11-Day Vietnam and Cambodia Itinerary: Hanoi, Nha Trang, HCMC and Phnom Penh (Part 1)
- Mario Ng
- Jul 23, 2025
- 7 min read
Updated: Aug 14, 2025
Slow Travel Through Vietnam & Cambodia: A 11-Day Itinerary from Hanoi to Phnom Penh
Trading Aussie Beaches for Southeast Asia’s Soul: A Different Kind of Journey
After my whirlwind trip to Australia in 2022, it was time for another epic journey, this time to Southeast Asia. This time, I will be heading to the neighbouring countries around Singapore with my partner, so this will be a different kind of trip.
Why Hanoi Still Feels Magical: Our Return to Vietnam’s Timeless Capital
We will be heading to Vietnam and aim to visit at least two cities, one of which will be Hanoi. I have always loved Hanoi and have visited the city several times since my first trip there in 2013. Perhaps it is the capital of Vietnam, or it could be due to the heritage buildings around Old Quarter. There is just something magical about Hanoi.
Nha Trang Travel Guide: Beaches, Street Food & Budget Luxury on Vietnam’s Coast
After some contemplation, we decided to visit Nha Trang, a coastal city located north of Ho Chi Minh City. For those unaware, Nha Trang is a beautiful coastal city that many locals visit. Compared to its more famous cousin, Da Nang, many locals claim that Nha Trang offers all the beaches and local dishes at significantly more affordable prices. Sign me up!
Ending in Saigon: Why Ho Chi Minh City Feels Like Home to Us
We then decided to end our trip in Ho Chi Minh City (also known as Saigon), spending a few days there before flying back home to Singapore. Saigon is almost like a second home to me. My partner is from southern Vietnam, and we often travel to Saigon every few months. It has become like a ritual to ‘return’ to Ho Chi Minh City before too long. I found myself mouthing ‘good to be back’ on a few occasions once the plane touched down at Tan Son Nhat International Airport. It is hence a no-brainer that we would end our trip in Vietnam at Saigon.
Flying to Phnom Penh: A Convenient Surprise — How Flight Routes Shaped Our Itinerary
When I checked the flight schedules and planned the dates, I discovered something interesting. Not one but two top Middle Eastern carriers fly to Phnom Penh. Qatar Airways operates a daily flight from Doha to Phnom Penh via Ho Chi Minh City, while Emirates flies from Phnom Penh to Singapore before heading to Dubai. This makes Phnom Penh the ideal city to fly to from Ho Chi Minh City, before returning directly to Singapore. After a few quick calculations and checks on the flight ticket prices, the plan was finalised. We will first head to Hanoi, then travel to Nha Trang, have a short layover in Ho Chi Minh City, and finally fly to Phnom Penh for a few days before returning home to Singapore.
As an AVGeek, this trip would be top-notch. We would be experiencing a grand total of six flights, stepping into four cities. Granted, Saigon is not quite counted since we would only be spending the morning there before heading to Phnom Penh. Still… And so, the stage was set!
Our 6-Flight Itinerary Through Vietnam & Cambodia: Full Flight Schedule Inside
Leg 1: Singapore → Hanoi (via Ho Chi Minh City) - 31 October 2024
Vietnam Airlines VN650 ~ Singapore to Ho Chi Minh City ~ Departure time: 1.15 pm ~ Arrival time: 2.30 pm ~ Flight duration: 2hrs 15 mins
Vietnam Airlines VN252 ~ Ho Chi Minh City to Hanoi ~ Departure time: 4.40 pm ~ Arrival time: 6.45 pm ~ Flight duration: 2hrs 5 mins
Leg 2: Hanoi → Nha Trang - 3 November 2024
Vietnam Airlines VN7557 ~ Hanoi to Nha Trang ~ Departure time: 5.45 pm ~ Arrival time: 7.45 pm ~ Flight duration: 2hrs 0 mins
Leg 3: Nha Trang → Phnom Penh (via Ho Chi Minh City) - 7 November 2024
Vietnam Airlines VN1341 ~ Nha Trang to Ho Chi Minh City ~ Departure time: 8.40 am ~ Arrival time: 9.50 am ~ Flight duration: 1hr 10 mins
Qatar Airways QR970 ~ Ho Chi Minh City to Phnom Penh ~ Departure time: 2.35 pm ~ Arrival time: 3.25 pm ~ Flight duration: 50 mins
Leg 4: Phnom Penh → Singapore - 10 November 2024
Emirates EK349 ~ Phnom Penh to Singapore ~ Departure time: 8.35 pm ~ Arrival time: 11.35 pm ~ Flight duration: 2hrs 0 mins
Where We Stayed in Vietnam & Cambodia: Great Hotels for Comfort & Value
As frequent travellers to Vietnam, we have stayed in several hotels in Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City. Hence, we decided to keep things simple and stay in affordable hotels, using the budget for delicious food instead. We chose to stay in Pan Pacific Hanoi in Hanoi, December Hotel in Nha Trang, and TRIBE Phnom Penh Post Office Square in Phnom Penh.
Pan Pacific Hanoi Review: Timeless Comfort by West Lake
I have previously stayed at Pan Pacific Hanoi a few times, and it is a great value-for-money option at a five-star hotel in Hanoi. Granted, the hotel is showing its age. However, the top-notch service more than makes up for it, and the hotel rooms are spacious with a great view of West Lake.
December Hotel Nha Trang Review: Sea Views for Under S$100
The December Hotel in Nha Trang is well-known locally, and many reviews on social media suggest that it is a top hotel offering excellent value for money. With prices kept so affordable (less than S$100 a night for a sea view room), we thought we had to stay here during our time in the city.
TRIBE Phnom Penh Review: Does Affordable Luxury Deliver?
Finally, our hotel of choice in Phnom Penh would be Tribe Phnom Penh Post Office Square. Tribe Hotels first began in Perth in 2017, with its creators aiming to create a brand renowned for affordable luxury. Since then, Tribe Hotels has expanded to 18 hotels worldwide, with a presence in four cities across Southeast Asia: Phnom Penh, Bali, Bangkok, and Phuket. When I first came across Tribe Hotels, I knew I had to experience the hotel one day. It would be interesting to understand what affordable luxury meant to the creators and whether we would share the same sentiment. We know how many hotels claim to be affordable luxury, but the experience is often let down by a lack of luxury, affordability, or simply poor service. We would be stoked to try this hotel out!
✅ Tip: Check out our full reviews of these hotels below for detailed insights.
11-Day Vietnam & Cambodia Itinerary: Key Dates and City Stops
What We Did and When
31 October 2024 to 3 November 2024: Explore one of our favourite cities in Vietnam: Hanoi
3 November 2024 to 7 November 2024: Chill and unwind in Nha Trang
7 November 2024 (AM): Stopover in Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon)
7 November 2024 to 10 November 2024: Our final leg of the journey in Cambodia (Phnom Penh)
10 November 2024: Complete our journey by flying back home to Singapore
Need a Break? Why a Slow Travel Holiday Might Be Just What You Need
The Joys of Slow Travel: Food, Massages & Doing Nothing in Southeast Asia
This trip to Vietnam and Cambodia would be quite different from the Australian trip I took in 2022. Instead of travelling up and down, from East to West and then East again, this Vietnam-Cambodia trip will be mostly spent relaxing, enjoying local food, and doing some (many) touristy things, such as eating Häagen-Dazs ice cream in downtown Hanoi, visiting cafes across the cities, and getting plenty of massages. While we enjoy embracing local culture, we also enjoy doing touristy things, because, well, we are tourists! We enjoyed the slow pace compared to Singapore, and it definitely made us extremely well-rested. If you are looking for a relaxing trip where you can simply enjoy eating, visit cafes, indulge in plenty of massages, and take in some touristy attractions, you must read this blog series! We can almost certainly assure you that you will be thoroughly rested by the time you return to Singapore after 11 days of non-stop relaxation!
What’s Next?
With everything booked and confirmed, we would soon be on our way to Vietnam! Coming soon, we will take you to Vietnam's capital, where we will spend 4 Days in Hanoi: Food, Cafés & Lake Views.
👉 Coming up in Part 2:
Ever sprinted through Changi, eaten deep-fried pigeon at midnight, and watched a train rush past your face — all in one weekend? Find out how our Hanoi adventure kicked off our 11-day Vietnam-Cambodia journey.
The 11-Day Vietnam and Cambodia Itinerary: Hanoi, Nha Trang, Ho Chi Minh City & Phnom Penh Series
Part 1: 11-Day Vietnam and Cambodia Itinerary: Hanoi, Nha Trang, HCMC and Phnom Penh
Need a break from everything? Follow our 11-day journey through Hanoi, Nha Trang, Ho Chi Minh City, and Phnom Penh — where the only plan was to relax.
Jet lag? Not here. Our first 4 days in Hanoi were packed with Dreamliners, deep-fried pigeon, creamy egg coffee, and train tracks just inches away.
From pho to flan, beachside lounging to seafood feasting, Nha Trang served up sunshine (and a little rain), spa bliss, and a whole lot of food comas.
What started with a passport panic turned into a Phnom Penh adventure filled with massages, mocktails, mango sticky rice, and a whole lot of Cambodian kindness.
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