / Prek Chak | Ha Tien to Kampot or Sihanoukville | 4 to 5 hours | Best for southern Cambodia beaches |
The Moc Bai crossing is the default. Buses from Ho Chi Minh City to Phnom Penh run several times daily and cost $12 to $20 (310,000 to 520,000 VND). The border formalities take 45 minutes to 2 hours depending on the queue.
Cambodia requires a visa on arrival for most nationalities. It costs $30 USD in cash. Bring a clean, unmarked bill. Ripped or stained notes are refused. An e-visa bought online in advance costs $36 and skips the paperwork queue.
The Vinh Xuong boat crossing from Chau Doc is slower but far more interesting. It runs on the Mekong through floating villages and gives a different picture of the delta. Boats leave in the morning and arrive in Phnom Penh by mid-afternoon.
If you are coming from Can Tho, the Moc Bai route is faster. If you are coming from Chau Doc, take the boat.
Days 11 to 14: Phnom Penh and Siem Reap
Phnom Penh deserves one full day. The Royal Palace and Silver Pagoda fill a morning. The Tuol Sleng Genocide Museum and the Killing Fields at Choeung Ek fill an afternoon that will stay with you. Both sites are sobering and essential for understanding modern Cambodia.
The bus from Phnom Penh to Siem Reap takes 6 to 7 hours on a good road. Flights take 45 minutes and cost $60 to $120 (1,560,000 to 3,120,000 VND). If the budget allows, fly. The bus eats a full day.
Angkor Wat needs a full day minimum. The classic circuit covers Angkor Wat at sunrise, Bayon, Ta Prohm, and Angkor Thom. A one-day pass costs $37 USD. A three-day pass costs $62 USD and allows a slower pace.
Hire a tuk-tuk driver for the day. Rates run $15 to $25 USD depending on the circuit. A guide adds $30 to $50 USD and is worth it for the temple history. Do not try to cycle the full circuit in April heat.
Banteay Srei, the pink sandstone temple 30 km from Siem Reap, is the best half-day add-on. The carvings are the finest at Angkor. Combine it with a stop at the Landmine Museum on the way back.
Budget breakdown
Daily costs vary widely by travel style. The table below reflects mid-range travel for two people sharing a room.
| Category | Vietnam (per day) | Cambodia (per day) |
|---|---|---|
| Guesthouse or 3-star hotel | $25 to $45 | $20 to $40 |
| Food | $12 to $20 | $10 to $18 |
| Local transport | $5 to $10 | $5 to $12 |
| Activities and entry fees | $10 to $25 | $15 to $40 |
| Total | $52 to $100 | $50 to $110 |
Add international flights, the Ha Long Bay cruise ($120 to $250 for one night), the Angkor pass ($37 to $62), and the Vietnam e-visa ($25 for 90 days single entry). A realistic two-week total for one person runs $1,400 to $2,200 USD.
Carry US dollars in Cambodia. Riel is used for change under $1, but prices are quoted in dollars. In Vietnam, use dong. Exchanging money at gold shops in Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City often beats bank rates.
What to cut
Fourteen days is not enough for this itinerary plus a rest day. Something has to go.
Cut Ha Long Bay if you are short on time. Ninh Binh offers similar karst scenery, is closer to Hanoi, and costs less. Two days in Ninh Binh replaces three days for Ha Long.
Cut the Mekong Delta if you are flying from Ho Chi Minh City to Phnom Penh. The delta is wonderful but the overland route through it adds two days. If you fly, you save those days for Angkor.
Cut Hoi An if you have already seen a lot of Southeast Asia. It is beautiful but touristy. Da Nang is a cheaper base with better food and easier transport.
Do not cut Angkor Wat. It is the reason many people make this trip.
FAQ
Q: Do I need a visa for Vietnam and Cambodia? Vietnam requires an e-visa for most nationalities. Apply online at least 5 business days before travel. Cambodia offers visa on arrival for most nationalities at $30 USD, or an e-visa for $36 USD.
Q: Is the land border between Vietnam and Cambodia safe? Yes. The Moc Bai and Vinh Xuong crossings are well-established and used by thousands of travelers each month. Use a reputable bus company and keep valuables in your carry-on.
Q: What is the best time of year for this itinerary? November to March. Vietnam's north is cool and dry, the central coast is pleasant, and Cambodia's dry season makes Angkor comfortable. Avoid April, which is brutally hot in Cambodia.
Q: How much cash should I carry? Enough for two or three days in each country. ATMs are widely available in cities but charge $3 to $6 per withdrawal. Carry $100 to $200 USD in clean bills for Cambodia.
Q: Can I do this trip in the reverse direction? Yes. Fly into Siem Reap, cross into Vietnam at Moc Bai, and finish in Hanoi. The flights are usually cheaper in this direction, but the bus from Siem Reap to Phnom Penh adds a day.
Q: Is 14 days enough for both countries? It is enough for a highlights trip. It is not enough for a relaxed one. If you want to slow down, pick one country and save the other for next time.
Q: What should I pack for both countries? Lightweight clothing for heat, a light rain jacket, temple-appropriate cover for shoulders and knees, and comfortable walking shoes. Laundry is cheap in both countries, so pack light and wash as you go.