Itinerary Details
This 11-day Thailand and Vietnam highlight tour is a perfect chance for you to see the breathtaking natural scenery and experience the exotic culture of the two countries. You will cruise around the world’s largest marine limestone landscape – Haylong Bay, enjoy your time with lovely elephants, discover the Mekong Delta, as well as experience rural local life in the countryside.
Sawasdee ka! (Hello in Thai) Welcome to the land of smile: Thailand! Upon arrival, your guide will greet you at the airport and escort you to the hotel for check-in.
Accommodation option:
- U Sukhumvit Bangkok
- (4 Ratings)
breakfast and lunch
This morning, you will visit the Grand Palace, a fantastic example of an ancient Siamese court and the Temple of the Emerald Buddha (Wat Phra Kaew), which is the most sacred temple in Thailand and home to the revered Emerald Buddha, located in the complex of the palace. Then, take the locals vehicle like a tuk-tuk to Wat Pho to see this 150-foot-long reclining Buddha statue.
Next, take a boat tour of the city's famous canals, and then sail on the Chao Phraya River. You can also visit Wat Arun, known as Temple of Dawn, most published images of Bangkok.
Accommodation option:
- U Sukhumvit Bangkok
- (4 Ratings)
Wat Arun
breakfast and lunch
This morning, you will get up early and drive about 1.5 hours to visit Damnoen Saduak Floating Market, where you will experience the traditional Thai market with numerous vendors selling goods including food, snacks, fresh vegetables and fruit from their boat on the canal. Fly to Chiang Mai in the afternoon. Upon arrival, meet your tour guide and transfer to the hotel.
Accommodation option:
- U Nimman Chiang Mai
- (4 Ratings)
Damnoen Saduak Market
breakfast and lunch
Start your cultural trip in the morning. You will firstly visit Kad Ton Payom Market, famous for its fresh flowers, fruits, aromatic spices and northern Thai cuisine. You will see the local traditional almsgiving – offering food to Buddhist monks. Then go to visit Wat Umong, nestled in the forested foothills of Suthep Mountain. Learn something about the Buddhist proverbs posted throughout grounds, before enter inside to see the impressive Buddha statue.
Continue to Wat Suan Dok which it an old temple with more than 600 years’ history housing a 20-foot (6-meter) Buddha. See the larger prayer hall and the unique open-sided chapel. Also, you have the opportunity to chat with the monks about their life in the temple and Buddhism.
After lunch, go to visit the Miaoshan tribe village on Doi Pui Mountain then visit the most sacred temple in northern Thailand – Wat Phra That and enjoy the panoramic view of Chiang Mai city. It is also one of the best places to enjoy the sunset.
Accommodation option:
- U Nimman Chiang Mai
- (4 Ratings)
Meo hill tribe village
Wat Doi Suthep
breakfast and lunch
In the morning, you will have a half-day elephant caring tour in the Elephant Jungle Sanctuary. You will join-in a small group and take the bus from the sanctuary driving through the scenic agricultural area to the sanctuary. In the sanctuary, you will learn the lifestyles, habits and behaviors and some other knowledge about the elephants and change into the traditional Karen costume to do some caring work for the elephants. You will prepare food for the elephants, feed them, walk them through the sanctuary, bathe them in the river and play with them.
In the afternoon, visit Wat Phra Singh, the most visited temple in Chiang Mai with a fine example of Lanna temple architecture. Continue on to Wat Chedi Luang, it was once the home of the Emerald Buddha and later became partially in ruins due to an earthquake in the 1500s. Then stop at Wat Chiang Man which is the oldest temple in Chiang Mai and houses one of Thailand's greatest treasures, the Crystal Buddha.
Accommodation option:
- U Nimman Chiang Mai
- (4 Ratings)
Elephant Jungle Sanctuary
breakfast
Today, you can enjoy a free morning and then you will be transferred to the airport and fly to Ho Chi Minh City. Upon arrival, you will meet your guide at the airport and escort you to the hotel for check-in.
Accommodation option:
- Grand Silverland hotel Damsels
- (4 Ratings)
breakfast and lunch
This morning, you will visit Cu Chi Tunnels. Explore these amazing systems developed by the guerrillas in the Vietnam War. The impressive underground system built by the guerrillas still tells the story of the Vietnam War.
In the afternoon, visit the iconic landmarks in the city. Firstly, stop at Notre Dame de Paris, built by French colonists during their settlement, they discovered its significance as the largest cathedral in Southeast Asia. Then, go to the famous Old Saigon Post Office, a neoclassical building and is considered one of the main attractions of the city. After that, visit the Reunification Palace, the former residence of President of South Vietnam during the war. Visit the Jade Emperor Pagoda, known as the Tortoise Pagoda which is considered to be the best worship place in the city. Finally, visit the Binh Tay Market, popular in this densely populated area.
Accommodation option:
- Grand Silverland hotel Damsels
- (4 Ratings)
Cu Chi tunnels
Old Saigon Post Office
breakfast and lunch
This morning, you will go to the bustling city of Mekong Delta Area. Experience a private sampan: a kind of boat has been used on Vietnamese waters for centuries. Cruising on the Mekong river for sightseeing: fish floating market, islands of Dragon, Turtle, Unicorn, Phoenix.
Land on Unicorn island, taking a walk on the village road and pay a visit to an orchard of tropical fruits, a bee-farm, enjoy honey-tea and visit a typical house in Mekong Delta. Then visit coconut candy workshop and taste fresh candies.
Next to land on Dragon island, transfer by cyclo or motorbike to local home. Have a homemade lunch and enjoy cooking time with some dishes such as "Banh Xeo" (Vietnamese crepe), Spring Rolls.... with the owners. After lunch, return to boat station and transfer back to Ho Chi Minh City.
Accommodation option:
- Grand Silverland hotel Damsels
- (4 Ratings)
Mekong Delta
breakfast and lunch
Today, take the morning flight to Hanoi to visit Tran Quoc Tower, the oldest temple in Hanoi. Then walk around Hoan Kiem Lake nearby and you will see turtle towers perching on the water. Next, take a half-hour bicycle tour in Hanoi’s Old Quarter. Cycling is a long-established mode of transportation in Vietnamese cities. Cyclists will lead you to a covered seat attached to the front. Then, you will visit the One Pillar Tower on a pillar made of one stone in the middle of the lotus pond. This pagoda was built by a 9th-century emperor.
Accommodation option:
- Damsels Hanoi Boutique Hotel
- (4 Ratings)
Old Quarter
breakfast and lunch and dinner
Depart your hotel at around 8:00am and drive for around 3.5 hours through the scenic road to Halong Bay, the world’s largest marine limestone landscape. On the road, have a short break enjoy the landscape of the Red River Delta countryside.
Meet the crew upon boarding the traditional Vietnamese junk, then relax and enjoy lunch while the boat heads towards the secluded islands. You will then visit a fishing village by a rustic rowing-boat, meet the local people and pass through the floating school and pearl farms. Return to the junk refreshed and relax on sundeck with a drink to watch the sunset. Enjoy a freshly prepared seafood dinner under the stars.
Accommodation option:
- (4 Ratings)
Halong Bay
breakfast
Wake up early this morning to catch the sunrise over the bay with a Tai Chi lesson on the sundeck (if weather permits). You will visit a famous ancient limestone cave in the middle of the bay where you’ll discover magnificent stalagmites and stalactites as you walk along the lit paths on a guided tour. Enjoy a tasty brunch while cruising back to the main harbor Pier at around 10:30 am.
Disembark, then transfer to Hanoi Airport for your international flight.