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TOUR PROGRAMME

Day 1:
On arrival at Noi Bai Airport in Hanoi, you’ll be met and driven to your hotel. After some time to relax, head out to experience a performance of traditional Water Puppetry, an art form unique to northern Vietnam, and an endearing, light-hearted introduction to its rural culture. You’ll have a ‘Welcome Dinner’ at a Vietnamese restaurant in a restored French colonial building, before being returned to your accommodation at Sofitel Legend Metropole Hanoi - Luxury Room Historic Wing.

 

Day 2:
Explore Vietnam’s capital city. Stroll the Temple of Literature, the first university in Vietnam, dating back to the 11th century, and see Ho Chi Minh’s Mausoleum, the simple stilt house where he lived and worked, and the museum dedicated to his memory. After lunch, you’ll call at the serene Tran Quoc Pagoda, Hanoi’s oldest, on the banks of West Lake.  Finally, explore the bustling Old Quarter, a maze of streets packed with shops and restaurants which, although noisy and hectic, is definitely the heart of the city.

 

Day 3:
Head for Ha Long Bay, an incredible marine limestone ‘karst’ landscape recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage. There, board the Red Dragon Junk, one of the best wooden boats on the bay, for your initial cruise through Bai Tu Long Bay area, where you’ll tour one of the less visited caves. From there, continue your cruise toward Cong Do area for swimming, or kayaking though a hidden lagoon. The route is designed to avoid busy areas and includes a very quiet location for your overnight stay.

 

Day 4:
Awake to the fresh air of the bay; take a swim or simply relax on the sundeck. After a light breakfast, continue your cruise to a fishing village where you’ll have an opportunity to explore the village and a nearby hidden lagoon on a traditional rowing boat. You may also visit a nearby ‘pearl farm’ where you can view the entire process of producing high quality pearls. Then cruise back to the dock where you’ll be picked up for the drive back to Hanoi, arriving in mid-afternoon, and the remainder of the day will be your own. Your overnight accommodation will again be in Sofitel Legend Metropole Hanoi - Luxury Room Historic Wing.

 

Day 5:
This morning you will be free until your transfer to the airport for your flight to Danang, where you’ll be met and driven to your hotel in Hoi An. Later, your guide will introduce to you Hoi An Ancient Town. Once the largest trading port in Indochina, this was a meeting point for many cultures whose influence can still be seen in the town’s well-preserved architecture. Today Hoi An is a tourism mecca, offering a wide range of restaurants and shops, particularly silk shops – many of which offer tailor-made clothing available within a day or two. You’ll spend the night in Hoi An Boutique Resort – Superior room.

 

Day 6:
After breakfast, you’ll be driven to the UNESCO World Heritage ‘My Son Sanctuary’. Your guide will show you the remains of these remarkable towers constructed by the Cham many centuries ago. In a remote valley, these red brick columns bear striking motifs and statues, though many of the towers were badly damaged by bombing during the American War. In the afternoon, you’ll return to your hotel and have the rest of the day free in Hoi An.

  

Day 7:
After breakfast, your time is your own until your transfer to Danang Airport for your flight to Ho Chi Minh City, where a guide will meet you and take you to your hotel. After checking in you’ll be free, perhaps for a preliminary wander around Ho Chi Minh City’s busy streets and shops. You’ll spend the night in Nikko Saigon Hotel – Deluxe room.

 

Day 8:
Today your guide will show you around Ho Chi Minh City. Visit Reunification Hall – an early colonial masterpiece constructed to accommodate the Governor General of Indochina. Stop by the Museum of War Remnants for a very partial, but riveting, perspective of the ‘American War’: not for the squeamish! Stroll Binh Tay Market and Chinatown, and after lunch visit the Jade Emperor Temple - one of the best Taoist temples in Vietnam, with superb effigies, remarkable carved panels of the descent to Hell and somewhat incongruous terrapin and tortoise sanctuaries. Then return to your hotel, or spend some time browsing the huge Ben Thanh Market, one of the liveliest in Ho Chi Minh City.

 

Day 9:
Today visit the famous Cu Chi tunnels, a byzantine maze of underground passages, chambers, rooms and booby traps used during the war by both the Vietminh and the Viet Cong to suddenly materialise as if from nowhere, launch a lightning ambush, and vanish equally rapidly. After lunch, return to Ho Chi Minh City and spend the remainder of the day free.

 

Day 10:
This morning transfer to the airport for your flight to Siem Reap, Cambodia. On arrival, you’ll be met and driven to your hotel. After checking in, head out to the Angkor Temple complex, of which Angkor Wat is a key element. You’ll explore Angkor Wat itself, the largest, and for most people, the most impressive temple in the complex. As dusk nears, walk to the summit of Phnom Bakheng Hill to take in a panorama of the whole complex lit by the rays of the setting sun, weather permitting of course. Your accommodation will be in Siem Reap, Shinta Mani Hotel – Superior room.

 

Day 11:
Today, continue discovering more of the temple complex. Begin with a visit to Angkor Thom, starting with the Bayon, a bizarre structure with architecture reflecting a switch from Hinduism (the foundations) to Buddhism (the superstructure). Your next visit will be to the Elephant and Leper King Terraces, followed by the Baphuon Temple, which recently underwent an extensive restoration programme. After lunch, you’ll also see Ta Prohm, strangled by massive tree roots and typical of the condition of the whole complex when it was discovered in 1860 by French naturalist Henri Mouhot. Your guide will then show you the Prasat Kravan (also known as the Cardamom Sanctuary) and Srah Srang Lake and landing terrace.

  

Day 12:
After breakfast, you’ll be driven to Siem Reap River and embark on a boat trip on Tonle Sap Lake, a natural reservoir which moderates the level of floods in the Mekong Delta. Visit a floating fishing village en-route, and return to Siem Reap downtown for lunch. In the afternoon, your time will be your own. As an optional activity today, you can request an ox-cart ride along the banks of Siem Reap River, a genuine experience of the gentle pace of rural life with a generous dose of rice-field scenery.

 

Day 13:
This morning transfer to Siem Reap Airport for your flight to Chiang Mai. In the afternoon, head up to the summit of Doi Suthep to visit the 600 year old Wat Phra That Doi Suthep. After driving up the winding mountain road, the final climb to the temple is via an enormous stairway of 306 steps flanked by Nagas - mythological dragon-headed serpents. Inside the cloister is an intriguing copper plated chedi topped by a five tier gold parasol, which contains relics of the Lord Buddha. Back in town, enjoy a walking tour around the old city centre. You’ll spend the night in Chedi Chiang Mai Hotel – Deluxe room.


Day 14:
Today you’ll be driven north of Chiang Mai to an elephant camp. In an unspoiled setting, marvel at these colossal beasts performing amazing feats of strength and skill. Follow an exhilarating elephant trek through jungle, past bamboo trees and hanging creepers, and up to a remote Lisu hilltribe village. The Lisu hilltribe people originated in Tibet and their villages are usually located at higher elevations. A local lunch is provided, after which you can sit back for a relaxing bamboo raft trip along the river. Continuing by road, visit an orchid farm before returning to Chiang Mai for the night.


Day 15:
You will be free this morning until your transfer to the airport for your flight to Bangkok. Upon arrival, you will be met and transferred to your hotel in Bangkok. You’ll have time to relax or explore your surroundings, and spend the night in Hansar Bangkok Hotel – Studio suite.


Day 16:
Today leave early to visit the Floating Market. Glimpse everyday life in Thailand at the Damnern Saduak Floating Market, located some 110 km from Bangkok. Your leisurely drive will pass by salt fields and rice paddies. Board a long tail speed boat to reach the market, where Thai style boats laden with colourful, succulent fruits, vegetables, sweets and meats gently ply their way through the canal, selling as they go. Take your lunch at the nearby Rose Garden restaurant overlooking the river, and later return to Bangkok.

  

Day 17:
Today tour the Royal Grand Palace dedicated to the Thai Royal Family, and the magnificent Wat Phra Kaew, which is famous for the Emerald Buddha Image. Continue to Wat Pho, built by King Rama I nearly 200 years ago, which houses a gigantic gold-plated Reclining Buddha. Wat Pho is also regarded as the first centre of public education and is sometimes called "Thailand's First University". Next enjoy a long tail boat ride along the Chao Phraya River and lively inner canals which provide fantastic close-up views of local life. Along the way stop to view Wat Arun, the Temple of Dawn. After lunch at a floating restaurant, visit Wat Traimit, known as the Golden Buddha Temple. Its beautiful solid gold image is three meters high and weighs five and a half tons.

  

Day 18:
After breakfast, you’ll be taken to Bang Pa In, which served as the Summer Palace for many Thai monarchs since the 17th century. This structure has a captivating collection of marvellous pavilions in Thai, Chinese, Italian and Victorian architectural styles. Then transfer to Ayuthaya, Thailand's capital from the mid-14th century and to the late 18th century, to visit historical sites which are now mostly ruins. Later, cruise down the Chao Phraya River to Bangkok, and enjoy a buffet lunch. Along the way, take in riverside scenery such as children playing in the river, floating villages and fishermen amidst their daily activities. Arrive at River City Pier around 4 pm and return to your hotel or spend the evening at your leisure.  

 

Day 19:
Today is a free day to spend as you wish, and enjoy one more night in Hansar Bangkok Hotel – Studio Suite.

 

Day 20:
Today you are free until time for your transfer to the airport to board your departing flight.