Create Your Perfect Vietnam Cambodia Laos Itinerary

After our 3 month trip to South East Asia in 2023, we have put together all information you need to plan your own Vietnam, Cambodia, and Laos trip.

In this blogpost, we share all the resources you need to create and customise your own backpacking Southeast Asia itinerary.

• We share all the most known backpacking destinations.
• We’ll give you all the transport options.
• We’ll show you how you can customise your personal South East Asia route.

• South East Asia Backpacking Route Without Flying
• Backpacking Southeast Asia Itinerary
  • 3 Months in Southeast Asia Itinerary
  • 2 Months in Southeast Asia Itinerary
  • 1 Month in Southeast Asia Itinerary
• Vietnam Itinerary
  • North Vietnam Itinerary
  • How to Travel Around North Vietnam
  • Central Vietnam Itinerary
  • South Vietnam Itinerary
  • How to customise your Vietnam Itinerary
• How to get from Vietnam to Cambodia
• Cambodia Itinerary
  • Islands Cambodia
  • How to Travel Around Cambodia
  • How to customise your Cambodia Itinerary
• How to get from Cambodia to Laos
• Laos Itinerary
  • South Laos Itinerary
  • Central Laos Itinerary
  • North Laos Itinerary
  • How to customise your Laos Itinerary
• What’s Next?
  • Vietnam Cambodia Laos Thailand Itinerary
  • Malaysia and Singapore
  • Still want more?

South East Asia Backpacking Route Without Flying

We have travelled from Hanoi, Vietnam, to Singapore comfortably without taking a single flight – and so can you. South East Asia has an incredible public transport network and comfortable sleeper trains and busses connecting all the major tourist hubs.

Backpacking Southeast Asia Itinerary

Here are our suggested backpacking Southeast Asia itineraries for 1, 2, and 3 months. We have allocated a travel speed of 3 days per stop on average which is quite high but manageable.

3 Months in Southeast Asia Itinerary

Our 3 months in Southeast Asia itinerary starts in Hanoi in Northern Vietnam and works its way to South Vietnam where it crosses into Cambodia. After checking out Cambodia's highlights, you cross into Laos in the very south of the country. Here, you work your way to the north. 3 Months in Southeast Asia Itinerary

2 Months in Southeast Asia Itinerary

The 2 months in Southeast Asia itinerary follows the same trajectory as the 3 month itinerary but omits some stops.

1 Month in Southeast Asia Itinerary

The 1 month in Southeast Asia itinerary skips South Vietnam for time reasons and crosses over from Hanoi, Vietnam, to Luang Prabang, Laos. In Laos you make your way to the south, ending your itinerary in Cambodia.

Vietnam Itinerary

Vietnam has an elongated shape. Most travellers travel north to south or vice versa.

North Vietnam Itinerary

North Vietnam is the highlight for many travellers. You’ll find the capital Hanoi, rice paddies, rugged mountains, as well as the world-famous Halong Bay.

How to Travel Around North Vietnam

In northern Vietnam, you can mix and match most stops as your travels will most likely bring you back to Hanoi at least once.

It makes sense to combine Sapa and Ha Giang if you want to do both.

If you want to travel from Sapa or Ha Giang in the very north to Halong Bay, you have to pass through Hanoi:

Central Vietnam Itinerary

Central Vietnam can be overlooked by travellers. Why should you pay a visit? Some of the largest caves in the world are located in Central Vietnam. If you ask us you’ll find the best Vietnamese food here.

South Vietnam Itinerary

Southern Vietnam has the warmest temperatures. You can spend some amazing beach time here and visit the metropolis of Ho Chi Minh City.

How to customise your Vietnam Itinerary

Vietnam grants most travellers a 30 day visa.

We have included 13 stops in our itinerary. This means 30 days / 13 stops = 2 days per stop which is very ambitious.

Distances are far in Vietnam and travel times are long. Even with night buses and trains, you will most likely need to make decisions on which places to visit and which ones to skip based on your preferences.

How to get from Vietnam to Cambodia

There are two options for getting from Vietnam to Cambodia:

1. Bavet border from Ho Chi Minh City to Phnom Penh
2. Prek Chak border from Phu Quoc to Kep/Kampot

We took the bus from Ho Chi Minh City to Phnom Penh which was very straightforward.

If you’re in Phu Quoc, it does not make sense to circle all the way back to Ho Chi Minh City to go to Phnom Penh just to go to Kampot afterwards. It’s just a 40-minute drive from Ha Tien (where the ferry to Phu Quoc leaves) to Kep. There is one easy direct bus per day. We have met several travellers who took this route so the bus seems to be running post-Covid.

Depending on your citizenship, it should be easy to obtain a visa on arrival. E-Visas are currently not accepted at the Prek Chak border.

Cambodia Itinerary

The situation in Cambodia is more complicated. The road conditions and tourist infrastructure is not as good as in Vietnam. You might have to circle back to Phnom Penh, depending on your preferred itinerary.

Islands Cambodia

The most famous Cambodian islands are:

• Koh Rong
• Koh Rong Samloem
• Koh Ta Kiev
• Koh Tonsay

The first three islands can be accessed from Sihanoukville. Koh Rong is the largest and most famous island in Cambodia, Koh Rong Sanloem is a backpacker paradise, and Koh Ta Kiev gives you Robinson Crusoe Feelings. It makes sense to spend as little time in Sihanoukville itself as possible.

The laid-back Koh Tonsay can be reached from Kep.

How to Travel Around Cambodia

As mentioned above, you might have to circle back to Phnom Penh.

It’s easy to combine Kep, Kampot, and Sihanoukville in the south.

Battambang could be a nice stopover between Phnom Penh and Siem Reap.

Kompong Cham and Banlung might be good additions to Kratie but the post-Covid bus situation is not back to normal as of writing this blogpost so we can not provide reliable transport information.

How to customise your Cambodia Itinerary

Cambodia grants most travellers a 30 day visa. We suggest a maximum of 10 stops in Cambodia, which should be doable if you don’t stay on the islands too long.

How to get from Cambodia to Laos

No matter if you start your journey in Phnom Penh, Siem Reap, or Kratie, your first stop in Laos will be most likely Don Det in the 4000 islands.

The border crossing is not frequented as much and you will be expected to pay small bribes to everyone but besides that, you should not encounter any problems. E-Visas are currently not accepted at this border.

Laos Itinerary

Laos, like Vietnam, has an elongated shape. Again, most travellers travel north to south or vice versa.

South Laos Itinerary

Many people skip southern Laos. It’s a shame because this was our favourite part of this country. Don Det was seriously chill and the countryside around Pakse and Thakhek was breathtaking.

Central Laos Itinerary

This part is on most people’s Laos radar and hence the most touristy. It’s still worth a visit but you will not do this country justice by skipping the other parts.

North Laos Itinerary

Many people skip this part of Laos to take the slow boat from Luang Prabang to Ban Houayxay / Thailand. We strongly advise you to visit northern Laos as it’s off-the-beaten-path and authentic with stunning nature.

How to customise your Laos Itinerary

Laos grants most travellers a 30 day visa. We suggest a maximum of 10 stops in Laos, which should be doable if you don’t stay on Don Det too long.

In the case of Laos, we recommend you to visit all the stops we suggest because we loved them all and you easily travel from one to the next. Depending on your travel speed, this will take you 17 to 28 days which is more than most travellers will spend in Laos but not enough if you ask us.

What’s Next?

Vietnam Cambodia Laos Thailand Itinerary

From Houayxay in Northern Laos, it’s super easy to cross into Chiang Rai, Northern Thailand. In Thailand, you can work your way all the way to the south.

Malaysia and Singapore

From southern Thailand, it’s super easy to cross into Malaysia. Our suggested Malaysia itinerary includes:

• Langkawi
• Penang
• Cameron Highlands
• Kuala Lumpur
• Malakka

Malakka is only a stone’s throw away from Singapore.

This way, you can travel all the way from Hanoi, Vietnam, to Singapore without flying. We did it – and we can 100% recommend it.

Still want more?

Singapore is as far as you’ll comfortably make it without flying. If you still want more, Singapore airport is a major transport hub with amazing flight connections to other destinations in Southeast Asia.

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