Historical Thailand and Vietnam Tour

Today you will fly to Bangkok. On arrival, your private guide will welcome you at the arrival hall and transfer you to your hotel with a private car and driver. Your guide will help you with luggage and hotel check-in and ensure your arrival is worry-free.

Pick up from your hotel in Bangkok and head out from Bangkok to Bang Wha train station to get on the local train at 10:10 am. This train will take you to Maeklong Railway Market where there is a variety of food stalls, raw ingrediency, seafood, and all shops selling on the railway. Arrive at Maeklong Market and enjoy walking around this famous market you will have a chance to try seasonal fresh fruit and local snacks.

Continue to the most famous floating market in Thailand - Damnern Saduak Market. Get on the long tail boat and enjoy the scenic views of Thai houses of Thai people living along the river and canals. And enjoy tasting famous coconut pancakes, coconut ice cream, noodles etc.,

Afternoon return to Bangkok to visit the Grand Palace which is the most important and impressive Royal Palace in Thailand. We will show you the palaces used for different occasions – the Funeral Palace, the Reception Palace, and of course the mysterious Emerald Buddha, the most revered Buddha image in Thailand. 

After a long day, our guide takes you from Grand Palace to the hidden rooftop café to enjoy your drink with sunset moments behind the Temple of Dawn (WAT ARUN). Finish the tour and return to your hotel.

Depart for a 1.5-hour drive through Bangkok's rural outskirts to Ayutthaya History Park. Begin by visiting the Bang-Pa-In Summer Palace, located 60 kilometers north of Bangkok, an impressive architectural blend of East and West dating back to the 17th century.  Lunch at a local restaurant.

Continue to Ayutthaya, which was the capital of the Thai Kingdom for 417 years. The city was founded in 1350 by King U-Thong and in 1767 it was destroyed by the Burmese army. Nowadays the ruins of the former city are on the UNESCO World Heritage list. You will take a local Tuk Tuk to stroll around the ruins of several ancient temples including Wat Phanancheong, Wat Mahathat, where the roots of a tree surround the head of Buddha; Wat Prasri Sanphet, a former royal temple during Ayutthaya days of glory; Elephant Camp, Wat Lokkaya (Wat Pranon), if time permits, Wat Chai Wattanaram, a perfect example of Khmer architectural influence. During the visit, your guide will take you to sample a notable local snack – Roti Sai Mai which is also referred to as "Sweet Angel Hair".

Enjoy your free time until your guide comes and escorts you to the airport for your flight to Chiang Rai. Upon arrival at Chiang Rai International Airport, you will find your private driver waiting for you near the exit. Then, your driver will transfer you from the Airport to your hotel.

This morning, you will visit the Golden Triangle, which is renowned as the center of the opium trade in the latter half of the 20th century. From a hilltop viewpoint, marvel at the splendor of the mighty Mekong as it joins the Ruak River forming the actual "Triangle" between Laos, Myanmar, and Thailand. The Opium Museum near the viewpoint of the golden triangle was built to educate people about the dangers of the drug through an entertaining exhibition that traces the history of opium from its first use 5,000 years ago to current issues of drug abuse and addiction. Many publications regard it as one of the best museums in Thailand.

You will enjoy a boat cruise on the Mae Kong River and return to the pier of the Mae Kong River for lunch with a river view before leaving for the Doi Tung Royal Palace and Garden (Mae Fah Luang Garden)， Doi Tung was once a secluded area in the heart of the Golden Triangle-a leading region of illicit world opium production. The watershed area was denuded by slash-and-burn cultivation, and further accelerated by opium growing. After the Princess Mother's first visit to Doi Tung, She announced"I will reforest Doi Tung".The Princess Mother decided to improve the conditions of Doi Tung, socially, economically, and environmentally. She demonstrated her commitment by building her home in Doi Tung, which we call Mae Fah Luang Garden.

After breakfast, we will head to Chiang Mai today! On the way, we will visit Rong Suea Ten or the 'The Blue Temple' which was built by the student of Mr. Chalermchai  Kositpipat who built The famous White Temple. The outside is gorgeous, but the inside is even more spectacular with beautiful paintings and a huge white Buddha in the center. 

Your second stop is 'The Black House', known as 'Baan Dam' in Thai. Baan Dam is Thawan Duchanee’s artful portrayal of hell. The opaque decor and dead animals adorning each room make Duchanee’s estate the complete opposite of the White Temple, the glimpse of heaven designed by his teacher Chalermchai Kositpipat. Although off the beaten track, the Black House is not something to be overlooked. Then continue to Wat Rong Khun or ‘The White Temple’, blending traditional Buddhist art with contemporary themes. Followed by a visit to a hot spring for relaxation. Late afternoon, we will arrive in Chiang Mai and be free at your leisure.

Your morning half-day Chiang Mai old-city, temple tour takes you on an unforgettable drive through many different parts of the city. Your tour includes Wat Pra Singh which is one of over 200 ancient Buddhist temples located around the city and one of the most well-regarded examples of Lanna architecture. The temple of Wat Chedi Luang is the site of an enormous pagoda, originally 280 feet high, which was partially destroyed by an earthquake in 1545. Continue to Warorot Market to see and feel the real northern people’s way of life. 

Enjoy your meal at a local restaurant, then a relaxing drive of about 1hr takes you to the Doi Suthep Mountain. Climb 309 steps to the top (For the less active traveler, a tram is available for a small surcharge.), enjoying the truly breathtaking scenery all along the way.  You will find Wat Phra That at the very top, one of Northern Thailand’s most sacred temples. At the top, rest and relax while marveling at the panoramic views of the city of Chiang Mai. 

A half-day package to the Elephant Jungle Sanctuary offers you an enjoyable opportunity to spend quality time with elephants in their natural home, as well as gain an insight into their history and behavior, and create cherished lifelong memories of their time spent with these amazing animals.

Today you will be picked up from your place of accommodation and will drive through scenic agricultural areas before arriving at the Sanctuary. There, you will meet your English-speaking guide and learn a little about the elephants, before changing into traditional Karen clothing.

After being allocated bananas and sugar cane to feed to the elephants, you will walk with your guide through the Sanctuary, where you will find free-roaming elephants and hear their individual stories. You can touch, feed, photograph, and interact with the elephants at your leisure while you learn about their lifestyle and behaviors. 

After the close encounter with elephant, you will return to your hotel, the rest of the day is free at your leisure.

Enjoy your free time until your guide come and escort you to airport for your flight to Hanoi. On arrival, your private guide will welcome you at the arrival hall and transfer you to your hotel with a private car and driver. Your guide will help you with luggage and hotel check-in and ensure your arrival is worry-free.

After breakfast, you will take a private transfer for about 3 hrs to Halong City, where you will begin your one and a half days' Halong Bay cruise. You will board the tradtional Vietnamese junk in the afternoon and cruise around the Halong Bay's limestone islets and caves doted the sea and see the sun set over the clam waters at the deck. Enjoy a wonderful dinner at evening. All meals are included during your stay on board. There are also a variety of optional activities waiting for you. Such as swimming, kayaking, diving...etc.  

Wake up early this morning to catch the sunrise over the bay with a Tai Chi lesson on the sundeck. Continue cruising and you can choose either kayak or traditional rowing boat to around discovering local life on the waters. Disembark at Tuan Chau International Passenger Port at around 10:30 am, where your guide and driver will wait you and drive you back to Hanoi (about 3 hrs). 

Today you'll jump into Hanoi's sights and sounds on a tour that covers all the essentials. You'll visit the Ho Chi Minh Complex, which includes the Mausoleum, Ho Chi Minh's former stilt-house residence, The Hoa Lo Prison, The One Pillar Pagoda and The Temple of Literature, which, dating back to 1070, is Vietnam’s oldest university.

After lunch, you will explore the enthralling Museum of Ethnology, which contains an extensive display of life-size structures dedicated to Vietnam’s 54 ethnic minorities. Next, enjoy an hour-long cyclo ride winding through the narrow, chaotic streets of the Old Quarter - a must for any visitor to Hanoi! The day finishes with a traditional performance of the famous Vietnamese Water Puppets Show.

Your private guide will escort you to the airport for your flight to Ho Chi Minh City. Upon arrival, our guide will meet you and escort you to your hotel. The rest of the day is on your own to relax.

This morning set out for the incredible underground Cu Chi Tunnels and then drive back to Ho Chi Minh City to visit the War Remnants Museum and Reunification Palace (the former Presidential Palace), the Notre Dame Cathedral, Old Saigon Post Office and Dong Khoi Street (formerly Rue Catinat) absolutely nice choices for a free stroll.

In the early morning, you will head out of the bustling city to Mekong Delta Area. Cruising on the Mekong river for sightseeing: islands of Dragon, Unicorn, Turtle, Phoenix. 

Land on Unicorn island, take a walk on the village road, visit an orchard of tropical fruits. Visit a bee-farm, enjoy honey-tea and visit a typical house in Mekong Delta. Visit coconut candy workshop, taste fresh candies. Enjoy tropical fruits at local farm, listen to Southern traditional music. 

Next to land on Dragon island, transfer by cyclo or motorbike to local home. Have a homemade lunch and enjoy cooking time with some dishes such as “Banh Xeo” (Vietnamese crepe); Spring Rolls.... with the owners. After lunch, return to boat station. Transfer back to Saigon. End of tour at your hotel.

Your guide will escort you to airport for your onward flight.