Itinerary
- Day 1
Ho Chi Minh City
You'll land at Ho Chi Minh City airport and a driver from Legend Travel Group will meet you there to take you to your hotel. After checking in, the rest of the day is yours to explore at your own pace and soak in the local atmosphere.
Optional Activities
- Explore Ho Chi Minh City on your own
- Day 2
Ho Chi Minh City
After breakfast at your hotel, you'll head to Notre Dame Cathedral and the historic Central Post Office, which Gustave Eiffel designed. From there, check out the Reunification Palace before moving on to the Cu Chi Tunnels for an underground tour of this vast network from the Vietnam War. You'll get to see how the tunnels were built, walk through the complex, and try some local food before heading back to your hotel.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Visit Notre Dame Cathedral
- Visit Central Post Office
- Visit Reunification Palace
- Explore Cu Chi Tunnels
- Sample local cuisine at Cu Chi Tunnels
Landmarks/POIs Notre Dame Cathedral Central Post Office Reunification Palace Cu Chi Tunnels - Day 3
Ho Chi Minh City to Hoi An
Your guide picks you up at 8:00 am and you'll drive to My Tho in the Mekong Delta. There you'll see islands where they make traditional handicrafts like coconut candy and visit bee farms. A boat trip takes you along the Mekong River to Vinh Trang Pagoda, the oldest one in the region. Later you'll head back to Ho Chi Minh City, then transfer to the airport for your flight to Hoi An by way of Da Nang, where someone will pick you up and bring you to your hotel.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Explore islands producing traditional handicrafts
- Visit bee farms
- Boat trip along Mekong River
- Visit Vinh Trang Pagoda
Landmarks/POIs Vinh Trang Pagoda - Day 4
Hoi An
You'll spend the full day exploring Hoi An, which was once called 'Faifo' and served as a historic trading center. Visit a temple with gilded statues showing Chinese and Japanese influences, a pagoda built for sailors and fishermen, and the Sa Huynh Museum near the Japanese Covered Bridge. Take a boat down the Thu Bon River to Kim Bong Village to watch woodworkers and shipbuilders do their craft. By evening, wander around Hoi An Ancient Town on your own.
Included Activities
- Visit temple with gilded statues in Hoi An
- Visit pagoda dedicated to sailors and fishermen
- Visit Sa Huynh Museum
- Boat trip on Thu Bon River to Kim Bong Village
- Explore skilled woodworkers and shipbuilders
Optional Activities
- Leisurely explore Hoi An Ancient Town on your own
Landmarks/POIs Japanese Covered Bridge Sa Huynh Museum Kim Bong Village - Day 5
Hoi An to Hanoi
After breakfast at your hotel, you'll have time to relax or shop in Hoi An before heading to the airport for your flight to Hanoi. Once you land, your representative will pick you up and take you to your hotel. Spend the rest of the day checking out the Old Quarter, visiting museums and galleries, or trying street food at local markets.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Optional Activities
- Explore Old Quarter of Hanoi
- Visit museums and galleries
- Sample local street food
- Browse local markets and boutiques
- Day 6
Hanoi
Your guide takes you through Hanoi's main sights after breakfast. You'll see Tran Quoc Pagoda on Golden Fish Island in West Lake, built in the 6th century and the oldest in the city. Stop at the Ho Chi Minh complex to see his embalmed body and the houses where he lived from 1954 to 1969. Next comes the One Pillar Pagoda, then the Vietnam Ethnology Museum to learn about the country's 54 ethnic groups. After lunch, visit the Temple of Literature, Vietnam's first university from the 11th century, and finish at Hoa Lo Prison, called 'Hanoi Hilton' by American POWs.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch (Vietnamese cuisine)
Included Activities
- Visit Tran Quoc Pagoda
- Visit Ho Chi Minh complex
- Visit One Pillar Pagoda
- Visit Vietnam Ethnology Museum
- Lunch at restaurant
- Visit Temple of Literature
- Visit Hoa Lo Prison
Landmarks/POIs Tran Quoc Pagoda Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum Complex One Pillar Pagoda Vietnam Ethnology Museum Temple of Literature Hoa Lo Prison - Day 7
Hanoi to Halong Bay
Your minivan or bus picks you up between 8:30 and 9:00 am for the 3.5-hour drive to Halong City. Along the way, you'll see countryside and rice paddy life. Board an authentic Chinese Junk boat and cruise through Halong Bay. You'll visit a famous cave, swim in the emerald waters, then anchor for the night. Dinner happens on the boat as you watch the sunset, and you can swim in phosphorescent water or sleep under the stars on deck if you like.
- Meals
- Lunch (Selection of the freshest seafood), Dinner
Included Activities
- Cruise through Halong Bay
- Visit 'the Amazing cave'
- Swimming in Halong Bay
- Dinner on board
Optional Activities
- Swim in phosphorescent water
- Sleep under the stars on top deck
Landmarks/POIs Halong Bay - Day 8
Halong Bay to Hanoi
Wake early to catch the sunrise and enjoy breakfast on the boat while you cruise leisurely past thousands of islands. Stop at a floating fishing village to hear about the fishermen's daily life. Lunch is served on board during your cruise back to Halong City pier. You'll arrive back in Hanoi around 3:30 or 4:00 pm, check in at your hotel, and have the rest of the day free to walk through the Old Quarter, try street food, or pick up souvenirs.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch
Included Activities
- Sunrise viewing
- Breakfast on the boat
- Cruise through Halong Bay
- Visit floating fishing village
- Lunch on the boat
Optional Activities
- Explore Old Quarter of Hanoi
- Try local street food
- Browse shops for souvenirs
Landmarks/POIs Halong Bay - Day 9
Hanoi to Bangkok
After breakfast in Hanoi, you'll have free time to relax, explore the city, shop, or try local traditional food. Later you'll transfer to the airport for your flight to Bangkok. The drive from the airport to your hotel takes about 45 minutes (roughly 32 km). After checking in, spend the rest of the day exploring Bangkok at your own pace and getting a feel for the street life, food, and culture.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Optional Activities
- Explore Hanoi on your own
- Go shopping
- Try local Hanoian traditional food
- Explore Bangkok street life
- Visit museums and galleries
- Sample street food
- Explore local markets and boutiques
- Day 10
Bangkok
After breakfast, your guided tour starts at Wat Traimit, where you'll see a 900-year-old solid gold Buddha image that weighs five and a half tons. From there, head to Wat Arun, the Temple of the Dawn, known for its striking design. Then visit Wat Pho, the largest and oldest temple in Bangkok, where traditional Thai massage was born and you can see the impressive Reclining Buddha. Grab lunch on your own before continuing to the Royal Grand Palace and Wat Phra Kaew to see the Emerald Buddha. The mix of European and traditional Thai architecture there is interesting. Get back to your hotel with the rest of the day free.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Visit Wat Traimit (Temple of the Golden Buddha)
- Visit Wat Arun (Temple of the Dawn)
- Visit Wat Pho
- Visit Royal Grand Palace
- Visit Wat Phra Kaew (Emerald Buddha)
Landmarks/POIs Wat Traimit Wat Arun Wat Pho Royal Grand Palace Wat Phra Kaew - Day 11
Bangkok
Early pickup takes you to the Damnoen Saduak Floating Market, one of Thailand's most popular floating markets. You'll ride a boat through small canals to see local life, visit a coconut farm where you can taste fresh coconut juice, and explore the market. Sample seasonal fruits like rambutan, mangoes, and papaya. The drive back to your hotel leaves the rest of the day free for relaxing or shopping.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Boat ride at Damnoen Saduak Floating Market
- Visit coconut farm
- Taste fresh coconut juice
- Explore floating market
- Sample seasonal fruits
Optional Activities
- Relax at hotel
- Go shopping in Bangkok
Landmarks/POIs Damnoen Saduak Floating Market - Day 12
Bangkok to Chiang Mai
You'll fly to Chiang Mai in northern Thailand and meet your tour guide upon arrival for the transfer to your hotel. Later in the day, visit Wat Phra That Doi Suthep, one of Chiang Mai's most sacred temples on a hilltop in Northern Thai style. The temple holds a holy relic of Lord Buddha and gives you panoramic views over the entire city. After returning to your hotel with some free time to relax and explore, the evening brings the famous Khantoke Dinner, a northern welcome dinner with traditional hill tribe dancing.
- Meals
- Dinner (Khantoke Dinner with traditional hill tribe dancing)
Included Activities
- Visit Wat Phra That Doi Suthep
- Khantoke Dinner with traditional hill tribe dancing
Optional Activities
- Relax and explore Chiang Mai on your own
Landmarks/POIs Wat Phra That Doi Suthep - Day 13
Chiang Mai
After your hotel pickup, you'll head north to the Mae Taeng area with a quick stop at the local market in Mae Malai. At a small riverside elephant camp, you'll spend about 2 hours learning how to care for these animals and helping them bathe in the river (bring a swimsuit). You'll also learn to make traditional elephant medicine from natural ingredients. After lunch, trek through the forest to a jungle waterfall where you can shower under it. Then head to the rafting camp and paddle 5 km down the Mae Tang River on white water rafting boats before returning to Chiang Mai.
- Meals
- Lunch
Included Activities
- Visit elephant camp
- Elephant morning bath
- Learn to make traditional elephant medicine
- Lunch
- Trek through forest to jungle waterfall
- Waterfall shower
- White water rafting on Mae Tang River (5 km)
Landmarks/POIs Mae Taeng Elephant Camp Mae Tang River - Day 14
Chiang Mai
After breakfast, you'll transfer to Mae Sai Border, one of Thailand's largest border markets at the Thai-Myanmar border. Browse a variety of products including local food, clothes, jewelry, silverware, and precious stones. Have lunch at a local restaurant, then continue to the Golden Triangle where Laos, Myanmar, and Thailand meet (and connect to China by boat). Visit the Opium House nearby to learn about opium history through exhibits. Return to your hotel with the rest of the day at your leisure.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch
Included Activities
- Explore Mae Sai Border market
- Lunch at local restaurant
- Visit Golden Triangle
- Visit Opium House
Optional Activities
- Relax at hotel
Landmarks/POIs Mae Sai Border Market Golden Triangle - Day 15
Chiang Mai to Phuket
Enjoy breakfast at your hotel and have free time to relax until your transfer to the airport for your flight to Phuket. When you land at Phuket airport, your representative will greet you and take you to your hotel. After checking in, spend the rest of the day exploring and relaxing.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Optional Activities
- Relax at hotel
- Day 16
Phuket
After breakfast, you'll transfer by minivan to Chalong Pier for a speed boat trip departing at 7:00 am to Phi Phi Ley Island. Swim and see Maya Bay (where 'The Beach' was filmed), snorkel at Loh Samah Bay, and check out Peleh Cove and Viking Cave. Arrive at Phi Phi Don Island at noon to feed monkeys and have lunch at 12:30 pm. At 2:00 pm, swim in clear waters and snorkel among coral reefs at Monkey Beach. At 3:00 pm, visit Khai Nok Island to swim and sunbathe. You'll leave for Chalong Pier at 4:00 pm and transfer back to your hotel.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch
Included Activities
- Speed boat trip to Phi Phi Ley Island
- Swimming and sightseeing at Maya Bay
- Snorkeling at Loh Samah Bay
- Sightseeing at Peleh Cove
- Sightseeing at Viking Cave
- Feed monkeys with banana at Phi Phi Don Island
- Lunch on island
- Swimming in crystal clear waters
- Snorkeling at Monkey Beach
- Visit Khai Nok Island
- Swimming and sunbathing
Optional Activities
- Feed fish
Landmarks/POIs Maya Bay Phi Phi Ley Island Phi Phi Don Island Monkey Beach Khai Nok Island - Day 17
Phuket
The day is completely yours to spend however you like. Relax on Phuket's beaches or explore the island on your own. You can visit the Big Buddha, a 45-meter statue on a hilltop overlooking the island, or wander the charming old town with its colorful streets and Sino-Portuguese architecture. Shop at local markets or hit up shopping centers. When evening comes, take in Phuket's lively nightlife with bars and restaurants, or just relax at your hotel.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Optional Activities
- Relax on beaches
- Visit Big Buddha
- Explore old town
- Visit temples and historical sites
- Shop at local markets
- Visit shopping centers
- Enjoy nightlife at bars, restaurants, nightclubs
Landmarks/POIs Big Buddha - Day 18
Phuket Departure
After breakfast at your hotel, you'll have some free time to relax or use the hotel amenities before your departure. Transfer to Phuket airport at the scheduled time to catch your flight home. Your airport transfer is included.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Optional Activities
- Relax at hotel
- Enjoy hotel amenities
