16 Days Thailand, Vietnam, and Cambodia Discovery with History of Killing Fields

ITINERARY

Day 1: Bangkok | Arrive in Bangkok | Explore Bangkok | Dinner Na Aroon

International Flight: Excluded
Meals: Dinner
Welcome to Thailand! Upon arrival, our guide will greet you at the airport and transfer you to the hotel for check-in.

In the afternoon, go with our guide to explore Bangkok thru various modes of transport. Hop on a ferry to cross the river. On the other side, you’ll get in the back of a Tuk Tuk. Continue to the Amulet Market for a visit. Continue on Tuk Tuk to Wat Saket – The Temple of the Golden Mountain and visit this beautiful temple with great views all around. Back in the Tuk Tuk, continue to the National Stadium BTS Station. Continue along the BTS Skytrain for a scenic view of Bangkok’s skyline and metropolis. Stop at either Lumphini Park or at Central World Shopping Mall.

Enjoy an exquisite vegetarian dinner at Na Aroon Restaurant. Delicious Thai dishes brought to your table in 5 creative courses with complimentary tea or coffee. Then return back to the Hotel for overnight.

Bangkok Royal Palace – 16 Days Thailand Vietnam Cambodia Discovery History of Killing Fields

Accommodation: Sala Rattanakosin

Day 2: Bangkok | Bangkok by Boat | Kudi Chin Community

Meals: Breakfast
In the early morning, take a traditional long-tail boat to Wat Arun – the Temple of the Dawn to enjoy a stunning view and explore the gem of Bangkok.

Continue to one of the must-see sights, the spectacular Grand Palace, undoubtedly the city’s most famous landmark. Built in 1782- and for 150 years the home of the Thai King, the Royal court and the administrative seat of government – the Grand Palace of Bangkok is a grand old dame indeed, that continues to have visitors in awe with its beautiful architecture and intricate detail, all of which is a proud salute to the creativity and craftsmanship of Thai people.

Within its walls were also the Thai war ministry, state departments, and even the mint. Today, the complex remains the spiritual heart of the Thai Kingdom. Within the palace complex are several impressive buildings including Wat Phra Kaew (Temple of the Emerald Buddha), which contains the small, very famous and greatly revered Emerald Buddha that dates back to the 14th century. The robes on the Buddha are changed with the seasons by HM The King of Thailand and forms an important ritual in the Buddhist calendar. Thai Kings stopped living in the palace around the turn of the twentieth century, but the palace complex is still used to mark all kinds of other ceremonial and auspicious happenings.

The old community in the capital

In the afternoon, you’ll take a trip to one of the oldest communities in Bangkok. After the fall of the Ayutthaya Kingdom in 1767, the Kudi Chin relocated to Bangkok along with the Siamese. It hosts the oldest church in Bangkok, Santa Cruz Church (Catholic) built-in 1769 after the Thai king Taksin granted land to the Kudi people. The diverse community is also home to Kanlayanamit Temple (Buddhism), Kudi Khao Mosque (Muslim), and the Kuan Un Keng Shrine (Chinese Buddhism). Explore the community with our guide and visit the main religious monuments to get a feel for the culture. Feel free to have our guide assist with communication and translation as you make new friends. Return to the hotel when you’re finished exploring.

Accommodation: Sala Rattanakosin

Day 3: Bangkok – Chiang Mai | Fly to Chiang Mai | Elephant Sanctuary Afternoon

Internal Flight: Included
Meals: Breakfast

Board a morning flight to Chiang Mai. Upon arrival, our guide will greet you at the airport and transfer you to the hotel for check-in. In the afternoon, you will join in a tour to an elephant sanctuary in the jungles near Chiang Mai by 4WD truck (2-hour transfer). First, you’ll learn about the project and hear the amazing stories of each rescued and orphaned elephant. Learn how they became a proud herd free from abuse and misuse. Then have an opportunity to feed them. Next, enjoy a picnic spread. Then take a stroll with the herd to the nearby river. Here you will have the opportunity to observe or participate in bathing the elephants with the sanctuary staff.

After you have said your farewells, return back to the hotel for overnight.

Accommodation: Rimping Village Hotel

Day 4: Chiang Mai | Tea Plantations and Hill Tribes

Meals: Breakfast
Rise early morning to join locals in visiting a Buddhist monastery. You can watch or participate in offering alms to Buddhist monks at Wat Srisodain. Return to the hotel for breakfast.

Then take a trip up in the hills and visit a tea plantation (1-hour transfer). Take a seat above the terraces flowing with arched rows of green tea shrubs while you sip on a fresh cup of hot Oolong. Explore the tea plantation to learn a little about the process of cultivating and harvesting tea. Then continue to a H’mong hill tribe village, who refer to themselves as Meo. Have the opportunity to see their unique apparel and simple way of living. Meo families take a great deal of pride in their herbal gardens.

Tea Plantation – 16 Days Thailand Vietnam Cambodia Discovery History of Killing Fields

Accommodation: Rimping Village Hotel

Day 5: Chiang Mai – Siem Reap | Chiang Mai Temples | Flight to Siem Reap (via Bangkok)

Internal Flight: Included
Meals: Breakfast
In the morning, visit the most prominent temples in Chiang Mai. Start with Wat Phra Singh which houses the famous Phra Singh Buddha image. It features Lanna art throughout and illustrates many famous Buddhist stories. Continue on to Wat Chedi Luang, which once contained the Emerald Buddha. The temple is partially in ruins due to an earthquake in the 1500s. Then stop at Wat Chiang Man which is the oldest temple in Chiang Mai and also houses one of Thailand’s greatest treasures: the Crystal Buddha.

Then continue to Wat Suan Dok, which houses many of the remains of generations of the old Chiang Mai Royal Family. Finally, visit Wat Jet Yot – this peaceful temple is surrounded by green and was built in the Mahabodhi style from India to house the Eighth World Buddhist Council in 1453.

You’ll transfer by afternoon flight to Siem Reap with a short stopover in Bangkok. Upon arrival, our guide will greet you at the airport and transfer you to the hotel for check-in.

Accommodation: Memoire D’Angkor Boutique Hotel

Day 6: Siem Reap | Angkor Thom by Bicycle | Killing Fields at Wat Thmei | Phare Circus

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch

Enjoy a relaxing cycling tour in the morning in ancient Angkor Thom – a stone city built around the time of Angkor Wat.

The biking tour will start at the South Gate – a photogenic bridge at the gateway of the stone city of Angkor Thom which has made its way into many Hollywood movies. Angkor Thom which was the last and most enduring capital city of the Khmer Empire. Enter the stone city and explore shaded trails and ancient monuments. Visit Bayon Temple where you will be surrounded by 216 gigantic stone faces which fame as “Khmer Smile”, you will also visit the Terrace of Elephants, the Royal Palace and the Terrace of the Leper King. Stop your cycling trip with a visit to the local monastery to chat with monks and see their daily life.

On the way back, stop to see the Killing Fields of Wat Thmei. Our guide will relay to you about the history of the Khmer Rouge, Pol Pot and the war. Cambodia is still healing from these atrocities.

In the evening, you’ll go to visit Phare Cambodian Circus. Be amazed by stunts and choreography unique to Cambodia’s performing arts. You’ll watch as a story written by locals is acted out with an impressive stage show. Be prepared for laughter and wonder as you enjoy the performance. After the hour-long spectacle, you’ll return to your hotel for the evening.

Accommodation: Memoire D’Angkor Boutique Hotel

Day 7: Siem Reap | Angkor Wat Sunrise

Meals: Breakfast
Before the light of the day, our guide will pick you up from the hotel and transfer you to the front of Angkor Wat Temple. From here, you’ll watch one of the most revered sunrises in the world. Then in the early hours, you’ll explore the vast temple with your guide bringing to life the stories of Angkor. In the morning, the rays of the light play through the chambers as the morning haze settles and giving the temple a mystical ambiance while there are few tourists who visit during this time of day.

Angkor Wat Temple – 16 Days Thailand Vietnam Cambodia Discovery History of Killing Fields

Accommodation: Memoire D’Angkor Boutique Hotel

Day 8: Siem Reap | Banteay Srei: Citadel of Women | Water Filter Donation | Apsara Dinner Performance

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

After breakfast, start the trip to discover Banteay Srei Temple: The Citadel of Women. Built-in the 10th century and dedicated to the Hindu god Shiva, this temple lies near the hill of Phnom Dei tucked away in the remote jungle north of Angkor Wat. Banteay Srei is built largely of red sandstone, a medium that lends itself to the elaborate decorative wall carvings, which are still in excellent condition to this day. The structures are miniature in scale, but the attention to detail is unmatched among all the temples in Southeast Asia. These factors have made the temple a place of intrigue and wonder, which have led to it being widely praised as a “precious gem”, or the “jewel of Khmer art.”
Next, go with our guide to visit a small village where a water filtration system* has been donated on your behalf. You’ll have a chance to meet with locals. The water filtration system will be able to provide potable/drinking water to the family. We can also arrange to have your logo or names painted on the filter ahead of time. The guide will help to translate.

Optional recommendation:

We suggest that if you have any used children’s books in your home that you no longer need, you may bring them with to donate to the children in the village. This can impact the village children to focus on their education and provide them English reading materials not available from their school (public schools in Cambodia do not teach English). Having English as a skillset can allow them the opportunity to work in tourism or business – which has a much higher earning potential than being a rice farmer.

*More information on the slow sand water filtration system provided can be found on the Center for Disease Control website here: https://www.cdc.gov/safewater/sand-filtration.html. We coordinate with waterforcambodia.org to have the filters made and for coordinating with local government authorities in establishing which families need a filter. Water for Cambodia is a non-profit supported by Rotary International and The Singapore International Foundation.

Be prepared to enjoy a beautiful traditional dance performed by a team trained in the Dance of Apsara.

In the evening, you will be picked up from the hotel lobby and transferred to Angkor Village Hotel Theater for a traditional Apsara Dinner Show. where you will have a unique dinner experience which will bring ancient Khmer culture to life in spectacular surroundings while you enjoy the very best in Cambodia cuisine. This one-of-a-kind cultural experience highlights the mysterious civilization and heritage of Khmer spoken through choreography and music. Colorful costumes and playful activities will give you insights into the Khmer daily life and wedding traditions while you enjoy a delicious meal to welcome you to the Kingdom of Wonders.

Accommodation: Memoire D’Angkor Boutique Hotel

Day 9: Siem Reap – Hoi An | Flight to Hoi An

Internal Flight: Included
Meals: Breakfast
You’ll transfer by flight to Hoi An. Upon arrival, our guide will greet you at the airport and transfer you to the hotel for check-in.

Accommodation: Boutique Hoi An Resort

Day 10: Hoi An | Relax on the Beach | Hoi An Ancient Town at Dusk

Meals: Breakfast
Morning is at your leisure to relax on the beautiful beaches of Hoi An. Across the sea, you’ll see the Cham islands. Feel free to join or start up a game of volleyball, or just soak up the sun on the sandy beaches.

In the afternoon, transfer with our guide to Hoi An Ancient Town. This town features the 16th-century Hoi An port town in it’s preserved state. You’ll start the day visiting the Museum of Trade Ceramics. This museum houses art and pottery dating from the 1,500s to the 1,700s.

Then you’ll briefly visit the Chua Ong Pagoda, a temple from the 17th century which features China’s influence in the region. You’ll continue through the Ancient Town as the streets take on a magic of their own with old lanterns, French-style houses, intricately carved wooden doors, and more. You’ll take a stroll through the Old Tam Ky House to see it’s imperial styles meshed with French overtures. Continue on to stroll along the river and see traditional boats and locals on bicycles passing by. You’ll then approach the Japanese Covered Bridge. This bridge has connected the Chinese and Japanese sides of town over the waterway for centuries. The old wooden structure has shown amazing resilience for more than 400 years.

At dusk, enjoy walking along the riverside as old colorful lanterns light up the town. After you’ve finished the tour, return to the hotel.

Accommodation: Boutique Hoi An Resort

Day 11: Hoi An – Hue | Road Trip to Hue | Hue Imperial Highlights

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
Our guide will assist with checking you out of your hotel and then transfer by vehicle for a scenic ride along the mountain coasts of Vietnam. Start by riding alongside the beaches of Danang where you’ll see hundreds of traditional fishing boats scattered out along the water with beautiful mountains lining the horizon. Then you’ll approach a steep and narrow ascent where you’ll find the scenery surreal. Along the way, there is a stretch of road which overlooks a beautiful bay with a small fishing village, perfect for a Facebook portrait. You’ll continue your climb to a summit where the clouds will meet you. In Chinese, the summit is referred to as “Where the Clouds Meet the Ocean”. You’ll continue onward through mountains, valleys, countryside, and shorelines where you’ll find numerous breath-taking scenes. Feel free to request your driver to stop for photos along the way. As you enter Hue, you’ll see many imperial signs and impressive houses and buildings which are only a deluge of what’s to come. Continue to the hotel for check-in.

The Imperial Citadel of Hue

Your ventures will take you to lunch at a royal residence. These imperial styled houses near the Royal Citadel feature beautiful gardens, intricate furnishings, and detailed ornaments at every turn. Each dish highlights different aspects of Hue traditional food enjoyed by the royalty. The brilliant food presentation will be sure to leave a fond memory with you of this family-owned garden and restaurant.

In the afternoon, you’ll press onward to see the famed Imperial Hue Citadel – the old capital of Vietnam. This Citadel has a moat and wall perimeter 6 miles long. You’ll be able to view it’s vast gardens and structure relics. Then you’ll breach the outer perimeter of the Hue Imperial City. Inside, you’ll see many of the national treasures and structures which have survived the Vietnam War. Venture further inside and you’ll enter the Purple Forbidden City. This city was off-limits to the commoners and only could be entered by the highest officials in the Vietnamese government and royalty. Your driver will meet you on the other side of the city where you’ll then be escorted to a stop at the Dong Ba Market where you can see local fruits and produce for sale.

Hue Royal Citadel – 16 Days Thailand Vietnam Cambodia Discovery History of Killing Fields

Accommodation: Eldora Hotel

Day 12: Hue | Vietnam’s Demilitarized Zone

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
Explore the Demilitarized Zone in the area around the former border between North and South Vietnam.

After you’ve finished breakfast at the hotel, your private guide and car will greet you as you deploy to see some of the memorials of history and relics of war left in Vietnam. You’ll start your day by visiting Vinh Moc Tunnels. These interconnected caverns were built to shelter people from the intense bombing from American Forces. Walkthrough the narrow tunnels and see how people were living inside.

Visit the Ben Hai River, the natural border between North and South Vietnam. Here you can see the huge Hien Luong Bridge, which represented the desire for reunification after the national war.

Finally, you’ll finish visiting the McNamara Electric Fence, a multimillion-dollar secretive project from American Forces during the war.

Accommodation: Eldora Hotel

Day 13: Hue – Hanoi | Flight to Hanoi | Hanoi Highlights | Water Puppet Show and Dinner

Internal Flight: Included
Meals: Breakfast, Dinner
You’ll transfer by morning flight to Hanoi. Upon arrival, our guide will greet you at the airport and transfer you to the hotel for check-in.

In the afternoon, go with our guide to visit unique sites in the Millennium Old Capital if Vietnam. Start visiting the Temple of Literature. This ancient university was erected almost a millennium ago and has hosted many of the most prominent scholars through Vietnamese history. The site features many gardens, pools, buildings, and ancient trees where the best and brightest of Vietnam studied under the guidance of Confucius’s teachings. Continue to the Hanoi Hilton Prison to visit the location where POW soldiers were held during the war. Then visit Huu Tiep Lake where what remains of a felled B-52 Bomber protrudes out of the calm water.

Historical Hoan Kiem Lake

Next, you’ll take a stroll around the Hoan Kiem Lake where you can see the Tortoise Tower sitting on the water. Then you’ll enjoy a half-hour cyclo tour through the Old Quarter in Hanoi. The cyclo is a historic mode of transportation in the cities of Vietnam where a cyclist escorts you while you sit in a seat affixed to the front with a canopy over top. In the late afternoon, transfer to Tran Quoc Pagoda set on West Lake. This 1,400-year-old temple features ten tiers surrounded by gardens and which also hosts a bodhi tree grown from a cutting of the original Buddhist tree under which Buddha sat. The view of the pagoda and West Lake during dusk will keep your camera busy, weather permitting.

The evening will start with a Water Puppet Show performed by the world-renowned Thang Long Opera House. This performance features a talent unique to Vietnam. You’ll watch as water puppets perform the folklore legends of Vietnam while live ethnic music sets the mood.

After the show, you’ll enjoy traditional Vietnamese cuisine at Home Restaurant – a historic French colonial residence restored in between the Old Quarter and the serene West Lake. Enjoy fine Vietnamese cuisine. Once you finish your dinner, you’ll transfer to the hotel.

Accommodation: Silk Path Boutique Hotel

Day 14: Hanoi – Halong Bay | Halong Bay Luxury Cruise

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

In the morning, transfer to Haiphong with the cruise shuttle (3 hours) to the La Regina Private Lounge. Then board La Regina Legend Cruise.

Start with a welcome drink and a cold hand towel while the Cruise Manager gives the safety briefing. The boat starts to cruise to Lan Ha bay. A delicious set menu lunch is served in La Corona restaurant.

In the afternoon, take an excursion to discover Trung Trang cave, one of the iconic and historic caves in Cat Ba island.

As dusk approaches, welcome the beautiful sunset. Join a Cooking Class on the sundeck with the Chef to learn how to prepare an iconic dish. Then dinner is served on the sundeck, weather permitting.

In the evening, you can try Squid Fishing or watch a movie in the La Magia Restaurant on the third floor. Or perhaps some private time in your room. I do suggest keeping your eyes to the water for catching an iridescent light show from plankton and sea life, if conditions are right.

Accommodation: La Regina Legend Cruise

Day 15: Halong Bay – Hanoi | Halong Bay Sunrise | Return to Hanoi

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
Enjoy the sunrise over the bay followed by a Tai Chi session on the sundeck. A light breakfast is served in La Corona on the second floor. The boat anchors at Tra Bau area, where you’ll enjoy kayaking or swimming.

Return back to the boat for relaxing, packing up, and settling any bills. Brunch is served in the restaurant while the boat heads back to the harbor.

Bid the crew farewell and then transfer back to Hanoi.

Accommodation: Silk Path Boutique Hotel

Day 16: Hanoi | Farewell!

Meals: Breakfast
Today, our guide will transfer you to the airport to catch your flight back home and to bid you a fond farewell. Thank you for traveling with us!

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