Vietnam, Cambodia & Thailand

Day 1  Hanoi, Vietnam            
Welcome to Hanoi! Transfer from the airport to your hotel, close to the historic Old Quarter and other notable attractions in Vietnam’s capital city.        

Day 2  Hanoi              
Explore Hanoi on a memorable buggy ride through the back streets of the Old Town. Sample Vietnamese specialties for lunch, then spend the afternoon as you wish. An art form that is unique to Vietnam and popular since the 18^th century entertains you this evening during an enchanting water puppet performance.      

Day 3  Hanoi to Hue        
Fly into Da Nang this morning en route to Hue. Upon arrival, visit the tomb of 19th Century emperor Tu Duc. After lunch, ride your private, pedal-powered cyclo to explore Hué's Citadel, then settle into your riverfront accommodations along the Perfume River.      

Day 4  Hue to Da Nang    
Discover Hue's tranquil setting as you admire Thien Mu Pagoda, a seven-story octagonal tower built in 1844, and cruise along the Perfume River. Then take in the scenery along the Vietnamese coast and Hai Van Mountain during a drive to Da Nang.    

Day 5  Da Nang to Hoi An    
Pay a delightful visit to a local kindergarten in Da Nang this morning, then continue your Vietnam travel by journeying to historic Hoi An, a key South China Sea trading port in the 15th through 19th Centuries, and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Explore its shop-lined streets via cyclo and tour the 200-year-old "Phung Hung" house.      

Day 6  Hoi An to Ho Chi Minh City      
Take a morning flight to Ho Chi Minh City, where you’ll set off to the battlefield memorial site of Ben Duoc, northwest of the city, where you'll explore an underground world of tunnels and chambers three stories deep at Cu Chi Tunnels with your local guides.

Day 7  Ho Chi Minh City            
Explore Ho Chi Minh City with your local expert today, visiting the Ben Thanh Market and the former Presidential Palace, now called Reunification Hall. See the former U.S. Embassy, the Saigon River and the stately Central Post Office designed by Paris' Gustave Eiffel. Enjoy the afternoon and evening as you please. Tonight, see the city of Ho Chi Minh, after dark, on a Vespa tour.    

Day 8  Ho Chi Minh City to Siem Reap, Vietnam        
This morning, your journey continues to Cambodia as you fly to Siem Reap for a stay nearby the treasures of the fabled archaeological site at Angkor. You'll be dazzled by what you see this afternoon at the vast, 12th Century Angkor Wat temple; the bas-reliefs and many devatas (guardian spirits) that cover its walls are awe-inspiring.      

Day 9  Siem Reap          
Marvel at fascinating Ta Prohm Temple as it is enveloped by jungle roots. See the Elephant Terrace in Angkor Thom, before later this afternoon, if you wish, join a cruise on Tonle Sap Lake, revealing fascinating floating villages with a return to the hotel via tuk-tuk.      

Day 10  Siem Reap to Chiang Mai, Thailand          
Fly via Bangkok to charming Chiang Mai, Thailand, known for its artistic and cultural heritage. Take a scenic drive to Doi Suthep National Park, home to Wat Phrathat Doi Suthep – a temple perched at the top of a peak.      

Day 11  Chiang Mai          
Elephants – Thailand's national animal – are an integral part of Chiang Mai's economy and culture; today you'll learn more about them. A picnic lunch at the sanctuary precedes a visit to hill tribe villages of Chiang Mai to meet the people who live peacefully there as small farmers, observing and honoring their traditional ways of life. The remainder of the day is spent as you please. Dinner tonight is at the hotel.    

Day 12  Chiang Mai        
Depart your hotel this morning to Doi Suthep National Park for a visit to Chiang Mai's most famous temple - Wat Phra That Doi Suthep. Commonly referred to as "Doi Suthep," this is actually a misnomer, "Doi Suthep" is the name of the mountain where it is located. En route to the temple, your tour director will provide a guided tour of Chiang Mai's old walled city. Arrive at your hotel this afternoon, early enough to offer you free time to enjoy the amenities of the hotel as you wish. Dinner tonight is at the hotel.    

Day 13  Chiang Mai to Bangkok      
A morning flight takes you to Thailand's capital city of Bangkok for a three-night stay in this captivating city; arrive in time for lunch at the hotel. The remainder of the day is free to explore as you please.  

Day 14  Bangkok      
Cruise up the Chao Phraya River and through a network of canals, called klongs, which lace the city. These often-bustling "city streets," lined with homes and small businesses, are where much of life in Bangkok is found; stop at Wat Arun (the Temple of Dawn) along the way. Have lunch at a local Thai restaurant, then return to the hotel and spend the remainder of the day as you please.  

Day 15  Bangkok      
An express boat whisks you from the hotel to the Maharaj Pier for a morning of sightseeing in Bangkok (both on foot and by tuk-tuk), an intriguing mix of ancient and modern. Walk to Wat Pho, the oldest and largest temple in the city, to see the giant Reclining Buddha, then travel to the 18th-century Grand Palace for an "audience" with the Emerald Buddha. Join us this evening for a farewell reception and dinner at your hotel.    

Day 16  Bangkok      
Transfer to the airport for your departing flight.