Many travellers think they need three weeks to see Vietnam and Cambodia. You do if you want Hanoi, Halong Bay and Hoi An as well, but there is a shorter route that many people overlook: follow the Mekong River from Saigon to Phnom Penh, then fly to Siem Reap for Angkor. It links the two countries through the region where their histories meet, with very little backtracking, and fits into ten days. This guide walks through that itinerary day by day, with prices and tips.
The 10-day itinerary at a glance
| Day | Route | Meals |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Arrive in Ho Chi Minh City | D |
| 2 | Cao Dai Temple in Tay Ninh and the Cu Chi Tunnels | B, L |
| 3 | Ben Tre in the Mekong Delta, continue to Can Tho | B, L |
| 4 | Cai Rang floating market by boat | B, L |
| 5 | Drive to Chau Doc near the Cambodian border | B, L |
| 6 | High-speed boat up the Mekong to Phnom Penh | B |
| 7 | Phnom Penh: Silver Pagoda, Wat Phnom, National Museum | B |
| 8 | Fly to Siem Reap, the Bayon temple | B |
| 9 | Angkor: South Gate, Bayon, Banteay Srei, Ta Prohm and more | B, D |
| 10 | Departure from Siem Reap | – |
Price from US$1,454 per person for the whole tour (see the full itinerary); the exact price depends on your dates, group size and hotels. B = breakfast, L = lunch, D = dinner.
Days 1–2: Saigon, Cao Dai and the Cu Chi Tunnels
Ho Chi Minh City, which most locals still call Saigon, is the energetic starting point. After a welcome dinner on the first evening, day 2 heads north-west to Tay Ninh and the Cao Dai Temple, the colourful headquarters of a religion born in Vietnam in the 1920s that blends elements of Buddhism, Christianity, Taoism and more. In the afternoon you visit the Cu Chi Tunnels, part of the underground network used during the war, before returning to the city.
Days 3–5: The Mekong Delta overland
Instead of a single day trip, this route crosses the delta slowly. In Ben Tre you walk along the riverside past French-era shophouses and take small boats through coconut-lined canals. You continue to Can Tho, the largest city of the delta, and the next morning take a boat to the Cai Rang floating market, where wholesale boats hang samples of what they sell from tall poles. On day 5 the road takes you to Chau Doc, close to the Cambodian border, with a stop at a bonsai garden and time to see the floating houses on the river.
Plan your Vietnam trip in 1 minute
Pick your month to see the weather by region, or estimate your budget — then get a private itinerary from our Hanoi team.
Typical seasonal patterns; weather varies year to year. Our team checks your exact dates when we prepare your itinerary.
"From" prices published on our Vietnam tour cost guide: per person per day, 2 travellers sharing, private guide & driver, hotels, listed activities. International flights, e-visa, insurance and tips not included. Final price is confirmed in your written quote.
Day 6: Up the Mekong into Cambodia
The border crossing is part of the experience: a high-speed boat carries you up the Mekong from Chau Doc to Phnom Penh, with the border formalities on the way. It is a far more interesting journey than a flight, and you arrive in the Cambodian capital in the early afternoon. Visa requirements depend on your nationality; Cambodia offers e-visas for many countries, and we confirm the documents you need before departure.
Day 7: Phnom Penh
Phnom Penh sits where the Mekong meets the Tonle Sap River. Your city day includes the Silver Pagoda inside the Royal Palace complex, the hilltop temple of Wat Phnom that gave the city its name, and the National Museum, home to the world’s finest collection of Khmer sculpture. Many travellers also choose to visit the Tuol Sleng museum and the Choeung Ek memorial to understand the country’s recent history; your guide can include them on request.
Days 8–10: Siem Reap and Angkor
A short flight takes you to Siem Reap. On arrival you visit the Bayon, the temple of the smiling stone faces, and on day 9 you explore the wider Angkor park: the South Gate of Angkor Thom, the Bayon, the delicate carvings of Banteay Srei and Banteay Samre, the jungle temple of Ta Prohm, Pre Rup and East Mebon. Day 10 is free until your transfer to the airport. If you can, add a day: our 3-day Angkor guide explains how to use it.
Who this route suits
This itinerary is ideal if you have already seen northern Vietnam, if you want a shorter trip that still covers two countries, or if you like rivers, markets and countryside more than big cities. It is also a good extension after a business trip to Ho Chi Minh City. If this is your first time in Vietnam and you have more time, consider our 14-day Vietnam & Cambodia itinerary, which includes Hanoi, Halong Bay and Hoi An.
What you will eat along the way
The route is also a food journey. In Saigon, broken rice (com tam) and banh mi are everyday staples; in the Mekong Delta, meals lean on river fish, fresh herbs and tropical fruit from the orchards you visit by boat. In Cambodia, try fish amok steamed in banana leaf and Khmer curries, milder and more aromatic than Thai ones. Your guide can suggest local restaurants for the meals not included in the programme.
Practical tips
- Best time: December to April is dry in southern Vietnam and Cambodia. In the rainy months the Mekong is high and the countryside green, with short showers most afternoons.
- Luggage: the Chau Doc–Phnom Penh speedboat has limited space; one suitcase per person and a day bag is ideal.
- Money: US dollars are widely used in Cambodia alongside the riel; in Vietnam you pay in dong.
Frequently asked questions
Can I see Vietnam and Cambodia in 10 days?
Yes, if you focus on southern Vietnam, the Mekong Delta, Phnom Penh and Angkor. For the north and centre of Vietnam as well, plan 14–16 days.
How do you cross from Vietnam to Cambodia?
On this itinerary, by high-speed boat on the Mekong from Chau Doc to Phnom Penh, with border formalities on the way. Flights from Ho Chi Minh City to Phnom Penh or Siem Reap are the alternative.
How much does a 10-day Vietnam and Cambodia tour cost?
Our 10-day itinerary starts from US$1,454 per person, including hotels with breakfast, private transfers and transport, an English-speaking guide, the boat trip, the flight to Siem Reap and the meals listed.
Questions travellers asked us — and our answers
These are real questions from travellers’ emails, messages and enquiry forms, rewritten and anonymised, and answered by the Metta Voyage team: a trip designer and a guide.
Do you run a tour from Ho Chi Minh City into Cambodia?
Metta Voyage trip designer: Yes, this itinerary does exactly that: from Saigon through the Mekong Delta, then by high-speed boat from Chau Doc to Phnom Penh, and a short flight to Siem Reap for Angkor. If you prefer to fly the whole way, we can do that too. More routes are on our Vietnam and Cambodia tours page.
Metta Voyage guide: The boat day up the Mekong is one of my favourite parts: you watch village life along the river and cross the border on the way.
When should we apply for the e-visas, and how do we know the website is genuine?
Metta Voyage trip designer: Apply a few weeks before you fly, once your dates are fixed. Use only the official government websites, because look-alike sites charge extra fees or do not issue a valid visa. Our guides to the Vietnam e-visa and the Cambodia visa link to the official sites and explain the fees and processing times. Requirements depend on your nationality, and we confirm the documents you need before departure.
Metta Voyage guide: Print or save both e-visas on your phone. At the Mekong border, having them ready makes the crossing much quicker.
Is the currency the same in Cambodia and Vietnam?
Metta Voyage trip designer: No. In Vietnam you pay in dong. In Cambodia the riel is the local currency, but US dollars are widely used alongside it, so you need both on this route.
Metta Voyage guide: In Cambodia bring small US dollar notes in good condition; torn notes are often refused. Change from small purchases may come back in riel.
Is three days enough for Cambodia?
Metta Voyage trip designer: Three days covers Siem Reap and the main Angkor temples, but little else. On this 10-day route you spend five days in Cambodia: the boat arrival in Phnom Penh, a city day, then Siem Reap and Angkor. If Cambodia is a priority, our 7-day Cambodia itinerary shows what a longer stay adds.
Metta Voyage guide: Angkor is best with an early start, before the heat and the crowds. Two full days at the temples is a comfortable minimum.
Is the price the same if we travel in July?
Metta Voyage trip designer: The “from” price on this route is US$1,454 per person; the price for your dates is confirmed in your tailor-made quote, because hotel rates change with the season. July is in the rainy months, when the Mekong is high and the countryside green, with short showers most afternoons; the drier months are December to April.
Metta Voyage guide: In the green season the floating markets and canals are at their liveliest. Bring a light rain jacket and plan the temples for the morning.
— Metta Voyage team
Written by the Metta Voyage travel team in Hanoi. Last updated October 2026. Prices are Metta Voyage’s published “from” prices; your quote confirms the exact price for your dates. Photos: Metta Voyage.
