Essential Vietnam Cambodia and Bangkok

TOUR ITINERARY:
*Depending upon the flight schedule, arrival and departure days of the itinerary are subject to change

DAY 01, TUE: CANADA DEPARTURE

Make your way to your gateway airport to board your flight to Vietnam. Enjoy in-flight meals and services.

Overnight onboard flight

DAY 02, WED: CANADA – HANOI

Enjoy in-flight meals and services on your overnight flight.

Overnight onboard flight

DAY 03, THU: HANOI ARRIVAL

While it may be the modern-day capital of Vietnam, Hanoi still retains the mystery and charm from past centuries. Narrow lanes and traditional shophouses invite travelers to explore the city, while its many beautiful public spaces including lakes, parks, tree-lined boulevards, and monuments, give the city an air of elegance and harmony with nature that is unique among Asian capitals. Upon arrival at the Hanoi International Airport, you will be met and transferred to your hotel for check-in.

Overnight in Hanoi

DAY 04, FRI: HANOI (B/-/-)

This morning after breakfast, visit the Ho Chi Minh Complex (closed on Mondays & Fridays and from October to November for maintenance), a lovely park setting home to Ho Chi Minh’s final resting place, as well as a museum and other memorials. Visit Ho Chi Minh’s Stilt House, the simple two-room dwelling where Ho Chi Minh lived from 1958 until his final days in 1969. Preserved in the same condition as it was throughout his life, it may be viewed through windows only. Visit the miniature One Pillar Pagoda dating to the 11th century which was rebuilt after it was destroyed by the French in 1954. Nearby, visit the Tran Quoc Pagoda, the oldest Buddhist temple in Hanoi, located on a small island near the southeastern shore of Hanoi’s West Lake. Spend the rest of the day at leisure or pre-book an afternoon tour.  

Overnight in Hanoi

*If taking the combo meal plan: Enjoy an authentic Vietnamese lunch post-tour

Optional: Explore the Best of Hanoi: CAD 52 per person based on Min. of 2 pax

Start your tour with a visit to the Temple of Literature with its walled courtyards and graceful gateways. Begin the walking tour to explore Hanoi’s Old Quarter, which is famous for its “36 guild streets” in the past time. Discover the charm of the French Quarter and learn more about the history of Vietnam. Visit St. Joseph’s Cathedral — a Roman Catholic cathedral designed in neo-gothic style, which was built about 120 years ago. See the exterior of the Sofitel Metropole Legend Hotel — one of three 5-star hotels in Asia with a rich history of more than 100 years, built-in 1901. Our next stop will be the Hanoi Opera House (a small version of the Garnier Opera House in Paris) and the August Revolution Square. Enjoy leisure time for shopping in the Old Quarter area.  

DAY 05, SAT: HANOI – HALONG BAY (4 hours’ drive) (B/L/D)

After breakfast, depart for Halong Bay, a Natural World Heritage designated by UNESCO in 1994. En route, you will pass by the Red River Delta with its magnificent rural villages, fascinating towns, and paddy fields. Upon arrival at the Halong Bay Tuan Chau International Marina, a boat will take you to your cruise boat. Enjoy a delicious seafood lunch after checking in. Cruise among the hundreds of islands, passing by several islands and islets in the bay. As the sun sets over the bay you may relax with a coffee, tea, and fruits on the sundeck or order your favorite drink while your cruise to the night’s anchorage area. Dinner will be served with local seafood. After dinner, you may choose to spend time on the top deck or try squid fishing before heading to your cabin.

*The above itinerary is subject to change without prior notice and depends on weather conditions. Your guide will not join you on the cruise; however, an English-speaking cruise manager and his staff will take care of you while cruising down Halong Bay.

Overnight onboard cruise

DAY 06, SUN: HALONG – HANOI – SIEM REAP (FLIGHT) (BR)

Enjoy the breathtaking morning view of the magnificent landscape with a cup of coffee or tea. Continue cruising along the bay as you discover some of the other highlights. Enjoy brunch on board the ship as you return to the harbor (this may be in a local restaurant depending on the cruise schedule). After disembarkation, you will then be transferred back to Hanoi to catch a flight to Siem Reap, Cambodia. Upon arrival at the Siem Reap International Airport, you will be met and transferred to your hotel for check-in.

Overnight in Siem Reap

DAY 07, MON: SIEM REAP (B/-/-)

In the early morning before breakfast, join our optional tour to see the breathtaking sunrise at Angor Wat. Today, you will head on a tour of the Angkor Wat. This extraordinary complex is the crowning jewel of Khmer architecture, the national symbol of Cambodia, and the highlight of any visit to this breathtaking country. As the largest, best-preserved, and most religiously significant of the Angkor temples, Angkor Wat wows visitors by its sheer scale and beautifully proportioned layout, as well as the delicate artistry of its carvings. To approach the temple, first, you will cross the vast moat, continuing along a broad causeway lined with naga balustrades. As you enter the main building, make your way through a series of galleries and through the courtyard before you reach the central sanctuary, which boasts breathtaking views over the causeway and across the surrounding countryside. On the way, stop to see the intricate stone carvings adorning nearly every surface, with some 1,700 Apsaras, or celestial dancers, sculpted into the walls. Along the outer gallery walls, runs the longest continuous bas-relief in the world, which narrates ancient stories from Hindu mythology, such as the famous Churning of the Ocean of Milk. Spend the afternoon at leisure or pre-book an optional tour to extend your visit to the Angkor Wat or see the White Gold Show.

Overnight in Siem Reap

If you book the combo meal plan: Enjoy lunch at a local restaurant. In the evening, dinner will include an Apsara/Khmer traditional dance performance at a local restaurant.

Optional: Magnificent Sunrise at Angkor Wat: CAD 26 per person based on Min. of 2 pax

In the early morning, you will be picked up from your hotel and head to Angkor Wat to see the sunrise. Our local guide will take you to the best photo-taking spots before retreating from the crowds once again to enjoy a peaceful moment of reflection at this World Heritage Site. Take a walk around the temple (we will not go inside) in the soft morning light and cool temperatures for a special Angkor Wat experience that is unlike any other!

 Optional: Explore Angkor Thom: CAD 46 per person based on Min. of 2 pax

Visit Angkor Thom — a fortified city that covers an area of 10 square kilometers! Enclosed by a magnificent wall and wide moats, this city boasts many of the most popular sights in Angkor. Enter by the monumental South Gate over a causeway lined by statues of demons and gods on either side, each carrying a giant naga. Continue to the Terrace of The Elephants and the Terrace of the Leper Kings, former spaces for public ceremonies, both adorned with dramatic bas reliefs. Visit the ruined Baphuon, the Royal Enclosure, and the Phimeanakas before continuing your tour to the mysterious Bayon Temple. In this temple, one of the most popular and compelling that Angkor has to offer, you explore the galleries of the wonderfully preserved bas reliefs and ascend narrow stairs to reach the central sanctuary, where you will see giant stone faces smiling enigmatically down at you from every angle. 

 OR

Optional: Enjoy White Gold Show: CAD 78 per person based on Min. of 2 pax

Transfer to the Phare Circus to see the cultural White Gold Show. The phrase ‘white gold’ refers to rice, since “nourishment” cannot be expressed without the word “rice” in the Khmer language. Cambodians are born, live, and work in the rice fields. The grain is eaten in the morning, at noon, and at night. While rice represents the richness of Cambodia, it also demonstrates how Cambodia is exploited by the outside world. “White Gold” tells a story about the value of rice to Cambodians and how a Cambodian maintains a balance between living a bustling life and maintaining inner peace, following the teachings of Buddha as Buddhism has become the official religion of Cambodia. After the show, you will be transferred to your hotel.

DAY 08, TUE: SIEM REAP – BANGKOK (FLIGHT) (B/-/-)

Spend your morning at leisure before you are transferred back to the Siem Reap International Airport for your flight to Bangkok, Thailand. Upon arrival at the Suvarnabhumi International Airport, you will be transferred to your hotel. 

Overnight in Bangkok

If taking the combo meal plan: Enjoy your last lunch in Siem Reap with an authentic Khmer lunch.

Optional: Midnight Food Tour by a Tuk Tuk: CAD 91 per person based on Min. of 2 pax

FREQUENCY: Daily 
TIMING: 1930-2330

NOTES: Pick-up service will not be included. The tour guide will be meeting travelers at the entrance of Exit 2, Samyan MRT station (in front of Chamchuri Square)  

Travel beyond the tourist zones for an incredible midnight food adventure. After the moon comes up, you will cruise along the streets of Bangkok via this city’s iconic 3-wheel TukTuk, to visit the locals’ favorite places to eat. Taste a variety of savory menus, including the locals’ favorite Northeastern Thai Food (Esan Food), the town’s Best Pad Thai, and the popular home-style Thai snack. Between bites, discover the old-town landmarks and temples to see a different perspective compared to the busy daytime scene. Explore the side of Bangkok that is entirely unknown to visitors. You will finish the tour by Cinderella’s time.

*** Please note that this tour is not suitable for vegetarians ***

DAY 09, WED:                           BANGKOK  (B/-/-)

After breakfast, you will head on our city and temples tour to discover three of the most unusual Buddhist temples in Bangkok; the Wat Traimit with its invaluable Golden Buddha (5 ½ tons of solid gold), Wat Po, the most extensive temple in Bangkok with its colossal Reclining Buddha and the Chedis of the Kings, and Wat Benjamaborpitr, the White Marble Temple, one of the finest examples of Thai architecture. Spend your afternoon at leisure or pre-book an optional afternoon excursion to the Grand Palace and/or a Bangkok by Night tour.

Overnight in Bangkok                 

Optional: Half Day Grand Palace Tour: CAD 72 per person based on a minimum of 2 guests

The Grand Palace was not only the seat of the king and his court but contained within its crenulated walls, the entire government administration. While architecture is vibrantly Thai, visitors may see some European designs as well. Brilliantly colored and gilded, and decorated with intricate detail, the overall effect this magnificent palace has is dazzling. The palace served as the official residence of the kings of Thailand from the 18th to the mid-20th century. The most famous building on the palace grounds is Wat Phra Kaew (the Temple of the Emerald Buddha), regarded as the most sacred Buddhist temple (wat) in Thailand. The construction of the temple began when King Rama I moved the capital from Thonburi to Bangkok in 1785. Unlike other Thai temples, it does not contain living quarters for monks; rather, it only features richly decorated holy buildings, statues, and pagodas. The main temple building is the central ubosoth, which houses the Emerald Buddha. Though green in color, the Buddha is carved from a single piece of jade, and while it is only 17 inches tall, it is the most revered object in Thailand. Also, within the grounds lie several palaces which are used for various occasions: The Funeral Palace, the Reception Palace, Throne Hall, Coronation Hall, and the Royal Guest House. While most halls and palaces may be seen from outside only, but the exteriors are breathtaking enough to please the eyes of travelers.

OR

Optional: Bangkok by Night:  CAD 136 per person based on Min. of 2 pax

FREQUENCY: Daily except for Saturday & Sunday

TIMING: 1700-2200

Explore the bustling Chinatown — a popular tourist attraction and food haven. This 1-km strip is packed with market stalls, streetside restaurants, and a dense concentration of gold shops. Continue your journey to Pak Klong Talad, the biggest wholesale and retail fresh flower market in Bangkok. Drive to Wat Suthat and see The Giant Swing. From there, you will pass by the Bangkok Metropolitan Office on foot to discover Bangkok’s historic road — Ratchadamnoen Avenue. Enjoy dinner at Hotel D’ Moc’s restaurant, then travel by tram around the Rattanakosin area with the magnificent views of “the must-see” attractions of Bangkok; the Ananta Samakhom Throne Hall, The Golden Mount, Wat Ratchanatdaram, The Democracy Monument, The City Pillar Shrine, The Grand Palace, Wat Pho, and the National Theatre. End your night by exploring the Khao San Road as it is famously described as “the center of the backpacking universe”.

Day 10, THU: Bangkok – ADA (B/-/-) 

Today you will be transferred back to the Bangkok International Airport for your return flight home.

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