Summary
Take advantage of this Vietnam and Thailand Itinerary from Hanoi to Chiang Mai (11 days) and discover wonderful cities, temples, caves, islands and mountains. In Vietnam, you will enjoy a cruise around the incredible Halong Bay, declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO and since 2011, one of the seven natural wonders of the world. During the cruise, you will pass by emblematic islets such as the fighting cocks or the stone dog islet and visit Sung Sot Cave, better known as the Cave of Surprises, on Bo Hon Island where you will discover a show with a diverse number of flowstones, stalagmites, stalactites and columns formed over millions of years. In Thailand, you will discover wonderful cities such as Bangkok, Ayutthaya, Chiang Mai, temples such as Wat Phra Sri Sanphet, Wat Mahathat, Wat Chai Wattanaram, Wat Phra Sing, Wat Chedi Luang and Doi Suthep and much more. You will also visit the Maeklong Railway Market on the train tracks and the Damnoen Saduak Floating Market, the most famous in Thailand, which consists of a labyrinth of narrow canals full of traditional boats where the products that you will visit aboard a traditional boat are sold.
Individual travel request form Enjoy a private tour
Alfonso
Local travel expert in Vietnam
More than 10 years living and working in tourism in Southeast Asia. Based in Hanoi, but living for work periods in Thailand, Cambodia, Myanmar and Laos. In love with Asian culture and the wonders that I do not stop discovering in these amazing countries. They certainly do not stop surprising me with something daily.
Itinerary
Upon your arrival at Noi Bai International Airport in Hanoi, you will be transferred to your accommodation in the city. At the hotel, you will be given a brief introduction of your trip and any last minute doubts will be clarified.
Accommodation in Hanoi.
In the morning, you will be transferred to Halong Bay where you will enjoy a cruise including reception with a welcome drink. Halong Bay is a 1,553 square kilometre extension of water that was declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO in 1994 and since November 11, 2011 is one of the seven natural wonders of the world. You will have lunch on board while enjoying the breathtaking scenery.
After lunch, you will have time to enjoy kayaking and relax.
Next, you will sail to Ho Dong Tien Cave (Fairy Lake Cave), one of the most beautiful caves in Halong Bay, where you will anchor for the night. You will enjoy dinner on board and have free time for a drink on the upper deck.
Overnight on board.
After breakfast on board, you will visit Sung Sot Cave, better known as the Cave of Surprises, discovered by the French in 1901 and originally called “Grotte des Surprises”. It is a limestone karst cave, the largest in Halong Bay, which can be reached after a hard climb to Bo Hon Island. At approximately 25 metres above sea level, the cave covers a total area of about 10,000 square metres and is made up of two chambers. The first, known as the waiting room, is about 30 metres high and offers a grand entrance to the second largest chamber where you will discover a spectacle with a diverse number of flowstones, stalagmites, stalactites and columns formed over millions of years. As you enter the second chamber, you will understand why the cave is called the Cave of Surprises.
Then, during the cruise, you will pass by iconic islets such as the fighting cocks or the stone dog islet.
In more the afternoon, you will enjoy a Vietnamese cooking class by the chef on board before arriving in port and brunch on board.
After brunch, you will be transferred to Hanoi airport for your flight to Da Nang.
Upon arrival in Da Nang, you will be transferred to the hotel in Hoi An.
Accommodation in Hoi An.
After breakfast, you will have the day at leisure to explore Hoi An’s Old Town.
Accommodation in Hoi An.
You will have a free morning to enjoy Hoi An.
In the afternoon, you will be transferred to Da Nang airport to take your flight to Bangkok.
Upon arrival at Bangkok International Airport (Suvarnabhumi), you will be transferred to your hotel.
Accommodation in Bangkok.
You will start the day with a guided tour in Bangkok by using the local transports (SkyTrain, Chao Praya Express, Tuk-tuks). During the excursion you will discover the Grand Palace (former residence of the kings and home of the Emerald Buddha), Wat Pho (the temple of the largest Reclining Buddha in Thailand at 46 metres in length and 15 metres in height), Wat Suthat (a peaceful heaven inside the chaotic Bangkok), Wat Saket (a Buddhist temple dating back to the Ayutthaya era) and Phu Khao Thong (“Golden Mountain”, which is a steep artificial hill inside the Wat Saket compound from where you can see the old town).
Accommodation in Bangkok.
In the morning, you will be transferred to Ayutthaya, the former capital of the Siam Empire, where you will discover the archaeological ensemble of temples such as Wat Phra Sri Sanphet, Wat Mahathat and Wat Chai Wattanaram of the Ayutthaya Historical Park, which was recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1991.
In the afternoon, you will enjoy lunch at a local restaurant. You will taste the Candy Floss Roti, one of the best known delights of the place, a crepe with cotton candy.
Accommodation in Bangkok.
On this day, you will visit the Maeklong Railway Market, a market on the train tracks. Whenever a train, which goes through the middle of the market, approaches, the awnings and shop fronts are moved back from the rails, to be replaced once the train has passed. It happens several times a day and the train is so close that you can touch it. It happens only in Thailand and it’s quite a show!
Next, you will discover the most famous floating market in Thailand, Damnoen Saduak. The market consists of a labyrinth of narrow canals full of traditional boats where the products that you will visit aboard a traditional boat are sold.
After the visits, you will be transferred to the airport to take your flight to Chiang Mai.
Accommodation in Chiang Mai.
On this day of the Thailand and Vietnam Itinerary you will visit the best-known places in Chiang Mai, known as “The Rose of the North”, starting with the temples of Wat Phra Sing and Wat Chedi Luang, where you can be in contact with Buddhist monks. You will visit the city and its surroundings in Songthaew (a van or pickup vehicle fitted out for informal passenger transport), the most popular transport in the north of the country.
In the afternoon, you will enjoy lunch at a local restaurant.
After lunch, you will visit the Warorot Market, the heart of Chinatown, one of the busiest markets, and Ton Lamyai, the flower market.
Next, you will go to Doi Suthep Temple, located in the mountains, with a large golden pagoda and stunning views of the city. The temple is 15 kilometres from the city of Chiang Mai and is located at an elevation of 1,073 metres.
Accommodation in more Chiang Mai.
Breakfast at the hotel and free day in Chiang Mai.
Accommodation in Chiang Mai.
On your departure day, you will be transferred to Chiang Mai Airport to take your flight back home.
Prices
Travel dates
Upon request for individual travellers
Price per person in €
2 Pers.
4 Pers.
6 Pers.
Standard cat. hotels (May 1 - Sept. 30, 2024)
1759€
1454€
1336€
Standard cat. hotels (Oct. 1, 2023 - Apr. 30, 2024)
1782€
1477€
1359€
Superior cat. hotels (May 1 - Sept. 30, 2024)
1931€
1626€
1511€
Superior cat. hotels (Oct. 1, 2023 - Apr. 30, 2024)
1964€
1659€
1544€
Luxury cat. hotels (May 1 - Sept. 30, 2024)
2359€
2055€
1939€
Luxury cat. hotels (Oct. 1, 2023 - Apr. 30, 2024)
2422€
2117€
2001€
| Travel dates | Accommodation | Price per person in € | ||
| 2 Pers. | 4 Pers. | 6 Pers. | ||
|
Upon request for individual travellers |
Standard cat. hotels (May 1 - Sept. 30, 2024) | 1759€ | 1454€ | 1336€ |
| Standard cat. hotels (Oct. 1, 2023 - Apr. 30, 2024) | 1782€ | 1477€ | 1359€ | |
| Superior cat. hotels (May 1 - Sept. 30, 2024) | 1931€ | 1626€ | 1511€ | |
| Superior cat. hotels (Oct. 1, 2023 - Apr. 30, 2024) | 1964€ | 1659€ | 1544€ | |
| Luxury cat. hotels (May 1 - Sept. 30, 2024) | 2359€ | 2055€ | 1939€ | |
| Luxury cat. hotels (Oct. 1, 2023 - Apr. 30, 2024) | 2422€ | 2117€ | 2001€ | |
What's Included
- 9 nights accommodation in a double (DBL) or twin (TWN) room at Standard, Superior or Luxury category hotels, 1 night on board the cruise ship;
- Breakfast at the hotels / on board the cruise ship;
- Lunch on day 2, 6, 7, 8, 9 of the itinerary;
- Brunch on board on day 3 of the itinerary;
- Dinner on day 2 of the itinerary;
- Excursions with English speaking guides according to the itinerary;
- Entrance fees according to the itinerary;
- Vietnamese cooking class by the chef on board;
- Road and boat transportation according to the itinerary;
- Domestic flights Hanoi - Da Nang / Da Nang - Bangkok / Bangkok - Chiang Mai;
- Local SIM card with data package included.