Classic Thailand, Cambodia and Vietnam
Programme Overview
Duration: 13 days
A fantastic itinerary for first time visitors to the region, this programme takes in Bangkok and many of the major highlights in Cambodia and Vietnam.
Highlights: Bangkok, Siem Reap, Ho Chi Minh City, Hue, Hoi An, Halong Bay, Hanoi.
Arrive Bangkok
Your travel experience starts the minute you disembark when our representative will be right
there to breeze you through immigration and customs through a special channel dedicated to VIPS,
away from the crowd. After clearing immigration and customs, our guide will be accompanying you
to Peninsula Hotel Bangkok.
Upon arrival smooth your jetlag by pampering yourself to a bath or explore the many facilities the
hotel has or just relax in the comfort of your room, whatever your heart desire. This evening is free
at your leisure.
Overnight: The Peninsula
Bangkok
This morning experience an important part of Thai culture by offering food to the monks at a local temple. Afterwards cruise along Chao Phraya River and canals, where you will see the family homes and temples dotted along the waterways which inspired Bangkok's reference as the "Venice of the East".
Your exciting journey continues once you disembark at the public pier. Here you will take a short ride on a tuk tuk (a motorised tricycle, one of the symbols of Bangkok) to visit the Grand Palace and Emerald Buddha Temple. The complex consists of over 100 brightly coloured buildings, golden spires and glittering mosaics, and dates back to 1782 when Bangkok was founded. Wat Phra
Kaew (Emerald Buddha Temple) itself, is Thailand's most important and sacred temple.
For lunch today, enjoy a sampling of local cuisines. Afterwards visit the Arts of the Kingdom Exhibition at the Ananda Samakhom Throne Hall (closed on Mondays). The Arts of the Kingdom is an exhibition of exquisite but rarely seen traditional Thai crafts created by artists under The Foundation for the Promotion of Supplementary Occupations and Related Techniques under the Royal Patronage of Her Majesty Queen Sirikit of Thailand.
Return to the hotel, the evening is at leisure.
Overnight: The Peninsula
Meal Plan: B,L
Bangkok
Spend a full day exploring the floating market at Damneon Nam Saduak by bike. The biggest and most colourful floating market in Thailand, you can purchase just about anything from the vast array of “shops” on the river.
Seventy kilometres southwest of Bangkok the Mae Klong River spreads into a sprawling delta before reaching the Gulf of Thailand. This low-lying land is extremely fertile and over hundreds of years the Thai people have constructed an extensive network of canals to aid irrigation and navigation.
The local way of life has remained traditional and revolves around the colourful floating markets where the fruits of the surrounding orchards are traded.
Drive south from Bangkok. Arriving at a riverside temple situated on the banks of the Mae Klong River, you can enjoy the beauty of the temple before the bikes are fitted and a general briefing is given.
Your bicycle ride takes you through coconut and aloe vera plantations as well as fruit orchards. Riding quiet back roads and jeep trails you will stop to visit interesting temples and appreciate the countryside. Depending on the season, you will see grapes, lychee, pomelo, guava and coconuts ripe for picking.
One of the temples you will visit is the Wat Bang Kung. This quirky temple is held up by a huge banyan tree but you can still step inside and see the Buddha image. This temple is housed in the old Bang Kung army camp which was used to garrison soldiers when regaining Thailand’s independence from Burma. Also visit the exceptional temple of Wat Bang Kae Noi where the inside of the Wat has carved panels depicting the story of the enlightenment of Buddha.
After a delicious Thai lunch at a riverside restaurant, continue cycling on picturesque trails through lush vegetation towards the starting point of the floating market.
Spend time browsing the shops before transferring back to Bangkok.
Overnight: The Peninsula
Meal Plan: B,L
Bangkok - Siem Reap
After breakfast, transfer to the airport for your flight to Siem Reap (flight by own arrangement).
Upon arrival, you will be met by our representative who will accompany you through immigration and customs before transferring you to your hotel.
After lunch at a local Khmer restaurant, visit Angkor Wat, the largest of Khmer monuments. Built around the first half of the 12th century by King Suryavarman II, the temple's balance, composition and beauty make it one of the finest monuments in the world.
Overnight: Raffles Grand Hotel D' Angkor
Meal Plan: B,L,D
Siem Reap
See sunrise at Angkor Wat before returning to the hotel for breakfast.
Enjoy a helicopter ride to view Angkor Wat and continue to Boeng Mealea and Koh Ker.
Boeng Mealea is located 63 kilometres east of Siem Reap. The temple wasconstructed in the early 11th century. The temple is pre-Angkorian, it is a Hindu temple. The temple is largely overrun by vegetation. Constructed in a distinctly Angkor Wat style under the same king that built Angkor Wat, Boeng Mealea may have served as a prototype of sorts.
Koh Ker is located about 100 kilometres from Siem Reap and about 40 kilometres north of Boeng Mealea temple. It was constructed between 928-944 by King Jayavarman IV who raised an impressive royal city at Koh Ker with Brahmanic monuments, temples and prasats, surrounding a huge baray ( reservoir ). Jayavarman IV reigned at Koh Ker for 20 years before he died in 941.
Return to Siem Reap for lunch at local restaurant. In the afternoon visit Preah Khan and Ta Prohm to watch the sunset.
Overnight: Raffles Grand Hotel D' Angkor
Meal Plan: B,L
Siem Reap
This morning witness another great sight in Siem Reap. Known to many as the pink temple, Banteay Srei is a 10th century temple dedicated to the Hindu god Shiva. Banteay Srei is built largely of red sandstone, a medium that lends itself to the elaborate decorative wall carvings which are still observable today.
On the way to Banteay Seri, travel with our guide to visit one of the local villages where we have helped provide a series of water wells that supply fresh water to the local village. Free flowing fresh water is a basic humanitarian necessity that the Cambodian government is currently unable to provide to all of the villages in the countryside. Through the kind and generous donations of our guests, we have been able to provide over 30 villages with fresh water under guidance of our local guide Sam. We are very proud to be affiliated to this wonderful humanitarian project.
Continue to the Landmine Museum and meet with Aki Ra, the founder of the Cambodia Landmine Museum and National Project Manager for the CLMMRF (NGO). He began his life as a child living in the countryside prior to the Khmer Rouge Revolution. His mother and father were killed during the Pol Pot regime and he soon found himself living in a Khmer Rouge camp for children.
Return to the hotel at midday to relax. After lunch, visit Angkor Thom, the last and most enduring capital city of the Khmer empire. Standing tall within Angkor Thom is the Bayon temple which was the last state temple to be built at Angkor. Within the Bayon lies the Terrace of the Leper King and the Terrace of Elephants.
Overnight: Raffles Grand Hotel D’ Angkor
Meal Plan: B,L
Siem Reap - Ho Chi Minh City
Morning at leisure until you transfer to the airport for your flight to Ho Chi Minh City (flight by own arrangement).
Upon arrival in HCMC, you will be met by our representative who will accompany you through immigration and customs before you are transferred to your hotel.
Sample some of the local cuisine before starting your tour of Ho Chi Minh City, formerly known as Saigon.
Visit the historic Reunification Palace and War Remnants Museum, followed by the architectural treats of French colonial Notre Dame Cathedral and the Post Office. Afterwards move on to Giac Lam Pagoda, the bustling Chinese district of Cholon and Ben Thanh market - a shopping paradise.
Overnight: Park Hyatt Hotel
Meal Plan: B,L
Ho Chi Minh City
After breakfast, visit Tay Ninh. Near the Cambodian border, the town is home to the unique Cao Dai sect, whose patron saints include Joan of Arc, Victor Hugo and Winston Churchill. The religion is an odd mix of Buddhism, Taoism, Confucianism and Christianity, and it is here that you will see the famous Tay Ninh Temple.
The trip to Tay Ninh is combined with a visit to the Cu Chi Tunnels. At its height, the tunnel system stretched from Saigon to the Cambodian border and was three levels deep. Today the remaining tunnels have become a major tourist attraction giving the visitor a unique experience and a feel of what underground life in the war must have been like.
Overnight: Park Hyatt Hotel
Meal Plan: B,L
Ho Chi Minh City - Hue
After breakfast, transfer to airport for your flight to Hue (flight by own arrangement).
Hue was the centre of Vietnamese culture, religion and education through the reign of the 13 emperors of the Nguyen dynasty. Hue remains known for the magnificent architecture and opulent design of its ancient citadel and mausoleums of past emperors.
Visit the imperial citadel on the banks of the Perfume River, the seat from which the Nguyen Dynasty ruled between 1802 and 1945. See the royal tombs of the Nguyen Dynasty.
Overnight: The Nam Hai Resort, Hoi An
Meal Plan: B,L
Hoi An
Today explore the ancient town of Hoi An which lies on the banks of the Thu Bon River. Hoi An was one of the major trading centres of Southeast Asia in the 16th century, and was declared a World Cultural Heritage Site by UNESCO in 1999.
Hoi An has a distinctive Chinese atmosphere with low, tiered roof houses and narrow streets. The houses were constructed out of rare timber and decorated with lacquer panels engraved with Chinese characters. You can view the beautiful scenery of the romantic Thu Bon River, take a bicycle ride along Cua Dai Beach, or visit the Cham Islands.
Overnight: Nam Hai Resort, Hoi An
Meal Plan: B,L
Danang - Hanoi
After breakfast, transfer to airport for your flight to Hanoi (flight by own arrangement).
You will be met at Hanoi Airport by our representative and transferred to the legendary Sofitel Metropole Hanoi Hotel.
This afternoon take a walking tour around the city to see the historical and cultural highlights of Hanoi. Visit Ho Chi Minh's Mausoleum (closed Mondays and Fridays, plus October and November) and his house on stilts, the One Pillar Pagoda, the Temple of Literature, Quan Thanh Temple and Tran Quoc. Take a break from walking as you tour Hanoi's Old Quarter by cyclo, a chauffeur-pedalled tricycle. End the day with a visit to the famous water puppet show.
Overnight: Hotel Sofitel Metropole
Meal Plan: B
Hanoi - Halong Bay
After breakfast, depart for Halong Bay and view the green scenery on the way. Upon arriving in Halong, board the Emeraude, a wonderful replica of one of the classic colonial steamships of French Indochina. Enjoy lunch as you cruise among hundreds of islets and discover unspoilt pockets of along Bay. This afternoon visit Sung Sot cave or just relax on the deck.
Overnight: Aboard the Emeraude, Halong Bay
Meal Plan: B,L,D
Halong Bay - Hanoi
Early risers can try a Tai Chi class on the sundeck or simply watch the sunrise over the beautiful bay. Enjoy a wholesome breakfast as you cruise back to the Emeraude's private pier in Halong city for your transfer back to Hanoi.
This evening is free at leisure for last minute shopping in Hanoi.
Overnight: Hotel Sofitel Metropole
Meal Plan: B,L
Depart Hanoi
Enjoy some free time this morning before transferring to Hanoi Airport for your flight back to Bangkok. Upon arrival in Bangkok, our representative will be there to assist you with transferring to your flight back home.
Meal Plan: B