Thailand & Vietnam Adventure 16 Nights / 17 Days
A wonderful adventure combining classic sightseeing tour offers wonderful experience to visit the highlight of colorful Bangkok Capital along with main tourist attractions to Grand Palace, impressive Wat Arun, happy shopping, the famous floating market in Ratchaburi, curious dead railway and hellfire pass in Kanchanaburi, observe beautiful northern Thailand’s Chiang Rai and Chiang Mai provide amazing experience from hill tribe villages to cultural insights, fascinating temples, elephant sanctuary and the famous golden triangle. In Vietnam, see the vibrant Saigon city, the historical war site of Cu Chi Tunnels and the must-see Mekong Delta, not only go for Hanoi sightseeing but also included nice trekking experience through Sapa’s rice terraces to witness unique culture of Hmong villages. End with the pleasant time relaxing in a cruise on Halong Bay where it emerges spectacular natural beauty and limestone formation.
Destinations
Bangkok → Kanchanaburi → Ratchaburi → Chiang Rai → Chiang Mai → Saigon → Mekong Delta → Hanoi → Sapa → Halong Bay
Or Vice Versa
Program Detail
Day 1: Bangkok – Arrival
International flight is NOT included in the tour price.
Our friendly team (guide and driver) will welcome you at the arrival gate upon your arrival at Suvarnabhumi/Don Mueang Airport then transfers to a reserved hotel for check in and simply enjoy yourselves free time at hotel or explore central city by your own.
Overnight in Bangkok
*Meal Plan: None
Day 2: Maeklong Railway, Damnoen Saduak Floating Market, Death Railway & River Kwai
Breakfast is served at hotel. Our journey starts at 7.30am from hotel, drive with 1.15h to Samut Songkhram province which is famed for its Maeklong Railway market that you will observe interesting local life between vendors and buyers daily do their trade and exchange local goods at both sites of the train tracks and they suddenly pull down their canvas when the train approaches then put them back after the train passes by. Resume driving to Ratchaburi which popularly emerges the must-see Damnoen Saduak floating market where we will process to take a rowing boat to see the bustling activities along rivers and canals, colorful fruits, flowers, vegetables, snacks and other various items on local boats in this famous floating market in Thailand.
Lunch is provided at a selected local restaurant.
Continue our journey to Kanchanaburi whose the well-known Death Railway is located and it dates back to World War II, we spend our worth visit to War Cemetery and JEATH war museum that displays the remnants left from World War II including photography, artifacts, documents, equipment and so on. After unlocking the horrific war history, we enjoy the walking on the black iron bridge over the remarkable River Kwai where you can take a good breathtaking and take nice photos before heading to Kanchanaburi town for check in at a booked hotel.
Overnight in Kanchanaburi
*Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch
Day 3: Erawan Waterfalls, Hellfire Pass, Krasae Cave & Drive to Bangkok
Breakfast is served at hotel. Check out of hotel then we set off at 7.30am to visit natural Erawan waterfalls admired by its beautiful seven tiers we will make our walk to several tiers and spend a pleasant time for swimming (don’t forget to bring along strong footwear and towels). Next, we drive to Hellfire Pass historical site then we enjoy the hike through thick bamboo trails to unlock Hellfire Pass Memorial museum along with interesting World War II history.
After a nice lunch break, we continue our adventure to the attractive Krasae Cave for a short visit and make a good wish at Buddha shrine before having a breathtaking walk on Death Railway Wooden Bridge which was built at steep mountain slopes during World War II, learn from your tour guide about the horrific history of constructing the bridge while enjoy taking fabulous photos of the surroundings and green nature. Finally, our two amazing days at Kanchanaburi has ended with unforgettable experience then we make our way with 3 hours back to Bangkok.
Overnight in Bangkok
*Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch
Day 4: Bangkok Highlight City Tour & Shopping
Breakfast is served at hotel. Today we begin at 8.00am for the amazing day to explore significant tourist attraction in central Bangkok City, visit Wat Traimit which houses the largest Golden Buddha statue in the world and catch the highlights of bustling China and Indian towns animated by interesting daily activities or you can stop by for a short visit when we drive pass to observe the Temple of the reclining Buddha in Wat Pho. Continue for a guided strolling at The Grand Palace which is popularly known as “The City Landmark” admired by the most impressive Emerald Buddha and other building complex that features unique architectural designs and cultural arts. Enjoy delicious Thai lunch at a selected local restaurant.
Afternoon, we drive to observe the remarkable Wat Arun which means Temple of Dawn which dates back to Ayutthaya Kingdom and continue to for your own happy shopping Pratunam Market or at Chatuchak Weekend Market (Fri-Sun).
Overnight in Bangkok
*Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch
Day 5: Bangkok - Flight to Chiang Rai, Chiang Rai Tour
Breakfast is served at hotel. Enjoy the rest of free time in Bangkok before transferring to airport for flight to Chiang Rai, Northern Thailand.
Upon your arrival, our experienced team (with welcome signage) will greet you at the arrival gate then transfers to a reserved hotel for check in.
After check in, we set off for a worth visit at Black House temple museum which inspires traditional Northern Thai arts and architecture then continue to visit the impressive Wat Rong Suea Ten (or Blue Temple) in rare blue color, adorable carvings with its own architectural styles. We’ll then make our way for Kad Luang market to observe daily life of local people and see various Thai products from fresh tropical fruits, vegetables, meats to local street food, clothes and accessories.
Overnight in Chiang Rai
*Meal Plan: Breakfast
Day 6: Chiang Rai – Golden Triangle & Long Neck Karen
Breakfast is served at hotel. Today we leave a bit early at 7.30am for our wonderful journey to explore the most attractive destinations of Chiang Rai. We spend about an hour to visit Mae Chan admired by its fresh massive Choui Fong Tea plantation where you will learn a bit more about tea processing and enjoy the taste of real tea flavor of Chiang Rai while observing the fantastic scenery. Continue our adventure to interact diverse Akha hill tribal village and Long Neck Karen where we witness their daily life of living in exotic clothes/handicrafts while observing their interesting activities and the surrounding before heading to the well-known Mae Sai market where you wander around to grab a lovely gift for yourselves, this market is boring between Chiang Rai and Tachileik, Myanmar – the commercial place for locals and ethnic minority people come for trades and exchange their various goods.
Enjoy lunch at a selected local restaurant.
Afternoon, we drive to Golden Triangle point where the parts of Myanmar, Thailand, Laos, Ruak River and Mekong River meet at the confluence, the region was largely famed for opium production and cultivation in the world. We then take a change to take Mekong River boat which pleasantly provides amazing boat ride to see the mighty Mekong River, to Don Sao Island – a part of Laos where we will wander around Don Sao market.
Note: Visiting Don Sao Island is not required visa but make sure you bring along passport with you and keep it safely with boat company and claim it back when you finished the boat ride. Or you may skip the boat ride if you want.
The best part of the trip is not to miss out Opium House Museum which gives you best interesting history about Opium plantation, production and cultivation, and there are numerous exhibits of opium artifacts as well as houses of opium collection which can tell you that the Golden Triangle is one of most impressive opium cultivation in the world. Finally, our trip ended with meaningful and we drive with 1 ½ hours back to Chiang Rai.
Overnight in Chiang Rai
*Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch
Day 7: Chiang Rai with White Temple, Drive to Chiang Mai & Chaing Mai Tour
Breakfast is served at hotel. Check out and we leave hotel at 7.30am then drive with 2 ½ hours to Chiang Mai Province. On the way, we will pay attention to witness the well-known Wat Rong Khun (popularly known as White Temple) admired by its stunning Thai art styles and unique temple architecture where many tourists always take fabulous photos of its reflection. Continue driving, we then stop at Mae Kachan Hot spring for coffee break and wander in the area to see locals boiling eggs inside the hot spring. Check in into a booked hotel in Chiang Mai.
Enjoy Thai lunch at a selected local restaurant.
Afternoon, we make our wonderful Chiang Mai tour, drive up on Doi Suthep Mountain to visit the famous golden temple of Wat Phra That Doi Suthep standing 3500 feet above the sea level and it religiously houses Buddha relics then enjoy breathtaking the panoramic view over Chiang Mai City from the summit of Doi Suthep. Resume our journey to Black Hmong Village locates at the hillside, observe daily life of Hmong villagers admired by their interesting routine activities.
Overnight in Chiang Mai
*Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch
Day 8: Chiang Mai – Full Day Elephant Nature Park
Breakfast is served at hotel. Be ready with your small light pack for pickup at 7.40am arranged by Elephant Nature Park. Enjoy a full day visit to Elephant Nature Park; a natural home and sanctuary for elephants, buffaloes, dogs, cats, birds and many other rescued animals. Your visit starts with a picturesque drive through rural countryside. You will hear the personal stories of rescued and orphaned elephants and see how they became a proud herd and free from abuse for the first time in their lives. Many find their visit to Elephant Nature Park rewarding and very relaxing. Observe free roaming elephants (no riding) and other rescued animals enjoying the natural surroundings of our sanctuary. Your visit helps support our regional projects and offers an invaluable opportunity of helping elephant conservation. We finish the tour and returning Chiang Mai between 5:00pm – 5:30pm.
What to Bring: Hat, Sunscreen, Sandals/Flip Flops, Shoes for walking, Camera, Bug Repellent, Refillable Water Bottle. (Rain Jacket – Rainy Season April – October).
Overnight in Chiang Mai
*Meal Plan: Breakfast, Vegetarian buffet lunch
Day 9: Chiang Mai - Flight to Saigon, Vietnam
Breakfast is served at hotel. Enjoy the rest of free time in Chiang Mai before our team transfers you to airport for flight to Saigon, Vietnam.
Upon your arrival, our experienced team (with welcome signage) will greet you at the arrival gate then transfers to a reserved hotel for check in or make your own strolling around city.
Overnight in Saigon
*Meal Plan: Breakfast
Day 10: My Tho – Mekong Delta Tour
Breakfast is served at hotel. We set off 8.00am out of the bustling Saigon straight to My Tho boat pier where we process to embark a local motorboat which slides on Mekong Delta overlooking islets, fish farms and floating houses admired by fishing and trading activities on boats. In Unicorn Island, we will be pampered by Vietnamese traditional music depicting a folk art rooted from South Vietnam and get refreshed by tropical fruit tasting. Continue by canoe, we explore the natural beauty of Mekong canals with lush beautiful coconut trees stretching at both sides until we enjoy the walking tour to observe bee keeping farm and sample honey tea before having lunch. After lunch break, we catch our regular boat to coconut candy workshop to learn the processing of how coconut candies are made, along with a chance to taste and chew sweet candies or purchase a few packs before we get in our awaiting car/minivan and drive back to Saigon City in the evening.
Overnight in Saigon
*Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch
Day 11: Cu Chi tunnels, Saigon City Tour & Flight to Hanoi
Breakfast is served at hotel. Today we begin our adventure trip at 8.00am out of bustling Saigon City, pass countryside to explore the famous attraction of Cu Chi tunnels which are known as the deadly dangerous trap tunnel networks and was used by Viet Cong army as the facility base to supply food, accommodation, storage, escape rooms as well as strong holes to fight against their enemies during French and American war from 1948 until 1975. Learn from your tour guide about this interesting and sad history of Vietnam, and personally experience the real feeling when crawl into the tunnels to reveal some remnants left after the war ended.
Enjoy Vietnamese lunch at a local restaurant.
Afternoon, we return for guided Saigon City along with War Remnants Museum that you can witness Indochina war history while browsing various items relating Vietnam War, visit the fascinating architecture of Reunification Palace which was the former workplace and residence of the President of the Republic of Vietnam, admired by French colonial buildings of Notre Dame Cathedral and Central Post Office, we then stroll at Jade Emperor Pagoda before go shopping at the famous Ben Thanh market where you observe trading exchanges and you can’t absolutely ignore to purchase some souvenirs.
Our team will transfer you to airport for an evening flight to Hanoi. Upon arrival, you will be friendly greeted by our escort guide and driver then transfer to a booked hotel for check in.
Overnight in Hanoi
*Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch
Day 12: Hanoi City Tour, Hanoi to Sapa By Sleeping Train
Breakfast is served at hotel. We set off at 8.00am for a fully guided tour within Ba Dinh Square, visit the main attractions included the famous Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum, One Pillar Pagoda with most interesting architecture and 10th century Temple of Literature – the first national university of Vietnam along with rich history.
Enjoy delicious lunch at Hoang Cuisine restaurant (or similar).
Afternoon, we observe Hoa Lo Prison which tells you an interesting war from French colonial time to Vietnam and American War. Continue to visit Vietnam Museum of Ethnology – the significant place to witness the best collection, documentation, exhibition and preserving the cultural and historic patrimony of Vietnam’s 54 ethnic groups. Next, we take rickshaw (cyclo) explore the popular Old Quarter admired by attractive daily life and bustling local activities. Ending the cyclo ride at Thang Long Opera Theatre, we then enjoy a traditional, unique water puppet show.
Our team will meet you again at hotel’s lobby then transfer to train station for sleeping train (air conditioning cabin) departs at 10.00pm to Lao Cai town of Sapa and arrives at approx. 6.30-7.00am in the morning in Lao Cai.
Note: Private car/minivan (day time) is available upon request and the program will be slightly changed.
*Overnight in sleeping train
*Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch
Day 13: Sapa Trekking
You will be greeted by our escort guide and driver then drive with 1 hours to a booked hotel in Sapa Town for refreshment and enjoy breakfast.
After the breakfast break, we begin a pleasant trekking with 11km down, up and along Muong Hoa Valley to the villages of Y Linh Ho, Lao Chai and Ta Van where we’re gonna reveal the attractive insights of Black H’mong minority groups whose daily life relies basic routine and their unique ways to make a living that animated by their exotic culture and customs. We enjoy the walking though beautiful rice terraces along with interesting activities and local interaction from one to other villages where you always see the fascinating surroundings that you can’t refuse to take photos. During the trekking adventure, we’ll have a great chance to enjoy our picnic lunch at a local family’s house and sample some tropical fruits.
Afternoon, spend the rest of your nice time at family house then we take a ride by motorbike or jeep back to Sapa town.
Overnight in Sapa
*Meal Plan: Breakfast, Picnic Lunch
Day 14: Sapa Trekking & By Sleeping Train to Hanoi
Today we leave again by our private car/minivan to Ta Phin Village – one of the most beautiful H’Mong villages where we catch the morning highlight of ethnic culture and continue to expand maximize experience to visit Ta Phin Cave nearby. Next, return to Sapa town for the last trekking trip up and down with 3km to Cat Cat village to witness rural life of Black H’Mong village, learn from your guide about their daily interesting activities, culture, customs and superstition, the trekking offers a wonderful experience to see one of the best H’Mong village attractions in Sapa while the surroundings are friendly fabulous and attracted by rice terraces, river and mountains, and enjoy traditional music show at Cat Cat village. Up to Ham Rong Mountain summit, we enjoy the breathtaking with the stunning panoramic views of Sapa and it is totally admired by the fascinating nature. Picnic lunch is provided on this day.
We say goodbye to Sapa then drive directly to Lao Cai for the night train back to Hanoi.
Exciting information: If you’re lucky on the day you take night train back to Hanoi, Bac Ha Sunday market is the most popular attraction in the region of Sapa which only opens on Sunday, along with the most interesting exchange trades of animals, poultry, materials, cloths, handicrafts and vegetables between buyers and vendors from various ethnic minority groups. It’s good chance to stroll around to observe lifestyles of tribe people and you probably want to sample a dish of delicious H’mong traditional dishes.
Overnight in sleeping train
*Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch
Day 15: Hanoi – Halong Bay Cruise
Breakfast is served at hotel. Prepare yourselves with light packing ready to be picked up by shuttle bus between 8.00-8.30am at your hotel and start your trip to explore the most amazing Halong Bay in the North of Vietnam.
Note: Private car/minivan round trip transfers Halong Bay is available upon request.
On the way, we will have a quick stop in the middle of the way to rest. We will reach Halong cruise port around 12.30pm then process the registration and get transferred by tender to Swan Cruise. After safety brief, a welcome drink and checking in, delicious Vietnamese set menu will be served while leisurely cruising further into Bai Tu Long Bay, enjoy kayaking through the karst and breathtaking nature, swimming and relaxing before getting back to the cruise for sunset party.
Evening, have sumptuous set dinner on board and it’s your free time to challenge yourself in Vietnamese puzzle games, or gathers your group/family for a board game; try your luck with squid fishing or simply have a cocktail and enjoy the quiet night on the bay.
Overnight in Cruise Halong Bay
*Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Note:
There are many cruise companies operate from standard to luxury cruises to Halong Bay and every cruise companies have their similar cruise itineraries. The above cruise itinerary is detailed according to Swan Cruise’s standard itinerary. If you chose to stay at another cruise, cruise itinerary will then be provided at the time you confirmed. If you really love Halong Bay and want to stay a night longer, 2nights/3days cruise is available, so feel free to speak about this with our sale team.
Day 16: Halong Bay Cruise, Back to Hanoi
Rise a bit early in the morning for Sunrise Tai-chi section on sundeck or catch a morning view of the stunning bay’s landscape with a cup of tea or coffee.
Breakfast will be served in Western style, familiar to you to fulfill your strength and ready for another exploring day to the well-hidden Thien Canh Son Cave for an hour then return to the boat you will have about 30 minutes to freshen up and finish packing.
Around 10.00, attend a Vietnamese cooking demonstration. You can quickly learn a simple but delicious Vietnamese dish or challenge yourself in fruit and vegetable carving. Next, we enjoy a traditional Vietnamese lunch on the boat while the cruise is heading back to the harbor and disembark at Halong cruise port. At 12.30pm: our shuttle bus will take you back to Hanoi and arrive in the evening around 16.00-17.00pm.
Overnight in Hanoi
*Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch
Day 17: Hanoi - Departure
International flight is NOT included in the tour price.
Breakfast is served at hotel. Enjoy the rest of free time in Vietnam then our team will pick you up from hotel’s lobby and transfers to Noi Bai International Airport for your flight to the next destination.
*Meal Plan: Breakfast
Thank You
Goodbye Beautiful Southeast Asia
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