Southeast Asia Odyssey

We arrive in the Vietnamese capital late this evening then transfer to our hotel.

Our tour of this French-accented city begins in Ba Dinh Square at the revered mausoleum and home of Ho Chi Minh. Next: historic One Pillar Pagoda, a Buddhist retreat; the serene Temple of Literature (c. 1070); Hoa Lo Prison, the infamous “Hanoi Hilton” of the Vietnam War; and Hanoi’s Ancient Quarter, dense with street vendors, where we enjoy a welcome dinner at a local restaurant this evening. B,D

We depart this morning on a full-day excursion to Ha Long Bay, a breathtaking waterway in the Gulf of Tonkin dotted with 2,000 islands and islets, and surrounded by limestone cliffs and hidden caves. Here we board a traditional “junk” for lunch and an afternoon cruise through the fairytale seascape, a UNESCO site. B,L

We fly this afternoon to Da Nang then continue on to Hoi An and our riverside hotel. We get our first glimpse of the Old Town and its colorful lanterns as we dine together this evening. B,D

An easy boat ride on the Thu Bon River brings us to the colorful ancient port of Hoi An. We tour the lively daily market, and stroll the shop- and gallery-lined back streets and alleyways of Old Town, now a UNESCO site. Tonight’s small group highlight: an interactive Vietnamese cooking class, followed by dinner. B,D

We see local life up close this morning as we take a walking tour of a nearby farming settlement. Later we visit the acclaimed Cham Museum then transfer to the airport for the flight to Siem Reap, arriving this evening. B,L

We make our first visit to the temples at the Angkor Wat complex, a small-scale city built between the 9th and 13th centuries and now a UNESCO site. We travel via tuk-tuks (auto rickshaws) to Angkor Thom, the last Khmer capital; and Bayon Temple, an imposing stone edifice of 54 towers each carved with four enigmatic faces. We also explore 12th-century Ta Prohm, the mystical, decaying Buddhist shrine where the giant roots and limbs of banyan trees have overtaken the labyrinth of stone rooms and hallways. Later we tour stunning 12th-century Angkor Wat itself, the world’s largest temple. B,L,D

Today’s highlights include the restored 12th-century temple complex at Preah Khan; and 10th-century Banteay Srei, the “citadel of women” dedicated to the Hindu god Shiva and known for its delicately carved pink sandstone. B,L,D

This morning we visit Les Artisans d’Angkor, a development project for young adults to learn traditional crafts. Late this afternoon, we fly to Luang Prabang. B,D

Our introduction to Laos begins early today with a time-honored tradition: the “tak-bat,” where hundreds of saffron-robed monks collect alms from their fellow Buddhists. Later we set out to explore this ancient royal city; our walking tour features the Old City, a UNESCO site, where we tour the beautiful 16th-century Wat Xieng Thong temple complex, and the National Museum, formerly the royal palace. We return to our hotel for an afternoon at leisure then enjoy dinner in a family restaurant set in a village outside the town and styled like a traditional Laotian stilted bamboo house. B,D

This morning we visit an elephant sanctuary – a community-based eco-project – in the scenic Nam Khan River valley.  Then we learn about the lives of local farmers firsthand as we travel to a communal rice farm, where we enjoy lunch before joining in such farm-based activities as bamboo weaving, blacksmith work, and sugar cane processing. B,L

We begin a tour highlight today as we board a private riverboat for an upstream voyage on this remote stretch of the Mekong. Along the way we stop to visit villages of ethnic hill tribes, and the Pak Ou Buddha Caves, housing hundreds of Buddha icons. We enjoy lunch on board our boat, a traditional wooden river cruiser with unobstructed views of the Mekong’s lush banks. Upon arrival in Pakbeng, we check in at our hotel, where we dine tonight. B,L,D

Back on board our riverboat today, we cruise past wild and diverse mountain scenery, stopping to visit a small village. After crossing the border into Thailand, we transfer to our hotel in Chiang Rai. B,L,D

At this morning’s Thai cooking class, we prepare the feast that we’ll enjoy for lunch today. Then we pay an afternoon visit to Wat Rong Khun, the unusual “White Temple” celebrating Lord Buddha’s purity. Tonight: Chiang Rai’s lively night market, where we can select dinner on our own from the many food stalls. B,L

Today we visit the Doi Tung Royal Villa and Gardens, the former home of the king’s mother who led efforts against the heroin trade. Late today we fly to Bangkok. B,L,D

We discover the Thai capital at the colorful Flower Market; Wat Pho Temple, home of the gold-leafed Reclining Buddha; and the splendid Grand Palace complex, where we visit the revered Temple of the Emerald Buddha. B,L

This morning’s visit to the Jim Thompson House reveals the prized Southeast Asian art collection of the American who revived the Thai silk industry. Tonight we celebrate our southeast Asia odyssey at a farewell dinner. B,D

Today we transfer to the airport for our return flights to the U.S. B

B = Breakfast included L = Lunch included D = Dinner included