Essence of Southeast Asia – 17 Days

General Information

Duration: 19 Days/ 18 Nights
Start/End: Bangkok/ Yangon
Highlights: Bangkok – Ayutthaya – Siem Reap – Hanoi – Halong Bay – Ho Chi Minh City – Mekong Delta – Yangon – Bagan – Yangon
Tour Customizable: Definitely! (Tell us your specific requirements in the inquiry form)
Tour Categories: Southeast Asia tours
Guides: Local Guide (English Speaking Guide, Other Languages upon Request)
Transportation: Private first-class air-conditioned vehicles
Accommodation: Listed below or equivalent. Rooms with private bath or shower, hotel taxes, porterage, tips, and service charges

Brief Itinerary

THAILAND
Day 1: Bangkok Arrival – Day at leisure
Day 2: Bangkok City Tour
Day 3: Bangkok Floating Market & Rose Garden
Day 4: Bangkok – Ayutthaya
Day 5: Bangkok – Siem Reap
CAMBODIA
Day 6: Siem Reap – Angkor Wat Tour
Day 7: Siem Reap – Hanoi
VIETNAM
Day 8: Hanoi City Tour
Day 9: Hanoi – Halong Bay
Day 10: Halong – Hanoi – Ho Chi Minh City
Day 11: Ho Chi Minh City Tour
Day 12: Ho Chi Minh City – Mekong Delta
Day 13: Ho Chi Minh City – Cu Chi Tunnels – Yangon
MYANMAR
Day 14: Yangon City Tour
Day 15: Yangon – Bagan
Day 16: Bagan Villages & Sunset boat
Day 17: Bagan – Yangon

Day 1: Bangkok Arrival – Day at leisure

Welcome upon arrival by local tour guide and driver then we transfer to the hotel.
Overnight in Bangkok.

Day 2: Bangkok City Tour (L)

Meet your private guide and driver at the hotel and then visit the Jim Thompson House Museum – an elaborate complex of six old teak homes. There houses an extensive collection of Thai traditional paintings, Sawankalok Pottery, Benjarong porcelain, and Khmer statues. Continue on to the sacred Wat Phra Kaew (the Temple of the Emerald Buddha). Venture deep into the Grand Palace grounds to see Thailand’s holiest site – the Emerald Buddha. Marvel at the impressive Thai architecture and lavish design of the Grand Palace complex. Visit the Royal Grand Palace, where many Thai Royal Family’s ceremonies take place. 

Next, board a long tail speedboat to cruise the Bangkok Canal, passing by the Royal Barges Museum, which houses several impressive barges with excellent details in the workmanship. Once war vessels, they are now used in the royal procession, such as celebrations or religious ceremonies. Along the way, you’ll also see the Temple of the Dawn (Wat Arun), one of Bangkok’s most iconic landmarks. Expect to find locals doing their daily businesses along the canals, such as transporting rice.
If you wish to spend the night in Bangkok city, your guide will show you around the Asiatique Night Market in the evening. After that, transfer to the hotel.

Overnight in Bangkok. 

Day 3: Bangkok Floating Market & Rose Garden (L)

Today, you’ll be transferred to the garden province of Samut Songkran in the Mae Klong River Delta area. Visit an authentic country market located along the railway tracks, and see locals traveling to the market by train. Continue to the fascinating Damnoen Saduak Floating Market, situated about 110km from Bangkok in the Ratchaburi province. Expect to find friendly merchants paddling along the congested canals to sell exotic tropical fruits, vegetables, and many others.

Visit a local Sugar Palm factory before boarding a long-tail boat to cruise Damnern canals. Learn about teakwood carving afterward. Next up is the Rose Garden, where you’ll have lunch and enjoy a series of captivating cultural shows. Rather than a botanic garden as its name suggests (although there are beautifully manicured rose gardens), the Garden houses an extensive display of Thai traditional arts and crafts. Stand in awe of impressive performances such as Thai boxing, fingernail dance, hill tribe dance, sword fighting, elephants at work and folk dancing. See Thai traditional handicraft skills on display including silk-weaving, fruit-carving, and pottery-making. After the show, you’ll be sent back to the hotel.
Remark: Performance venue is subject to weather conditions.

Overnight in Bangkok.

Day 4: Bangkok – Ayutthaya (L)

Your driver and guide will pick you at the hotel then drive to the former capital city of Siam, Ayutthaya. Once a thriving kingdom with three palaces, hundreds of temples and a succession of numerous dynasties, Ayutthaya was destroyed by the Burmese, together with most of its cultural wonders. Explore the glory of Ayutthaya Empire (1350-1767) that is still evident in the spectacular ruins and undamaged temples such as Wat Phra Sri Sanphet, Wat Mongkhon Bophit, or Wat Yai Chai Mongkol.

Continue to Bang Pa-In where you’ll see the Royal Sumer Palace. With its mix of Thai, Chinese, Italian and Victorian architectural styles, the palace is one of the best well-preserved examples to learn about the history of Siam Kingdom. As the sun begins to set, head back to the hotel in Bangkok.

Overnight in Bangkok.

Day 5: Bangkok – Siem Reap

Today is your free day until transfer to airport for flight to Siem Reap at 7:50 PM. Upon arrival in Siem Reap at 9 PM, welcome by our guide and transfer back to the hotel.

Overnight in Siem Reap.

Day 6: Temple Tour: Angkor Thom – Bayon – Ta Prohm – Angkor Wat (L)

Today, we start in the morning driving among the jungle passing local village and local shop. It’s a very special and acting day as you will explore some of Angkor’s most beautiful temples. We include touring the Angkor Thom City. We’ll start at the South Gate and explore the centerpiece of the ancient city, The Bayon. The Bayon has fifty-four towers decorated with more than two hundred enigmatic smiling faces. The tour also includes the Royal Enclosure, Phimeanakas, the Terrace of Elephants and Terrace of Leper Kings, as well as the Ta Prohm Temple.

In the afternoon we are entering Angkor Wat and to view its amazing architecture and history. Angkor Wat possesses some of the longest and most intricate stone carvings. This complex is four times the size of the Vatican City making it the largest religious site in the world. Spend the morning exploring the many passages, levels, and chambers that once housed many treasures of the ancient world. After spending the afternoon here, we will go to Pre Rup to see the sunset.

Overnight in Siem Reap.

Day 7: Siem Reap – Tonle Sap Lake – Hanoi (L)

This morning, we will have a journey to the northeast of Siem Reap about 45 minutes through the beautiful village to visit the pink sandstone temple of Banteay Srei, founded in 967. Banteay Srei Temple, considered as the jewel of the Classical Khmer Arts. Cleared from the creeper plants and trees that invaded it, Banteay Srei – which means “the Citadel of Women” – is indeed of absolute and rare beauty and fineness. Every single detail of this sculpted pink sandstone temple is a real enchantment to the human eyes!
Afternoon, we will enjoy Tonle Sap Lake of Chong Khneas, Asia’s largest inland lake also the biggest harvest freshwater fish in the world, which swells to ten times its normal size during the wet season; here you will visit the people living, school, hospital, church, fishing farm, crocodile farm, souvenir shop in the floating village then back in town to visit Les Artisan D’Angkor to observe student learning of art carving. Then transfer to the airport to take a flight to Hanoi. Welcome upon arrival by local tour guide and driver then we transfer to the hotel.

Overnight in Hanoi.

Day 8: Hanoi City Tour (L, D)

Today we will venture out to explore Hanoi. First up we will drive to the Ho Chi Minh complex where we will spend time at Ho Chi Minh’s mausoleum, his former stilt-house, the Presidential Palace, the Ho Chi Minh Museum and One Pillar Pagoda. Followings we visit the Temple of Literature, which originally built as a temple to Confucius. After lunch, we visit the Museum of Ethnology, which is widely acknowledged as the best in the country and has an extensive display dedicated to Vietnam’s 54 Ethnic minority peoples and the infamous Hoa Lo Prison Museum.

Hoa Lo is also known as the ‘’Hanoi Hilton’’ and was where former US presidential candidate John McCain was incarcerated for over 5 years. We enjoy a 1-hour cyclo tour of the French-inspired “old quarter“. We will be free for shopping in the old quarter ranges from markets through to designer boutique stores to amazing contemporary art galleries. We will then sit down to enjoy the performance of the city’s famous Water Puppets. Enjoy Welcome dinner at a local restaurant.

Overnight in Hanoi.

Day 9: Hanoi – Halong Bay – Overnight Cruise (L, D)

This morning, pick up and transfer you to Halong Bay.
11:30 – 12:15: Arrive at Tuan Chau Island
12:15: Transfer to the cruise
12:30: Welcome drink, cruise information, and check-in
13:00 – 14:30: Lunch at the restaurant
14:30 – 15:30: Cruise and sightseeing along Halong Bay. Enjoy an afternoon spa treatment at Paradise Spa
15:45: Visit Sung Sot Cave or kayak near Luon Cave. Enjoy afternoon tea
17:00 – 18:30: Happy Hour (Buy one, get one drink) on the sundeck. Anchor at Coconut Tree Island for an overnight stay
18:00 – 19:00: Cooking demonstration on the sundeck
19:30 – 22:00: Paradise Royal Dinner at the restaurant
21:00: Movies in the restaurant, squid fishing

Overnight on board.

Day 10: Halong Bay – Hanoi – Ho Chi Minh City (B)

06:30 – 7:00: Tai Chi demonstration on the sundeck
07:00 – 08:00: Light breakfast, coffee & pastries
08:00: Visit Titov Island. Stay on board and just relax or enjoy a spa treatment at Paradise Spa
09:00: A la carte breakfast at the restaurant
09:30: Bill settlement and check out
10:30: Return to Tuan Chau Marina. Then transfer to Noi Bai airport in Hanoi for your onward flight to Ho Chi Minh City

Day 11: Ho Chi Minh City Tour – A O Show in the afternoon (L, D)

Today, we visit all the highlights in Ho Chi Minh City such as the Reunification Palace, a palace of the old President in South of Vietnam during the American war; the War Remnants Museum where is poignant display of the futility of war; Notre Dame Cathedral and Old Post Office, the two sites that we can ignore when we visit the city. After lunch, we travel to district 5 to visit Cho Lon (China town).
We then head back to the center to go shopping at the famous Ben Thanh market, this bustling and the well-organized market is very popular with tourists, primarily due to its central location. It has a wide selection of goods ranging from fake Nike shoes to beautiful silk Ao Dai.
This evening at 6 PM, we will enjoy A O Show at Saigon Opera House.
After that, enjoy dinner at a local restaurant.

Overnight in Ho Chi Minh City.

Day 12: Ho Chi Minh City – Mekong Delta (L)

08:00, we will be met in the lobby of the hotel in Ho Chi Minh City; after that, we transfer to Vinh Long. The program will start with a visit to Vinh Long market in the town. This is the best choice for us to take pictures of fish, shrimps, prawns, crabs, snakes, rice-field rats, tropical fruits, vegetable… After that, we will travel by boat to visit the brick kilns where we can see how the local people create beautiful potteries from clay. Then, come to visit the orchard & traditional house. We will enjoy some kinds of fruits and tea when listening to traditional music.

The rowing boat takes us deeper into the countryside on smaller canals so we can enjoy the peaceful time. It is so interesting to see traditional houses made of wood and palm tree leaves and see some activities of the local farmers with an opportunity to make contacts with them and see how they catch fish or pick up fruits by ancestral ways in Mekong Delta. One more thing to do on this trip is biking! It will be so amazing to bike on village paths to see the local farms, houses, ‘monkey’ bridge, real life… You will return to the hotel in Ho Chi Minh City in the late afternoon.

Overnight in Ho Chi Minh City.

Day 13: Ho Chi Minh City – Cu Chi Tunnels – Yangon (L)

After breakfast at the hotel, we will leave Saigon for the Cu Chi tunnels, otherwise known as the “Iron Triangle” or “Iron Land”. On our way there we will drive through the pleasant countryside; rubber plantations and rice paddies. Before entering the tunnels, we will see a short introductory video showing how they were constructed, followed by an exploration of the maze of tunnels, some of which have been widened to allow tourist access. Also on display are various mantraps and the remains of an American tank, as well as numerous bomb craters made by 500lb bombs, dropped by B52 bombers. After that, we transfer back to Ho Chi Minh city for a flight to Yangon, Myanmar.

Welcomed upon arrival in Yangon. Check in hotel and relax.
Overnight in Yangon.

Day 14: Yangon City Tour

Today, enjoy a private tour and drive through downtown to explore the city center and its fabulous mix of architecture and sites. The streets are filled with historical buildings many of which have a faded colonial charm not seen elsewhere in Asia. You’ll start at the post office – a lovely historic building, passing by the Strand Hotel, Mahabandoola Garden, and Independence Monument along the way. Then visit famous Chauk Htat Kyi, home to a 70-meter long reclining Buddha.

The feet of the statue carved with traditional symbols and often many locals gathering to pay homage and pray. Photo stop at the Karaweik Hall royal floating barge. Then visit Scott Market (closed on Mondays) and Little India. Nothing will prepare you for Shwedagon Pagoda, with its glittering gold stupa. At the pagoda observe local pilgrims and monks offering their devotions and enjoy the amazing sunset view at Shwedagon pagoda.

Overnight in Yangon.

Day 15: Yangon – Bagan

Early morning flight to Bagan. You will be picked up at your hotel by our private tour guide and private car. Start your trip with a visit to Nyang U Market which is a typical market which remained in Myanmar for centuries. Next, head to Shwezigon Pagoda, which is one of the most significant religious buildings in Myanmar, for it served as a prototype for later stupas built throughout the country and marked an important development in the relationship between traditional Burmese religion and Theravada Buddhism. Continue to Khay Min Ga Temple to enjoy breathtaking panoramic views of numerous surrounding monuments. Next up is Ananda Temple. A masterpiece in the incorporation of Myanmar and India architectural styles, the temple houses four standing Buddhas, each facing a distinct direction. After lunch, visit a local lacquerware workshop. Here, you will have a chance to learn more about the traditional techniques of craftsmen and admire unique and beautiful products. Also visit Sulamani Guphaya Temple, Htilominlo Temple, Manuha Temple. The highlight of today is the breathtaking sunset beauty of the Shwesandaw Pagoda. Then, transfer back to the hotel.

Overnight in Bagan.

Day 16: Bagan Villages & Sunset Boat

More than just temples, our tour introduces you to provide a great overview of Bagan’s history, culture, and local lifestyles. Today see the real way of life for most Myanmar people by visiting villages near Bagan to view the local lifestyle. Then you will explore Bagan from a different perspective as you explore the area by Pony cart. The cart can explore areas that cars are unable to enter giving a different feel of Bagan. In the late afternoon transfer to the jetty where a private wooden river boat is waiting. Sitting under the shade or on the open-deck, you’ll be treated to fabulous views as you cruise down the Irrawaddy River to Shwezigon Pagoda. A private boat tour on the river during sunset time will hopefully show you a spectacular sunset. Relax and enjoy the scenery.

Overnight in Bagan.

Day 17: Bagan – Yangon – Departure

After breakfast, the day at leisure until transfer to airport for flight to Yangon followed by your departure flight. Trip ends.