Hanoi Hostel
Hostel
Day 1
Indochina overland - 9 Days (Hanoi, Ha Long Bay, Hoi An, Cu Chi & Siem Reap)
Nine days, two countries, three internal flights. The same route using sleeper trains and buses instead of two of the flights, which adds two days and takes out a third of the cost.
Slow Compass
Runs this trip
Group trips
Nine days, two countries, three internal flights
Group Tour
Join a fixed-date departure with other travellers
Top Highlights
Hoan KiemWater puppetry started in the flooded rice paddies of the Red River delta and the Thang Long theatre has performed it since 1969. Ha Long BaySleeping on the water is the point — the day boats leave by four and the bay empties. Lan Ha Da NangHoi An's old town is lit by silk lanterns after dark and closed to vehicles, which is why it looks the way it does. Japanese Covered BridgeHoi An silted up as a port in the eighteenth century, which is exactly why the town survived unrebuilt. Cu Chi tunnelsThe Cu Chi network ran to about two hundred and fifty kilometres. Angkor WatThe largest religious monument on earth, and the 5 AM start is for the twenty minutes when the towers reflect in the pond. Bayon
Itinerary
Water puppetry started in the flooded rice paddies of the Red River delta and the Thang Long theatre has performed it since 1969.
HanoiHow the day runs
- 1 hrsTransfer into the old quarter
- MealsDinner
- AccommodationHanoi Hostel
Included Activities
- Airport transfer
- Hotel night
- Water puppet tickets
LANDMARKS Hoan Kiem Old Quarter Water puppet theatre Start point Hanoi, Noi Bai International Airport (HAN), Hanoi 00:00 - 23:59Sleeping on the water is the point — the day boats leave by four and the bay empties.
Hanoi, Ha Long BayHow the day runs
- 3 hrs8:00 AM — east to the coast
- 5 hrs12:00 PM — aboard, and out into the bay
- MealsLunch, Dinner
- AccommodationHa Long Bay Hostel
Included Activities
- Overnight boat cabin with all meals
- Kayaks
- Cave entry
LANDMARKS Ha Long Bay Lan Ha Karst islands Sung Sot cave Hoi An's old town is lit by silk lanterns after dark and closed to vehicles, which is why it looks the way it does.
Ha Long Bay, Hanoi, Hoi AnHow the day runs
- 6:30 AM — kayaks before the day boats arrive
- 2 hrs4:00 PM — the flight to Da Nang and transfer
- MealsBreakfast
- AccommodationHoi An Hostel
Included Activities
- Domestic flight
- Old-town guesthouse night
- Hoi An entry ticket
LANDMARKS Lan Ha Da Nang Hoi An old town Hoi An silted up as a port in the eighteenth century, which is exactly why the town survived unrebuilt.
Hoi AnHow the day runs
- 8:00 AM — the old town, the Japanese bridge and the assembly halls
- 2:00 PM — a market visit and cooking class
- MealsBreakfast, Lunch
- AccommodationHoi An Hostel
Included Activities
- Old town entry
- Cooking class with market visit
- Guesthouse night
Optional Activities
- A tailored suit or dress, ready in about 24 hours
LANDMARKS Japanese Covered Bridge Assembly halls Thu Bon river Tailors The War Remnants Museum is presented from the Vietnamese side and it is unsparing. It takes about two hours and most people are quiet afterwards.
Hoi An, Ho Chi Minh CityHow the day runs
- 2 hrs10:00 AM — the flight south from Da Nang
- 3:00 PM — the War Remnants Museum and the Reunification Palace
- MealsBreakfast
- AccommodationHo Chi Minh City Hostel
Included Activities
- Domestic flight
- Museum entries
- Hotel night
LANDMARKS War Remnants Museum Reunification Palace Notre-Dame Saigon Ben Thanh The Cu Chi network ran to about two hundred and fifty kilometres. The section open to visitors has been widened, and it is still tight.
Ho Chi Minh City, Cu Chi, Siem ReapHow the day runs
- 2 hrs7:30 AM — north-west to the tunnels
- 1 hrs4:00 PM — the short hop to Cambodia
- MealsBreakfast
- AccommodationSiem Reap Hostel
Included Activities
- Cu Chi entry and guide
- Domestic flight
- Hotel night at Siem Reap
- Angkor pass arranged
LANDMARKS Cu Chi tunnels Siem Reap The largest religious monument on earth, and the 5 AM start is for the twenty minutes when the towers reflect in the pond.
Siem Reap, Angkor Wat, BayonHow the day runs
- 0 hrs4:45 AM — out for the reflection in the north pond
- 0 hrs9:00 AM — Angkor Thom and the two hundred faces
- MealsBreakfast
- AccommodationSiem Reap Hostel
Included Activities
- Angkor archaeological pass
- Licensed guide
- Tuk-tuk all day
- Hotel night
LANDMARKS Angkor Wat Bayon Ta Prohm Angkor Thom Tonle Sap reverses direction twice a year, which is why the villages on it are built on stilts six metres high.
Siem Reap, Angkor WatHow the day runs
- 1 hrs8:00 AM — out to Banteay Srei
- 2 hrs3:00 PM — onto the lake for sunset
- MealsBreakfast
- AccommodationSiem Reap Hostel
Included Activities
- Banteay Srei entry
- Tonle Sap boat
- Hotel night
LANDMARKS Banteay Srei Tonle Sap Kampong Phluk Siem Reap connects through Bangkok, Singapore or Kuala Lumpur for onward flights.
Siem ReapHow the day runs
- 1 hrsAirport transfer
- MealsBreakfast
- AccommodationNot included — onward travel
Included Activities
- Airport drop
LANDMARKS Old Market Siem Reap
- Day 1Airport transfer
- Day 1Hotel night
- Day 1Water puppet tickets
- Day 2Overnight boat cabin with all meals
- Day 2Kayaks
- Day 2Cave entry
- Day 3Domestic flight
- Day 3Old-town guesthouse night
- Day 3Hoi An entry ticket
- Day 4Old town entry
- Day 4Cooking class with market visit
- Day 4Guesthouse night
- Day 4A tailored suit or dress, ready in about 24 hoursCosts extra
- Day 5Museum entries
- Day 6Cu Chi entry and guide
- Day 6Hotel night at Siem Reap
- Day 6Angkor pass arranged
- Day 7Angkor archaeological pass
- Day 7Licensed guide
- Day 7Tuk-tuk all day
- Day 8Banteay Srei entry
- Day 8Tonle Sap boat
- Day 9Airport drop
- Day 1 · 1 nightHanoi Hostel
- Day 2 · 1 nightHa Long Bay Hostel
- Day 3 · 2 nightsHoi An Hostel
- Day 5 · 1 nightHo Chi Minh City Hostel
- Day 6 · 3 nightsSiem Reap Hostel
- Day 1Hanoi to HanoiTransfer into the old quarter
- Day 2Hanoi to Ha Long Bay8:00 AM — east to the coast
- Day 3Hanoi to Hoi An4:00 PM — the flight to Da Nang and transfer
- Day 5Hoi An to Ho Chi Minh City10:00 AM — the flight south from Da Nang
- Day 6Ho Chi Minh City to Cu Chi7:30 AM — north-west to the tunnels
- Day 6Ho Chi Minh City to Siem Reap4:00 PM — the short hop to Cambodia
- Day 7Siem Reap to Angkor Wat4:45 AM — out for the reflection in the north pond
- Day 7Angkor Wat to Bayon9:00 AM — Angkor Thom and the two hundred faces
- Day 8Siem Reap to Angkor Wat8:00 AM — out to Banteay Srei
- Day 9Siem Reap to Siem ReapAirport transfer
Where you'll stay
All accommodations are subject to change
Ha Long Bay Hostel
Hostel
Day 2
Hoi An Hostel
Hostel
Days 3, 4
Ho Chi Minh City Hostel
Hostel
Day 5
Siem Reap Hostel
Hostel
Days 6–8
What you'll eat
7 breakfasts, 2 lunches and 2 dinners across 9 days, at camp. It opens with dinner on day 1 and closes with breakfast on day 9.
- DinnerServed on days 1–2
- LunchServed on days 2, 4
- BreakfastServed on days 3–9
11 meal services named in the itinerary. Vegetarian and vegan covered everywhere; Jain and gluten-free on notice at booking
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Customer reviews
Overall rating
4.0/5
Based on 3 reviews
Review summary
Food3.3/5
Guide3.3/5
Itinerary3.7/5
Transport3.7/5
Accommodation4.0/5
Tour operator4.0/5
Sort by:Recommended
5
V
Vikram Bose – Indore2025-09-23 · Verified booking
Good mix of the obvious things and a few places we'd never have found. Dorms were tidy and the common areas were where the group actually gelled. Food was plentiful and hot, which counts for a lot at altitude. Worth every rupee.
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5
T
Tom Bergman – London2025-09-23 · Verified booking
Indochina done well. The itinerary had room to breathe. Dorms were tidy and the common areas were where the group actually gelled. The cooking was a genuine surprise — better than most places we'd have picked ourselves. Worth every rupee.
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2
T
Tara D'Souza – Ahmedabad2025-09-23 · Verified booking
Hotels were a step below what I expected for the price.
Reply from Slow Compass
Glad you enjoyed it. Hope to see you on another trip.
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Questions people ask
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