Vietnam, Cambodia and Thailand: What I Would Do Differently When Planning This Trip

By Landi Burns

If you are looking for a completely different culture, a little adventure and beautiful landscapes, Vietnam, Cambodia and Thailand work very well together. They also need time.

For all three countries, I would plan for at least two weeks, and longer if you have it. Having travelled in this part of Asia, planned the journey for clients and listened carefully when they returned, there are several things I would now be quite particular about.

What stays with me is how different the three countries feel. The people, food, culture and scenery change as you move through the journey, and that contrast is part of what makes travelling here so interesting.

Start With the Time of Year

The heat deserves more consideration than it sometimes gets. April can be intensely hot across this route, although Vietnam needs to be looked at region by region because conditions differ between the north, central Vietnam and the south.

This affects how I plan the day, not only which month I recommend. A long visit to Hue's Imperial City or several hours among the temples at Angkor can feel very different early in the morning than it does in the hottest part of the afternoon. Where possible, I prefer early starts, a slower middle of the day and sightseeing again later.

It sounds like a small detail when you are looking at an itinerary from home. Once you are there, it can make an enormous difference.

Vietnam: So Much More Than Its War History

For many travellers, Vietnam is still closely associated with its war history and the images and stories we have grown up with. Once you are there, it is so much more than that.

What stayed with me most were the people. I found them warm and welcoming, and genuinely wanting visitors to be happy in their country. That changes the way you experience a place.

In Hanoi, I like leaving time alongside the main sights for local artisan shops, leather shops and tailors. Finding something made locally and meeting the people behind it is far more interesting to me than shopping for something you could buy anywhere.

Ha Long Bay Needs More Than One Night

One night on Ha Long Bay is something I would change. It feels rushed, particularly for somewhere this beautiful.

Two nights gives you time to experience more of the bay and, just as importantly, enjoy being on the boat. I like having enough time to visit local villages where the itinerary allows, but also enough time to sit and take in the limestone scenery rather than arriving, following a programme and leaving again the next morning.

Clients have said the same after returning: one night gave them a taste of Ha Long Bay, but they wished they had stayed longer. I agree with them.

Hoi An and Hue Need a Little Context

Hoi An is worth visiting, but I would set expectations. Clients have found parts of the old town busy and commercial, while the historic architecture, food and time spent cycling in the countryside were among their highlights. That is useful feedback for me because it helps shape where I would put the emphasis on a future itinerary.

Hue is different. Its history and Imperial City are the reason I would include it. This is also somewhere I would be particularly careful about the time of day. Clients travelling in very hot weather found an afternoon visit difficult to enjoy properly, and that is exactly the sort of feedback that should change how the next trip is planned.

Hotel location matters too. A beautiful property is not enough if the location makes it difficult to step out and enjoy the destination in the evening. Where possible, I prefer somewhere that gives clients a little more independence outside their scheduled touring.

The Mekong Is About the River

One of the more interesting pieces of client feedback I have had about the Mekong was that the simplest part became the highlight: being on a private boat, watching life and the barges go by, eating well and having time to relax.

That reinforced something I already believe. An itinerary does not become better because every available space has been filled with an excursion.

The Guide Matters More Than the Itinerary Suggests

I am particularly careful about private guides in Vietnam, Cambodia and Thailand. Excellent English is extremely important, but what I am really looking for is someone who can have a proper conversation with my clients.

A good guide should be able to answer nuanced questions about history, architecture, religion, culture and everyday life. They should recognise when a client wants to know more, when the pace needs to change and when to stop talking and simply let someone take in what they are seeing.

The words 'private guide' on an itinerary tell you very little about the quality of the person who will actually spend the day with you. That person can make an enormous difference to how you understand and remember a place.

Cambodia: Go With Open Eyes

Cambodia surprised me. I was not prepared for the level of poverty I saw, or for some of the rubbish, polluted waterways and smells in certain areas. It was a side of Cambodia I had not fully appreciated before travelling there, and I think it is better to arrive understanding that not everything will look like the photographs that first made you want to go.

What I remember just as strongly are the people. They were incredibly friendly, and I loved seeing the local dance and experiencing some of the culture beyond the temples.

And then there is Angkor Wat. Its magnificence is difficult to appreciate until you are actually standing there. For me, it is unquestionably worth the journey.

Angkor Is Worth the Early Start

I recommend going early. The temperature is part of the reason, but a very good guide can also make a remarkable difference to how you experience the wider temple complex.

Clients of mine had a guide in Siem Reap who knew how to sequence their day so that they were virtually alone at some of the temples before reaching Angkor Wat. She also suggested taking a packed breakfast so they could keep moving while it was cooler and finish before the worst of the heat. That is the kind of guiding I value: knowledge, certainly, but also judgement.

I would also be selective about excursions around Siem Reap. An activity should be included because it adds something to the trip, not simply because there is an afternoon to fill. Sometimes another cultural experience, a slower morning or even time at the pool is the better choice.

Thailand: The Culture and Food Keep Drawing Me Back

Thailand is the country I would shape most closely around the client's interests, but personally it is the culture and food that make me want to return.

Bangkok and Chiang Mai are my favourites, while Phuket and Koh Samui can be fantastic when the priority is the beach. I would not automatically combine all four. Someone interested in food, culture and markets needs a different Thailand itinerary from someone who wants to finish with a beautiful resort and several quiet days by the sea.

Bangkok Deserves the Right Hotel

One change I would make after a recent client trip is the Bangkok hotel. I would choose a better hotel.

After a long, active multi-country journey, the hotel matters. I want somewhere well located, comfortable and calm to return to after a full day in the city. The property should suit the standard and style of the rest of the journey rather than feel like the compromise in the itinerary.

Food is also part of why I enjoy Thailand so much. Bangkok can give you a very good restaurant one evening and wonderful street food the next, and I like having room for both rather than making every meal the same kind of experience.

Chiang Mai Is a Favourite

Chiang Mai is one of my favourite places in Thailand. I particularly enjoy the temples, food, markets and shopping, and there is plenty for clients who want to add more active experiences.

If the dates line up, I like the Sunday Tha Phae Walking Street for local products and handicrafts. The House by Ginger is also one I would keep on my restaurant list.

On one recent journey, Chiang Mai became one of the clients' highlights. Ending there worked particularly well for them, and that is exactly how I like a journey to finish.

What I Would Do Differently

If I were planning Vietnam, Cambodia and Thailand again, I would not add more. I would be more deliberate about the details that affect how the trip actually feels.

• Allow at least two weeks, and longer if possible.
• Stay two nights on Ha Long Bay rather than one.
• Take the heat seriously and plan demanding sightseeing for cooler parts of the day.
• Choose excellent English-speaking private guides who can have nuanced conversations, not simply escort clients between sights.
• Be selective about excursions. If something does not add real value, leave it out.

My Final Advice

Give yourself enough time. That is the piece of advice I keep coming back to.

The pleasure of combining these three countries is that they do not feel the same. Vietnam gave me warm, welcoming people and landscapes I wanted more time to enjoy. Cambodia was more confronting in places, but then there was the magnificence of Angkor Wat. Thailand keeps drawing me back for its culture and food.

Stay the second night on Ha Long Bay. Start Angkor early. Spend time with local artisans. Choose guides who can bring the history and culture to life. Eat well, pay attention to the heat and leave a little space in the itinerary.

Some of the best travel memories happen when there is enough time to notice where you are.

Explore more destination stories and travel inspiration, or read 10 Things I Never Do as a Travel Advisor for more on how I plan a journey.