Vietnam at a Glance & Bustling Bangkok

After breakfast, meet your driver in the hotel lobby. Depart by shuttle bus (without guide) to Ha Long Bay or nearby Lan Ha Bay, both part of the same UNESCO World Natural Heritage Site where spectacular limestone islets and grottoes rise from the emerald Gulf of Tonkin. Upon arrival, savor a welcome drink on board and check in to your cabin. Lunch will be served as you cruise by secluded beaches. Visit a floating fishing village and relax on the sundeck. Enjoy dinner as the boat docks in a quiet spot for the night. Overnight on board.

Important note: Each cruise has different itineraries to Ha Long Bay or Lan Ha Bay. Itinerary is subject to change without prior notice according to weather conditions or local administrative regulations.

Rise with the sun to participate in a Tai Chi demonstration on the upper bridge. Afterwards, enjoy a light breakfast will be served and later, a heartier brunch as the boat cruises through the bay's stunning scenery, stopping to admire the most beautiful views. Around 10:30-11AM, we will disembark and head back to Hanoi by shuttle bus. Transfer to the airport for a domestic flight to Hue.

Arrive in Hue, the former imperial capital with its magnificent citadel, palaces, royal tombs, pagodas and temple. Built under the Nguyen dynasty on the banks of the Perfume River, today Hue welcomes over 4 million visitors per year. Overnight stay in Hue.

Breakfast at the hotel. Begin your day with a tour of the Imperial Citadel, found at the center of the Hue Monuments Complex (itself a UNESCO World Heritage site). Enter through the towering main gate to see the magnificent architecture and gardens, while your guide explains the events and the intrigue surrounding the former royal court. Some sections suffered extensive damage during the Vietnam War, but most of them are incredibly well-preserved to this day.

Wind your way to the Royal Tu Duc Tomb, a peaceful enclosed resting place featuring pine trees and a lakeside pavilion with lotus blossoms. The emperor used this space as a second residence for fishing, listening to music, writing poetry, and indulging in extravagant 50-course meals. After exploring the tomb, drive back to downtown Hue with a stop at a family-run workshop to learn how incense is made.

Next, make the drive from Hue to Hoi An along one of the most famous coastal roads in Vietnam. The journey is 3.5 hours, including plenty of time for sightseeing. Stop at Lang Co Lagoon to see traditional Vietnamese fishing methods being carried out. Expect amazing views as you travel through the Hai Van Pass. In the evening, arrive in Hoi An and check-in your hotel. Overnight stay in Hoi An.

Breakfast at the hotel. Today, enjoy the morning on your own and be ready to set off on a guided walking tour around Hoi An during the afternoon. You have the option of adding a Fish and Chips Tour* to the morning, where you will have lunch at the local villages and then, after lunch, you will be transferred to the ancient town to join the rest of the group in the walking tour. For those who don’t take the Fish & Chips tour, the tour guide will pick you up at the hotel’s lobby at 14:00.

In the afternoon, set off on a guided walking tour around Hoi An's Ancient Town, which is recognized for its well-preserved architecture, pedestrian-only streets, and delicious cuisine. During your leisurely exploration on foot, observe some of the historic merchant and community houses, ancient pagodas, and traditional places of worship with influences from Chinese and Japanese architecture. Make a stop at the iconic Japanese Covered Bridge, first built by the Japanese community in 1590s as a way to reach the Chinese quarter just across the water. Next, visit the Assembly Hall of the Chaozhou Chinese Congregation. Note the gorgeous carvings on the beams, walls, and altar while hearing stories about the Chinese community in Hoi An.

Continue strolling around Hoi An’s narrow streets and hear the soft, clattering hum of sewing machines. This charming town is home to hundreds of tailor shops and nobody can explain exactly when, how, or why it became so common. Visit a tailor, where you can get made-to-order clothes extremely fast.

Known as a key part of Hoi An culture, the silk lantern is a simple yet practical handicraft. Follow the narrow street to reach a local craftsman, nestled away in a small corner of the quarter. After a brief introduction to the history of the lanterns as well as the stages of production, decorate your own lantern and bring it home as a souvenir.

Important note: The Hoi An entrance ticket is valid for entry to 5 sightseeing spots, including the merchant houses, the Japanese Covered Bridge, museums, pagodas and assembly halls for 24 hours. It also provides entry into Hoi An Ancient Town for as long as you are in Hoi An. Please keep the entrance ticket with you at all times in case you independently visit Hoi An later in the evening or on another day.

*Optional Half-Day Fish & Chips Tour: Get a closer look at the ancient way of life that pervades the rural outskirts of Hoi An. Hop on your bicycle and set off for an easy bike ride through picturesque villages, passing by rice paddies and vegetable farms on your ride. Then, learn how to paddle unique Vietnamese round basket-boats while hearing about how the area was crucial during wartime. Board a local riverboat for a leisurely cruise. Meet a local fisherman and learn about his simple way of life. Arrive in the Tra Que village, where the local farmers use traditional methods that date back hundreds of years. Join your local host to prepare a tasty Vietnamese lunch before cycling back to downtown Hoi An.

Breakfast at the hotel. Depart the hotel this morning ready to take a flight to Bangkok. Touch down in the buzzing capital of Thailand and transfer to the hotel. Bangkok is a vibrant and cosmopolitan city, located in the heart of the country. It offers a variety of unique experiences, from its impressive temples and lively culture, to its exciting night markets and world-renowned cuisine. Enjoy the rest of the day at your leisure and discover this fascinating city. Overnight stay in Bangkok.

Breakfast at the hotel. Today, get ready to discover the city and its temples on an exciting guided tour! Begin along the main avenues of Bangkok to reach the vibrant Chinatown neighborhood. Our first stop will be at Wat Traimit Temple, better known as the Temple of the Golden Buddha. It houses a 5-ton solid gold Buddha loaded with history as it remained hidden for centuries after being covered in plaster to prevent its destruction during war. Our next stop will be the Wat Pho Temple or Temple of the Reclining Buddha, one of the largest reclining Buddhas in the world at over 150 feet-long, where you’ll find a spectacular engraving of 108 images representing positive actions of Buddhism. To finish the tour, head to a local precious stone factory where you will see a demonstration of how local craftspeople make their products. We recommend an optional excursion to the Grand Palace* to learn more about the culture of this country. Return to the hotel and overnight stay in Bangkok.

*Optional excursion to the Grand Palace: Discover the impressive Grand Palace complex, symbol of the city and former official residence of the King of Thailand between the 18th and mid-20th centuries. Considered one of the most beautiful in the world for its exquisite decoration, it mixes traditional Thai style with Renaissance influences. During the visit to the Grand Palace we will also visit Wat Phra Kaew or Temple of the Emerald Buddha, the most important in Thailand.

Important note: For the Grand Palace visit, you should wear long pants that cover the ankles and a long-sleeved shirt.

Included and optional tours will be operated on the days mentioned in the itinerary. However, unforeseen events such as issues related to group size, weather conditions, or holidays, could cause changes that will be confirmed on arrival.

Breakfast at the hotel. Today, enjoy the day at leisure to continue exploring the capital. Why not discover some of its many markets, where you can sample some of the famous street food dishes. We recommend an exciting and entertaining optional excursion to visit the train market and floating market* or an optional trip to Ayutthaya.** Overnight stay in Bangkok.

*Optional Excursion to the Train Market and Floating Market: Travel by road to the town of Mae Klong where you’ll see a curious market installed on the train tracks. If time and luck permits, we will be able to see how the train crosses through the market and, in record time, the merchants collect all the products they have on display on the train tracks. From there, head to the Klong Damnersaduak floating market in Ratchaburi province, considered the most important in the country. Arrive at a pier in the vicinity of the floating market. Take a motor boat ride through the canal area to reach the market itself, disembark, and enjoy free time to walk around, explore their products and enjoy the lively atmosphere. After the market visit, return to Bangkok and transfer to the hotel. Overnight stay in Bangkok.

**Optional Ayutthaya excursion (outward journey by bus and return by boat): Departure by bus to Ayutthaya, the ancient capital of the kingdom of Siam, the name given for over 400 years to the lands that now form Thailand, Laos, Cambodia and part of Myanmar. Discover Ayutthaya and its archaeological site, which is of great historical interest and declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO. At the end of the visit,  continue to Bang Pa-In, where the official summer residence of Thai royalty is located. Visit the complex and then embark on a river cruise along the Chao Phraya River to the city of Bangkok. During the trip, a buffet lunch will be served on board (drinks not included), arriving in Bangkok in the afternoon.

Important note: The optional excursions on this day happen simultaneously, you will only be able to choose one of them.

Included and optional tours will be operated on the days mentioned in the itinerary. However, unforeseen events such as issues related to group size, weather conditions, or holidays, could cause changes that will be confirmed on arrival.