Overview of Vietnam Cambodia Laos 3 week itinerary
Travel to Southwest Asia is one of the newest travel trends. Specifically, Vietnam, Cambodia, and Laos are chosen as dreamy destinations to explore Asia countries. With Vietnam Cambodia Laos 3 week itinerary, you will have an opportunity to admire the breathtaking landscapes, exclusive native culture with awesome food.
Vietnam Cambodia Laos 3 week itinerary is not enough to fully discover the beauty of nature, culture, and people in-depth but you can capture the most unique features in these two countries.
With 20-year experiences as travel expert, Asianway Travel has been built our culture service to give you the most memorable time about authentic local experiences in our beautiful country. It makes sure that this trip will bring you a wonderful adventure on new lands.
Best time to Vietnam Cambodia Laos 3 week itinerary
Vietnam Weather Overview
Located in the tropical area, the climate in Vietnam is different in 3 specific climate zones. Specifically, North Vietnam has 4 typical seasons with cold winter. The weather in North Vietnam is quite ideal for international visitors all year around. From September to April, you can enjoy the mild atmosphere, less rainy with the stunning scenery of blooming flowers. Otherwise, South Vietnam has 2 seasons: dry and wet season, and the weather of Central Vietnam is relatively harsh with hot temperatures all year around. With a high level of temperature, humidity, and rainfall, you can set foot in Ho Chi Minh city in the period from December to April.
Cambodia and Laos Weather Overview
With the most common weather patterns in Southeast Asia, the climate in Cambodia and Laos is divided into two specific seasons (rainy and dry season) which are both appropriate to traveling activities all year round. Although the weather is relatively hot, dry climate starts from November to April/early May is the high season of traveling to Cambodia. You can make a plan for the Cambodia trip in the dry season from November to March.
So, the most ideal time to carry out your Vietnam and Cambodia for 10 days is from November to April.
What to expect to visit Vietnam, Cambodia, Laos for 3 weeks
Budget
Paying for a trip in Asia countries seems to be easier when you choose the right companion. You should pay attention to the 3 basic payments: Accommodation, Transportation and Food. In Indochina in particular, there is a great diversity of hotel with different price ranges. Therefore, we would like to clarify how we define these charges:
- Boutique & character hotels: from $50-$80 USD per room/ per night
- Comfort = 3 star hotels from US$ 40 – US$ 60 per room/ per night
- Superior = 4 star hotels from US$ 80 – US$ 110 per room/ per night
- Deluxe = 5 star hotels from US$120 – US$ 190++ per room/ per night
- High-end = Best of the best hotels from US$ 250++ per room/ per night
In general, transportation in Indochina countries is relatively convenient. There are many types of transportation you can use, specifically from taxi, bus, train to a motorbike, bicycle in Vietnam, motorcycle tuk-tuks, bus in Cambodia and Jumbos, motorbike rental in Laos with a reasonable price (approximately $20 – $40 per day). Besides, you should enjoy the awesome food in Vietnam, Cambodia, Laos, each country has many various unique cuisine and new flavors. Therefore, you only pay about $60 – $100 for the one-day experience.
Accommodation
There is a broad spectrum of accommodation available for international visitors to choose during your Vietnam Cambodia Laos 3 week itinerary, especially in some big cities such as Hanoi, Halong Bay and Ho Chi Minh city. But how do you choose the perfect accommodation suitable for your budget and interests? Some useful criteria can help you before making decisions:
- Pay attention to your location: Selecting a hotel in the center of the city is always the best option.
- Have a good reputation: A hotel with good reputation reflects the professional service quality and good living conditions. Checking the reliability of a hotel on Tripadvisor, booking.com, Agoda, Traveloka is the most common way. However, you should ask for help from travel experts like Asianway Travel. We have experienced more than 20 years in helping you plan your trip effectively.
- Check carefully the rating and price: Previous travelers’ experiences can give you an overview of the hotel you are considering. Booking.com, Agoda, Expedia, Traveloka, Airbnb.com, Hotels.com, hotelshark.com are the prestigious websites you can refer to before making decisions.
- Promotions: If you travel on your budget, you should keep in mind that updating the newest promotions is an effective way to get a good price, especially during the high travel season. Booking a hotel on the low season can allow you to upgrade your room for free.
Food
As a food lover, you cannot miss an incredible cuisine in Vietnam and Cambodia. Vietnamese food is widely known all over the world with the best delicious Vietnamese street food. Many traditional Vietnamese dishes used the balanced combination of five colors, five flavors, and five nutrients, all of which correspond with five body organs. With an awesome diversity of Vietnamese cuisine, you can see the clear differences of food beauty among Northern, Central and Southern regions.
In spite of being overshadowed by the cuisine of Vietnam and Thailand, you should try it once in your life to enjoy Cambodia and Laos food in your Vietnam Cambodia Laos 3 week itinerary. Do you know the origin of sticky rice, papaya salad? Are you thinking about “the land of golden pagodas” – Thailand? Indeed, these famous dishes are originated from Laos. Spicy, bitter and incredibly fun to eat, Laotian food is worth your full attention.
Top things to do in Vietnam Cambodia Laos 3 week itinerary
Day 1-2: Explore the ancient beauty of Hanoi city
With Vietnam Cambodia and Laos 3 week itinerary, your first destination is the capital city of Vietnam – Hanoi, considered the cultural and historical center of the country. Existing for more than 1000 years, visitors come here for the first time being attracted by the ancient streets stretching like a maze. Besides, the hustle and bustle with many various vehicles passing by are also an interesting highlight that surely you will not be able to find anywhere else in the world.
There are many amazing things you can try when traveling to Hanoi, especially for first-timers. You should not miss an opportunity to take a cyclo ride to discover the Old Quarter and Sword Lake to watch the pace of Vietnamese peoples’ lives. Also, paying a visit to Hanoi’s famous constructions is not a bad idea, you can pick up some attractive historical landmarks below:
- One-Pillar Pagoda
- Thang Long Imperial Citadel
- Ba Dinh Square and Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum and Museum
- Museum of Ethnology
- Hoa Lo Prison
- Hanoi Ceramic Mosaic Mural
Day 3-5: Go kayaking to explore the magnificence of Halong Bay
Located in the North-Eastern region of Vietnam, the colorful beauty of Halong Bay is made up of thousands of large and small stone islands rising from the turquoise water. Taking a bamboo bat or kayaking trip to explore the breathtaking and unique limestone karsts and islets will never let you down. You’ll also take part in an interesting cooking class or fruits & vegetable carving on the sundeck to make spring rolls, a traditional Vietnamese dish. Sitting relaxed and immersing in beautiful nature is the best way to forget about all the wheels of work and life.
Another attractive destination in Halong Bay you cannot ignore is Sung Sot Cave, one of the most beautiful caves in the world. You’ll get lost in this “illusory world” where is covered by stalactites and stalagmites with different shapes, creating a “velvet carpet” with vibrant motifs and glittering chandeliers.
Tips for visiting Sung Sot Cave:
- Take beautiful photos at the mouth of Sung Sot cave.
- Pay attention to every instruction of your guide to avoid getting lost.
- You should leave your stuff on your boat outside when you wander into Sung Sot cave.
- Prepare a comfortable pair of shoes and bring your water if necessary.
Day 6-8: Immerse yourself in the alluring natural beauty of Sapa
Compared with the majestic natural landscapes in Halong Bay, the beauty of Sapa is a blend of unspoiled nature and the colorful life of ethnic minorities. It’s time to take a deep breath, release your strain and try an “unusual” life with ethic people. Each ethnic village has a unique beauty, especially a vivid market with impressive handicrafts.
So, Asianway Travel gives you the 5 various options in Vietnam Cambodia Laos 3 week itinerary:
- Option 1: Bac Ha – Sunday market
- Option 2: Can Cau Market – Saturday market
- Option 3: Lung Khau Nhin – Thursday market
- Option 4: Cao Son – Wednesday market
- Option 5: Coc Ly Market – Tuesday market
Your next day trip will be covered at the ancient village to discover traditional customs and practices of the ethnic Black H’mong, Dzao. Along the way, you should catch the best moments of hilly terrain and past terraced paddy fields Y Linh Ho, Lao Chai San, Lao Chai village. Another breathtaking landscape you should not miss is Muong Hoa Valley with the largest rice terraces in Sapa. If you start your Vietnam, Cambodian, and Laos in a 3-week itinerary from May and October, it’s lucky for you because you can admire the whole picture of planting and harvesting season of local people here. At the end of the day, it’s time for you to chat and enjoy your dinner with Black H’mong family.
Day 9-10: Challenge yourself with basket boat adventure in Hoi An
Da Nang is considered the most worth-living city in Vietnam because of its stunning sandy beaches, friendly services, and sociable people. Come to Hoi An, we make sure that you will be overwhelmed by the breathtaking street scenery with a broad spectrum of colorful latent on the Thu Bon River. Do you want to participate in the workshop of making a traditional lantern with the artisans within your Vietnam Cambodia and Laos 3 week itinerary? It sounds awesome. Let’s cool off and try to create your lantern to take home and give it to your loved ones.
If you love adventurous experiences, let’s challenge yourself with basket boat adventure in the local fishing industry. Before playing, your guide will show the safety instructions and give you a brief about this adventure. Your task is to keep the balance on the round basket boat and paddle in it a proper way. You can enjoy a wonderful performance from local people, which only see in Vietnam.
Day 11-14: Watch the historical landmarks in the hustle and bustle of Ho Chi Minh
When coming to the bustling city like Ho Chi Minh city, you should set your foot in Saigon’s memorial sites to learn about the historical and cultural values of Vietnam during the “American War”. You should consider some remarkable destinations such as the former President Palace, the War Remnants Museum, established in September 1975. Countless artifacts, photographs and documentary pictures will reappear the majestic past of Vietnamese history by the US army in Vietnam.
If you want to discover more about this “Pearl of the Far East” city, you should try some amazing nightlife activities as below:
- Admire the peaceful Saigon Notre-Dame Cathedral in the heart of Saigon
- Mingle with Saigon Midnight Motorbike Tour
- Watch the marvelous A O Show at the Saigon Opera House
- Ho Chi Minh city with a 360-degree view in Bitexco Tower
- Romantic dinner with your lovers in Saigon River cruise
- Walkthrough the vigorous glow of Starlight Bridge
- Drink Saigon beer and enjoy street food in Pham Ngu Lao area
Have you ever joined trading activities in the “market on the water”? Sound crazy. Let’s try it in your Vietnam Cambodia and Laos 3 week itinerary. You cannot ignore the typical trading activities in the South area of Vietnam, especially for first-timers. Cai Be floating market is an ideal destination to participate in the local trading fruit, vegetables and agricultural goods on board. Immersing in the daily life of the local islanders in Mekong Delta will be the extraordinary memories that no other country brings to you.
Day 15-16: Watch the Planktons Glow at Night in Koh Rong
It would be a big mistake if you did not visit Sihanoukville when traveling to Cambodia. Sihanoukville is an outstanding coastal town with vibrant nightlife and beautiful beaches in Phnom Penh. Besides, a great variety of top-class eateries with a broad spectrum of top-quality cuisines, different flavors and price ranges is suitable for all types of tourists.
Let’s Asianway Travel introduce you to some optimal restaurants to avoid ruining your holiday budget:
- The Secret Garden Bar & Restaurant is famous for the honey ginger chicken and red Khmer curry, relatively big portion size and appropriate price.
Position: The Secret Garden at Otres Beach, Marina Road, Otres 2 Beach, Sihanoukville, Cambodia- Olive & Olive Mediterranean Food: A classy restaurant with delicious pizza, big portions, and professional services. They are famous for Spaghetti al Tonno and Greek salad.
Position: Golden Lions Roundabout, Serendipity Beach Road, Sihanoukville, Cambodia
- Starfish Bakery & Café is well-known for its tasty sandwiches, salads and Western breakfast, fresh-baked bread, brownies, cookies, and pastries.
Position: 62/7 Makara Street, Sihanoukville, Cambodia
Each year, thousands of tourists come to Cambodia to watch the spectacular natural phenomenon – the illumination of bioluminescent plankton at night. Long Set beach area is considered as the most perfect position to watch this appealing scenery. You can book a boat tour to admire the radiation of plankton radiating like brilliant lights dancing around you. The best fascinating memory may last your lifetime.
Day 17-18: Watch the beautiful sunrise/ sunset at Angkor Wat, Siem Reap
Located at the North of Siem Reap, Angkor Archeological Complex was under the control of the powerful Khmer Empire from the 9th to the 15th centuries. Taking the great shots of Angkor Wat or Ta Prohm at sunrise has never been easy, even for professional photographers.
To capture the good sunrise moments, one useful tip for you is to catch the reflection into the ponds in front of the main temple. Some notes you should keep in mind before entering Angkor Wat:
- Go to the temple early as the opening time of the temple gate is 5.00 a.m
- You have to buy the ticket entrance from the day before
- Pay attention to your reasonable outfit is the way of showing your respect to the culture here.
Next, if you want to experience the feeling of conquering a new land, so Koh Rong Samloem Island will be the best destination for you. Although this island is solitary and relatively untouched, its unspoiled beauty still attracts thousands of international visitors yearly. It is also the chance to get away from “smart life” to enjoy your truly “real life”.
Koh Rong Samloem Island is the dreamy terminal of both divers and non-divers. If you love diving, you’ll take advantage of seeing the colorful sea life. For non-divers, you can take part in water activities such as kayaking or paddleboard to discover this island. However, we recommend that you should have a good preparation for food because food price in this area is quite costly and few grocery shops compared to other islands of Cambodia.
Day 19-20: Wake up in the charming city – Luang Prabang
Starting a new day with your smartphone is not interesting at all. Getting out of your bed quickly and participate in the daily morning ritual with saffron-clad monks collecting offerings of Alms (ubiquitous sticky rice) from the faithful residents. You should enjoy this traditional ritual appearing only in Laos before having a relaxed breakfast in one coffee shop.
Luang Prabang is known as one of the alluring beauty with more than 30 temples having old French colonial architecture. After that, you should take one day to admire the distinct Laos architecture with some well-known destinations below:
- Traditional Art and Ethnology Center
- Pay a visit to the magnificent Wat Xiengthong
- Reach the Royal Kingdom of Luang Prabang.
- Visit the Royal Palace Museum
- Watch the most spiritual monument – That Luang (or the Great Stupa)
Taking a stroll around Elephant Village and making friends with some lovely elephants before riding an elephant about 30 minutes inside the near jungle will be the fascinating memories for you. Then, you can refresh yourself by immersing in Kuang Si Waterfalls or wandering into the forest trails. Each year, this place is crowded with thousands of international visitors so you should come to Kuang Si Waterfalls early.
Day 21-22: Discover one of the quietest capital cities – Vientiane
If you want to find somewhere to leave the hustle and bustle of other cities, Vientiane is your ideal getaway destination with an impressive temple system in your Vietnam Cambodia Laos 3 weeks itinerary. Your journey should be started in the tranquil Wat Sisaket – the only remaining time after the invasion of Siamese people in 1828. This temple is packed with a broad spectrum of miniature Buddha statues.
Continue your journey to the “Temple of the Emerald Buddha” – Wat Phra Keo and Patuxay monument, you will have an opportunity to have panoramic views of the city. Finally, you should finish your trip at the extraordinary Buddha Park with a collection of more than 200 Buddhist and Hindu statues and many intriguing sculptures, which is contradictory to the peaceful atmosphere outside.
After a long journey, you should take your time to sit back and enjoy the local massage technique of Laos people. A relaxing massage uses entirely natural ingredients inside herbal sauna and steam rooms which is good for releasing your stress. All ingredients will be boiled in a traditional Laotian bathhouse in a private room to create an increase in in-door temperature for relaxing massage.
With the above useful information, Asianway Travel hopes you can make a detailed preparation for your Vietnam, Cambodia, and Laos for 3 weeks to get the most out of your Vietnam Cambodia Laos 3 week itinerary experience. Do you want a customized travel plan? Let Asianway Travel help you by filling out the request form or sending your request to our mail booking@asianwaytravel.com.
Besides Vietnam Cambodia Laos 3 weeks itinerary, you can add some references below to enjoy interesting experiences in these Indochina countries.
>>> Explore Vietnam, Cambodia, and Laos with:
