This route pairs the big highlights with a few slower days, finishing among Borneo’s wildlife and rainforest. It’s an ambitious multi-country trip, so it uses flights for the longer jumps and keeps each day’s sightseeing clustered by area.
Budget
Excluding international flights and accommodation: roughly ฿3,000–฿6,000, US$150–US$300, ₫8,000,000–₫16,000,000 and RM1,500–RM3,500 per person, plus regional flights and tours. Costs vary by season, transport style and tour inclusions.
Best time to visit
November to February is generally a good window for this route, though weather varies by region. Borneo is tropical year-round; check local rain and sea conditions, and note that Ha Long Bay cruises can be affected by weather.
Bangkok: Old City
Ease into Thailand with riverside temples and classic Old City sights close together.
Morning
Visit
Explore the Reclining Buddha and temple grounds. From Suvarnabhumi Airport, allow about 50–75 minutes by taxi to the Old City.
About ฿300Afternoon
See the Grand Palace
Walk about 10 minutes from to the Grand Palace; dress modestly and allow time for security and the grounds.
About ฿500Evening
Dinner at Tha Tian
Walk about 10 minutes back toward the river for dinner around Tha Tian, with views toward Wat Arun after dark.
About ฿150–฿400
Bangkok: canals and Chinatown
Move from a quieter canal-side neighborhood to the lively lanes and food stalls of Chinatown.
Morning
Explore Jim Thompson House
Tour the traditional teak house and its collection. Allow around 25 minutes by taxi from the Old City.
About ฿200Afternoon
Browse
Take a taxi about 20 minutes to for old shophouses, street art and riverside lanes.
FreeEvening
Eat along
Walk about 15 minutes from to ; choose a busy stall and expect crowds.
About ฿200–฿600
Bangkok: markets and riverside
Spend a relaxed day among market stalls and the riverfront, with an easy evening viewpoint.
Morning
Browse
Allow about 25–40 minutes by BTS or taxi from central Bangkok; the market is busiest on weekends.
About ฿0–฿500Afternoon
Visit the
Travel about 25 minutes by taxi or BTS from Chatuchak to the city-center galleries and exhibitions.
FreeEvening
Watch sunset at Wat Arun
Take a taxi about 20 minutes to the river, then a short ferry crossing to the temple; check opening times.
About ฿100
Siem Reap: arrival and town
Fly to Siem Reap and keep the first day gentle with a central market and an easy dinner.
Morning
Fly from Bangkok to Siem Reap
Allow roughly 1 hour 10 minutes in the air, plus airport time and immigration. Local transport from to town typically takes about 60 minutes.
About US$80–US$220Afternoon
Browse the Old Market
After checking in, take a tuk-tuk about 10–20 minutes from the airport shuttle drop-off or your hotel, depending on location.
FreeEvening
Walk
Walk about 5 minutes from the Old Market for a casual dinner and an early night before the temple visit.
About US$5–US$15
Angkor: sunrise and the grand circuit
See at sunrise, then focus on the nearby major temples before the heat builds.
Morning
Watch sunrise at
Leave Siem Reap around 4:30–5:00 a.m.; the drive to the temple is about 20–30 minutes. A one-day Angkor pass is required.
About US$37Afternoon
Explore Angkor Thom and Bayon
Travel about 15 minutes by tuk-tuk from to Angkor Thom; take a midday break to avoid the hottest hours.
About Included in Angkor passEvening
See Ta Prohm
Ride about 15 minutes from Bayon to Ta Prohm, then return to town in roughly 25 minutes; confirm the final entry time.
About Included in Angkor pass
Siem Reap: countryside and river
Take a slower day beyond the main temple circuit, with a countryside excursion and a restful evening.
Morning
Visit Banteay Srei
Hire a tuk-tuk or car for the roughly 60–75 minute trip from Siem Reap; the intricately carved temple is worth the early start.
About Included in Angkor passAfternoon
See the
Return to town in about 60 minutes, then allow around 20 minutes by tuk-tuk to reach the museum.
About US$12Evening
Have dinner near the Old Market
Take a tuk-tuk about 10 minutes back to the Old Market area for Khmer dishes and a relaxed stroll.
About US$6–US$15
Hanoi: arrival and Old Quarter
Fly to Hanoi and settle in around the lake and Old Quarter, where the first evening is easy on foot.
Morning
Fly from Siem Reap to Hanoi
Direct services vary by season; when available, the flight is about 1 hour 45 minutes. Allow around 45 minutes by car from Hanoi airport to the Old Quarter.
About ₫2,000,000–₫5,500,000Afternoon
Walk around
From the Old Quarter, walk about 5–15 minutes to the lake, depending on your hotel.
FreeEvening
Explore the Old Quarter
Walk about 5 minutes from the lake into the Old Quarter’s lanes for dinner and a first taste of Hanoi street food.
About ₫80,000–₫250,000
Hanoi: historic center
Keep the day in central Hanoi, linking its temple of literature, historic prison and French Quarter.
Morning
Visit the Temple of Literature
Take a taxi about 15 minutes from to this historic university complex.
About ₫70,000Afternoon
Tour
Ride about 10 minutes from the Temple of Literature or walk around 25 minutes; allow time for the exhibits.
About ₫50,000Evening
See the
Walk about 15 minutes from Hoa Lo through the French Quarter; check the schedule if you’d like to catch a performance.
Free
Hanoi: West Lake and the Old Quarter
Pair a quiet lakeside morning with Hanoi’s famous coffee and a traditional water-puppet performance.
Morning
Visit
Take a taxi about 20 minutes from the Old Quarter to the pagoda on West Lake; dress respectfully.
FreeAfternoon
Try egg coffee at
Ride about 20 minutes back to the Old Quarter for a café break and time to browse nearby lanes.
About ₫30,000–₫60,000Evening
Watch a water-puppet show
Walk about 5 minutes from the café area to the theater; reserve a performance time in advance.
About ₫100,000–₫200,000
Ha Long Bay: karsts and calm waters
Spend a full day cruising among ’s limestone islands, returning to Hanoi in the evening.
Morning
Travel to
A tour van generally takes about 2.5–3 hours each way from Hanoi; choose a reputable operator and confirm pickup details.
About ₫1,500,000–₫3,500,000Afternoon
Cruise the bay
Board at the cruise port and spend several hours on the water, often with a cave or kayak stop included in the tour.
About Included in cruiseEvening
Return to Hanoi
The return drive usually takes about 2.5–3 hours; have dinner near your hotel or on the way back with your tour group.
About ₫80,000–₫250,000
Hoi An: arrival and riverside
Fly to Da Nang, transfer to Hoi An and spend the afternoon discovering the lantern-lit historic center.
Morning
Fly from Hanoi to Da Nang
The flight takes about 1 hour 20 minutes; allow about 45 minutes by car from Da Nang airport to Hoi An.
About ₫1,200,000–₫3,500,000Afternoon
Explore
From your hotel, walk or take a short taxi ride of around 5–15 minutes to the pedestrian-friendly historic center.
About ₫120,000Evening
Walk the and riverside
Walk about 5 minutes through the Ancient Town to the bridge, then continue along the river for dinner.
About Included in Ancient Town ticket
Hoi An: countryside and beach
Balance a hands-on morning in the countryside with a breezy afternoon at .
Morning
Take a basket-boat ride at Cam Thanh
Travel about 15–20 minutes by taxi or bicycle from the Ancient Town to the water coconut forest; book with a responsible local operator.
About ₫150,000–₫400,000Afternoon
Relax at
Ride about 20 minutes from Cam Thanh, or around 15 minutes from town, to the beach.
FreeEvening
Dinner at
Take a taxi about 15 minutes back to the Ancient Town for a well-loved Vietnamese meal.
About ₫150,000–₫350,000
Ho Chi Minh City: arrival and District 1
Fly south and spend the first day around the city’s central landmarks and lively pedestrian boulevard.
Morning
Fly from Da Nang to Ho Chi Minh City
The flight takes about 1 hour 25 minutes; allow 30–60 minutes by car from the airport to central District 1, traffic permitting.
About ₫1,200,000–₫3,500,000Afternoon
Visit the
Take a taxi about 10–20 minutes from the airport or your hotel, depending on traffic and location.
About ₫40,000Evening
Stroll
Walk about 15 minutes from the palace to the pedestrian boulevard for an easy evening and dinner nearby.
Free
Ho Chi Minh City: museums and market
Explore central history and architecture before finishing with a browse through .
Morning
Visit the
Take a taxi about 10 minutes from Nguyen Hue or walk around 20 minutes from central hotels.
About ₫40,000Afternoon
See
Ride about 10 minutes from the museum or walk around 20 minutes to this landmark building.
FreeEvening
Browse
Walk about 15 minutes from the post office to the market; bargain politely and check prices before ordering food.
About ₫50,000–₫300,000
Borneo: Kota Kinabalu arrival
Fly to Sabah and keep the evening close to the waterfront after a travel-heavy day.
Morning
Fly from Ho Chi Minh City to Kota Kinabalu
Direct flights may not run every day, so expect a connection if needed; total travel can take 5–9 hours. The airport is about 15–25 minutes by car from central Kota Kinabalu.
About RM500–RM1,500Afternoon
Settle in around the waterfront
Take a taxi about 15–25 minutes from the airport to the city center, then check in and rest.
FreeEvening
Have dinner at
Walk about 10–15 minutes from the waterfront to for a relaxed meal; its Sunday market is a separate morning option.
About RM15–RM50
Kota Kinabalu: islands and sea
Spend the day snorkeling and swimming around the islands just off the Kota Kinabalu coast.
Morning
Take a boat to
Reach with a 5–15 minute taxi ride from central hotels, then take a roughly 15–20 minute boat.
About RM35–RM100Afternoon
Snorkel at
Boats between the park’s islands typically take about 10–15 minutes; confirm return boat times before settling in.
About RM10–RM50Evening
Return to Kota Kinabalu
The boat back to Jesselton Point takes roughly 15–20 minutes; walk about 10 minutes to dinner near the waterfront.
About Return boat often included
Sandakan: wildlife gateway
Fly to Sandakan and visit the Sepilok conservation sites, a convenient introduction to Sabah’s wildlife.
Morning
Fly from Kota Kinabalu to Sandakan
The flight is about 45 minutes; allow around 20–30 minutes by car from to Sepilok.
About RM150–RM450Afternoon
Visit
The drive from takes around 20–30 minutes; check feeding-session times and keep a respectful distance.
About RM30Evening
Visit the
Walk about 5 minutes from Sepilok’s orangutan center to the sun bear center; confirm evening opening hours before planning this stop.
About RM31
Kinabatangan: river wildlife
Transfer to the and spend the afternoon and evening looking for wildlife from a boat.
Morning
Travel to the
Join a lodge transfer from Sepilok or Sandakan; the road journey to the area usually takes around 2.5–3.5 hours.
About RM250–RM700Afternoon
Take a cruise
Cruises usually depart from the lodge’s river landing, so allow only a few minutes on foot to board; wildlife sightings are never guaranteed.
About Often included in lodge packageEvening
Join a night wildlife cruise
Depart from the same lodge landing after dinner; the boat ride is typically about 1–2 hours.
About Often included in lodge package
Kinabatangan: forest and river
Use a full day in the wildlife corridor for an early river outing and a guided rainforest walk.
Morning
Take a dawn river cruise
Board at your lodge’s river landing, usually a short walk away, for the best chance of spotting active wildlife.
About Often included in lodge packageAfternoon
Join a guided forest walk
Walk from the lodge or take a brief boat transfer to the trailhead; follow your guide’s instructions and wear suitable footwear.
About Often included in lodge packageEvening
Enjoy a final river sunset
Take a short boat ride from the lodge landing for a quieter last look at the river landscape.
About Often included in lodge package
Kota Kinabalu: departure
Return to Kota Kinabalu for your international flight, leaving enough buffer for the long road and air connections.
Morning
Transfer from to
Arrange a lodge transfer; the drive usually takes around 2.5–3.5 hours, and an early departure is wise.
About RM150–RM400Afternoon
Fly from Sandakan to Kota Kinabalu
The flight is about 45 minutes; allow 15–25 minutes by car from Kota Kinabalu Airport to town if connecting to a later flight.
About RM150–RM450Evening
Depart from Kota Kinabalu
Keep a generous connection buffer, especially if your onward international flight is on a separate ticket.
About Varies
Good to know
Pacing and flights
This is a fast-paced itinerary with several flight days. Book regional flights early, and leave extra time for airport transfers and connections.
Entry and tickets
Check current visa and entry requirements for Thailand, Cambodia, Vietnam and Malaysia before departure. Buy Angkor passes through the official ticketing channel and carry temple-appropriate clothing.
Borneo logistics
Reserve Sepilok visits, Kinabatangan lodge transfers and river cruises ahead of time. Wildlife sightings are unpredictable, and lodge packages commonly bundle transport, meals and activities.
Local transport
Use metered taxis or reputable ride-hailing apps where available. For and the Angkor temples, confirm exactly what is included in your tour or driver quote.
Currency and estimates
Prices are approximate per person in local currency and can change; the listed flight and tour ranges are planning estimates, not live fares. In Vietnam, amounts are shown in Vietnamese đồng (₫).