15-Nights Vietnam, Cambodia & Thailand - Land Journey from $10,990

Day 1 Hanoi, Vietnam
Arrive Hanoi

Tour begins: 6:00 PM, Sofitel Legend Metropole Hanoi. Welcome to Hanoi! A transfer is included from Noi Bai International Airport to the landmark Sofitel Legend Metropole Hanoi, your home for the next two nights, close to the historic Old Quarter and other notable attractions in Vietnam's capital city. Meet your Tauck Director and your fellow adventurers at our welcome cocktail reception and dinner at Le Beaulieu this evening.

Begin your Vietnam tour with a day including a memorable buggy ride through the back streets of Old Hanoi; a visit to the Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum; the colonial Presidential Palace that Ho Chi Minh refused to live in, along with his "house on stilts"; the famous One-Pillar Pagoda, constructed in 1049 to resemble a lotus blossom; and a visit to the infamous Hoa Lo Prison, known as the "Hanoi Hilton" during the Vietnam War. Sample Vietnamese specialties for lunch, then spend the afternoon as you wish. An art form that is unique to Vietnam and popular since the 18th century entertains you this evening during an enchanting water puppet performance. Please Note: the Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum complex is closed each year for annual renovations from September to December; Ho Chi Minh's stilt house and the One-Pillar Pagoda are still open for viewing.

This morning, fly south from Hanoi to Da Nang, a seaside city framed by the Marble Mountains. Upon arrival, visit the iconic 18-mile "China Beach," renowned for its powdery sand and crystal-clear waters that have earned this stretch of coastline a place among the world's finest beaches. Tonight, settle into one of Vietnam's premier beach resorts, the Furama Resort Da Nang, ideally situated along the shores of the South China Sea.

Meeting the locals is one of the best ways to connect with a destination and promises a close-up look at daily life in Vietnam. Morning visits to a local village (including a visit to the home of a former mayor) make good on that promise. Continue your Vietnam travel by journeying to historic Hoi An, a key South China Sea trading port in the 15th through 19th centuries, and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Explore its shop-lined streets via cyclo and tour the 200-year-old "Phung Hung" house, noted for its unique architecture. What you'll see there will reveal much about the lives of Hoi An merchants long ago. Enjoy some time on your own in the afternoon, and have dinner at your leisure tonight.

Discover Hue, Vietnam's former imperial capital and a UNESCO World Heritage Site rich in history and culture. Visit the iconic Thien Mu (Heavenly Lady) Pagoda, a seven-story octagonal tower overlooking the Perfume River, then enjoy a scenic cruise past traditional houseboats that still serve as family homes. Continue to the elegant tomb of Emperor Tu Duc, one of Vietnam's most celebrated 19th-century rulers, before arriving at your hotel, Azerai La Residence.

This morning, climb aboard a private, pedal-powered cyclo for an engaging exploration of Hue's Citadel, the vast imperial complex that once served as the seat of Vietnam's Nguyen Dynasty. Discover the Imperial City, where emperors conducted affairs of state, and the Forbidden Purple City, reserved exclusively for the royal family. Later, fly south to Ho Chi Minh City (formerly Saigon), Vietnam's vibrant commercial heart, where French colonial architecture, bustling boulevards, and modern energy create a captivating blend of old and new. Upon arrival, check in to the elegant Park Hyatt Saigon before setting off this evening on an exhilarating after-dark Vespa tour, experiencing the city's lively streets, hidden corners, and dynamic nightlife like a local.

Journey northwest of the city to Ben Duoc, a battlefield memorial site and gateway to the remarkable Cu Chi Tunnels. Accompanied by local guides, explore this vast underground network of tunnels and chambers, stretching more than 120 miles and descending three levels below ground. During the Vietnam War, the tunnels served as a hidden world unto themselves, housing kitchens, dormitories, munitions factories, hospitals, and even schoolrooms. Following lunch, discover the sights and stories of Ho Chi Minh City on a guided tour. Browse the bustling stalls of Ben Thanh Market and visit the former Presidential Palace, now known as Reunification Hall, where events leading to the reunification of North and South Vietnam culminated in 1975. Continue past the former U.S. Embassy, the Saigon Opera House, the 19th-century Notre-Dame Cathedral, and the stately Central Post Office, designed by famed French architect Gustave Eiffel. This evening, enjoy dinner at your hotel, choosing from one of its distinctive restaurants.

This morning, your journey continues on to Cambodia as you fly to Siem Reap for a two-night stay at the Raffles Grand Hotel d'Angkor, the closest hotel to the treasures of the fabled archaeological site at Angkor, covering an area twice the size of Manhattan. Your arrival in Siem Reap is highlighted with a visit to Angkor Wat, a Hindu-Buddhist temple complex and the largest religious structure in the world (according to Guinness World Records). Originally built in the 12th century by King Sryavarman II of the Khmer Empire, Angkor Wat was designed to represent Mount Meru, home of the devas in Hindu mythology. Over the centuries, the temple fell into disarray before being restored in the 20th century. Today, the Angkor area has been desiginated as a UNESCO World Heritage Site and is regarded as one of the best examples of Khmer architecture as well as a national symbol for Cambodia. Following your visit, return to your hotel and join us for a Tauck exclusive Cambodian Apsara dance performance and dinner.

Enveloped by jungle roots, fascinating Ta Prohm Temple almost seems to be a part of the dense rainforest that surrounds it. A legacy of Cambodia's Khmer civilization dating from 1186, it was originally built as a Buddhist university and monastery and continues to captivate today, as you'll see on your visit. The last capital of the Khmer empire, the walled city of Angkor Thom ishome to the richly decorated Bayon Temple, known for its eerily smiling carved faces; see the Elephant Terrace in Angkor Thom, which was the foundation of the pavilion in which the king held audiences. Following lunch at a local restaurant, you'll have a choice of activities. You may either join us for a cruise on Tonle Sap Lake, revealing its fascinating floating villages, before returning to your hotel. Or, return to your hotel for free time to explore as you wish. Regardless of your choice, you'll have free time to do as you wish. Tonight, dinner is at your leisure at your choice of restaurant in Raffles Grand Hotel d'Angkor.

Fly via Bangkok to charming Chiang Mai, Thailand, the "Rose of the North," established in the 13th century, and known for its artistic and cultural heritage. Enter another world when you arrive at the luxurious Four Seasons Resort Chiang Mai, where your richly appointed accommodations feature a Lanna-style sala (pavilion) looking out over gardens, terraced rice paddies, and mountains. Dine at a choice of restaurants at your resort.

Elephants - Thailand's national animal - are an integral part of Chiang Mai's economy and culture; today you'll learn more about them. A picnic lunch at the sanctuary precedes a visit to hill tribe villages of Chiang Mai to meet the people who live peacefully there as small farmers, observing and honoring their traditional ways of life. The remainder of the day is spent as you please. Dinner tonight is at the hotel.

Depart your hotel this morning to Doi Suthep National Park for a visit to Chiang Mai's most famous temple - Wat Phra That Doi Suthep. Commonly referred to as "Doi Suthep," this is actually a misnomer, "Doi Suthep" is the name of the mountain where it is located. En route to the temple, your tour director will provide a guided tour of Chiang Mai's old walled city. Arrive at your hotel this afternoon, early enough to offer you free time to enjoy the amenities of the hotel as you wish. Dinner tonight is at the hotel.

A morning flight takes you to Thailand's capital city of Bangkok for a three-night stay at Rosewood Bangkok; arrive in time for lunch. Late afternoon, return by Sky Train to your hotel.

Cruise up the Chao Phraya River and through a network of canals, called klongs, which lace the city. These often-bustling "city streets," lined with homes and small businesses, are where much of life in Bangkok is found; stop at Wat Arun (the Temple of Dawn) along the way. Have lunch at a local Thai restaurant, then return to the hotel and spend the remainder of the day as you please.

An express boat whisks you from the hotel to the Maharaj Pier for a morning of sightseeing in Bangkok (both on foot and by tuk-tuk), an intriguing mix of ancient and modern. Walk to Wat Pho, the oldest and largest temple in the city, to see the giant Reclining Buddha, then travel to the 18th-century Grand Palace for an "audience" with the Emerald Buddha. Join us this evening for a farewell reception and dinner at your hotel.

Tour ends: Bangkok. A transfer from Rosewood Bangkok to Bangkok International Airport is included. Please allow 3 hours for your flight check-in.