Not everyone has the luxury of time for a slow, multi-country backpacking trip to soak in the local culture. But here’s the good news: if you only have a few days, you can still dive into the backpacking experience!

This guide provides a 10-day Indochina itinerary based on my own journey, complete with tips on what to prepare, where to stay, and some great spots to shop and grab a bite. I’ll also share insights that will help you navigate your journey with ease.

Angkor Wat, Krong Siem Reap, Cambodia

Cambodia

Pattaya, Bang Lamung District, Chon Buri, Thailand

Vientiane, Laos

Laos

Ho Chi Minh, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam

Siem Reap, Cambodia

Bangkok, Thailand

Vietnam

Thailand

Ayutthaya, Thailand

Indochina

Indochina Express: Laos, Thailand, Cambodia & Vietnam in 10 Days

To be fair, my Day 1 was mostly just about getting from point A to point B. After landing in Bangkok, I pretty much went straight from the airport to the bus terminal and hopped on a bus to Vientiane. It didn’t really feel like the trip had properly started yet. It's more like a long road trip across Thailand.

Unfortunately, I arrived in Vientiane later than expected, which cut into my time to explore the city. I was hoping to check out a cute little café near my hotel that I’d read great reviews about. But since they close around 5 PM, I didn’t make it. After a long day of traveling, plus the time I needed to rest and freshen up, it just wasn’t possible to squeeze it in.

Buses from Bangkok to Vientiane Northern Bus Station from THB 986 Oct 2024 ✅

Trains from Bangkok to Vientiane from THB 336 Oct 2024 ✅

Vientiane City Guided Tour - Klook

Buses from Vientiane to Bangkok from LAK 927,698 Oct 2024 ✅

Ayutthaya Day Trip - Klook

Private City Transfers between Bangkok and Pattaya, Ayutthaya, Hua Hin & More  - Klook

Bangkok Landmarks Half Day Tour, Bangkok, Thailand - Klook

Buses from Bangkok to Siem Reap Bus Stop from THB 1,250 Oct 2024 ✅

Classic Angkor Wat Full Day with Sunset Tour - Klook

Buses from Siem Reap Bus Station to Ho Chi Minh Bus Station from USD 51 Oct 2024 ✅

Ho Chi Minh City Sightseeing Double-Decker Bus Ticket - Klook

China Unicom 【S.Asia】8-days 5GB 4G/3G Southeast Asia un

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This trip was hands down the most exhausting one I’ve ever taken. Four 16-hour land trips crammed into just 10 days, all while enduring intense humidity, scorching heat, and jam-packed days of activities. It was a wild ride.  So if you’re thinking of taking the same route, be ready (mentally and physically) for the challenge.

Before you dive in, there’s a little more to prepare than just getting your head in the game. Cross-country trips like this aren’t as simple as planning a week in one country, where you can just fly in, book your hotels, and sign up for a couple of tours. You’ll need to tackle transportation schedules, manage currency exchanges, and figure out how to cram all the sights you want to see into your packed days. 

These days, many of us rely on cards or digital banks for our transactions. But in these four countries, cash is still king. This can make things a bit tricky since you’ll need to carry four different currencies and figure out how much to bring for each destination.

The safest bet is to bring US dollars (USD) with you. For instance, in Laos, it's wise not to carry too much Laotian Kip because 1) prices are super affordable, and 2) any leftover Kip becomes worthless once you leave the country. The same applies to Cambodia.

In Thailand and Vietnam, withdrawing money is fairly easy, but carrying USD simplifies everything. Here’s what I did: Since I had already pre-booked everything, I brought only $300 in cash, allocating $100 for each of the three countries. Upon arriving in Thailand, I withdrew an additional $100 worth of Thai Baht at the airport to ensure I had local currency on hand right away.

I’ll dive deeper into this in the itinerary section, but here’s the bottom line: bring USD cash! Most places either accept it directly, or local money changers will happily exchange it for you.

It's best to bring a Southeast Asian SIM card with you instead of buying one in each country. Sure, SIM cards are easy to find in convenience stores, but swapping out four different ones is just a lot of work.

The signal was pretty solid across all four countries, and I had no trouble navigating. There were a few weak spots, especially around the borders, but overall it worked just fine for the trip. If you want an alternative, you could also look into regional eSIMs like Airalo. I haven’t personally tried them, so I can’t vouch for their speed or signal strength. But they’re  worth checking out as an option for staying connected without swapping SIMs.

As a Philippine passport holder, I didn’t need a visa for any of these countries. However, if you’re from another country, visa requirements might vary. It’s a good idea to check the specific entry rules for each country before your trip to avoid any surprises.

Here’s a tip for fellow Philippine passport holders: crossing borders in these countries is supposed to be FREE. You just need to fill out an arrival and departure card. But I did encounter some immigration officers asking for "border fees" when I was exiting Cambodia and entering Vietnam. I believe these aren’t official charges, but to avoid hassle, it’s smart to carry Thai Baht (THB) or U.S. dollars (USD) just in case. Be cautious with larger bills, though, as they likely won’t give you any change if you use them. Having small bills ready could save you from unnecessary stress at the borders.

For this itinerary to work smoothly, I’d recommend booking a flight that arrives in Thailand and departs from Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam. You could start in Vietnam instead, but that would mean reshuffling the schedule, and squeezing everything into 10 days might get tricky.

My flight landed in Bangkok’s Suvarnabhumi Airport, but if you find a better deal, Don Mueang Airport works just as well since both are well-connected to the city. Alternatively, you could fly straight into Chiang Mai, which is closer to Laos. But if you do that, you'd likely have to take a slow boat to cross into Laos. I haven’t explored that route much, so for now, I’d recommend sticking with the more direct flight into Bangkok.

Currently, the latest bus to Vientiane leaves at 8 PM, so I recommend choosing a flight that lands in Bangkok at least 4 hours before. You’ll need roughly 2 hours to get through immigration, grab some cash, and freshen up. Allow another 2 hours to reach the bus station, especially if you're coming from Suvarnabhumi Airport, which is a bit further from the city center.

Another option is the sleeper train from Bangkok to Vientiane, which offers a more comfortable overnight journey. I honestly would’ve loved to try it, but it only started running about a month before my trip, and by that point, I’d already booked my transfers.

Instead, I spent some time wandering around the area near my hotel. It was also super close to Patuxay, so I decided to check it out at night. You should, too!

For dinner and a little shopping, I recommend heading over to Vientiane Night Market.

It’s the second and last day in Vientiane! Since time is a bit tight, I wouldn’t recommend going full DIY for your sightseeing. Instead, book a half-day city tour so you can make it back to Bangkok on the afternoon bus or train.

There isn’t much to do in Vientiane, so a half-day tour is enough for checking out all the must-see spots without feeling rushed. 

The bus gets back to Thailand in the morning, so take advantage of that time to catch up on sleep. 

After lunch at Corner 144, I headed to Platinum Fashion Mall for some shopping. Then, I took the train to ICONSIAM Mall—not for shopping, though, since it can get a bit pricey there. I came for the sunset view! There’s also a public ferry back to Khaosan Road from there. I hopped on the 6 PM boat, which treated me to a stunning view of Wat Arun at night on the way back.

Honestly, staying at Khaosan Road wasn’t the best choice for me since I’m not much of a party person. But there’s another street right next to it filled with local restaurants and shops, so it wasn't all bad.

Take some time to explore different cities in Thailand! A great option is to join a group tour to Ayutthaya to make the most of your day. 

If you’re looking for something a bit more personalized, consider booking private transfers from Bangkok. They’re usually pretty flexible. You can chat with your driver and see if you can squeeze in a stop at Pattaya since it’s a bit close by. That’s what I did, and it gave me the chance to visit the Sanctuary of Truth.

For your last day in Thailand, I highly recommend going on a guided temple tour. While navigating Bangkok on your own is definitely doable, joining a group tour can help you make the most of your limited time.

Catch the earliest bus available from Bangkok to Siem Reap. Here are the schedules:

I arrived in Siem Reap just in time for dinner and checked into a hostel right in front of Pub Street. The area was lively, and there were plenty of money exchangers nearby. 

If Pub Street feels a bit too lively for you, just take a short stroll, and you’ll find the Riverside Night Market. It’s a lot more laid-back there, so that’s where I decided to have dinner. There are also tons of shops along the streets selling souvenirs, so might as well pick up a few goodies.

Start your day with the classic Angkor Wat tour! I’d definitely recommend catching the sunrise instead of the sunset. It wraps up early, giving you plenty of time in the afternoon and evening to explore Siem Reap a bit before heading off to Vietnam.

Now, for reasons I won’t get into, my join-in Angkor Wat tour ended a bit earlier than planned. Let’s just say some of my fellow tour-goers were a bit grumbly. Thankfully I still made the most of my day by wandering around Siem Reap. I even stumbled upon this fantastic local coffee shop that serves the best iced coconut coffee I’ve ever had:

And if you’re on the lookout for dinner recommendations, you can either swing by Green Market or try this local restaurant near Angkor Street. I absolutely loved their Beef Lok Lak!

In the evening, instead of hitting up Pub Street, check out the Angkor Street Night Market. 

The bus to Vietnam departs at 11 PM (as of writing). Make sure to pack your things before then so you’re not rushing at the last minute.

You'll likely arrive in Ho Chi Minh City in the afternoon, but be prepared for the possibility of heavy traffic.   In my case, the traffic was a real mess, and I didn’t reach my hotel until the evening. 

Anyway, you can wander over to Nguyen An Ninh Night Market for some shopping. 

I also stumbled upon a local coffee shop nearby that serves amazing salt coffee! It’s not on Google Maps, but you can find it right next to this store:

Indochina Express: Laos, Thailand, Cambodia & Vietnam in 10 Days

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