The Indochina Highlights: Thailand – Vietnam – Cambodia 12 Days

THE INDOCHINA HIGHLIGHTS: THAILAND – VIETNAM – CAMBODIA

• Tour Code: ST-IC12D
• Duration: 12 Days / 11 Nights  Route: Bangkok – Hanoi – Halong Bay – Danang – Hoi An – Ho Chi Minh City – Siem Reap
• Target Markets: Luxury High-End (US, UK, EU, Australia) & Halal-Certified / Muslim-Friendly (Middle East, GCC, Southeast Asia)
• Primary DMC Operator: Smile Travel Co., Ltd 

BRIEF ITINERARY OVERVIEW

Day 01: Bangkok Arrival (-/-/-) – VIP Meet & Greet, hotel transfer, leisure.

Day 02: Bangkok City Heritage & Khlong Canals (B/L/-) – Grand Palace, Wat Pho, Reclining Buddha & Long-tail boat canal tour.

Day 03: Bangkok – Flight to Hanoi (B/-/-) – Direct international flight, welcome stroll around Hoan Kiem Lake.

Day 04: Hanoi Cultural Immersion & Vintage Army Jeep Tour (B/L/-) – Historic complex & iconic Train Street exploration.

Day 05: Hanoi – Halong Bay (Luxury 5/6-Star Cruise) (B/L/D) – Limousine expressway, cave excursion, sunset party, gourmet dinner.

Day 06: Halong Bay – Flight to Danang (B/Brunch/-) – Morning Tai Chi, brunch cruising back to port, expressway transfer to airport, late afternoon flight to Danang.

Day 07: Danang – Hoi An Ancient Town & Rural Ecosystem (B/L/-) – Cam Thanh round basket boats, guided walking tour of UNESCO Old Town.

Day 08: Hoi An – Ba Na Hills (Golden Bridge) – Flight to Saigon (B/L/-) – World-famous Golden Bridge cable car trip, direct transfer to airport, flight to Saigon.

Day 09: Saigon City Heritage & Cu Chi Tunnels (B/L/-) – Historic subterranean defense network & French colonial landmarks.

Day 10: Saigon – Flight to Siem Reap (B/-/-) – Morning boutique shopping, direct flight to Cambodia, welcome leisure.

Day 11: Siem Reap – Full Day Angkor World Heritage Wonders (B/L/-) – Sunrise at Angkor Wat, Bayon stone faces, Ta Prohm jungle temple.

Day 12: Siem Reap Departure (B/-/-) – Artisan craft discovery, private airport transfer for departure flight.

🗺️ ITINERARY OVERVIEW

Day 01: Bangkok Arrival (-/-/-)

Welcome to Thailand: Meet your private chauffeur and English-speaking tour guide at Suvarnabhumi International Airport (BKK).  Transfer: Private air-conditioned luxury vehicle transfer to your 5-star hotel in central Bangkok.  Evening: Free at leisure to recover from international travel, adjust to the timezone, or take an independent walk around the vibrant shopping avenues.

Overnight: Luxury 5-Star Hotel in Bangkok.

Day 02: Bangkok City Heritage & Khlong Canals (Meals: B/L)

Morning: Breakfast at the hotel.

Visit the dazzling Grand Palace, administrative and ceremonial seat of the Kings of Siam, and the sacred Wat Phra Kaew (Temple of the Emerald Buddha).

Proceed to Wat Pho to marvel at the 46-meter gilded Reclining Buddha.

Lunch: Savor authentic Thai dishes at a scenic riverside restaurant (Certified Halal dining arranged upon request).

Afternoon: Board a private wooden long-tail boat to cruise along the Thonburi Khlongs (Canals), witnessing traditional riverfront settlements. Conclude with a stop at Wat Arun (Temple of Dawn) overlooking the Chao Phraya River.

Overnight: Luxury 5-Star Hotel in Bangkok.

Day 03: Bangkok – Flight to Hanoi (Meals: B)Morning: Breakfast at the hotel.

Free time for leisurely shopping at CentralWorld, Siam Paragon, or ICONSIAM.

Midday: Private transfer to Suvarnabhumi Airport (BKK) for your direct flight to Hanoi, Vietnam.

Welcome to Vietnam: Meet your Smile Travel tour executive at Noi Bai International Airport (HAN).

Private transfer to your boutique hotel in the French Quarter / Old Quarter.

Late Afternoon: Orientation stroll around Hoan Kiem Lake, crossing the scarlet The Huc Bridge to visit Ngoc Son Temple.

Overnight: Luxury 5-Star Hotel in Hanoi.

Day 04: Hanoi Insider Discovery & Vintage Army Jeep Tour (Meals: B/L)

Morning: Visit Vietnam’s primary cultural landmarks: the Temple of Literature (Vietnam’s first national university, founded in 1070), followed by an exterior viewing of the Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum Complex, Presidential Palace gardens, and the 11th-century One Pillar Pagoda.

Lunch: Enjoy authentic Hanoi specialties at an upscale dining venue (or certified Halal restaurant).

Afternoon: Embark on an exhilarating open-air Vintage Army Jeep Tour (or classic Vespa):  Weave through the historic French Quarter and narrow residential alleyways inaccessible by large coaches.

Stop along the iconic Hanoi Railway Train Street; enjoy Vietnamese Egg Coffee or fresh coconut water while experiencing local life next to the tracks.

Overnight: Luxury 5-Star Hotel in Hanoi.

Day 05: Hanoi – Halong Bay / Lan Ha Bay (5/6-Star Luxury Cruise) (Meals: B/L/D)

08:30: Pick-up via premium Limousine coach from Hanoi, traveling smoothly across the modern expressway directly to Halong / Tuan Chau Marina (approx. 2.5 hours).

11:45 – 12:15: Board your designated 5/6-star cruise vessel (Grand Piooner Cruises, Elite of the Seas, Catherine Cruises, or Mon Chéri Cruise for Halal requirements). Receive a warm welcome drink and cabin key.

13:00: Gourmet buffet or set lunch served in the panoramic restaurant as the ship glides past limestone karsts into pristine Lan Ha Bay.

15:30: Afternoon kayaking or bamboo rowboat ride through hidden lagoons and karst caves; take a dip in emerald waters or unwind in the heated Jacuzzi.

17:30: Sunset cocktail party on the sundeck with an interactive cooking demonstration.

19:30: Fine-dining multi-course dinner featuring premium fresh seafood (or Halal-certified menu).

Night: Evening squid fishing, cocktails at the sky bar, or spa relaxation.  Overnight: Luxury Balcony Cabin aboard 5/6-Star Cruise.

Day 06: Halong Bay – Flight to Danang – Hoi An Ancient Town (Meals: B/Brunch)06:00: Greet the sunrise with a peaceful Tai Chi session on the open sundeck.

07:00: Light breakfast while sailing toward a limestone cave system for morning exploration.

09:30: Cabin check-out. Enjoy an extravagant international farewell brunch while cruising back to port.

11:30: Disembarkation. Direct expressway Limousine/van/car transfer to Noi Bai International Airport for a late afternoon flight to Da Nang (DAD).

Evening: Meet your Central Vietnam team at Danang Airport; enjoy a 20-minute transfer to your luxury hotel in Danang. Free evening to unwind.  Overnight: Luxury 5-Star Hotel in Danang.

Day 07: Danang – Hoi An Ancient Town & Rural Ecosystem (Meals: B/L)

Morning: Head to Cam Thanh Coconut Village. Board round bamboo basket boats (thuyen thung) to navigate quiet water-coconut canals while local boatmen demonstrate traditional net fishing.

Lunch: Riverside meal featuring Hoi An delicacies (Cao Lau, White Rose dumplings, or Halal set menu).

Afternoon: Guided walking tour through the UNESCO World Heritage Hoi An Ancient Town:  Cross the 17th-century Japanese Covered Bridge.

Visit Fujian Assembly Hall and preserved timber merchant homes (Tan Ky or Phung Hung House).  Stroll through romantic lantern-lit pedestrian alleys.

Overnight: Luxury Resort in Hoi An.

Day 08: Hoi An – Ba Na Hills (Golden Bridge) – Flight to Saigon (Meals: B/L)

Morning: Depart for Ba Na Hills. Board one of the world’s longest single-cable car systems, ascending through mist and forest canopy.

Highlight: Walk along the world-renowned Golden Hand Bridge, suspended mid-air by colossal stone hands. Visit the French Village, Le Jardin D’Amour gardens, and Linh Ung Pagoda.

Lunch: Buffet lunch served atop Ba Na Hills.

Afternoon: Descend by cable car and transfer directly to Da Nang Airport for a 1-hour flight to Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon).

Evening: VIP private transfer from Tan Son Nhat Airport to your central 5-star hotel in District 1.

Overnight: Luxury 5-Star Hotel in Saigon.

Day 09: Saigon City Heritage & Cu Chi Underground Tunnels (Meals: B/L)

Morning: Drive northwest through scenic countryside to the historic Cu Chi Tunnels. Discover the 250-km underground network of defense tunnels, command posts, living areas, and booby traps used during the war.

Lunch: Savor Southern Vietnamese gastronomy at a garden restaurant.

Afternoon: Return to central Saigon to explore key cultural monuments:  The War Remnants Museum.  The Reunification Palace (former Presidential Palace).

French colonial architecture: Central Post Office (designed by Gustave Eiffel) and exterior view of Notre Dame Cathedral.

Overnight: Luxury 5-Star Hotel in Saigon.

Day 10: Saigon – Flight to Siem Reap (Meals: B)Morning: Leisurely breakfast. Free time to pick up silk, handicrafts, and coffee at Ben Thanh Market or browse the luxury boutiques along Dong Khoi Street.

Midday: Private transfer to Tan Son Nhat Airport (SGN) for your direct flight to Siem Reap, Cambodia.

Welcome to Cambodia: Arrive at Siem Reap Angkor International Airport (SAI).

Private VIP transfer to your luxury resort.  Evening: Free time to explore the night market or opt for an evening royal dinner with a classical Apsara Dance performance.

Overnight: Luxury 5-Star Hotel in Siem Reap.

Day 11: Siem Reap – Full Day Angkor World Heritage Wonders (Meals: B/L)Dawn: Early morning departure to witness the world-famous sunrise over Angkor Wat.

Explore the intricate bas-relief galleries depicting Hindu epics.

Morning: Return to the resort for breakfast, or enjoy an arranged breakfast box on-site.

Midday: Enter the monumental royal city of Angkor Thom via the South Gate. Marvel at the 216 giant smiling stone faces of the Bayon Temple, the Terrace of the Elephants, and the Terrace of the Leper King.

Lunch: Khmer gourmet set lunch at a boutique colonial garden restaurant.

Afternoon: Venture deep into Ta Prohm, the atmospheric jungle temple where towering silk-cotton tree roots envelop ancient stone corridors.

Overnight: Luxury 5-Star Hotel in Siem Reap.

Day 12: Siem Reap Departure (Meals: B)

Morning: Breakfast at your resort. Free time to enjoy the pool, spa, or visit the Artisans Angkor workshops for authentic wood and stone carvings.

Departure: Private transfer to Siem Reap Angkor International Airport (SAI) for your departure flight.  End of services with Smile Travel.

✅ Inclusions:

• Accommodations: 10 nights at verified 5-star luxury hotels + 01 night in a luxury balcony cabin aboard a 5/6-star cruise in Halong/Lan Ha Bay.
• Private Ground Transportation: 100% private VIP air-conditioned vehicles across all cities, plus modern expressway Limousine transfers for the Hanoi – Halong – Hanoi route.
• Dedicated Tour Guides: Licensed, professional English-speaking local specialists at each destination.
• All Included Meals: 11 Breakfasts, 07 Lunches, 01 Farewell Cruise Brunch, 01 Gourmet Cruise Dinner.
• Admissions & Special Activities: Entrance fees to all listed sites, Ba Na Hills return cable car passes, Bangkok long-tail boat, Cam Thanh bamboo basket boats, Hanoi Vintage Army Jeep / Vespa excursion, and cruise kayaking.
• Complimentary Services: Daily chilled mineral water (2 bottles/pax/day) and refreshing cold towels during touring.

❌  Exclusions:

• International & domestic flight tickets (available upon request at net DMC ticketing rate).
• Visa fees for Thailand, Vietnam, and Cambodia.
• Personal expenses (beverages outside set menus, laundry, spa, telephone).
• Peak season / national holiday gala dinner surcharges.

Mandatory Tipping policy:

• 1-4 pax: 5 USD/pax/day.
• 5-10 pax: 4 USD/pax/day.
• 10+ pax: 3 USD/pax/day.

📌 POLICY & NOTES

Children Policy:

• Under 4 years old: Free of Charge (FOC) (sharing existing bed with parents). 
• From 4 to 8 years old: 85% of adult rate (sharing room/bed with parents).
• From 9 years old and above: 100% adult rate.

Notes:

• Passport Requirement: Passports must be valid for at least 6 months beyond the arrival date in Vietnam.
• Surcharges: Peak season surcharges apply for Christmas Eve (Dec 24), New Year’s Eve (Dec 31), and Vietnam National Lunar New Year (Tet Holiday).
• VISA to Vietnam (Please make sure you have 6 months passport validity. We can help for visa on arrival if request)
• Please note that if a certain accommodation is not available at the time of booking, then we will gladly make alternative suggestions in the same category.
• No early check in or late checkout is included except those indicated in the program. Generally, the check in time is 14:00 and check out time is 12:00.

Dietary Requests:

• Indian Tourists: Requesting Indian food will pay a mandatory surcharge of 5 USD/PAX/MEAL.
• Muslim Group: Requesting Halal food will pay a mandatory surcharge of 5 USD/PAX/MEAL. Smile Travel will ensure meals are sourced from certified Halal vendors in major cities and Muslim-friendly kitchens in remote areas.

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