This vacation is an organized Gate-1 tour with days added on front and back of the organized tour. The tour map to the right has red-dotted lines to illustrate the six flights on this tour. The solid red-line are ground transfers. This 17-day Gate-1 tour begins in Bangkok, Thailand and end in Hanoi, Vietnam. The map to the right has numbers on various cities to indicate the number of nights the Gate-1 tour will be at a particular destination.
It has been years since we last did an organized tour. Our memory is that tour days are very full of activities. In an effort to be ready for tour days we are going to Bangkok five days ahead of the tour. Hopefully we can recover from jet-leg in five days and thus be ready to go once the tour actually starts.
Day #1=>Depart SFO on a 12+ hour flight to Taipei, Taiwan. We arrive on day-2 of this trip.
Day #2=>Depart Taipei, Taiwan after a 3-hr layover for our 3+ hour flight to Bangkok. Our Bangkok arrival is just before midnight and the start of day-3.
Day #3=>Prior to the start of our Gate-1 tour we are staying at the Centre Point Hotel Silom which has a nice deck overlooking Bangkok and the Chao Phraya River. Their rooms have a dining area, fully equipped kitchen, refrigerator and more. Our plans for Bangkok ahead of our tour will be arranged in Bangkok because priority-1 is to get over jet-leg.
The Chao Phraya River today remains the most important waterway for the people of central Thailand. The river is an important transport link for the shipping of teak and rice to Bangkok.
Day #4=>Our plan for today is to hit a couple Bangkok highlight. First the Mae Klong Railway Market. This market is commonly called Siang Tai (life-risking) Market, physically located by the railway near Mae Klong Railway Station. Vendors at the market put out canvas to protect themselves against the sun. The shelters stick into the railway where visitors walk and do their shopping. When the signal of an arriving train rings, chaos happens: vendors will rush to close their canvas, along with clearing all goods that will obstruct the coming train at a great speed. Once the train passes, canvas will be reopened as goods are again put into their usual place next to the railroad. Our tour also includes a canoe ride through the floating markets where vendors are selling everything from fresh produce to everyday items.
Day #5=>Some tourist are attracted to the massive department stores in Bangkok. The 7-story ICON Siam Mall is one of the most luxurious and popular among foreign tourist, with 500 shops and 100 restaurants. Another great example right on the river is the Tha Maharaj a night market and much more.
In the evening we have booked Tuk-Tuk Tour that includes Bangkok's Chinatown, one of the largest Chinatowns in the world and one of the most authentic and unchanged neighborhoods in the city.
Day #6=>On our last day before starting our tour we have planned a full-day tour north of Bangkok to Ayutthaya. Ayutthaya was the capital of a 14th-century Siamese kingdom, the preserved ruins of the city is a World Heritage site. After a morning of exploration we hop aboard a riverboat and enjoy a buffet lunch while cruising the Chao Phraya Rive back to our hotel.
Day #7=>Today we join our tour at the Ramada Plaza by Wyndham in central Bangkok for the next three nights. There are no organized events on this day as our other Gate-1 tour mates are just arriving. Thus after transfering hotels we basically have another day to explore.
Day #8=>After breakfast we all meet for a orientation meeting followed by a city tour. We start at Chinatown and then on to the colorful Indian Market. Visit serene Wat Po, the oldest and largest temple in the city, with the astonishing giant Reclining Buddha, over 150 feet long and almost 40 feet high. We then drive to Royal Avenue where most of the Government offices are located and the King's Palace before returning to our hotel with free time before dinner with all Gate-1 guests.
Day #9=>We are taking the optional morning tour of Wat Phra Kaew, also known as the Temple of the Emerald Buddha, and the elaborate 18th century Grand Palace, symbol and ceremonial heart of the kingdom - together they form the most impressive sights in Bangkok.
There is also an optional evening tour, Bangkok at night on a Chao Phraya River Cruise, which includes an international buffet dinner and live music.
Day #10=>After breakfast we check-out and head to the airport for our short flight to Siem Reap, Cambodia. Upon arrival we will meet our Cambodian Tour Manager and have lunch before checking into your hotel, the Regency Angkor Hotel. The remainder of the afternoon we are free to explore on our own. This evening, we will be treated to a typical Cambodian dinner accompanied with an Apsara dance show.
Day #11=>Today, we'll understand why the architectural masterpieces of Angkor Thom and Angkor Wat, are designated as one of the "Seven Wonders of the World." On our visit to the fortified city of Angkor Thom we will visit the Elephants Terrace and Terrace of the Leper King, all adorned with dramatic bas-reliefs. We continue to the mysterious Bayon Temple, highlight of Angkor Thom, replete with beautifully preserved bas-reliefs and more than 172 giant smiling stone faces. We travel on to the monuments of Ta Keo, Prasat Kravan and Srah Srang before arriving at Ta Prohm, where the jungle was left untouched, as it appeared to European explorers. The high point of the day is the visit to stunning Angkor Wat, a temple dedicated to the Hindu god Vishnu. World-famous for its beauty and splendor, Angkor Wat has the longest continuous bas-relief in the world, which runs along the entire outer gallery walls, narrating stories from Hindu mythology. We will stay to experience the unforgettable sunset!!! Then return to the hotel for dinner and a much needed rest.
Day #12=>After breakfast we check-out and drive along the rolling hills of the farmlands, stopping for a ride on an ox-cart, the vehicle still being used today by local farmers. Arrive at Tonle Sap Lake in the heart of Cambodia, with its rich and diverse ecosystem. We then embark on a serene boat excursion - observe the local life unfolding and the floating fishing villages that dot the shoreline. Later we will visit the National Museum with its multi-media exhibits depicting the Golden Era of the Khmer Kingdom. Afterwards, we will fly to Ho Chi Minh City (formerly Saigon), the largest city in Vietnam; transfer to our hotel, the Liberty Central Saigon Centre Hotel.
Day #13=>After breakfast we have a choice, either a morning to explore on our own or, join the optional half day tour to Cu Chi Tunnels. They were part of an underground tunnel network built by the Viet Cong to control a largely rural area near Saigon. The Cu Chi network includes 125 miles of tunnels with many branches connecting to underground hideouts, weapon factories, hospitals, shelters, and other tunnels. Doubt we will do the tunnels after learning how cramped they are!!
In the afternoon we will embark on a guided tour in Ho Chi Minh City, which includes the neo-Romanesque Notre Dame Cathedral, the Central Post Office with its French style architecture, City Hall, and the magnificent Saigon Opera House. We will also visit the lively Ben Thanh Market - where an unbelievable assortment of wares and crafts are sold under one roof. Continue to Dong Khoi Street, a major shopping thoroughfare in the center of the city. This evening, dinner is at a local restaurant.
Day #14=>Today we have a full day Mekong Delta River Tour. The Mekong Delta is the red area on the map to the right. Today's journey into the Mekong Delta region will take us along the newly built highway, picturesque countryside and seemingly endless paddy fields. Upon arrival at My Tho, we will board a private motor boat for a fascinating cruise along the river, observing the daily life of local people on the waterways. The tour includes a visit to a coconut factory, handicraft workshop and honey bee farm. We will be introduced to the daily life of the local people, learning about local fruit and plants as well as an opportunity to sample some local tropical fruit in an orchard. The tour ends with a great lunch at a local restaurant by the river bank.
Day #15=>After breakfast we depart Ho Chi Minh on a flight to Da Nang, one of Vietnam's major ports, situated on the coast of the South China Sea. We travel south to the picturesque ancient town of Hoi An, where people still wear the "ao dais", Vietnam's traditional dress. The ancient town of Hoi An, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, was the most important trading port in Southeast Asia in the 15th century. Its ancient past is superbly preserved in an enchanting collection of temples, pagodas, shop houses and magnificent private homes in the town's Old Quarter. We will take a walking tour of this artistic jewel, with its century's old architecture, includes the gorgeous Phuoc Kien Pagoda, the 400-year-old bright-red Japanese Covered Bridge, and the Ancient House. Afterward we continue to dinner at a local restaurant. Our lodging while in Hoi An will be at the Silk Luxury Hotel & Spa.
Day #16=>We will do a boat trip on the Thu Bon River visiting the Organic Village, including lunch. The boat trip begins at a local pier in the Old Town. We will cruise down streams and past many fishing areas before arriving in Kim Bong village, home of traditional woodworking and boat building. After we return to the mainland and we then drive to the Traque Organic Village for lunch. Here, we will learn about the many vegetables and herbs organically grown to support the people of Hoi An. After a Vietnamese culinary lesson and tasting, we return to Hoi An.
Day #17=>After breakfast, we travel to Da Nang, with stunning views of bowl-shaped Da Nang Bay. We also drive by Marble Mountain, a village well-known for its sophisticated handmade marble products. Then we journey over the towering mountains to Hue, home to a wealth of palaces, temples, libraries, and museums. We will take an afternoon tour of a former Imperial capital, modeled after the Forbidden City in Beijing. We will enter the Ngo Mon Gate, principal entrance to the Imperial Enclosure and the central passageway reserved for use by the Emperor. Then we continue to the Thai Hoa Palace with its spacious hallways and ornamental roof, the Halls of the Mandarins, the Nine Dynastic Urns, and the ruins of the Forbidden Purple City, once home to the royal family. Afterwards we check into the Eldora Hotel locate in Hue centre and just a short walk away from some of Hue's most impressive sights, including the Trang Tien Bridge, the Dong Ba market and the Citadel. We will take the optional cyclo tour where we can get a panoramic view of both the daily life and the architecture of Hue. Later we arrive at a family run restaurant within the Citadel and savor a multi-course dinner replica of the Royal Feast.
Day #18=>Today is an optional day to either explore Hue independently. Or, participate in the not-to-be-missed optional boat excursion on the gentle Perfume River, which explores the life along the banks of the ancient royal capital city. The river, with its shimmering blue color is dotted with a poetic landscape of boats, gardens, pagodas, towers and temples. The tour continues to the legendary Thien Mu Pagoda, on the north bank of the Perfume River, built in seven successive tiers. Then we drive to the Tomb of Emperor Tu Duc, final resting place of Vietnam's longest reigning emperor and to Khai Dinh, the last monument of the Nguyen dynasty. Here, a vegetarian lunch will be prepared by Buddhist nuns of the Dong Thien Pagoda. Afterwards we return to the Eldora Hotel with many dinner options to select from.
Day #19=>After breakfast, we catch a short flight to Hanoi, capital of Vietnam and cultural center of the country. Upon arrival we travel overland and through the lush Vietnamese countryside to picturesque Halong Bay, considered one of Vietnam's most celebrated attractions. The bay has thousands of limestone islands rising out of the sea creating a truly magical scene. Upon arrival at Halong Bay, we will proceed to the beautiful Saigon Halong Hotel for a one-night stay and dinner.
Day #20=>After breakfast we are off for an incredible day of sight seeing. Halong Bay is considered one of the most breathtaking places on the planet, added to the list of UNESCO Heritage Sites and declared recently as one of the "New Seven Natural Wonders of the World". There are over 3000 islands in the emerald waters and over 1000 have their own names. Many of caves and grottos are filled with small waterfalls, stalactites, and stalagmites. We will sail on a traditional wooden boat on the tranquil bay with lunch served on board and then visit one of the caves. Afterwards we drive back to Hanoi and check into the Ann Hotel. The Ann Hotel has "The Onyx House" restaurant which will make for a very convenient dinner after a very busy day.
Day #21=>Today, we will visit the Museum of Ethnology, center for the preservation and exhibition of cultural heritage for over 50 ethnic groups in Vietnam. In the evening we will attend a performance of the world-famous Water Puppet Show, accompanied by a traditional Vietnamese orchestra and Cheo (a form of opera). The show depicts a series of ancient Vietnamese folktales, acted out by puppets over a pool of water. Tonight, at dinner, we will bid farewell to our Gate-1 Tour Manager as the Gate-1 portion of this trip comes to an end.
Day #22=>After breakfast, we will check-out, say good bye to our fellow Gate-1 tour mates and proceed to the Solaria Hanoi Hotel, our lodging destination for the next three nights. Once settled into our new lodging we have lots more to see and do. First up Old Quarters known for numerous attractions, rich cuisine, vibrant nightlife and unique handicrafts. Afterwards we plan to visit the infamous Hoan Kiem Lake. Legend claims that, in the mid-15th century, heaven sent Emperor Le Loi a magical sword, which he used to drive the Chinese from Vietnam.
Day #23=>Today we have planned a full-day tour the Ninh Binh Tour. We will visit Hoa Lu, once capital of Vietnam, explore Mua Cave and take in views from the mountain above, ride a boat through the Tam Coc caves, and cycle through the fields to Bich Dong Pagoda cave temples.
Day #24=>This is our last full day in Hanoi and the beautiful Solaria Hotel. We left this day open to relax before returning home or catch additional attractions. Not sure right now which we will feel like.
Day #25=>After breakfast we will check-out and take an airport shuttle to Hanoi International to catch our 12:30p flight to Taipei, Taiwan. We have a 3+hr layover in Taipei before catching our 7:50p flight to SFO which thanks to the dateline will arrive at 3p the same day and thus ending our 2024 Asia trip!!!!