Trip
Features
Day 1: Arrive in Bangkok City
Pick
up upon arrival at Suvarnabhumi International
Airport and transfer to the hotel in the city.
Welcome to Thailand, the land of smiles. Bangkok is
the financial, political and cultural capital of
Thailand, located in the centre-south of the
country, in the heart of a fertile rice-growing
region. Bisected by the Chao Phraya River, which is
overlooked by all the major palaces, Buddhist
temples and luxury hotels, Bangkok is seventh heaven
for those who love their food and their shopping.
Overnight at hotel in Bangkok.
Day
2: Bangkok Temple Tours
This
half-day sightseeing tour in Bangkok will allow you
the opportunity to explore the Grand Palace complex,
which houses a number of attractions including Wat
Phra Keow (Temple of the Emerald Buddha) and then we
will proceed to see Wat Traimit, Wat Pho and Wat
Benchamabophit. A Wat is a Buddhist building where
both men and women can be ordained as monks or nuns.
Wat Traimit is also known as the temple of the
Golden Buddha. The 3 meter tall statue is made from
solid gold and weighs 5.5 tons and is a fine example
of Sukhothai style art. You will then pass through
Chinatown on your way to Wat Pho, the temple of the
reclining Buddha. At 46 meters in length and 15
meters high the Buddha is the largest in Bangkok and
illustrates the passing of the Buddha into nirvana.
Your last stop is at Wat Benchamabophit, or the
marble temple. This magnificent monastery was built
out of white Italian marble from Carrara in the late
19th century. Transfer back to hotel and stay
overnight at hotel in Bangkok.
Day
3: Bangkok - Ayuthaya
Today
we will drive to see the old capital of Thailand
which situated around 50 miles north of
Bangkok, Ayuthaya was the capital of Siam for 417
glorious years between 1350 and 1767 and flourished
as one the most important commercial centres in
South East Asia. At its peak in the middle of the
eighteenth century, this amazing island city
contained three royal palaces and over 400 temples
threaded by canals. The city was taken by the
Burmese in 1767 and a 15-month siege left this once
glittering city in ruins. Today the city is
renowned for the spectacular ruins that remain and a
visit to this UNESCO World Heritage site is a
highlight of any visit to Thailand. Drive back to
the city and stay overnight in Bangkok.
Optional:
You have the choice of visiting Thailand’s
ancient capital by boat and returning by coach or
vice versa. This charming river cruise along the
Chao Phraya, offers a close-up view of local life as
this waterway serves as a natural highway and you
will also see many riverside temples and historical
sites en route such as Wat Arun.
Day
4: Sightseeing Tours & Dinner Cruise
Those
that love architecture and buildings or are
interested in local culture will be fascinated by
the Jim Thompson house and the Vimanmek Palace, two
of the finest Thai residences to be found in
Thailand today. The Jim Thompson House is the former
home of James H.W. Thompson, a self-made American
entrepreneur who returned to live in Bangkok after
the Second World War. Continue to amazing Vimanmek
Palace, the largest teakwood building in the world.
The former home of King Rama V, the palace fell into
disuse until it was restored in the 1980s and today
it is a fascinating museum reflecting the Thai
heritage from the dramatic reign of King Rama V. A
fantastic way to end your day in Bangkok, this
relaxing dinner cruise aboard one of Bangkok’s
luxurious restaurant boats will take you through the
heart the city along the Chao Phraya River past
wonderful night time views of illuminated temples
and sparkling skyscrapers. As you relax in modern
comfort and dine on a variety of local, regional and
international dishes you will pass landmarks like
the Temple of Dawn, the Temple of the Emerald Buddha
and the Grand Palace. Transfer back to hotel and
stay overnight at hotel in Bangkok.
Day
5: Bangkok
– Luang Prabang
Transfer
to the airport to take flight to Luang Prabang,
Laos. Pick up upon arrival and transfer to the city
for hotel check-in. Luang Prabang is an outstanding
example of the fusion of traditional architecture
and Lao urban structures with those built by the
European colonial authorities in the 19th and 20th
centuries. Its unique, remarkably well-preserved
townscape illustrates a key stage in the blending of
these two distinct cultural traditions. Rest of time
will be at your own leisure.
Day
5: Luang Prabang City Tours
An
optional early start gives you the fantastic
opportunity to participate in the daily morning
rituals of saffron-clad monks collecting offerings
of Alms (often in the form of sticky rice) from the
faithful residents. This tradition is very unique in
Laos, being the only Buddhist nation still
preserving the ritual. Later, we visit the National
Museum (closed Tuesdays) at the former Royal Palace.
It displays a collection of artefacts
reflecting the richness of Lao culture dating from
the days of the early kings right through to the
last sovereign. In the afternoon, we enjoy a
short-guided tour seeing the city’s oldest temple
of impressive stupa of Wat Visoun and the shrines of
Wat Aham and Wat Mai, Wat Sene and the magnificent
Wat Xieng Thong with its roofs sweeping low to the
ground, which represents classical Laotian
architecture. Overnight at hotel in Luang Prabang.
Day
6: Luang Prabang - Khouangsi
Waterfalls
In
the afternoon, we will drive to see Khouangsi
Waterfall, en route, we visit the local villages of
Lao ethnic minority groups at Ban Ouay, Ban Ou,
Laoloum and Ban Thapene, then drive to the beautiful
Khouangsi Waterfall.
Here you can take a dip in the inviting pools
or walk along the forest trails
surrounding the waterfall.
We return to Luang Prabang by late afternoon
and continue to Ban Xangkhong, a village well known
for silk handweaving and for traditional Saa Paper
making. We return to the city by late evening to
watch the sunset at Wat Siphouthabath. Overnight in
Luang Prabang
Day
6: Luang Prabang - Siem Reap
Free
at leisure until we drive to the airport to catch
flight to Siem Reap City in Cambodia - Siem Reap is
undoubtedly Cambodia's fastest growing city and
serves as a small charming gateway town to the world
famous heritage the Angkor temples. Pick up by our
local tour guide and transfer to the city for hotel
check-in. Free at leisure and overnight at hotel in
Siem Reap.
Day
7: Siem Reap - Angkor Temple Tours
Visit
the ancient capital of Angkor Thom (12th century).
See the South Gate (with its huge statues depicting
the churning of the ocean of milk), Bayon Temple
(the Royal Enclosure, Phimeanakas, the Elephant
Terrace and the Terrace of the Leper King. In the
afternoon, visit the most famous of all the temples
on the Angkor plain: Angkor Wat. The temple complex
covers 81 hectares and is comparable in size to the
Imperial Palace in Beijing. Its distinctive five
towers are emblazoned on the Cambodian flag and the
12th century masterpiece is considered by art
historians to be the prime example of classical
Khmer art and architecture. Angkor Wat's five tower
symbolize Meru's five peaks, the enclosed wall
represents the mountains at the edge of the world
and the surrounding moat symbolizes the ocean beyond
Sunset from Phnom Bakheng, one of two hills
dominating the plain of Angkor, from where you will
have a spectacular view of the Western Baray and
Angkor Wat. Stay overnight at hotel in Siem Reap.
Day
8: Siem Reap - Angkor Temple Tours
In
the morning, you will continue your temple visits.
Included are Prasat Kravan (with its unique brick
sculptures), Srah Srang ("The Royal Boths"
was once used for ritual bathing), Banteay Kdei
(surrounded by four concentric walls), Eastern Mebon
(guarded at its corner by stone figures of harnessed
elephants, some of which are still in a reasonable
state of preservation) and the "Mountain
Temple" of Pre Rup. In the afternoon, transfer
to the archaeological site and continue to the
temple tour. Visit Ta Prohm, one of the most
beautiful temples in the area. Ta Prohm has been
left relatively untouched since it was discovered
and retains much of its mystery, then, visit Takeo,
Thommanon and Chau Say Tevoda temples. Stay
overnight in Siem Reap.
Day
9: Siem Reap - Saigon City
Free
at leisure until we transfer you to the airport to
take flight to Ho Chi Minh City, formerly
Saigon, the city located on
the right bank of the Saigon River, a tributary of
the Dong Nai, Vietnam. Ho Chi Minh City is the
largest city, the greatest port, and the commercial
and industrial center of Vietnam. It has an airport
and is the focus of the country's highways,
railroads, and Mekong Delta waterways. On the way
from the airport to the city, the tour guide will
overview of the city and the sightseeing programme
for next days. Check-in hotel and the rest of time
you will be at leisure. Overnight at hotel in Saigon
City.
Day
10: Saigon Sightseeing and Cu Chi Tunnels
In
the morning, the tour guide will pick you up at the
hotel and today you will visit all interesting sites
and landmarks in Saigon City. First stop is Notre
Dame Catholic Cathedral and short visit to French
built Post Office nearby, and then we will proceed
to see the Reunification Palace, formerly the
Presidential Palace governed by the US-pro
government of Republic of Vietnam. Touring the
building and then we will visit the War Remnants
Museum, which primarily contains exhibits relating
to the American phase of the Vietnam War. Break time
for lunch. In the afternoon, we drive to Cu Chi
district, 50 km to the Northwest of Saigon City, The
tunnels of Cu Chi are an immense network of
connecting underground tunnels are part of a much
larger network of tunnels that underlie much of the
country. The Cu Chi tunnels were the location of
several military campaigns during the Vietnam War,
and were the National Front for the Liberation of
South Vietnam's base of operations for the Tet
Offensive in 1968. Touring the areas and then you
will be transferred back to Saigon. Free time at
leisure or shopping at Ben Thanh Market nearby.
Day
11: Saigon - Mekong Delta by Cai Be Princess
This
five hour river cruise takes you through Vietnam’s
most productive agricultural area which produces 38%
of the country’s annual food crop. Enjoy the
beautiful landscapes of coconut palms, sugar-cane
groves and fruit orchards from the vessel as you
head to the Cai Be floating market. Here you can
cruise through the colourful barges full of fruits
and vegetables and then proceed to local home
factories such as rice paste making, rice pop corn,
coco candies, and longans drying processing. The
trip continues along the Mekong canals to Dong Hoa
Hiep Island located between Vinh Long and Cai Be.
Along the way you will find the local people engaged
in their daily tasks and see brightly coloured
Khemer pagodas. Stops on the way can be made upon
request for particular visits or photos making.
These evergreen islands among the Mekong River still
remain unknown to many people. Arrive at La
Residence de Phu An resort where you will be
welcomed a nd served Vietnamese culinary delights.
You will then walk along a narrow canal to an
air-conditioned vehicle that will transport you back
to Ho Chi Minh City.
Day
12: Saigon - Nha Trang
Free
at leisure until we transfer you to the airport to
take 1 hour flight to Nha Trang City - "The Top
100 Best Beach & Bay City in the World" ranked
by the Forbes and Conde Nast Leisure & Travel
Magazine. Nha
Trang is a popular seaside resort known for its
palm-lined white sand beaches and clear turquoise
water. Some islands in Nha Trang are paradise for
those who are interested in snorkeling and scuba
diving. At leisure and overnight in Nha Trang.
Day
13: Nha Trang - Island Tours
Experience
the coast of Nha Trang aboard a boat as you set out
in the morning for the first stop at the Tri Nguyen
Aquarium. You will then head out to Hon Mun Island
where you have the chance for swimming and
snorkeling in the crystal clear waters. From here,
continue to Hon Tam Island where you have the choice
of relaxing on the beach or for the energetic –
there is a choice of water sports. Lunch stop is at
the fishing village of Lang Chai where there is time
to explore before boarding the boat back to Nha
Trang harbor. If time permits, we will visit the Po
Nagar Towers, an outstanding of ancient Cham
architecture and then touring around Dam Market
before transfer you back to the hotel. Overnight at
hotel in Nha Trang.
Day
14: Nha Trang - Danang/Hoi An
At
Leisure and then you will be taken to the airport in
Nha Trang to take 1 hour flight to Danang City,
famous for China Beach and the former R&R for US
servicemen. Pick up upon arrival and transfer to Hoi
An. Visit the fascinating Cham Museum, famous China
Beach and the Marble Mountains en route to charming
Hoi An. Hoi An Ancient Town is an exceptionally
well-preserved example of a South-East Asian trading
port dating from the 15th to the 19th century. Its
buildings and its street plan reflect the
influences, both indigenous and foreign, that have
combined to produce this unique heritage site. At
leisure for the rest of day and overnight in Hoi An.
Day
15: Hoi An Tours
Known
as Faifo to early Western traders, Hoi An was one of
South East Asia's major international ports and
today it still retains that special old-world feel.
Enjoy a walking tour through the Old Quarters to see
the town's landmarks of Japanese Covered Bridge,
ancient Assembly Hall, Phuc Kien Temple and then we
take a river trip and you will enjoy the scenery
along the Thu Bon River and the general view of Hoi
An Ancient Town. Visit Cam Kim mattress making
village, carpentry village of Kim Bong and Dai Chiem
Estuary. Hoi An is also famous for its large number
of tailor shops, so if you want to have a new
wardrobe made up, this is the time to do it.
Overnight in Hoi An
Day
16: Hoi An - Danang - Hanoi
At
leisure and we will take mid-day flight to Hanoi
City, Our tour guide will meet and greet you upon
arrival to Hanoi City- the capital city of
Vietnam, is an elegant city located on the banks of
the Red River with tranquil Restored Sword Lake at
its heart. North of the lake are the bustling
streets of the Old Quarter, each street named after
the trade that used to take place there. Much of the
city was transformed by the French when it became a
French protectorate in the 1880s and there are wide
boulevards and large colonial buildings which are
now home to government departments and foreign
embassies. Enjoy 1 hour cyclo tours around Hanoi old
quarters and enjoy the famous traditional water
puppetry show in Thang Long Theatre where you will
have chance to get a general picture of the daily
activities typical to Vietnam's rural areas. Back to
the hotel and overnight in Hanoi.
Day
17: Hanoi - Halong Bay
Morning
depart for Halong Bay, we go through the scenic
countryside. The wondrous Halong Bay is truly one of
Vietnam’s most impressive scenic sights. Heading
out of the town we embark on a boat for an
exploration of the legendary Halong Bay. This
exciting five hour cruise will provide us a
fantastic view of the picturesque scenery blending
with the sky and some 3,000 limestone islands rising
amazingly from the clear and emerald water. The
limestone karsts formations are littered with
beaches, grottoes and beautiful caves. Along the way
we will anchor for a leisurely swim in a secluded
cove and an enjoyable visit to one of the many
hidden grottoes beneath towering cliffs. Stay
overnight on the Junk Cruise
Day
18: Halong Bay - Hanoi
Waking
up and having breakfast served onboard. Continue
cruising around the bay. Take sampan to visit Luon
Cave and come back to the boat. Having brunch before
disembarking and van will pick you up at the pier
and transfer back to Hanoi. Visit Dong Trieu ceramic
and pottery village on the way. Arrive in Hanoi at
04:00 pm. Free at leisure. Overnight in Hanoi
Day
19: Hanoi - Bangkok. End of service
Half
day city tour to visit landmarks and other the major
interesting sites like Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum, One
Pillar Pagoda, The Temple of Literature
"Vietnam's 1st University built in the 10th
C". Break time for lunch and we will visit the
Vietnam National History of Museum with good
collection of prehistoric artifacts and everyday
items of early history through eras and dynasties.
Airport transfer for your departure flight back to
Bangkok. End of service.
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Accommodation (double/twin sharing)
