How to Plan a Southeast Asia Multi-Country Trip
Complete step-by-step guide to planning an unforgettable multi-country adventure through Thailand, Vietnam, Cambodia, and beyond
What You'll Learn
Multi-City Flights
Calculate flight times between countries
Budget Planning
Estimate costs for multiple countries
Visa Requirements
Check entry requirements for US travelers
Route Optimization
Plan efficient multi-country routes
Calculate Multi-City Flight Times
Start by understanding flight times from the US to Southeast Asia, plus inter-country connections. This helps you choose the best entry and exit points for your trip.
US to Southeast Asia Flight Times
LAX → Bangkok (BKK)
17h 45mSFO → Singapore (SIN)
16h 30mLAX → Hanoi (HAN)
19h 15mLAX → Bali (DPS)
18h 30mInter-Country Flight Times
Bangkok → Siem Reap
1h 15m • $60-120
Bangkok → Hanoi
2h 10m • $80-150
Hanoi → Ho Chi Minh
2h 15m • $50-100
Ho Chi Minh → Bali
3h 30m • $100-200
Singapore → Bali
2h 30m • $80-150
Bangkok → Bali
3h 45m • $100-180
Pro Tip: Open-Jaw Tickets
Book an open-jaw ticket (fly into Bangkok, out of Bali) to avoid backtracking. Often costs the same as round-trip to one city and saves you time and money on positioning flights.
Budget Your Multi-Country Trip
Southeast Asia offers incredible value, but costs vary significantly between countries. Use our calculator to estimate your total budget across multiple destinations.
Daily Budget by Country
Thailand
Vietnam
Cambodia
Indonesia (Bali)
Sample 21-Day Budget (3 Countries)
Budget Breakdown Tips
- Accommodation: 30-40% of daily budget
- Food: 25-30% (street food saves money)
- Activities: 20-25% (temples, tours, diving)
- Transportation: 10-15% (local transport is cheap)
- Buffer: Always add 15-20% for unexpected costs
Plan Distances & Land Travel
Not all travel needs to be by air. Use our distance calculator to plan overland routes, which can save money and offer incredible experiences.
Popular Overland Routes
Bangkok → Siem Reap (Cambodia)
250 milesBus
8-9 hours
$15-25
Private Car
5-6 hours
$80-120
Flight
1h 15m
$60-120
Hanoi → Ha Long Bay (Vietnam)
100 milesBus
3-4 hours
$10-15
Private Transfer
2.5-3 hours
$50-80
Ho Chi Minh → Phnom Penh (Cambodia)
145 milesBus
6-7 hours
$12-20
Speedboat
5 hours
$25-35
When to Choose Overland Travel
- Distances under 300 miles
- When you want to see countryside
- Budget-conscious travelers
- No time pressure
- Overnight buses save a hotel night
Check Visa Requirements
Visa requirements vary by country. Use our visa checker to understand what you need before booking flights. Requirements for US passport holders:
Visa Requirements for US Citizens
Thailand
Stay: Up to 30 days (60 days if arriving by air)
Cost: Free
Requirements: Valid passport (6+ months), return ticket
Vietnam
Stay: Up to 90 days
Cost: $25 (e-visa)
Processing: 3 business days, apply online before travel
Cambodia
Stay: Up to 30 days
Cost: $30 (on arrival) or $36 (e-visa)
Requirements: Passport photo, valid passport
Indonesia
Stay: Up to 30 days
Cost: Free (or $35 for 60-day visa on arrival)
Requirements: Valid passport (6+ months), return ticket
Singapore
Stay: Up to 90 days
Cost: Free
Requirements: Valid passport (6+ months)
Malaysia
Stay: Up to 90 days
Cost: Free
Requirements: Valid passport (6+ months), return ticket
Important Visa Tips
- Apply for Vietnam e-visa at least 1 week before travel
- Always have passport photos (2-3) for visa on arrival
- Carry proof of onward travel (flight tickets)
- Ensure passport validity of 6+ months from entry date
- Keep copies of all visa documents
Build Your Perfect Itinerary
Now put it all together! Here's a sample 21-day Thailand-Cambodia-Vietnam itinerary using all our planning tools.
Sample 21-Day Itinerary
Thailand (Bangkok & Chiang Mai)
- Days 1-3: Bangkok (temples, markets, street food)
- Days 4-5: Chiang Mai (1h flight, $50-80)
Cambodia (Siem Reap & Phnom Penh)
- Days 6-8: Siem Reap (bus from Bangkok, 8h, $20)
- Angkor Wat temples, floating villages
- Days 9-10: Phnom Penh (bus, 6h, $15)
Vietnam (South to North)
- Days 11-13: Ho Chi Minh City (bus from Phnom Penh, 6h, $15)
- Days 14-16: Hoi An (flight, 1h 15m, $50-80)
- Days 17-19: Hanoi (flight, 1h 20m, $50-80)
- Days 20-21: Ha Long Bay (bus, 3h, $10-15)
Complete Trip Summary
Total Days
21
Countries
3
Cities
8
Budget
$1,720
Your Complete Southeast Asia Planning Toolkit
Access all the tools you need to plan your perfect multi-country adventure.
Flight Time Calculator
Multi-city flight planning
Budget Calculator
Multi-country cost estimates
Distance Calculator
Plan overland routes
Itinerary Builder
Create your schedule
Download Your Free Planning Template
Get our comprehensive multi-country planning template with visa checklist, budget tracker, and packing list.
Visa Checklist
Track requirements
Budget Tracker
Multi-country expenses
Route Planner
Optimize your journey
Quick Navigation
Download Template
Get our free multi-country planning template with visa checklist and budget tracker.