DIY Itinerary and Travel Guide: 9D8N Indochina Backpacking (Vietnam – Cambodia – Thailand)

Of the Banana Pancake Trail in Southeast Asia, this route is the most utilized one for Filipino travelers. Others do Ho Chi Minh City to Bangkok while some do the opposite. If you’re very eager to embark on your first backpacking trip in Indochina, this is the best itinerary to take as there are a lot of travelers doing it. Here’s a detailed Indochina itinerary and travel guide for Vietnam – Cambodia – Thailand tri-country trip.

NOTE: Don’t book a return flight to Ho Chi Minh City or Bangkok. It’s better to book a multi-city itinerary Manila – Ho Chi Minh City – Bangkok – Manila, or the other way around. This will save you a lot of travel time.

DISCLAIMER: Some of the links in this post are affiliate links. If you think it will be more convenient for you to purchase these activities/passes for your Indochina itinerary, kindly book them below. The commission I’ll get for every successful booking comes at no extra cost to you.

THINGS TO REMEMBER

Visa/Immigration

Filipinos can enter these countries visa-free just show your passport and clear your way out of the immigrations. There is nothing to pay on your arrival or on the borders when crossing one country to another. Vietnam and Cambodia provide stay for up to 21 days while Thailand offers 30 days if arriving via airport and 15 days via land borders.

Weather

Though you can visit these destinations whole year-round, the best months would be November to March for a cooler and drier season. But expect horde of tourists and higher accommodation rates. The other months imply a lower number of tourists and cheaper hotels but weather would still be fine with few afternoon rains.

Currencies

Take note that these countries have different currencies and the best way to hack your way out of this dilemma is to bring US dollar (USD) with you. It will be more convenient than having ATM withdrawals in each country. Vietnam is using Vietnamese Dong (VND), Cambodian Riel (KHR) for Cambodia, and Thai Baht (THB) for Thailand.

9D8N Indochina Itinerary (Vietnam – Cambodia – Thailand)

Day 1 – Saigon City Tour

After your arrival at Tan Son Nhat Int’l Airport, change few of your US dollar and make your way out of the terminal. Look for bus number 109 bound for Park 23/9, near Pham Ngu Lao where backpacker accommodations are located. If it’s too early for check-in, leave your baggage and start exploring Saigon attractions on foot. Start your walking trail from Benh Thanh Market, Independence Palace, War Remnants Museum, Saigon City Hall, Saigon Opera House, Notre Dame Cathedral, and Saigon Post Office. On one of your meals, don’t forget to try a legit bowl of pho. Street-vendors are everywhere and you could get a hefty bowl for as low as VND25,000.

Day 2 – Cu Chi Tunnel

Cu Chi Tunnels is one of the remarkable sights in Ho Chi Minh City because of its role during the Vietnam War. To save some dongs, leave your hostel early and make your way to the station in Park 23/9. Look for bus number 13 bound for Cu Chi bus Station. From Cu Chi Bus Station, take bus 79 to the tunnels. Fares and entrance fee can be found on my detailed do-it-yourself Cu Chi Tunnel tour. If you have a lot of money to spare and looking for a hassle-free tour, book one from Klook.

Day 3 – Mekong Delta Tour

I didn’t try the Mekong Delta tour but you can fit this into your Indochina itinerary to discover how the river became a significant mean of transportation and trading in the past. Day tours are available from Saigon to the river and sometimes it will consume an entire day for the tour. If visiting the Mekong Delta is not within your interest, continue exploring Saigon on foot and discover other French colonial buildings and visit museums.

Before you end your visit in Saigon, find restaurants, cafe, or street stalls that offer Vietnamese coffee, they’re everywhere! You can have either black or with milk and coffee is served in a canister. If you ordered with milk, condensed milk will be poured into your cup. The coffee is a must-try when you’re in Vietnam.

Day 4 – Travel to Phnom Penh/Phnom Penh City Tour

I suggest getting a morning bus from Ho Chi Minh City to Phnom Penh in Cambodia. Why? Because of immigration office hours. You don’t want to spend hours waiting for the border control to open so it’s still better to stay and get a decent sleep in your hostel in Ho Chi Minh City than having uncomfortable sleep in the bus.

Leave Saigon around 8 in the morning and make your way out of the immigration in few hours. Read the border crossing process between Vietnam and Cambodia for you not to get shocked when they ask for your passport.

Arrive in the city around lunchtime perfect for an afternoon Phnom Penh tour. Start from the Independence Monument and walk your way to key sites like the Royal Palace, National Museum, Wat Ounalom, Central Market, and Wat Phnom.

Day 5 – Tuol Sleng Genocide Museum/Travel to Siem Reap

Book an afternoon departure to Siem Reap so you can still use the entire morning to visit the Tuol Sleng Genocide Museum and the Killing Fields. You can hire a tuk-tuk to go to these places but remember that it’s a bit expensive if you’re alone. I only had a visit to the genocide museum because it’s walkable from Mad Monkeys Hostel.

The afternoon bus leaving Phnom Penh will arrive in Siem Reap around 9 PM. Make your way to your accommodation and take a restful sleep in preparation for a tiring day at the Angkor Archaeological Park.

Day 6 – Angkor Wat Archaeological Complex

Don’t forget to set your alarm clock for 4 AM wake up time. Go out and look for tuk-tuk drivers who provide tours at the Angkor complex. The locals already mastered detecting tourists looking for a tuk-tuk service, you won’t have a hard time finding one. There are two routes available, small and big circuit. Rates for the bigger circuit is obviously more expensive. I got a tuk-tuk for USD15 for the big circuit. The service will be from sunrise until sunset.

Before going straight to the park, you need to get your Angkor pass. You can’t enter the heritage site if you won’t secure one. New rates are USD37 for one day, USD62 for three, and USD72 for a week pass. Go straight to the park and secure a spot inside the Angkor Wat for the much-awaited sunrise. Kick-off your temple hopping activity from here to all the temples in the park. In the evening, don’t miss the fun at Siem Reap’s Pub Street.

Day 7 – Travel to Bangkok/Khao San Road

The trip to Bangkok will consume one full day on this Indochina itinerary. Why didn’t I get a night bus to save a night from my hostel expenses and give way for another day of the tour? Similar to the Vietnam-Cambodia crossing, immigration hours in Poipet is 07:00-20:00. I read from a travel forum that night buses pick up passengers in Siem Reap around 8 in the evening but departure will commence only the following morning. Arrive in Khao San Road around 8 PM and enjoy the parties and night scene if you still have energy left.

Day 8 – Ayutthaya Day Tour

There’s nothing much to do in Bangkok and one of the best things to try is to have a day trip to Ayutthaya, the ancient capital of Thailand. Another park similar to Angkor Archaeological Complex but more on the Thai side. Doing a do-it-yourself tour is fine but it was already tiring to research and learn the routes and transportation to take so we availed an Ayutthaya tour that includes a buffet lunch and river cruise on Chao Praya River before going back to the city.

Spend the few hours of the day to climb the few steps to Wat Saket. Wat Saket is also called the Golden Mount because of the gilded chedi atop of an artificial hill where the shrine is located. Enjoy the city view from the deck and wait for a stunning sunset.

Day 9 – Bangkok City Tour/Food Trip

If you book an afternoon or evening flight back to Manila, you can still have the entire morning or day to visit temples in the center like Wat Phra Kew, Wat Pho, and Wat Arun. To end this Indochina itinerary, enjoy a plate of pad thai, curries, and sticky rice with mango on random street stalls in the city before heading to the airport for your flight back to Manila.

INDOCHINA ITINERARY SAMPLE EXPENSES

Philippine Travel Tax			PHP1,620
Recommended Accommodations
The Common Room Project (3 nights)	USD40
Mad Monkeys Hostel PP (1 night)		USD8
Mad Monkeys Hostel SR (2 nights)	USD16
Bed Station Hostel Bangkok (2 nights)	USD28
Entrance Fees/Tours
Independence Palace			VND30,000
War Remnants Museum 			VND15,000
Cu Chi Tunnels				VND90,000
Mekong Delta Tour *optional		USD15
Wat Phnom				USD1
Royal Palace				USD6.5
Tuol Sleng Genocide Museum		USD3
Angkor Pass One-day			USD37
Angkor Tuk-tuk Whole Day		USD15
Wat Saket				THB20
Wat Phra Keaw				THB500
Ayutthaya and Chao Praya Tour           USD40
Wat Pho					THB100
Wat Arun				THB50
Transportation
Tan Son Nhat Airport to Park 23/9	VND20,000
Bus Saigon to Cu Chi Tunnels RT		VND26,000
Ho Chi Minh City to Phnom Penh Bus	USD10
Phnom Penh to Siem Reap Bus		USD10
Siem Reap to Bangkok Bus		USD18
Mo Chit BTS to Don Mueang Airport	THB30
Food Budget
PHP300/day                              PHP2,700
Indochina Itinerary Estimated Budget	USD350