Vietnam and Cambodia Combo: 14 Days

Vietnam and Cambodia share a river, a war history (Vietnam invaded Cambodia in 1978 to oust the Khmer Rouge), and a logical overland link via the Mekong Delta. The combination works well in two weeks: south Vietnam and the river then Cambodia's two main destinations. Northern Vietnam gets a brief visit at the end via Hanoi.

The shape of the trip

HCMC 3, Mekong 2 (Can Tho and Chau Doc), boat to Phnom Penh, Phnom Penh 2, Siem Reap 3 (Angkor), fly back to Hanoi for 2 nights, fly home. Total 14 days.

Day-by-day

Day	Base	Activity
1	HCMC	Arrive, district 1
2	HCMC	War Remnants, Cu Chi tunnels
3	HCMC	Food tour, Ben Thanh market
4	Can Tho	Drive to Can Tho, evening river
5	Chau Doc	Cai Rang floating market dawn, drive to Chau Doc
6	Phnom Penh	Speedboat up Mekong to Phnom Penh (5-6 hours)
7	Phnom Penh	Royal Palace, S-21, Killing Fields
8	Siem Reap	Fly Phnom Penh-Siem Reap (45 min)
9	Siem Reap	Angkor Wat sunrise, Ta Prohm
10	Siem Reap	Angkor Thom, Bayon, smaller temples
11	Siem Reap	Banteay Srei, Beng Mealea (outer temples)
12	Hanoi	Fly Siem Reap-Hanoi (2 hours), Old Quarter
13	Hanoi	Temple of Literature, Ho Chi Minh complex
14	Hanoi	Final morning, fly home

If you have 17-21 days, add a Hoi An stop (3 nights between Hanoi and the flight home) or a Ha Long cruise.

The border crossing by boat

Chau Doc to Phnom Penh by speedboat is the standout transport experience of this trip. Operators include Hang Chau and Blue Cruiser; boats depart Chau Doc around 7:30am and arrive Phnom Penh around 1pm. The Vietnam exit and Cambodia entry stamps happen at a riverside immigration post. You can also do this in reverse.

Alternative: the slower bus via Bavet/Moc Bai is cheaper (USD 18-25) and faster on paper but less interesting and queues at the border can be slow.

Visa logistics

Vietnam: apply for the e-visa online before travel. USD 25 for 30 days single-entry, USD 50 multi-entry. If you are doing Cambodia first and re-entering Vietnam (via Hanoi flight in this itinerary), get the multi-entry version.

Cambodia: e-visa available online (USD 36 plus processing fees) or visa on arrival at most entry points (USD 30 cash plus a passport photo). The Chau Doc-Phnom Penh river crossing supports both e-visa and visa-on-arrival.

Both visas need 6 months passport validity and one blank page each.

Cambodia in brief

Phnom Penh: Vietnam's nearest big Cambodian city, walkable around the riverfront, with the Royal Palace, National Museum, and the harrowing Tuol Sleng/Killing Fields complex from the Khmer Rouge era. Allow 2 nights minimum. Tuol Sleng (S-21) and the Killing Fields are best done together in a long morning.

Siem Reap: the base for Angkor Wat and the wider Angkor temple complex. The town itself is small with a lively bar street. The temples easily fill 3 days; sunrise at Angkor Wat (4:30am wakeup) is the iconic experience but Ta Prohm (the jungle temple) and Banteay Srei (intricate carving) are equally rewarding.

How to get between segments

• HCMC to Can Tho: 3.5-hour private car.
• Can Tho to Chau Doc: 4-hour private car.
• Chau Doc to Phnom Penh: Hang Chau speedboat, 5-6 hours.
• Phnom Penh to Siem Reap: 45-minute Cambodia Angkor Air flight (USD 90-130) or 6-hour bus.
• Siem Reap to Hanoi: 2-hour Vietnam Airlines flight via Phnom Penh or sometimes direct.

Estimated cost

Per person, mid-range:

Item	USD
Accommodation 13 nights (Vietnam + Cambodia)	500-1,100
Cambodia and Vietnam visas	60-90
Internal flights (Siem Reap-Hanoi, Phnom Penh-Siem Reap if used)	220-380
Boat Chau Doc-Phnom Penh	30-45
Private cars (Mekong section)	150-250
Angkor 3-day pass	62
Food and drink	280-450
Tours, guides (Angkor, Mekong, Phnom Penh)	150-280
Total (excluding international flights)	1,452-2,657

When to do this trip

November to March is the cross-country dry window. Both Cambodia and Vietnam are dry, sunny and not too hot. December-January are most popular (book early). April-May is hot (Cambodia hits 38 C). June-October is the wet season; Angkor still works but expect daily afternoon storms.

What it skips

• Northern Vietnam in depth. Only a 2-day Hanoi taster.
• Central Vietnam (Hue, Hoi An).
• Cambodia south coast. Sihanoukville and the islands.
• Battambang, Kep, Kampot. Smaller Cambodia destinations.

Practical notes

Cambodian riel and US dollars both circulate; you can pay almost everywhere in USD for amounts above USD 1. ATMs dispense both. Carry small USD notes (USD 1, 5, 10, 20) for change clarity. Cambodian tuk-tuks should be agreed in advance (USD 3-5 for short rides). Grab works in Phnom Penh; PassApp is the local equivalent and often cheaper.

Related: HCMC, Mekong Delta, vietnam vs cambodia, south-only week, vietnam laos combo.