We actually call it "flashpacking" (backpacking in a flash). We traveled in 3 countries in just 9 days. A lot of people we met on the road, said we were crazy for doing this. But I love doing crazy things, so what haha.
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our route |
Our trip started from BKK in Thailand and ended in HCMC in Vietnam. We traveled overland so 3 days just merely went to transiting from country to country. Yeah, I know it was absurd but it was fun! I travel not only to see beautiful sights but also for unique experiences. And we don't get to experience border crossings in our archipelagic country, so why not give it a try? Shallow me. ;)
Below is a sample itinerary based on our trip.
Backpacking South East Asia Sample Itinerary:
Day 0: Off to BKK
0600pm - Check-in at NAIA Terminal 3
0935pm - ETD MNL
1150pm - ETA at BKK
*Sleeping at the airport on the 1st night is an option if you are traveling solo. My flight was delayed so I arrived in BKK at around 2:00 AM already. Why pay for a room when you'll only spend a few hours on it?
My account of Day 0 to Day 1 can be found here:
http://itraveltolive.blogspot.com/2012/08/traipsing-thailand-all-by-myself.html
Day 1: Bangkok Siam Tour
0500am - Transport to your accommodation location
0700am - Check-in at the hotel
0800am - Rest
0930am - Go to a Money Changer
1000am - Start City Tour
0900pm - Rest and Sleep
0800am - Rest
0930am - Go to a Money Changer
1000am - Start City Tour
- Siam Paragon
- Siam Ocean World
- Siam Discovery
- Mah Boon Krong (MBK)
- Bangkok Art and Culture Center
- Jim Thompson’s House
- Central World Plaza
- Amarin Plaza
0900pm - Rest and Sleep
Read about the hotel where I first stayed in BKK from this link:
http://itraveltolive.blogspot.com/2012/08/a-holiday-in-bkk.html
Day 2: Grand Palace and Rattanakosin Walking Tour
0600am - Go to KSR
0700am - Check-in at the guesthouse
0730am - Breakfast
0800am - Start of Tour
Ratchadamnoen or Royal Ave Walking Tour:
0500pm - Go home and freshen up.
0700pm - Dinner
0800pm - onwards -Khao San Road Night Life
My Day 2 journals can be found here:
http://itraveltolive.blogspot.com/2012/09/bangkok-historical-walking-tour.html
http://itraveltolive.blogspot.com/2012/09/thai-food-trip-and-khao-san-by-night.html
Day 3: Thailand to Cambodia Overland Border Crossing
0800am - Start of Tour
- Grand Palace (Open 830am to 330pm)
- Wat Pho or House of Reclining Buddha
- Wat Arun or The Temple of Dawn
Ratchadamnoen or Royal Ave Walking Tour:
- Democracy Monument
- Queens Gallery
- Wat Ratchanatdaram
- Loha Prasat
- Wat Theprithidaram
- Phrakan Fortress
- Phukhao Thong or Golden Mount
- Giant Swing
- War Suthat
0500pm - Go home and freshen up.
0700pm - Dinner
0800pm - onwards -Khao San Road Night Life
My Day 2 journals can be found here:
http://itraveltolive.blogspot.com/2012/09/bangkok-historical-walking-tour.html
http://itraveltolive.blogspot.com/2012/09/thai-food-trip-and-khao-san-by-night.html
Day 3: Thailand to Cambodia Overland Border Crossing
0555am - ETD Bangkok
1135am - ETA Aranyaprathet
1200nn - Cross the border to Poipet, Cambodia
* Ride the free shuttle service to the bus terminal
0100pm - ETD Poipet
0400pm - ETA Siem Reap
0430pm - Check-in at the guesthouse/hotel
0600pm - onwards -Dinner, Explore the city
If you want to find out how we crossed this notorious border, click here:
http://itraveltolive.blogspot.com/2012/09/aranyaprathet-thailands-border-to.html
http://itraveltolive.blogspot.com/2012/10/entering-kingdom-of-cambodia.html
Day 4: Angkor Wat Tour Part 1
0400am - Catch sunrise in Angkor Wat
0700am - Breakfast
0800am - Start of tour
0800am - Start of tour
- South Gate of the Angkor Thom
- Bayon
- Baphoun
- Elephant Terrace
- Terrace of Leper king
- Ta Keo
- Ta Prohm
- Banteay Kdei
- Sras Srang
- Angkor Wat
0600pm - Buffet Dinner with Apsara Show
0900pm - Siem Reap Night Market
Angkor What? Click and find out:
http://itraveltolive.blogspot.com/2012/11/the-majestic-temples-of-angkor.html
Day 5: Angkor Wat Tour Part 2
0700am - Breakfast
0800am - Start tour
0600pm - Back to guesthouse
0700pm - Dinner
0800pm - onwards -Nightlife in Pub St
Read more about Siem Reap's enigmatic beauty from this link:
http://itraveltolive.blogspot.com/2012/11/getting-lost-in-time-and-temples-in.html
Day 6: Phnom Pehn
0600am - Go to the Bus Terminal
0700am - ETD Siem Reap
0100pm - ETA Phnom Pehn
0900pm - Siem Reap Night Market
Angkor What? Click and find out:
http://itraveltolive.blogspot.com/2012/11/the-majestic-temples-of-angkor.html
Day 5: Angkor Wat Tour Part 2
0700am - Breakfast
0800am - Start tour
- Pre Rup
- Bantay Srei
- Bantay Samre
- Tasom
- Preah Khan
- Sunset at Phnom Bakheng
0600pm - Back to guesthouse
0700pm - Dinner
0800pm - onwards -Nightlife in Pub St
Read more about Siem Reap's enigmatic beauty from this link:
http://itraveltolive.blogspot.com/2012/11/getting-lost-in-time-and-temples-in.html
0600am - Go to the Bus Terminal
0700am - ETD Siem Reap
0100pm - ETA Phnom Pehn
0130pm - Check-in at the guesthouse
0200pm - Start your own City Tour
- The Royal Palace
- The National Museum
- The Silver Pagoda
- Wat Phnom
- Wat Ounalom
- Independence Monument
- Central Market
- Tou Sleng
- Choueng Ek
0700pm - Dinner
0800pm - Hang out in Sisowath Quay
*You will not have enough time to see all those listed attractions in half day. If you want to visit all of them, spend a day or two in Phnom Penh. :)
*You will not have enough time to see all those listed attractions in half day. If you want to visit all of them, spend a day or two in Phnom Penh. :)
If you're interested to see Phnom Penh, have a glimpse of it here:
Day 7: Cambodia to Vietnam Overland Border Crossing
0630am - Shuttle service pick up to the terminal
0645am - ETD Phnom Pehn
0100pm - ETA Ho Chi Minh City
0130pm - Check-in at the hotel
0200pm - Start your own City Tour
- City Hall
- Opera house
- Notre Dame Cathedral
- Reunification Palace
- Ho Chi Minh City Museum
0600pm - Dinner
0700pm - onwards -Water Puppet Show or Go Night Market Shopping in Ben Thanh
French colonial structures? Visit Saigon:
http://itraveltolive.blogspot.com/2012/12/lost-in-saigon.html
Day 8: Cu Chi Tunnel Tour and Shopping
0700am - Breakfast
0800am - Cu Chi Tour pick up
0900am - Start of Tour
0130pm - End of Tour
0200pm - Late Lunch
0300pm - onwards -Souvenir shopping
0600pm - check-out from the hotel
0700pm - Dinner and Socials
0900pm - Airport Transfer
1000pm - Check-in at Tan son Nhat Airport
Know more about Vietnam, check this out:
http://itraveltolive.blogspot.com/2012/12/cu-chi-tunnel-tour-and-our-last-night.html
Day 9: Fly back to Manila
0100am - ETD HCMC
0430am - ETA MNL
Accommodation Information:
Bangkok (Siam Area):
Holiday Inn Bangkok
I have all info in this entry:
Accommodation Information:
Bangkok (Siam Area):
Holiday Inn Bangkok
I have all info in this entry:
http://itraveltolive.blogspot.com/2012/08/a-holiday-in-bkk.html
Bangkok (Khao San Road):
New Joe Guesthouse
Address: 81 Trokmayom Chakrapongse Rd. Taladyod, Bangkok 10200
Contact No: +66 2 281 2948
Website: http://www.newjoeguesthouse.com/index.html
Bangkok (Khao San Road):
New Joe Guesthouse
Address: 81 Trokmayom Chakrapongse Rd. Taladyod, Bangkok 10200
Contact No: +66 2 281 2948
Website: http://www.newjoeguesthouse.com/index.html
Room Rates: THB 400-550 for Double Occupancy; THB 500-750 for Triple Occupancy
Siem Reap
Victory Guest House
Address: Road 6 Taphoul Village Svaydungkom Commune Siem Reap, CambodiaContact No: (855) 012 516 566; (855) 012 451 286
Website: http://www.victoryguesthouse.com/index.php
Room Rates: USD 7-12 for Single Rooms; USD 11-15 for Double and Twin Rooms; USD 15-20 for Triple
Siem Reap
Bou Savy Guest House
My complete review is written here:Phnom Penh
Royal Guesthouse and Cafe Bar
***I am not putting up their info. Definitely not recommended.*** Ho Chi Minh City
Red Sun Hotel
Address: 283/17 Pham Ngu Lao Street, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam District 1
Contact No:
Website: They don't have one but you can find them in Agoda, Hostelbookers and Hostelworld
Contact No:
Website: They don't have one but you can find them in Agoda, Hostelbookers and Hostelworld
Room Rates: USD 9 for Standard Double
Summary of Expenses:
PHP 150.00 - Taxi to NAIA T3
750.00 - Terminal fee
1620.00- Travel Tax
----------
PHP 2520.00 - Total Pre-Departure Expenses
Thailand:
Miscellaneous:
THB 199.00 - Happy Simcard60.00 - Prepaid Load
15.00 - Internet Cafe
550.00 - Souvenirs
Transportation:
THB 40.00 - Van to Victory Monument
76.00 - BTS and MRT (3 rides)
19.50 - Bus (3 rides)
30.00 - Taxi to Hua Lamphong
48.00 - Train to Aranyaprathet
25.00 - Tuktuk to the Border
300.00 - Poipet to Siem Reap Bus
Accommodation:
THB 175.00 - 1N New Joe Guesthouse (per pax)
Food:
THB 575.00 - 3 Days
Admission Fees:
THB 400.00 - Grand Palace50.00 - Wat Pho
Thailand Expenses:
THB 824.00 - Misc
538.50 - Transpo
175.00 - Accommodation
575.00 - Food
450.00 - Attraction Fees
---------------
THB 2562.50 - Total Expenses in Baht or
USD 84.00
Cambodia:
Miscellaneous:
USD 42.00 - Souvenirs, Laundry, Foot Massage
Transportation:
USD 2.00 - Tuktuk rides
5.00 - Motorbike Rental (USD7/2pax) and Gas
6.00 - Bus from Siem Reap to Phnom Penh
Accommodation and Tour Package:
USD 33.00 - BouSavy All-In Package in Siem Reap (USD 66 for 2pax)6.50 - Royal Guesthouse in Phnom Penh (USD 13 for 2)
Food:
10.00 - Buffet Dinner + Apsara Show
Tour:
USD 33.00 - Angkor 3-Day Pass
1.00 - Sunrise Tour (not included in the package)
1.00 - Tour Guide
2.00 - Toul Sleng Museum Entrance Fee
Cambodia Expenses:
USD 42.00 - Misc
13.00 - Transpo
39.50 - Accommodation
28.50 - Food
37.00 - Attraction Fees
--------------
USD 160.00 - Total Expenses in Cambo
Vietnam:
Miscellaneous:
USD 21.00 - Souvenirs
Transportation:
USD 10.00 - Bus from Phnom Penh to HCMC
3.50 - Motorbike Rental
4.00 - Taxi Tan Son Nhat Airport
Accommodation:
USD 7.00 - Red Sun Hotel (1.5 days per pax)
USD 10.00 - Bus from Phnom Penh to HCMC
3.50 - Motorbike Rental
4.00 - Taxi Tan Son Nhat Airport
Accommodation:
USD 7.00 - Red Sun Hotel (1.5 days per pax)
Food:
USD 10.00 - 2 DaysTour:
USD 1.00 - HCMC Museum Entrance Fee
6.00 - Cu Chi Tunnel Tour
Vietnam Expenses:
USD 21.00 - Misc
17.50 - Transpo
7.00 - Accommodation
10.00 - Food
10.75 - Attraction Fees
--------------
USD 66.25 - Total Expenses in Vietnam
Total Trip Expenses:
USD 84.00 - Thailand
160.00 - Cambodia
66.25 - Vietnam
--------------
USD 310.25 or
PHP 15,000+++ (based on the international exchange rate that time)
2,520 - Pre-Departure Fees
--------------
PHP 17,520+++
*That amount does not include my airfare and my 1 night stay at the hotel in BKK where I used my employee rate. It only refers to the cash I spent during the actual trip. My airline tickets are prepaid since I booked it months before the trip and my hotel stay was post paid because I used my credit card. Traveling in South East Asia is relatively cheap! What are you waiting for? :)
I was browsing the PTB directory list and found this. Awesome post! I'm planning to visit these 3 countries mid May. Thanks for sharing your itinerary.
ReplyDeleteHi Riz! Thanks for appreciating this post! You're very much welcome. =)
DeleteI also did Indochina in 9 days. Tiring but fun! :)
ReplyDeleteHaha! I know right. Other people don't understand why we Pinoys love to flashpack. Thanks for visiting my site, Kat! =)
DeleteHi!
ReplyDeleteYour blog is very informative!!! :)
Pero I was wondering about sa immigration. I'll be doing Thailand - cambodia - vietnam. Sa Philippine immigration, ok lang ba present ko sa kanila ung vietnam to manila as return tickets? Then sa thai immigration pagdating don, same din? Thanks a lot! :)
Hello Mikel! Appreciate it. :D
DeleteYup, definitely. The only thing that matters is you have a return ticket to Pinas (proof that you will be coming back). Don't worry about Thai Immigration. I've never been asked to show any document every time I come to Thailand (nor in any ASEAN country for that matter). Safe travels! :D