Day 1 | Hanoi Arrival

Our tour begins at the Hanoi capital of Vietnam. Welcome to Hanoi! A transfer is included from Noi Bai International Airport to the landmark Hotel in 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 Vietnam Royal Tourism Director and your fellow adventurers at our welcome cocktail reception and dinner at Opend Garden this evening.

Day 2 | Hanoi Tour Around

Begin your Vietnam tour with a memorable ride by cyclo through the back streets of Old Hanoi; stop at the infamous Hoa Lo Prison, known as the "Hanoi Hilton" during the Vietnam War. See the colonial Presidential Palace that Ho Chi Minh refused to live in, along with his "house on stilts" and his final resting place; and take in Hanoi’s famous One-Pillar Pagoda, constructed in 1049 to resemble a lotus blossom. Sample Vietnamese specialties for lunch, then spend the afternoon as you wish. A 1,000-year-old art form entertains you this evening during an enchanting water puppet performance, followed by an à la carte dinner in a restored French colonial landmark.

Day 3 | Hanoi to Forbidden Purple City of Hué

No Vietnam tour would be complete without a visit to Hué, Vietnam’s most beautiful city, and now a UNESCO World Heritage Site, which you'll fly to this morning. As you sightsee by cyclo, relive the imperial grandeur of the Citadel, which housed the Imperial City for the emperor’s official functions and the Forbidden Purple City for his personal time. Admire Thien Mu Pagoda, a seven-story octagonal tower built in 1844, and cruise along the Perfume River, also the setting for your riverfront accommodations.

Day 4 | Hue to "China Beach" in Da Nang

After a visit to the tomb of 19th-century emperor Tu Duc in Hué, 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 Vietnam tour destination. You’ll spend the next two nights at the one of the most prestigious beachfront resorts in Vietnam, the Furama Resort Da Nang, set right on the shores of the South China Sea.

Day 5 | Da Nang to Hoi An and ride a cyclo in Hoi An

Our trip then continue your Vietnam tour 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; view the red-painted Japanese Covered Bridge – the three Chinese characters over the door mean "bridge for passers-by from afar" – 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.

Day 6 | Hoi An - Discover 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. Following a picnic lunch, see more of Ho Chi Minh City as you wish for the remainder of the day, and have dinner on your own tonight.

Day 7 | The former Saigon and an elegant dinner

Explore Ho Chi Minh City with yourlocal expert today, visiting the former Presidential Palace, now called Reunification Hall; see the former U.S. Embassy, the Saigon River,19th-century Saigon Notre Dame Cathedral and the stately Post Office. Later, Enjoy a taste of Vietnam's diverse culinary heritage tonight with an elegant à la carte dinner at La Camargue, offering French, Vietnamese, and international specialties within a sumptuously restored villa setting.

Day 8 | On to Cambodia and the ancient wonders of Angkor

This morning, your Vietnam tour 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. You’ll be dazzled by what you see this afternoon at 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. Tonight's dinner is à la carte at your choice of your hotel's fine restaurants.

Day 9 | Khmer temples and a lake cruise

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 carved faces. When you see the Elephant Terrace in Angkor Thom, which was the foundation of the pavilion in which the king held audiences, you’ll understand how it got its name – and you can get some great pictures, because your day includes tips from a professional photographer! Later, you may wish to join us for a cruise on Tonle Sap Lake, revealing fascinating floating villages.

 Day 10 | A flight to Thailand's Rose of the North

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 Chiang Mai, where your richly appointed accommodations feature a Lanna-style sala (pavilion) looking out over gardens, terraced rice paddies, and mountains. Take some time to relax in this idyllic setting this afternoon before enjoying dinner at your choice of restaurants at the resort.

 Day 11 | Thailand's elephants at work and play

Elephants – Thailand's national animal – are an integral part of Chiang Mai’s economy and culture. Visit the Chiang Dao Elephant Training Center 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, and see them demonstrate various skills... including painting a picture! Then climb high onto one of these gentle giants for an ambling trek through the jungle* – another memorable highlight of your Thailand, Cambodia and Vietnam tour adventures – followed by a picnic lunch. Enjoy the many amenities of your Mae Rim Valley resort at leisure this afternoon.

 Day 12 | Life in the hill tribe villages and scenic Doi Suthep

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'll share their folkways with you... you'll visit local village children at school, and even get to try on the traditional neck rings worn by members of the Karen tribe! Later, travel 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. Then return to your resort for time as you choose and dinner à la carte this evening.

 Day 13 | On to Bangkok

A morning flight takes you to bustling Bangkok in time for lunch at the city's Seafood Market and some time spent exploring on your own – kicking off a three-night stay at the Shangri-La Hotel, Bangkok, with accommodations in the deluxe Krungthep Wing. Thailand's capital welcomes you warmly this evening with a dinner cruise on the Chao Phraya River.

 Day 14 | Bangkok's breathtaking Buddhas and more

An express boat whisks you from the hotel for a morning of sightseeing in Bangkok, an intruiging mix of ancient and modern. Walk to the 18th-century Grand Palace for an "audience" with the Emerald Buddha, while the giant Reclining Buddha awaits your admiration at Wat Pho, the oldest and largest temple in the city. Following a traditional Thai lunch, a motorboat ride returns you to the Shangri-La Hotel for an evening at leisure and dinner on your own in Bangkok.

 Day 15 | The klongs of Bangkok & 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 "real life" in Bangkok is found, as you'll witness firsthand; stop at Wat Arun (the Temple of Dawn) along the way. Then, a tuk-tuk (auto rickshaw) transports you from the riverside to the Jim Thompson House, where you'll join a local guide to tour a museum within 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. Cap an extraordinary Thailand, Cambodia and Vietnam tour with a farewell reception and dinner this evening.