Yes. Every trip is private, so there are no fixed departures: you can start in Phnom Penh or Siem Reap and finish in Vietnam, swap destinations or lengthen the route. Laos or Thailand can be added by air or overland, for example with our Vietnam, Cambodia and Laos tours or the 20-day Vietnam, Cambodia and Thailand tour. Allow at least five to seven extra days, otherwise the new country becomes a stopover rather than part of the trip.

The prices on this page are “from” prices for four travellers in standard hotels, and they do not include international flights. Because every trip is private, the final price depends on when you travel, the hotel category you choose and above all the size of your group: the same itinerary costs less per person for six than for two. How you cross between the two countries, by air, river or road, can also change the total. Send us your dates and group size and we will put together a detailed quote.

The two countries have different rules, so check both.

• For Vietnam, citizens of the United Kingdom, France, Germany, Italy, Spain and several other countries enter without a visa for up to 45 days, while citizens of the United States, Canada and Australia need an e-visa, which allows up to 90 days with multiple entries (Vietnam visa guide). If your route returns to Vietnam after Cambodia, tell us when you book so we can check that your visa or exemption covers a second entry.
• For Cambodia, most nationalities need a visa, 30 USD on arrival or online at evisa.gov.kh, and arriving travellers are asked to complete the free e-Arrival card at arrival.gov.kh before arrival (Cambodia visa guide).

Yes. You can begin in Phnom Penh or Siem Reap and end in Hanoi or Ho Chi Minh City, or run the route the other way round. Because the trips are private there are no fixed departures, so the direction is usually decided by which flights suit you best.

Yes. Both countries border the region and can be added by air or overland, from Cambodia or from Vietnam. Allow at least five to seven extra days: less than that and the new country becomes a stopover rather than a proper part of the trip.

The best time is from November to April. Cambodia’s dry season runs roughly from November to April and its climate is close to southern Vietnam’s, while March and April are the most balanced months across Vietnam, with the north warming up and the centre dry. October and November also suit the north and south, but central Vietnam can see heavy rain and storms. July and August are hot, around 30 to 35 degrees, but greener and quieter. Our guide to the best month to visit Vietnam and Cambodia has more detail by region.

It depends on the itinerary, and we use all three options. Flying is the quickest: a direct flight from Ho Chi Minh City to Phnom Penh takes about an hour, and from Hanoi to Siem Reap around an hour and three quarters to two hours. The most interesting option is by river, a fast boat from Chau Doc to Phnom Penh of about five hours, which makes the border crossing part of the trip. Overland drives are long, so we suggest them only when they fit the route. Schedules change by season, so we confirm flights and boats when we finalise your itinerary.

Fifteen days covers both countries without rushing: about ten to eleven days in Vietnam from north to south, then three or four in Phnom Penh and Siem Reap, as on our 15-day itinerary from Ha Long Bay to Angkor. Ten days works if you focus on southern Vietnam, the Mekong Delta and Cambodia. With three weeks there is room to add the northern mountains or a few nights on the coast.