Thai Indochina Explorer

Travel from Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam, to Bangkok, Thailand

Beginning in frenetic Ho Chi Minh City, we cross three countries in two weeks, making for a varied and fascinating trip. We encounter the majestic ruins of Angkor, the fertile Mekong Delta, and the sobering recent history of Vietnam and Cambodia. Getting off the beaten track, we journey into rural Cambodia with time to explore the pepper plantations of Kampot and a day trip by boat to a tropical island to relax and swim. A short stay in Bangkok rounds off our trip perfectly as we explore colourful markets with a mouth-watering array at meal times. The delicious cuisine is a treasure of this exotic region.

People, Places & Planet

We work hard to create trips that improve life for the people and places we visit, and look after the planet we explore. Find out more about our sustainable travel ethos and practice here, and find out about the work of the Exodus Travels Foundation here.

Some sustainable travel highlights of this trip include:

People

How this trip helps improve life for local communities.

• The use of a local guide means our customers will be well informed about local traditions, and cultural and social sensitivities. During the trip, we use a local leader from either Thailand, Vietnam or Cambodia and different local guides from each country, allowing guests to interact with staff from all countries.
• This trip brings income and opportunity to the destination community through the inclusion of locally owned hotels and restaurants, the emphasis on eating locally produced food and support of other local enterprise.
• During the trip, we encourage clients to visit the Friends restaurant in Phnom Penh, a social enterprise run by local NGO Mith Samlanh. Behind the restaurant, the organisation offers food, water, shelter, medical care, training and educational facilities for more than 1,800 homeless, vulnerable or abandoned children every day. By visiting, our business goes towards changing the lives of these young people and giving them the right direction towards schooling, employment or back to their families.
• Guests stay overnight and eat a delicious home-cooked meal in a homestay in the Mekong Delta.
• We do a lot to celebrate cottage industries on this tour, as this directly benefits local people and is fascinating and enjoyable for travellers. For example, in the Mekong Delta, we visit small businesses and factories selling handmade coconut sweets, rice paper, soya bean sauce and popped rice among other things.

Places

How this trip helps protect and conserve local landscapes and nature.

• By travelling in a small group, led by a local guide, we ‘tread lightly’ to minimise our impact on local resources and the environment.
• Our trips adhere to ABTA’s industry-leading animal welfare guidelines to ensure the best possible practices with regard to working animals and wildlife viewing. Our animal-welfare policy can be found here.
  
• We work with our partners on the ground to proactively eliminate or reduce waste, for example eliminating all single-use plastic water bottles and instead providing refills for reusable bottles.
• When visiting landmarks and cultural sites such as the War Remnants Museum, Cu Chi tunnels, Angkor, the Royal Palace complex and Wat Po, our fees contribute to the upkeep and maintenance of these places.
• We provide clients with a reusable, locally made tote bag at the start of the tour, offering an alternative to single-use plastic bags and a souvenir to take home.

 Planet

How we seek to keep the carbon footprint of this trip low.

• Read about Exodus Travels’ Planet Promise here, including our rewilding and carbon compensation commitments for every customer who travels.
• Accommodation and restaurants in the itinerary use locally sourced food, which has not been transported long distances.
• We choose to travel by road from Ho Chi Minh City to Bangkok, and not use flights throughout the itinerary.
• Vegetarian options are available at most accommodation and restaurants.

Tips for sustainable travel on this trip

• Leave no trace: We do all we can to ensure we leave no rubbish behind in the wild and beautiful places we visit; we ask that you do the same. If there are no recycling facilities in-country, we’d ask you to consider bringing recyclable materials home with you.
• Plastic waste reduction: Please bring your own reusable water bottle on this trip; filtered water will be provided where tap water is not drinkable.
• Cultural respect:
  • Please remember, you will be expected to cover your legs and arms (to the elbow) during visits to temples and sacred sites so packing a sarong or other suitable clothing is recommended. Also remember to remove hats when visiting a sacred site.
  • Do not rest your chopsticks upright in a bowl of rice as this symbolises the burning of incense (which is usually reserved for times of mourning).
  • One should not show the soles of their feet or touch someone’s head, both are considered disrespectful.

Visa

Cambodia

Travellers from the UK, US and EU normally need a visa to enter Cambodia. Please note, visa requirements often change and it is your responsibility to obtain any required visas for this trip. Therefore, we recommend that you check with the nearest embassy or consulate of your chosen destination(s), including any countries you may be transiting or transferring through.

Some local governments provide guidance on what visas their citizens need. To help, we’ve gathered a selection of useful links below.

• Australia: www.smartraveller.gov.au/destinations/asia/cambodia
• Canada: www.travel.gc.ca/destinations/cambodia
• United Kingdom: www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice/cambodia/entry-requirements
• USA: www.travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/international-travel/International-Travel-Country-Information-Pages/Cambodia.html

Important advice regarding e-Visas:

Please note, e-Visas are not accepted at all border checkpoints when travelling overland into Cambodia.

This applies to the following borders/trips:

• Tinh Bien,Vietnam/Phnom Den, Takeo, Cambodia border: Thai Indochina Explorer (Trip Code: AOX)
• Xa Xia, Vietnam/Prek Chak, Cambodia (Ha Tien crossing): South East Asia Adventure (Trip Code: FIJ)

You can only purchase a tourist visa on arrival at these borders as e-Visas will not be accepted.

More information can be found at:

• https://www.evisa.gov.kh/
• https://www.evisa.gov.kh/information/port_entry/3

Thailand

Visa requirements vary depending on your nationality and often change. It is your responsibility to obtain any required visas for this trip. Therefore, we recommend that you check with the nearest embassy or consulate of your chosen destination(s), including any countries you may be transiting or transferring through.

Some local governments provide guidance on what visas their citizens need. To help, we’ve gathered a selection of useful links below.

• Australia: www.smartraveller.gov.au/destinations/asia/thailand
• Canada: www.travel.gc.ca/destinations/thailand
• United Kingdom: www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice/thailand/entry-requirements
• USA: www.travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/international-travel/International-Travel-Country-Information-Pages/Thailand.html

Vietnam

Travellers from the UK normally do not need a visa to enter Vietnam for visits up to 45 days, while US citizens normally do need a visa to enter. Visa requirements for EU citizens vary by country.

Please note, visa requirements often change and it is your responsibility to obtain any required visas for this trip. Therefore, we recommend that you check with the nearest embassy or consulate of your chosen destination(s), including any countries you may be transiting or transferring through. Some local governments provide guidance on what visas their citizens need. To help, we’ve gathered a selection of useful links below.

• Australia: www.smartraveller.gov.au/destinations/asia/vietnam
• Canada: www.travel.gc.ca/destinations/vietnam
• United Kingdom: www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice/vietnam
• USA:  www.travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/international-travel/International-Travel-Country-Information-Pages/Vietnam.html

Vaccination

Cambodia

There are no required vaccinations. However, recommended vaccinations include hepatitis A, tetanus, typhoid, cholera, hepatitis B, Japanese encephalitis, rabies and tuberculosis. You will also need a yellow fever vaccination certificate if you're arriving from a country with risk of yellow fever transmission or transiting for more than 12 hours through a country with risk of yellow fever transmission. Please confirm your vaccine recommendations and requirements with your doctor or travel clinic.

Dengue fever, a tropical viral disease spread by daytime biting mosquitoes, is a known risk in places visited. There is currently no vaccine or prophylaxis available, so take the usual precautions to avoid mosquito bites.

Thailand

There are no required vaccinations. However, recommended vaccinations include tetanus, hepatitis A, hepatitis B, Japanese encephalitis, rabies, tuberculosis and typhoid. You will also need a yellow fever vaccination certificate if you're arriving from a country with risk of yellow fever transmission or transiting for more than 12 hours through a country with risk of yellow fever transmission. Please confirm all the above with your doctor or travel clinic.

Dengue and zika, both viral diseases spread by mosquitoes, are a known risk in places visited. There are currently no vaccines or prophylaxes available, so take the usual precautions to avoid mosquito bites.

Vietnam

There are no required vaccinations. However, you may want to speak to your doctor or travel clinic about vaccinations for hepatitis A, tetanus, typhoid, cholera, hepatitis B, Japanese encephalitis, rabies and tuberculosis. The risk of malaria is slight, but you may want to consult your doctor or travel clinic for further advice.

Similarly, dengue and zika, both viral diseases spread by mosquitoes, are known risks in Vietnam. There is currently no vaccine or prophylaxis available, so we strongly recommend you take the usual precautions to avoid mosquito bites.

Eating and Drinking

All breakfasts, two lunches and one dinner are included.

The food on this trip is a real highlight for many. Southeast Asian cuisine is known for its abundance of freshly prepared dishes with strong aromatic flavours. There is a focus on herbs and citrus, ensuring each dish packs a punch; chilli features highly too, but is easily avoided if desired.

Typically most dishes will come with rice and many are often served in a banana leaf with a variety of dips and herbs served separately. Visiting three countries means a different culinary experience every time you cross the border; ensure you try freshly made pad Thai noodles from the Bangkok street stalls, the fish amok curry in Cambodia for a creamy coconut-based fragrant curry; and the banh xeo (huge sizzling pancakes) in Vietnam.

Western food is readily available almost everywhere, with the exception of the night in the Mekong Delta.

Vegetarian food is widely available; however, the offering will be fairly similar in most places within each country. Please advise at time of booking if you have any dietary requirements.

Weather

The weather will be hot and humid throughout, with daytime temperatures between 28C and 34C (82F and 93F). At times, it may reach 40C (104F). It is only a little cooler at nights. The region is mostly dry between December and April; there's a rainy season from May to November, when rain comes in short, heavy bursts with bright sunshine between.

In Cambodia, the weather is hot and humid year round. The dry season is late October to May and the monsoon season is normally between June and September; there is an obvious transitional time between those settled periods. The dry season has hot days and generally clear skies, though you can expect the odd shower. The monsoon season has short, sharp bursts of rain and is generally overcast all day, though this does not detract from the enjoyment of the place; you just need to take an umbrella!

In Thailand, the weather patterns are very similar to Cambodia. Expect year-round temperatures of 23C-35C (73F-95F). The rainy season will normally run from June to September when you should expect short, sharp showers but the sun will normally break through.

Is this trip for you?

This trip is rated Activity Level 2 (Leisurely/Moderate).

This holiday is designed to help you see the best parts of Southeast Asia using a mixture of boats in the Mekong Delta and private buses. There is a lot to see, but the trip is paced so it doesn't feel too rushed. On some days, there are a few longer necessary drives between destinations. However, there is plenty of time for sightseeing and the trip has numerous stops where we spend two or more nights.

Following a review of all our trips we have categorised this trip as generally not suitable for persons of reduced mobility. However if you are a regular traveller on such trips, please contact customer services to discuss the trip and your personal condition.