Lands of Smile Thailand & Vietnam

Have breakfast at the hotel and get ready for pick up. We will take you through the hustle and bustle of Bangkok to visit Wat Traimit a visually stunning temple in China Town, and see one of the largest solid gold Buddhas (5.5 tones of the precious metal). Continue to visit Wat Po the home of the famous 45-meter reclining Buddha as well as the original school of traditional Thai massage. Visit The Royal Grand Palace, the nation s landmark and the most revered royal monuments. You will see the Palace that was used for different occasions as The Coronation Hall, Funeral Hall, and Royal Guest House, and the mysterious famous Emerald Buddha, the most revered Buddha image in Thailand.

The afternoon is free at your leisure.

Overnight in Bangkok.

Have a leisurely day in Chiang Mai or take an optional tour.

OPTIONAL TOUR:

HALF DAY ELEPHANT SANCTUARY WITH LUNCH

Morning visit : 06:30-12:30

07:00 Drive approximately 1.5 hours South of Chiang Mai through rolling hills, forest, and local farming areas.

08:30 Arrive at the Elephant Jungle Sanctuary. Walk through and learn about the elephants, change into traditional Karen clothing and make medicine for the elephants.

09:00 Meet the elephants. Feed, give medicine, interact, and play with the elephants in a natural environment as you learn about their behavior and history. Take photos with the elephants.

09:45 Mud Spa with the elephants 10:30 Walk with the elephants to a river and bathe them.

11:30 Eat a traditional meal and then say goodbye to the elephants.

12:00 Leave the Elephant Jungle Sanctuary and drive approximately 1.5 hours to Chiang Mai.

Overnight in Chiang Mai.

Have a free day to explore Chiang Mai on your own.

Overnight in Chiang Mai.

In the morning, after breakfast at the hotel, the Cruise team will pick you up. Take the most scenic route to reach Halong Bay, taking you across the Red River Delta with emerald green rice paddies stretching for as far as the eyes can see. On arrival to Halong, you will enjoy a cruise on the Bay and explore the limestone rocks and the karst grottoes.

After you are done with your exploration of the bay, it is time to enjoy an utterly delicious seafood lunch, after which there will be a trip to the famous limestone cave in Ha Long Bay, you’ll get to spend some time here, kayaking or swimming so that you can get closer to the floating villages and shops. Towards the evening, you will return to the boat for an early dinner, followed by some time at leisure. You can optionally attend the activities taking part on the boat or just relax.

Overnight on cruise.

Rise early for a Tai Chi lesson or just to enjoy a hearty breakfast. The boat will make its way back to the port stopping at the Limestone Cave, full of stalagmites and stalactites. From here, it’s clear sailing back to the main harbor and returns to Hanoi around 17:00. Free in your leisure time.

Overnight in Hanoi.

Have a free day in Hoi An to explore it on your pace.

Custom tailoring is a huge industry in Hoi An. Hoi An is home to more than 400 tailoring shops and thousands of tailors who are not only talented at making clothes but are skilled in making shoes and handbags as well! Average turn around time for full suits is a day and about 4 hours for handbags or shoes! If you are interested in getting custom made items, try to find a shop of your liking as early as possible during your visit.

The afternoon is the perfect time of day to see some of the famous sights within Hoi An. But first, before you set out on foot to discover the city, we recommend that you grab a Banh Mi sandwich to fuel you for the afternoon. Than Banh Mi Sandwich in Hoi An is both famous and different from a sandwich that you will get in any other part of Vietnam. The bread and fillings are unique to the region and is a great first insight into local cuisine. We highly recommend Madam Khanh’s stand, who has been dubbed the Banh Mi Queen in Hoi An.

After dark, the Old Town in Hoi An transforms into a mystical row of lights and lanterns. In fact, Hoi An is a big center for paper lantern manufacturers and merchants. Every shop or establishment will have a few lanterns outside, but the real sight is the lantern market. Here you’ll be able to see how these lanterns are made and will have a plethora of choices should you wish to take some home with you.

After a stroll through the market, check out the outdoor traditional theatre. You will have a chance to see Vietnamese folk dancers and musicians perform traditional pieces. The theatre runs from 9 pm to 10 pm at the square on Nguyen Thai Hoc street. It is completely free and open to the public so it’s interesting to see, even if it’s just for a few minutes as you pass by. Before you retire to your hotel, be sure to light a candle box and set it in the water. Many kids sit along the banks of the channel and offer candles to you – remember to make a wish.

Overnight in Hoi An

The complex of Hue Monuments lies along the Perfume River in Hue City and some adjacent areas of Thua Thien Hue Province. Hue City is the cultural, political, and economic center of the province, and used to be an old imperial city of Vietnam under the Nguyen Dynasty. During these years, architectural works of high cultural and historic value were built: the Citadel, especially the Imperial City (including 253 constructions), 7 Royal tomb compounds of 9 kings of the Nguyen Dynasty, the Temple of Heaven, Tiger Arena, hundreds of pagodas. The monument complex of Hue, nowadays, is listed as a UNESCO world heritage site.

You will be picked up from your hotel from 07:50 to– 08:15 am. You would visit Emperor Khai Dinh’s tomb and Emperor Tu Duc’s tomb. On the way, you will have a stopover at local workshops to see how conical hats and incense sticks are made.

Have lunch at a local restaurant.

In the Afternoon you will visit the Imperial capital during Nguyen Dynasty, An Hien Garden House, and the seven-story Thien Mu Pagoda on the riverbank. Return by boat on the gentle Perfume River.

17:00 Arrive at your hotel.    

Overnight in Hue.

Breakfast at the hotel. Then, taking the flight to Ho Chi Minh. Check-in at your hotel and be free your leisure time to get your energy back.

Overnight in Ho Chi Minh.

Depart from Ho Chi Minh City around 8 am, we will head to the Mekong Delta, the land of nine dragons. Getting out of the city, you will see the mighty delta with its quaint rural landscape and immense waterway.

Arrive at Cai Be River Wharf around 10. am, we will get on a shuttle boat to reach Mekong Lodge, the green pearl of the Mekong Delta. The boat transfer is part of the trip experience itself as it is your first contact with the Mekong’s fertile alluvial water, which shapes the richness of the land.

Disembark and welcome you to Mekong Lodge; our smiling staffs in local traditional costumes await you at Mekong Lodge’s iconic front bamboo-shaped gate. Check in your private bungalows and enjoy a delicious lunch in our Mekong Riverside Restaurant.

Take some rest and begin our private walking tour to discover the nearby village around Mekong Lodge. We will visit families making coconut candy and brick to see the traditional production of goods in the Mekong Delta. Meet and talk with local people, known for their friendliness, warmth, and generosity.

In the evening, get some hands-on culinary experience by joining our Vietnamese cooking class. Our chefs will instruct you to prepare the Mekong Lodge signature dishes. Have fun and some interesting recipes to take home. Enjoy dinner in a cozy atmosphere.

Overnight at Mekong Lodge.

Begin our second day with a buffet breakfast, then get on our rowed sampan to visit Cai Be floating market, a cultural feature of the Mekong Delta. Try to visit it early and you will see the most vibrant scene on the Tien River with hundred of boats gathering for fresh produce trade. 

Come back to Mekong Lodge to continue the discovery of the Mekong Delta by cycling on its tranquil winding lanes and crossing canals. Take in the fresh air, and beautiful view and taste some freshly picked fruit in local orchards.

Around noon, cycle back to Mekong Lodge for check out (11. am), and our boat will transfer you back to Cai Be harbor for your coming back to Ho Chi Minh City or further travel to Can Tho, Chau Doc, Phu Quoc or Cambodia. (Early or late check-out please let us know in your request for the best arrangement).

Overnight in Ho Chi Minh.