13 day Cambodia, Vietnam & Thailand at a Glance (ATD-M11)

Upon arrival, you will be met at the airport and transferred to your hotel for check-in. The rest of the day will be free to relax or explore at your own leisure. You might like to visit the night market, a short walk from your hotel.

Overnight in Siemreap

In the morning, you will start to visit the ancient city of Angkor Thom, the last capital of the Great Khmer Empire under the reign of Jayavarman VII. This city is surrounded by an 8m high wall, drawing a perfect square. Enter the city through the ancient South Gate, an impressive stone gate carved with Elephants and four giant faces. On each side of the entrance path, a row of 54 gods or demons is holding the sacred Naga snake. Continue on to the incredible Ta Prohm Temple, built in the mid-12th to early 13th centuries. Ta Prohm is unique in that it has been left largely as it was found: overgrown by jungle trees and vines, with many parts of the temple crumbling to the ground.

In the afternoon, you will visit the legendary Angkor Wat. Inside the temple, the walls are covered with stone carvings and bas-relief depicting Hindu mythology and the wars Suryavarman II fought during his reign. Angkor Wat is well known for the more than 2,000 Apsara dancers decorating the temple.

End the day with a beautiful Sunset View from the top of Phnom Bakheng Hill. Once the sun has set, you will head back to town. Time will be on your own in the evening.

Meals included: Breakfast
Overnight in Siemreap

This morning you will embark on an incredible boat trip on Tonlé Sap Lake (Kampong Phluk area), where you will have the opportunity to learn about life on the lake. Tonle Sap is Southeast Asia’s largest freshwater lake with its size varying greatly depending on the season, as it swells to about four times of its size during the wet season. Board a local boat and visit Kampong Phluck, a village where you will see houses on stilts that are submerged when Tonlé Sap Lake swells. On the way, you will pass floating houses and impressive flooded forests, portraying life on the water.

In the afternoon, you will be taken on a drive through the countryside to a local village, a beautiful small farming village where life revolves around the seasons and family, located approximately 15 minutes outside of Siem Reap. Here you will embark on a walking tour through the village and local community, learn about their simple way of life, meet local people and you will probably want to chat with them or help them with gardening works or help grow vegetables in the gardens, you will be welcomed by kids saying “Hello” to you. The village tour guide will explain to you about Cambodian daily lifestyle, customers, cultures, and superstitions. Then you will also stop at a local pagoda for an intimate monk blessing (water blessing), wishing you good health and a safe journey – a very special experience!

This is a wonderful village tour that provides a lot of photo opportunities and local experiences. End of the trip, enjoy seasonal fruits & fresh coconut juice at a host family’s house before transferring back to your hotel. The rest of the day will be on your own.

*** Note: Today we recommend you to have proper clothes if you want to join the monk blessing at the local temple.

Meals included: Breakfast
Overnight in Siemreap

The whole morning will be free at your leisure (Check out hotel is at 12.00). In the afternoon your driver will take you to the airport for a short flight to Hanoi.

Upon arrival at the Hanoi Airport, you will be met and greeted and transferred in a private vehicle to the hotel for check-in. The rest of the day will be free at your leisure. You can visit Ngoc Son Temple and Hoan Kiem Lake, considered as the heart and the soul of Hanoi. It’s beautifully lit up at night.

Meals included: Breakfast
Overnight in Hanoi

After breakfast, dive into the sights, sounds, and aromas of Hanoi. Start with Ho Chi Minh Complex including his Mausoleum (Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum is closed all afternoon, every Monday & Friday, and from late September until December), the Presidential Palace, the historic Stilt house, and the One Pillar Pagoda.

Continuing on your journey through Hanoi, you head to Tran Quoc Pagoda (which means “Stabilizing the Nation”), the oldest pagoda constructed in the sixth century in the Westlake and also a famous attraction for pilgrims.

From there, you will proceed to the Temple of Literature. Originally built in honor of Confucius by Emperor Ly Thanh Tong in 1070, a university was added to the grounds six years later. The university provided education to the royal family and children of the aristocracy or “mandarins”.

Around 12.30: you will have lunch at a local restaurant. Following lunch is aa short drive to the Museum of Ethnology, a museum of the 54 officially recognized Ethnic Groups in Vietnam (Ethnology Museum is closed every Monday).

End up your day with a fun cyclo/ rickshaw ride through the French Quarter and then enjoy a Water Puppet show, a uniquely northern Vietnamese art form depicting scenes from rural life and episodes of national history.

Around 18.00 – 18.30, return to your hotel where the rest of the day will be free at your leisure.

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch
Overnight in Hanoi

Depart Hanoi for a two-hour drive to the province of Ninh Binh, approximately 100 kilometers away. Your first destination is Hoa Lu, the location of the capital of Vietnam during the Dinh Dynasty (968-980) and early Le Dynasty (980-1009). The ancient citadel once covered 300 hectares of land, however, the passage of time has left few remains of this once glorious capital of Vietnam.

On arrival, dive into history at the Dinh & Le Temples. Restored in the 17th century, the temples are dedicated to the Dinh and Le emperors and believed to be built on the original foundations of the old palaces from the 11th and 12th centuries.

After visiting the Ancient Capital, you will be transferred to Tam Coc, stop en-route to take photographs of the local villages and stunning landscape. Lunch will be served at a local restaurant (serving local specialties with vegetarian meals upon request).

After lunch and a short rest, board a sampan to visit Tam Coc (Three Caves), rowing down the river among the villages, mountains and lush green rice fields. Known as “Halong Bay on land”, Tam Coc are three limestone caves stretching along the splendid Ngo Dong River. During the boat trip, you will enjoy the impressive natural landscape, reflexing the spectacular Limestone Mountains, rice paddies, and temples. Pass through 3 caves to get a unique feeling of the mesmerizing underground system. Your boat will return to the dock and you will be taken back to Hanoi.

Your evening will be yours at leisure.

Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch
Overnight in Hanoi

After breakfast you will leave the busy streets of Hanoi behind, bound for the serenity of Halong Bay where you will discover the UNESCO World Heritage-listed landscapes. The limestone karsts and tropical islets rising up from the emerald waters provide an ethereal backdrop for your leisurely cruise.

Once there, you’ll be welcomed aboard your traditional-style Vietnamese Junk boat, each with its own individual route, to begin your cruise around the bay’s rocky islands and hidden caves.

After lunch on board, you will take a small boat transfer to the Tien Ong Cave and Cua Van Fishing Village, whose residents still live in traditional floating houses.

Return to your Junk boat for a cooking demonstration with the chef or enjoy a mesmerising sunset on the top deck before enjoying a scrumptious dinner and a peaceful overnight stay in this UNESCO-listed natural wonder.

Note: If your time permits, we would highly recommend an additional night on board which gives you a lot more time to relax and take in the amazing landscape. You’ll get to cruise deeper into the Bay where it’s more beautiful and less crowded. 

Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Overnight on board in Halong Bay

The graceful practice of Tai Chi eases you into your day as is the local custom. Join a ‘Local Specialist’ on the deck of the Junk boat for a morning class in exquisite natural surrounds. You’ll have time for an early morning swim at one of Halong Bay’s quiet beaches and, if you’re feeling energetic, a brisk walk to catch one last view of scenic Halong Bay before your drive to Hanoi.

The remainder of the day will be free at your leisure. You can consider joining our recommended optional experience below.

Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch
Overnight in Hanoi

The whole morning will be free at your leisure. Check out of the hotel at 12.00 and then you will be transferred to the airport for a short flight to Chiang Mai.

On arrival, transfer to your hotel in Chiang Mai for check-in.

Meals included: Breakfast
Overnight in Chiang Mai

Depart from your hotel and transfer to the foothill of DoiSuthep Mountain in time to buy offerings and join the locals during the daily alms giving ceremony. This is a serene Buddhist procession where dozens of monks walk barefoot through the street collecting food and everyday items. Continue up the mountain to WatDoiSuthep and climb the 309 steps of the Golden Naga staircase to reach its golden pagodas.

Leaving WatDoiSuthep you will continue to discover one of the best–kept secret temples of Chiang Mai, Wat Palad, known as the Temple below the Temple. This temple is a significant element of the Chiang Mai area’s history with its temple grounds aged beyond 650 years old.

Next, proceed to Wat Umong, built in the 14th century, a heavily forested temple covered by moss and small plants offering a unique yet charming sense of natural decay. After a walk through its mysterious tunnels, you will reach the Viharn of the temple to experience your own private blessing ceremony.

After that, enjoy this lovely day with a delicious bowl of Khao Soy. This famous Northern Thai dish is a combination of coconut cream, crispy noodles and plenty of spice that is sure to delight!

After lunch, you will visit the Three Kings Monument, followed by Chiang Mai City Arts and Culture Center, located in an old building of elegant architectural design, built in 1927. Standing on the location of a former royal hall, the building was used as the central administrative office of Phayap administrative unit of Siam, and later as the Provincial Hall of Chiang Mai. (Note: Chiang Mai City Arts and Culture Center is closed on Mondays and during Songkran festival. Open from Tuesday – Sundays: 08:30 – 17:00)

Later, discover the lost city of WiangKumKam, “The Underground Empire,” one of the greatest cultural and historical significances. Following a massive flood, the city of WiangKumKam vanished without a trace. For over 200 years, WiangKumKam became a lost civilization buried under layers of earth. You will explore the main ancient ruined temples by bicycle: WiangKumKam, WatChedi Liam, Wat Phraya MengRai, WatKan Thom, and Koo Paa Dom.

Return to the hotel in the late afternoon where the balance of the day will be free at your leisure.

Meals included: Breakfast.
Overnight in Chiang Mai

After breakfast, depart Chiang Mai and embark on a scenic journey to Chiang Rai, a city near the borders of Laos and Myanmar (formerly Burma).

The first stop will be Maekhajan hot springs, a good spot to take a morning cup of coffee before heading up towards the stunning Wat Rong Khun often named The White Temple due do its dazzling white colour inlaid with mirrored glass. After that you will continue up to the Golden Triangle, where you will embark on a boat trip across the Mekong River to the Laos side.

The tour will proceed to Mae Sai the Thai border town with Myanmar this is a good spot for some shopping, local dry foodstuffs and Chinese imports and counterfeit goods are all in abundance here. You will also get a glimpse of Myanmar itself with it only being situated a mere ten meters away across the river. On the return leg to Chiang Mai, make a short stop to visit Akha/Meo hill tribe village as well as the Karen Long Neck village.

Note: You will be required to show your original passport if you want to take the boat ride on the Mekong to the Laos side. Please bring this with you if you want to take this option.

Return to Chiang Mai in the late afternoon and you will be dropped off at your hotel. The rest of the day will be on your own.

Meals included: Breakfast.
Overnight in Chiang Mai

Cooking is considered an art-form by many people. If you’re looking for a place to learn about Thai food and Chiang Mai culture, Asia Scenic Thai Cooking School is one of your choices. Welcome to Asia Scenic Thai Cooking School Chiang Mai. Although there are multiple Thai cooking schools in Chiang Mai, Thailand, Asia Scenic Thai Cooking is more than just a school, it is rather an extension of a home and an opportunity to share Thai cooking and culture. Asia Scenic Thai cooking school does not just teach you to follow the teacher or the cookbook but teach you how to be creative and understand the basic of cooking Thai food. What you will love the most that they do not have a fixed menu for you. You will cook what you wish to cook. You will realize that you are learning the traditional lifestyle, learning how to grow vegetables and herbs, as well as the various traditional performing arts.

What makes Asia Scenic Thai Cooking School superior to other cooking schools: our flair for the artistry of Thai cooking paired with exquisite attention to Thai culture’s captivating details.

· Created and cared for by a true Thai family.
· Tasting herbs from our very own garden.
· Experienced and authentic teachers; all Thai people can cook but not all Thai people can teach you how to cook.
· Cookbook that comes with the courses has been written by Gayray. All details and pictures step by step that makes it easier when you are cooking alone at your own home.

Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch.
Overnight in Chiang Mai

Your private transfer greets you at the hotel after breakfast and escorts you to Chiang Mai International Airport where you board your flight home or travel on to more adventures, we will help you with the planning.

Meals included: Breakfast