Itinerary

Day 1 Bangkok

Bangkok is a frequently chaotic jumble of traffic, temples, savory food and entertainment. Over the last few years, the opening of a slick new elevated tramway that enables visitors to glide over the chaotic scenes below, coupled with the cheap and frequent river boats and the reasonably priced air-conditioned taxis, have made tourism in the city newly appealing. Within the city limits is a wealth of over 300 Buddhist temple and shrines. Most famous are Wat Benchamabophit (Marble Temple), Wat Arun (Temple of Dawn) and Wat Trimit (Temple of the Golden Buddha). One of the largest temple complexes in the country is Wat Pho. Altogether, there are over 30 individual temples scattered here, of which the Temple of the Reclining Buddha is the largest. The Buddha's statue is enormous, an amazing 47.5m (156ft) long and 15m (49ft) high. Wat Phra Kaeo is a temple complex that houses the Emerald Buddha.

A private vehicle with English speaking guide & driver will transfer you between the airport and your hotel.

The Peninsula, located on the west bank of Chao Phraya, is considered one of Bangkok’s finest hotels. Its 370 rooms and 65 suites appeal to business travelers and well-heeled tourists alike. Soak up the sun by the glorious pool, or indulge in a culinary trip around the world. The Peninsula not only offers every conceivable facility required for business or pleasure, but a wide variety of dining opportunities. If it’s shopping you crave most, take the free shuttle boat services to the Skytrain and head for the Siam Centre for bargain deals.

Overnight at The Peninsula (5*).

Day 2 Bangkok

Enjoy a half day tour to the beautiful Grand Palace and the Thonburi canals. Thonburi is the western part of Bangkok, situated on the right side of the Chao Phya River. Passing by boat along the canals gives you a first hand impression of the scenic life along Bangkok’s waterways. Visit the Royal Barges and the Temple of Dawn. The Grand Palace is one of the most beautiful samples of an ancient Siamese court. It used to be the residence of the Kings of Thailand. The complex houses not only the Royal residence and throne halls, but also government offices and the renowned Temple of the Emerald Buddha.

Overnight at The Peninsula (5*).

Day 3 Luang Prabang

Luang Prabang has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1995. Located between the Mekong and Khan River, it is the cultural and religious center of the country, boasting 32 large temple complexes. Wat Xieng Thong is one of the most impressive temples, decorated with colored glass and gold. Testament to the fact that it had been the royal capital until 1975, the royal palace there contains fine artwork and gifts made for former kings. Nearby, in the town center, visitors can ascend Mount Phousi for a panoramic view of the city and surrounding rivers. Also worth seeing is the Palace Museum (the former royal palace), easily recognizable by its golden-inspired stupa, which houses an impressive collection of artifacts from old rulers of the Kingdom of Lane Xang.

A private vehicle with English speaking guide & driver will transfer you between the airport and your hotel.

Fly from Bangkok to Luang Prabang.

Airport transfer with private guide, driver and vehicle.

Explore Luang Prabang by minivan. Visit the former royal temples, Wat Visun (where one can see the biggest statue), and Wat Xieng Thong (the most beautiful temple in Luang Prabang with its mosaic decoration and former royal carriage). Visit the Museum (former king’s palace), then climb up Mt Phousi for a beautiful view overlooking the city of Luang Prabang.

As a luxury spa hotel with breathtaking views of the mountains and surrounding World Heritage town of Luang Prabang, La Residence Phou Vao offers a unique and peaceful atmosphere with a warm and hospitable staff. From the comfort of your private terrace, in your spacious and elegantly furnished room, take in the breathtaking views of the forest canopy and distant mountains dotted with pagodas and stupas. Experience delicious Laotian cuisine at the renowned Phou Vao Restaurant and sip on an exotic cocktail while enjoying the breathtaking mountain views. Amongst flourishing birds of paradise flowers, Bougainvillea, Papyrus and Frangipani trees, La Residence Phou Vao is an absolutely stunning place to stay when visiting this region.

Overnight at La Residence Phou Vao.

Day 4 Luang Prabang

Take a traditional wooden boat upstream to visit the famous caves of Pak Ou. The caves are perched on the sheer face of the cliff, offering impressive and stunning views of the Mekong and surrounding mountains. Inside the cave, there are more than one hundred Buddha images which have been attracting local people since the early 14th century when the cave was discovered. On the way, a short stop at Ban Xanghai, enjoy the taste of the local rice wine. Distilling rice wine and weaving are important economic activities for the majority of people in the village.

Overnight at La Residence Phou Vao.

Day 5 Hanoi

Hanoi is nestled on the banks of the Red River, it is a beautiful city that retains an air of French colonial elegance with pretty yellow stucco buildings lining leafy streets. Hanoi is also a city of lakes, which adds to its air of sleepy grace. In the middle of the city lies the peaceful Hoan Kiem Lake with the 18th-century Ngoc Son Temple sitting on an island in its center. To the north of Hoan Kiem Lake is the Old Quarter, a fascinating maze of small antiquated streets lined with markets and pavement restaurants and cafes. Also worth a visit, the former Ville Française was the old French administrative center and is characterized by enormous colonial-era châteaux and wide spacious boulevards. It also houses Hanoi’s most popular attraction, the Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum.

Airport transfer with private guide, driver and vehicle.

Relax during this flight which departs Luang Prabang, Laos, and arrives in Hanoi, Vietnam.

You will be met and transferred between the airport to your hotel in a private vehicle with an English speaking driver.

Almost unique amongst Asian capital cities, Hanoi's French quarter is now fully recognized as an important part of Vietnam's heritage. Yet much of the history behind it still remains a mystery to most. Today, you will take a tour exploring the French Quarter through the ideas of its architects and the shape of its stones. It sets about unraveling all threads of civilization, which have left their mark on the area, beginning with recent reminders in a Soviet style. Discover a different world altogether as will visit the Buddhist pagoda of Quan Su, the centre of Vietnamese Buddhism and Tran Hung Dao streets. Learn about the French approach to justice and punishment and hear tales of daring Vietnamese resistance to the repressive regime. Finish your walking tour with a nice cup of Vietnamese coffee.

The exquisite Metropole in Hanoi, which was built by the French in the colonial style in the early 1900s, combines old-world charm with modern convenience. With its rich history and evocative public spaces, it is easy to imagine the days when Graham Greene propped up the bar and intrigue radiated from every room. Located in the heart of downtown, the hotel features 363 rooms and suites and a beautiful interior garden. Le Beaulieu serves fine French cuisine while Hanoi specialties are served at the Spices Garden. A swimming pool and fitness center are available and the beautiful city of Hanoi is just at the doorstep, ready for you to explore its sights and sounds.

Overnight at Sofitel Legend Metropole.

Day 6 Hanoi

Visit the Mausoleum of Ho Chi Minh and his former residence, One pillar Pagoda, and the Temple of Literature. After lunch, continue your city tour to one of Hanoi's many museums: Fine Art, History, Revolutionary, War, Ethnology (of your choosing), then head to Hoan Kiem Lake and Ngoc Son Temple. Experience a one hour cyclo ride. Finish your day off at the Thang Long Opera Theatre for a traditional Vietnamese water puppet show.

Overnight at Sofitel Legend Metropole.

Day 7 Ho Chi Minh City

Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon) is more modern than other Vietnamese cities, and has retained its French colonial influences. The streets are jam-packed with mopeds and scooters, often carrying whole families. Highlights in the city include the colorful Emperor of Jade Pagoda, an excellent example of a Chinese temple. The Hôtel de Ville is a wonderful example of French colonial architecture. The twin towers of Notre Dame Cathedral have been a familiar landmark in Ho Chi Minh City since the 1880s. The War Remnants Museum bears witness to the suffering inflicted on the Vietnamese people during the Vietnam War in the 1960s and 1970s. Other sites relevant to that era are Reunification Hall and the former US Embassy. An interesting excursion from Saigon is a visit to the Cu Chi Tunnels in which the South Vietnamese Communists concealed themselves and from which they launched attacks on US soldiers.

You will be met and transferred between the airport to your hotel in a private vehicle with an English speaking driver.

Sit back and relax during this domestic flight travelling between Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam.

Enjoy a private transfer with English Speaking Driver between Ho Chi Minh City airport and your hotel.

You will be picked up by private car and English speaking driver for a tour of the Cu Chi Tunnels (70 km northwest of Ho Chi Minh city ). Before entering the tunnels you will watch a short introductory video showing how the tunnels were constructed. You will then spend the next hour exploring the maze of tunnels with your guide. Also on display are various mantraps and the remains of an American tank as well as numerous bomb craters made by 500 pound bombs dropped by B52 bombers. Arrive back into Ho Chi Minh City at about 2.00PM.

The Park Hyatt is centrally located at Lam Son Square, near the elegant Opera House in downtown Saigon, The 252-room Park Hyatt Saigon hotel is within walking distance of business, shopping, entertainment and main tourist attractions. The colonial style rooms feature beautiful wooden floors, white marble baths with a luxurious walk-in rain shower and stunning pool view. Overlook Lam Son Square while dining at the casual yet contemporary Morocco Restaurant or at Square One, featuring simple and authentic Vietnamese and Western cuisine. Situated next to the beautifully landscaped pool, The Xuan Spa is an oasis of tranquility within the hustle of Ho Chi Minh City. Pamper yourself in this luxurious and peaceful setting and allow the treatments to inspire your senses and renew your spirit.

Overnight at Park Hyatt .

Day 8 Ho Chi Minh City

Meet your guide the hotel and transfer to visit War Remnants Museum, which features a comprehensive collection of the machinery, weapons, photos, and documentation of Vietnam's wars with the both the French and Americans. The museum is a call for peace, and the hope that the horrors of that war will never be repeated. The tour continues to the Reunification Palace, which was the former residence of the President of South Vietnam until end of April 1975. Afterwards, stop at Ben Thanh market for shopping. You will then eat lunch at a local restaurant (included). After, visit Notre Dame Cathedral, a neo-Romanesque cathedral constructed between 1877 and 1883 using bricks from Marseilles and stained-glass windows from Chartres. Also visit the Old Saigon Post Office and Cholon, the Chinatown of Ho Chi Minh City. During our tour we will also visit the Emperor Jade Pagoda (Phuoc Hai), one of the most interesting pagodas in Vietnam. It is filled with smoky incense and fantastic carved figurines. It was built by the Cantonese community around the turn of the 20th century and is still buzzing with worshippers, many lounging in the front gardens.

Overnight at Park Hyatt .

Day 9 Siem Reap

Siem Reap is famous for the magnificent temples at Angkor. This ancient and astounding temple complex is what remains of the capital of the once mighty Khmer civilization. Angkor Wat itself, built AD 879-1191 to honor the Hindu god Vishnu, is often hailed as one of the most extraordinary architectural creations ever built, with its intricate bas reliefs, strange acoustics and magnificent soaring towers.

Enjoy a private transfer with English Speaking Driver between Ho Chi Minh City airport and your hotel.

Relax during this short flight from Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam to Siem Reap, Cambodia.

Airport transfer with private vehicle, driver, and English speaking guide. Note: departure tax leaving Siem Reap is not included in the tour price (USD$25 per person).

Set around a courtyard with gardens and water features, Hotel de la Paix offers superb dining and spa experiences as well as luxuriously spacious guest rooms. Its Art Deco design is blended with Khmer influences, a symbiotic harmony of past and present. The Arts Lounge has a display of Cambodian art, and some of this heritage is expressed in the international and seasonally inspired cuisine offered in the restaurant and café. Hôtel de la Paix offers a totally unique lifestyle experience. Surround yourself with exquisite designer taste, savour the finest of foods and wines and indulge yourself within the most sensual of customized spa treatments.

Overnight at Hotel de la Paix (5*).

Day 10 Siem Reap

Enjoy a 10 minute ride in a tethered Hot Air Balloon to admire the stunning view of the hidden temples. This is not private and on your day of touring you may choose the morning (6AM) time slot or go between 3pm and 4pm.

Meet your private guide at your hotel and set off for a day of memorable Cambodian sightseeing. Visit the South Gate of Angkor Thom, the Bayon temple complex, as well as Takeo and Ta Prohm temples. The walled and moated city of Angkor Thom was the last capital of the Angkorian empire. It was built to protect against invaders in the 12th century. The Bayon is a state temple, erected in the center of the city. In the afternoon enjoy lunch at a local restaurant. Continue with a visit to Angkor Wat temple complex and  watch the sun set on Phnom Bakheng. Travel from the South Gate of Angkor Thom to Bayon temple by elephant. Afterwards you will be transferred back to your hotel.

Overnight at Hotel de la Paix (5*).

Day 11 Siem Reap

Lost in the jungle and almost forgotten by the local population, the little explored temple of Beng Mealea is waiting to be rediscovered by the adventurous travelers. Depart from Siem Reap by car to cover around 60 km in the Cambodian countryside, along the Kulen Mountains. Visit of the Beng Mealea and picnic lunch. On the way back, stop to visit Banteay Srei temple before continuing to Siem Reap.

Overnight at Hotel de la Paix (5*).

Day 12 Siem Reap

Airport transfer with private vehicle, driver, and English speaking guide. Note: departure tax leaving Siem Reap is not included in the tour price (USD$25 per person).

Fly from Siem Reap to Bangkok.

Kensington Tours donates a portion of proceeds to our charitable initiative www.kensingtoncares.com which supports education-based initiatives in disadvantaged communities.

Depart from Siem Reap International airport - end of itinerary.

Overnight at Depart.

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