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Southeast Asia Explorer

Overview

Experience Southeast Asia’s great sights, from Ha Long Bay and Hoi An to Angkor and Bangkok

Capture the best of Vietnam and Cambodia, plus the energy of Bangkok, Thailand, on an adventure that combines expertly guided visits with time to follow your own interests. Walk Hanoi’s trading streets, cruise among Ha Long Bay’s limestone islands and uncover Vietnam’s imperial past in Hue. Meet artisans for a paper-flower workshop, admire Hoi An’s merchant houses and get to know Ho Chi Minh City. In Cambodia, our local tour leader introduces Phnom Penh’s complex history before bringing the temple cities of Angkor into focus. Bangkok completes the journey, while free days along the way leave room for extra adventures, regional dishes and discoveries of your own.

Key Information

Travel Style Classic: The quintessential Exodus adventure, pairing iconic sights and cultural discovery with comfortable stays: Classic
Activity: Culture
Activity Level: Easy & Moderate
See our Activity Level Guidelines to check if this holiday is right for you.
Trip Code: AOX2
Ways to Travel: Classic, Guided Group
Countries: Cambodia, Thailand, Vietnam

What's Included

All accommodation: 15 Comfort nights (14 hotel, 1 junk boat), 1 Simple night (sleeper train)
All breakfasts, one lunches and two dinners
Immersive itinerary with all transport and listed activities
Expert tour leaders to enhance your adventure
Arrival and departure transfers

Positive Impact

We donate to our Foundation and rewild 100 square metres for every Exodus traveller. Find out more about how our adventures support nature and people to thrive.

Don't Forget To

Request a single room if required, purchase travel insurance and arrange any visas and vaccinations.

Highlights

Experience three distinctly different countries in two weeks

Visit the moving Killing Fields of Cambodia

Explore the Angkor complex

Visit the Royal Palace complex and Wat Po of Bangkok

Crawl through the Cu Chi war tunnels

Itinerary

First Destination: Hanoi
Next Destination: Bangkok

Accommodation:Minasi Premium Hotel (or similar)
Meals included:Dinner

Accommodation:Minasi Premium Hotel (or similar)
Meals included:Breakfast

Accommodation:Junk boat
Meals included:Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Accommodation:Sleeper train
Meals included:Breakfast

Accommodation:Alba Spa Hotel (or similar)
Meals included:None

Accommodation:Alba Spa Hotel (or similar)
Meals included:Breakfast

Accommodation:My Son Boutique Hotel & Spa (or similar)
Meals included:Breakfast

Accommodation:My Son Boutique Hotel & Spa (or similar)
Meals included:Breakfast

Accommodation:Victory Saigon Hotel (or similar)
Meals included:Breakfast

Accommodation:Victory Saigon Hotel (or similar)
Meals included:Breakfast

Accommodation:Poulo Wai Hotel (or similar)
Meals included:Breakfast

Accommodation:Poulo Wai Hotel (or similar)
Meals included:Breakfast

Accommodation:Steung Siem Reap Hotel (or similar)
Meals included:Breakfast

Accommodation:Steung Siem Reap Hotel (or similar)
Meals included:Breakfast

Accommodation:Steung Siem Reap Hotel (or similar)
Meals included:Breakfast

Accommodation:Royal Princess Larn Luang Hotel (or similar)
Meals included:Breakfast

Meals included:Breakfast

First Destination: Hanoi
Next Destination: Bangkok

Begin your adventure in Hanoi, Vietnam’s capital, where the trading streets of the Old Quarter sit alongside lakes, temples and French colonial buildings.

Around 6pm, say xin chào (hello) to your tour leader and fellow travellers, when we gather as a group for the first time to get to know each other and learn more about the adventures ahead.

Your tour leader then ensures a big Vietnamese welcome by arranging a group dinner.

Want more time in Hanoi? Secure pre-tour hotel nights through your sales representative.

Accommodation:Minasi Premium Hotel (or similar)
Meals included:Dinner

Get to know Hanoi on a walking tour of the Old Quarter, where shopfronts, street kitchens and passing scooters compete for our attention. Our tour leader helps us find our bearings among the trading streets, introducing the daily rhythms of the Vietnamese capital.

Then visit the Temple of Literature, founded in 1070 and associated with Vietnam’s first university. Courtyards, gateways and stone stelae honouring successful scholars reveal the importance placed on learning over the centuries.

The afternoon is free to follow our own interests: return to the Old Quarter, pause for a Vietnamese coffee or take a walk beside Hoan Kiem Lake.

Accommodation:Minasi Premium Hotel (or similar)
Meals included:Breakfast

Leave Hanoi early and drive to Ha Long Bay (approximately four hours), where forested limestone islands rise abruptly from the sea. Boarding our traditional junk boat, we settle into a rather different pace: lunch on board, islands passing the windows and a night out on the water.

A seafood lunch accompanies our first stretch of cruising. Later, we stop at a beach, with the option to climb a steep path to a viewpoint overlooking the bay. There’s also time to swim in a designated area, while an optional kayaking excursion may be available at extra cost, depending on the weather.

Back on board, we gather on the upper deck to watch the changing evening light, perhaps with a drink from the bar. We sleep in twin-share cabins with private bathrooms.

Accommodation:Junk boat
Meals included:Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Enjoy another stretch of cruising among Ha Long Bay’s limestone islands before returning to port mid-morning.

Driving back to Hanoi (approximately four hours), we have a little free time before transferring to the station. Here, we board an overnight train on the Reunification Express route, continuing south to Hue while we sleep.

Accommodation:Sleeper train
Meals included:Breakfast

Arriving in Hue mid-morning, we transfer to our hotel to freshen up before an afternoon among the palaces, courtyards and ceremonial buildings of the Imperial Citadel.

Our tour leader introduces the Nguyen dynasty, Vietnam’s last ruling royal family, as we visit the Imperial City and the remains of the Forbidden Purple City. Surviving buildings and restored structures help us picture life at court, while evidence of wartime destruction reveals another chapter in Hue’s history.

We also take a boat trip along the Perfume River to Thien Mu Pagoda. The seven-tiered tower overlooking the river is one of Hue’s most recognisable landmarks, providing a memorable approach to this Buddhist site.

Accommodation:Alba Spa Hotel (or similar)

Continue our introduction to royal Hue at the tomb of Emperor Thieu Tri. Divided into separate burial and temple areas, the complex gives us another perspective on the architecture and ceremonial traditions of the Nguyen dynasty.

We then swap royal monuments for a hands-on encounter with Hue’s craft traditions at Lavin Home. This small workshop provides training and employment for members of the Deaf community, whose artisans guide us through making paper flowers. Working alongside our hosts, we learn how careful shaping and assembly transform simple materials into delicate blooms.

The afternoon is free to spend more time in Hue, return to a favourite spot or relax beside the Perfume River.

Accommodation:Alba Spa Hotel (or similar)
Meals included:Breakfast

Leaving Hue, we travel towards Hoi An via Lang Co and the Hai Van Pass. The road climbs above the coast, revealing the lagoon at Lang Co and the mountain slopes meeting the sea: a journey worth keeping the camera close for.

After checking into our hotel, we join our tour leader for an orientation walk through Hoi An’s UNESCO-listed old town. A trading port between the 15th and 19th centuries, Hoi An retains wooden merchant houses, temples and assembly halls shaped by the communities who traded and settled here.

With our bearings established, there’s time to browse the riverside market or visit the town’s clothing shops.

Accommodation:My Son Boutique Hotel & Spa (or similar)
Meals included:Breakfast

We have a full day to enjoy Hoi An at our own pace, with our tour leader on hand to help arrange optional experiences.

For a closer introduction to the region’s food, choose a street-food adventure or a cooking class in Tra Que village. Alternatively, combine cycling, a boat trip and dinner, or visit My Son Sanctuary, where the brick tower-temples preserve the religious heritage of the Cham civilisation.

All these activities are optional and can be booked through our tour leader during the trip. See Optional Excursions in the Trip Notes for details.

Accommodation:My Son Boutique Hotel & Spa (or similar)
Meals included:Breakfast

We transfer to Da Nang airport and fly to Ho Chi Minh City (approximately 1hr 30min). Vietnam’s largest metropolis introduces a change of pace, with streams of scooters, busy shopfronts and streets that reward a closer look.

Our afternoon walking tour takes us to Ben Thanh Market and Notre Dame Cathedral, before we visit the War Remnants Museum. Photographs and exhibits document the Vietnam War and its lasting consequences, adding context to the places we have visited during our journey. Some displays contain graphic images.

Accommodation:Victory Saigon Hotel (or similar)
Meals included:Breakfast

We have a free day to spend more time in Ho Chi Minh City or venture beyond the city on an optional excursion.

A morning visit to the Cu Chi Tunnels introduces the underground network used during wartime. Alternatively, a full-day Mekong Delta excursion takes us into the river region south of the city. For those staying closer to our hotel, an evening street-food tour provides another way to get to know Ho Chi Minh City, one dish at a time.

Our tour leader can help arrange these activities, which are paid for locally. The full-day Mekong Delta excursion cannot be combined with the other optional activities. See Optional Excursions in the Trip Notes for further details.

Accommodation:Victory Saigon Hotel (or similar)
Meals included:Breakfast

We leave Ho Chi Minh City and drive to the Moc Bai–Bavet border (approximately 2hr 30min), where we bid farewell to our Vietnamese tour leader and complete the crossing into Cambodia.

Meeting our Cambodian tour leader, we continue to Phnom Penh (approximately four hours, including a lunch stop). The journey introduces the next country on our adventure before we arrive in the capital.

During our stay, any spare time provides an opportunity to browse Central Market or Russian Market, or take a walk beside the river.

Cambodian e-visas are currently accepted at Bavet. Please refer to the visa information in the Trip Notes when preparing for the border crossing.

Accommodation:Poulo Wai Hotel (or similar)
Meals included:Breakfast

We begin at Tuol Sleng Genocide Museum, a former school turned into the Khmer Rouge’s S-21 detention and interrogation centre. Preserved rooms, photographs and personal accounts help us understand the experiences of those imprisoned here during the regime’s rule from 1975 to 1979.

We then visit Choeung Ek, one of the Killing Fields, where mass graves and a memorial commemorate victims of the Khmer Rouge. Both visits are distressing, but provide essential context for understanding Cambodia’s recent history.

In the late afternoon, we visit the Royal Palace complex and Silver Pagoda. The palace remains a royal residence, while the pagoda takes its name from the silver tiles covering the floor. Together, they introduce the capital’s royal and religious heritage.

Accommodation:Poulo Wai Hotel (or similar)
Meals included:Breakfast

We travel to Siem Reap, our base for visiting the temples of Angkor (approximately eight hours).

Along the way, we stop for lunch and visit Skuon, known for stalls selling fried spiders. Our Cambodian tour leader introduces this local speciality; whether we try one is entirely up to us.

We then continue to Siem Reap and settle into our hotel ahead of tomorrow’s temple visits.

Accommodation:Steung Siem Reap Hotel (or similar)
Meals included:Breakfast

We devote a full day to Angkor, where temples, reservoirs and former royal cities reveal the scale and ambition of the Khmer Empire. With our Cambodian tour leader helping us interpret the architecture and carvings, we look beyond the individual monuments to understand how this vast UNESCO World Heritage site once functioned.

We visit Angkor Wat before entering Angkor Thom, the former royal city, to see the Bayon and its carved stone faces. Each stop reveals a different expression of Khmer religious belief and royal power.

Our visits also include Banteay Kdei and Ta Prohm, where great tree roots grip walls and spread across the stonework. The relationship between the trees and temple buildings makes this a particularly memorable stop.

During our time in Siem Reap, we also watch the sunset at Angkor.

Accommodation:Steung Siem Reap Hotel (or similar)
Meals included:Breakfast

We have a free day to enjoy Siem Reap independently or choose an optional experience.

A cooking class includes lunch and tuk tuk transfers, while a boat excursion on Tonle Sap Lake provides an opportunity to see more of the surrounding region.

For an introduction to Cambodian craftsmanship, consider visiting Satcha Handicraft Centre or Artisans Angkor. Satcha supports artisans in developing their skills and businesses, connecting traditional techniques with contemporary design.

Accommodation:Steung Siem Reap Hotel (or similar)
Meals included:Breakfast

We transfer to Siem Reap–Angkor International Airport and fly to Bangkok’s Don Mueang Airport (approximately 1hr 15min), arriving in the early afternoon.

Our Thai tour leader meets us at the airport before we transfer to our hotel. The afternoon is free to begin getting to know the Thai capital, with our leader available to help us choose how to spend our time.

In the evening, we have the option to meet for a final group dinner: a chance to compare favourite moments from our journey through three countries.

Accommodation:Royal Princess Larn Luang Hotel (or similar)
Meals included:Breakfast

You’ve cruised among the limestone islands of Ha Long Bay, walked Hoi An’s historic trading streets and uncovered the temple cities of Angkor, but now it’s time to begin your return journey home.

Alternatively, if you’d like to extend your adventure, speak to your sales representative to discuss our large range of extension options.

Meals included:Breakfast

Dates & Prices

Accommodation

Hotels, boat and sleeper train

We aim to secure locally owned accommodation that is well located, offers good value for money, and plenty of comfort.

Ha Long Bay cruise

Board a traditional junk boat to cruise among the magnificent limestone karsts of Ha Long Bay. Each of the twin-share cabins has air conditioning and a window out to sea, while the boat has a rooftop deck with chairs – this is where most of our travellers tend to gather for views over the bay. There’s also a dining room with glass windows so we can continue to admire this extraordinary landscape during lunch and dinner.

Reunification Express

Our sleeper train takes us from Hanoi to Hue – a classic journey in this part of the world. It’s an essential part of the tour, linking two special destinations without flying or a lengthy coach trip. However, trains in Vietnam are not luxurious and it’s best to come prepared to maximise your experience – we’ve found extra warm layers to combat the air conditioning and ear plugs can provide a little more comfort! On the sleeper train, you may be sharing a compartment with members of the public depending on how the seats are allocated. The trains here are safe but, as with any trip, we recommend you keep valuables with you. Snacks are normally offered on board and most trains have Western-style facilities, but some are equipped with squat toilets.

Worth knowing

The accommodation listed on the day-to-day itinerary are the standard hotels used. However, there may be some departures where groups stay at similar hotels of the same standard and quality.
Single supplements are available (on request) except for two nights (not available on the boat or sleeper train). Please advise your sales representative at the time of booking if you would like to request a single supplement.

Essential Information

This trip is rated Activity Level 2 (Easy & Moderate). For more information on our trip gradings, visit the Activity Level Guidelines page. If you have any queries about the difficulty of the trip, please contact us.

Suitability: There is a lot to see, but the trip is paced so it doesn’t feel too rushed. On some days, there are a few longer necessary drives between destinations. However, there is plenty of time for sightseeing and the trip has numerous stops where we spend two or more nights. Our time will mostly be spent in towns and cities.

Transport: See the best of Southeast Asia using a mixture of boats in Ha Long Bay, overnight train from Hanoi to Hue, and private buses. There are also two flights included from Da Nang to Ho Chi Minh City, and then Siem Reap to Bangkok.

Important flight information: For our local team to secure the flights included in this trip’s itinerary, please ensure you’re ready to provide the following details at time of booking: gender, first name, middle name (if applicable), last name, passport number, and passport expiry date. This will help ensure each departure’s flights can be secured with the airline without delays or issues.

Smoking and e-cigarettes/vapes: It’s illegal to smoke in public in Thailand with a fine of up to 10,000 Thai baht. E-cigarettes and vapes are also banned in Cambodia, Thailand and Vietnam with strict penalties, including large fines and imprisonment – we strongly recommend you do not bring these with you.

Key information

Recommended arrival time: You can arrive at any time on Day 1, there will be a welcome briefing around 6pm this evening.
Airport: Noi Bai International Airport (HAN)

Getting to the start hotel

The start hotel is approximately 30-60 minutes’ drive (traffic dependent) from the airport. We provide free arrival transfers to the start hotel from the airport for all group members.

Catching your return flight

Exodus provides free departure transfers for all customers to Bangkok Airport (BKK) from the end hotel.

Please note, unless specified otherwise, the transfers will be to the start (or pre-tour) hotel and from the end (or post-tour) hotel and will be on the date on which the tour starts/ends; transfers to other hotels in the same city and/or on different dates may attract an extra charge. Transfers should be booked with your sales representative at least two weeks before the tour starts.

Vietnam

UK passport holders normally do not need a visa to enter Vietnam for visits up to 45 days, while those with a US or Irish passport normally do need a visa to enter. Visa requirements for EU citizens vary by country.

Please note, visa requirements often change and it is your responsibility to obtain any required visas for this trip. Therefore, we recommend that you check with the nearest embassy or consulate of your chosen destination(s), including any countries you may be transiting or transferring through.

Flying into Vietnam:

Online Arrival Declaration

All foreign nationals arriving in Vietnam by air are required to complete Vietnam’s online Pre-Arrival Information (PAI) declaration within 72 hours before arrival (only use the official government website).

The process is free and usually takes less than five minutes. You need:

Your flight information
Passport details
Visa information (if required)
Name and address of your first hotel in Vietnam

Please note: If you are travelling on a passport that does not require a visa, you must still complete the declaration. During the process, you will be asked for your ‘Visa Type / Purpose’ – in this field, please select ‘Unilateral Exemption’.

Some local governments provide guidance on what visas their citizens need. To help, we’ve gathered a selection of useful links below.

Australia: www.smartraveller.gov.au/destinations/asia/vietnam
Canada: www.travel.gc.ca/destinations/vietnam
United Kingdom: www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice/vietnam
USA: www.travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/international-travel/International-Travel-Country-Information-Pages/Vietnam.html

Cambodia

Travellers from the UK, US and EU normally need a visa to enter Cambodia. Please note, visa requirements often change and it is your responsibility to obtain any required visas for this trip. Therefore, we recommend that you check with the nearest embassy or consulate of your chosen destination(s), including any countries you may be transiting or transferring through.

Some local governments provide guidance on what visas their citizens need. To help, we’ve gathered a selection of useful links below.

Australia: www.smartraveller.gov.au/destinations/asia/cambodia
Canada: www.travel.gc.ca/destinations/cambodia
United Kingdom: www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice/cambodia/entry-requirements
USA: www.travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/international-travel/International-Travel-Country-Information-Pages/Cambodia.html

Thailand

Travellers from the UK, US and Canada normally do not need a visa to enter Thailand. However, all foreign nationals entering Thailand must complete a digital arrival card online before they arrive. You can register for an arrival card within three days before you arrive.

Please note, visa requirements often change and it is your responsibility to obtain any required visas for this trip. Therefore, we recommend that you check with the nearest embassy or consulate of your chosen destination(s), including any countries you may be transiting or transferring through.

Some local governments provide guidance on what visas their citizens need. To help, we’ve gathered a selection of useful links below.

Australia: www.smartraveller.gov.au/destinations/asia/thailand
Canada: www.travel.gc.ca/destinations/thailand
United Kingdom: www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice/thailand/entry-requirements
USA: www.travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/international-travel/International-Travel-Country-Information-Pages/Thailand.html

The food on this trip is a real highlight for many. Southeast Asian cuisine is known for its abundance of freshly prepared dishes with strong aromatic flavours. There is a focus on herbs and citrus, ensuring each dish packs a punch; chilli features highly too, but is easily avoided if desired.

Typically most dishes will come with rice and many are often served in a banana leaf with a variety of dips and herbs served separately. Visiting three countries means a different culinary experience every time you cross the border; ensure you try freshly made pad Thai noodles from the Bangkok street stalls, the fish amok curry in Cambodia for a creamy coconut-based fragrant curry; and the banh xeo (huge sizzling pancakes) in Vietnam.

Worth knowing

Western food is readily available almost everywhere.
Vegetarian food is widely available; however, the offering will be fairly similar in most places within each country. Please advise at time of booking if you have any dietary requirements.

The weather will be hot and humid throughout, with daytime temperatures between 28C and 34C (82F and 93F). At times, it may reach 40C (104F). It is only a little cooler at nights.

There is no bad time to visit Vietnam; it is quite pleasant any time of year, though due to the shape of the country, it is unlikely the weather is perfect for the duration of any trip.

There is quite a range of seasons between the north and south: the south up to Hue has a distinct dry season between December and April and then a rainy season from May to November, when rain comes in short heavy bursts with bright sunshine in between. Hanoi is cool in autumn, and even gets chilly between November and February (with drizzly rain).

In Cambodia, the weather is hot and humid year round. The dry season is late October to May and the monsoon season is normally between June and September; there is an obvious transitional time between those settled periods. The dry season has hot days and generally clear skies, though you can expect the odd shower. The monsoon season has short, sharp bursts of rain and is generally overcast all day, though this does not detract from the enjoyment of the place; you just need to take an umbrella!

In Thailand, the weather patterns are very similar to Cambodia. Expect year-round temperatures of 23C-35C (73F-95F). The rainy season will normally run from June to September when you should expect short, sharp showers but the sun will normally break through.

Ha Long Bay: Our junk boat trip is subject to short-notice change if adverse weather conditions develop. These could occur year-round, but especially in monsoon season (October-April). Ha Long Bay boat trips are governed by the local authorities, who are authorised to make such appropriate safety decisions. If your Ha Long Bay trip is affected by adverse weather, this could either result in a reduced excursion on Ha Long Bay or, less likely, the need to re-arrange the itinerary if it is not possible go out on Ha Long Bay. While this is not a frequent occurrence, our local team and leaders are well equipped to handle such situations and have long offered appropriate options where this occurs.

As a certified B Corp, we’re on a mission to improve our social and environmental impact across all our adventures.

We do this through our innovative Thriving Nature, Thriving People plan.

This ‘nature positive’ approach is designed to help nature and communities thrive in harmony through practical solutions, such as reducing carbon and waste on our trips, supporting conservation projects through the Exodus Adventure Travels Foundation, and rewilding 100 square metres for every Exodus traveller.