Vietnam, Cambodia & Thailand

INCLUDING

✔ On-Tour Air included (5 flights)
✔ Guided visits to UNESCO World Heritage Sites including Angkor, Hué and Hoi An
✔ See Bangkok's golden Reclining Buddha, Hué's Imperial Citadel on the Perfume River, and the Cu Chi Tunnels of Vietnam
✔ Discover Southeast Asian life on the water on a cruise along the Perfume River in Hué, through the klongs of Bangkok, and on Siem Reap's Tonle Sap Lake
✔ A private tour of the Jim Thompson House, the art-filled home of an American-born silk entrepreneur and legendary figure in Bangkok
✔ A scenic drive to the hilltop, 14th-century temple of Wat Doi Suthep, overlooking the verdant landscape of Chiang Mai
✔ Hill tribe village visits to meet people of the Padong, Palong and Karen tribes of Chiang Mai
✔ A two-night resort stay on Vietnam's "new" China Beach, one of the finest beaches in Asia
✔ Airport transfers upon arrival and departure as noted
✔ 36 meals; service charges, taxes, gratuities to local guides and porterage

Horizons Elite's 16-day Thailand, Cambodia and Vietnam travel adventure encompasses the best of Southeast Asia as you explore the legendary cities of Hanoi, Hué, Ho Chi Minh City and Bangkok.

Discover golden Buddhas, ancient kingdoms, inspiring temples and lush landscapes, and experience the unique cultures and traditions of this fascinating area of the world for yourself... from a water puppet performance to ornate pagodas and soaring temple spires to gilded palaces and bamboo stilt houses. Explore Chiang Mai and cruise on the klongs of Bangkok. Discover poignant reminders of war in Vietnam like the Cu Chi Tunnels and notorious Hoa Lo Prison, and see the legacy of peace as you visit a kindergarten in Da Nang. Experience the grandeur and archaeological significance of UNESCO World Heritage Sites such as Angkor, Hoi An and Hué, and stay at the finest city hotels and word-class resorts.

DAY 1

Say hello to Hanoi

Tour begins: 6:00 PM, Sofitel Legend Metropole Hanoi. Welcome to Hanoi! A transfer is included from Noi Bai International Airport to the landmark Sofitel Legend Metropole Hanoi, your home for the next two nights, close to the historic Old Quarter and other notable attractions in Vietnam's capital city. Meet your Horizons Elite Director and your fellow adventurers at our welcome cocktail reception and dinner at Le Beaulieu this evening.

✔ Dinner
✔Sofitel Legend Metropole Hanoi (Accommodation)

DAY 2

A palace, a prison, pagodas & more in Hanoi

Begin your Vietnam tour with a day including a memorable buggy ride through the back streets of Old Hanoi; a visit to the Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum; the colonial Presidential Palace that Ho Chi Minh refused to live in, along with his "house on stilts"; the famous One-Pillar Pagoda, constructed in 1049 to resemble a lotus blossom; and a visit to the infamous Hoa Lo Prison, known as the "Hanoi Hilton" during the Vietnam War. Sample Vietnamese specialties for lunch, then spend the afternoon as you wish. An art form that is unique to Vietnam and popular since the 18th century entertains you this evening during an enchanting water puppet performance. Please Note: the Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum complex is closed each year for annual renovations from September to December; Ho Chi Minh's stilt house and the One-Pillar Pagoda are still open for viewing.

✔ Breakfast, Lunch
✔Sofitel Legend Metropole Hanoi (Accommodation)

DAY 3

World Heritage Site of Hué

No Vietnam travel experience would be complete without a visit to Hué, one of Vietnam's most beautiful cities, a UNESCO World Heritage Site; you'll arrive this morning following a flight to Da Nang. Upon arrival, enjoy lunch at your hotel, followed by a ride aboard a private, pedal-powered cyclo to explore Hué's Citadel – which housed the Imperial City for the emperor's official functions, and the Forbidden Purple City for his personal time. Late this afternoon, visit the tomb of 19th-century emperor Tu Duc – then settle in to your riverfront accommodations along the Perfume River.

✔ Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
✔Azerai La Residence, Hue (Accommodation)

DAY 4

The new "China Beach" in Da Nang

This morning, explore Hué's tranquil setting as you admire Thien Mu ("Heavenly Lady") Pagoda, a seven-story octagonal tower built in 1844, and cruise along the Perfume River; view the boats that continue to serve as complete family homes for many residents of Hué. Then take in the scenery along the Vietnamese coast and Hai Van Mountain during a drive to Da Nang and the 18-mile-long "China Beach" – made famous by the 1980s TV show of the same name and now a popular destination. You'll spend the next two nights at one of the most prestigious beachfront resorts in Vietnam, the Furama Resort Da Nang, set right on the shores of the South China Sea.

✔ Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
✔Furama Resort Da Nang (Accommodation)

DAY 5

Da Nang & historic Hoi An by cyclo

Meeting the locals is one of the best ways to connect with a destination and promises a close-up look at daily life in Vietnam. Pay a delightful visit to a local kindergarten in Da Nang this morning, then continue your Vietnam travel by journeying to historic Hoi An, a key South China Sea trading port in the 15th through 19th centuries, and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Explore its shop-lined streets via cyclo and tour the 200-year-old "Phung Hung" house, noted for its unique architecture. What you'll see there will reveal much about the lives of Hoi An merchants long ago. Enjoy some time on your own in the afternoon, and have dinner at your leisure tonight.

✔ Breakfast, Dinner
✔Furama Resort Da Nang (Accommodation)

DAY 6

Ho Chi Minh City & the Cu Chi Tunnels

Take a morning flight to Ho Chi Minh City (formerly known as Saigon), Vietnam's second-largest city; set off to the battlefield memorial site of Ben Duoc, northwest of the city, where you'll explore an underground world of tunnels and chambers three stories deep at Cu Chi Tunnels with your local guides. Used during the Vietnam War, the 120-mile tunnel network housed kitchens, dormitories, munitions factories, hospitals, and schoolrooms. Dine at the hotel this evening in a restaurant of your choosing.

✔ Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
✔Park Hyatt Saigon

DAY 7

Saigon then, Ho Chi Minh City now

Explore Ho Chi Minh City (formerly Saigon) with your local expert today, visiting the Ben Thanh Market and the former Presidential Palace, now called Reunification Hall (after negotiations rejoined the North and South in 1975). See the former U.S. Embassy, the Saigon River, 19th-century Saigon Notre Dame Cathedral, and the stately Central Post Office designed by Paris' Gustave Eiffel. Enjoy the afternoon and evening as you please. Tonight, see the city of Ho Chi Minh, after dark, on a Vespa tour.

✔ Breakfast, Lunch
✔Park Hyatt Saigon

DAY 8

On to Cambodia & a Tonle Sap Lake cruise

This morning, your journey continues on to Cambodia as you fly to Siem Reap for a two-night stay at the Raffles Grand Hotel d'Angkor, the closest hotel to the treasures of the fabled archaeological site at Angkor, covering an area twice the size of Manhattan. Your arrival in Siem Reap is highlighted by a cruise on Tonle Sap Lake, revealing its fascinating floating villages, before returning to your hotel via tuk-tuk. Tonight's dinner is à la carte at your hotel.

✔ Breakfast, Dinner
✔Raffles Grand Hotel d'Angkor

DAY 9

Khmer temples & the wonders of Angkor

Enveloped by jungle roots, fascinating Ta Prohm Temple almost seems to be a part of the dense rainforest that surrounds it. A legacy of Cambodia's Khmer civilization dating from 1186, it was originally built as a Buddhist university and monastery and continues to captivate today, as you'll see on your visit. The last capital of the Khmer empire, the walled city of Angkor Thom is home to the richly decorated Bayon Temple, known for its eerily smiling carved faces; see the Elephant Terrace in Angkor Thom, which was the foundation of the pavilion in which the king held audiences. Following lunch at a local restaurant get ready to be dazzled by what you see this afternoon during a visit to the vast, 12th-century Angkor Wat temple; the bas-reliefs and many devatas (guardian spirits) that cover its walls inspire awe and admiration. This example of classical Khmer architecture has been a significant religious center for Hindus and then Buddhists through the ages. Dinner is at your leisure at your choice of restaurant in Raffles Grand Hotel d'Angkor.

✔ Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
✔Raffles Grand Hotel d'Angkor

DAY 10

The "Rose of the North" & scenic Doi Suthep

Fly via Bangkok to charming Chiang Mai, Thailand, the "Rose of the North," established in the 13th century, and known for its artistic and cultural heritage. Enter another world when you arrive at the luxurious Four Seasons Resort Chiang Mai, where your richly appointed accommodations feature a Lanna-style sala (pavilion) looking out over gardens, terraced rice paddies, and mountains. Take a scenic drive to Doi Suthep National Park, home to Wat Phrathat Doi Suthep – a temple perched at the top of a peak more than 3,500 feet above sea level – before enjoying dinner at your choice of restaurants back at the resort.

✔ Breakfast, Dinner
✔Four Seasons Resort Chiang Mai

DAY 11

Thailand's elephants at work & play

Elephants – Thailand's national animal – are an integral part of Chiang Mai's economy and culture. Visit an elephant camp today to see how these marvelous animals are trained to work in a teak forest; you'll have a chance to feed them bananas and sugar cane, watch them demonstrate various skills, and view baby elephants in the nursery before you return to your Mae Rim Valley resort. The remainder of the day is spent as you please.

✔ Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
✔Four Seasons Resort Chiang Mai

DAY 12

The hill tribe villages of Chiang Mai

Take an unforgettable excursion to the hill tribe villages of Chiang Mai today to meet the people of the Palong, Padong and Karen tribes, who live peacefully there as small farmers, observing and honoring their traditional ways of life. They'll share their crafts and folkways with you... you'll even get to try on the traditional neck rings worn by members of the "long-necked" Karen tribe. Return to your resort midday; the remainder of the day is free to spend as you please, with dinner à la carte this evening.

✔ Breakfast, Dinner
✔Four Seasons Resort Chiang Mai

DAY 13

On to Bangkok, Thailand's stunning capital

A morning flight takes you to Thailand's capital city of Bangkok for a three-night stay at Rosewood Bangkok; arrive in time for lunch at the hotel. The remainder of the day is free to explore as you please.

✔ Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
✔Rosewood Bangkok

DAY 14

The breathtaking Buddhas of Bangkok

An express boat whisks you from the hotel to the Maharaj Pier for a morning of sightseeing in Bangkok, an intriguing mix of ancient and modern. Walk to Wat Pho, the oldest and largest temple in the city, to see the giant Reclining Buddha, then travel to the 18th-century Grand Palace for an "audience" with the Emerald Buddha and a visit to the Flower Market. Following a traditional Thai lunch, a motorboat ride returns you to your hotel for an evening at leisure in Bangkok.

✔ Breakfast, Lunch
✔Rosewood Bangkok

DAY 15

Bangkok's klongs & the Jim Thompson House

Cruise up the Chao Phraya River and through a network of canals, called klongs, which lace the city. These often-bustling "city streets," lined with homes and small businesses, are where much of life in Bangkok is found; stop at Wat Arun (the Temple of Dawn) along the way. Then journey from the riverside to the Jim Thompson House & Museum, where you'll join a local guide to tour the art- and artifact-filled Bangkok home of the expatriate American architect, OSS officer and postwar Thai silk entrepreneur who mysteriously disappeared in the 1960s. Return to the hotel by the Skytrain for a free afternoon. Join us this evening for a farewell reception and dinner at your beautiful hotel.

✔ Breakfast, Dinner
✔Rosewood Bangkok

DAY 16

Homeward bound

Tour ends: Bangkok. A transfer from Rosewood Bangkok to Bangkok International Airport is included. Please allow 3 hours for your flight check-in.

✔ Breakfast