Vietnam, Thailand and Myanmar tour 14 days

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

Day 1: Hanoi arrival (D, G)

Arriving at Noi Bai airport in Hanoi, you’ll be met and driven to your hotel. You’ll have time to relax after your journey before a welcome dinner at a colonial building. In the evening, you’ll have tickets for a performance of traditional Water Puppetry (an art form unique to northern Vietnam, and a good, light-hearted introduction to its rural culture). Your overnight stay will be in Hanoi.

Day 2: Hanoi (B, L, G)

An all day city tour, possibly including the Temple of Literature, (the first university in Vietnam dating back to the 11th C), the Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum, the Ethnology Museum and the centre of Hanoi, 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 Vietnam). Overnight in Hanoi.

Day 3: 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 “karst” 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 4: Ha Long/Hanoi (B, G)

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

Day 5: Tam Coc/Van Long 1 day (B, L, G)

In the morning you’ll be picked up to travel to Van Long. On arrival you’ll ride an ox cart to visit the Old House and the Old Pagoda and then board a boat to visit the Van Long Natural Reserve. After lunch at a local restaurant, you’ll visit Tam Coc – being rowed through paddies and into three caves in a peaceful valley. In the afternoon you’ll return to Hanoi.

Day 6: Lao Cai/Sapa (B, L, G)

You’ll be met at the Lao Cai station and taken by a Jeep or a Land Cruiser to visit an ethnic market. After a picnic lunch, you’ll return to Lao Cai and continue your journey into the mountains to Sapa, a small town perched on the mountainside opposite Mt. Fan Si Pan, Vietnam’s highest peak.

The trips to ethnic markets are a fascinating experience but must be on Tuesday (Coc Ly Market), Saturday (Can Cau) or Sunday (Bac Ha or Muong Hum Markets). Picnic lunch will be prepared in the morning from Sapa. You’ll arrive in Sapa in the late afternoon, with time to relax before dinner.

Day 7: Sapa/Hanoi (B, L, G)

Morning stroll to the town busy market and then easy trek to ethnic villages of H’mong in a scenic valley. After stream-side picnic lunch, you’ll be picked up to visit other ethnic villages of the H’mong, Day and Red Dao people. Return to Sapa and then back to Lao Cai station for an overnight train to Hanoi.

Day 8: Hanoi/Bangkok (B, G)

Escorted departure from Noi Bai airport to Bangkok.

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 9: 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 10: 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 11: Bangkok/Yangon (B, G)

Breakfast at hotel, then free at leisure till the time has come for your transfer to airport for your  international flight to Yangon. Arrive in Yangon where you will be welcomed by your local tour guide and transferred to your hotel to drop off you luggage. Overnight at the Hotel.

Day 12: Yangon/Bago/Yangon (B, L, G)

Breakfast at hotel. After Breakfast Drive to north of Yangon , the Ancient Mon Dynasty Called ” Bago ” (80 km , 2 hrs drive ). On the way visit Kyeik Pon Pagoda -28 meter high huge Buddha Image and proceed to Bago and continue visit to Kya Khat Wai Monastery is one of the three largest Monasteries in the country. Watching the long line of Monks and Novices taking their last meal of the day in silence is quite an impressive sight.

Visit Shwemawdaw Pagoda – One of the most venerated pagoda in Myanmar and a great statue (55 feet long) of a reclining Buddha, believed to have been built in 944. Afternoon visit of Kanbawzadi Palace, Shwetharlaung – Huge reclining Buddha, Maha Zedi, walking around Mon Village to see the hand made weaving and daily life of the Mon People, cheroot making factory. Drive Back to Yangon, on the way visit Htauk Kyant War Memorial Cemetery , a regal memorial to the 27,000 Allied soldiers who died in World War II. Overnight at hotel.

Day 13: Yangon/Thanlyin/Yangon (B, L, G)

Breakfast at hotel. First visit to Thanlyin (Syriam), The colonial town of Thanlyin (Syrian) was a major port and important trading centre from the 14th through the 18th centuries until it was displaced by Yangon in 1755. Arrive Thanlyin. As a first visit, Kyaik- Khauk Pagoda (Most likely the first stupa on this hillock was erected by the Mon AD- 600-800), able to enjoy panoramic Bago River View and Skyline of City Yangon. Proceed to Kyauk Tan and visit to the Pagoda with the local boat. Its approximately named since the complex is perched on a tiny Island in the middle of the river.

After visit, drive back to Yangon and afternoon sightseeing Kaba Aye – World Peace Pagoda, Mahapasana Cave (where sixth Buddhist synod took place ) Chaukhtat Gyi -A huge reclining Buddha Image , and sunset at the Great Shwedagon Pagoda ( The World Famous Stupa). Overnight at Hotel.

Day 14: Yangon Departure (B, G)

Escorted to the airport for departure flight

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
• Return train tickets: Hanoi  – Lao Cai – Hanoi, air-conditioned soft four-berth cabin, good local standard four-berth cabin.
• 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 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
• Drinks, gratuities and personal expenses.
• Insurance.

Hotel list for Five Stars standard:

• Hanoi: Melia Hotel (***** modern high-rise building in one of Hanoi’s leafy boulevards in the city centre) or similar
• Sapa: Victoria Hotel (***** the best hotel in Sapa with separate building) or similar
• Bangkok: Amari Watergate Hotel (***** overlooking views of the city centre) similar
• Yangon: Trader Hotel (***** sits at the centre of the capital, the perfect base for taking in the city’s distinctive and fascinating culture) or similar

Hotel list for Four Stars standard:

• Hanoi: Silk Path Hotel (**** modern boutique hotel in the old quarter) or similar
• Sapa: Chau Long Hotel (*** overlooking Muong Hoa valley & Mount Fansipan) or similar
• Bangkok: Hotel Century Park (**** city centre) or similar
• Yangon: Grand Plaza Park Royal (**** in the heart of the city’s prized cultural attractions) or similar

Hotel list for Three Stars standard:

• Hanoi: Thang Long Opera hotel (*** city centre, walking distance to Hoan Kiem Lake) or similar
• Sapa: Holiday Sapa (*** city centre, overlook the beautiful valley) or similar.
• Bangkok: Bangkok Palace hotel (*** centrally located at the heart of Pratunam, Bangkok’s commercial shopping and entertainment district) or similar
• Yangon: Summit Parkview Hotel (*** short distance from the business district and major sightseeing places) 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.