PROGRAM DETAIL
Day 01 . Sun 18 February 2018 : Arrival - Chiang Mai (-) | Driver
*Flight: BKK - CNX PG906 (17.10 - 18.25)
Upon arrival at Chiang Mai, you will be picked up then transfered to hotel. Check in and freeat your leisure time.
Overnight in Chiang Mai.
Day 02 . Mon 19 February 2018 : Chiang Mai Long Neck Village Queen Sirikit Botanic Garden – Doi Suthep (B, L) | Guide and driver
You’ll have time to explore the village of Baan Thong Luang. You’ll have ample time to explore the village of this hill tribe, which migrated from Myanmar (Burma) and retains its cultural traditions and customs, including the brass rings the women wear around their necks as a sign of tribal and individual identity. Your guide will tell you about the hill tribe’s subsistence farming and point out their unique crafts, including beautifully woven textiles. Continue to visit Queen Sirikit Botanic Garden (QSBG), or formerly known as Mae Sa Botanic Garden, is the first botanical garden of the country at international standards for there are scientific basis and purposes for the collections, and the provision of botanical education. Lunch at local restaurant. After visit Wat Prathat DoiSuthep, the most famous landmark of Chiang Mai. Its exquisite golden pagoda with 6 kg of pure gold at its peak and the rest plated with gold shines high over the city. The sound of temple bells fills the air, and the view down over the city makes an irresistible photo opportunity. Return to hotel.
Overnight in Chiang Mai.
*Meals included: Lunch (fish or vegetarian food)
Day 03 . Tue 20 February 2018 : DoiInthanon Nation Park Tour (B, L) | Guide and driver
After breakfast. Today on this tour you can cool off on Thailand's highest peak while taking in the vistas below of DoiInthanon National Park. Night time temperatures on the peak ban be as low as -8 degrees centigrade. In the cold/dry season night time frosts are common. In fact on top of the mountain the climate is closer to that of Canada than that of lowland Thailand. Day time temperatures can be surprisingly cold so not forget a long sleeve jumper. On the way up we will visit Wachiritharn and Siritharn Waterfalls and the agricultural work at the Royal Project Research Station, the king and queen chedi's, (the best views across the park are found here), then on to the peak of DoiInthanon the highest mountain in Thailand. Near the top we will take the Angkha nature walk where you can walk amongst the unique flora and forest at this altitude. There are both Karen and Hmong villages in the bounds of Doi Inthanon and we will see a Karen village on the way down the mountain before making our way back to Chiang Mai.
Overnight in Chiang Mai.
*Meals included: Lunch (fish or vegetarian food)
Day 04 . Wed 21 February 2018 : Chiang Mai Temple Tour - Elephant Twilight Half Day at Elephant Nature Park (B) | Guide and driver
Morning, transfer to visit Wat Chedi Luang (temple of the big stupa) and Wat Pra Singha, they are most important temples in Chiang Mai. Later we leave to Elephant Nature Park.
Elephant Twilight is a special, small group “saddle off!” program in cooperation with a local village settlement to the south-west of Chiang Mai city. This trip is suitable for families and guest of all ages. With no riding, you will feed the elephants in the afternoon and then walk with the beautiful elephant family along the river side among the peaceful twilight witnessing their natural behaviours and sense of freedom, experiencing Thai Traditional - Cultural show from local students and enjoy vegetarian buffet - BBQ. Return to your hotel.
Overnight in Chiang Mai.
Day 05 . Thu 22 February 2018 : Chiang Mai - Fly to Saigon (B) | Guide and driver
Free time till transfer to airport for your flight to Saigon.
*Flight: CNX - SGN H14082 (14.20 - 16.25)
Upon arrival at Saigon, meet your guide and transfer to your hotel.
Overnight in Saigon.
Day 06 . Fri 23 February 2018 : Saigon - Cu Chi Tunnels - Saigon city tour (B) | Guide and driver
After breakfast, drive to Cu Chi, the famous network of tunnels were used as the base from which the Vietnamese mounted their operations of the Tet Offensive in 1968. The Cu Chi Tunnels consist of more than 250km of underground tunnels. This main axis system has many branches connecting to underground hideouts, shelters, and entrances to other tunnels. The tunnels are between 0.5 to 1m wide, just enough for a person to crawl along. Lunch on your own.
Afternoon visit Reunification Palace - the former Presidential Palace of Southern Vietnamese Government before 1975. Then visit Notre Dame Cathedral, and Central Post Office. Visit Historical Museum (or War Museum) before taking an orientation walk along Dong Khoi and Nguyen Hue streets where you can get the great view of Hotel de Ville – the famous city hall in Saigon. Transfer back to hotel around 17h00.
Overnight in Saigon.
Day 07 . Sat 24 February 2018 : Saigon free (B) |
Free time at your leisure.
Overnight in Saigon.
Day 08 . Sun 25 February 2018 : Saigon - Ben Tre - Fly to Hanoi (B, L) | Guide and driver
Departure from the hotel at 8am to Ben Tre province in the Mekong Delta. Arrive at Hung Vuong Pier (Ben Tre town) 90km far from SaiGon, embark and cruise along the Ben Tre River, then visit an artisanal brick factory and its imposing ovens. Next, stop for a sweet break to discover how coconut flesh is used and processed. (tea time in a coconut cadies manufacture). A short bike ride or tuktuk (motorcycle, allowing transporting 6 passengers) will allow you to explore the countryside, and make a stop at a family braiding mats. Lunch in a local restaurant offering typical dishes. Then, boarded a rowing boat to join the canal through a maze of arroyos and return to the landing stage.
Drive straight to Tan Son Nhat airport for your flight to Hanoi.
*Flight: SGN - HAN VN272 (19.00 - 21.10)
Pick up upon arrival and transfer to hotel.
Overnight in Hanoi.
*Meals included: Lunch (fish or vegetarian food)
Day 09 . Mon 26 February 2018 : Hanoi - Halong Bay with LaFairy Sails (B, L, D) | Guide and driver
08:30: Our guide and van will pick you up at hotel and transfer you to Halong Bay, passing beautiful scenery along the way full of lush rice paddies and winding rivers, typical of the Red River Delta.
12:00 – 12:30: Embark the LaFairy Sails at Tuan Chau International harbor. Enjoy welcome drink, cruise briefing & start cruising.
13:00 – 14:30: A sumptuous lunch is served while cruising into the magnificent Halong Bay with its thousands of extraordinarily shaped limestone islands, considered as the heaven on the Earth.
15:15 – 15:45: Explore Lờm Bò area and be charmed by this outstanding masterpiece of Mother Nature. Visit Mê Cung Cave – one of the most beautiful caves in Halong Bay and climb up to see the panoramic view of the bay from above
16:00 – 16:45: Explore Ngoc Trai area by kayaking.
17:00 – 19:00: Return to the LaFairy Sails for a Sunset party to admire the best moments of the day when the sun starts to set. Enjoy everyday promotion HAPPY HOUR - BUY 2 GET 1 FREE all beverages from 5 to 6pm.
19:00: Savor a sparkling and dreamlike dinner on top deck under the light of a thousand stars in middle of the tranquil Bay with extremely delicious food and be awed by a fascinating fruit and vegetable carving show. Delight in traditional music performances. Afterwards, socialize with the artist, new friends and crew members, join squid fishing.
Overnight onboard.
*Meals included: Lunch & Dinner onboard (fish or vegetarian food)
Day 10 . Tue 27 February 2018 : Halong – Hanoi (B, L) | Guide and driver
06:30 – 07:00: Start your new day with a Tai Chi session or a photo hunt.
07:15 – 08:00: Enjoy breakfast in the fresh air and peaceful beauty of the Bay.
08:15 – 09:15: Visit Titov Island for swimming in the emerald water. Then hike up to the top of the island to take the breathtaking panoramic view of the Bay.
09:45 – 10:15: Pack your luggage and check out of the cabin while cruising towards the harbor.
10:15 – 11:45: Join a cooking demonstration before enjoying an exceptional Buffet lunch.
12:00 – 12:30: Disembark the LaFairy Sails & Farewell. Drive back to Hanoi.
16:30 - 17:00: Drop off at your hotel.
Overnight in Hanoi.
*Meals included: Breakfast and Lunch onboard (fish or vegetarian food)
Day 11 . Wed 28 February 2018 : Hanoi city tour (B) | Guide and driver
You will be picked up at the hotel at 8:00 am. Starting the day trip will be a visit of the Ho Chi Minh Complex, which compromises Ho Chi Minh’s mausoleum (closed on Mondays & Fridays), his former stilt-house residence, the Presidential Palace and Ho Chi Minh Museum. We will then visit the Temple of Literature constructed in 1070 to worship Confucius, which served as the first Royal National University in Vietnam. The site also honors 82 Vietnamese doctorates who passed a number of rigid exams in the feudal ages. Their names, birthdays and birthplaces are engraved in 82 headstones perched on stone tortoises. It is widely believed that touching the heads of these tortoises will bring luck. Its peaceful green compound with its neatly maintained lawns, gardens and lotus ponds make it a tranquil hideaway from the city’s bustle and heat. Lunch on your own.
Afternoon visit Ethnology Museum in which you can study the great outline of 54 ethics people living in Vietnam. This museum is the only one in Vietnam that many artifacts display in there still exist in the life of local people but not extinct like most of the museums, that will create very good reflection about the life, culture, customs, religions and costumes of Vietnamese people. Back to the center of the city for the short walk to discover the Old Quarter. Your tour will be concluded with great experience of Water Puppet show - the unique art of Vietnamese people from Red River.
Overnight in Hanoi.
Day 12 . Thu 01 March 2018 : Hanoi departure (B) | Guide and driver
9h40: Transfer to Noi Bai airport for your departure flight.
*Flight: HAN - BKK PG4284 (12.40 - 14.45)