Exploring Vietnam and Cambodia with Chiang Mai Extension

EXPLORING VIETNAM & CAMBODIA WITH CHIANG MAI EXTENSION
20 DAYS FROM $4,139 US
Details below or click here for more information INQUIRY FORM
Phone: 1-888-682-6449/1-303-670-5640
Fax: (425) 984-7676

Explore the beautiful and mysterious lands of Vietnam and Cambodia on this Regional Discovery vacation. Start your trip with a cruise on the Mekong River, traveling to an island where you can visit a local family’s home and enjoy their hospitality. In Ho Chi Minh City, enjoy a guided, walking sightseeing tour of the famous and historic landmarks. Visit the Cu Chi Tunnels used by the Viet Cong during the war.

Take a short flight to Danang and journey to Hoi An. On the way to Hoi An, visit China Beach, landing point for US soldiers during the Vietnam War. Enjoy a boat ride on the Thu Bon River and a walking tour of Hoi An. Travel north over scenic Hai Van Pass, considered to be one of the most scenic in Vietnam, to Hue, one of Vietnam’s former capitals. In Hue, a sightseeing tour includes a visit to the tombs of the Nguyen emperors, Thien Mu Pagoda, Royal Tomb of Tu Doc, and an imperial banquet at a famous local restaurant.

Fly to Hanoi, Vietnam’s capital, and enjoy a performance of the famous water puppets as well as visits to the One Pillar Pagoda, Ho Chi Minh Museum, Presidential Palace, and “Hanoi Hilton.” Also visit the ancient Temple of Literature, over 900 years old and Hanoi’s first university. From Hanoi, head to Ha Long Bay for a cruise among its limestone islands and many caves.

Next, travel to Siem Reap, Cambodia, before viewing the highlight of your vacation: the spectacular temple ruins of Angkor. Visit the most famous temple, Angkor Wat, honoring the Hindu god Vishnu. Enjoy two days of guided sightseeing and see the Bayon Temple featuring some 200 striking faces carved in 54 towers and impressive bas reliefs. Also see Ta Prohm, left relatively untouched surrounded by jungle, and Banteay Srei, a unique temple dedicated to the Hindu god Shiva. Enjoy a cruise on Tonle Sap (Great Lake), where you see a floating village and get a glimpse of life on the water.

Next, fly to Bangkok for a guided sightseeing tour to see the Temple of the Reclining Buddha and the Emerald Buddha. Enjoy an evening dinner cruise on the Chao Phraya River and a day of leisure in Bangkok. Finally, fly to Chiang Mai in northern Thailand for a city tour that visits Wat Phra Singh with its famous Buddha image. Also, climb 290 steps to the Wat Doi Suthep temple. Stop by an elephant training camp in the Mae-Sa Valley and visit an orchid farm, a sweet way to conclude your exotic Southeast Asia vacation. You’re sure to have plenty of memories to share with friends and family when you return from this once-in-a-lifetime vacation to Cambodia, Thailand, and Vietnam.

Day 1
Board your transpacific flight.

Day 2 Arrive in Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon), Vietnam
Welcome to Ho Chi Minh City, still known as Saigon to many. Hotel rooms are available for mid-afternoon check-in.

Day 3 Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon). Mekong Cruise Excursion
Enjoy a CRUISE on the great Mekong River. Travel south to My Tho, gateway to the Mekong Delta and Vietnam’s “rice bowl.” Board your boat and travel to an island in the middle of the delta where you can visit a local family’s home, enjoy their hospitality, and share some tea or rice wine. This evening, join your traveling companions at a special welcome dinner hosted by your Tour Director. (B,L,D) Map

Day 4 Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon). Cu Chi Excursion
This morning, leave the city and drive through vast expanses of rice paddies to visit the CU CHI TUNNELS, an extraordinary network of tunnels more than 120 miles in length that were used by the Viet Cong as a hideout and secret village during the war. Return to Ho Chi Minh City for a walking tour of the city’s famous and historic landmarks. The tour will take you through the heart of the city along Dong Khoi Street (formerly Rue Catinat) past the Rex Hotel, Ho Chi Minh Square, the Municipal Theatre, and Notre Dame Cathedral. Next, visit the REUNIFICATION PALACE (formerly the Presidential Palace) and the WAR REMNANTS MUSEUM followed by BEN THANH MARKET, the largest and oldest in the city. Your Tour Director can assist with dinner recommendations for tonight; maybe you’ll choose to dine at the famous Rex Hotel. (B,L)

Day 5 Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon)–Danang–Hoi An
After a short flight to Danang, enjoy a picturesque journey by motorcoach to Hoi An. Along the way, visit CHINA BEACH, landing point for U.S. soldiers during the Vietnam War, and also visit the CHAM MUSEUM. Hoi An is Vietnam’s active trading center and a town that has been largely preserved. The architecture of Hoi An reflects the influence of Chinese, Japanese, Portuguese, French, and British traders. Hoi An is also where French missionary Alexandre de Rhodes introduced Catholicism and Roman script to Vietnam. (B,D)

Day 6 Hoi An
Today starts with a BOAT JOURNEY on the Thu Bon River. Continue with a walking tour of Hoi An, visiting an old MERCHANT HOUSE, the HOI AN MUSEUM, a CHINESE ASSEMBLY HALL, and the Japanese Covered Bridge. Then, free time to enjoy this quaint town. (B)

Day 7 Hoi An–Hue
Drive north over spectacular Hai Van Pass, considered to be one of the most scenic in all of Vietnam, before arriving in Hue. One of Vietnam’s former capitals, Hue is a beautiful and welcoming city and still a cultural and religious center. Upon arrival, visit the IMPERIAL CITADEL and the THIEN MU PAGODA, the unofficial symbol of the city. This evening, enjoy an imperial banquet at a famous local restaurant. (B,D)

Day 8Hue–Hanoi
This morning’s sightseeing provides a unique window into Vietnam and its complex past. Visit the TOMBS of the NGUYEN EMPERORS: the KHAI DINH MAUSOLEUM and the ROYAL TOMB of TU DOC. Later, fly to Hanoi, the nation’s capital and one of Southeast Asia’s most engaging cities. An early dinner this evening is followed by a fascinating performance of Hanoi’s renowned WATER PUPPETS, a traditional art form dating back to the 11th century. (B,D)

Day 9 Hanoi
Start today with a “CYCLO” ride through the fascinating Old Quarter, 36 ancient streets where peddlers trade as they have for centuries. Then, take time to look at the life of Ho Chi Minh, the father of modern Vietnam. First, visit the MAUSOLEUM and the humble cottage from which “Uncle Ho” ruled Vietnam until his death in 1969. Next on the agenda are the ONE PILLAR PAGODA, the HO CHI MINH MUSEUM, and the PRESIDENTIAL PALACE. Stop at the infamous “Hanoi Hilton” before continuing on to mystical Hoan Kiem Lake, where you will enjoy a brief guided walk. Also visit the ancient TEMPLE OF LITERATURE, over 900 years old and Hanoi’s first university. (B,L)

Day 10 Hanoi–Ha Long Bay
Travel from Hanoi through the fertile countryside to Hon Gai, gateway to Ha Long Bay, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The Bay, located in the Gulf of Tonkin, is dotted with over 3,000 limestone islands carved into fanciful shapes by the action of the water. Tunnels, caves, and weirdly shaped outcroppings with imaginative names can be found on many of the small islets that are sprinkled across the Bay. Board a CRUISE that takes you to explore the caves and admire the beauty and scale before stopping at one of the many secluded bays. (B,L,D)

Day 11 Ha Long Bay–Hanoi–Siem Reap, Cambodia
This morning, drive to Hanoi and board your flight to Siem Reap, which will act as your base during your visit to Angkor, considered by many to be the most spectacular architectural ruins on earth! (B,D)

Day 12 Siem Reap
This morning, start your sightseeing of the TEMPLES OF ANGKOR. Constructed between the 9th and 13th centuries, the temples were built around the Khmer interpretations of Indian religious and political beliefs that ultimately evolved from Hinduism to Buddhism. The complex architectural grandeur of the Angkor temples is arguably unmatched among ancient ruins anywhere in the world. First, visit the best preserved and most famous of all the temples, ANGKOR WAT, honoring the Hindu god Vishnu. Featuring five trademark towers and stunning bas reliefs, it has become a symbol of Cambodia. Next stop is ANGKOR THOM to see the BAYON TEMPLE. One of the few Buddhist temples in Angkor, it features some 200 striking faces carved in 54 towers and impressive bas reliefs. The rest of the afternoon is at leisure. This evening, witness one of the world’s most amazing experiences: sunset at Angkor Wat! (B,L)

Day 13 Siem Reap
Today, continue your sightseeing of the Angkor temples. Unlike the other temples, TA PROHM has been left relatively untouched. Surrounded by jungle, tree roots grow over and through the ruin walls, and you will experience the temple with the same wonder as the early explorers who discovered it. Then, visit BANTEAY SREI, a unique temple dedicated to the Hindu god Shiva. Unlike other temples, it is built on a small scale from red sandstone, which can be carved like wood. This afternoon, enjoy a CRUISE on Tonle Sap (Great Lake), where you will see a floating village and get a glimpse of life on the water. This evening is at your leisure to explore charming Siem Reap. (B,D)

Day 14 Siem Reap–Bangkok, Thailand
Today, fly to Bangkok. Upon arrival, enjoy a fascinating tour of the city, including a visit to the stunning GRAND PALACE featuring WAT PHRA KEO, which houses the 31-inch Emerald Buddha. Also visit the TEMPLE OF THE RECLINING BUDDHA. This evening, enjoy a FAREWELL DINNER CRUISE on the Chao Phraya River with sweeping views of Bangkok’s modern skyline and riverfront. (B,D)

Day 15 Bangkok
Enjoy a full day at leisure. (B)

Day 16 Bangkok–Chiang Mai
A short flight brings you to Chiang Mai, Thailand’s second-largest city. (B)

Day 17 Chiang Mai
Today’s Chiang Mai city tour includes a visit to WAT PHRA SINGH with its famous Buddha image and WAT DOI SUTHEP, a temple tucked away in the mountains at 3,464 feet above sea level. The temple is reached by climbing 290 steps. The remainder of the day is free for your own exploration. (B)

Day 18 Chiang Mai
Today, visit the ELEPHANT TRAINING CAMP in the Mae-Sa Valley. Here you will learn about the methods used to train the elephants and will set out for a brief elephant trek through the jungle. On your return to Chiang Mai, stop at an ORCHID FARM to see these exotic plants up close. The remainder of the day is at your leisure. (B)

Day 19 Chiang Mai–Bangkok
Fly to Bangkok. The rest of the day is at your leisure. (B)

Day 20 Bangkok
Your homebound flight arrives the same day. (B)

INCLUDED FEATURES

Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon): Sightseeing with a Local Guide; Mekong Delta excursion and cruise; Cu Chi Tunnels excursion; walking tour of the city’s landmarks; visit the Reunification Palace, the War Remnants Museum, and Ben Thanh Market; welcome dinner
Danang: Sightseeing with a Local Guide; visit China Beach and the Cham Museum
Hoi An: Sightseeing with a Local Guide; boat ride on the Thu Bon River; walking tour of the city; visit an old merchant house, the Hoi An Museum, and a Chinese assembly hall
Hue: Sightseeing with a Local Guide; visit the the Imperial Citadel, the Thien Mu Pagoda, Tombs of Nguyen Emperors, Khai Dinh Mausoleum, and Royal Tombs of Tu Doc
Hanoi: Sightseeing with a Local Guide; water puppets performance; visit Ho Chi Minh’s mausoleum, One Pillar Pagoda, Ho Chi Minh Museum, Presidential Palace, and Temple of Literature; take a “cyclo” ride through the Old Quarter
Ha Long Bay: Cruise the bay
Siem Reap: Sightseeing with a Local Guide; visit Angkor Wat, Angkor Thom, Bayon Temple, Ta Prohm, and Banteay Srei; cruise on Tonle Sap
Bangkok: Sightseeing with a Local Guide; visit the Grand Palace and the Temple of the Reclining Buddha; farewell dinner cruise on the Chao Phraya River
Chiang Mai Extension: Sightseeing with a Local Guide; visit Wat Phra Singh, Wat Doi Suthep, an elephant training camp, and an orchid farm; Host service during your stay
All Intra-Tour Flights

Note:
On departures from January through March 2010, sightseeing on Days 3 and 4 will be reversed.

INSIDE VISITS
Inside visits and special features are shown in the description, including admission charges when applicable.

MEALS - (B) Breakfast (L) Lunch (D) Dinner
American breakfast daily (B), 5 lunches (L), 8 dinners (D), including a welcome dinner in Saigon and a farewell dinner cruise in Bangkok.

SUPERIOR HOTELS - (D) Deluxe (SF) Superior First-Class (F) First-Class
Ho Chi Minh City Duxton Hotel (SF), Hoi An Palm Garden Resort (SF), Hue Saigon Morin Hotel (F), Hanoi Melia Hotel (F), Ha Long Bay Novotel Ha Long Bay (F), Siem Reap Prince D’Angkor Hotel & Spa (F), Bangkok Royal Orchid Sheraton (MD), Chiang Mai Extension: Chiang Mai The Empress Hotel (MF), Bangkok Royal Orchid Sheraton (MD)

DEPARTURE DATES:
January - April
September - November

PRICES:
From approx $4,139 US per person double occupancy