Vietnam + Cambodia 12-Day Itinerary from India: Hanoi, Halong, HCMC, Siem Reap (2026)
By Devika Pillai (Devika Pillai covers cruises and rail travel for Indians — cruise lines from Indian ports, Eurail and international rail passes, and overnight trains as a flight alternative.) · Published · 15 min read
Vietnam + Cambodia in 12 days from India — Hanoi, Halong Bay, Hoi An, HCMC, Siem Reap's Angkor Wat. Visa walkthrough, internal flights, where to stay, budgets in rupees.
Why combine Vietnam + Cambodia
Vietnam and Cambodia share a border and an airline grid (Vietnam Airlines, Vietjet, Cambodia Angkor Air, AirAsia). They complement each other perfectly — Vietnam gives you culture, cuisine, scenic boat trips, and three very different cities; Cambodia gives you the single most spectacular monument cluster in Asia, Angkor Wat. A 12-day combo trip is the sweet spot.
Total budget excluding international flights: ₹70,000–1,05,000 per person mid-range. International flights from India to Hanoi + return from Siem Reap: ₹38,000–62,000.
Day 1-2 — Hanoi (Old Quarter)
Land at Hanoi Noi Bai (HAN). 35-min taxi or shuttle to Old Quarter (~₹1,200). Stay in Hoan Kiem / Old Quarter — chaotic, walkable, full of cheap pho shops and rooftop bars. Recommended: La Sinfonia del Rey Hotel, Hanoi La Siesta Diamond, Apricot Hotel (premium).
Day 2 highlights: Hoan Kiem Lake + Ngoc Son Temple at sunrise (locals doing tai chi), Old Quarter walking tour (silk street, herbs street, paper street), Temple of Literature, Hoa Lo Prison Museum. Evening: Train Street (cafés along active railway tracks) and a water puppet show at Thang Long Theatre (₹250).
Day 3 — Halong Bay overnight cruise
Book a 2-day-1-night cruise (₹6,500–14,000 per person, includes pickup from Hanoi, all meals, kayaking, cave visits). Operators: Paradise Cruise, Indochina Junk, Bhaya. The 8 AM pickup gets you to Halong by noon, on the boat by 12:30 PM.
Afternoon: cruise through limestone karsts, swim at a beach, kayak inside hidden caves, explore Sung Sot Cave. Sunset on the upper deck, fresh seafood dinner, squid fishing after dark.
Day 4 — Halong → Hanoi → flight to Da Nang
Morning Tai Chi on the boat deck, breakfast, return cruise to Halong port. Bus back to Hanoi (3 hours).
Evening: Vietnam Airlines flight Hanoi → Da Nang (1hr 20min, ₹2,200–4,500). 30-min taxi to Hoi An ancient town.
Stay in Hoi An Old Town or An Bang Beach. Recommended: Anantara Hoi An, Hoi An Silk Marina Resort, Vinh Hung Heritage. Budget: ₹3,500–9,000/night.
Day 5 — Hoi An exploration
Hoi An is the most charming town in Vietnam — UNESCO old town with yellow walls, paper lanterns everywhere, a thriving custom tailor scene (suits, dresses ready in 24-48 hours, ₹3,500–8,000), and excellent street food.
Morning: walk the Old Town (entry ₹450 for 5 attractions), Japanese Covered Bridge, ancient houses. Cooking class at Red Bridge Cooking School or Hoi An Eco Cooking Class (₹2,500, half day, includes market tour).
Afternoon: cycle to An Bang Beach (free bike rentals from most hotels), have lunch at a beachside seafood shack.
Evening: Old Town comes alive with lanterns reflecting in the Thu Bon River — take a small boat with a candle lantern (₹250). Dinner at Morning Glory or Mango Mango.
Day 6 — Hoi An → Ho Chi Minh City
Morning: optional half-day My Son Sanctuary (Cham temple ruins, 1 hour from Hoi An).
Afternoon flight Da Nang → Ho Chi Minh City (1hr 25min, ₹2,500–5,500). Stay in District 1 (Bến Thành area) — walking distance to all major sights. Recommended: Park Hyatt Saigon, Liberty Central Saigon Centre, Silverland Yen Hotel.
Evening: walk Bùi Viện Walking Street (backpacker bar scene), dinner at Pho 2000 or Indian restaurant Ganesh.
Day 7 — HCMC: city + Cu Chi Tunnels
Morning: Cu Chi Tunnels half-day tour (₹1,500–2,500 with pickup). 90-min drive each way, 2 hours at the tunnels — Vietcong tunnel network used in the war, you can crawl through enlarged sections.
Afternoon back in city: War Remnants Museum (sobering, essential), Independence Palace, Notre Dame Cathedral + Central Post Office, Ben Thanh Market for souvenirs.
Evening: rooftop drinks at Saigon Saigon Bar (Caravelle Hotel) or Chill Skybar.
Day 8 — HCMC → Siem Reap (Cambodia)
Morning flight HCMC → Siem Reap (1hr 10min, ₹4,500–8,500 on Cambodia Angkor Air / Vietnam Airlines). At Siem Reap airport, get the Cambodian e-Visa on arrival (₹2,800 / USD 30) or pre-apply online at evisa.gov.kh.
Stay near Pub Street or Old Market: Park Hyatt Siem Reap (luxury), Anjali Hotel, Lub d Cambodia Siem Reap. Budget: ₹3,000–9,000/night.
Afternoon: Phnom Bakheng for sunset over the Angkor temple complex (arrive 90 min before sunset). Evening: dinner on Pub Street + walk Old Market.
Day 9 — Angkor Wat sunrise + Small Circuit
4:30 AM pickup (book a tuk-tuk for the day, ₹1,500). Buy the 3-day Angkor Pass (USD 62 / ₹5,200, only sold at Angkor Enterprise official ticket office, photo required).
Sunrise at Angkor Wat — the iconic shot from across the lotus pond. The temple opens at 5 AM, sunrise around 5:45 AM. Allow 2 hours inside the main temple.
Continue on the Small Circuit: Angkor Thom (south gate + Bayon Temple with its giant smiling faces), Ta Prohm (the jungle-eaten temple featured in Tomb Raider), Banteay Kdei.
Late afternoon: return to hotel, pool, dinner.
Day 10 — Angkor Big Circuit + Banteay Srei
Less famous temples but still extraordinary. Same tuk-tuk driver, full day.
- Preah Khan — large monastic complex
- Neak Pean — small island temple in a reservoir
- Ta Som — quiet, photogenic
- Banteay Srei (45 min drive north) — "Citadel of the Women", pink sandstone, the finest carvings in all Cambodia
- Optional: Kbal Spean (River of a Thousand Lingas) — riverbed carvings, 30-min hike
Evening: traditional Apsara dance dinner show (₹1,200) at Koulen II or similar.
Day 11 — Tonle Sap floating village + departure prep
Morning: half-day tour to Tonle Sap Lake + floating village (Kompong Phluk or Kompong Khleang). Costs ₹2,200, includes boat ride through stilt-house village, school visit, mangrove forest.
Afternoon: Cambodia Landmine Museum (educational), Artisans Angkor (silk workshop + traditional crafts), souvenir shopping at Old Market.
Evening: last dinner at Khmer Kitchen or Cuisine Wat Damnak (Michelin-recognised Cambodian fine dining).
Day 12 — Departure
Morning flight Siem Reap (REP) → home via Bangkok or Singapore (no direct Siem Reap → India flights as of 2026). 1-stop returns to Mumbai/Delhi typically take 8-12 hours total. Many travellers extend by 1-2 days to add a Bangkok stopover.
Budget breakdown (per person, mid-range)
- International flights (DEL/BOM → HAN, REP → home, 1-stop): ₹50,000
- Internal flights (HAN→DAD, DAD→SGN, SGN→REP): ₹14,000
- Hotels (11 nights, ₹5,500 avg): ₹60,500
- Halong cruise (1 night): ₹10,000
- Food (₹1,500–2,500/day): ₹24,000
- Angkor Pass (3-day) + tuk-tuks + tours (Cu Chi, Tonle Sap, cooking class): ₹15,500
- Local transport, tips, misc: ₹6,000
- Total per person: ₹1,80,000
Frequently asked questions
Do Indians need visas for both Vietnam and Cambodia?
Yes for both. Vietnam: apply for e-Visa online at evisa.xuatnhapcanh.gov.vn (USD 25, 5-7 day processing). Cambodia: apply e-Visa online (USD 30, 3 working days) OR get visa-on-arrival at Siem Reap or Phnom Penh airport (USD 30 + 2 passport photos, immediate).
Is 12 days enough for Vietnam + Cambodia?
Yes for the highlights — Hanoi, Halong, Hoi An, HCMC, and Siem Reap. If you want to add Phnom Penh, Sapa, or Da Lat, you need 15+ days. Some travellers do 10 days Vietnam-only + a separate Cambodia trip later.
Best time to visit Vietnam and Cambodia from India?
November-March is the dry season for both countries — ideal weather, low rainfall, but peak prices. April-May is hot but cheaper. June-October is monsoon — Cambodia gets dramatic Angkor temple reflections in reservoirs, Vietnam can be wet but workable in the south.
Is Angkor Wat better at sunrise or sunset?
Sunrise — the temple silhouette against the orange sky reflected in the lotus pond is the iconic shot. You'll share it with 1,000+ other tourists but it's worth it once. Sunset is photographed from Phnom Bakheng hill (looking back at Angkor Wat in the distance), good but different angle.
Can I do this trip with kids?
Yes, ages 7+. Hoi An is highly kid-friendly (beaches, cycling, lanterns), Halong cruise is well-suited (most operators run family rooms), Cu Chi tunnels can be scary for younger kids (skip the crawl). Angkor temples involve walking 4-6 km/day for 2 days — manageable but pack water and start early to beat the heat.
Is Vietnamese / Cambodian food OK for Indian vegetarians?
Vietnamese food has lots of vegetarian dishes naturally (pho chay = veg pho, fresh spring rolls, banh mi chay = veg sandwich, com chay = veg rice). Cambodia is a bit harder but Siem Reap has many Indian restaurants (Curry Walla, Indian Magic, Maharajah's) and tourist-area restaurants reliably offer veg menus.