Explore Vietnam & Thailand in 11-Day Tour
Duration
11 Days | 10 Nights
Destinations
Vietnam, Thailand
Travel Type
Private | Customizable
Places You’ll Visit
Tour Overview
This 11-day fantastic tour of Vietnam and Thailand begins in Ho Chi Minh City and ends in Chiang Mai! You will be led to explore the fascinating history, discover authentic cultures and get an insight into the unique traditions of these two countries. Focus on visiting Hoi An Ancient Town’s most famous attractions & conducting food exploration in the countryside, enjoying Bangkok’s vibrant nightlife as well as admiring Chiang Mai’s beautiful temples, like Doi Suthep.
Highlights of This Tour
- Uncover the turbulent history of Ho Chi Minh City by visiting underground Cu Chi Tunnels and colonial-era buildings.
- Catch a glimpse of the busiest moments of the floating market in the Mekong Delta.
- Explore Hoi An’s countryside by bicycle and sample its culinary specialties.
- Immerse yourself in Bangkok’s colorful and vibrant nightlife on Khao San Road.
- Take a long-tail boat ride to Damnoen Saduak Floating Market to experience the bustling atmosphere.
- Visit some of Chiang Mai’s famous temples, including Wat Phra Singh, Chedi Luang, and Wat Phra That Doi Suthep.
Itinerary
Welcome to Ho Chi Minh City, formerly known as Saigon, the largest city in Vietnam, full of strong French flavor and dubbed as the “Little Paris of the East”. Upon landing at the airport, a local driver will meet you and escort you to your hotel for check-in.
After a short break, feel free to wander the streets of this metropolis, admiring some landmarks such as Reunification Palace, Notre Dame Cathedral, and the City Post Office. All of them are great places to learn about Vietnam’s history.
Meal: N/A
Accommodation: Ho Chi Minh City
Today we start our journey along the Mekong River. Take a two-hour drive from Ho Chi Minh City to Cai Be, where you can visit the floating market in a traditional wooden boat. Feed your sight on dozens of the freshest tropical fruits like jackfruit and rambutan.
Get off the boat and visit a candy factory to see the special process of making coconut candy. Re-board and leave Cai Be for Tan Phong Island, where we paddle through lush coconut groves. Then enjoy authentic Vietnamese cuisine at a local family, visit their orchards and listen to traditional folk music performed by local villages.
After the tour, drive back to Ho Chi Minh City for the night.
Meal: Breakfast & Lunch
Accommodation: Ho Chi Minh City
This morning is free at your leisure.
In the afternoon, drive about 1.5 hours to cobweb-like Cu Chi Tunnels, once an underground battle tunnel system dug by villages and soldiers for more than 20 years for Vietnam to resist French rule. Today, visitors can visit a short section of the tunnels, kneel and squeeze underground, to learn about the lives of tunnel-dwelling resistance fighters.
If you’re interested, you have the chance to shoot with a war–era AK47 at a nearby shooting range (at your own expense).
At the end of the tour, transfer to Ho Chi Minh Airport to catch your flight to Da Nang. Upon arrival, a local driver will pick you up and drive you to Hoi An for the night.
Meals: Breakfast
Accommodation: Hoi An
Hoi An, a member of the World Heritage List, is a quaint town, standing with Chinese and Japanese-style architecture. A stroll through the narrow alleys to admire the Japanese Covered Bridge, Chinese god’s temples, and former houses of Vietnamese merchants reminds you of what this ancient town was like hundreds of years ago.
You will also take a guided tour of Hoi An Market, the busiest shopping spot in the ancient town, and Hoi An Museum, where you can find precious pictures and various objects that reflect the allusions to the town.
In the afternoon, you’re allowed to explore this charming town on your own.
Meals: Breakfast
Accommodation: Hoi An
Today is the day to explore the countryside and local cuisine around Hoi An by bike.
In the morning, head to a local restaurant to sample Hoi An’s specialty, Cao Lau, a rice noodle dish usually consisting of barbecued pork slices and fresh vegetables. After that, ride a bike to the Tra Que Village with your guide. Walk through quiet roads and vast rice fields; Learn how to grow and transplant vegetables and herbs from local farmers.
We’ll visit a local family, where we have a chance to learn how to make unique dumpling cakes and taste your “masterpieces”. Continue cycling through paddy fields until you reach Cam Nam, where you can enjoy some distinctive dishes like Banh Dap (Cracked Rice Pancake), and Che Bap (Sweet Corn Pudding).
In the afternoon, your guide will show you around My Son Sanctuary which is an extraordinary complex decorated with sandstone bas-reliefs of Hindu mythological scenes that vividly depict the spiritual and political life of an important period in Southeast Asia history.
And then, return to Hoi An.
Meal: Breakfast & Lunch
Accommodation: Hoi An
After breakfast, you are free to discover the hidden gems of Old Hoi An.
Explore the local culture and get an insight into the traditions of the Hoi An people; Take a turquoise boat ride on the Thu Bon River. Don’t miss the sunset reflected in the water. At night, colorful paper lanterns on both sides of the river are lit, which is even more unique.
Meals: Breakfast
Accommodation: Hoi An
Transfer to Da Nang for a flight to Bangkok. Upon arrival at Suvarnabhumi Airport, your private driver will meet you and escort you to your hotel for check-in. The rest of the day is free for you to explore the bustling city.
Bangkok is the second largest metropolis in Southeast Asia and the capital of Thailand. Khao San Road is a highly recommended spot to blend in with the local nightlife scene. It is colorful and vibrant, featuring a wide variety of bars and clubs.
Meals: Breakfast
Accommodation: Bangkok
In the morning, your guide will meet you in the hotel lobby at the appointed time and take you on a long-tailed boat to Damnoen Saduak Floating Market.
The market starts to get busy at 7:00 a.m. Dozens of boats shuttle back and forth on the river, enthusiastically selling flowers, fruits, handicrafts, traditional snacks, etc. to tourists, which looks quite spectacular.
In the evening, you will be transferred to the railway station and spend the night on the train to Chiang Mai (14 hours and 20 minutes).
Meal: Breakfast & Lunch
Accommodation: Overnight Train
After getting off the train, your guide will take you downtown to visit Wat Phra Singh, Chiang Mai’s second-oldest Buddhist temple, built in 1345. The murals in the temple hall depict local ancient costumes and customs, which are considered representative of traditional art in northern Thailand.
Then visit Chedi Luang. A Buddhist temple located in the city center, it is the most famous and largest of the six temples in Chiang Mai. After the tour, head to the hotel for a rest.
Meal: Breakfast & Lunch
Accommodation: Chiang Mai
Locatedon a hill, Wat Phra That Doi Suthepis one of Chiang Mai’s holiest pilgrimage sites. You can reach it by climbing 309 seven-headed serpent stairs or by tram. In this temple, you can experience blessings at dusk, witness the monks chanting in the evening, and enjoy the illuminated city below.
Meal: Breakfast
Accommodation: Chiang Mai
It is time to say goodbye to Chiang Mai. After breakfast, your private driver will escort you to the airport for your flight home. Wish you a happy journey!
Meal: Breakfast
Accommodation: N/A
What’s Included
Dates & Availability
Tuesday
15 Sep,2024
Wednesday
24 Sep,2024
Total price
$1,049
Tuesday
15 Sep,2024
Wednesday
24 Sep,2024
Total price
$1,049
