I’ve done part of Indochina before from Bangkok to Singapore (read it here), but I’ve always wanted to try the usual route of Vietnam to Thailand. So when Songkran was at the same dates as the Holy Week, I immediately planned a trip of 13 Days for 5 cities, from Ho Chi Minh to Chiang Mai. Although we had to go back to Bangkok for a day to catch our flight back to Manila.
I’ve also uploaded separate posts for each city so check them out as well!
Part 1: Ho Chi Minh
Day 1
- Flight 5J753 MNL to HCMC
- Ride Bus 109 to Pham Ngu Lao
- Check in at Airbnb
- Explore Pham Ngu Lao and Bui Vien
Day 2
- Breakfast at The Chicken Coop restaurant
- Buy Mekong Delta Tour Package
- Buy advanced bus tickets going to Phnom Penh
- Exchange money at Gold Shops
- Ben Thanh Market
- Eat snacks at Ben Thann Street Food Market
- Visit the War Remnants Museum
- Buy Tickets for Water Dragon Puppet Show
- Notre Dame Cathedral Saigon
- Ho Chi Minh Post Office
- Watch Water Dragon Puppet Show at Golden Dragon Water Puppet Theatre
- Dinner at Jollibee Vietnam
Day 3
- Wake up early
- Buy Banh Mi for Breakfast
- Ride bus service for Mekong Delta tour
- Temple side trips
- Ride boat along Mekong Delta
- Coconut Candy Factory
- Ride smaller boat
- Fruit snacks
- Bus back to Ho Chi Minh City
- Dinner at a Phô restaurant
- Explore Bui Vien and buy souvenirs
Part 2: Phnom Penh
Click here to read “An Afternoon Walking Tour of Phnom Penh”
Day 4
- Check out of Airbnb
- Ride Bus from Ho Chi Minh City to Phnom Penh
- Lunch along the way
- Arrive at Phnom Penh
- Take tuktuk to Good Morning Guesthouse
- Check in at guesthouse
- Explore Phnom Penh
- National Museum
- Royal Palace
- Wat Botum Park
- Independence Monument
- Dinner at Happy Pizza Restaurant
Part 3: Siem Reap
Day 5
- Early check out of hostel
- Ride mini-van to Siem Reap
- Lunch along the way
- Arrive at Siem Reap
- Check in at Viva Hotel
- Buy an Angkor Wat sunrise tuktuk tour
- Buy advanced bus tickets going to Bangkok
- Explore Siem Reap Night Market
- Explore Pub Street
Day 6
- Wake up early, wait for tuktuk driver
- Ride tuktuk to Angkor Wat ticket center and buy tickets
- Sunrise at Angkor Wat
- Lunch at food stalls near Bayon Temple
- Explore other temples
- Back at Siem Reap by afternoon
- Buy souvenirs at Siem Reap Night Market
Part 4: Bangkok
Day 7
- Early bus to Bangkok
- Lunch along the way
- Arrive at Bangkok Railway Station by late afternoon
- Buy sleeper train advance tickets going to Chiang Mai
- Walk to Silom
- Check in at Thrive Hostel
- Explore Silom area, celebrate Songkran
Day 8
- Take Metro to Saphan Taksin Station
- Walk to Sathorn Pier
- Take Chao Phraya Orange Ferry to Chang Pier
- Visit Grand Palace and/or Wat Pho
- Brunch at a restaurant near Wat Pho
- Take the Khun Mae Pueak Cross River Ferry Pier
- Visit Wat Arun
- Take ferry back to Sathorn Pier
- Take Metro to Thailand Cultural Centre Station
- Dinner at Rod Fai Night Market
Day 9
- Morning till Lunch time at Chatuchak Weekend Market
- Back to Silom
- Songkran street party
- Clubbing around Silom at night
Day 10
- Visit Terminal 21, Siam Paragon, and Siam Center
- Go to Bangkok Railway Station
- Dinner at the station
- Take sleeper train from Bangkok to Chiang Mai
Part 5: Chiang Mai
Click here to read “River Bathing with Elephants in Chiang Mai”
Day 11
- Arrive at Chiang Mai by lunch time
- Take uber to hotel
- Check in at Rung Rueang Hotel
- Explore inside the Chiang Mai city walls
- Buy tour package for Chiang Mai Elephant Sanctuary
- Buy advanced bus tickets going back to Bangkok
Day 12
- Chiang Mai Elephant Sanctuary
- Free lunch at the tour
- Back at the hotel
- Explore Chiang Mai Night Bazaar
- Dinner at the market
- Take overnight bus to Bangkok
Day 13
- Arrive at Bangkok early morning
- Take Metro to Asok Station
- Early check in at FuramaXclusive Asoke Hotel
- Rest
- Lunch buffet at the hotel
- Swim at hotel pool
- Dinner at Terminal 21
- Check out of hotel
- Take metro to Suvarnabhumi International Airport
- Take Flight 5J932 BKK-MNL
Expenses
| Flight 5J753 Manila to Ho Chi Minh | PHP 5,598.00 for 2 | Cebu Pacific |
| Flight 5J932 Bangkok to Manila | THB 5,398.00 (around PHP 8,550.00) for 2 | Cebu Pacific |
| Ho Chi Minh Accommodation 3 Nights | PHP 2,010.00 for 2 | via Airbnb Own Room, Toilet, Bath |
| Phnom Penh Accommodation 1 Night | 400.95 for 2 | via Agoda Good Morning Guesthouse Dorm Type |
| Phnom Penh to Siem Reap Mini-van | PHP 958.73 for 2 | via Bookmebus Cambodia Post VIP Van |
| Siem Reap Accommodation 2 Nights | PHP 1,336.50 for 2 | via Agoda Viva Hotel Own room, Toilet, Bath |
| Bangkok Accommodation 3 Nights | PHP 2,990.64 for 2 | via Agoda Thrive the Hostel Dorm Type |
| Chiang Mai Accomodation 1 Night | PHP 736.46 for 2 | via Agoda Rung Rueang Hotel Own Room, Toilet, Bath |
| Bangkok Accommodation 1 Day | PHP 2,575.74 for 2 | via Agoda FuramaXclusive Asoke Hotel Own Room, Toilet, Bath |
Pocket Money
| VND 1,500,000.00 (Around PHP 3,385.50) for 2 | ||
| USD 200.00 (Around PHP 10,100.00) for 2 | ||
| PHP 15,000.00 for 2 |
Total
PHP 53,642.52 for 2
PHP 26,821.26 per person
~
This budget was very care-free. We decided to eat on where we want, thinking less of the price. We even checked in to a hotel on our last day even though our flight back was at the same night of it. It’s also interesting to see how these countries differ on prices of goods. Thailand has the cheapest food and Cambodia has the cheapest souvenirs. Vietnam’s the most expensive of the three, but still pretty cheap compared to other countries.
Going there on Thai/Khmer New Year has its pros and cons. The mood is very festive and you see smiles everywhere. But, there are more tourists so bus tickets are harder to book. Though I still wouldn’t trade it for a different date. Joining locals on their own celebration is one of the most culturally enriching activities you could ever do in your life. And Songkran is one of the best travel experiences I’ve ever had.