Heritage of Southeast Asia: Northern Cities Tour in One Week

Three young Lahu Tribe girls in custom dress, smiling among the sunlight in Thailand.

What to expect on this itinerary

From Immaculate stretches of emerald forests to fabled heritage sites and ethnic hill tribes that continue to preserve centuries-old customs, this customized 7-day allows you to experience Southeast Asia’s highlights. Delve into the distinctive flavors of Thai cuisine, indulge in a revitalizing spa session, and witness the cascading stream of Kuang Si Waterfall.

Countries Visited

Laos, Thailand, Vietnam

Places Visited

Chiang Mai, Luang Prabang, Hanoi

Suggested Duration

7 Days

Customizable Itinerary

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Day 1

Chiang Mai – Traditional Thai Cuisine

Chiang Mai is the first stop on this immersive tour through Southeast Asia because of its storied history and cultural offerings. Depending on the time of day that you arrive, you may have the opportunity to explore a little more of the fabled city after being met by a private driver and transferred to your accommodation. Should you step out onto the streets and stroll around the neighborhood, you will begin to discern the qualities that constitute Southeast Asia’s daily culture.

What's Included:

Transfer
Accommodation
Day 2

Chiang Mai – A Karen Hill Tribe

Day 3

Chiang Rai – Ancient Weaving of the Tai Lue

Day 4

Luang Prabang – Laid-Back Laos

Day 5

Luang Prabang – Waterfall Adventures

Day 6

Hanoi – Deep-Rooted Heritage

Day 7

Hanoi – Tea Ceremony & Departure

Trip Highlights

  • Delve into the delectable flavors of Thai cuisine and discover the methods behind beloved dishes at an award-winning culinary school
  • Travel into the lush hills that flank Chiang Mai and visit an ethnic Karen hill tribe
  • Unwind with a revitalizing Thai therapy at a serene wellness spa
  • Witness the intricate art of cotton weaving when visiting the Tai Lue people near Chiang Rai
  • View a spiritual almsgiving with the monks of Luang Prabang in the early hours of the morning
  • Stand below the towering stream of the Kuang Si Waterfall
  • Visit landmarked locations and astonishing architecture in and around Hanoi’s Old Town
  • Savor the nuanced flavors of Vietnam’s marvelous collection of teas during a traditional tea ceremony

Starting Price

$2,600 per person (excluding international flights)

Your Zicasso trip is fully customizable, and this sample itinerary is a starting place for your travel plans. Actual costs are dynamic, and your selection of accommodations and activities, your season of travel, and other such variables will bring this budget guideline up or down. Throughout your planning experience with your Zicasso specialist, your itinerary is designed around your budget. You can book your trip when you are satisfied with every detail. Planning your trip with a Zicasso travel specialist is a free service.

What's Included

  • Accommodations
  • In-country transportation
  • Some or all activities and tours
  • Expert trip planning
  • 24x7 support during your trip

Your final trip cost will vary based on your selected accommodations, activities, meals, and other trip elements that you opt to include.

4.9

Verified Traveler Reviews

Based on 928 reviews

Vietnam, Thailand, Cambodia Vacation Review: Ninh Binh, Bangkok, Koh Samui, Canoe Ride, Food Tour, Vespa Trip, 2 Weeks

Zicasso’s travel specialist and the team were very responsive and helpful throughout the planning process and while on our trip. They made everything easy for us by arranging all transfers, filling out all paperwork for us, and selecting beautiful and high-end choices for every aspect of our travel, from hotel choices to drivers to guides. Everyone was exceptional and professional, and we had no issues. Our trip was stress-free and we felt very supported along the way. We would highly recommend this group for your family trip!

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Vietnam, Cambodia Travel Review: Ha Long Bay, Siem Reap, Temples, 2 Weeks

If you are looking for a travel agency that truly delivers, I can’t recommend Zicasso’s travel company enough. They were a huge help in creating our itinerary and the entire trip ended up being very good value.

What really stood out was the great communication and the fantastic local support we received while in Vietnam and Cambodia. It made a world of difference having local experts available to ensure everything ran smoothly. We had a wonderful experience and would highly recommend them to everyone!

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Vietnam Vacation Review: Food Tour, 2 Weeks

Zicasso’s travel specialist and all the local tour guides were gracious and knowledgeable.

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China, Cambodia, Laos, Vietnam Trip Review: Hong Kong, Ha Long Bay, Great Wall, Cu Chi Tunnels, 3 Weeks

With the exception of a problem at the hotel in Hong Kong, all scheduling by Zicasso's travel company was superb. The guides were quite good, and extremely accommodating and knowledgeable.

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Thailand Trip Review: Bangkok, Chiang Mai, Krabi, Elephant Sanctuary, Cooking Class, Muay Thai Fight, Food Tour, 12 Days

Zicasso’s travel specialist was a great resource in assisting us plan a trip to Thailand. We decided "last minute" (February) to plan a trip to Thailand in March and although it was a very short timeline, the travel specialist jumped into action and created several possible itineraries. We had a call so he could better understand our goals and with only a few tweaks, we signed off on a 12-day plan and off we went.

He is very personable and has experience living and traveling in the region, so he could speak first-hand on some of the recommendations. He was very thorough in helping us think through all the details; ie., packing, transportation, guides, drivers, money exchange, battery packs, passports, etc., etc. We did have a few questions while we were in Thailand and he was responsive to our queries.

The local guides and drivers in Thailand were all very good and we totally appreciated having that level of support, which was a first for us. It set a new level of travel for my husband and me. We would definitely work with Zicasso and the travel company for future travel. Thanks for the opportunity.

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Thailand, Vietnam Travel Review: Bangkok, Hanoi, Ha Long Bay, Ho Chi Minh City, Chiang Mai, Phuket, Cruise, Elephant Sanctuary, Canoe Ride, 10 Nights

To our travel specialist,

We would like to thank you for putting such an amazing trip together for us.

Your hotel choices were spot-on! We were happy to be by the river in Bangkok.

In Hanoi, our guide was a walking Wikipedia. He adjusted our schedule to a perfect spot to see the train upon my request. The signature cruise on a lovely boat was a highlight of the trip.

Our guide in Ho Chi Minh City was great in communication. She reached out on WhatsApp before our arrival. We enjoyed the Happy Buddha and canoe experience.

The tunnel tour was very disappointing. We seemed very rushed and we listened to other tour guides for information. Lunch was at 10.45am and we arrived at the airport five hours before departure.

Our guide in Bangkok was so compassionate. She taught us about offerings and the lotus. The river location was perfect for us.

Our guide in Chiang Mai was very soft-spoken and gave us a fabulous tour. She wanted us to experience the “northern food!"

The elephant sanctuary you chose was perfect, with just the right amount of time.

In Phuket, we were not picked up by our assigned driver. Our guide was there with a driver. She was helpful in the airport upon our return to Hong Kong.

This was an amazing trip for both of us!

Thank you so much!

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Customizable Itinerary

This is a sample itinerary to inspire a personalized trip designed with your travel specialist.

30,000+ Verified Traveler Reviews