Senses Awakening Journey
From: 1,940 USD | 19 Days
Active level: Easy
Hanoi – Halong – Cat Ba – Danang – Hoi An – Hue – Ho Chi Minh – Bangkok – Ayutthaya – Chiang Mai
Your journey at a glance
Experience 19 days across Vietnam and Thailand—kayak through Halong Bay, stroll lantern-lit Hoi An, savor street food, and marvel at Bangkok’s vibrant culture. Each day is a sensory journey, connecting you deeply with nature, people, and local heritage.
Brief
Day 1: Hanoi - Arrival
Day 2: Hanoi Tour – History and Culture
Day 3: Hanoi – Ha Long – Mon Chéri Cruise on Lan Ha Bay
Day 4: Ha Long – Hanoi – Da Nang – Hoi An
Day 5: Hoi An – Bay Mau Coconut Forest – Visit the Old Town
Day 6: Hoi An – Da Nang – Hue
Day 7: Hue – City Tour
Day 8: Hue – Ho Chi Minh City – City tour
Day 9: Ho Chi Minh City – Cu Chi Tunnels
Day 10: Ho Chi Minh City – Ben Tre – Mekong River
Day 11: Ho Chi Minh City – Bangkok (Thailand)
Day 12: Bangkok city tour
Day 13: Bangkok – Maeklong Railway Market – Damnoen Saduak Floating Market – Kanchanaburi
Day 14: Kanchanaburi – Erawan Waterfall – Ayutthaya
Day 15: Ayutthaya – Bang Pa-in - Chiang Mai
Day 16: Visit Chiang Mai
Day 17: Chiang Mai - Elephant Sanctuary
Day 18: Chiang Mai - Mae Kampong Ancient Village
Day 19: End of trip
Important Information
Itinerary
Day 1: Hanoi - Arrival
Day 1: Hanoi - Arrival
Hanoi’s Welcome – The Breath of a Thousand Years
The most memorable moment isn’t the airport rush, but the drive into the city. The unique air, with a bit of early morning chill and the humidity from the lakes, caresses your skin. The aromasphở, coffee, and flower stalls waft through the streets. This is the moment your mind truly lets go, and your heart opens to embrace a Hanoi that is both ancient and vibrant.
Day 2: Hanoi Tour – History and Culture
Day 2: Hanoi Tour – History and Culture
Hanoi – Hearing the Old Quarter’s Heartbeat from a Cyclo
Relaxing on a cyclo, you don’t just “see” the Old Quarter; you “feel” every corner. The vendors’ calls, the tinkling of cyclo bells, and the cheerful chatter create a symphony of life. Everything glides by slowly: ancient, mustard-yellow houses from the 100-year-old French colonial era, the moss-covered tiled roofs of a university nearly a millennium old, interspersed with the blue window shutters of the modern era. It’s a living film, transporting you back to a Hanoi that is both very old and full of heart, while still bearing the features of the present.
Day 3: Hanoi – Ha Long – Mon Chéri Cruise on Lan Ha Bay
Day 3: Hanoi – Ha Long – Mon Chéri Cruise on Lan Ha Bay
Dissolving into the Emerald Green of Halong Bay
The peak moment isn’t admiring from afar, but taking control of your own small kayak. The world around you falls almost silent, broken only by the gentle sound of your paddle dipping into the water, creating soft ripples. The boat glides across the emerald water, you feel the cool spray on your skin as you look up at the towering limestone karsts right beside you. It’s a feeling of being small before majestic nature, yet also a feeling of absolute freedom in the vast space, where you and nature become one. Don’t forget to experience making a Vietnamese specialty and enjoying your own creation.
Day 4: Ha Long – Hanoi – Da Nang – Hoi An
Day 4: Ha Long – Hanoi – Da Nang – Hoi An
Uncovering the Mysteries within Mother Earth
Stepping through the entrance of Trung Trang Cave, a different world unfolds, one that holds Vietnamese legends: from the image of the eagle snatching the princess in the Thach Sanh fairy tale to the crane on the Dong Son bronze drum or the Black Turtle of the Goddess. You breathe in the scent of damp earth and ancient stone. The cool air envelops your body, a stark contrast to the heat outside. Under the lights, stalactites reveal their fantastical, glittering shapes. In this moment, one feels small before the grand creation of time, a sense of both awe and admiration. And instantly, you ask yourself: Could these glittering stalactites from millions of years ago hold a hidden signal from the Creator, sent to people of the present?
Day 5: Hoi An – Bay Mau Coconut Forest – Visit the Old Town
Day 5: Hoi An – Bay Mau Coconut Forest – Visit the Old Town
Hoi An – Colors and Traditional Flavors
Hoi An is known for its rows of turmeric-yellow ancient houses, where red Rangoon creepers or pink, orange, and white bougainvillea bloom in every alley. Not only vibrant by day, Hoi An at night is also brilliantly shimmering with lanterns on the river and along the streets. Sitting in a round basket boat, you feel its bobbing and listen to the delightful sound of the paddles stirring the water. Sunlight filters through the coconut fronds, creating dancing patterns on the river’s surface. The boatman sings a folk song or gives you a small gift woven from a coconut leaf. It’s a moment of pure, joyful peace, completely detached from the noisy world, as if you’ve drifted into a riverside fairytale.
Day 6: Hoi An – Da Nang – Hue
Day 6: Hoi An – Da Nang – Hue
Conquering the “World’s Most Magnificent Pass”
The journey over the Hai Van Pass is a spectacular one. Reaching the summit, you step out and take a deep breath, feeling the sea breeze carrying the taste of salt. Before you lies a breathtaking panorama: the lush Truong Son mountain range on one side, and the deep blue sea of Lang Co Bay hugging a white sand beach on the other. At that moment, all fatigue vanishes, leaving only a sense of conquest and boundless freedom.
Day 7: Hue – City Tour
Day 7: Hue – City Tour
Stepping into the Flow of Hue’s Imperial Past
When you step through the Ngo Mon Gate into the Imperial City, time seems to stand still. Do the echoes of tourists’ footsteps from the ancient corridors resemble the steps of figures from the past? You run your hand over the massive ironwood pillars, feeling the coolness and the weight of centuries of history. The solemn space and the stories of the Nguyen Dynasty emperors will transport your mind back in time, allowing you to vividly feel a golden yet tumultuous era. The cuisine of Hue is also very impressive!
Day 8: Hue – Ho Chi Minh City – City tour
Day 8: Hue – Ho Chi Minh City – City tour
Touching a Slice of Saigon’s History
Visiting the Reunification Palace is more than just sightseeing. As you walk through the state rooms, the president’s office, and down into the command bunker, a special sensation takes over. Everything feels untouched, as if its occupants just left for a moment. You can feel the weight of the events that took place here, touching a living slice of modern history, perfectly preserved from 50 years ago.
Day 9: Ho Chi Minh City – Cu Chi Tunnels
Day 9: Ho Chi Minh City – Cu Chi Tunnels
Challenge Your Courage Beneath the Cu Chi Tunnels
The most unforgettable experience is bending down and beginning your journey into a section of the over 200km-long tunnels. The air inside is dense and humid; the earth embraces you. You can only hear your own breath and heartbeat amidst the frightening silence of the tunnel. It’s not an experience for everyone, but it will give you a profound empathy for the resilience, ingenuity, and incredible will to survive of the Vietnamese people during the war.
Day 10: Ho Chi Minh City – Ben Tre – Mekong River
Day 10: Ho Chi Minh City – Ben Tre – Mekong River
Listening to the Breath of the Mekong River
Arriving in Bangkok, you immediately feel a completely different energy. The city is ablaze with lights, the sound of tuk-tuks, music, and the rush of people. This is an exciting moment of transition. Your heart beats a little faster, ready to embrace a new adventure with completely new cultural colors and experiences.
Day 11: Ho Chi Minh City – Bangkok (Thailand)
Day 11: Ho Chi Minh City – Bangkok (Thailand)
Opening a New Chapter in Bangkok
Arriving in Bangkok, you immediately feel a completely different energy. The city is ablaze with lights, the sound of tuk-tuks, music, and the rush of people. This is an exciting moment of transition. Your heart beats a little faster, ready to embrace a new adventure with completely new cultural colors and experiences.
Day 12: Bangkok city tour
Day 12: Bangkok city tour
Awed by the Faith and Splendor of the Grand Palace
Entering the grounds of the Grand Palace in Thailand, all your senses are awakened. You won’t be able to take your eyes off the dazzling gold-plated chedis glittering in the sun and the walls inlaid with sparkling porcelain. Somewhere, the gentle ringing of temple bells chimes. The reverence and powerful faith that emanates from every structure spreads through the space, a feeling of being utterly awestruck by the perfect fusion of power, art, and spirituality.
Day 13: Bangkok – Maeklong Railway Market – Damnoen Saduak Floating Market – Kanchanaburi
Day 13: Bangkok – Maeklong Railway Market – Damnoen Saduak Floating Market – Kanchanaburi
Living the Vibrant Chaos of the Floating Market
Your boat weaves through hundreds of others at the Damnoen Saduak floating market. The air is thick with the sweet scents of mango, durian, and hot dishes like Pad Thai and mango sticky rice. The lively calls of vendors, the sounds of bargaining, and cheerful chatter create a unique orchestra. This is a vivid, immersive experience where you truly merge with the rhythm of Thai river commerce.
Day 14: Kanchanaburi – Erawan Waterfall – Ayutthaya
Day 14: Kanchanaburi – Erawan Waterfall – Ayutthaya
Cleansing the Soul in the Emerald Pools of Erawan Falls
After trekking through lush green forest, you hear the sound of cascading water growing louder. And then, a level of Erawan Falls appears like a white silk ribbon flowing into an emerald-green pool. All fatigue seems to be washed away from the moment you immerse yourself in the cool water, feeling tiny fish gently nibbling at your feet. It is a pure and refreshing reward from Mother Nature.
Day 15: Ayutthaya – Bang Pa-in - Chiang Mai
Day 15: Ayutthaya – Bang Pa-in - Chiang Mai
Ayutthaya – Chiang Mai – Becoming an Explorer on a Tuk-Tuk in Ayutthaya
Travelers explore the majestic ruins of the ancient capital, Ayutthaya, on a quirky Kermit tuk-tuk. A cool breeze flows past as the tuk-tuk zips along, making travelers feel the delightful contrast between the fun, modern vehicle and the silent, moss-covered brick temples that have stood for centuries. Especially etched in travelers’ minds is the image of the Buddha head in the 700-year-old tree roots, a symbol of eternal tranquility amidst the flow of change of all things.
Day 16: Visit Chiang Mai
Day 16: Visit Chiang Mai
Touching Serenity atop Doi Suthep
The road up the mountain might be tiring, but the reward is immeasurable. Standing before the glittering golden stupa at the summit of Doi Suthep, listening to the clear, melodic ringing of wind chimes mixed with prayer chants, your soul will suddenly feel incredibly light. Looking down at the city of Chiang Mai shrouded in mist, you will find a deep sense of peace, a powerful moment of spiritual connection.
Day 17: Chiang Mai - Elephant Sanctuary
Day 17: Chiang Mai - Elephant Sanctuary
Befriending the Gentle Giants
This is not a day for sightseeing, but a day for a heart-to-heart connection. For the Thai people, elephants symbolize religion, the nation, and royalty. Furthermore, elephants are also considered symbols of strength, prosperity, and happiness. You will prepare food with your own hands, offer it to an elephant, and feel its soft trunk. A wordless bond is formed between human and animal; it is the moment you wade into the river, using a brush to scrub the rough but gentle back of the elephant. Elephants cannot speak, but you will see the joy in their eyes. You return not just with a warmer heart for having given and received pure love.
Day 18: Chiang Mai - Mae Kampong Ancient Village
Day 18: Chiang Mai - Mae Kampong Ancient Village
Living Like a Local in Mae Kampong Village
Today, you will be a genuine villager! You will walk through the tea hills, inhaling the fragrance of fresh tea leaves and drying coffee beans. Then, stop to sip a cup of herbal tea picked right from the garden. The most memorable part is the kind smiles, the sincere welcome of the people, the land of smiles! You are not a tourist; you are an honored guest, invited to listen and immerse yourself in the stories of daily life. It is the most authentic and heartwarming experience.
Day 19: End of trip
Day 19: End of trip
Looking Back on the Journey with a Full Heart
On the ride to the Chiang Mai airport, the images of the past 18 days flash through your mind like a film: the ancient charm of Hanoi, the majesty of Halong, the splendor of Bangkok, to the peace of Chiang Mai. You realize you’re bringing home more than just souvenirs; you’re carrying a treasure trove of memories, flavors, sounds, and connections. You are returning, but a part of your soul remains in the places you’ve been, and you carry a part of those places with you in your heart.
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