VIETNAM CAMBODIA THAILAND ITINERARY 21 DAYS TO EXPLORE A PARADISE ON EARTH

After arriving at Noi Bai Airport, you will be picked up and transferred to the hotel in the city center. Hotel check-in is available from 2 pm. You can enjoy free time to discover Hanoi by yourself.

Overnight at a hotel.

We will start the day with a trip to the Tran Quoc Pagoda. You will then visit the Temple of Literature, constructed in 1070 to worship Confucius, which was also used as the first Royal National University of Vietnam. There are 82 stone steles, carried by tortoises, engraved with names, birthdates, and birthplaces of honored doctorates from 1442 to 1779.

In the afternoon, you visit the Museum of Ethnology (closed on Mondays, the alternative on this day is the History Museum). The museum offers a wide range of informative and well-documented displays of the 54 ethnic groups in Vietnam. The outdoor display is an impressive collection of traditional houses of various minorities from the north to the central Highlands.

We will drive back to the Old Quarter for a 1.5-hour walking tour, specially designed for a deeper insight into Hanoian daily life. You will also visit the Ngoc Son temple which sits on a green islet in the middle of Hoan Kiem Lake, connected to the lakeside by a graceful scarlet bridge named The Huc (meaning the early sunlight welcoming place).

You will be transferred to train station to go to Lao Cai province.

Overnight on the train.

The train arrives in Lao Cai early at 6.00 am. We will have breakfast in a local restaurant before heading to Bac Ha to visit the biggest local ethnic market of the region. Bac Ha Market takes place every Sunday; the tribal people from surrounding villages come to exchange their products. A lot of people still use horses to carry their loads; they must depart early to get to the market in time. If you come to visit Bac Ha during a spring weekend, it’s easy to meet the locals in their most beautiful and colorful costumes in the market. Nature also contributes to the atmosphere with vibrant red and white flowers blooming everywhere. After a tasty lunch, we will leave the colorful market behind, and follow a zigzag road to visit Ban Pho 1 and Ban Pho 2 villages, inhabited by Flower Hmong people. The car takes us to a homestay in the late afternoon.

Overnight at a hotel in Bac Ha town.

In the morning, after breakfast, the car takes us to Sapa. we will have a beautiful hike through the amazing scenery of Sa Pa valley. On the way up, we have a panorama view on rice terraces hidden behind morning fog. Following a small track and crossing the Muong Hoa River to Lao Chai Village of Black Hmong people, we will pass by well-tended paddy fields. We continue walking through the beautiful terraces to reach Ta Van Giay village. We will have lunch with a family in the village. In the afternoon, we will continue hiking through a bamboo forest to Giang Ta Chai – the village of Red Dao ethnic. After taking a rest next to a waterfall, we will start climbing uphill to the main road where the car is waiting to take us back to Sapa.

Overnight at a hotel.

After having a tasty breakfast, you will be transferred to the Silver Waterfall, the highest fall in Vietnam dropping from a 300-meter vertical cliff. You can follow the steps ascending to the base of the waterfall to explore the surrounding landscape. We will then continue driving to Tram Ton Pass, where we will have a 30-minute walk through the forest to reach Love Waterfall. You will travel on a soil road with wildflowers on the two sides. The water starts from the peak of Fansipan Mountain and rushes noisily into the Golden Stream, which runs along with green grass plots and bamboo clusters. We will return to Tram Ton Pass and then continue to drive uphill to the Heavens Gates situated between Lai Chau and Lao Cai province. From the highest stretch of road in Vietnam, you can have a fantastic panoramic view over the valley. Afterwards, we will go to the cable car station where you will make a trip amidst the clouds to reach Fansipan Mountain. Reaching the altitude of 2800 meters, you will have time to admire grandiose mountains, the splendid view of the thick forest and breath cool fresh air. Trek up to approx. 600 steps and you will reach the peak of Fansipan – the Roof of Indochina.

The car takes us to Lao Cai train station in the late afternoon.

Overnight on the train back to Hanoi.

In the morning, pick-up at train station and transfer to Ninh Binh.

On arrival, we will take a bicycle ride and get lost on winding roads passing lotus ponds, temples, and cottages. We will stop to visit Bich Dong pagoda, which is hidden among the trees on a lush hillside. After that, we will go to Hang Mua, which literally means Dancing Cave because King Tran used to come here to enjoy dancing and singing shows performed in this cave. We will arrive at Hang Mua, where we will challenge ourselves to conquer the 500 stone steps to get to the top of Mua Mount. You can enjoy a stunning panoramic view of the Tam Coc countryside and the Ngo Dong River.

In the afternoon, you will take a rowing boat in Tam Coc (three grottoes) for a peaceful navigation along Ngo Dong River, cruising among limestone mountains, between rice fields and through three beautiful limestone caves. We wil then transfer to Hoa Lu, the former feudal capital of Vietnam at the end of the 10th century. You will visit two ancient temples dedicated to Dinh Tien Hoang and Le Dai Hanh and admire the unique architecture from ancient times. You will stay overnight in Ninh Binh.

After a refreshing breakfast, we will depart for Lan Ha Bay – Ha Long Bay’s lesser-known little cousin. After a three-hour drive, you will arrive at Cat Ba, the largest island in the Gulf of Tonkin, and head to Ben Beo pier. We will board a traditional boat for a cruise on the magical Lan Ha Bay. You will observe floating villages and marine farming while being served a delicious lunch on board. Around 1:30 p.m, the boat will anchor in front of the pristine beach of Van Boi where you will have free time to swim in the water or sunbathe on the ship’s deck. Later in the afternoon, we will head to Hang Ca or Dau Be cave for a kayaking excursion, another great way to experience the bay. At the end of the day the boat will drop anchor for the night in the middle of the bay. Dinner will be served and you will stay overnight on board.

Today, we will wake up early to be rewarded with an exquisite view of the bay during sunrise. A fresh breakfast will be served on board at around 7:30 am. The boat will continue to sail in Lan Ha Bay, cruising through the most beautiful peaks and rocks. At around 8:45 am, we will arrive at Viet Hai village, a small rural fishing village. We will cycle through the village and explore its gorgeous landscapes. We will then get back to the boat to freshen up and spend free time in your cabins, while the boat cruises back to Ben Got. A delicious lunch/brunch will be served around 11 am. Then, we disembark and drive back to Noi Bai airport. You will fly to Saigon, also known as Ho Chi Minh City, the largest city of Vietnam.

After transferring to your hotel at the city centre, there will be time for your free exploration of the largest city in Vietnam.

Overnight at a hotel in Saigon.

After a delicious breakfast, we will visit Notre Dame Cathedral, constructed between 1877 and 1880 by the French. We will take a few steps from the Cathedral to the General Post Office to admire its interior with the arched roof and curved windows, reminiscent of early European railway stations.

The city tour will then continue along Dong Khoi Street heading to see the Opera House and the Provincial People Committee building, built in 1897 by French architect Ferret Eugene. We will visit the Reunification Palace, formerly known as the Presidential Palace.

After a prepared lunch, you will take a guided cycle tour for 2-3 hours to learn a deeper understanding of Saigon daily life. We will visit some local markets with several stops arranged at Ho Thi Ky flower market; The medicinal plant store; the Thien Hau Temple in the Cho Lon town, 5^th district.

Overnight at the hotel in Saigon

After a yummy breakfast, we will leave the hotel at 8am and make our way to Ben Tre Province in the Mekong delta. Upon arrival at Hung Vuong Pier (90km from Saigon), we get on a boat and cruise along the Ben Tre River. The boat will stop at a traditional brick factory for you to explore its imposing ovens.

We will have a short break at a coconut candies workshop, where you will observe how coconut flesh is used and processed. A short tuk-tuk ride on the winding small road of the countryside will take you into the green villages and we will stop at a family braiding mats. The local restaurant will prepare typical dishes of the Mekong delta for your lunch. Following this, we will board on a rowing boat to join the maze of canals and return to the landing stage. We will then transfer to Can Tho province.

Overnight at a hotel or homestay in Can Thơ.

We will be early birds and take a morning boat trip to Cai Rang floating market. The largest in the region, Cai Rang floating market offers boats bursting with fruit and vegetables freshly gathered every day. After exploring the busy market, you will take a walk in Mr. Tu Dung’s orchard to taste fresh local tropical fruits. The following visit is to a workshop where you will see how the local (canna indica) vermicelli is made. Then, we will travel back to the mainland by boat, then we will drive to Chau Doc.

On the way, you will stop at the Bang Lang Stork Garden (the largest bird sanctuary in the Mekong delta). The breathtaking view from the platform overlooks the whole forest, with hundreds of beautiful storks and herons nesting.

We will arrive in Chau Doc late afternoon, where you will visit Chua Hang on Mount Sam – an exceptional pagoda combining the dissimilar cultural and religious influences of the region. Its exquisite architecture and panoramic view are worthy of a cinematic setting.

Overnight at a hotel in Chau Doc

In the afternoon, we will visit the spectacular Tra Su forest. This mangrove is composed of cajuput trees and home to over 70 species of birds, 140 plant species, 20 species of reptiles, and many other animals. We will hop onto a small boat before sailing on a river covered by lenses of freshwater (floating on the denser saltwater below), lotus hearts and water lilies. In order to get a breathtaking view of the forest and our neighboring country, Cambodia, we will climb six floors of the observation tower.

Transfer to the port to take a speed boat to Phnom Penh.

On arrival, pick-up by our guide and driver and they take you to the hotel.

Overnight at a hotel in Phnom Penh

After breakfast, we meet our guide and hop on Cyclo, an original means of transport from Phnom Penh and a fun way to explore this vibrant city. First visit Wat Phnom is a Buddhist temple located in center of Phnom Penh City. It was built in 1373 and stands 27 meters above the ground. Next, we visit to the Royal Palace compound build in 1866 by the Predecessors of King Norodom, is the most conspicuous feature and one of impressive colorful Khmer-style Palaces. Nearside the Royal Palace is Silver Pagoda (The Emerald Buddha temple), display plenty of Buddha Statues that were decorated and made by diamond, emerald, gold and silver, continuing visit to National Museum, the distinctive red building with a beautiful Khmer architecture was built since 1917 and contains more than 5000 art objects made of sandstone, bronze, silver, copper, wood and others. Travelers will proceed to visit Independence Monument, which was constructed in 1954 after Cambodian took their country back from French colony.

We will stop at Central Market in the heart of the Phnom Penh. The Khmer name of the market is Phsar Thmei, which translates to “new market”. The Central Market was built in 1937 during the French colonial period, in Art Deco style, and is painted bright ochre.

Overnight in Phnom Penh.

After breakfast, travel by road from Phnom Penh to Siem Reap by private vehicle and English guide. On route you will witness the daily lives of Cambodians as you pass through interesting provincial towns, bucolic villages, and delightful scenery. This is no ‘freeway dash’ as you will often slow down to let cows and water buffalo wander across the road, pass horse drawn carriages, and school kids walking and cycling to/from school.

Not far from Phnom Penh you may choose to stop at Skoun, also known as ‘Spiderville’ due to the deep-fried tarantula that is the local delicacy, are you adventurous enough to try one?

You may wish to stop off in Kompong Kdei, to look at Spean Pratos – an ancient Angkorian bridge.

Depart for Tonlé Sap. You will enjoy a boat ride on the Tonle Sap Lake. This is the largest permanent fresh-water lake in Southeast Asia and flows into Tonle Sap River, joining the Mekong in Phnom Penh. You will see a fishermen’s “floating village” with floating schools, floating police station, etc. It is same as a big village floating on the lake, and the “village” moves from place-to-place following water levels and current.

Overnight in Siem Reap.

After breakfast, we depart to Preah Khan Temple. It is located northeast of Angkor Thom and just west of the Jayatataka baray, with which it was associated. It was the center of a substantial organization, with almost 100,000 officials and servants. Next is Neak Poan, “the entwined snakes” is a small temple located on an island in the center of the now dry Jayatataka baray, a water reservoir 3,500-meter-long and 900 meter wide. Continue to Tasom offers some beautiful photo spots, especially the rear entrance where tree roots adorn the gateway.

Drive to the rural outskirt 35km from Angkor area to visit the smallest, but magnificent, Banteay Srei built in the 10th Century and dedicated to Shiva. The temple was the birthplace of Khmer classical style architecture and the bas-relief work is the best example of Khmer classical art remaining. The pink sandstone structure bears a series of striking and beautiful sculptures, lintels, pediments and friezes. Khmers say the temple must have been carved by women for the details are too fine for the hands of a man. On the way back stop at Pradark Village, where you will see the villagers making palm sugar, handicraft for selling to tourist. It’s a nice chance for you to see the local people living at the countryside with their struggling for daily life.

Not to be missed is Banteay Samre: Its rose-colored sandstone walls are decorated with carvings and bas-reliefs, which are among the most accomplished Angkor has to offer.

For the late afternoon we head back into main Angkor Park and journey to Pre Rup. We finish by experiencing sunset over the rice fields from the royal crematorium of Pre Rup, a classic view of the Cambodian countryside.

We start very early in the morning so we can capture the iconic picture of the pre-dawn facing Angkor Wat temple. Sunrise at Angkor Wat can be a busy venue especially during the months of December, January, February and March.

After sunrise, we will explore the vast and rich of Angkor Wat temple, taking pictures at different angles, playing with light and shadows and capturing the most beautiful devatas carved in sandstone.

Next destination will be the Ta Prohm Temple, famous for its giant trees where the most impressive scenes of the Tomb Raider movie were filmed. We will continue by veering you away from the crowd to a remote temple in the jungle. We will also visit places out of the beaten path where you will capture unique pictures.

Next, at the Golden Hour, will be the impressive Bayon temple with its 54 towers and 216 faces overlooking the defunct city of Angkor Thom. The final stop will be at one of gate of Angkor Thom to capture sunset over the moat.

Overnight in Siem Reap.

Enjoy your free time until the car takes you to the airport to take a flight to Bangkok.

Upon arrival at Bangkok airport, our tour guide will welcome and transfer you to your hotel in Bangkok. The glorious history of the capital of Thailand, Bangkok is closely linked to the Chakri dynasty that still reigns but does rule in Thailand. Check in and enjoy your free time at the hotel or wander to explore the city.

Overnight in Bangkok.

After breakfast, we visit the Grand Royal Palace dedicated to the ceremony of the royal family of Thailand. In the same compound is the magnificent Wat Phra Kaew which is known for the Statue of the Emerald Buddha. After visiting this complex, we continue to visit Wat Pho, a giant house of the lying Buddha. Then, we visit the Wat Traimit which is well known as the Golden Buddha.

Afternoon, boarding on a long tail boat for an excursion along the Chao Phraya River and many bustling interior canals that offer fantastic views of local life close by. Along the way, we stop at Wat Arun, the temple of the Aube.

Return to the hotel and free time for relaxation.

Overnight in Bangkok.

Early in the morning, we drive to the southwest of Bangkok, visitting the Maeklong railway market, taking photo, and enjoying the local snack in the market before driving to Damnoen Saduak – a rural floating market. Stop for a motor boat trip along the waterway to the picturesque floating market of Damnoen Saduak.

Afterwards we continue the road to the city of Kanchanaburi.

Upon arrival, visit the World War II memorial including the Jeath War Museum, Cemetery.  We will take 30 minutes train to experience and enjoy the beautiful view from train along the river. This is one of Southeast Asia’s historic railways, the remaining part of the “Death Railway“, departing from the provincial capital to the Railway Station from Tonburi (or Namtok).  and transfer then city to visit Kwai bridge.

Overnight in Kanchanaburi

In the morning, we will depart to Ayutthaya, it takes about more than hour to reach the former Thai capital. Witness the glory of the ancient capital through its temple and palace ruins. First you will visit Wat Phu Khao Thong, or the “Monastery of the Golden Mount”, which is located just outside Ayutthaya. Then you will proceed to the ancient palace and Wat Phra Si Sanphet. You will also visit Viharn Phra Mongkol Bopit, one of the largest bronze Buddha’s in Thailand.

You have lunch by your own.

To round off the day, you will have chance to visit Wat Lokaya Sutha, this temple enshrines a large reclining Buddha image.

Overnight in Ayutthaya.

Morning we visit will be the Bang Pa-In Summer Palace, built during the Ayutthaya era. The palace showcases an eclectic collection of buildings that blend European, Khmer, Thai and Chinese architectural styles. It’s the favorite summer palace of the King.

And transfer back to Bangkok around noon time. The remaining day would be spent at your free time until we transfer you to Bangkok airport for your international flight.