Valleypoint Campsite: Your next Baguio Destination

How I visited Indochina in 5 Days!

FEBRUARY 2023 

You read it right - in just 5 days! Crossing 3 countries with a very limited time can be done with a carefully curated itinerary and with a bit of luck I suppose. Our schedule was followed without delays - from bus rides to intercity flight and border crossing. All went smoothly as planned! 💕

Here, I'll show you how and hopefully will help you in your future travel!

I personally think that the success of this would rely upon the transport chosen - which for us was taking a plane ride from Siem Reap (REP) to Thailand (DMK). Should you choose the sleeper bus, this will consume at least a day for the travel alone since they do not have a night trip. Cost wise, we were able to book a flight for Php 3,500 per pax vs the bus fare of Php 2,500. A thousand peso additional was definitely worth the comfort and time!

𝑷𝑹𝑬 𝑭𝑳𝑰𝑮𝑯𝑻 𝑷𝑹𝑬𝑷𝑨𝑹𝑨𝑻𝑰𝑶𝑵𝑺

✔︎ 4𝗚 𝗦𝗜𝗠 𝗖𝗔𝗥𝗗 𝗪𝗢𝗥𝗞𝗜𝗡𝗚 𝗜𝗡 𝗔𝗟𝗟 3 𝗖𝗢𝗨𝗡𝗧𝗥𝗜𝗘𝗦! With 5GB Data valid for 8 days.

- PHP 680 pesos bought at Shopee.

✔︎ 𝗧𝗥𝗔𝗩𝗘𝗟 𝗜𝗡𝗦𝗨𝗥𝗔𝗡𝗖𝗘 𝗩𝗜𝗔 𝗚𝗖𝗔𝗦𝗛 (Not required but recommended). This was not asked as well by IO. But since our itinerary had a very strict schedule, this will cover compensations for travel delays or cancellations.

✔︎ 𝗗𝗢𝗟𝗟𝗔𝗥𝗦! We exchanged ours at BPI with exchange rate at 1 USD = 54.95 Pesos. Be sure to request for smaller USD bills to be used in Cambodia.

𝑫𝑨𝒀 0 (Feb 18) - 𝑴𝒂𝒏𝒊𝒍𝒂 𝒕𝒐 𝑯𝒐 𝑪𝒉𝒊 𝑴𝒊𝒏𝒉

Flight from MNL - SGN

- Via Cebupacific 2250H - 0040H* next day arrival (HCM local time GMT+7)

- Airfare: PHP 6,144 RT (MNL - SGN/ BKK- MNL) Fare already includes PH Travel Tax

- Expect long queues at the immigration. Was only asked for my PRC ID to verify profession declared on the Departure Card.

𝑫𝑨𝒀 1 (Feb 19) - 𝑯𝒐 𝑪𝒉𝒊 𝑴𝒊𝒏𝒉 𝑪𝒊𝒕𝒚 𝑻𝒐𝒖𝒓

Exchange VND at SGN Airport.

- Exchange Rate at 1 USD = 20,583.17 VND

- 1 PHP = 374.58 VND

Check in at Language Exchange Hotel (Diamond Rainbow Hotel) at District 1 (0130H)

- Sleep/Rest

- Room Rate: PHP 879/night

Half Day Private Car Charter (0800H - 1200H)

- Booked via Klook

- PHP 2,433 for 2pax

Places visited:

- Reunification Palace

- Saigon Notre Dame Cathedral

- Saigon Post Office

- Saigon Opera House

- War Remnants Museum

- Fine Arts Museum

- Jade Emperor Pagoda

- Nguyen Hue Street

- Saigon Skydeck at Bitexco Building (our chosen Drop Off Point)

Walk to Cafe Apartment for Lunch

Visit Saigon Centre

- Shop in Vietnam! Price is relatively cheaper compared to Thailand

- Saw a Charles and Keith Bag in Vietnam at Php 3,700 vs same bag at Php 6,000+ price in Thailand

Foodtrip at Ben Than Market

- MUST TRY! Bo Pho and Banh Mi

Dinner at Joi Factory (walking distance from Hotel)

𝑫𝑨𝒀 2 (Feb 20) - 𝑷𝒉𝒏𝒐𝒎 𝑷𝒆𝒏𝒉, 𝑪𝒂𝒎𝒃𝒐𝒅𝒊𝒂

No need to exchange currency. We used dollars.

Ho Chi Minh to Phnom Penh (7 hrs travel time)

- Sleeper Bus via Kumho Samco from HCMC to Phnom Penh (0730H - 1430H)

- Border crossing took only around 10 - 15 minutes. Bus conductor will get the passports of passengers prior the trip. Upon arrival at the border, he shall bring the passports to the Immigration Officer while passengers shall line up until called for clearance.

- Bus Ticket: PHP 1992.56/pax via 12GoAsia

Check in at RS Guesthouse

- Booked a place where we can leave our things and wash up before the next trip. I highly recommend this place. Budget room but walking distance to Phnom Penh tourist attractions.

- Room Rate: PHP 721.91/night via Agoda

DIY Walking Tour in the afternoon

- Grand Palace and Park

- National Museum of Cambodia

- Silver Pagoda

Coffee at 11:11 Café/ Ion Coffe

Dinner at Eleven One Kitchen

Phnom Penh to Siem Reap (6 hrs travel time)

- Sleeper Bus to Siem Reap via Giant Ibis (2300H - 0500H* next day arrival)

- Pillows and blankets provided

- Bus Ticket: PHP 951.50/pax via 12GoAsia

𝑫𝒂𝒚 3 (Feb 21) - 𝑺𝒊𝒆𝒎 𝑹𝒆𝒂𝒑, 𝑪𝒂𝒎𝒃𝒐𝒅𝒊𝒂

Angkor Wat Sunrise Tour (0430H - 1500H)

- Private Tuktuk booked via Klook

- PHP 1,219.00 for 2pax

Temples visited:

- Angkor Wat

- Angkor Thom and Bayon Temple

- South Gate of Angkor Thom

- Ta Keo

- Ta Prohm Temple

- Banteay Kdei

NOTE: WEAR COMFY SHOES AND CLOTHES. Bring a handy hat or umbrella and sunscreen.

Siem Reap to Bangkok (1630H - 1750H)

- Flight booked via Thai AirAsia

- GAME CHANGER!! Decided to book a flight instead of sleeper bus to save time. Traveling via bus will take 9-10 hrs with only day trip available.

- Airfare: PHP 3,567.00 per pax

Exchange USD to THB at DMK Airport

- Exchange Rate at 1 USD = 32.74 THB

Check in at The House Pratunam

- Highly Recommended! Night Market is just a minute or two.

- The room was nice and with daily breakfast

- PHP 1,413.00 per night

Visit Pratunam Night Market

- Chicken Pad Thai (60 THB)

- Jack Fruit Sticky Rice (50 THB)

- Grilled Prawns (100 THB)

- Fruit Smoothie (50 THB)

Massage at Pratunam Night Market

- Sabai Sabai Massage

- 250 THB/ pax for Foot, Head, Shoulders Massage

𝑫𝒂𝒚 4 (Feb 22) - 𝑭𝒍𝒐𝒂𝒕𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝑴𝒂𝒓𝒌𝒆𝒕 + 𝑴𝒂𝒆𝒌𝒍𝒐𝒏𝒈 𝑹𝒂𝒊𝒍𝒘𝒂𝒚 𝑴𝒂𝒓𝒌𝒆𝒕 + 𝑨𝒚𝒖𝒕𝒕𝒉𝒂𝒚𝒂

- Booked one day tour via Klook. All fees included with free Roti Sai Mai.

- PHP 8,594.00 for 2pax

Lunch at Thanam View, Ayutthaya

Drop off at Khao San Road

- Tried Pad Thai, Spring Rolls, BBQ, Mango Sticky Rice, Fruit Smoothies

- Food prices almost same as Pratunam Night Market

𝑫𝒂𝒚 5 (Feb 23) - 𝑩𝒂𝒏𝒈𝒌𝒐𝒌, 𝑻𝒉𝒂𝒊𝒍𝒂𝒏𝒅

Temple Tours:

- Booked an 8-hr private car charter via Klook (0800H - 1600H)

- PHP 4,600.00 for 2pax

Temples visited:

- Wat Traimit (100 THB)

- Wat Saket (100 THB)

- Wat Suthat (100 THB) and Giant Swing

- Grand Palace and Emerald Buddha (500 THB)

- Wat Pho and Temple of Reclining Buddha (200 THB)

- Wat Arun (100 THB)

Icon Siam (our chosen Drop Off location)

- Late lunch at Thip Sa Mai

- Nike Store

Dinner at Cielo Skybar (1930H to 2200H)

- Tried their four cheese penne, Sea Bass Fillet, Kir Royal , Homemade strawberry icecream with mixed fruits

- Overlooking Bangkok, with Live Band, and mini Skywalk

Hotel Check out/ Proceed to Airport (2300H)

It was an amazing experience! The short time did not matter, as long as you have spent it to the fullest! And I am hoping that we were able to share a bit of that feeling through this guide! Safe travel, loves! 💗