Classic Thailand and Vietnam

Sawasdee and welcome to the land of smiles. Your tour begins in Bangkok, the center of Thailand and known worldwide for its abundance of sensational foods, glamorous shopping malls, historic sights and sizzling nightlife.

Upon arrival to the airport, our representative will take you to the Shangri-La Hotel for check-in and refreshment.

Enjoy the day at leisure until an evening dinner cruise along the Chao Pyra River with the Shangri-La’s Horizon Cruise. Sample delicious Thai cuisine while watching the illuminated City of Angels pass you by as you cruise the river of kings over a 2-hour period.

Meals: Dinner

Accommodation: Shangri-La Hotel Bangkok

Explore Bangkok’s famed cultural and historical attractions with a private tour through the city utilizing the iconic tuk-tuk, long tail boat, and by foot. Visit the Phra Nakorn area of Rattanakosin Island along the Bangkok Noi and Bang Luang Canals. Wander through Bangkok’s impressive golden Grand Palace before stopping at Wat Pho to see the immense reclining Buddha. Shop for exotic flowers in the local markets before perusing the finest Thai art collections in the National Museum.

Take the rest of the day for yourselves to experience Bangkok independently.

Meals: Breakfast

Accommodation: Shangri-La Hotel Bangkok

After breakfast, journey 1.5 hours south to Damnoen Saduak, a town famous for its morning floating market selling produce and tourist trinkets. Hop on board a small canoe and row through the stalls, and practicing your bartering skills during this classic Thai experience. After the boat ride, you will have an hour to explore the market on your own before settling down for lunch.

Then, drive 2.5 hours north to Ayutthaya, a former capital of the Kingdom of Siam from 1350-1767, and once the largest city in the world due to its trading connections with other kingdoms such as China, India and Indonesia. Some of the most famous historical sites to see on your visit are the Buddha head entwined in a Bodhi Tree at Wat Phra Mahathat and Wat Chaiwatthanaram, and can be easily explored via tuk-tuk or by bicycle as the island is completely flat.

Depart Ayutthaya in the late afternoon and return to Bangkok for an evening free at leisure.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch

Accommodation: Shangri-La Hotel Bangkok

Enjoy the morning at leisure until your early afternoon flight whisks you away to the gorgeous northern capital of Chiang Mai, previous Lanna Kingdom capital from 1296-1558 and current “northern rose” of the country. The cultural and religious center of the country, Chiang Mai’s small old town and rolling green expanses are worlds apart from the sprawl and noise of Bangkok.

Take your time to enjoy the quiet ambiance of Chiang Mai in the afternoon by exploring independently in the town’s quaint city center. The city is full of activities, such as learning how to create mouthwatering Thai cuisine in a cooking class, booking a rejuvenating spa treatment, or watching a famous Muay Thai boxing match.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch

Accommodation: U Chiang Mai Hotel

This morning begins with an alms giving ceremony at Wat Phra That Doi Suthep, the holiest and most important temple in Chiang Mai. At the base of the mountain there is a chance to buy offerings for the procession of monks who will eventually appear to receive the alms from locals and visitors alike. Afterwards, a climb of 309 steps along a golden staircase is needed to reach the golden pagodas of the temple.

Return to the city center of Chiang Mai and explore Wat Chedi, home to the guardian spirits of the temple and some say, the city. Center where you will have the chance to peruse historical and artistic exhibits.

After a lunch of the famous Northern Thai noodle dish Khao Soy, the tour will end at the Chiang Mai City Arts and Culture

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch

Accommodation: U Chiang Mai Hotel

Meet Asian elephants today at Elephant Nature Park, a rescue and conservation center. Throughout the day, get up close with the elephants as you feed, bathe, and play with them after a short training course from a Mahout.

Enjoy a lunch at the camp before returning to your hotel in Chiang Mai, where the rest of the day is at your leisure to explore the city’s many options.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch

Accommodation: U Chiang Mai Hotel

Savor morning breakfast before transferring to Chiang Mai Airport for a short 2-hour flight to Hanoi, the traditional and cultural heart of Vietnam.

Get acquainted with the city by first starting at the center of it all, Hoan Kiem Lake. Check out Ngọc Sơn Temple and view the “Turtle Tower” before hopping into a cyclo to explore the labyrinth of streets dubbed the “Old Quarter”, famous to international guests and locals alike due to its propensity for its chaotic but photogenic and charming nature.

This tour ends in the late afternoon, leaving the evening free for you to explore on your own.

Meals: Breakfast

Accommodation: Peridot Grand Hotel & Spa

Dive into the history of Hanoi by visiting the iconic One Pillar Pagoda, designed to resemble a blooming lotus flower, commissioned by the legendary King Ly Thai To in 1049. Just a stone’s throw away lies the Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum, a monument and tribute to Ho Chi Minh, the “uncle” of modern Vietnam, as well as his preserved stilt house and a small museum dedicated to his life. The mausoleum is closed every October and November, as well as every Monday and Friday throughout the year.

Pass by Vietnam’s first university, Quoc Tu Giam, otherwise known as the Temple of Literature. The grounds offer a quiet oasis in the center of Hanoi and will show you an interesting glimpse into the cultural elite’s past, dating back from 1076.

Have lunch at Koto Training Restaurant, a social enterprise dedicated to breaking the cycle of poverty faced by many youths in the city, empowering them by training them in the culinary arts and hospitality training.

Your afternoon tour ends at The Vietnam Museum of Ethnology, a research center dedicated to the 54 officially recognized ethnic groups living in Vietnam. It boasts a carefully curated collection of tribal art, clothing, furniture, jewelry, spiritual and household items, while the outdoor grounds contain full-sized replica houses and gardens of different ethnic minorities.  (Closed on Mondays)

Meals: Breakfast

Accommodation: Peridot Grand Hotel & Spa

Following breakfast, hotel pick-up will be arranged to bring you to the moment you have all been waiting for, a cruise on Halong Bay. Established as a UNESCO World Heritage site in 1994 and newly nominated as one of the new 7 natural wonders of the world, Halong Bay’s otherworldly atmosphere and landscape of emerald green waters, sandy beaches, and thousands of towering limestone karst islands are sure to leave you speechless.

Check into your cabin as we embark on an overnight cruise to experience the bay in all her glory. Activities include cooking demonstrations, a visit to a floating fishing village, kayaking and swimming, depending on the boat’s itinerary and weather.

At the end of the day, the boat will anchor while guests enjoy the cocktail happy hour and fresh seafood dinner. Try your hand at squid fishing in the evening or perhaps watch a film or stargaze before retiring to your cabin for a restful sleep.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Accommodation: Bhaya Premium Cruises

Good Morning Vietnam from  Halong Bay! Start the morning with some tai chi on the sundeck as the sun rises, and munch on a light breakfast before participating in a cave visit.

Brunch will be served after the cave tour, which gives you time to savor the views as the boat gently glides through the incredible rock formations towards the dock.

Transfer to Noi Bai Airport for a short 80-minute flight to the charming city of Hoi An.

Check into your hotel and enjoy a free evening to explore the charming Hoi An Ancient Town.

Meals: Breakfast

Accommodation: Lasenta Boutique Hotel Hoi An

After breakfast, explore the UNESCO World Heritage site of Hoi An Ancient Town. Hoi An is a very cute and well-preserved town, known for its importance in Vietnam’s history as a major port city from the 15^th to 19^th century. Take a walking tour through the ancient town, admiring the diverse architecture styles, ranging from wooden Chinese shops to grand French colonial houses, traditional Vietnamese “tube” houses and the iconic Japanese covered bridge. The city is also famous for its many brightly colored and delicately painted lanterns which hang in droves on many different shop walls and doors.

The afternoon is free for you to explore. Check out the wide variety of tailors available throughout the city, shop for ready-made clothing, shoes, bags, quilts, accessories and souvenirs, or sip tea in charming tea houses. Beach lovers can check out My Khe or An Bang beach and history enthusiasts can explore the ruins at My Son.

Meals: Breakfast

Accommodation: Lasenta Boutique Hotel Hoi An

This morning begins with breakfast a drive up the sun-drenched coastline of Vietnam along the Hải Vân – Ocean Cloud Pass to the ancient imperial capital of Hue.

The day tour will visit major Hue highlights, such as Thien Mu Pagoda, the ancient citadel and the tombs of Emperor Minh Mang, Emperor Tu Duc and Emperor Khai Dinh of the Nguyen Dynasty, the last family to rule Vietnam before the French colonial takeover.

Once the visit is finished, leave sleepy Hue and fly to the modern and bustling Ho Chi Minh City.  Transfer to your boutique hotel and catch up on some much needed rest.

Meals: Breakfast

Accommodation: Liberty Central Saigon Citypoint Hotel

Settle in for a 2-hour car ride this morning to the small town of Ben Tre where we will board our day-cruise to explore the Mekong River Delta, the rice bowl of Asia. Amble along the waterfront lined with French colonial shops and houses and observe as the ripe and juicy fruits are harvested by locals and dispersed through the country on small wooden boats. Then, on board the cruise, sample southern Vietnamese cuisine as you watch everyday life pass you on both sides.

Finish the day with a mini-trip on a sampan, a smaller, traditional rowing boat, to better explore the narrow waterways of the Mekong tributaries.

The excursion will conclude in the late afternoon with a return trip to Saigon where the evening is free to snatch up those last-minute souvenirs, perhaps from the famous Ben Thanh Market.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch

Accommodation: Liberty Central Saigon Citypoint Hotel

Breakfast and discover the city at leisure until your transfer to Tan Son Nhat Airport for your onward booked transportation.

Meals: Breakfast