18-Day Thailand, Cambodia & Vietnam Experience

Bangkok, the bustling capital of Thailand, will serve as your gateway to Southeast Asia. Arriving at the airport, your guide will escort you to your hotel. You can spend the rest of the day unwinding or exploring a little on your own.

Overnight: Bangkok

Today, prepare yourself for a lovely Bangkok city! Walk around the bustling flower and vegetable market where you can smell the mixed aromas of fresh produce and flower blossom and experience authentic local life. Later, go to the impressive Grand Palace. Any trip to Bangkok will never be complete without a visit here. The adjoining Wat Phra Kaew is the most important Buddhist temple in Thailand, known for the jade-made Emerald Buddha.

After lunch, an interesting long-tail boat ride provides a great stop to escape the crowded city. Along the canal, you can appreciate typical Thai houses and Thai lifestyle. End with touring to Wat Arun.

Overnight: Bangkok
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch

In the morning, set out for Bang Pa-In Summer Palace as the first stop of your Ayutthaya trip. Next, you will proceed to the Ayutthaya Historical Park to explore Thailand's cultural heritage. You could see the Buddha head within tree roots in Wat Mahathat, Wat Phra Sri Sanphet that was constructed for royal ceremonies, and a huge bronze Buddha image in Wihan Phra Mongkhon Bophit.

After the tour, return to Bangkok and the rest of the day is free for you.

Overnight: Bangkok
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch

In the morning, fly to Siem Reap in neighboring Cambodia. Check in and have a short rest after arrival. In the afternoon, enjoy a trip to the floating village of Kompong Phluk standing on the Tonle Sap Lake which is known as the largest lake in South East Asia and fluctuates in size every rainy season. After that, return to Siem Reap and enjoy the evening at your own pace.

Overnight: Siem Reap
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch

A tour to the ancient complex of Angkor Thom will be a highlight of your Cambodia experience. Here, you will pay a visit to the grand Bayon Temple and the impressive Elephant Terraces therein. After lunch, head for the World Heritage site of Angkor Wat which is so synonymous with Cambodia that it is featured on the national flag. Continue to Bakheng Temple which is known for being the best spot enjoying the sunset over Angkor Wat.

Overnight: Siem Reap
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch

A unique aspect of this visit will be the opportunity to chat with local monks and nuns at Angkor Wat early in the morning. You can also enjoy the spectacular sunrise at this time. You can then opt to have breakfast at the hotel or take it outside. Your next site will be the Banteay Srei Temple, which contains the finest, most intricate carvings to be found in Angkor. On the way to this iconic landmark, you can explore local villages. In the afternoon, visit two intriguing temples: Ta Prohm Temple and Ta Keo Temple.

Overnight: Siem Reap
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch

Ho Chi Minh City, formerly Saigon, is your next destination, where you will fly to in the late morning. The Ben Thanh Market will provide your first stop after arrival and this bustling venue is a good place to see local life before you check in to your hotel. In the afternoon, sites you will visit include the War Remnants Museum (a somber and intriguing archive for the Vietnam War), the intricate Reunification Palace and the Notre Dame Cathedral. Within walking distance (Ho Chi Minh City is a large but compact metropolis) you will find the Old Saigon Post Office and Dong Khoi Street (formerly Rue Catinat).

Overnight: Ho Chi Minh City
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch

In morning, you will visit a unique architectural gem, and shrine of Caodaism, the Cao Dai Temple. Later you will head to the Cu Chi Tunnels-this extensive subterranean complex was used during the Vietnam War by Viet Cong forces and as such retains great symbolism for Vietnamese national identity. You can wander the forests around here-tranquil today in contrast to the warfare that raged here in the past. In the evening, you will return to your hotel, where you can appreciate the sunset.

Overnight: Ho Chi Minh City
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch

The city of My Tho is your starting point for the Mekong Delta. Cruising on a traditional sampan vessel, you will continue along the Mekong River to Can Tho. After check-in to your hotel at Can Tho, feel free to spend the evening at your leisure.

Overnight: Can Tho
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch

A pleasant sampan-cruise down the Mekong River brings you to the Cai Rang Floating Market. Please note, it is suggested you get an early start as the market opens at 5am and only operates until mid-day. The Bun Tau Noodle Factory provides your afternoon visit. After this, you will be driven back to Ho Chi Minh City for your flight to Hue.

Overnight: Hue
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch

Amidst a sublime forest setting, commence your day with a visit to the sacred Tomb of King Minh Mang. In the afternoon, you will board a royal dragon boat and cruise along the Perfume River to the tranquil Thien Mu Pagoda. The Imperial Citadel and Nguyen Dynasty-era Forbidden Purple City are your next sites. As you stroll around this historic place, marvel at the fact the entire city is surrounded by a 10-kilometer moat and 10 gates! The bustling Dong Ba Market where you can find tasty local cuisine offers a perfect end to your day.

Overnight: Hue
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch

On your way to Hoi An in the morning, stop for a while at the exquisite Non Nuoc Beach, known for its pristine sand, rolling slopes and fine blue water year-round.  Preserving a substantial collection of sculptures and artifacts from the ancient Champa civilization, the Cham Museum is your next port of call. Nearby is a cluster of limestone mountains known collectively as Marble Mountain. In the port city of Da Nang enjoy lunch before your arrival in Hoi An in the afternoon: explore the city by yourself or have a rest at your hotel.

Overnight: Hoi An
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch

Hoi An is an ancient town dating back some two thousand years. The town is known for its rich and multicultural past, testified by the splendid Japanese Covered Bridge, the Chinese temple and the former Merchant's House (Vietnamese). The landmark you can see in the afternoon is the Thanh Ha Pottery Village, which you will reach by a sampan cruise along the Hoai River. The village provides the visitors with an insight into how the finely-crafted local pottery is produced. The evening is yours and it is recommended to take in this charming little town a bit more at your own leisure.

Overnight: Hoi An
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch

In the morning, you will have some free time if you would like to explore Hoi An a little further or just indulge in its ambiance before departing for Da Nang airport where you will fly to Hanoi. Hanoi’s Old Quarter will be your first port of call in the Vietnamese capital. The commercial center of Hanoi for generations, the Old Quarter is not to be missed and remarkably has avoided the major commercialization of the modern world. A local guide will then escort you around Hanoi to visit the best spots for buying or sampling local cuisine.

Overnight: Hanoi
Meal: Breakfast

Ba Dinh Square is a bustling hub of central Hanoi and is a good place to start your day. The Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum, Ho Chi Minh’s House on Stilts and the nearby One Pillar Pagoda and Temple of Literature, which is known as the first university in Vietnam are all important landmarks in this historic city. The Hanoi Hilton is actually the former Hoa Lo Prison. After this, visit the Museum of Ethnology, which archives Vietnam's some 54 different ethnic groups through videos, recording, artifacts and other features. A pleasant conclusion to the day is the renowned Water Puppet Show, now well-established as an important part of Vietnamese culture.

Note: The Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum is open apart from Fridays and Mondays; most museums are closed on Mondays.

Overnight: Hanoi
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch

Starting off from Hanoi, a 3.5-hour drive to the beautiful Halong Bay forms the next leg of your journey. You will not want to miss the Halong Bay Cruise - there is no better way to take in this remarkable natural wonder. The majestic maritime bay includes over 1,600 islands and islets, amidst karst and limestone formations. The ambiance of this maritime wonderland is all the more enhanced by the fact that most of these islands are uninhabited. During this cruise, you can take part in exciting water-sports including kayaking, swimming, and diving or simply relax and take in the stunning scenery if you prefer.

Overnight: Onboard
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Your Halong Bay cruise continues today and concludes around noon. Meeting your personal guide and driver, you will then return to Hanoi. On arrival in the capital, it will still be afternoon so you can relax or, if you are not too tired，explore a bit more at your convenience.

Overnight: Hanoi
Meal: Brunch

If you want to simply unwind after your 18-day Southeast Asia tour, you will have some time before your return flight home.

Meal: Breakfast