Highlights of Vietman Cost per person twin-share $4263.00 Single Supplement $ 753.00 High Season surcharge $ 190.00 Dec 09 - Jan 15 - Jun 01 - Aug 31 * Based on a minimum of 2 pax traveling SUN : DAY 01 / LOS ANGELES / BANGKOK Your exciting journey begins as you board your Malaysia Airlines 747 wide-bodied jet for the flight across the Pacific to the Orient. Delicious meals are served in-flight. MON : DAY 02 / BANGKOK ARRIVAL Bangkok, the capital of the fabled Kingdom of Siam (modern day Thailand). A culture more than 1300 years old, its temples and palaces are a fantasy in store, a land with natural beauty and a people whose ingenious friendliness is a legend. Upon your arrival, you will be met and transferred to your hotel. TUE : DAY 03 / BANGKOK Float along the Klong's to Bangkok's colorful morning market where boat vendors sell vegetables and flowers to customers living in houses rising above the water. Heavily laden boats are filled with tropical fruit delights and other exotic offerings. Visit Grand Palace, gem of the entire city. Its sacred Emerald Buddha has played a major role historically, glimpse the throne room of the present day dynasty, a miniature reproduction of Angkor Wat and the fierce guardian gatekeepers. WED : DAY 04 / BANGKOK This morning you will see the Golden Buddha made of five and a half ton of solid gold, the colossal reclining Buddha, the exquisite White Marble Temple of the Kings. This evening you will be served a savory Thai Dinner accompanied with classical dances and music featuring exquisite costumes and the elegant movements unique to this style of dance. THU : DAY 05 / BANGKOK/CHIANG MAI Morning at leisure, in the afternoon travel north to Chiang Mai, considered to be the Shangri-La of Northern Thailand and a wonderful contrast to Bangkok. It is the center for handicraft production and hill tribe artifacts. This evening enjoy a traditional Kantoke dinner with authentic dance presentation featuring dancers from all major tribes in the region. FRI : DAY 06 / CHIANG MAI Today we tour this delightful ancient city with a distinctive charm, famous for its beautiful women, historic temples dating back from the 1300's and its distinctive festivals and handicrafts. Visit the most interesting temples including Wat Doi Suthep-possibly Thailand's most beautiful temple, overlooking the city. Our tour concludes with a visit to s Handicraft factory to see the manufacturing of lacquerware, weaving of Thai Silk, paper umbrella making, wood carving, silverware and more delightful arts. SAT : DAY 07 / ELEPHANT SAFARI A delightfully different experience awaits today as we visit an elephant camp north of Chiang Mai. Watch the elephants take their daily bath in the nearby stream, then see a demonstration of the unique skills required for clearing the forests and hauling tree trunks to the rivers. Then, climbing aboard our elephant taxis, we ride through the spectacular natural beauty of the northern Thai countryside to lush Mae Sa Valley where we enjoy lunch amid this picturesque and tranquil setting. Proceed via road to Chiang Rai, stopping enroute to visit a New Meo Mae Sa Valley hilltribe village untouched by the modern world. On arrival in Chiang Rai, near where the borders of Thailand, Burma and Laos meet, we check in at our hotel. SUN : DAY 08 / GOLDEN TRIANGLE The entire day is dedicated to visiting the Golden Triangle, its sights and scenes presenting images of a traditional way of life unknown in the western world. Travel to Chiang Saen, a charming old town along the Mekong River. Enroute visit villages of two tribes, the colorful Yao and the Akha whose women wear complicated head dresses and mini-skirts. Board a long-tailed boat down river to the Golden Triangle, a spot where three countries-Laos, Burma and Thailand meet. At Mai Sai the Burma border connects the two countries together. Haggling for wood carvings is a spirited art and we can exercise our skills ! Once infamous for opium and gold smuggling, now Burmese rubies and jade lure buyers. MON : DAY 09 / CHIANG RAI/HANOI Transfer to the airport for your connecting flight in Bangkok for Hanoi, the cultural heart and capital of Vietnam. Upon arrival you will be met and transferred to your hotel. This afternoon enjoy a tour of the city visiting the History Museum, Fine Arts Museum and the Temple of Literature at the turtle Pagoda. TUE : DAY 10 / HANOI Begin this morning with a visit to the mausoleum in the e honor of the late president Ho Chi Minh, One Pillar Pagoda, the house and museum of Ho Chi Minh, the Two Sisters Pagoda, Citadel Square, the site of an ancient Vietnamese Fort and Museum and the central market. WED : DAY 11 / HANOI / HUE Hue was Viernam's political capital from 1802 to 1945. And to this day remains one of Vietnam's most important cultural and religious centers. The Perfume River which divides the city has for centuries been the inspiration for artists and poets alike. Overnight in Hue. THU : DAY 12 / PERFUME RIVER CRUISE This morning take a boat cruise on the famous Perfume River to Thien Mu Pagoda. Your guide will explain the complex ancient history surrounding the city's major monuments: the Royal Citadel, the Nine Holy Cannon, Imperial, Hall of Mandarins, Forbidden Purple City and the Royal Tombs. FRI : DAY 13 / HUE/HO CHI MINH CITY This morning travel by boat along the river to the Thien Mu Pagoda. Later, board your flight for Saigon. Meet upon arrival and transfer to your hotel. the old capital of the South and the largest in the country, cosmopolitan Ho Chi Minh City (previously known as Saigon) is fast regaining the atmosphere which led to it being known as the "Pearl of the Orient" during the 40's and 50's. The tree lined boulevards, French colonial architecture and streetside cafes are prominent reminders of the city's recent past, however, it is the vast, bustling markets which offer a more telling picture of the new Vietnam. This evening dinner at a local private restaurant. SAT : DAY 14 / HO CHI MINH CITY This morning enjoy a city tour of Saigon and Cholon visiting the History Museum on the grounds of the Saigon Zoo, Renunciation Hall(the former Presidential Palace) and Cholon Market before departing by road for Tay Ninh to visit the Holy See of Cao Dai sect, who include Victor Hugo among their saints. At the Cao Sai Cathedral observe a mid-day religious ceremony. In the afternoon visit the hills around Chu Chi in an area known as the "Iron Triangle" northwest of Ho Chi Minh City. Visit the tunnel areas before returning to Saigon. SUN : DAY 15 / HO CHI MINH CITY DEPARTURE Transfer to the airport for your departure flight back to the States.