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15-Nights Vietnam, Cambodia & Thailand - Land Journey from $9,490
Tauck
OFFER ID 1494500
Vietnam, Cambodia & Thailand
Tauck's 16-day Thailand, Cambodia and Vietnam travel adventure encompasses the best of Southeast Asia as you explore the legendary cities of Hanoi, Hué, Ho Chi Minh City and Bangkok.
Discover golden Buddhas, ancient kingdoms, inspiring temples and lush landscapes, and experience the unique cultures and traditions of this fascinating area of the world for yourself... from a water puppet performance to ornate pagodas and soaring temple spires to gilded palaces and bamboo stilt houses. Explore Chiang Mai and cruise on the klongs of Bangkok. Discover poignant reminders of war in Vietnam like the Cu Chi Tunnels and notorious Hoa Lo Prison, and see the legacy of peace as you visit a kindergarten in Da Nang. Experience the grandeur and archaeological significance of UNESCO World Heritage Sites such as Angkor, Hoi An and Hué, and stay at the finest city hotels and word-class resorts.
15 nights from $9,490 per person
Tauck World Discovery: Vietnam, Cambodia & Thailand
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.
Meals: D
Day 2 Hanoi, Vietnam
Hanoi: French Heritage & Asian Traditions
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.
Meals: B, L
Day 3 Hué, Vietnam
Hué, Vietnam's Ancient Capital
No Vietnam travel experience would be complete without a visit to Hué, one of Vietnam's most beautiful cities, a UNESCO World Heritage Site; you'll arrive this morning following a flight to Da Nang. Upon arrival, enjoy lunch at your hotel, followed by a ride aboard a private, pedal-powered cyclo to explore Hué's Citadel – which housed the Imperial City for the emperor's official functions, and the Forbidden Purple City for his personal time. Late this afternoon, visit the tomb of 19th-century emperor Tu Duc – then settle in to your riverfront accommodations along the Perfume River.
Meals: B, L, D
Day 4 Da Nang, Vietnam
Imperial Sights & Da Nang's "China Beach"
This morning, explore Hué's tranquil setting as you admire Thien Mu ("Heavenly Lady") Pagoda, a seven-story octagonal tower built in 1844, and cruise along the Perfume River; view the boats that continue to serve as complete family homes for many residents of Hué. Then take in the scenery along the Vietnamese coast and Hai Van Mountain during a drive to Da Nang and the 18-mile-long "China Beach" – made famous by the 1980s TV show of the same name and now a popular destination. You'll spend the next two nights at one of the most prestigious beachfront resorts in Vietnam, the Furama Resort Da Nang, set right on the shores of the South China Sea.
Meals: B, L, D
Day 5 Hoi An, Vietnam
History and Charm of Hoi An
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. Pay a delightful visit to a local kindergarten in Da Nang this morning, then 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.
Meals: B, D
Day 6 Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam
Cu Chi Tunnels and Saigon Heritage
Take a morning flight to Ho Chi Minh City (formerly known as Saigon), Vietnam's second-largest city; set off to the battlefield memorial site of Ben Duoc, northwest of the city, where you'll explore an underground world of tunnels and chambers three stories deep at Cu Chi Tunnels with your local guides. Used during the Vietnam War, the 120-mile tunnel network housed kitchens, dormitories, munitions factories, hospitals, and schoolrooms. Dine at the hotel this evening in a restaurant of your choosing.
Meals: B, L, D
Day 7 Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam
Ho Chi Minh City
Explore Ho Chi Minh City (formerly Saigon) with your local expert today, visiting the Ben Thanh Market and the former Presidential Palace, now called Reunification Hall (after negotiations rejoined the North and South in 1975). See the former U.S. Embassy, the Saigon River, 19th-century Saigon Notre Dame Cathedral, and the stately Central Post Office designed by Paris' Gustave Eiffel. Enjoy the afternoon and evening as you please. Tonight, see the city of Ho Chi Minh, after dark, on a Vespa tour.
Meals: B, L
Day 8 Siem Reap, Cambodia
Siem Reap's Archaeological Treasures
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 by a cruise on Tonle Sap Lake, revealing its fascinating floating villages, before returning to your hotel via tuk-tuk. Tonight's dinner is à la carte at your hotel.
Meals: B, D
Day 9 Siem Reap, Cambodia
Sculpted Temples of Angkor
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 get ready to be dazzled by what you see this afternoon during a visit to the vast, 12th-century Angkor Wat temple; the bas-reliefs and many devatas (guardian spirits) that cover its walls inspire awe and admiration. This example of classical Khmer architecture has been a significant religious center for Hindus and then Buddhists through the ages. Dinner is at your leisure at your choice of restaurant in Raffles Grand Hotel d'Angkor.
Meals: B, L, D
Day 10 Chiang Mai, Thailand
North to Chiang Mai & Up to Doi Suthep
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. Take a scenic drive to Doi Suthep National Park, home to Wat Phrathat Doi Suthep – a temple perched at the top of a peak more than 3,500 feet above sea level – before enjoying dinner at your choice of restaurants back at the resort.
Meals: B, D
Day 11 Chiang Mai, Thailand
Learn about Thailand's Elephants
Elephants – Thailand's national animal – are an integral part of Chiang Mai's economy and culture. Visit an elephant camp today to see how these marvelous animals are trained to work in a teak forest; you'll have a chance to feed them bananas and sugar cane, watch them demonstrate various skills, and view baby elephants in the nursery before you return to your Mae Rim Valley resort. The remainder of the day is spent as you please.
Meals: B, L, D
Day 12 Chiang Mai, Thailand
Colorful, Culturally Rich Hill Tribes
Take an unforgettable excursion to the hill tribe villages of Chiang Mai today to meet the people of the Palong, Padong and Karen tribes, who live peacefully there as small farmers, observing and honoring their traditional ways of life. They'll share their crafts and folkways with you... you'll even get to try on the traditional neck rings worn by members of the "long-necked" Karen tribe. Return to your resort midday; the remainder of the day is free to spend as you please, with dinner à la carte this evening.
Meals: B, D
Day 13 Bangkok, Thailand
On to Bangkok, Thailand's stunning capital
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. This afternoon, visit the Jim Thompson House Museum where you'll join a local guide to tour the art- and artifact-filled Bangkok home of the expatriate American architect, OSS officer and postwar Thai silk entrepreneur who mysteriously disappeared in the 1960. Late afternoon, return by Sky Train to your hotel.
Meals: B, L, D
Day 14 Bangkok, Thailand
A day in Bangkok along the klongs
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.
Meals: B, L
Day 15 Bangkok, Thailand
The amazing Reclining Buddha and a farewell
An express boat whisks you from the hotel to the Maharaj Pier for a morning of sightseeing in Bangkok, 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. Following a traditional Thai lunch, a motorboat ride returns you to your hotel. Join us this evening for a farewell reception and dinner at your hotel.
Meals: B, D
Day 16 Bangkok, Thailand
Journey Home
Tour ends: Bangkok. A transfer from Rosewood Bangkok to Bangkok International Airport is included. Please allow 3 hours for your flight check-in.
Meals: B
Vacation Details
* This departure has been designated a guaranteed departure by the operator, meaning that the minimum number of guests has been met, although still subject to weather and other conditions.
Fine dining, on-site bars or lounges and room service with extended hours are characteristic of deluxe establishments. Guest services usually include valet parking, concierge services, baggage assistance and laundry services. Other on-site facilities often include shops and boutiques, full service spas, full fitness facilities with pools and tennis courts. Business amenities may include available up-to-date technology and support staffs available for services. Attention to detail is apparent in the guestrooms which typically have stylish furnishings, quality bedding and bath products and often provide an evening turn down service.
All fares are quoted in US Dollars.
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CruisingCo.com
13108 Thomas Road NW
Gig Harbor, WA 98329
USA
(253) 891-1138