Vietnam and Thailand tour 16 days

= Breakfast, L = Lunch, D = Dinner, G = Guide

Day 1: Bangkok arrival (G)

On arrival at Suvanphumi Airport, you’ll be driven to your hotel. Rest of the day, you’ll be free to stroll around the city as you wish. You’ll spend the night in Bangkok.

Day 2: Bangkok City Tour (B, L, G)

After breakfast, you’ll begin your tour of Bangkok with a long tail boat ride along the Chao Phraya River to see many lively inner canals which provide some fantastic views of the local life. Along the way you will stop over at Wat Arun, the temple of dawn, before continuing to the Grand Palace which dedicated to the Thai Royal Family’s ceremonies. Nearby is the magnificent Wat Phra Kaew, which is famous for the Emerald Buddha Image. After seeing this complex, you will drive through the many vibrant streets of China Town to some of the most significant temples in Bangkok. The landmark of Wat Traimit is well known as the Golden Buddha Temple while Wat Po houses a gigantic Reclining Buddha. You will spend the night in Bangkok.

Day 3: Bangkok/Ayutthaya (B, L, G)

After breakfast, you’ll be picked up to visit Ayutthaya. It lies about an hour’s journey by coach to the north of the city and was the proud and powerful ancient capital of Siam until its destruction some 230 or so years ago. Much of the fabulous ornate city was lost at that time but what remains will still give you an excellent idea of life during the 4 centuries that the Kings of Ayutthaya ruled. We will also visit the nearby summer palace of the present modern day Chakri dynasty, Bang Pa-In. After the sightseeing tour, join our cruise boat at Wat Chong-Lom Pier for a boat ride down the Chao Phraya River to the River City Pier taking in all of the splendid scenery and typical Thai water-borne life on the way.

You’ll spend the night in Bangkok.

Day 4: Bangkok/Hanoi (B, G)

Breakfast at the hotel. Domestic flight Chiang Mai to Bangkok, connecting International flight Bangkok to Hanoi. Free at own leisure. You’ll spend the night in Hanoi.

Day 5: Hanoi (B, L, G)

An all day city tour, possibly including the Temple of Literature, (the first university in Viet Nam dating back to the 11th C), the Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum, the Ethnology Museum and the centre of Ha Noi, including the Hoan Kiem Lake, the Ngoc Son temple and the bustling Old Quarter with a complex of architecture – traditional tube houses, religious buildings and the colonial houses. In the evening, you’ll have tickets for a performance of Cheo (an traditional music typical for the northern Viet Nam). Overnight in Hanoi.

Day 6: Hanoi/Ha Long (B, L, D, G)

A morning drive to Ha Long Bay, (one of the most spectacular UNESCO World Heritage Areas – the world’s largest marine “karstâ” landscape). Travel by traditional-style boat to some of the less well-known grottoes and caves. Includes swimming, fishing, hill (not mountain) climbing for Bay overviews, exploring sea level caves in a small sampan, etc. All meals will be provided on board and your accommodation will be on the boat in a twin room with en suite toilet and shower.

Day 7: Ha Long/Hanoi (B, G)

Morning cruising Ha Long Bay, followed by lunch and then return to Hanoi for an overnight stay.

Day 8: Hanoi/Hue (B, L, G)

Noon flight to Hue, check-in, then to the Thien Mu Pagoda (beside the Perfume River – very tranquil), boat cruise to King Minh Mang’s Tomb (the most majestic of the Royal Tombs) and drive to visit the Dong Ba market. Overnight in Hue.

Day 9: Hue (B, L, G)

Morning visit to the Imperial Citadel of Hue and the Antiquity Museum. Afternoon drive to visit King Tu Duc’s Tomb (the poet King, the simplest Royal tomb set in a beautiful garden) and visit to Garden Houses – (a cultural characteristic in Hue). In the evening you’ll be picked up to enjoy a Hue musical show on a boat in the Perfume River for about one hour. Overnight in Hue.

Day 10: Hue/Hoi An (B, L, G) morning

Morning drive to Danang (excellent views from high mountain pass). On arrival in Danang, you’ll have a brief visit to Cham Museum, then continue to travel to Hoi An. After lunch, a guided visit to the Ancient Town. Overnight stay in Hoi An.

The town is an ancient trading port, once the largest in Indochina and a meeting point for many cultures that left their mark in the different architectural features of its wooden buildings.

Day 11: Hoi An/Danang/Ho Chi Minh City (B, G)

Your time will be your own until our driver will come and transfer you to airport for your flight to Ho Chi Minh City. On arrival, you’ll be picked up and driven to hotel. You’ll spend the night in Ho Chi Minh City.

Day 12: Ho Chi Minh city tour 1 day (B, L, G)

After breakfast, you’ll start your city tour including the History Museum (special exhibition of the 5thC “Oc Eo” civilisation), the Museum of War Remnants (very partial, but riveting, recollections of the “American War”: not for the squeamish), the huge Ben Thanh market (one of the liveliest areas of Ho Chi Minh City), the Jade Emperor Temple (superb effigies, remarkable carved panels of the descent to Hell and incongruous terrapin and tortoise sanctuaries) and a lacquer workshop. Overnight in Ho Chi Minh City.

Day 13: Ho Chi Minh/Tay Ninh/Cu Chi (B, L, G)

Drive to Tay Ninh to visit the Cao Dai Holy See (in time to watch the mid-day ceremony), Cu Chi (intricate network of underground passages and bunkers that became legendary during the 1960′s for their role in the war of liberation). Farewell dinner and overnight in Ho Chi Minh City.

Cao Dai is a “new” religion unique to Viet Nam with around a million followers. Both its creed and its architecture are remarkable and exotic.

Day 14: Ho Chi Minh/My Tho/Can Tho (B, L, G)

At 8:00 you’ll be picked up at our hotel to travel to My Tho. On arrival, boat cruise on Mekong river to the Thoi Son island: rowing through small canals and walking along small village road to visit fruit gardens, elementary school, spirits distilling house, and see the daily life of villagers. On your visit you’ll have chance to enjoy some of tropical fruits and traditional music show. After lunch at a local restaurant on island, you’ll continue to cruise to visit a coconut candy workshop. In the afternoon, return to Ho Chi Minh for overnight.

Day 15: Can Tho/Ho Chi Minh City (B, L, G)

Boat cruise to Cai Rang floating markets on the Mekong Delta (views of rural lifestyle). Lunch at a local restaurant. Afternoon return to Ho Chi Minh city for overnight

Day 16: Ho Chi Minh departure (B, G)

Escorted departure from Tan Son Nhat airport

Price in US$ per person:

Our price includes:

• Breakfast and accommodation sharing a twin or double room.
• Pick-ups and transfers by private air-conditioned vehicle as specified in the itinerary above
• One way domestic flight tickets in Vietnam: Hanoi-Hue, Danang-Ho Chi Minh City, including domestic airport taxes.
• One way international flight tickets: Bangkok – Hanoi, excluding domestic airport taxes.
• Boats cruise as programme. For Ha Long Bay, you’ll join other passengers on a high quality wooden boat with comfortable accommodation, good facilities and an experienced crew. The boat will be fully licensed and comply with current safety regulations.
• Travel by private, air-conditioned vehicle with an experienced, safe driver.
• The services of experienced English-speaking guides as indicated in the itinerary
• Where necessary, entry fees for all visits as mentioned in the programme.
• Lunches and dinners, as specified, in the good local restaurants, picnics where suitable restaurants are not available, and full board on the boat in Ha Long Bay.
• VAT and other taxes

Our price does not include:

• International flight tickets and airport tax.
• Visas
• Dinners, except as specified above.
• Drinks, gratuities and personal expenses.
• Insurance.

Hotel list for Five Stars standard:

• Bangkok: Amari Watergate Hotel (***** overlooking views of the city centre) or similar
• Hanoi: Melia Hotel (***** modern high-rise building in one of Hanoi’s leafy boulevards in the city centre, uninspiring bland architecture, but high-quality facilities, restaurants, and service, ten-minute stroll from the city centre) or similar
• Hue: Imperial Hotel (***** in the city centre) or similar
• Hoi An: Palm Garden Beach Resort (***** new villa and bungalow style resort on a 5ha site on the northern section of Cua Dai Beach)
• Ho Chi Minh City: Majestic Hotel (***** in the city centre) or similar
• Can Tho: Victoria Hotel (**** beside the Mekong river, good garden setting)

Hotel list for Four Stars standard:

• Bangkok: Hotel Century Park (**** city centre) or similar
• Hanoi: Sunway Hotel (**** comfortable boutique hotel 15 minute’s walk from the city centre) or similar
• Hoi An: Hoi An Trails Resort and Spa (**** beside Cua Dai beach) or similar
• Hue: Huong Giang Hotel (**** on the bank of the Perfume River) or similar
• Ho Chi Minh City: Grand Hotel (****located in the city centre, walking distance to major commercial and entertainments places) or similar
• Can Tho: Golf Hotel (**** city centre) or similar

Hotel list for Three Stars standard:

• Bangkok: Bangkok Palace hotel (*** centrally located at the heart of Pratunam, Bangkok’s commercial shopping and entertainment district) or similar
• Hanoi: Thang Long Opera hotel (*** city centre, walking distance to Hoan Kiem Lake) or similar
• Hue: Mondial Hotel (*** city centre with outdoor swimming pool) or similar
• Hoi An: Lotus Hotel (*** with swimming pool, 2km from town centre) or similar
• Ho Chi Minh City: Elios Hotel (*** ideally located in the city centre) or similar
• Can Tho: Kim Tho Hotel (*** overlooking the Mekong River) or similar

If, at the time of booking, any hotels or rooms in the list above are fully booked, we will endeavour to find accommodation of a similar standard elsewhere. If the only available accommodation is of a higher or lower standard, we will revise the price accordingly and consult you immediately.