This itinerary from Ho Chi Minh via Cambodia to Bangkok offers a fascinating route through Southeast Asia, bringing together cultural diversity and breathtaking landscapes.
Southeast Asia itinerary: From Ho Chi Minh City to Bangkok
Vietnam - Cambodia - Thailand
Train tickets
12GO | BAOLAU
Countries
Vietnam | Cambodia | Thailand
Rail passes
-
Price range
$
Travel time
approx. 35 hours
Distance
1,450 km
Stops
7 stops
Means of transport
Train, bus, ferry
Recommended trip length
2–3 weeks
Best time to travel
December – April
The stages of your journey in detail
Ho Chi Minh City: History, art and partying
Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon) is one of the most famous places to visit in Vietnam. It's a great place for lovers of history, art, food and culture. It's also a great spot for nightlife, with a warm and welcoming energy. You can take river boat tours for an interesting view of the city, or visit the museum that depicts the horrors of the Vietnam War. Head to the local markets and try some of the delicacies from the street vendors.
Saigon Notre-Dame Cathedral sheds light on an often overlooked elegance of the city. The cathedral sits right next to 30/4 Park and is a good starting point for trips to other sights in the city. For history buffs, the Independence Palace is a great place to visit. When you step inside the building, its design and structure transport you to another era. You get the chance to explore the bomb shelter in the basement and see the original maps on the walls that were hung during the war.
A great way to get to know the city is a motorbike tour, giving you the chance to feel the city's buzz and live like a local. Plenty of tour operators will take you along the Saigon River and to the city's many historic sites. It's a great sightseeing tour in a short space of time.
Ho Chi Minh – Sinh Tourist Office Phnom Penh – Sing Tourist Office
Phnom Penh: Cambodia's cultural centre
You've made it across the border to the Cambodian capital, Phnom Penh. A vibrant, lively city where you'll quickly find your way around. In Phnom Penh, the cultural centre of Cambodia, you'll find colourful markets, plenty of exciting things to do and local food.
The Royal Palace is an impressive building in the city and the official residence of the King. Visitors can explore parts of the palace, such as the gardens, the temple libraries and the galleries spread across the palace grounds. Another impressive building in the city is the National Museum of Cambodia, which displays artefacts from the Angkor period. You'll find rare pieces here, including an 11th-century bronze Vishnu statue.
Between 1975 and 1979, millions of Cambodians died, and more than a million bodies lie in mass graves at the Killing Fields. Visitors pay their respects when they visit the fields and the memorial, which educate people about the horrors of what happened and commemorate those who lost their lives. To learn more about this period of Cambodian history, visit the Tuol Sleng Genocide Museum, also known as S21 Prison.
Phnom Penh Station Kampot Station
Kampot: Riverside Town
Kampot, the riverside town, has become a popular water sports playground for tourists along this Southeast Asia itinerary. Surrounded by lush green countryside and authentic cuisine, there's plenty to experience when you visit the lively town of Kampot.
If you'd like a different perspective on the landscape, head out on the Crab Shuttle and take in Cambodia's unspoilt coastline. Enjoy the relaxing waves along the shore, watch the fish swimming through the ocean, and then try Cambodia's delicious coastal cuisine.
Cambodia has lots of Buddhist temples, but near Kampot you'll find the Phnom Chhngok cave temple, the only cave temple in the whole country. The hidden cave greets you with elephant-shaped statues and a view over the town.
Kampot Station Sihanoukville Station
Sihanoukville: Unspoilt beaches
The coastal town of Sihanoukville is a popular destination in Cambodia, as it is one of the few places where the country meets the sea. It has unspoilt beaches that are well worth a visit, a wide choice of international food, exciting nightlife, thrilling water sports and inviting beach bars.
Just because you've settled in by the beach doesn't mean you'll miss out on the Buddhist temples. Wat Leu temple resembles a pagoda and is very different from the famous Angkor Wat temple. Here you'll find golden decorations standing out against the black Buddha statue – and keep an eye out for the carved three-headed white elephant.
Sihanoukville is widely known for its beaches, which of course you simply have to visit. Every beach has white sand leading into azure water, with a view over the Gulf of Thailand. Some beaches worth a visit are Serendipity and Otres Beach.
And don't worry, there are plenty of beach bars nearby to quench your thirst. While you enjoy the sounds of the ocean, you can dive into the blue waters and try a bit of water sport. The surrounding waters are a paradise for coral and fascinating marine life, so have a go at diving or snorkelling. You might even get the chance to kayak or surf, if that's more your thing.
Sihanoukville Port Koh Rong Samloem
Koh Rong: Cambodia's tropical island
Near Sihanoukville there are several remote tropical island paradises you can visit. Koh Rong and its sister island Koh Rong Samloem are particularly popular with tourists. These islands used to be fishing villages; today they're a favourite destination for tourists visiting Cambodia. You can buy souvenirs, go to lively bars and enjoy delicious local specialities before relaxing on the soft white sandy beaches. We recommend choosing where to stay accordingly, as Koh Rong is more of a party island, while Koh Rong Samloem is a quieter one.
You don't need to worry about which island to stay on, because on Koh Rong and its sister island alike, it goes without saying that you'll be spending time on the beach. You can while away your days on powder-soft sandy beaches that run into turquoise water. Find the perfect spot to soak up the sun, then cool off in the water. As the water around the islands is so clear, it's perfect for snorkelling – you'll get the chance to explore the life in the surrounding waters.
Why not join a bioluminescence tour? They're often sold on the beach. What makes the island of Koh Rong special is its bioluminescent plankton. On your tour you'll be taken to the areas with the least light pollution, so you have the chance to see this breathtaking sight.
Sihanoukville Siem Reap
Siem Reap – Temples galore
Siem Reap, home of the famous Angkor Wat temple, draws visitors from all over the world. But it's also an exciting city to explore, offering beautiful surroundings and adventure. Take a trip to a nearby waterfall for a swim, ride the cable car among the gibbons living in the forest, and enjoy delicious food just waiting to be tasted.
Probably the most famous thing to do in Siem Reap is visiting Angkor Wat. But why not arrive in style and hire a tuk-tuk for the day? As your driver takes you through the city to the complex, you might even get an interesting history lesson about the temples that gives you a fresh perspective. Or rent a couple of bikes at the entrance and explore the 162-hectare site by bicycle. For a different view, you can take in Angkor Wat and the surrounding temples on a sunrise hot-air balloon ride.
Every evening you have the chance to experience Phare, the Cambodian Circus, with Cirque du Soleil-style performances in which the Cambodian theme shines through the storytelling. Siem Reap has lots of interesting dishes to try, one of them being tarantula. At the night markets you'll often find these eight-legged critters deep-fried and served with chilli, which gives them a fiery kick.
Siem Reap Station Bangkok Khao San Road
Bangkok: Get lost…
Bangkok truly is a city that never sleeps. Always on the move, this metropolis has something for everyone, at any time of day. Whether it's the impressive temples in the middle of the city, the mouth-watering street food or the wild nightlife everyone raves about
In the Thai capital you should visit Wat Pho, home to the giant Reclining Buddha. At 46 metres long and 15 metres high, you'll be amazed by its size and beauty. The statue is the temple's main attraction, but inside you'll also find murals featuring 400 Buddhas. The temple is also home to a school of traditional Thai massage. Besides Wat Pho, there are several other temples along the Chao Phraya River, which are easy to reach by the small boats* that run regularly in the area (*you can buy tickets for these at the piers).
Something you don't get to see every day is the Maeklong Railway Market, a market set up on a working railway line. When the train sounds its horn, the vendors quickly pack up and step aside as the train rolls through where goods were being sold just moments before. As soon as the train has passed, the market carries on as if nothing had happened.
Recommended accommodation:
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Train connections on this Southeast Asia itinerary
Here you'll find a list of the connections for this itinerary from Ho Chi Minh to Bangkok.
From > To
Duration (h)
Changes
Transport
Ho Chi Minh to Phnom Penh
6:00
0-1
Bus
Phnom Penh to Kampot
4:40
Direct
Train
Kampot to Sihanoukville
2:10
Direct
Train
Sihanoukville to Koh Rong
0:30-0:50
Direct
Ferry
Koh Rong to Siem Reap
12:45
1
Ferry | Bus
Siem Reap to Bangkok
8:30
1
Bus | Train
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