This tour covers experiences of natural beauty, historical heritages, and splendid temples. It is perfectly suitable for first time visitors to South East Asia.
Days
14
Price
from US$3,037 P/P
Best For
Family
Best Time
Oct. to Apr.
Discover real reviews of Highlights Travel Family's best-rated service across trusted platforms.
Sirin is the BEST!
My recent trip to Chiang Mai was nothing short of magical, and our tour guide played a huge part in making it so memorable. From the moment we met, Sirin welcomed us with warm hospitality and an infectious passion for sharing the beauty, history, and culture of northern Thailand. More
Jenny Tse, Oct 2024
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Excellent Trip Planning by Alisa Liu at Asia Highlights
Alisa did a wonderful job! She was very detail oriented, extremely responsive and answered my questions very promptly. She incorporated all of the places we wanted to visit and was able to book hotels, airline tickets and special event tickets (to the Chiang Mai CAD Khomloy Sky Lantern Festival which was sold out when I tried booking on my own.) Alisa was great to work with and I recommend that others use her for their trip planning. More
Effie, Sep 2024
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Excellent experience in Bangkok
Ying was our guide in Bangkok. She was very knowledgeable and extremely helpful. She knew exactly how to move us through crowds quickly so that we could see all we wanted to say and made good recommendations for other things we were interested in. I would not hesitate to recommend Ying or anyone that helped us at Asia highlights More
Dr. Meshagae Hunte-Brown, Aug 2024
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Tour Highlights
Itinerary Details
This itinerary is a suggestion. We specialize in designing private customer-oriented tours. Inform us of your interests and expectations, and we will create a tour which will satisfy your interests and budget.
Upon arrival at the airport, your private tour guide will greet you holding a sign with your name on it, then they will transfer you to your hotel. Your guide will aid you during the hotel check-in process and will leave you free to have a rest.
Meals provided: breakfast, lunch
Good morning, Hanoi! Today start the tour with a visit to the Vietnam Museum of Ethnology — experience the ordinary life of ethnic groups in Vietnam and learn more about their culture and history. We will then visit the Temple of Literature — a Confucius Temple and the first university in Vietnam, the One Pillar Pagoda, and the Mausoleum of Ho Chi Minh. These sites are highly recommended for history-lovers, you will learn how Vietnam started and how it has evolved over the years.
Later, navigate around the old quarter street of Hanoi with your personal guide on a traditional Vietnamese rickshaw. We will explore the vivid lifestyle of the local people. Your tour will end with a water puppet performance, a traditional Vietnamese art form that has endured for over 1000 years.
Meals provided: breakfast, lunch, dinner
Enjoy a delicious breakfast in the morning, then cruise staff will transfer you to the port for a cruise on scenic Halong Bay.
Halong Bay is about 160 kilometers (100 miles) from Hanoi and it is UNESCO World Natural Heritage site. There are hundreds of thousands of islands with Karst hills of various shapes that make for a wonderful view and one-of-a-kind pictures. First, you will visit Trinh Nu Cave to appreciate the magnificent rock formations, followed by stops at a few fishing villages, and landmark islets such as Cock Islet and Human Head Islet. Enjoy a beautiful night on the cruise ship while docked at a quiet port. Please note that the stops will vary by cruise boat.
Meals provided: breakfast
In the morning, visit the Sung Sot Cave and appreciate the various shapes of its stalactites and stalagmites in the largest cave at Halong Bay.
Head back to the boat for a relaxing brunch, then disembark the cruise around 11 AM. Your private tour guide and driver will pick up you from the cruise pier and transfer you to Hanoi Airport for the flight to Da Nang.
Your private tour guide will meet you at Da Nang Airport and escort you to your selected hotel in Hoi An. After check-in at the hotel, enjoy free time for the rest of the day.
Meals provided: breakfast, lunch
Today, take a relaxing bike ride to the scenic pastoral countryside around Hoi An. Enjoy a taste of the rural life in Vietnam by interacting with locals to view their crops and see their faming tools.
After lunch, learn and experience Vietnamese traditional fishing at Cua Dai Sea area, afterwards, enjoy the sea breeze on a basket boat.
The boat ride will take you to a water coconut palm orchard, where you will have a delicious seafood lunch before biking back to the hotel.
Please note: If you don't wish to ride a bike, please let your guide know so we can arrange for you a private car instead.
Meals provided: breakfast
After breakfast, transfer to Da Nang Airport for the flight to Ho Chi Minh City.
Your private tour guide will meet you at Ho Chi Minh Airport and transfer you to your selected hotel. After check-in at the hotel, enjoy free time for the rest of the day.
Meals provided: breakfast, lunch
Today you will explore Ho Chi Minh city, also known as Saigon. After breakfast in the morning, head to the downtown area to visit the General Post Office, Notre Dame Cathedral, and Reunification Palace.
Later, visit the War Remnants Museum, which is highly recommended for history lovers and is an educational experience. This was the former site of the United States Intelligence Agency. The main entrance of the museum looks ordinary, but it records a very heavy page in Vietnam's modern national history — the Vietnam War.
After lunch enjoy a cup of Vietnamese style coffee, then continue the tour to the Cu Chi Tunnels, about an hour's drive from Ho Chi Minh City. This site is one of the most important remnants from the Vietnamese War. Learn about the history of the Vietnam War from your guide. You can also have an authentic experience as you crawl in a tunnel to experience how the soldiers had to hide to prevent being killed during the war.
Meals provided: breakfast
Goodbye, Vietnam! Your personal guide and driver will take you to the airport for the flight to Bangkok — capital of Thailand.
Meet your Bangkok tour guide in the arrivals hall. He/she will transfer you to your selected hotel, assist you with the check-in process, and leave you to enjoy some free time for the rest of the day.
Meals provided: breakfast, lunch
Start your tour in the morning before it gets too hot. The Grand Palace, Wat Pho, and the Wat Arun are must-see landmarks when sightseeing in Bangkok.
During the excursion, besides the transfers in your private car, your tour guide will take you to discover the old part of Bangkok via the most popular local public transportation — a tuk tuk. We will pass by Pak Khong Talatflower Market and stop at 200-year-old Chinatown, which is one of the busiest business districts in Bangkok. Despite the relatively old houses, the district is extremely prosperous. Wander around Chinatown — you can try the tasty local food and have a nice conversation with the locals. It's interesting to discover how the Chinese retain their traditions, religion, and culture overseas.
Meals provided: breakfast, lunch
Don't forget to bring a camera for this day's tour! It will offer you the best opportunities to catch pictures of the vivid traditional Thai life.
After a relaxing breakfast, drive an hour to reach Maeklong Railway Market, in southwest Bangkok. This market is uniquely placed close to the railway tracks, where vendors sell a variety of cheap fruits and fresh vegetables. Don't be surprised when a train comes — the railway station will sound a warning and the stall owners will gather up their stalls quickly and wait for the train to pass.
Visit the renowned Damnoen Saduak Floating Market. Board a traditional canoe and become immersed in the slow pace of life there. It provides a taste of how Thai people have lived for a long time.
Meals provided: breakfast
Have a late breakfast and relax in the morning. Transfer to Bangkok Airport for your flight to Phuket. Your guide will greet you in the arrivals hall and transfer you to your selected hotel.
Meals provided: breakfast
Phuket island is one of the 10 most beautiful islands in the world, the beaches are wide with pure white sand, and the ocean has turquoise water. The sea water clarity and snorkeling visibility are world-famous. There are many water activities here such as swimming, diving, water skiing, canoeing, windsurfing and banana boat tours. It is easy to book these activities directly from the hotel.
Phuket is also a paradise with various carnivals year-round. Numerous festivals and colorful nightlife are a part of life. Participate in and enjoy the warmth and comfort of the island style. Whether you are traveling alone or traveling in a group, you can have fun in Phuket.
Meals provided: breakfast
Goodbye, Thailand! In the morning after breakfast, transfer to Phuket Airport to catch a flight to Bangkok for your departure home. We wish for you to have a wonderful time with us and hope to see you again!
Price Includes
Price from: $3,037 (Tour code: gh-ah-mtc-4)
Trip Notes
About the Floating Markets in Thailand and Vietnam
Both Thailand and Vietnam have floating markets. Usually, the floating market tours are arranged in the morning in both countries. We have arranged a visit to the floating market in Thailand because it is much easier to get to a representative floating market near Bangkok. One overnight stay in the Mekong Delta is needed if you would like to visit the floating market in Vietnam as it is a long way from Ho Chi Minh City.
Customize the Tour According to Your Needs
This tour is very flexible. You can alter the itinerary, extending or shortening it to suit your price, interests, and schedule. For example, you can extend it with a few extra days in Thailand to explore Chiang Mai or, if your time is limited, shorten the tour by one day in Phuket.
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