Day 1 Fly USA to Bangkok

Day 2 Arrive Bangkok
An English-speaking representative will be holding a sign with your last name on it and greet you as you enter the public Airport Arrivals Hall. You will be taken to your vehicle nearby and transferred to your hotel.

Bangkok can soothe or ruffle, and it often does both. While contemplating the sunrise at a temple or monks collecting alms, you'll marvel at what peace can be found in the midst of such a chaotic metropolis.

A cultural hub in Southeast Asia, the city is a collage of urban squalor, gleaming affluence, mass consumerism and pollution. Most certainly, Bangkok will assault your senses. It's fascinating and indulgent, but it requires time and patience.

Upon arrival, you may find the constant din shocking, the geography impossible (no map does justice to the city's meandering lanes), and the traffic is absolutely unbelievable. But stay more than a night or two and the city's bewildering kaleidoscope begins to make sense. Although the cacophony will never melt away, soon it will transmit the excitement and vibrant charm of one of the world's greatest cities.

Comfort of one sort or another is never far away: When your feet tire of wandering through the Grand Palace, head over to neighboring Wat Pho for an hour-long foot massage; if you exhaust your meager supply of Thai words bargaining for souvenirs, pop into an air-conditioned movie theater and take in an English-language film; if you are overwhelmed by the density of people along Sampeng Lane in Chinatown, drop into a coffee shop or open-air restaurant and enjoy a cool drink.

Day 3 Klongs (Canals) and Grand Palace (Morning)
Private Vehicle Tour

This morning take a boat ride along the Chao Phraya and its canals via Wat Arun (Temple of Dawn) and ending at the Grand Palace. Wat Arun is a 260 ft. high, Khmer-inspired tower, the centerpiece of which rises majestically from the banks of the Chao Phraya, across from Wat Po. This religious complex served as the royal chapel during King Taksin's reign (1809-24), when nearby Thonburi was the capital of Thailand.

The Grand Palace complex, which includes the Temple of the Emerald Buddha (Wat Phra Keow), is unquestionably one of the wonders of the world today. Within its enormous grounds is the most exotic Buddhist temple and at the heart of the temple itself is a fabulous Buddha image, carved from one piece of Jade, which is the holiest and most revered of religious objects in Thailand today.

City & Temples (Afternoon)
Private Vehicle Tour

Thailand has over 26,000 temples (or Wats). This tour will bring you to three of the most distinguished temples in Bangkok. Wat Traimit, the temple of the Golden Buddha, features a statue made from solid Gold weighing 5.5 tons. It is a fine example of Sukhothai art and was discovered by chance from a layer of stucco during construction of the temple.

Passing through Chinatown your next stop is Wat Po, the temple of the reclining Buddha which is the largest and oldest in Bangkok.   Your last stop is at Wat Benchamabopit or the marble temple. This magnificent monastery was built with white Italian marble from Carrara. Tour duration is approximately 3 hours.

Day 4 Floating Market (Morning)
Private Vehicle Tour

Today your guide will meet you in your hotel lobby, and you will depart for the tour. A glimpse of everyday life in Thailand can be seen at the Damnern Saduak Floating market, which is located some 110 kilometers from Bangkok.  Your journey commences with a leisurely drive passing through salt fields and rice paddies before arriving at a jetty. Here we will board long tail speedboats to take you to the market.      

The market is made up of Thai style canoes laden with colorful, succulent fruits, vegetables, sweets and meats. They gently ply their way through the canal selling as they go.  Close by is the Rose Garden where lunch will be taken in a restaurant over-looking the river.  Morning tour - 4 hour duration.

Thai Dinner and Dances at Sala Rim Nan
Private Vehicle Tour

Approximately 6:30pm this evening your guide will meet you in your hotel lobby and you will depart for tonight's special dinner.

The Thai dinner and dance shows are a visual and palatable delight. With the world's ever increasing interest in Thai cuisine, this is the place to experience an authentic taste in a multi-course set menu. The shows last about 45 minutes and will be held at The Oriental Hotel's famous Sala Rim Nam Restaurant.

On the opposite bank of the Chao Praya River, Sala Rim Naam is housed in a richly decorated Thai pavilion, originating from Northern Thailand, the restaurant is also the setting for one of the kingdom's unique cultural experiences - classical Thai dancing, performed before your table every night. It's the perfect accompaniment to such lavish cuisine.

At the end of this evening's performance at approximately 9:30 pm you will be returned to your hotel.

Day 5 Fly Bangkok to Hanoi
An English-speaking representative will meet you in your hotel lobby at a predetermined time. You will be transferred directly to the airport.

The flight duration between Bangkok and Hanoi is approximately 1 hour 50 minutes and distance traveled is 607 miles.

Transfer Hanoi Airport to City
Private Vehicle

An English-speaking representative will be holding a sign with your last name on it and greet you as you enter the public Airport Arrivals Hall. You will be taken to your vehicle nearby and transferred to your hotel.

Hanoi has been forever changed by the introduction of literally millions of motorbikes, which dodge, weave and honk through the narrow streets of the Old Quarter and down the broad, old avenues of the Colonial District. The noise is omnipresent and the streets are packed with traffic, and the sidewalks are covered with parked vehicles and outdoor shops.

Hoan Kiem Lake is the heart of the city. Stroll along the pedestrian paths around its edge, then enjoy an espresso and pastry at the lakeside cafe. Cross red-painted Rising Sun Bridge to enjoy the relative quiet around Ngoc Son temple. Visit the Temple of Literature, the only remaining original building at 1,000-year-old Hanoi University. Northwest of the lake to Ho Chi Minh's Mausoleum. Within easy walking distance of it are two places worth checking out: the One Pillar Pagoda and Ho Chi Minh's Stilt House (rather than live in the palace, he chose to reside in this modest dwelling).

Several museums are worth a visit: The Museum of Ethnology introduces visitors to the remarkably diverse ethnic cultures of Vietnam, the Museum of History traces Vietnam's successive periods of conquest and peace from the second century BC to the present day, and the Museum of Women lauds Vietnamese women's role in military and domestic history. American Vietnam War buffs will want to visit the Hoa Lo Museum at the site of the fearful 'Hanoi Hilton,' though most of the exhibits there discuss Vietnam's years of struggle for independence from France.

Day 6 Hanoi City Tour (Full Day)
Private Vehicle Tour

Pick up from hotel. Hanoi, a capital city of Vietnam, is a very attractive city with French style buildings and less traffic than other cities in Asia. Visit to One Pillar Pagoda which was built by the Emperor Ly Thai Tong, who ruled from 1028 to 1054. Then proceed to Temple of Literature. Temple of Literature is a peaceful series of walled courtyards and graceful gateways, this monument is one of the best-preserved examples of traditional Vietnamese architecture. Next stop is Hoan Kiem Lake. Right in the heart of Hanoi, this lake contains an islet with the tiny Tortoise Pagoda, topped with a red star.

After that visit Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum, the final resting place of Ho Chi Minh is a glass sarcophagus set deep in the bowels of a monumental edifice that has become a site of pilgrimage. Following Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum is Opera House, a magnificent 900-seat opera house built in 1911. End the tour in Hanoi at St. Joseph Cathedral and Bao Tang Lich which exhibits artifacts from Vietnam's turbulent history including some from prehistory, proto-Vietnamese civilizations, the Dong Son culture, the Oc Eo culture and the Khmer Kingdoms. Drop off at hotel.

Day 7 Transfer Hanoi Hotel to Ha Long Pier
Private Vehicle

An English-speaking representative will greet you in your hotel lobby at a pre-determined time. You will be taken to your vehicle nearby and transferred overland to the Ha Long Bay Pier.

This slice of the South China Sea is speckled with more than 2,000 isolated limestone peaks (known as karsts) rising straight up out of the water. A group of 1,900 of these islets has been declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Tours from Hanoi include a leisurely boat trip through the craggy islands. MANY Boat operators will drop anchor so you can dive into the calm waters or kayak when the weather is cooler. Other tours lead you through grottoes and caves with bizarre rock sculptures. For those wishing to sleep overnight on the boat, accommodations are simple but adequate (private cabin, shared bathroom), and the views at sunset and sunrise are unforgettable. 75 mi/120 km southeast of Hanoi.

Discover the splendors of Halong Bay aboard the Halong Jasmine, a wooden junk that combines classic beauty with modern comfort.

While all those who visit Halong Bay are charmed by the archipelago's beauty, few visitors are aware that the three-thousand islands that dot this bay are home to many rare plants, including species found nowhere else in the world. We chose our boat's name - Halong Jasmine - because, like the plant it was named after, our junk is perfectly suited to this environment. With its golden sails, polished woodwork and refined, Asian décor, the Halong Jasmine offers an unforgettable ambiance of relaxed elegance. Join us, and see Halong Bay in style.

Fitted out in the 1930's Indochine style, the Halong Jasmine features 22 spacious cabins and two suites, a restaurant, lounge and two special Jasmine Suites with their own jacuzzi & balcony for uninterrupted views of the bay. The cruise will be welcoming the first visitors in early October, 2007. Deluxe cabins are located upper deck, have balconies and measure 18 sq. m. (193 sq. ft.), each outfitted with a Queen bed.

Just after noon, board the Halong Jasmine and set sail through bay while lunch is served. Passage into the magical bay, where thousands of sculpted limestone islands rise from the waves like dragons' teeth.

After lunch, take a short trek to a nearby summit for a panoramic view of the bay dotted with Halong Jasmine golden sails, go swimming on a quite beach or sunbathing on the sundeck. Later afternoon, visit an interesting fishing village with opportunity to interact with fishermen who have been living in the bay for almost three generations.

At sunset time, kayak or simply take a bamboo row boat to discover a water tunnel with many coral reefs in a scenic lagoon. Back on board Halong Jasmine, enjoy cocktails while watching sunset and later unwind at Jasmine restaurant.

Day 8 Halong Jasmine (Day 2)
Rising to the tranquil beauty of the bay we have time for a morning Tai Chi exercise with an opportunity to view the sunrise over the bay. After breakfast, a short trek to a nearby summit and a visit to Sung Sot Grotto and a fishing village nearby.  At 11:00 am arrives and disembark at the dock at Halong City.

Transfer Hal Long Pier to Hanoi Airport
Private Vehicle

An English-speaking representative will meet you at the Ha Long Bay Pier at a predetermined time and transfer you overland directly to Hanoi Airport.

Fly Hanoi to Danang

 The flight duration between Hanoi and Danang is approximately 1 hour 15 minutes and distance traveled is 377 miles.

Baggage Allowance: As per local Civil Aviation regulations, Economy Class passengers you are permitted one check-in item per person weighing no more than 44 lb. (20 kg.). One carry-on baggage item is allowed per person, not to exceed the dimensions 7.8 x 15.7 x 21.6 inches (20 x 40 x 55 cm.) and total weight not exceeding 11 lb. (5 kg.).

Transfer Danang Airport to Hoi An
Private Vehicle

An English-speaking representative will be holding a sign with your last name on it and greet you as you enter the public Airport Arrivals Hall. You will be taken to your vehicle nearby and transferred to your hotel.

Settled on the banks of the Thu Bon River, the charming and colorful market town of Hoi An was a major port in centuries past, with ships arriving from all over the world to obtain silk and other fabrics, sugar, tea and ceramics. ts traditional Vietnamese architecture has been preserved, and there are many historic temples and pagodas in the area.

Popular sights include the 18th-century Tan Ky House, an ornate merchant's house built in traditional Japanese-Vietnamese style; the Phuoc Kien (or Fujian) Assembly Hall, which once served Hoi An's Chinese community, lavishly decorated with murals and a replica of a Chinese ship; the Chaozhou Assembly Hall, noted for fine wood carvings; and the Japanese-style covered bridge, the town's most famous landmark.

Hundreds of shops in Hoi An sell handmade silk and cotton garments, and custom tailoring is fast, inexpensive and mostly of good quality. Hoi An is also known for its silk lanterns. (The flexible bamboo frames are designed to collapse, so they're easily transported home as a souvenir.) If you're in the old section of town after dusk, you'll see the streets beautifully lit with these lanterns. If you time your visit right, you may see the lantern festival-held in November on the eve of the full moon.

Day 9 Hoi An City Tour (Full Day)
Private Vehicle Tour

Hoi An is a picturesque riverside town south of Danang. Known as Faifo to early western traders, it was one of South East Asia's major international ports during the 17th, 18th and 19th centuries. This old town is best explored on foot or by cyclo. The walking tour of Hoi An will visit five following sites. Quan Cong Temple is a Chinese temple dedicated to Quan Cong, whose partially gilt statue is in the central altar at the back of the sanctuary. Phuoc Kien Pagoda is a Chinese pagoda built around 1690 and then restored and enlarged in 1900. It is typical of the Chinese 'clans' that were established in the Hoi An area.

Japanese Covered Bridge was built by the Japanese community of Hoi An to link them with the Chinese quarters across the stream. Tran Family Chapel is a house for worshipping ancestors was built about 200 years ago with donations from the family members. Sa Huynh Museum contains exhibitions from the earliest period of Hoi An's history. Phung Hung House is a combination of Vietnamese, Japanese and Chinese style. Quang Dong Pagoda is a small Chinese style temple dedicated to Thien Hau with a lintel gate, a rockery courtyard and lucky animals depicted in statuary.

Day 10 Hue City Tour (Full Day from Hoi An)
Private Vehicle Tour

Hue served as the capital of Vietnam for more than 140 years. It houses ancient temples, imperial buildings and French-style edifices. It was established in the 17th century.

Today transfer overland two hours to Hue by private vehicle.  Visit the Thien Mu Pagoda and Tomb of Emperor Minh Mang, which includes an excursion by boat. Just outside of Hue, on the bank of the Perfume River, the Thien Mu Pagoda was a hotbed of anti-government protest during the early 1960s. Behind the main sanctuary of the pagoda is an Austin motorcar which transported the monk Thich Quang Duc to the site of his 1963 self-immolation.

Visit the Tomb of Emperor Minh Mang you will see a complex built in 1840 by King Minh Mang, known for its magnificent architecture, military statuaries and elaborate decorations. It is perhaps the most beautiful of Hue's pagodas and tombs.

Then visit the Imperial Tombs of Tu Duc and Khai Dinh. Emperor Tu Duc ruled Hue more than 100 years ago, built his tomb when he was still alive and used it for meditation, reading and theater performances. There are pavilions in a tranquil setting of forested hills and lakes. The tomb was constructed between 1864 and 1867. Tu Duc, who was Vietnam's longest reigning Emperor, lived a luxurious life.

Khai Dinh was the last monument of the Nguyen dynasty and was constructed between 1920 and 1931. It sits magnificently on the slopes of Chau E Mountain in Chau Chau Village. It has a long staircase flanked by dragons. There are ceiling murals and ceramic frescoes.

Return to your Hoi An hotel.

Day 11 Fly Danang to Ho Chi Minh City
An English-speaking representative will meet you in your hotel lobby at a predetermined time and transfer you directly to Danang Airport.

The flight duration between Danang and Ho Chi Minh City is approximately 1 hour 10 minutes and distance traveled is 377 miles.

Transfer Ho Chi Minh City Airport to City
Private Vehicle

An English-speaking representative will be holding a sign with your last name on it and greet you as you enter the public Airport Arrivals Hall. You will be taken to your vehicle nearby and transferred to your hotel.

Vietnamese seem to use the names Saigon, Ho Chi Minh City or simply HCMC interchangeably. But by any name, it's the economic center of the country. With a rapidly growing population, new hotels, chic bars and trendy clubs, Ho Chi Minh City is enjoying its current climate of prosperity and growth. The old landmarks-the Notre Dame Cathedral, the Rex Hotel, the Hotel de Ville-are still there. But new office towers, built by multinational corporations now setting up shop in Vietnam, are radically changing the skyline. Ho Chi Minh City's millions of motorbikes emit a constant roar and palpable exhaust, and the city's two- and three-hour traffic jams are legendary.

Amid all this, there are nearly 200 temples and pagodas in the city. The Emperor of Jade Pagoda is filled with gilded figures and papier-mache statues of Buddhist and Taoist divinities. History buffs should stop by the Reunification Palace, where the South Vietnamese government officially turned over power to the North in 1975. It's a trip back in time, particularly the 'strategy rooms' in the basement and the upper floors filled with 1960s furnishings.

The most interesting markets are Cho Binh and Cho Ben Thanh.  Shop in Dong Khoi Street for the city's highest-quality wares (antiques and other souvenirs). Cholon is the city's Chinatown and is worth a visit for the bustle, the temples and assembly halls. Ho Chi Minh City is 700 mi/1,120 km south of Hanoi.

Day 12 Saigon City Tour (Full Day)
Private Vehicle Tour

Pick up from hotel. Saigon is the largest of Vietnamese cities, and one will see the hustle and bustle of Vietnamese life everywhere. There are street markets, pavement cafes and sleek new cafes and pubs. The city churns and bubbles. Yet within this teeming metropolis are 300 years of timeless traditions and the beauty of an ancient culture. The sightseeing starts with a visit to Notre Dame Cathedral. Then head to City Hall located at the northern end of Nguyen Hue Boulevard and continue the tour to Opera House.

Next stop is Jade Emperor Pagoda, a key meeting place for Chinese secret societies. Following Jade Emperor Pagoda is Reunification Palace and War Remnants Museum. Reunification Palace was the Independence Palace of the South Vietnamese president and was stormed by tanks on April 30, 1975 signifying the fall of South Vietnam. It has been preserved in its original state. War Remnants Museum houses collections of weapons and photographs from 2 Indochina wars are exhibited along with the original French 'Guillotine' brought here in the early 20th century. See the oldest and the most active pagodas at Giac Lam Pagoda and Thien Hau Pagoda on the way to Ben Thanh, the central market of Saigon. Drop off at hotel.

Day 13 Cai Be Princess Mekong Delta Cruise (Full Day)
Private Vehicle Tour

Your Mekong River cruise excursion aboard the Cai Be Princess, a deluxe sampan offering more comfort than a regular cruise of the Mekong, will begin with a hotel pickup before heading south towards the Mekong Delta. Upon embarkation of the Cai Be Princess you will be welcomed with fresh cotton towels.

The Mekong River tour will first visit the local colorful floating markets of Cai Be, where you will cruise among local barges full of fruits and vegetables. The Mekong cruise will then take you to some local home factories to discover traditional production of rice paste making, rice pop corn, coco candies, and the longans fruit drying process. Cruising on you will visit Dong Hoa Hiep island, a peaceful escape where you will be able to visit an ancient mandarin house dating from late 19 century and where some green tea will be served to you. It's then onto Phu An for lunch at a superb Indochine villa, Le Longanier, located in a luxuriant garden by the river.

After lunch, your Mekong river cruise will head towards Vinh Long, passing beautiful landscapes along the river such as Dong Phu canal, Binh Hoa Phuoc and An Binh. These evergreen islands on the Mekong River bring about large networks of meandering rivers, criss-crossed with countless arroyos, and are unknown to most travelers who cruise the river. Stops can be made at An Binh ancient Church or Tam Ho bonsais garden to stretch the legs of for photographs.

After crossing the Co Chien river, your tour of the Mekong river aboard the Cai Be Princess will end at the Vinh Long pier around 3.30pm, where your vehicle will await you for your transfer back to Ho Chi Minh City.

Day 14 Fly Ho Chi Minh City to USA
An English-speaking representative will greet you in the hotel lobby at a pre-determined time. Transfer to the airport for your departure flight.

Hotels

Bangkok

• Sofitel Silom
• Shangri-La Hotel
• The Peninsula

• Nikko Hotel Hanoi
• Sheraton Hanoi
• Sofitel Metropole

• Halong Jasmine (Premium)
• Halong Jasmine (Deluxe)
• Halong Jasmine (Suite)

• Victoria Resort Hoi An
• Furama Resort Danang
• The Nam Hai

• Renaissance Riverside
• Sheraton Saigon Hotel & Towers
• Park Hyatt Saigon

3/09