Travel to Vietnam and Thailand

Day 1 – Hanoi Arrival

The trip to Vietnam and Thailand begins. We will arrive at Noi Bai airport in Hanoi. They will be waiting for us at departure to transfer us to the hotel. Check in at the hotel starts at 2:00 pm. In case you did not know: Hanoi is the capital of Vietnam and is renowned for its centuries-old architecture and rich culture of Chinese, French and Southeast Asian influence. At the heart of the city lies its chaotic old quarter, whose narrow streets are laid out according to the trades practiced in them. Curious, isn’t it?

Did you know that ….

The Vietnamese hat is one of the key symbols of the country. It is called Nón Lá and has different uses. The most obvious is to protect from the sun, since in this nation the ideal of beauty is white skin. To protect from the rain, to collect rainwater and as a basket to carry different fruits.

Day 2 – Hanoi City Tour

After breakfast at the hotel, we will depart around 8:00 am to start our adventure. Today we will visit the highlights of Hanoi. Such as:

• Ba Dinh Square and Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum Complex: It is the name of a famous square in Hanoi, it is located in the center of Ba Dinh district; important site of tourism and pilgrimage, where President Ho Chi Minh read the proclamation of independence of the Democratic Republic of Vietnam on September 2, 1945. It is named after the Ba Đình Uprising, a rebellion against the French that took place in Vietnam in 1886 – 1887 as part of the Vương Cần movement. When Ho Chi Minh died, the granite Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum was built here to display his embalmed body.
• Tran Quoc Pagoda : The pagoda is located on the outskirts of wonderful Hanoi. A city with more than 10 lakes that is crossed by the Red River. It is now located in a corner of the West Lake. Its first location was on the banks of the Red River but, in the 17th century, it was moved to Ho Tay Lake. Tran Quoc means “Defense of the Fatherland”. It is one of the most beautiful pagodas in Hanoi. It measures 15 meters and has 11 floors (one for each of the Buddhist states that exist).
• The Temple of Literature: Its name is Van Mieu. It is the first university in Vietnam. The temple is a complex of buildings where temples and statues coexist with peaceful gardens where students relaxed; its construction was dedicated to Confucius in 1070 by the then King Lý Nhân Tông. Its illustration can be found on the back of the Vietnamese 100,000 dong banknote.
• Ancient Citadel: It is one of the most important historical corners, so much so that it has become one of the symbols of the city. It is the oldest place in the world where the government of a kingdom or empire has been maintained. In 2010 it was declared a World Heritage Site by Unesco.
  Ngoc Son Temple: It is the temple of Jade Mountain and one of the most representative of Hanoi. It is located on an island in the middle of Hoam Kiem Lake, this place is known for its wonderful red bridge, its beautiful location inside the lake and its iconic gateway called “The Moon Gate”.

Today includes lunch. After the tour we will return to the hotel where we will spend the night.

Day 3 – Hanoi-Halong Bay

After a hearty breakfast (included) at the hotel we will transfer to Halong Bay which is known for its thousands of towering limestone islands with tropical rainforests on their peaks and emerald waters. The region is famous for its diving, climbing and hiking options, especially in the mountainous Cát Bà Natural Park. On junk tours and kayaking expeditions, visitors sail around islands named after their shape (e.g. the Stone Dog and Teapot islets).

We will embark on a cruise where there will be a welcome drink reception to refresh us. While enjoying the beautiful scenery we will have lunch. Then we will have some time to kayak and have a relaxing moment. Also for the more curious, we will have the experience of squid fishing.

We will sail to one of the most beautiful caves on Halong Bay, where we will drop anchor for the night. This cave is called Ho Dong Tien and is very famous for its historical values, geology and beauty. After having an amazing day on the water we will have dinner on board the cruise ship and have time for a drink on the upper deck to appreciate the beautiful views.

Day 4 – Halong Bay – Hanoi – Flight To Danang

Good day! Hope you didn’t get seasick. It’s time to start the next day. After breakfast on the cruise ship we will visit Sung Sot Cave, better known as Surprise Cave, the largest cave in the Bay. This karst limestone grotto is a rewarding experience after a tough climb to Bo Hon Island, northwest of Ha Long Bay. It measures about 10,000 square meters and consists of two caverns, both incredibly beautiful and impressive. It is a great experience because when you are there you enter another dimension; where the mystery of the Sung Sot Cave mixes with the diffuse and dim light of the outside. I hope you don’t get claustrophobic, because this is another world!

Afterwards we will cross emblematic islets such as the Fighting Cocks or the Stone Dog Islands. For a culinary experience we will have a Vietnamese cooking class demonstration by the chef and an included brunch on board before arriving in port.

Once on land, we will transfer to the airport for our flight to Danang. Upon arrival, we will transfer to the hotel to check in, drop off our bags, take a refreshing swim and go out to experience the city’s nightlife. If there is enough time we can go to see the dragon bridge.

Day 5 – Free Morning – Transfer To Hoian

Fifth day of this amazing trip to Vietnam and Thailand: After breakfast you will have the morning free to enjoy the beach. Then we will meet for lunch and when we finish we will head to Hoian. On the way, we will stop to visit Marble Mountain, which is located between Hoian and Đà Nẵng. I tell you that these mountains are made up of five mountains whose names represent the five elements: Thuy Son (water), Hoa Son (fire), Kim Son (metal), Moc Son (wood) and Tho Son (earth). Then we will transfer to the hotel for check in, stroll through the night market and take a boat ride on the river by lantern light.

Day 6 – Hoian-Visit.

Good morning! We will start with breakfast at the hotel, you need energy because we will visit the town of Hoian on foot. We will see its old houses, temples, the Japanese bridge and the central market of the village. Today, lunch will be in a local restaurant, what food will you try?

Day 7 – Hoian – Free Day (Hand Bridge Visit Option)

Can you believe we are already a week into this unforgettable trip to Vietnam and Thailand? I hope you didn’t get too tired yesterday. Today you will have a free day to do whatever you want and discover Hoian at your leisure. After breakfast at the hotel you can go out for a city tour. Lunch will be at the hotel and you will be free again since there will be no guide service or transportation today.

Hey… Don’t forget to buy souvenirs for home. Today we offer as an optional activity an excursion to Bana Hill, the famous Golden Bridge.

Day 8 – Hoian-Danang- Departure & Bangkok Arrival

Are you all set? Leave your bags ready, because after breakfast at the hotel you will have the day free to see the last places you have left to visit. And then we will transfer to the airport to take a flight to Thailand.

When we arrive at Suvarnabhumi airport, we will transfer to the hotel. Check in starts at 14:00 hrs. So we will have a welcome at the hotel. We will give you a brief introduction of your trip and we will solve together any questions you may have. Up we are in Bangkok! There is still a lot to explore.

Did you know that…

Buddhism is the most practiced religion in the country, so much so that it is practiced by approximately 95% of the population.

Day 9 – Bangkok – City Tour

Up top folks, today we will have breakfast at the hotel. And then we will have a private tour of Bangkok with English speaking guide. We will have lunch later at a local restaurant, what would you like to try today?

In the afternoon we will visit the Grand Royal Palace of Bangkok and Wat Phra Kaeo. It is an impressive architectural complex that leaves no one indifferent. It is also the site of one of the symbols of the country and the most important temple, Wat Phra Kaeo, with its famous Emerald Buddha.

Then we will go to Wat Pho; in this temple you will see the largest reclining Buddha statue in Thailand. It is 46 meters long and 15 meters high. We will also be able to see the Buddhist tradition of distributing alms, in the back of the temple we will see dozens of containers and on a nearby table we will find urns with coins. If we want to do this tradition we can do it by grabbing one of the urns and pouring the coins into the different bowls.

Wat Arun, the temple of the dawn, on the other side of the Chao Praya River is one of the corners of the Thai capital that one can not and should not miss if you visit. In Thailand there are a total of 31,200 Buddhist temples Do we know them all ;P? The Wat Arun, which was erected in the early eighteenth century in honor of the Hindu god Aruna, stands out above all for the enormous size of its prang. This word is used to refer to the pyramid-shaped tower located in the very center of the temple (a fairly common element in the Hindu and Buddhist architecture of the Khmer Empire, although it was later adapted in Thailand, appearing only in the most important religious temples). It is said that architecturally Wat Arun represents Mount Meru, the center of the world according to Buddhist cosmology.

Day 10 – Bangkok

Do you still have energy? Of course you do. Today you can do the optional activity we have to offer: a private tour with an English speaking guide to Ayutthaya, the ancient capital of the Siam Empire. If you sign up for this activity we will leave the hotel at 8:00 am. We will visit Wat Phrasri Sanphet; which is the Temple of the Sacred, Splendid Omniscient, was the largest temple in the capital and was taken as a model for the Temple of the Emerald Buddha in Bangkok.

At Wat Mahathat, you can find one of the most famous and recognizable images of Thailand, a Buddha’s head entwined to the roots of a tree, “the Buddha of the roots”. It is a great mystery, it is not known for sure how the Buddha’s head came to be intertwined in such a way. It is said that the tree simply grew during the period that the place was abandoned, and there is another version that says that someone moved the Buddha’s head to that place to hide it since it was a very visited place by treasure hunters. And whoever wanted to hide the head never came back to pick it up.

Bang Pa, the former royal palace also known as the “Summer Palace”, is a complex of buildings formerly used by the kings of Thailand. The palace is located on the banks of the Chao Phraya River in the Bang Pa-En district of Ayutthaya province.
You will have lunch included in a local restaurant. We will taste the Candy Floss Roti, one of the most famous local delicacies, a crepe with cotton candy.

In the evening, we recommend you to visit the Talat Rot Fai market, a market on the train tracks; which was very successful from the first moment due to its retro style and vintage clothing, especially among the youth. In 2013 they had to move it due to the opening of a new station in the area. If you want to mingle with the Thai youth, buy cheap and cool stuff, eat well and have a drink while listening to live music, you will love this place.

Did you know…

Thailand is the only South Asian country that has not been colonized by Europeans. And here the King is revered as a god. A few years ago the King passed away and everyone was in mourning, so much so that no music could be heard and they were all in black.

Day 11 – Bangkok – Train & Floating Markets – Chiang Mai

We’re getting up early today! We will have an early breakfast at the hotel and leave at 7:00 am with your luggage ready to board the bus and go. We will visit a market on the train tracks, Mae Klong. It is a spectacle not to be missed, as every time the train passes they pick up everything in a minute. Surely you have seen it on the internet. It will leave you with your mouth open because everything seems to be perfectly synchronized. One of the most impressive places of this trip to Vietnam and Thailand.

We will also visit the most famous floating market in Thailand Damnoen Saduak. A labyrinth of narrow canals filled with traditional boats selling the products we will visit aboard a traditional boat.

Lunch will be at a local restaurant and then transfer to the airport for the flight to Chiang Mai. Upon arrival, we will be picked up at the airport and go directly to visit the city and visit:

Wat Phra Sing: It is a Buddhist complex consisting of several buildings and chedis that has become one of the main tourist attractions in Chiang Mai. It is located at the end of Ratchadamnoen Road within the walls of the old city. In the temple there is a monastery and a school within its grounds. If you visit you will find school children playing soccer and takraw, locals participating in temple activities, novice monks sweeping the aisles, tourists visiting, and ice cream vendors strolling their carts in the gardens. Wat Chedi Luang: It is a Buddhist Temple. One of the most revered and most important in Thailand. For a long time it had in its interior the image of the Emerald Buddha, the great emblem and standard of Siam.

Wat Srisuphan: It is the silver temple in Chiang Mai, one of the most characteristic temples of Chiang Mai. It has been renovated several times and from the original temple only the stones of the ordination hall remain. What differentiates this temple and makes it really special from the rest of the temples in Chiang Mai and Thailand is that it has been covered with silver. Something that is surprising is that women are not allowed to enter the ordination hall due to the energy charge and religious symbolism that the monks attach to it. what do you think?

If we don’t have the time to visit all these places, don’t worry, we will do the tour tomorrow.

We hope you enjoyed the tour as much as we did.

Included:

• Lodging and breakfast in the indicated hotels or similar.
• Group transfers included
• Domestic flights BANGKOK – CHIANG MAI / CHIANG RAI – KRABI
• Domestic flights HANOI-DANANG/ DANANG- BANGKOK
• Three lunches included in Thailand
• 5 lunches, 1 Brunch and 1 dinner included in Vietnam
• Excursions indicated in private with English speaking guide.
• Spanish-speaking guide accompanying the group throughout the trip,
• Government taxes and other service charges.
• Phi Phi Hopping Island Tour
• Elephant sanctuary is optional
• Entrance fees to the sightseeing places specified in the program.
• 24 hours assistance in English

Vietnam Hotels:

• Hanoi- Lan Vien Hotel
• Halong Bay-Bhaya Cruise
• Danang-Stella Maris Beach Hotel
• Hoian-Silk Luxury Hotel

Thailand Hotels:

• Bangkok-Furama Silom
• Chiang Mai-Duangtawan
• Chiang Rai-Wiang Inn
• Krabi-Holiday Inn Ao Nang
• Kho Phi Phi- Phi Phi Island Village
• Phuket- Best Western Plus Beachfront

Not included:

• Drinks and other meals not mentioned.
• Tips
• Supplement for special meal requests.
  meals.
• Entrance fees and services during free time.
• Travel insurance.
• International flight
• Service fees Visa if necessary.

Optional Activities:

Bangkok-Ayutthaya:

Private tour with English-speaking guide to Ayutthaya, ancient capital of the Siam Empire. Departure from the hotel at 8:00 am. We will visit Wat Phrasri Sanphet ; is the Temple of the Sacred, Splendid Omniscient, was the largest and most sacred temple in the capital was taken as a model for the Temple of the Emerald Buddha in Bangkok located in the old royal palace in the ancient Thai capital of Ayutthaya . and Wat Mahathat, you can find one of the most famous and recognizable images of Thailand, a Buddha head intertwined with the roots of a tree, “the Buddha of the roots”. It is a great mystery, it is not known for sure how the Buddha’s head came to be intertwined in such a way. It is said that the tree simply grew during the period that the place was abandoned, and there is another version that says that someone moved the Buddha’s head to that place to hide it since it was a very visited place by treasure hunters. And whoever wanted to hide the head never came back to pick it up.

Bang Pa, the former royal palace also known as the “Summer Palace”, being a complex of buildings formerly used by the kings of Thailand. The palace is located on the banks of the Chao Phraya River in the Bang Pa-En district of Ayutthaya province.
You will have lunch included in a local restaurant. We will try Candy Floss Roti, one of the most famous local delicacies, a crepe with cotton candy.

Chiang Mai- Kanta Elephant Sanctuary:

The activity consists of living with the elephants where you will have the opportunity to feed them for a while with bamboo, you can touch them, take pictures and interact with them, and after that time they will give you some dippers and brushes so you can get into the water to bathe them and play with them.

The maximum is 30 people per group for a full day activity. If there are more than 30 people, the group will be divided and a half day tour will be done.

Overnight in Chiang Mai.

Krabi – 4 Islands Tour

Transfer to the pier to take a speedboat. We will head to the Tab Islands, two islands that, depending on the tide, are joined by a tongue of sand. Then we will continue to Chicken Island, so named because of its shape. Lunch included on Poda Island, with its white sand beaches and turquoise water full of colorful fish, where we can snorkel.
Finally, we will have the last stop at Phranang Beach, perfect for a swim and relax
for a swim and relax from so many activities.

Krabi – Hong Island Tour

Transfer to the pier to take a speedboat to the “hidden lagoon of Hong”,
where we will be amazed by the rock formations and endemic flora of the cliffs and we can snorkel. We will visit Pak Bia and Lading islands, where we will be able to swim with hundreds of
where we can swim with hundreds of colorful fish.

Krabi- James Bond Island: 

We will go by speedboat to visit one of the most famous national parks, Ao Phang Nga Bay. We will sail through the mystical mountains around the bay and the fishermen’s village. We will be enchanted by the beautiful islets stretching in the distance and visit one of the most iconic spots in the country, James Bond Island, where “007 The Man with the Golden Gun” was filmed.

Overnight in Krabi.