Endless Beauty of Vietnam, Cambodia & Thailand – 17 Days

Start at 8:30 a.m. with a cup of traditional Vietnamese coffee at Lam or Giang Coffee House. Take a 1-hour cyclo tour through the French-inspired Old Quarter, browsing markets, boutique stores, and art galleries. Visit Dong Xuan Market, Hanoi’s largest, for affordable goods and local life. Try Vietnamese dried fruit from brands like Hồng Lam or Vạn Lợi. Around 10:30–11:00 a.m., visit St. Joseph’s Cathedral, then enjoy phở at Phở Lý Quốc Sư for lunch. In the afternoon, explore the Vietnam National Museum of History to learn about the country’s past, followed by the Temple of Literature, a Confucian temple and Vietnam’s first university. End with a traditional Water Puppet Show before returning to your hotel. Overnight in Hanoi.

Depart Hanoi at 7:45 a.m. for Tuan Chau Marina in Halong Bay. Board La Regina Legend Cruises via speedboat, enjoying a welcome drink and cruise briefing. Sail through Chan Voi (Elephant Feet) and Tra Bau Area, savoring a Vietnamese lunch. Explore Light and Dark Cave by local boat or kayak, known for its pristine beauty. Swim at Van Boi Area, a tranquil paradise with mountains and greenery. Return to the cruise for a sunset “Happy Hour,” join a spring roll cooking class, or relax. Evening activities include squid fishing, spa, karaoke, or lounging. Overnight on board.

Greet the morning with a Tai Chi session on the sundeck, followed by tea or coffee. After a light breakfast, visit Trung Trang Cave on Cat Ba Island, famed for its ancient stalactites and historic significance. Return to the main boat, check out, and enjoy brunch as the cruise returns to Tuan Chau Marina by 11:00 a.m. Transfer back to Hanoi for a flight to Danang. Upon arrival, your guide and driver transfer you to Hoi An Ancient Town for hotel check-in. Overnight in Hoi An.

Begin with a welcome drink at Hai Café, then visit Hoi An’s colorful main market to interact with vendors and explore fresh produce. At the cooking school, tour the herb and vegetable garden and learn to prepare Vietnamese dishes under a chef’s guidance. The 2-hour class covers rice paper rolls, Hoi An pancakes, seafood salad, Mi Quang chicken noodles, and food decoration (tomato rose, cucumber fan). Vegetarians receive substitute ingredients. Enjoy your creations for lunch, including BBQ lemongrass beef. Return to central Hoi An by 1:00 p.m. Overnight in Hoi An.

Spend the morning at leisure, exploring Hoi An’s charming streets or relaxing. Transfer to Danang airport for a flight to Ho Chi Minh City. Upon arrival at Tan Son Nhat Airport, your guide and driver transfer you to a hotel. Explore the bustling city at your own pace. Overnight in Ho Chi Minh City.

Group size: 4–12 people At 7:30 a.m., depart for a city tour visiting the Reunification Palace, a historic landmark designed by Ngô Viết Thụ. Explore French colonial sites like Notre Dame Cathedral (exterior only due to restoration) and the Central Post Office. Visit the War Remnants Museum, showcasing Indochina War history. After lunch at a local restaurant, drive 1.5 hours to the Cu Chi Tunnels. Watch an introductory video, then explore the underground network, including living quarters, kitchens, and trap doors. Sample guerrilla-era tea and cassava, relax, or try the shooting range (optional). Return to Ho Chi Minh City by 7:00 p.m. (subject to traffic). Overnight in Ho Chi Minh City.

Group size: 25 people Depart between 7:00–7:30 a.m. for Cai Be via Trung Luong Expressway. Cruise the Tien River to the historic Cai Be Floating Market site, learning about evolving local trade. Explore orchard gardens, a hallmark of the Mekong Delta’s fruit basket. Visit small villages to see an ancient house and local culture, and stop at a family business making coconut fudges and rice popcorn. Enjoy Southern Vietnamese folk music and paddle through serene canals. On Tan Phong Island, cook and eat a Vietnamese lunch in a garden setting. Cycle through orchards, visit Ba Kiệt’s ancient house, and meet islanders. Return to Cai Be by boat and drive back to Ho Chi Minh City by 6:00–6:30 p.m. Overnight in Ho Chi Minh City.

Enjoy a free morning until your transfer to Tan Son Nhat Airport for a flight to Siem Reap. Upon arrival, your guide and driver escort you to explore Prasat Kravan’s unique brick sculptures, Srah Srang (Royal Baths), Banteay Kdei with its concentric walls, and Ta Prohm, a mystical temple entwined with jungle roots. Visit Neak Pean, a fountain in a pool symbolizing a Himalayan lake, and Preah Khan, a well-preserved temple with towered corridors. Check into a hotel and relax. Overnight in Siem Reap.

After breakfast, visit Angkor Thom’s South Gate, adorned with statues depicting the churning of the ocean of milk. Explore Bayon Temple’s 54 towers with over 200 smiling faces, Phimeanakas, Royal Enclosure, Elephant Terrace, and Terrace of the Leper King. In the afternoon, revisit Ta Prohm’s enchanting ruins, then tour Angkor Wat, a 12th-century Khmer masterpiece and Cambodia’s iconic symbol. Watch the sunset from Phnom Bakheng Hill. Return to the hotel to relax. Overnight in Siem Reap.

Day 11: Siem Reap – Phnom Kulen Mountains & Banteay Srey (B) Drive to Phnom Kulen Mountains to visit a Grand Buddha Statue, the River of Thousand Lingas, and a majestic waterfall. On the return, explore Banteay Srey, the “Citadel of Women,” a pink sandstone temple with intricate carvings, and Banteay Samre. Return to Siem Reap and relax. Overnight in Siem Reap.

Transfer to Siem Reap airport for a flight to Bangkok. Arrive at Suvarnabhumi Airport (meet at Gate 4) or Donmuang Airport (meet at Gate 5). Your guide and driver transfer you to a hotel. Spend the day at leisure, adjusting to the new time zone or exploring Bangkok’s vibrant streets. Note: Hotel check-in is at 2:00 p.m.; early check-in incurs an extra charge. Overnight in Bangkok.

At 7:30 a.m., drive southwest of Bangkok to Maeklong Railway Market for photos and local snacks. Continue to Damnoen Saduak Floating Market for a motorboat ride through its picturesque waterways. Enjoy lunch at a local restaurant, then proceed to Kanchanaburi. Visit the WWII Jeath War Museum and Cemetery, followed by a 30-minute train ride along the historic “Death Railway” with scenic river views. Explore the iconic Kwai River Bridge, featured in films, and visit a small Railway Museum with a WWII steam locomotive. Check into a hotel. Note: Check out from Bangkok hotel this morning. Overnight in Kanchanaburi.

After breakfast, enjoy free time or hotel activities (late check-out not included). At 12:00 p.m., depart for Bang Pa-In to visit the Summer Palace, blending European, Khmer, Thai, and Chinese styles. Continue to Ayutthaya, Thailand’s ancient capital, to explore its historic ruins. Transfer to the station for a night train to Chiang Mai (Train No. 9, departing 7:44 p.m., 2nd-class sleeping berth). Note: No guide on board. Overnight on the train.

Arrive in Chiang Mai, transfer without a guide to a hotel or restaurant for breakfast, then head to the tour meeting point. At 8:30 a.m., drive 20 minutes to a traditional Thai village. Cycle through wooden stilt houses, rice fields, and forests, stopping at a village school and local market. Drive to Mae Wang to visit an elephant sanctuary, feeding and bathing the elephants in the river. After lunch in Mae Win, enjoy bamboo rafting down the river, surrounded by lush greenery and mountains. Return to Chiang Mai and check into a hotel. Overnight in Chiang Mai.

Spend a free day exploring Chiang Mai’s old town, visiting Doi Suthep Temple, or browsing local markets. Relax or join optional activities at your leisure. Overnight in Chiang Mai.

Enjoy free time until your transfer to Chiang Mai airport for a flight to Bangkok. Upon arrival, connect to your international departure flight, concluding an unforgettable 17-day journey.