Ultimate Vietnam & Thailand

Depart for Vietnam

Your journey begins on your overnight flight to No Bai International Airport in Hanoi.

Hanoi

Welcome to Vietnam! If you purchased airline tickets from YMT Vacations, a friendly YMT representative will greet you at the airport and transport you to your hotel. After your long flight, this evening is yours to enjoy at your own pace.

Hanoi

After breakfast, enjoy a city tour by bicyle taxi of Vietnam’s capital city. See the Hanoi Hilton, the Hoa Lo Prison built by the French in the 1880’s and used to hold American POWs in the Vietnam War, the Huc Bridge, Ngoc Son Temple, Ho Chi Minh Memorial Complex and Mausoleum, the elegant One Pillar Pagoda, and the John McCain Monument. Your dinner this evening comes with a show courtesy of the Thang Long Water Puppet Theater. Learn about Vietnam’s legends and historical tales through a water puppet performance, a traditional art form dating back to the 11th century, where wooden puppets on a pool of water perform to live music. (B, D)

Halong Bay

A boat ride aboard the Emeraude through Halong Bay is a must-see while in Vietnam! This morning, embark on a stunning overnight cruise deep into the spectacular Halong Bay. Halong Bay is a UNESCO World Heritage Site known for its uniquely breathtaking limestone karsts and thousands of small islets. It has been inhabited by humans and early human ancestors for tens of thousands of years, and has some of the greatest sunsets and scenery in the world. (B, L, D)

Hanoi to Hoi An

Take the morning to relax and say goodbye to Vietnam’s scenic northeast, then board the short flight to Da Nang Airport in the country’s center. Enjoy dinner at your hotel in Hoi An, and rest up for tomorrow’s unforgettable walking tour! (B)

Hoi An

Enjoy a leisurely walk through Hoi An Ancient Town, a UNESCO World Heritage Site on the Thu Bon River. You’ll have the opportunity to wander through this well-preserved 15th-19th century trading port, which is an amazing showcase of Southeast Asian architecture, art, and culture. You’ll enjoy several uniquely beautiful stops, including the Japanese Covered Bridge and Tran Family Chapel. You’ll also get to try crafting a traditional Vietnamese lantern! (B)

Hoi An to Hue

Your day begins with a drive through the Marble Mountains, a cluster of five picturesque marble and limestone mountains renowned for their caves, tunnels, and Buddhist sanctuaries. From there, we’ll visit the Cham Museum, which houses a small but very lovely collection of traditional stone sculptures. After riding through the Hai Van Pass, a beautiful coastal mountain road, you’ll reach Hue, the stunning coastal town that was home to the Nguyen Dynasty, Vietnam’s last ruling family. (B)

Hue to Ho Chi Minh City

After a delicious breakfast, start another funpacked day with boat ride up the Perfume River. See the Thien Mu Pagoda, Royal Imperial City with Flag Tower, Meridian Gate, and Hue Royal Antiquities Museum, Imperial Tomb of Tu Duc, and Vinh Tu traditional garden house. Next, take a sightseeing trip to the Hue Imperial City, a walled palace within Hue’s citadel. This UNESCO World Heritage Site was built in 1804 by Gia Long, Emperor of the Nguyen Dynasty. Stop at the Tha Om Garden House, a traditional 19th century Hue residence, before taking a short flight to Ho Chi Minh City. (B)

Ho Chi Minh City

Wake up in Ho Chi Minh City, formerly Saigon, and spend the day learning about the Vietnam War right where it was waged. First, visit the Cu Chi tunnels, part of a widespread network of underground tunnels crisscrossing much of Vietnam that were used by Viet Cong soldiers. The Viet Cong used the tunnels as communication and spy routes, as well as to conceal men and supplies. The tunnels were their base of operations during 1968’s Tet Offensive. From there, visit the War Remnants Museum, which contains exhibits and artifacts related to the Vietnam War and other earlier wars fought on Vietnamese soil.

After a walk along Dong Khoi Street, right beside the Saigon River, you’ll reach the Saigon Opera House. A magnificent concert hall completed in 1901, it is one of the finest French-influenced buildings in all of Vietnam. (B)

Ho Chi Minh City

Your final full day in Vietnam will take you on a scenic Mekong Delta boat trip to Cai Be, a charming rural area with a floating market that sells a wide variety of fruit and other goods. Take a tour of the Tan Phong island village, and see local craftspeople hard at work— handcrafting products from water hyacinth, weaving coconut leaf, and making rice paper. Continue to Mekong garden to enjoy a cup of tea while listening to beautiful traditional music, then sit down for a delicious lunch. (B, L)

Depart for Bangkok

Enjoy one final sunrise in Ho Chi Minh City, then it’s time to go Bangkok! Meet your Tour Director and enjoy the evening at leisure. (B)

Bangkok

Spend the day exploring Bangkok, the colorful Thai capital known for its exceptional food, ornate temples, and boundless energy. See the city’s most iconic sites, starting with the Golden Buddha in the temple of Wat Traimit.

Continue to Wat Pho to see the 150-foot-long Reclining Buddha. The Grand Palace is the anchor of Bangkok’s historical center, adorned with spires, architecture, and gardens. The Temple of the Emerald Buddha, the most sacred Buddhist temple in Thailand, is at the heart of the Grand Palace.

Take a boat across Chao Phraya River and enjoy a Thai lunch. Then continue to the Museum Siam to discover the national identity and history of the people of Thailand. Travel through Bangkok’s Chinatown to Wat Arun, the Temple of Dawn. (B, L)

Bangkok to Kanchanaburi

Travel through stunning rice fields and rural scenery to the resort town of Kanchanaburi. Following a city tour, visit the floating market at Damnoen Saduak.

Spend the rest of the day uncovering Thailand’s WWII history, starting at the world-famous Bridge over the River Kwai. Continue to the ThailandBurma Railway Museum, which provides insights into the history of the railway line built by the Imperial Japanese army. Finally, visit the visit the Allied War Cemetery, where thousands of allied prisoners of war were laid to rest. (B, L, D)

Kanchanaburi to Ayutthaya

En route to Ayutthaya, stop at the massive Buddha carved into the limestone quarry cliffs of at Khao Tham Thiam. Visit the lavish 17th century Wat Chaiwatthanaram temple outside of Ayutthaya Historical Park, then enjoy a tour of this incredible UNESCO Site! (B)

Ayutthaya to Sukhothai

Stop at an amulet workshop to craft an authentic, handmade souvenir en route to Sukhothai. The ruins of Sukhothai are one of Thailand’s best kept secrets. (B)

Sukhothai to Lampang

Discover antique fabrics and garments at the Sathorn Gold Textile Museum. The see how Thai ceramics—including the utterly enchanting Lampang Chicken Bowl—are made at the Dhanabadee Ceramic Museum.

The highlight of your day will be the Wat Phra That Lampang Luang, an ancient compound including a stunning wooden Lanna temple. The open-sided Wihan Luang dates back to 1476 and features a triple-tiered wooden roof supported by immense teak pillars. (B)

Lampang to Chiang Rai

Explore the charming Phayao Lake on the way to Chiang Rai. The area has an alpine-like landscape and climate, and is known for its hill tribe villages, tea plantations, and cherry blossoms.

Visit the fascinating Hill Tribe Museum, dedicated to the history, culture, beliefs, and ways of life of several local hill tribes. Next, visit the serene Mae Fah Luang Art & Cultural Park, a hidden lakeside gem that houses folk art and teak artifacts from the Lanna Kingdom! (B, D)

Chiang Rai & Golden Triangle

Spend the day in the Golden Triangle, the hilly, forested area where Northern Thailand meets Laos and Myanmar. Visit the Blue Temple, whose signature sapphire hue is associated with purity and wisdom. From there, take a tour of the Black House. The Baan Dam Museum is set amongst sprawling gardens, its ebony structures filled with the surreal artwork of Thawan Duchanee.

Head high into the mountains to Doi Mae Salong. The de facto heart of “Little Switzerland” is known for its enchanting scenery and tranquil atmosphere. Visit a tea plantation, where you can enjoy fresh-picked oolong tea whose plump leaves blanket the lush hillsides.

Your final included stop of the day is the Hall of Opium, a museum that takes a deep look into the devastating narcotic that defined so much of Northern Thailand’s contemporary past. (B)

Chiang Rai to Chiang Mai

On your way to Chiang Mai, visit Wat Rong Khun, the White Temple. The ivory building is covered with glass and mirrors that make it shine and sparkle in the sun or moonlight.

Continue to the 600-year-old Wat Chedi Luang, the ruined temple famous for its chedi.

Tour Wat Phra Singh, a temple dominated by an enormous, mosaic-inlaid sanctuary. See the bronze Three Kings Monument, then continue to Wat Chiang Man, an Old City temple established in the 13th century. Your final stop is the Tha Pae Gate, part of the city wall that protected the Old City from the armies of the Mongol Empire. (B)

Chiang Mai

Your day begins at Wat Phra That Doi Suthep, a temple reached by a long staircase flanked by naga, Thailand’s scariest sea serpents. Then visit Bhubing Palace, the Thai Royal Family’s winter residence. There are a number of charmingly rustic buildings and an excellent garden, including hundreds of varieties of roses and rare orchids. Join your fellow travelers for a an included farewell dinner. (B, D)

Depart for Home (B)