18 Days Odyssey of Indochina with Bangkok

Depart for Ho Chi Minh City from North America.

Welcome to Vietnam’s financial hub Ho Chi Minh City. Transfer to the hotel and have a good rest. Overnight in Ho Chi Minh City.

After breakfast, drive northwest to the Cu Chi tunnels. This tunnel complex was dug in 1948 for the guerrillas to hide from French air and ground sweeps. Have lunch at local restaurant. In the afternoon, participate in a guided tour in Ho Chi Minh City, which includes the neo-Romanesque Notre Dame Cathedral, the Central Post Office with its French style architecture, City Hall, and the magnificent Saigon Opera House. Then we will visit the War Remnants Museum, which primarily contains exhibits relating to the American phase of the Vietnam War. In the evening, join the optional dinner cruise on traditional wooden boat on Saigon River (USD$49/person). Overnight in Ho Chi Minh City.

Meal: Breakfast, Lunch

Have a breakfast at hotel, we travel from Saigon to My Tho. Cruising a boat trip along Mekong river and around fishing village and islands for sight-seeing. Crossing Mekong river, keeping on taking a boat trip along a small canal, named Vam Xep to see daily life of local inhabitants in Ben Tre province (called coconut village), visiting Quoi An tourist spot for bee farm and handicraft workshop to enjoy some honey-tea and see how people make things from coconut wood. Taking horse-carts along country road to visit fruit orchards, enjoy seasonal tropical fruits and listen to traditional music by local inhabitants. Taking small sampans along small canal to come back the big boat, leaving boat for coconut candy workshop and tasting this speciality in coconut village. Return to Ho Chi Minh City in the afternoon. Overnight in Ho Chi Minh City.

Meal: Breakfast, Lunch

Today we take the morning flight to Danang. Upon arrival, pick up and transfer to the restaurant for lunch. In the afternoon, you will take Hoi An sightseeing of Japanese style covered bridge, Handicraft workshops, Tan Ky old house, Fujian assembly hall and the 15th century Chuc Thanh Pagoda. In the evening, you may take the optional Relaxing Dinner Cruise on Thu Bon River (USD$69/person). Overnight in Hoian.

Meal: Breakfast, Lunch

After breakfast at the hotel, enjoy your free time to enjoy the beachside relaxation or join our optional tour to My Son with lunch(USD$69/person, Min. 4) Your tour guide will pick you up and drive to visit My Son sanctuary, an ancient religious center of the Cham people in the past, 40km to the South West of Hoi An town, another World Cultural Heritage. Return to Hoi An in time for lunch, then enjoy a free afternoon. Overnight in Hoi An.

Meal: Breakfast

After breakfast at the hotel, check out and transfer to Hue. On the way, you will visit the fascinating Cham Museum and the Marble Mountains. We will cross Hai Van Pass where you will have a magnificent view of the East Sea. Check-in hotel on arrival in Hue. In the evening, You may take the optional royal dinner with the live traditional music dance performance (USD$55/person, Min. 4). Overnight in Hue.

Meal: Breakfast, Lunch

After breakfast, you will take a morning boat trip on the Perfume River to visit Thien Mu pagoda and Ming Mang Emperor’s mausoleum. Have lunch at a local restaurant then you will visit the Imperial Citadel, Flag Tower, Noon Gate, Nine Dynasty Urns, Nine Holy Cannons, and Thai Hoa Palace. Enjoy some free time shopping in Dong Ba market. Next, transfer to the airport to catch the departure flight to Hanoi. Once arrival, the local guide meets up at the airport and transfers to the hotel. Overnight in Hanoi.

Meal: Breakfast, Lunch

After breakfast at the hotel, drive to the historic complex of Ba Dinh. Visit Ba Dinh Square, Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum and continue to the One Pillar Pagoda, the must-see monument in Hanoi, Tran Quoc Pagoda, Quan Thanh Temple. Visit Temple of Literature – The first Imperial school in Vietnam was built in 1070 during the dynasty of King Ly. Have lunch at a local restaurant. This afternoon visit a complex of the Hoan Kiem Lake, Ngoc Son Temple (Jade mountain Temple), But Tower (Pen – shaped tower), Dai Nghien (Ink Stand), and the red-painted wooden The Huc bridge….Take a pedicab trip around with 36 streets of Hanoi’s old quarter. Enjoy the special Vietnam traditional Water Puppet show. Overnight in Hanoi.

Meal: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

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Waking up and having breakfast served onboard. Continue cruising around the bay. Take sampan to visit Luon Cave and come back to the boat. Have brunch before disembarking and the van will pick you up at the pier. Then transfer back to the hotel in Hanoi. Check-in and free at leisure. Overnight in Hanoi

Meal: Breakfast, Lunch

Free until transfer to the airport to catch the departure flight to Siem Reap. Upon arrival, pick up and transfer to hotel. Enjoy dinner in a local restaurant. Overnight in Siem Reap.

Meal: Breakfast, Dinner

In the morning, we start with the most famous of all the temples on the plain of Angkor: Angkor Wat, the most wonderful remains of a disappeared civilisation, which between the 8th and 13th century built the splendid city Angkor, with the famed Angkor Wat (Temple of the Capital. Angkor Wat is the big attraction of Cambodia, but is well-known all over the world. Then we visit the jungle-entwined temple, Ta Prohm. Dawn is one of the most beautiful and haunting times to visit the temples, whose ancient sandstone blocks are gilded by the early morning rays. Return to the hotel for breakfast then free leisure time. In the afternoon we will continue our discovery with Angkor Thom (the Great City) including the Southern Gate, Bayon temple, Baphuon temple, Terrace of Elephants, Terrace of the Leper King & Phimean Akas: “Celestial Palace”, dedicated to Hindu deities, and then enjoy a romantic sunset at Phnom Bakeng hill top.   Today you may join the optional dinner at a local restaurant with a traditional Apsara dance show (USD$49/person). Overnight in Siem Reap.

Meal: Breakfast, Lunch

After breakfast, we drive out of town to the rural village of Phnom Krom and walk through this lovely village to see the local life. We enjoy an ox cart ride before transferring to Chong Knies village to take a traditional wooden boat for a ride on the Tonle Sap Lake, the “Great Lake” of Cambodia, one of the largest in Asia, where you can find schools, restaurants, and hospitals and much more on the great lake of Tonle Sap. Next, visit Les Artisans D’Angkor shopping. Back to the town to explore the PsarChass, also known as the “Old Market”. Enjoy delicious dinner in a local restaurant. Overnight in Siem Reap.

Meal: Breakfast, Dinner

Free at leisure to enjoy your hotel this morning until transfer to the airport for your flight to Bangkok. Upon arrival, check in the hotel. Overnight in Bangkok.

Meal: Breakfast

Have breakfast and travel to Wat Phu Khao Thong (the Golden Mount Temple). Here we will enjoy the spectacular view of Bangkok. The golden stupa houses a Buddha relic and welcomes worshippers all year round. And then we visit the Reclining Buddha, a signature sight representing Buddhism. The last stop is Wat Arun, the Temple of Dawn, one of Thailand’s best-known landmarks built in the 17th century by King Taksin. Spend your evening at leisure, or enjoy an evening on this River of King Dinner Cruise(US$72/person) over the beautiful Chao Phraya River in Bangkok. 

Meal: Breakfast, Lunch

Today is yours to explore Bangkok independently. Or, take the optional full day tour with lunch visiting floating market, grand palace, and emerald buddha(US$95/person, Min. 4 Guests). This morning, travel to Damnoen Saduak floating market. Enjoy a long-tail boat riding to navigate through the canals surrounded by greenery. Vendors on rowing boats will be offering local snacks, tropical fruits, and tasty dishes. It is great for photo opportunities. Lunch at local restaurant. Then, we travel to the Grand Palace and the temple of the Emerald Buddha. Together, they provide Bangkok’s most stunning sights for tourists. The Grand Palace is regarded as the most sacred site and spiritual heart of the Thai Kingdom. It is a complex of buildings featuring the fusion of traditional Thai architecture and the 19-th century European style. The temple of the Emerald Buddha consists of over 100 brightly colored buildings, golden spires and glittering mosaics, dating back to 1782, when Bangkok was founded. The Emerald Buddha in the temple is the main attraction. The revered figurine is made from a solid one piece of green jade. Return to the hotel and overnight.

Meals: Breakfast

After breakfast, transfer to the airport and board your flight home.

Meals: Breakfast