Thailand → Cambodia → Vietnam in 2 Weeks: Realistic Itinerary for Indian Backpackers
📍 Total overland distance: ~2,200 km ⏱️ Fastest version of this loop: 13 days door-to-door 💰 Realistic backpacker budget: ₹45,000-₹60,000 (~$467.10-$622.80) on the ground (excludes India flights) ✅ Best option: Bangkok → Siem Reap → Phnom Penh → Ho Chi Minh City → Hoi An overland, with one short flight For related planning, see our guides on Sea Backpacking Hub and Bangkok to Chiang Mai.
Short answer to the question every Indian traveller Googles: yes, you can do Thailand, Cambodia, and Vietnam in 2 weeks, but only if you treat it as a corridor, not three separate holidays. You will not “see” any country properly. You will get a fast, specific taste of each, with one proper stop in Cambodia (Siem Reap) and one proper stop in Vietnam (Hoi An). That is the trade. If you try to add Chiang Mai, Hanoi, Halong Bay, the Mekong Delta, and Sihanoukville, you will spend the entire trip on buses and airports and remember none of it.
This is the version I would build for a friend flying out of Bangalore or Delhi with a 14-day window. It assumes you have an Indian passport with a valid visa (or e-visa) for all three countries, you are okay with one short flight, and you are not travelling during the worst of the monsoon.
Quick Answers
| What | Answer | Price (INR) |
|---|---|---|
| Total overland distance | ~2,200 km across three countries | — |
| Days needed for a realistic version | 13-14 days on the ground | — |
| Cheapest way across the corridor | Bangkok→Aranyaprathet→Poipet→Siem Reap bus + night bus to Phnom Penh + bus to HCMC | ~₹9,148 (~3,200 THB or ~$94.96) + ~₹2,119 (~22 USD) + ₹1,763 (~480,000 VND or ~$18.30) |
| Fastest way across the corridor | Bangkok→Siem Reap flight + Phnom Penh→HCMC flight | ~₹9,500 (~$98.61)+ ~₹6,200 (~$64.36) |
| Best Indian passport visa setup | Thailand visa-free, Cambodia e-visa, Vietnam e-visa (apply 7 days before) | Cambodia ₹2,890 (~30 USD), Vietnam ₹2,408 (~25 USD) |
One rupee buys about ₹1 (~0.35 THB or ~$0.01), about ₹1 (~270 VND or ~$0.01), or about 4.16 KHR right now. So 1,000 THB ≈ ₹2,869, 100,000 VND ≈ ₹370, $1 USD ≈ ₹96.53.
The 14-Day Day-by-Day
This is the realistic version. It is not glamorous. It is the version that works.
Days 1-2: Bangkok (Thailand). Land at Suvarnabhumi or Don Mueang, check into a hostel in Khao San or Phra Khanong, eat street food, see Wat Pho and the Grand Palace (₹1,429 (~500 THB or ~$14.84) entry), get a Thai SIM. One full day is enough. Bangkok is for arrival, not for stopping.
Day 3: Bangkok → Aranyaprathet → Poipet → Siem Reap. Morning bus from Mo Chit or Ekkamai to Aranyaprathet (₹715 (~250 THB or ~$7.42), ~5 hours), tuk-tuk across the border to Poipet, walk through immigration on the Thai side, get stamped in on the Cambodia side (have your ₹2,890 (~30 USD) e-visa ready, printed). From Poipet, share taxi to Siem Reap (₹1,156-₹1,445 (~12-15 USD), ~3 hours). Total door-to-door: 8-10 hours. Land in Siem Reap by evening.
Subodh’s Pro Tip: Don’t try to do Poipet→Siem Reap in the dark. The shared taxis slow down and the road has been the site of occasional accidents. If you hit the border after 3pm, sleep in Poipet town and continue at first light. The Poipet border crossing guide walks through the exact process.
Days 4-5: Siem Reap (Cambodia). Two full days for Angkor. Buy the 3-day pass (₹5,973 (~62 USD)), split it as Day 1: Angkor Wat sunrise + Bayon + Ta Prohm. Day 2: Banteay Srei + Phnom Kulen or Koh Ker. Pub Street for dinner is fine, eat at local Khmer spots, not the tourist buffets. Siem Reap is the one stop in Cambodia that earns its place.
Day 6: Siem Reap → Phnom Penh. Giant Ibis or Mekong Express daytime bus, 6 hours, ₹1,445 (~15 USD). Phnom Penh in the evening, walk the riverfront, eat at Romdeng or Friends the Restaurant.
Day 7: Phnom Penh. Half day at the Killing Fields and S-21 Tuol Sleng (₹2,505 (~26 USD) combo ticket). Afternoon flight to Ho Chi Minh City. The flight is ₹4,335-₹6,744 (~45-70 USD) on Vietnam Airlines, Cambodia Angkor Air, or VietJet, takes 50 minutes, and saves you 6 hours of Mekong Delta bus. Worth the money on a 2-week trip.
Safety Alert: The Phnom Penh→HCMC bus via the Mekong Delta overland route is scenic but eats a full day and includes two border crossings (Chau Doc and Bavet/Moc Bai). On a 14-day loop, the flight is the right call. If you have 3 weeks, the bus is the better experience.
Days 8-9: Ho Chi Minh City (Vietnam). War Remnants Museum, Cu Chi Tunnels (half day, ₹1,445 (~15 USD)), District 1 walking, Ben Thanh Market. Two nights. Do not try to add Hanoi, Halong Bay, or Sapa. They are too far.
Day 10: HCMC → Hoi An. Flight to Da Nang (₹2,800-₹4,200 (~$29.06-$43.60) on VietJet or Bamboo), 1.5 hours. Then taxi or shuttle to Hoi An, 45 minutes, ₹1,285 (~350,000 VND or ~$13.34). Hoi An is where this whole itinerary earns its second proper stop.
Days 11-12: Hoi An. Old town ticket (₹441 (~120,000 VND or ~$4.57) for 5 attractions). Tailor for clothes if you want, walk the river, eat banh mi, get a lantern made. Two full days. If you have the energy, rent a motorbike and ride to My Son Sanctuary (half day, ₹551 (~150,000 VND or ~$5.72)).
Day 13: Hoi An → HCMC → fly home. Most flights back to India depart from HCMC or Hanoi. Sleeper bus back to HCMC (16 hours, ₹1,469 (~400,000 VND or ~$15.25)) if you are on a budget, but most travellers fly Hoi An→Da Nang→HCMC in the morning and connect to the international flight in the afternoon.
Day 14: Arrive India.
Option 1. Cheapest (All Overland)
If you have 2 weeks and a tight budget, skip both flights.
- Bangkok → Aranyaprathet bus: ₹715 (~250 THB or ~$7.42)
- Aranyaprathet → Poipet tuk-tuk + walk: ₹286 (~100 THB or ~$2.97)
- Poipet → Siem Reap share taxi: ₹1,156 (~12 USD)
- Siem Reap → Phnom Penh bus (Giant Ibis): ₹1,445 (~15 USD)
- Phnom Penh → HCMC bus via Mekong Delta: ₹2,408 (~25 USD)
- HCMC → Da Nang sleeper bus: ₹1,469 (~400,000 VND or ~$15.25)
- Da Nang → Hoi An taxi: ₹1,285 (~350,000 VND or ~$13.34)
Total transport across 3 countries: ~₹8,800 (~$91.34) plus border fees. The catch: the Mekong Delta bus from Phnom Penh to HCMC takes 10-12 hours and includes a slow boat crossing and a border stop. The HCMC→Da Nang sleeper bus is 16-18 hours. You save ₹10,000-₹15,000 (~$103.80-$155.70) but you lose roughly 30 hours of usable time. On a 14-day trip that is real money in missed experiences.
The cheapest version works if you are okay arriving in each city exhausted, and if your Indian passport has a Vietnam visa already stamped (which you cannot get on arrival at an overland border in the same way you can at an airport).
Option 2. Best Experience
The version I would run. Bangkok by bus, one flight inside Cambodia, then overland through Vietnam.
Bangkok → Aranyaprathet by bus (same as above), but from Siem Reap fly to Phnom Penh (₹4,335-₹5,780 (~45-60 USD), 45 minutes) instead of taking the 6-hour bus. This is the small upgrade that changes the trip. It saves a half day, lands you in Phnom Penh rested, and frees the same half day to add the Killing Fields, which you should not skip.
From Phnom Penh, take the Mekong Delta overland bus to HCMC (10-12 hours, ₹2,408 (~25 USD)) instead of flying. Yes it is long. But the Mekong stretch is genuinely beautiful, you cross through Chau Doc at sunrise, and you arrive in HCMC with a real sense of having moved through the region instead of flown over it. Travellers who took this bus consistently call it the highlight of the corridor.
In Vietnam, fly HCMC → Da Nang (₹2,800-₹4,200 (~$29.06-$43.60), 1.5 hours), then overland to Hoi An. The Hue to Hoi An motorbike route is the famous Vietnamese overland stretch, but Hoi An to Hue and back is a 4-hour round trip you do not have time for on this loop. Stick to Hoi An and fly home from Da Nang.
Total transport in this version: ~₹11,500-₹13,000 (~$119.37-$134.94) across the corridor. About ₹3,000 (~$31.14) more than the all-bus version, but you keep your evenings and arrive at each new city in usable shape.
Option 3. Fastest
Both flights, no overland.
- Bangkok → Siem Reap flight: ₹4,500-₹9,500 (~$46.71-$98.61)
- Phnom Penh → HCMC flight: ₹5,500-₹7,200 (~$57.09-$74.74)
- HCMC → Da Nang flight: ₹2,800-₹4,200 (~$29.06-$43.60)
- Hoi An → HCMC bus back for international flight: ₹1,469 (~400,000 VND or ~$15.25)
Total: ~₹14,000-₹21,000 (~$145.32-$217.98) across 3 countries.
This is the version to choose if you are adding Cambodia as a side trip from a longer Vietnam stay, or if you only have 10-12 days. On a strict 14-day window from India, the all-flight version leaves too much time in airports and skips the Mekong stretch entirely. Not worth the speed unless every hour is critical.
Border Crossing: Poipet (Thailand → Cambodia)
The Poipet border is the busiest land crossing between Thailand and Cambodia, and the most commonly used on this route. For Indian passport holders the process is:
- Before you travel: Apply for a Cambodia e-visa at evisa.gov.kd (current fee: ₹2,890 (~30 USD) + ₹578 (~6 USD) processing). Approval takes 3 business days. Print the e-visa approval letter. Vietnam visa: apply online at vietnamvisa.gov.vn or via a service like Vietnam-eVisa, ₹2,408 (~25 USD). Thailand: Indian passport holders get visa-free entry until further notice (30 days).
- Thai exit side: Walk out of Thailand, get exit stamp. Keep your Cambodia e-visa printout, the ₹2,890 (~30 USD) in cash, and one passport photo handy (some border officers ask for the photo, most do not).
- Cambodia entry side: Walk into the immigration hall, hand over passport + e-visa + photo + ₹286-₹572 (~100-200 THB or ~$2.97-$5.94). Pay it, get the entry stamp.
- After immigration: Walk out of the building. Ignore the casino touts. Find the official share taxi stand (outside, on the right). Pay ₹1,156-₹1,445 (~12-15 USD) for Siem Reap, 3 hours.
Total border time: 1-3 hours depending on queues. Weekends and Cambodian holidays are slower. Avoid crossing on Pchum Ben (October) and Khmer New Year (April) if you can.
Scams to watch: tuk-tuk drivers offering “free rides” into the casino, money changers offering rates 10% below market, and the occasional “luggage inspection fee” request. None are dangerous, all waste 30 minutes of your day if you don’t know to refuse.
Indian Passport Specifics
Three countries, three visa setups. This is where the trip falls apart if you don’t plan ahead.
Thailand: Visa-free for Indian passport holders, 30 days, extendable by another 30 days at any immigration office (₹5,432 (~1,900 THB or ~$56.38) fee). Carry ₹57,178 (~20,000 THB or ~$593.51) or equivalent in cash to show at immigration if asked (rare but happens).
Cambodia: e-visa mandatory for Indian passport holders if arriving by land or air. ₹2,890 (~30 USD) + ₹578 (~6 USD) processing, takes 3 business days. Apply at the official government site only. Do not use the .com version, it is a third-party service that charges ₹4,817 (~50 USD)+.
Vietnam: e-visa required, ₹2,408 (~25 USD), takes 3 business days. Apply at the official government site (vietnamvisa.gov.vn). Make sure the validity covers your full stay including buffer.
Cash to carry for the whole corridor:
- ₹14,295-₹28,589 (~5,000-10,000 THB or ~$148.38-$296.75) in small notes for Bangkok
- ₹9,634-₹14,451 (~100-150 USD) in clean, unfolded bills for Cambodia border + first 2 days in Siem Reap
- ₹4,817 (~50 USD) buffer for Vietnam emergency (most places in HCMC and Hoi An take cards or you can withdraw from ATM)
Indian embassy contacts on this route:
- Thailand (Bangkok): +66 2 670 2400, emergency: +66 81 845 6224
- Cambodia (Phnom Penh): +855 23 210 912
- Vietnam (Hanoi): +84 24 3845 3736
When NOT to Take This Route
June to early September (southwest monsoon): Heavy rain in Hoi An, flooding in parts of the Mekong Delta, occasional flight cancellations in Cambodia. If these are your only dates, the corridor still works but expect one or two lost half-days to weather. Siem Reap and Bangkok are fine year-round.
Pchum Ben (late September/early October): Cambodia closes many government offices and transport runs on a reduced schedule. Siem Reap becomes crowded.
Tet (late January/early February): Vietnamese New Year. Hanoi and HCMC empty out, transport gets booked solid, many shops close. Hoi An is especially quiet. The corridor still functions, but book all transport 2-3 weeks ahead.
If you only have 10 days or less: Skip Cambodia entirely. Do Bangkok + Chiang Mai + Vietnam, or Bangkok + Vietnam only. Trying to force three countries into 10 days means you remember none of them.
Getting Connected
Buy a Thai AIS tourist SIM at Suvarnabhumi on arrival (₹855 (~299 THB or ~$8.87) for 8 days, unlimited data), it works in Cambodia for the first 24 hours via roaming, then dies. Buy a Cellcard or Smart SIM at the Phnom Penh airport (₹482 (~5 USD) for 30 days, 10GB). For Vietnam, get a Viettel or Mobifone SIM at the HCMC airport on arrival (₹578 (~6 USD) for 30 days). Signal is strong across all three countries on this route, with one known dead zone on the Aranyaprathet→Poipet road (30-45 minutes with no data). If you’d rather not juggle three physical SIMs, Get Nomad eSIM covers all three countries on a single regional plan.
FAQ
Can Indian passport holders cross Poipet border without a Cambodia visa in advance? No. Indian passport holders must have an e-visa before reaching Poipet. Visa-on-arrival at Poipet is unreliable and has been intermittently suspended.
Is the Phnom Penh→HCMC bus safe? Yes, the Mekong Express and Giant Ibis services are well-maintained, air-conditioned, and used by Western tourists daily. Avoid the unmarked local minivans at the Phnom Penh riverside, they are cheaper but less reliable.
How much cash should I carry for the Poipet border? ₹9,634 (~100 USD) minimum to cover visa fees (already paid via e-visa but bring it as backup), the share taxi to Siem Reap, and your first 24 hours in Cambodia. Small denominations, no torn bills.
Should I book the Bangkok→Siem Reap flight in advance? Yes, AirAsia and Bangkok Airways fares double in the 2 weeks before departure during high season (November-February). Book at least 3-4 weeks ahead.
Can I add Hanoi and Halong Bay to this 2-week itinerary? No. Hanoi is a 17-hour sleeper bus from Hoi An, or a 1.5-hour flight that adds ₹4,000-₹6,000 (~$41.52-$62.28). Halong Bay is another 4-hour transfer from Hanoi. Together they eat 4 days you do not have. Pick one: corridor version (this article) or northern Vietnam version (different article).
What’s the best month for this exact route? November through February. Cool and dry across all three countries, low monsoon risk, comfortable temperatures in Hoi An (22-28°C) and Siem Reap (25-32°C). March-April is hotter but still workable. May-October is monsoon, technically cheaper but riskier.
Subodh’s Take
Two weeks is not enough to “see” three countries. Pretending otherwise is what sells bad itineraries. The honest version of this trip is: 2 nights Bangkok, 2 full days Siem Reap, 1 night Phnom Penh, 2 nights HCMC, 2 nights Hoi An. That is the rhythm that works. Everything else is filler. The corridor is the trip. If you try to do Chiang Mai too, or Hanoi, or Halong Bay, you will fly home exhausted and unable to remember which country any given temple was in. Pick this version or extend the trip to 3 weeks. Those are the only two choices that don’t end in regret.
