A feast for the senses and a banquet for young eyes, Thailand and Vietnam can be both exotic and easy when traveling as a family. Handcrafted to entertain intrepid the young, and the young at heart, this family adventure takes you from elephants to evening markets, monks to monkeys, historical temples to dazzling city streets. Jump in and indulge the mind, but also jump away from the everyday routines in dramatic fashion as you relax in the jungle and float down rivers. Two weeks, five stops,...
Customizable Itinerary
Day 1
Bangkok – Dazzled by the First Impressions
Bangkok is a terrific antidote to a world of iPads and all things electronic. There are many places in the world where children are glued to their devices, barely lifting their heads to register what goes on around them, but Bangkok is not one of these. Touch down, and there is so much going on, the city almost feels like a video game. The cultural transportation is immense, and most families are quick to be dazzled. A local guide is on hand to teach you the local ways as you take your first steps in the city. Nothing specific is planned, and it is good to stay flexible to leave room for any jet lag. Accommodation is on the Chao Phraya River, far enough from the noise to suggest you are not in one of Asia’s most bustling cities.
What's Included:
Day 2
Bangkok – Getting Into the Swing of All Things Strange
Day 3
Bangkok – A Floating Market and Cycling Ayutthaya
Day 4 - 5
Golden Triangle – Elephants and Tranquility
Day 6
Chiang Mai – The White Temple and an Evening Market
Day 7
Chiang Mai – Rafting in the Jungle and a Monk’s Blessing
Day 8
Chiang Mai – Thai Cooking and Free Time in a Charming City
Day 9
Halong Bay – Overnight Amid the Karsts
Day 10
Halong Bay – Caves and Islands and Seafood
Day 11
Ho Chi Minh City – Cycling Central Saigon
Day 12
Ho Chi Minh City – Boating in the Mekong Delta
Day 13
Ho Chi Minh City – Immersed in Vietnamese City Life
Day 14
Ho Chi Minh City – Departure
Trip Highlights
- Gaze up at the elephants as you explore the tranquil jungle in Thailand’s Golden Triangle
- Cruise through the karst landscape of Halong Bay and disembark to the caves and the sandy islands
- Celebrate rich local histories in Chiang Mai and Bangkok, and meet monks in an old temple
- Get to know the real Saigon as you end your vacation in Ho Chi Minh City
- Learn to cook with the locals, raft on a jungle river, and admire the incredible White Temple near Chiang Rai
- Spend a day cycling in Saigon and a day boating on the Mekong Delta
- Fly between destinations to minimize travel time
- Travel with local family guides, so much to discover when you’re in the hands of the experts
Detailed Description
Thailand and Vietnam have always been able to excite and amaze visitors, as these exotic countries are where you can find elephants in the jungle, ride tuk-tuks to temples, and explore cities so different from wherever you call home. Sizzling smells flutter down the backstreets, gongs and bells enliven the air, and there is so much color you will rarely know where to look. Exploring these two countries is a cultural dislocation, like an insight into an alien world. This family vacation is a tour to excite curious young minds and enjoy amazing adventures together.
Spread across five iconic destinations, this two-week tour combines a little of all that makes Thailand and Vietnam unique. There is Bangkok, a city of dizzying first impressions, and then a jungle retreat in the Golden Triangle, where your neighbors are elephants and tranquility reigns. Chiang Mai then provides a quiet cultural immersion and is a great place to explore locally at your own pace. These three Thailand stops fill the week, and your days are filled by a number of new experiences: Thai cooking, a monk’s blessing, the White Temple, cycling Ayutthaya and a floating market. But while the itinerary runs at a fast pace, Thailand will energize your family continually with each new experience something to look forward to and look back on.
Flying onwards to Hanoi and there is the option to go on a short city tour, before a drive to the coast and a traditional junk, a wooden boat to take you around Halong Bay, recently voted in as one of the new world seven wonders. Spend a couple of days here of discovering caves, walking on uninhabited islands, and waking up amid a glorious ocean landscape. From here, you will complete your vacation in Saigon, or Ho Chi Minh City as it is now known, a city of rich history and heritage, along with all the old war tales of course. Take a boat on the Mekong Delta, discover local food markets, feel the city’s energy and embrace its color. Much like Bangkok and Chiang Mai, every moment can create cultural immersion, yet there is enough comfort to match the exoticism.
Starting Price
$2,795 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.
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