Historical Thailand and Vietnam Tour

Today you will fly to Bangkok. On arrival, your private guide will welcome you at the arrival hall and transfer you to your hotel with a private car and driver. Your guide will help you with luggage and hotel check-in and ensure your arrival is worry-free.

Depart early morning for a 2-hour drive to the 100-year-old Damnoen Saduak Floating Market located 100 km (62 mi) from Bangkok, one of Thailand’s most famous attractions. Day in and day-out from about 8 am to about 11 am, the Floating Market is routinely crowded with hundreds of vendors and purchasers floating in their small rowing boats selling and buying or exchanging their goods. You will have a chance to take a ride on a long-tail boat to get a real sense of a floating village. After the long tail boat cruise around the village, you will stop at a transit point where you can choose to further explore the floating market by a 4-seat boat (at your own expense) or stroll around by the river's banks. 

After having lunch, you will return to Bangkok, and you will visit Wat Pho, which is one of Bangkok’s oldest and largest temples. Wat Pho was built by King Rama I about 200 years ago and houses the gigantic, gold-plated Reclining Buddha image. This unique image is 49 meters long and 12 meters high with beautifully inlaid mother-of-pearl soles. Your last stop is The Royal Grand Palace, the nation's landmark and the most revered royal monument. You will see the Palace, which is used for many different occasions, and you will see The Coronation Hall, the Funeral Hall, the Royal Guest House, and the mysterious, famous Emerald Buddha (Wat Phra Kaew), the most revered Buddha image in Thailand. Then return to the hotel. 

Enjoy your free time until your guide comes and escorts you to the airport for your onward flight to Chiang Rai. Upon arrival at Chiang Rai International Airport, you will find your private driver waiting for you near the exit. Then, your driver will transfer you from the Airport to your hotel.

This morning, you will visit the Golden Triangle, which is renowned as the center of the opium trade in the latter half of the 20th century. From a hilltop viewpoint, marvel at the splendor of the mighty Mekong as it joins the Ruak River forming the actual "Triangle" between Laos, Myanmar, and Thailand. The Opium Museum near the viewpoint of the golden triangle was built to educate people about the dangers of the drug through an entertaining exhibition that traces the history of opium from its first use 5,000 years ago to current issues of drug abuse and addiction. Many publications regard it as one of the best museums in Thailand.

Chiang Rai's close proximity to Laos makes it easy to visit this mysterious country. You will cross the Mae Kong River into Laos to witness local village life (take your passport). You can walk around the local market where you will have free time to browse and perhaps pick up a few bargains. Return to the Thai side of the Mae Kong River for lunch with a river view before leaving for the Doi Tung Royal Palace and Garden (Mae Fah Luang Garden)， Doi Tung was once a secluded area in the heart of the Golden Triangle-a leading region of illicit world opium production. The watershed area was denuded by slash-and-burn cultivation, and further accelerated by opium growing. After the Princess Mother's first visit to Doi Tung, She announced"I will reforest Doi Tung".The Princess Mother decided to improve the conditions of Doi Tung, socially, economically, and environmentally. She demonstrated her commitment by building her home in Doi Tung, which is what we called Mae Fah Luang Garden.

After breakfast, we will head to Chiang Mai today! On the way, we will visit Rong Suea Ten or the 'The Blue Temple' which was built by the student of Mr. Chalermchai  Kositpipat who built The famous White Temple. The outside is gorgeous, but the inside is even more spectacular with beautiful paintings and a huge white Buddha in the center. Your second stop is The ‘Black House', known as 'Baan Dam' in Thai. Baan Dam is Thawan Duchanee’s artful portrayal of hell. The opaque decor and dead animals adorning each room make Duchanee’s estate the complete opposite of the White Temple, the glimpse of heaven designed by his teacher Chalermchai Kositpipat. Although off the beaten track, the Black House is not something to be overlooked. Then continue to Wat Rong Khun or 'The White Temple' blending traditional Buddhist art with contemporary themes. Followed by a visit to a hot spring for relaxation. Late afternoon, we will arrive in Chiang Mai and be free at your leisure.

A half-day package to the Elephant Jungle Sanctuary (join activity) offers you an enjoyable opportunity to spend quality time with elephants in their natural habitat as well as gain an insight into their history and behavior. It is here you will create cherished, lifelong memories of your time spent with these amazing animals!

You will be picked up (private transfer) from your hotel and will drive through scenic, agricultural areas before arriving at the sanctuary. There you will meet your English-speaking guide and learn a little about the elephants before changing into traditional Karen clothing.

After receiving bananas and sugar cane to feed to the elephants, you will walk with your guide through the sanctuary where you will find free-roaming elephants and hear their individual stories. You can touch, feed, photograph, and interact with the elephants at your leisure while you learn about their lifestyle and behaviors. 

After sharing time with the elephants, you will head to Doi Suthep Mountain. Climb 309 steps to the top (For the less active traveler, a tram is available for a small surcharge.), enjoying truly breathtaking scenery all along the way. You will find Wat Phra That at the very top, one of Northern Thailand’s most sacred temples. At the top, rest and relax while marveling at the panoramic views of the city of Chiang Mai. 

Enjoy your free time until your guide comes and escorts you to the airport for your onward flight to Hanoi. On arrival, your private guide will welcome you at the arrival hall and transfer you to your hotel with a private car and driver. Your guide will help you with luggage and hotel check-in and ensure your arrival is worry-free.

After breakfast, you will take a private transfer for about 3 hrs to Halong City, where you will begin your one-and-a-half days' on the Halong Bay cruise. You will board the traditional Vietnamese junk in the afternoon and cruise around Halong Bay's limestone islets and caves dotted the sea and see the sun set over the calm waters at the deck. Enjoy a wonderful dinner in the evening. All meals are included during your stay on board. There are also a variety of optional activities waiting for you. Such as swimming, kayaking, diving...etc.  

Wake up early this morning to catch the sunrise over the bay with a Tai Chi lesson on the sundeck. Continue cruising and you can choose either kayak or traditional rowing boat to around discover local life on the waters. Disembark at Tuan Chau International Passenger Port at around 10:30 am, where your guide and driver will wait for you and drive you back to Hanoi (about 3 hrs). 

Today you'll jump into Hanoi's sights and sounds on a tour that covers all the essentials. You'll visit the Ho Chi Minh Complex, which includes the Mausoleum, Ho Chi Minh's former stilt-house residence, The Hoa Lo Prison, The One Pillar Pagoda and The Temple of Literature, which, dating back to 1070, is Vietnam’s oldest university.

After lunch, you will explore the enthralling Museum of Ethnology, which contains an extensive display of life-size structures dedicated to Vietnam’s 54 ethnic minorities. Next, enjoy an hour-long cyclo ride winding through the narrow, chaotic streets of the Old Quarter - a must for any visitor to Hanoi! The day finishes with a traditional performance of the famous Vietnamese Water Puppets Show.

Your private guide will escort you to the airport for your onward flight to Ho Chi Minh City. Upon arrival, our guide will meet you and escort you to your hotel. The rest of the day is on your own to relax.

This morning set out for the incredible underground Cu Chi Tunnels and then drive back to Ho Chi Minh City to visit the War Remnants Museum and Reunification Palace (the former Presidential Palace), the Notre Dame Cathedral, Old Saigon Post Office and Dong Khoi Street (formerly Rue Catinat) absolutely nice choices for a free stroll.

In the early morning, you will head out of the bustling city to Mekong Delta Area. You will cruise on the Mekong river for sightseeing: islands of Dragon, Unicorn, Turtle, Phoenix. 

Land on Unicorn island, take a walk on the village road and visit an orchard of tropical fruits. Visit a bee farm, enjoy honey tea and visit a typical house in Mekong Delta. Visit the coconut candy workshop, and taste fresh candies. Enjoy tropical fruits at a local farm, and listen to traditional Southern music. 

Next to land on Dragon island, transfer by cyclo or motorbike to local home. Have a homemade lunch and enjoy cooking time with some dishes such as “Banh Xeo” (Vietnamese crepe); Spring Rolls.... with the owners. After lunch, return to the boat station. Transfer back to Saigon. End of tour at your hotel.

Your guide will escort you to the airport for your onward flight.