Mystical North Vietnam & Thailand Tour - 9 Days

Day 1: Hanoi Arrival.
Welcome to Hanoi: Vietnam’s bustling colonial capital. Your guide and driver will meet you outside the baggage claim of Noi Bai Airport and take you to your hotel in the city center. Rest of the day, you are free at leisure.
Meals: N/A.
Accommodation: Hotel in Hanoi.

Day 2: Hanoi City Tour.
Today you have a full day to explore Vietnam’s charming capital. With its wide treelined boulevards, French colonial architecture, peaceful lakes and ancient oriental pagodas, Hanoi is an eclectic mix that offers something for everyone. Your city tour will take you to Hanoi’s key sites: the Temple of Literature, the Opera House, Hoan Kiem Lake & Ngoc Son Temple, the Ho Chi Minh Complex (Ho Chi Minh's Mausoleum and stilt house), the Presidential Palace, the nearby One Pillar Pagoda, West Lake and the sedate Tran Quoc Pagoda. Concludes a day tour with a walk around the Old Quarter and a visit to the Hanoi’s Heritage House.
Meals: Breakfast.
Accommodation: Hotel in Hanoi.

Day 3: Hanoi – Ninh Binh (Bai Dinh Pagoda & Trang An).
After breakfast, depart Hanoi for a countryside drive to Ninh Binh, one of the three provinces where the famous Hollywood movie "Kong: Skull Island" was casted. On arrival, start the trip with Buddha Sanctuary place of Bai Dinh Pagoda to admire the biggest bronze Buddha statue in Vietnam with 10 meters in height, 100 tons in weight. Get knowledge of beliefs and religions in Vietnam. Then enjoy a leisurely rowingboat trip to visit Trang An, a nature reserve similar to Tam Coc, however, less crowded. Trang An is a complex of cultural, historical and natural heritage sites, recognized by UNESCO in 2014, as the world's first mixed heritage of Vietnam. Limestone hills surround a peaceful river which passes through a series of caves. It is an “ecotourism” area; the only interruptions here are the sound of birds and the gentle paddle of the oar upon the crystal clear river. Spend rest of the day as you wish at your hotel in Tam Coc.
Meals: Breakfast.
Accommodation: Hotel in Ninh Binh.

Day 4: Ninh Binh – Lan Ha Bay – Halong Bay.
Following the breakfast, enjoy a scenic drive to Hai Phong, where you will board the cruise on an enchanting journey throughout the beautiful Ha Long Bay. On arrival, the welcome drinks, cruise briefing and safety instructions are delivered by the cruise manger followed by your cabin check in. The uniquely designed itineraries allow you to experience the less traveled routes that other cruises simply do not reach. Apart from exploring the natural beauty of many islets in a leisure pace, the today program also includes more activities such as swimming or kayaking on the vast sea, cooking demonstration onboard to challenge your skills in preparing a very famous Vietnamese dish: spring-roll (activities depend on weather, season and the specific cruise).
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner.
Accommodation: on cruise.

Day 5: Halong Bay – Hai Phong – Hanoi.
Wake up to fresh coffee, doing Tai Chi before cruising back to the shore. En route the junk weaves through impressive rock formations where you can enjoy kayaking (excluded from the cruise package). After having a brunch, disembark to head to Hai Phong City, which is not only famous as a major industrial port city but there is also enormous potential for tourism. It preserved many architectural delights, including traditional architecture such as pagodas, temples and French neoclassical architecture of the old neighborhood.
Once you reach Hai Phong, start the city tour with the Opera Theatre, also called Municipal Theatre, one of three theatres built by the French in Vietnam, the cultural structure typical of Port City. Next, visit Flower Stall & Le Chan Statue  one of the female generals under the command of the Trung Sisters (Hai Ba Trung) rose against Chinese rule in the year 43 C.E. Walk along the tree lined streets of this beautiful city for the orientation. Witness the locals trading at “Iron Market” (Cho Sat), a busy city market covering a large area. Even if you don’t plan to buy anything here, it’s still an interesting experience to observe local life in this busy downtown area. Conclude your visit to Du Hang Pagoda, the ancient architecture originated during the Early Le dynasty. Admire the many valuable Buddha statues, horizontal lacquered boards and parallel sentences bearing the art style of the Nguyen Dynasty.
Later in the afternoon, drive to Hanoi on one of Vietnam’s the most modern freeways.
Meals: Brunch.
Accommodation: Hotel in Hanoi.

Day 6: Hanoi – Fly to Chiang Mai.
You are free to relax or explore the Old Quarter of Hanoi until your driver comes to transfer you to the Noi Bai International Airport. Take a 2hour regional flight to Chiang Mai, the largest city in northern Thailand. Transfer to your hotel to freshen up before dinner. Begin the evening at a local temple, joining monks in their nightly chanting of prayer, lighting some incenses or burning a candle to experience this wonderful Buddhist event. Enjoy a memorable Traditional Khantoke Dinner and Show in a local restaurant. Drive over the bridge to the lively Warorot Market, a hub of local life bursting with fresh flowers and local street food stalls. The guide will help with the market exploration, top the experience off with some local Thai sweets, the perfect way to conclude the first evening in Chiang Mai.
Meals: Breakfast, Dinner.
Accommodation: Hotel in Chiang Mai.

Day 7: Chiang Mai Discovery.
After breakfast at the hotel, drive to the old city to see its dike and ruined walls. The first visit is Chedi Luang Temple, which began construction in the 14th century but was then destroyed by an earthquake in 1545, however, it still remains the tallest structure in Chiang Mai today. Next is Phra Singh Wat  the most prestigious temple in Chiang Mai built in 1345. Visiting this temple will give you a rich glimpse of Lanna temple art and architecture. Then you continue your journey to Phrathat Doi Suthep Temple, located 1,050 meters above sea level, the most sacred temple in Northern Thailand. Here you can see the marvelous golden pagoda which is containing the holy relics of Lord Buddha. Enjoy the panoramic view of Chiang Mai City and Ping Valley from the summit of Suthep Mountain. Return to Chiang Mai in the late afternoon to relax.
Meals: Breakfast.
Accommodation: Hotel in Chiang Mai.

Day 8: Chiang Mai – Fly to Bangkok.
After breakfast, transfer to the airport for your morning fly to Bangkok, Thailand’s capital, a large city known for ornate shrines and vibrant street life. Set out for the sightseeing tour to visit main attractions in Bangkok: Wat Pho – one of the largest temple complexes in city and famed for giant reclining Buddha as well as the birthplace of the traditional Thai massage; Wat Arun – better known as the Temple of the Dawn. Continue to The Grand Palace, Thailand’s most important landmark, where you will be awed by the grandeur and majesty of the building and its throne halls. Spend the rest of the evening relaxing.
Meals: Breakfast.
Accommodation: Hotel in Bangkok.

Day 9: Bangkok Departure.
If your departure flight is after 3 P.M today, you will explore the colorful Damnoen Saduak floating market on a halfday tour from Bangkok, and experience life along Thailand’s bustling canals. Meet vendors in narrow boats piled high with fresh produce and handicrafts, sample local delicacies from riverside stalls and capture the vividly photogenic scene. Travel to the market across the lush Thai countryside that surrounds Bangkok; pass palm plantations, villages and farm fields and get a glimpse of life outside the city. Afterwards, drive to Bangkok Suvarnabhumi Airport to catch your departure flight.
Meals: Breakfast.
Accommodation: N/A.