Quick answer
For groups, 12 days is a comfortable length for Vietnam plus Angkor: Hanoi, a night on Ha Long or Lan Ha Bay, Hoi An, Ho Chi Minh City and the Mekong, then a short flight to Siem Reap for two or three nights. Add Luang Prabang in Laos to make it 14–15 days.
Vietnam and Cambodia are the classic pairing for groups travelling a long way to Southeast Asia: Vietnam gives the variety (capital city, bay, heritage town, delta), Cambodia gives one of the great monuments of the world. Below is the 12-day route we most often adapt for groups of 10 or more, followed by the logistics that make the difference when 20, 30 or 50 people move together.
The route at a glance
| Days | Place | Nights | Group highlight |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1–3 | Hanoi | 2 | Welcome dinner, Old Quarter by cyclo, Temple of Literature |
| 3–4 | Ha Long or Lan Ha Bay | 1 | Overnight cruise, kayaking, dinner on deck |
| 4–7 | Hoi An (via Da Nang) | 3 | Old town at dusk, cooking class, countryside by bicycle |
| 7–9 | Ho Chi Minh City and the Mekong | 2 | City highlights, a day on the delta waterways |
| 9–12 | Siem Reap (Angkor) | 3 | Angkor Wat at sunrise, Bayon, Ta Prohm, farewell dinner |
Day by day
Days 1–2, Hanoi. Arrivals are grouped by flight, with a welcome dinner on the first evening. The first full day covers the Old Quarter by cyclo, the Temple of Literature and Hoan Kiem Lake, with time to rest in the afternoon after the long-haul flight.
Days 3–4, Ha Long or Lan Ha Bay. The drive takes about 2.5 to 3 hours by expressway. Groups that fit one or two ships stay a night on board; larger groups can stay in a bay-side hotel and charter a day cruise. Kayaking or a cave visit, then dinner on deck. Back to Hanoi for an evening flight to Da Nang.
Days 5–6, Hoi An. Three nights in Hoi An give the group room to breathe: a guided walk in the UNESCO-listed old town, a cooking class with a market visit, cycling through the vegetable villages, and a free afternoon for tailors or the beach. An optional half day goes to Hue or the My Son sanctuary.
Days 7–8, Ho Chi Minh City and the Mekong. A one-hour flight south. The city tour covers the Reunification Palace area, the post office and the Opera House district; the next day is spent on the Mekong Delta’s canals and orchards by boat.
Days 9–11, Siem Reap. Flights from Ho Chi Minh City to Siem Reap are short. Two full days at Angkor are the right amount for most groups: Angkor Wat at sunrise, the Bayon and Angkor Thom, Ta Prohm, and a quieter temple such as Banteay Srei. Siem Reap’s hotels make a good base for a farewell dinner. Cambodia requires a visa; our Cambodia visa guide explains the e-visa and visa on arrival.
Day 12. Departure from Siem Reap, or via Ho Chi Minh City or Bangkok depending on the group’s flights.
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Adding Laos
For 14–15 days, add two or three nights in Luang Prabang, which is a UNESCO World Heritage town on the Mekong. The usual order is Hanoi – Luang Prabang – Siem Reap – southern Vietnam, or Luang Prabang placed between Hanoi and the centre. Flight frequencies between the three countries are the main constraint, so we check schedules before fixing the order.
Group logistics that matter
- Flights. Domestic and regional flights are booked as a group block where possible. Larger groups may be split across two flights on the same day; the guide meets each sub-group.
- Coaches. Private air-conditioned coaches sized to the group. Above roughly 30 to 40 guests we usually split into two coaches with a guide in each, which also makes visits at busy sites smoother.
- Rooms. We confirm the room mix early (doubles, twins and singles) and hold peak-season rooms on request. For international groups and partner agencies we give 1 FOC per 16 paid rooms.
- Guides. English-speaking guides are standard; guides speaking Italian, German, French, Spanish, Portuguese, Russian, Chinese, Arabic or Hebrew can be booked in Vietnam, and in Cambodia and Laos subject to availability.
- Meals. Group menus are agreed in advance; halal, kosher and Indian vegetarian meals are available on request.
- Pace. No more than one long transfer a day, an afternoon off every few days, and early starts only where they pay off, such as sunrise at Angkor.
When to go
November to March suits the whole route best: dry, warmer in the south and Cambodia, cool to mild in Hanoi. The central coast around Hoi An is best from roughly March to August, while autumn there is the rainy season. Our month-by-month guide to Vietnam, Cambodia and Laos has the detail. Avoid the Lunar New Year week (6 February 2027) if you need many rooms.
How to get a quote
Send us the travel month, number of guests and rooms, nationalities and hotel category through the form on our MICE and group travel page. Within 24 working hours you receive the day-by-day programme with named hotels and pricing by group size. A 30% deposit confirms the booking and the balance is due 45 days before arrival. See also our Angkor Wat temple guide and our comparison of conference venues if the trip includes a meeting.
Frequently asked questions
How many days do groups need for Vietnam and Cambodia?
Twelve days is a comfortable minimum for Hanoi, Ha Long Bay, Hoi An, Ho Chi Minh City and two full days at Angkor. Add two or three days for Luang Prabang in Laos.
Do group members need visas?
Vietnam offers visa exemptions for some nationalities and an e-visa for everyone else on evisa.gov.vn. Cambodia requires a visa, available as an e-visa or on arrival.
How do you handle large groups at Angkor?
We split larger groups across coaches with a guide in each and stagger visits so that each sub-group reaches the main temples at a comfortable time.
Is there a group discount?
For international groups and partner agencies we give 1 FOC per 16 paid rooms; pricing is quoted by group size.
Metta Voyage is a licensed international tour operator (licence No. 01-1167/2023/CDLQGVN-GP LHQT) based in Hanoi. Request a quote for your group.
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