Overview
Join us as we explore the best of two of my favorite countries, Vietnam & Thailand! From amazing food and super cool cafes to beautiful temples, islands and some of the most incredible scenery in Southeast Asia, this trip has a little bit of everything.
Whether a daily Banh Mi and getting custom outfits made in Hoi An is up your alley, or you’re here for Ha Long Bay, the Phi Phi Islands, Hanoi’s famous Train Street and Egg Coffee, there’s something for everyone on this trip.
We’ll explore tiny streets and local cafes, eat our way through Vietnam, spend 3 days cruising Ha Long Bay, visit some of Thailand’s most beautiful temples, spend a day with elephants in Chiang Mai and finish in Phuket with two full days out on the water exploring the islands.
Join us for Vietnam, Thailand or both and experience the best of two of my favorite countries!
Itinerary
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Welcome to Vietnam! Arrive at Da Nang International Airport by 4:00 PM to take advantage of our shared group transfers to beautiful Hoi An.
After checking into the hotel, anyone interested in having custom clothing made will visit one of Hoi An’s famous tailors to choose fabrics, select designs, and have their initial measurements taken.
Tonight, meet your fellow travelers over our Vietnamese welcome dinner and get your first glimpse of Hoi An’s magical lantern-lit Ancient Town.
Included: Shared airport transfer, welcome dinner
Overnight in Hoi An
Today is all about experiencing the charm and culture of Hoi An! Start with a visit to the coconut village, where you’ll climb aboard one of Vietnam’s famous round basket boats before joining a hands-on Vietnamese cooking class.
Afterward, return to Hoi An for any tailor fittings you have and free time to shop, explore the Ancient Town, or stop at one of the city’s charming cafés. As the sun goes down, we will regroup for a lantern boat ride along the river and experience Hoi An at its most beautiful.
Included: Basket boat experience, Vietnamese cooking class, lantern boat ride
Overnight in Hoi An
Enjoy a relaxed morning in Hoi An with time for final tailor fittings, clothing pickup, shopping, or one last Vietnamese coffee. Later, transfer to Da Nang Airport for your flight north to Hanoi. After checking into the hotel, head into Hanoi’s bustling Old Quarter for a guided street food adventure, sampling some of the dishes that make northern Vietnamese cuisine so incredible.
Included: Airport transfers, domestic flight to Hanoi, guided street food tour
Overnight in Hanoi
Spend today discovering the energy, history, and incredible café culture of Vietnam’s capital. Visit some of Hanoi’s most important sights on a short guided tour before heading out on a café-hopping experience to sample Vietnamese favorites, including the city’s famous egg coffee.
Later, experience iconic Hanoi Train Street, where cafés sit just inches from the railway tracks as trains pass directly through the neighborhood. Finish the day with time to wander around Hoan Kiem Lake and explore more of the Old Quarter.
Included: guided Hanoi sightseeing, café-hopping experience, coffee tastings, & Train Street experience
Overnight in Hanoi
Leave the city behind and travel to breathtaking Ha Long Bay, where thousands of limestone islands rise dramatically from emerald water. Board your cruise around midday and enjoy lunch as you begin sailing through one of Vietnam’s most spectacular landscapes. Spend the afternoon exploring the bay with activities such as kayaking, swimming, or visiting caves before returning to the ship for sunset and dinner on the water.
Tonight, fall asleep surrounded by the limestone karsts of Ha Long Bay.
Over the next 3 Days, there will be several opportunities to get off the boat and take trips to areas around us or even hop in a kayak from the boat and explore your way around some beautiful areas. From caves to lagoons – there is SO much we’ll be able to explore and a ton of different options for everyone. You could relax on board the boat with a drink or go swimming or kayaking in the bay!
There will be evening activities for you to join in, or you can just relax and take in the beautiful waters surrounding you.
Included: Transfer to Ha Long Bay, cruise accommodation, lunch, dinner, scheduled cruise activities
Overnight onboard in Ha Long Bay
Wake up in the middle of one of Southeast Asia’s most unforgettable landscapes. Today gives you an entire day to venture deeper into Ha Long Bay and its surrounding waterways. Depending on our selected cruise itinerary, you may kayak through hidden lagoons, explore caves, visit floating communities, swim, or discover quieter areas farther from the main harbor.
Return to the ship for another incredible sunset and your second night onboard.
You’ll have the option to wake up super early today and start your day with a Taichi or Yoga class, enjoying the sea breeze around you to start the day off right… or just lay in bed and get a few extra minutes sleep!
From Squid Fishing to Happy Hour, Movie Night & more!
Included: Breakfast, lunch, dinner, cruise accommodation, scheduled cruise activities
Overnight onboard in Ha Long Bay
Enjoy one final morning cruising between Ha Long Bay’s limestone islands before breakfast or brunch onboard. You’ll have the opportunity to start your day with an early morning Tai Chi session, before having a light lunch and one final visit to a beautiful Dark and Bright Cave via Kayak or bamboo boat. After disembarking, transfer directly to Hanoi International Airport and say goodbye to Vietnam.
Travelers joining us for the full adventure will fly to Bangkok to begin the Thailand portion of the trip. Guests joining for Thailand only will meet the group in Bangkok. The flight from Hanoi to Bangkok is included when booking both trips.
Welcome to Thailand!
Included: Breakfast/brunch, scheduled cruise activities, transfer to Hanoi International Airport
Overnight in Bangkok
We’re packing the best of Bangkok into one incredible day! Visit the spectacular Grand Palace and Wat Phra Kaew before continuing to Wat Pho, home of the enormous Reclining Buddha. Cross the Chao Phraya River to visit beautiful Wat Arun before heading to the Golden Mount at Wat Saket for panoramic views across Bangkok.
Later, transfer to the airport and fly north to Chiang Mai, trading Thailand’s enormous capital for the mountains and relaxed atmosphere of northern Thailand.
Included: Bangkok sightseeing tour, temple admissions, transportation, flight to Chiang Mai, airport transfers
Overnight in Chiang Mai
Wake up in beautiful Chiang Mai and spend the day discovering northern Thailand’s cultural capital. Explore the historic Old City, visit some of Chiang Mai’s most beautiful temples, wander through local markets, and experience the slower pace that makes this city so special.
Later, travel into the mountains to visit spectacular Wat Phra That Doi Suthep and take in sweeping views over Chiang Mai below. Tonight, enjoy free time to explore one of Chiang Mai’s famous night markets.
Included: Chiang Mai sightseeing tour, temple admissions, Doi Suthep, transportation
Overnight in Chiang Mai
Today is one of the most unforgettable experiences of the trip. Travel outside Chiang Mai to a carefully selected ethical elephant sanctuary focused on responsible tourism and elephant welfare. Spend time learning about these incredible animals, their individual stories, and conservation efforts while observing them in a respectful environment without elephant riding or forced performances.
Return to Chiang Mai later in the afternoon with the evening free for massages, markets, cafés, or dinner on your own.
Included: Ethical elephant sanctuary experience, transportation, lunch
Overnight in Chiang Mai
Enjoy one last relaxed morning in Chiang Mai. Sleep in, visit a café, shop for souvenirs, or squeeze in a Thai massage before heading to the airport for your flight south to Phuket.
After arriving, transfer to our beach resort and enjoy a completely free afternoon and evening. Grab a cocktail, hit the pool, walk along the beach, book a massage, or simply watch your first Phuket sunset.
Included: Flight to Phuket, airport transfers
Overnight in Phuket
Today we’re heading out onto the turquoise waters of the Andaman Sea! Board a premium boat for a full-day adventure through the spectacular Phi Phi Islands. Visit world-famous Maya Bay, snorkel in crystal-clear water, swim surrounded by dramatic limestone cliffs, and experience some of the scenery that has made southern Thailand famous around the world.
Included: Full-day island boat tour, snorkeling equipment, lunch, national park fees
Overnight in Phuket
Your second day on the water looks completely different from the first. Explore the dramatic limestone formations of Phang Nga Bay, visit famous James Bond Island, and paddle through incredible sea caves and hidden waterways by canoe or kayak.
Return to Phuket in the afternoon with time to freshen up before meeting the group for our farewell dinner and celebrating an incredible adventure through Vietnam and Thailand.
Included: Full-day Phang Nga Bay boat tour, sea canoeing/kayaking, lunch, national park fees, farewell dinner
Overnight in Phuket
There are no alarms or scheduled group activities today. Sleep in and spend your final hours in paradise exactly how you want, whether that means one last swim, a spa treatment, shopping, beach time, or another plate of Thai food.
Guests can begin departing Phuket throughout the day, while those continuing on to another adventure can arrange onward flights.
Until next time!
Included: Breakfast
Everything Included
- Shared airport transfer
- Welcome dinner
- Basket boat experience
- Vietnamese cooking class
- Lantern boat ride
- Airport transfers
- Domestic flight to Hanoi
- Guided street food tour
- Guided Hanoi sightseeing
- Café-hopping experience
- Coffee tastings
- Train Street experience
- Transfer to Ha Long Bay
- Cruise accommodation
- Scheduled cruise activities
- Transfer to Hanoi International Airport
- Bangkok sightseeing tour
- Temple admissions
- Flight to Chiang Mai
- Chiang Mai sightseeing tour
- Doi Suthep
- Ethical elephant sanctuary experience
- Flight to Phuket
- Full-day island boat tour
- Snorkeling equipment
- National park fees
- Full-day Phang Nga Bay boat tour
- Sea canoeing/kayaking
- Farewell dinner
Exclusions
- Any Travel Visas
- Food & Drink outside listed inclusions
- International Flights
- Covid Testing if required
- Travel Insurance
- Tips for guides, restaurants, boat trips
Once the trip hits its minimum number of guests it is confirmed, and at that point the $500 deposit ($650 if you do both trips) becomes non-refundable. We pay non-refundable deposits to our local operators to lock everything in. If the trip doesn’t reach the minimum and gets cancelled, you receive a full refund.
If you cancel more than 90 days before the trip, your deposit is non-refundable but anything paid beyond it can be refunded minus a small $100 admin fee.
The trip is 100% non-refundable within 90 days of departure. This is why travel insurance is required.
No, international flights are not included. Fly into Da Nang International Airport by 4:00 PM on November 1st, 2027. Fly home out of Phuket on November 14th, 2027.
Guests joining for Thailand only will meet the group in Bangkok on November 7th, 2027.
Note: the domestic flights to Hanoi (Day 3), to Chiang Mai (Day 8) and to Phuket (Day 11) are included. The flight from Hanoi to Bangkok on Day 7 is included when booking both trips.
Yes, travel insurance is required for this trip. Given the distance, the non-refundable deposit structure, and the activities involved, you want to be covered if something comes up. Get your quotes early, they’re usually pretty reasonable.
The average age on most trips is 25-39 but don’t let that discourage you. All Ages are welcome! Come with an open mind, be ready to travel with a fun mixed-age group, and be prepared to actually move. These trips are high energy and fast paced. We’re out seeing the world, not sitting by the pool everyday!
Base price is double occupancy (two beds per room). If you don’t sign up with a roommate, we will match you with one. We send out a roommate survey before the trip and pair people up as best we can. Single rooms are available but limited, add it when booking the trip via the email we send you after confirmation.Â
A lot of meals are included on this trip – see the itinerary day by day. Rachel and local guides know all the best local spots and the food in Vietnam & Thailand is incredible. If you have dietary needs (vegetarian, vegan, gluten free, allergies) let us know ahead of time and everything can be accommodated.
