Vietnam Thailand Tour 15 days: A Tapestry of Cultures and Landscapes

We welcome you at the airport and transfer to hotel for check in. Hanoi, Vietnam’s capital is a unique city with tree-lined boulevards, French colonial architecture, peaceful lakes and oriental temples. The rest of the day is at your leisure and yours to explore on your own.

Accommodation : At the hotel in Hanoi

Meals : Breakfast

We then enjoy a city tour starting with the Ho Chi Minh Complex. This famous site contains the mausoleum of the nation’s founder Ho Chi Minh.

The next destination is the Presidential Palace and the Ho Chi Minh’s house on stilts.  Close to this complex is the One Pillar Pagoda, whose origins date back to the foundation of city. 

We follow this with the Temple of Literature, which is well known as the first university of Vietnam.  In the afternoon, visit the impressive Ethnologic Museum, dedicated to Vietnam's 54 ethnic groups, several of which we will see on our forthcoming trekking

Lastly take you to watch the water puppet show - a form of entertainment originating in the rural communities and performed in the flooded rice paddies. Puppets depict scenes from rural life, such as planting, fishing, local festivities and parades accompanied by musicians playing traditional instruments. The performances are colorful, intricate and there is a lot of humor as well.

In the evening, we transfer to railway station to board a soft sleep & AC train to Lao Cai/Sapa (22:00). The duration of this journey is 8 hours and 5 minutes. You will reach Lao Cai at 06:05 in the next morning.

Note: There is no escorting guide from Hanoi to Sapa. We are committed to support the communities by using local guide in Sapa; some of them come from the surrounding ethnic villages. The best thing is their willingness to show you about their cultures, customs and especially they know the area as the back of their hand.

Accommodation : On the train (Sharing soft sleeper & AC, carriage cabin of 4 berths on train)

Meals : Breakfast

Bac Ha market (Sunday only)  

Can Cau Market (Saturdays only)

Cao Son Market (Wednesday only)

Coc Ly Market  (Tuesday only)

Lung Khau Nhin Market (Thursday only)

Arrive in Lao Cai station around 6 Am, pick up and breakfast and transfer to one of above ethnic local markets filled with many different hill-tribe peoples. At the market, you have chance to enjoy the simple life but unique kinds of food with special wines made from rice, cassavas, corn and different sorts of fruits such as plumps, apples, peaches... talking to the minorities through the guide's interpretation.

You get on the car for journey to Sa Pa.

Upon arrival in Sa Pa, we continue to Ham Rong. Located in the majestic Hoang Lien Son Range, at an altitude of nearly 1,800m, Ham Rong Mountain consists of undulating rocks with many interesting shapes. From far away, Ham Rong Mountain is like a huge dragon bending itself, lying toward the west of Hoang Lien Son Range. The top of the mountain was designed by Mother Nature to make random cliffs bring casual images. The people here call the mountain Mount Dragon Head because due to its appearance heading towards the sky. There are many variants of the legendary Ham Rong mountain but these legends refer to the love affection, graceful salinity, the common dragon.

Proceed to the hotel in Sa Pa for checking-in then you are free to relax.

Accommodation : At the hotel in Sapa

Meals : Breakfast, Lunch

Highlights:

Leave the busy life behind to enjoy a nice walk in an quiet area. Inhabited by the Red Dao and Hmong peoples. This valley is quiet and non-touristic which is quite different from Ta Phin or Muong Hoa valleys where the local peoples have changed much because of the strong influence of tourism.

Itinerary:

Met up at your hotel in Sapa by local guide and driver for a short road transfer heading northwards of Sapa along national road 4C to O Quy Ho with several stops for magnificent landscapes of Fansipan, Sin Chai valley and especially amazing flower and vegetable farms. Then turn right to follow a narrow road for half an hour getting through the wild region with thick rain forest covering walled-up mountains, passing several waterfalls before arriving to Ban Khoang, a village of the Red Zao ethnic peoples who live their unique way of life and well maintain their traditional values. The village looks prosperous thanks to the combination of wet rice cultivation on the terraced fields with

cardamom farming under the shade of trees in thick forest. Spend over an hour walking to explore this remote village for a brief understanding of local life. Leaving Ban Khoang and process along the road for about 10km to Ta Giang Phinh valley inhabited by the Black Hmong who live in some small villages scattering along a peaceful stream.

Enjoy an hour lunch break on the bank of a stream before walking along village path which connects village to village to witness daily activities of local life such as plough and harrow the fields, growing, harvesting or doing some house work. In leisure months men often gather to build new houses or repair parts of old ones while women stay home making their traditional costumes. The walk ends in midafternoon, picked up for the road ride back to Sapa.

Approx: 2-hour driving/ 4 hours walking/ 1-hour lunch

And then transfer you back to Lao Cai station to take your overnight train back to Hanoi. Train time is 21:30-05:25

Accommodation : On the train (Sharing soft sleeper & AC, carriage cabin of 4 berths on train)

Meals : Breakfast, Lunch

Upon arrival at the railway station, pick up and transfer you to a mini hotel for breakfast and fresh up and then transfer you to Ha Long Bay.

We then transfer you to a wooden sailing junk for a cruise through the limestone cliffs and emerald waters of Ha Long Bay, giving us the chance to take in the stunning scenery of this World Heritage Site. While on board we will be served a sumptuous fresh, local seafood lunch followed by a swim and exploring some of the limestone caves in this area. When the sun comes down we drop anchor for the night nearby a remote island.  Dinner on board. Overnight on Junk

Accommodation : On Ha Long Bay cruise

Meals : Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Rising to the tranquil beauty of the bay we have time for an early morning dip with joys and emotions for watching sunrise on sea followed by breakfast. This morning we continue to move around the bay to find more secluded areas. The junk will be near us at all times serving as a back-up vessel for those that require it. At around midday we will return to the main harbor before transferring to our awaiting vehicle for a 3-hour journey back to Hanoi.

Accommodation : At the hotel in Hanoi

Meals : Breakfast, Lunch

After breakfast, transfer to airport to take a flight to Bangkok. Upon arrival at Bangkok airport, you will be greeted and transferred to the hotel. Check in at the hotel and free time for your relaxation. Overnight in Bangkok.

Accommodation : At the hotel in Bangkok

Meals : Breakfast

After breakfast, we will 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 will visit the Wat Traimit which is well known as the Golden Buddha.

Afternoon we are 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. The rest of the day would be at your own pleasure and overnight in Bangkok.

Accommodation : At the hotel in Bangkok

Meals : Breakfast

Breakfast is served at the hotel. Transfer to Ayutthaya.

We will catch Kermit tuk tuk. These ‘cute’ tuk tuks are found in only two of Thailand’s provinces: Ayutthaya, and Trang. Along the ride, explore the temple highlights of the city from Wat Yai Chaimongkol, Wat Mahathat (with a Buddha face emerging from a tree), and strolling through a local market en route to Wat Phra Srisanphet. And after that 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 to Bangkok for your overnight.

Accommodation : At the hotel in Bangkok

Meals : Breakfast

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 Bangkok Airport to take a flight to Chiang Rai. Overnight in Chiang Rai.

Accommodation : At the hotel in Chiang Rai

Meals : Breakfast

After breakfast, you'll leave the hotel to head to Mae Chan. You'll make a stop along the way in the village of Patai to meet the Padong Karen ethnic group, famous for their 'giraffe' women who wear copper rings around their necks for elongation.

Next, you'll explore the surroundings, starting with the road to Doi Mae Salong. You'll ascend and descend lush green hills covered with tea plantations. You'll also taste the delicious tea produced by one of the many plantations in the region. From Doi Mae Salong, you'll visit an ethnic minority village: the Akha village of Loyo.

Lunch by your own and then visit the Golden Triangle area where once used to be the opium trade area. Here is a chance to go on Mae Kong River by the river boat ride to our neighbourhood, Laos and see the beautiful scenery along the gigantic Mae Khong River which divide the three countries from each other before transfer back to Chiang Rai for your overnight.

Accommodation : At the hotel in Chiang Rai

Meals : Breakfast

Morning we visit the White temple, Wat Rong Khun. Its very recent temple is the most visited monument in the region, the work of Thai artist Chalermchai Kositpipat, started in 1997. Its creator himself announces that he will only be completed 60 to 90 years after his death. Its uniqueness, its whiteness, makes it a unique temple of its kind. In vihaan a fresco mixing Buddhist codes with Matrix, Star Wars, the bombing of the Twin Towers in New York and even Kung Fu Panda stands out from the usual decorations such as monuments.

Move to Wat Rong Seur Ten (Blue Temple) The Blue Temple or Wat Rong Seua Ten literally translates to ‘temple of the dancing tiger.’ It was built on a site where tigers were said to have jumped over the river.

Then a short drive to Black House. Baan Dam (Black House) is the unique creation of national artist, Thawan Duchanee. Part art studio, part museum, part home, Baan Dam is an eclectic mix of traditional northern Thai buildings interspersed with some outlandish modern designs.

In the afternoon transfer to Chiang Mai for your overnight.

Accommodation : At the hotel in Chiang Mai

Meals : Breakfast

The morning will be mainly devoted to visiting the old city with a stop at the ancient wall, the moat and a door of the old city. You will see more   beautiful temples in Chiang Mai:   Wat Phra Singh Temple, Wat Phan Tao temple and the temple Wat Chedi Luang. Then you will stroll along streets lined with traditional houses, where you take a rickshaw ride. From there, you'll be at the large Central Market Warorot.

Lunch at local restaurant

Afternoon, visit Wat Phra That Doi Suthep, the most famous pagoda in Chiang Mai. It is reached after climbing a staircase of 290 steps with ramps representing two giant nagas. From the square, you can admire the panorama of the whole Chiang Mai Valley.

Then visit craft villages: lacquer factories, silk weaving, manufacture of umbrellas, wood carvings and goldsmith work.

Then transfer back to the hotel.

You are free to explore the night market in the evening.

Overnight in Chiang Mai.

Accommodation : At the hotel in Chiang Mai

Meals : Breakfast

Your guide will meet you at the hotel. It’s a beautiful drive to Mae Orn. We will stop at the San Kampaeng market to buy the ingredients for our lunch and fruit of the season. We will continue to Mae Kam Pong.

Upon arrival in Mae Kam Pong we will be met by some of the villagers and our local community guide. You will learn about the history of this remarkable village and make a beautiful trek around the village. Most villagers are engaged in growing bai miang, a kind of plant that can be processed into tea. Apart from bai miang, they also grow coffee and aromatic mushrooms. Other villagers are making handicrafts such as decorated pillows filled with tealeaves, rattan baskets and bamboo furniture.

Various walks are possible around Mae Kam Pong. Our program is flexible and will be adjusted according to your wishes. Lunch will be either in a homestay in the village or a picnick lunch along the way, depending on the program. A traditional massage is available.

Late in the afternoon we return to Chiang Mai.

Accommodation : At the hotel in Chiang Mai

Meals : Breakfast, Lunch

After breakfast, transfer to Chiang Mai airport for your departure flight. End of our service.

Accommodation : NA

Meals : Breakfast