Day 1 Arrive in Hanoi
Flight: International flight on your own arrangment or on requests.
Welcome to Vietnam! Upon arrival, our guide will greet you at the airport with welcome sign and escort you to your hotel for check in. You'll receive a short tour briefing in the lobby and then the remainder of the day is at your leisure.
Day 2 Leisure Day in Hanoi
Meals: B / D
Today is at your leisure.
The evening will start with a Water Puppet Show performed by the world renowned Thang Long Opera House. This performance features a talent unique to Vietnam. You'll watch as water puppets perform the folklore legends of Vietnam while live ethnic music sets the mood.
After the show, you’ll enjoy traditional Vietnamese cuisine at Indochine Restaurant which features a French colonial style with imperial overtures.
Once you finish your dinner, you'll be escorted to your hotel.
Day 3 Full day tour to Hanoi Highlights
Meals: B / L
See the highlights of Hanoi during your full day city tour, enjoy the visit to cultural, historical and iconic landmarks.
In the morning, you'll be escorted to see some of the most significant places in Hanoi. You'll begin by seeing the Tran Quoc Pagoda. This 1,400 year old temple features ten tiers surrounded by gardens and which also hosts a bodhi tree grown from a cutting of the original bodhi tree under which Buddha sat.
Next, you'll see the Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum, a large memorial where the charismatic Vietnamese leader read the Declaration of Independence in 1945. Not far from here is the One Pillar Pagoda. This millenia-old structure was built on a large stone column in the middle of a pond to resemble a temple seen in the Emperor's dream.
Then you'll learn about the highlight of this tour - The Temple of Literature. The ancient university was erected almost a millenium ago and has hosted many of the most prominent scholars through Vietnamese history. The site features many gardens, pools, buildings, courtyards, and ancient trees where the best and brightest of Vietnam studied under the guidance of Confucius teachings.
In the afternoon, you'll go on to see the museum of ethnology to learn about the different ethnicities in Vietnam. Next, you'll take a stroll around the Hoan Kiem Lake where you can see the Tortoise Tower sitting on the water. You'll also be able to visit the Ngoc Son Temple, which rests on the lake with a narrow bridge for access.
Then you'll enjoy a half hour cyclo tour through the Old Quarter in Hanoi. The cyclo is a historic mode of transportation in the cities of Vietnam where a cyclist escorts you while you sit in a seat affixed to the front with a canopy over top. In the Hanoi Old Quarter, you'll enjoy streets full of life with genuine shops and cafes frequented by locals. Then you'll return to your hotel.
Day 4 Halong Bay Cruise with Victory Cruise
Meals: B / L / D
You will be picked up in the morning from your hotel for your private transfer to Halong City. You may stop enroute to admire the local scenery.
Roughly around noon, you will arrive at the port and board on the ship. Begin sailing and pass through a magical bay, where thousands of sculpted limestone islands rise from the waves like dragons’teeth.
After lunch, take a short trek to a nearby summit for a panoramic view of the bay dotted with golden sails, go swimming on a quiet beach or sunbath on the sundeck.
Later in the afternoon, you will visit an interesting fishing village with an opportunity to interact withlocal people who have been living in the bay for almost three generations. An optional Kayaking trip is available weather permitting. Back on board enjoy a lavish dinner. Overnight on board.
Day 5 Fly to Danang
Meals: B / L
Wake up in the morning for a Tai Chi exercises on the sun deck and continue cruising the bays. Breakfast buffet will be served in the restaurant, then you will visit the limestone grotto. Disembark in Halong City at noontime and transfer back to Hanoi with your private vehicle, guide and driver.
Then you'll transfer to the airport in Hanoi for your flight to Danang. Upon arrival in Danang, our guide will greet you and escort you to your resort for check in.
Day 6 Myson Sanctuary and Hoi An Ancient Town
Meals: B / L
Today you'll explore the My Son Holy Land, a UNESCO Heritage site and Vietnam's most important Cham site.
In the morning, you'll tranfer to the My Son Holy Land. Tucked in the mountains up winding roads with serene views, lay the 4th century My Son Holy Land ruins. The surrounding mountains are strictly forbidden from living or development. The ruins lay in a beautiful surrounding mountainous landscape. You'll enter the temples while your tour guide gives you the history and stories of the Cham and the site. Afterward, you'll watch an Apsara show nearby the site, passed through the Cham tradition. The show features live music and colorful costumes.
In the afternoon, you'll continue to visit Hoi An Ancient Town. This town features the 16th century Hoi An port town in it's preserved state. You'll start the day visiting the Museum of Trade Ceramics. This museum houses art and pottery dating from the 1,500s to the 1,700s.
Then you'll briefly visit the Chua Ong Pagoda, a temple from the 17th century which features China's influence in the region. You'll continue through the Ancient Town as the streets take on a magic of their own with old lanterns, French-style houses, intricately carved wooden doors and more. You'll take a stroll through the Old Tam Ky House to see it's imperial styles meshed with French overtures. Continue on to stroll along the river and see traditional boats and locals on bicycles passing by. You'll then approach the Japanese Covered Bridge. This bridge has connected the Chinese and Japanese sides of town over the waterway for centuries. The old wooden structure has shown amazing resilience for more than 400 years.
At dusk, enjoy walking along the riverside as colorful lanterns light up the town. After you've finished the tour, you will return back to your hotel.
Day 7 Full Day Hoi An Beach Relaxing
Meals: B
Today you'll be able to relax on the beautiful beaches of Hoi An. Across the sea, you'll see the Cham islands. Feel free to join or start up a game of volleyball, or just soak up the sun on the sandy beaches.
Day 8 Fly to Saigon, and Visit City Highlights
Meals: B / L
In the morning, transfer by flight to Saigon. Upon arrival, our guide will greet you at the airport and escort you to your hotel for check in.
In the afternoon, you'll go to visit the Thien Hao Pagoda, the former Presidential Palace, and the War Remnants Museum.
Day 9 Mekong Discovery at My Tho
Meals: B / L
Discover the Mekong River, essential to Vietnamese life. You'll transfer to the remote My Tho. This burgeoning capital rests in the Mekong Delta and is surrounded by beautiful countryside known as the "rice basket of Vietnam". First you'll visit Vinh Trang Pagoda which is decorated with mosaics made from broken pottery. Overlooked by a tall white Buddha, it is set amongst lovely gardens packed with flowers, shrubs, lotus pools and tombs and ornate gates which provide entry.
Next, you'll take a boat ride along the river to view the stilt houses, fruit plantations and fishing villages. You'll stop at the Tortoise Island where you'll enjoy lunch in the orchard.
After lunch, you'll visit An Khanh, a small village that specializes in fruit orchards and coconut sweets. If time permits, you can take a short cycling trip through the island.
Then enjoy seasonal fruit, honey tea, and delicious coconut candies all to the sound of “Southern Vietnamese folk music”, performed by locals. After the tour is finished, you'll return to Saigon. The evening is at your leisure.
Day 10 Cooking Class at Cu Chi
Meals: B / L
Learn southern Vietnamese cooking in Cu Chi province. After you've finished breakfast at the hotel, your private guide and car will greet you and escort you to visit a lush green Vietnamese Medicine Garden full of herbs, vegetables, and spices used in local cuisine. Your chef will teach you how to identify various plants and when is the right time to pick them. The chef will also educate you on the various mints used in the Vietnamese kitchen and which herbs are believed to have certain healing properties.
After you've learned about the various vegetation used in Vietnamese gourmet, you'll be taught how to make your own masterpiece dishes.
Then you'll have the opportunity to eat your creation for lunch.
Next, you'll take your adventures underground for an adventure in history you won't forget with a visit to the Cu Chi Tunnels . Discover these amazing systems developed by the guerrillas fighting in the Vietnam War. You'll have an opportunity to see the various weapons used in the war on display.
Then you'll be taken to see the innovative ways the guerrillas survived and fought back in the war. See how they built an impressive underground system as your tour guide tells of the stories and history of the Vietnam War.
Then you'll have the chance to see rice paper and coconut candy being made. After, you'll enjoy jasmine tea and a boiled cassava root snack that was a common food eaten by guerrillas during the war. You'll return back to Ho Chi Minh.
Day 11 Fly to Siem Reap and Half Day Tonle Sap Lake
Meals: B
Today, you'll transfer by flight to Siem Reap. Upon arrival, our guide will greet you at the airport and escort you to Shinta Mani Resort for check in.
In the morning, start with an ox cart ride through Cambodia's green countryside where you'll see many coconut trees, rice fields, and water buffalo.
After that, continue the trip to the largest lake in Southeast Asia, the Tonle Sap. You'll take a boat ride to Kampong Phluck which means, Harbor of the Tusks due to it's history in the elephant trade several centuries ago. You'll also see the mangrove forests nearby. After the tour, you'll return to your hotel to relax for rest of the day.
Day 12 Discover Ancient Angkor Thom Capital
Meals: B
After breakfast, you'll begin your explorations of the remains of an ancient civilization that once ruled much of Southeast Asia. Today, you'll be visiting the ancient capital city of Angkor Thom. On your way to Angkor Thom, you’ll catch a glimpse of the front of Angkor Wat as you pass by, which will leave you with a tingling feeling on the back of your neck as you take your first glance of the enormity and wonder of the largest religious complex to ever exist.
However, we’ll be saving the best for last as you go on today to see some other equally impressive structures of Ta Prohm Temple, Bayon Temple, Banteay Kdei, Baphoun, Elephant Terrace, Leper King Terrace, and the Royal Palace. First on the agenda is Ta Prohm. Worn by time, rain, and overpowered by the jungle, this immaculate structure hidden under canopy will leave you feeling like you’ve stepped into the movie set of a treasure hunt adventure. Your private tour guide will give you the history and stories passed through oral tradition.
After you’ve had lunch, your exploits will continue as you visit Banteay Kdei ("Citadel of Chambers”). You’ll also visit Victory Gate, Terrace of the Leper King, the Royal Palace, Baphuon and Bayon. Bayon sets itself apart with its almost 200 smiling faces, sure to make you feel welcomed on your second day to the Kingdom of Wonders. With its winding tunnels, chambers, and daring climbs, Bayon will give you many picturesque moments to keep your camera busy.
As the sun approaches the horizon, you'll enjoy a sunset from the top of the pyramid-shaped temple of Pre Rup. After sunset, you’ll be taken back to your hotel for the evening.
Day 13 Sunrise at Angkor Wat and Explore Angkor Wat
Meals: B
In the morning before sunrise, you'll wake up early and be transferred to Angkor Wat Temple where you'll witness one of the best sunrises in the world. As an added bonus, if arranged on March 20(Vernal Equinox), the sun will rise perfectly aligned over the center tower. We'll then arrange a picnic breakfast in a quiet area in view of Angkor Wat Temple.
After breakfast, continue with explorations throughout the temple while your guide brings to life the stories and legends that were once born here. You'll see some of the largest bas reliefs in the world. After the tour, you'll return to your hotel and the rest of the day is at your leisure.
Day 14 Fly to Luang Prabang
Meals: B
At leisure until your flight to Luang Prabang. Upon arrival in Luang Prabang, your guide will greet you and escort you to your hotel for check in.
Day 15 Kuang Si Falls and Luang Prabang City
Meals: B / L
First, we visit the morning Phousi Market, where you will see such diverse offerings as dried buffalo skin, local tea and saltpeter among the chickens, vegetables and hill-tribe weavings. Laos is also known for its traditional crafts, and today you will visit local villages of Lao ethnic minority groups at Ban Ouay, a Hmong village, Ban Ou a Laoloum village and Ban Thapene, a Khmu village. This then takes us to the beautiful Khouang Si Waterfall where you can cool off with a refreshing swim in the pools or walk along the forest trails. We then return to Luang Prabang.
In the afternoon, your half-day city tour begins with a visit to the Royal Palace Museum, which hosts a range of interesting artifacts. We then head to the magnificent Wat Xiengthong with its roofs sweeping low to the ground, which represents classical Laotian architecture. We also have time to visit the impressive stupa of Wat Visoun and the shrines of Wat Aham and Wat Mai. A visit to Luang Prabang would be incomplete without ascending the 329 steps to the top of Phousi Hill for a beautiful sunset view of the city and its glowing reflection on the Mekong River. The tour ends after a visit to the famous Night Market, where you can find a lovely collection of handmade textiles made by local and hilltribe people surrounding Luang Prabang.
Day 16 Visit Pak Ou Caves
Meals: B
In the morning, we embark on a cruise upstream on the Mekong River, which also gives us a breathtaking view of the tranquil countryside. Along the way, we stop at the village of Ban Xanghai, where they make Laos rice wine and rice whiskey. You'll be able to try some and see the process they use to make it. Then we'll reach the mysterious Pak Ou Caves, two linked caves crammed with thousands of gold lacquered Buddha statues of various shapes and sizes left by pilgrims.
Lunch will be served nearby the caves. During lunch, you'll have the opportunity to try a local dish called "Orlam" which is a soup with vegetables and features a spicy wood that is partially edible. On return, we disembark the boat to visit a traditional weaving village of Ban Phanom, which is famous for its hand weaving.
Day 17 Fly to Bangkok
Meals: B
Today, you'll transfer by flight to Bangkok. Upon arrival, our guide will greet you and escort you to your Pattaya hotel for check in.
Day 18-20 Leisure Day
Meals: B
Today is at your leisure.
Day 21 Departure from Pattaya
Meals: B
After checking out from your hotel, your driver will meet you at the hotel's lobby and assist you with your things into the car. He will then drive you to Bangkok airport for your next flight destination.