Four journeys, told by the leg

The Long Way Round — 30 days, three countries, no flights

For people with a month who want to see how Vietnam, Laos and Cambodia join up on the ground. It crosses from central Vietnam into Laos at Lao Bao, follows the Mekong south through Champasak and the 4000 Islands, enters Cambodia at Trapeang Kriel and ends at Angkor. It has the most border crossings and the most basic stretch of accommodation, around Kratie and on the islands. Read the journey.

Vietnam by Rail & River — 21 days, one country

For a first long trip, or for travellers who want one visa, one currency and one language of signs. The railway does the work from Hanoi to Hue, over the Hai Van Pass and down to Saigon, and the last week is spent on the water in the Mekong Delta. The long train leg south of Da Nang can be broken if twenty hours on board is too much. Read the journey.

Mekong Slow Boat & Laos Overland — 18 days, one country

For travellers who want Laos at Lao speed. Two days on the slow boat, five nights in Luang Prabang, the fast train to Vientiane, then the south: Champasak and four nights in the islands. It has the one leg on this site where we usually suggest a flight. Read the journey.

Cambodia & Laos the Slow Way — 22 days, two countries

For people who have already seen Vietnam, or who want to start at Angkor rather than finish there. It uses Cambodia's train to the river town of Kampot, the road north along the Mekong to Kratie and the land border into southern Laos. Read the journey.

• Private for your party; no fixed departures, no shared groups.
• Most stays of two to five nights, with at least one empty day in every five or six.
• A stop of three nights or more roughly every week, so laundry can be done properly.
• Hotels named in the quote, with the room type.
• Each leg confirmed against the operator's timetable before you travel, not from memory.
• International flights, visas and travel insurance left with you — we say why on the pricing page.

None of these is a short trip with extra days added. If your time is under eighteen days, the honest advice is to pick one country and one or two regions; trying to cross three borders in two weeks puts you on the road for half the trip.

None of them is a luxury hotel tour either. On the river stretches of Laos and Cambodia, the choice of rooms is small, and we would rather tell you that now than in a quote.

If you are not sure which journey fits, describe your time and interests in the form. We reply with a short comparison by email. You can also read how booking works first.