Vietnam, Cambodia & Laos combined: 4 multi-destination trips

Mai Chau, Vietnam

Mai Chau

By Southeast Asia specialist Alex

From the street-food-filled markets of Hanoi to the floating villages of Tonle Sap and the jungle-shrouded karsts of northern Laos, this part of Southeast Asia lends itself well to a multi-destination trip, with easy connections between each country.

I first explored Vietnam, Cambodia, and Laos as a backpacker, and it’s a region I’ve been drawn to time and time again. Combined, the three countries offer a trip where no two days are the same, as you flit between frenetic cities and untouched landscapes. It’s a trio that shows off Southeast Asia’s startling diversity, while bringing together the puzzle pieces of its shared history.

Why combine Vietnam, Cambodia & Laos?

In a single trip, you go from quiet riverbanks framed by forested mountains to ornately carved temple ruins that rise out of jungle vegetation and maze-like cities that ring out with the calls of vendors selling their wares. Combining Vietnam, Cambodia, and Laos works well if you like the idea of an undulating, ever-changing journey. No matter which route you take, it’s a trip that brings together a kaleidoscope of cultures, landscapes, and ways of life.

Yet, despite their diversity, Vietnam, Cambodia, and Laos are intrinsically linked — not just by their borders but also by their shared French colonial history. You’ll see remnants of it in the cuisine, art, and architecture you come across during your travels. And, if you’re interested to learn more, I can pair you with local guides who’ll help you understand the effects colonialism has had on these countries, past and present.

It’s worth noting that you’ll need to set aside a good chunk of time to see all three countries. My trip ideas below range from just over two weeks to almost two months. You’ll be on the move every couple of days, giving you plenty of opportunity to soak up the shifting scenery and watch the world go by.

Following the Mekong: land-and-cruise trip

A meandering thread that ties all three countries together, the Mekong River charts a route through the region that you can loosely follow during a three-week trip, with plenty of time on the water.

It starts with a traditional longtail boat cruise to the UNESCO-protected town of Luang Prabang. You’ll glide along Laos’ Upper Mekong, an area that often flies under the radar with visitors, but it’s one of my top-recommended experiences. After crossing the border from Thailand into Laos, you’re greeted with emerald-hued mountain scenery interspersed with small, stilted villages that perch along the riverbanks. It’s remote and largely undeveloped here, a time capsule of how Southeast Asia used to be.

After spending time in Luang Prabang and its nearby villages, I suggest using Laos’ scenic high-speed train network to get to the capital of Vientiane in under two hours, and, later, a flight to Champasak in the south. A short drive away, the Mekong flows over and around the so-called 4,000 Islands (Si Phan Don), a collection of — you guessed it — around 4,000 sandbanks and islets that dot the widest part of the river. During boat rides, look out for the freshwater dolphins that frolic in the water.

Next up, take a short flight to Cambodia’s Siem Reap, where I’ll arrange for a guide to take you to less-visited Khmer temples in the Angkor complex. You can go by e-bike or tuk-tuk, riding alongside (and sometimes atop) thick temple walls and through quiet jungle paths, often with no one else around.

Then, it’s back to this trip’s focus: the Mekong. First, take a longtail boat to Tonle Sap Lake, where you can visit one of the “floating” villages that rise above the surface on wooden stilts. Then head to Phnom Penh for the classic multi-day Mekong cruise that crosses the border into Vietnam’s fertile Mekong Delta. As you glide along the dusky waters, you’ll pass by fishermen casting their nets, farmers working in the rice paddies, and villagers resting on the riverbanks — a peaceful end to your multi-country adventure.

Classic route through Southeast Asia (+ an extended version)

When I first explored the region, I travelled in a clockwise circuit around Laos, Vietnam, and Cambodia. It’s a route I still recommend today because it hits all the highlights in around three weeks. If you have the luxury of even more time (six weeks-plus), you can see some of the lesser-known areas too.

This is actually a four-country trip because you’ll start in northern Thailand and take the Upper Mekong cruise into Laos, ending in Luang Prabang. In this hub of Lao spirituality, I can connect you with a guide who’ll accompany you to the daily almsgiving, away from the visitor hotspots, where saffron-robed monks line the streets to receive donations of rice from the townspeople. You could also take a hands-on cooking class at a nearby farm that focuses on permaculture or head to the surrounding countryside to visit villages and waterfalls.

Then, after a short flight, your time in Vietnam begins. There are myriad ways to experience the country as you journey down its length. You could taste your way through Hanoi’s best eateries with a local food blogger, spend the night on a traditional junk in Lan Ha Bay (a quieter alternative to Ha Long Bay), or cycle to artisan villages on the outskirts of Hoi An. In Ho Chi Minh City (also known as Saigon), I recommend a nighttime Vespa tour, during which your guide will steer you to authentic food spots that often fly under the radar.

After, you can cross the border into Cambodia via the Mekong. Choose between a converted rice barge, a private sampan, or a luxury ship for your cruise to Phnom Penh, before ending in Siem Reap to see the temples of Angkor.

Extend your classic Southeast Asia trip

For a longer, slower-paced journey, I can add in other stops along your route. You could visit the Muong Thanh valley in the highlands of northwest Vietnam to see where the Vietnamese resisted French colonialism in the Battle of Dien Bien Phu, or head back into Laos from Vietnam to explore its southern reaches, like the 4,000 Islands. You could also eliminate some internal flights by opting for car journeys instead. With a private driver-guide at the wheel, you can better appreciate the changing scenery and glimpses of local life as you move from place to place.

Family holiday to Vietnam, Cambodia & Laos

From elephant encounters to scavenger hunts, a trip across Southeast Asia can be filled with family-friendly experiences, and I can trim down the route so you can fit it all in in just over two weeks.

For speedy travel between places, make the most of the region’s easy flight connections. I suggest flying straight into Luang Prabang in Laos, then onto Hanoi and Hoi An in Vietnam, before taking a final flight to Siem Reap in Cambodia to end your trip.

Along the way, I’ll plan experiences to suit different ages and interests. You could learn how to throw pottery with a local family during a tuk-tuk tour of Luang Prabang or visit a nearby ethical elephant sanctuary to walk beside the gentle giants as they amble through the jungle.

In Vietnam, enjoy some downtime on a traditional junk in Halong Bay or relax on the soft-sand beaches of Hoi An, before donning conical hats and learning how to harvest rice at a rural farm.

Finally, in Siem Reap, you can turn a trip to the Angkor temples into an interactive adventure with a guided scavenger hunt. The temple complex has always made me feel like I’m in an Indiana Jones film, and this activity will have you running around searching for historic clues just like the professor himself (minus the drama).

Outdoor adventure in Vietnam & Laos, plus the Angkor temples

With forested karst landscapes and hidden cave complexes, the northern hills of Vietnam and Laos are ripe for a more active trip away from the crowds.

After landing in Hanoi, you’ll quickly stray from the visitor trail as you head to the remote farming community of Mai Chau. Here, surrounded by a patchwork of rice paddies and serrated peaks, you can meet the local Mong and H’mong people on guided bike rides and treks into the hills. These communities lead traditional lifestyles, so you’ll likely encounter women weaving on looms and farmers working the fields with their water buffaloes.

Crossing the border into Laos, you might visit the Vieng Xai caves, once the headquarters of the Pathet Lao, a communist group who struggled against the French colonial regime and later the American government. Set in a narrow limestone valley, the series of caves contain conference rooms, a library, planning rooms, bedrooms, and hospitals. Together with a private guide, you’ll learn about military history that was kept under wraps until the late 1990s.

During the rest of your time in Laos, you can go on a nighttime river cruise to spot the resident wildlife in the remote jungle of Nam Et-Phou Louey. You might see sambar deer, porcupines, and, if you’re lucky, Asian golden cats. Then, in Nong Khiaw, spend a day trekking and kayaking among the soaring limestone scenery. The hiking trails here are steep but worth it for the birds-eye view of the winding Nam Ou River as it cuts between the mountains.

A natural climax to your adventure is visiting Cambodia’s Angkor temples in Siem Reap, which is about a 90-minute flight from Luang Prabang, where your journey in Laos will likely end. These Khmer ruins are probably the most impressive you’ll see anywhere in the region, and you can experience them in so many different ways. To relax your legs after trekking, you might prefer a tuk-tuk tour that ends with a massage surrounded by tropical gardens. Or, you could take a photography workshop with a professional to capture the temples in the very best light.

Best time to visit Vietnam, Cambodia & Laos

I recommend going on a trip to Vietnam, Cambodia, and Laos between November and February. The weather will be dry and pleasantly warm, and the water levels remain relatively high, making it the ideal time for cruises along the Mekong and on Tonle Sap Lake. If you don’t mind some rain showers, go in October, when there are less visitors around. I suggest avoiding mid-March to April because this is when slash-and-burn farming happens, particularly in northern Laos, so you might encounter smoke and haze as you explore.