800-200-3887 | CLASSICJOURNEYS800-200-3887 | CLASSICJOURNEYS.COM We return to Hanoi for lunch at Indochine restaurant, followed by a visit to the Hanoi Ethnology Museum. After some

800-200-3887|CLASSICJOURNEYS.COM

D A I L Y I T I N E R A R Y VIETNAM,LAOS&CAMBODIA


T H E K I D S W I L L L O V E . . . • Bi k in g p a s t r i ce p a d d ie s o n

t h e M e k on g D e l t a

• G e t t i n g a p e r s o n a l m a h ou t l e s s o n o n a n e le p h a n t

• V i s i t i n g a f l o a t i n g v i l l a g e in Ha l o n g Ba y

RideyourLaotianelephantintotheMekongforitsdailybath.KayakfromyourprivatejunktotheawesomecavesofVietnam’sHalongBay.Tastedragonfruit…climbdownintoanundergroundtunnelcomplex...climbonatempleatAngkorWat.ThelistoffamilyactivitiesonourexplorationofIndochinaisamilelong–andafinewaytowidenyour horizons. Southeast Asia is totally ideal for multi-generational travel. It’sabsorbing,unexpected,fullofsightsandexperiencesthatnoneofyouhaveeverhadbefore.Bestofall,ourlocalguidesandavastsupportteammakeyourtravelsutterlyeffortless.Soyoucanconcentrateonenjoyingeachotherandmakingamazingtravelmemories.Anddidwementiontheleisurelystaysathotelsthatregularlyshowuponallkindsof“world’sbest”lists?Whetheryou’rechattingwitharicefarmer,nappingonthewhitesandofChinaBeachorlunchingonafragrantbowlofphở,thisisafamilyvacationnoneofyouwilleverforget.

A MULTISPORT ADVENTURE IN SOUTHEAST ASIA



DAY1

Saigon & Mekong Delta •CruisetheMekongRiverbytraditionallong-tailboat•Enjoya—very—leisurelybikeridebetweencolorfullocalvillagesintheMekongDelta

WemeetinSaigonthismorning.It’salively,high-energymetropoliswherenewconstructionandtechnologyconstantlybumpupagainstthetraditionalandthehistoric.SouthernVietnamistheclassiclandscapeyou’veimagined.Todaywillprovideourfirstglimpseofthelush,tropicallandscape,carpetedwithricefieldsthatproducethreeorfourcropsayear.Brightlydressedworkersbendtotheirwork,formingalineoftheconicalstrawhatswe’llseethroughoutthetrip.Theall-purposehatsprotectfairskinfromthesunandshedraintoo.Fuelyourselfwithwhatyou’llsoonseeisaseriesofexceptionalbreakfasts.(You’llhavemanychoicesfromtypicalwesterntoVietnamesespecialties,butpleasetrythetraditionalphosoup;it’sdelicious.)ThenweenjoyadrivetoCaiLay,asmalltownonthebanksoftheMekongRiver.Atthelocalpier,weboardalong-tailboattoweaveamongthemanycraftthatrelyontheriveranditstributariesfortransportationandcommerce.AtCamSonbridge,wedisembarktostartanultra-leisurelybikerideintotheheartoftheMekongDelta.(Thebikesareperfectevenifyou’renotaregularbiker,withcushysaddlesandhighhandlebars.Theroadsareflatandfreeoftraffic–andourpaceiseasy.Ofcourse,ifyouprefer,youcanhopontooneofthelocalmini-carriagesknownas“xeloi.”)Weseenotouristsaswefollownarrowcountryroadsthatcurveovertinycanalsandpastfruitgardensandsleepyvillages.Kidswillgreetuswithabigsmileand“xinchao!”Andwe’relikelytotradenodsandsmileswithawomaninthetraditionalaodaiasshepedals(andsings)herwaytothelocalmarket.Alongtheway,we’llvisitafishfarm,ricepaddiesandatropicalfruitorchard.Mr.HaiCu,theowner,isalwaysgoodforafriendlychatandatasteofhisfruits,freshfromthetree.Backontheriver,asampanridelandsusata100-year-oldhouse,wheretheownerandhiswifetreatustoalunchoflocalspecialties.Tonightwecanunwindafteranamazingdayoverdinneratoneofthecity’sfinestFrenchrestaurants.OVERNIGHT:SAIGON MEALS:L,D

ParkHyattSaigonConsistentlynamedoneofAsia'stophotels,thisgrand5-starpropertyisrenownedforitssophistication,eleganceandincrediblygraciousservice.It'satrulyremarkableretreatrightattheheartofHoChiMinhCity'sbustle.

DAY2

Saigon •Exploreaprivatecollectionwithanartexpert•VisitSaigonbyrickshaw•LearntheartofcalligraphyFuelyourselfwithwhatyou’llsoonseeisaseriesofexceptionalbreakfasts.(You’llhavemanychoicesfromtypicalwesterntoVietnamesespecialties,butpleasetrythetraditionalphởsoup;it’sdelicious.)Afterbreakfast,we’lljoinanartexpertforavisittoaprivatecollectionthathousescolonialeraartwork.You’llseehowEuropeanstylesfusedwithtraditionalVietnamesematerialsandtechniquesgavebirthtomodernVietnameseart.NextstopistheHCMCFineArtsMuseum,whereyouseesketchesofwartimeartists.You’llbeimmersedintoajourneythroughVietnam’s20thcenturyhistorypunctuatedwithstories,artworksandimages.Theafternoonisfulloffascinatingjuxtapositions,too.WelunchonimpeccableVietnamesedishesatHoiAnrestaurant.Nextweboardcyclos–thinkbike-poweredrickshaws–togoexploring.It’sagreatwaytosee,hearandsoakuptheaction,andit’sanefficientwaytogettokeysiteslikeCityHall,NotreDameCathedralandDongKhoiStreet,thecity’spremiershoppingdistrictforcustom-madesilkgarments,embroideryandmore.Mid-afternoon,wemeetupwithoneofthemosteminentscholarsofcalligraphyinSaigon.Originallytrainedasanarchitect,hewelcomesusintohispersonalresidencetosharethefundamentalskillsoftheartformandsharewithussomeofthebeautifulpiecesofartthatdecoratehisworkspace.AneveningflighttakesustoDanangwherewetransfertothespectacularFuramaResort,whichsitsonthepristinestretchofsandknownasChinaBeach.Theeveningisyourstodineearlyorlingeratthebeachorpool.OVERNIGHT:DANANG MEALS:B,L



FuramaResortDanangRankedasVietnam's#1resortandamongthebestresortsinAsia,thisidyllicretreatisinastunninglocationonthepalm-fringedChinaBeach.Beautifullyappointedrooms,allwithaprivateterrace,overlookthegardenandtheswimminglagoon.

DAY3

Hoi An / Danang •WanderthepedestrianstreetsofHoiAn•Strollalongspectacularlyscenicricefields,meetinglocals,outsideDanang

Afterbreakfastattheresortoverlookingthespectacularinfinitypoolsandwhitesands,weventureintotheveryheartofruralDanangforaspecialinsightintotheeverydaylifeofalocalvillagecommunity.OurguideleadsusalongfootpathstothesmallsettlementofHoaTien,nestledamongendlessricefields,whereweexperiencefirsthandtheverybackboneofVietnam'sruralculture.Dependingontheseasonweseethefieldsbeingploughedbybuffalo,riceplantedbywomen,orharvestedbythemen.Andwe’llvisitamilltoseehowthericeisdriedandhusked.ThisuniqueglimpseintotherurallivesofthevillagersisasightthatveryfewothervisitorsseeandwillbeoneofthehighlightsofourtimeinVietnam.WethenstopbyTraQueOrganicVillage,andwalkthroughthemarketgardenswherelocalfarmersworkontheirfieldsusingthetraditionalmethodsofhundredsofyearsago-noelectricalmachineryhere.Midday,wepauseforlunchatBrotherCafé-abeautifulrestaurantlocatedontheThuBonRiveranddecoratedintraditionalHoiAnstylewithdarkwoodsandlushgardens.Thisafternoon,wejourneyalongthebeachfrontroadtoHoiAn.Againstallodds,thisextraordinaryvillagewasuntouchedbythewarandoffersaglimpseofaVietnamthatexistsalmostnowhereelse.Aswewanderthecompletelytraffic-freestreetsofthisseaport,it’snothardtoimagineitinthe18thCentury,whenHoiAnwasoneofthebusiesttradingportsinAsia.Alongitscobbledstreets,we’llseeChinese,JapaneseandEuropeanarchitecture.Attheriverfront,there’sasceneofboatsbrimmingwithpeopleandwares.Withahandfromourguide,you’llalsogetachancetoshopthelocalmarketwherethewaresrangefromincensetoflowerstobetelnuts.

OVERNIGHT:DANANG MEALS:B,L,D

DAY4

Danang / Hanoi •Shopthelocalmarketbeforeahandsoncookingclass•ExploreHanoi'scolorfulFrenchQuarter•SettleintothefamedMetropoleHotelinHanoiThismorning,you’llinteractwiththelocalmarketvendorsandshopforingredientsforyourcookinglesson.Walkingashortdistancetothejetty,boardasmallboatandenjoyaleisurelycruisealongtheThuBonRivertoourcookingschool.Asyoujourney,thebustlingsceneclosetotowngiveswaytopeaceandtranquility,anddailylifeontheriver.HoiAnisrenownedthroughoutVietnamforitsdeliciousculinaryspecialties,andthismorning'scookingclassincludesanintroductiontosomeoftheregion'sbest-knowndishes.You’llalsovisitthevegetableandherbgardenbeforepreparingsomeofthedishesyourself.Fueledfromourcookinginstructionandlunch,wevisitalocalkindergartenbeforeashortflighttakesustoHanoi.Vietnam'scapitalisanold-fashionedcitywithsidewalkcafesandpavementbarbers.Therearewideboulevards,linedwithtreesandfilledwithbicycles.GreatmansionsgivewaytocrowdedalleywayslikeSilkStreetandFriedFishStreet.Ourguidedvisitalsoincludesastrollinthecity’slovelyOldQuartertogetarealfeelforVietnam’scolonialpast.Afterabusyday,wecheckintotheMetropole,thecity’smostelegantandhistorichotel.You’llwanttomaketimeforadrinkunderthethatchedroofofthepoolsidebarbeforewesitdowntoatraditionalVietnamesedinneratWildRiceRestaurant,popularwiththelocalsandin-the-knowvisitorsalike.OVERNIGHT:HANOI MEALS:B,L,D

DAY5

Hanoi + Countryside •Followascenicfootpathfromabeautifulpagodapastricefieldsandbamboogrovestoalocalvillage

•LingeroveramemorabledinneratthePressClubAfteranotheramazingbreakfast,wedepartthehotelandheadintothecountryside.NorthernVietnamishometothecountry'smostcolorfulandreveredpagodasandtemples.(ABuddhistvocabularynote:atempleisaplacetoworshipthedead;apagodaisaplacetoworshiptheLordBuddha.)We’llhaveachancetoroamthroughTayPhuongPagoda,famousforitsvastdisplayoffinelycarvedwoodenstatuesof18th-centurymonks.Fromhere,westartascenicwalkamongricefieldsandthroughbamboogrovestoalocalvillage.Wehaveastandinginvitationtothesmalllocalschoolwherewe’llinteractwiththechildrenbedeckedintheirblueandwhiteuniformsandtheirteacher.It’sanotherauthenticinsightintodailylifethathashardlychangedincenturiesandwhereforeignvisitorsarerareexceptions.



WereturntoHanoiforlunchatIndochinerestaurant,followedbyavisittotheHanoiEthnologyMuseum.Aftersometimetorelaxbackatthehotel,getreadyforatrulymemorableexperience:awaterpuppetperformance.Theartofwaterpuppetrybeganathousandyearsago,possiblyinthefloodedricefields.Puppeteerstodaystandinwaist-highwaterandmanipulatetheirchargesinsuchawaythatyoucan’thelpbutbesweptupinthelegendbeingtold.Musicaccompaniestheaction(besuretolistenforthehauntingsoundsofthedanbau,aninstrumentmadefromadriedwatermelonrind).Laterwe'llenjoycocktailsanddinneratthePressClub,atruelocalinstitution.OVERNIGHT:HANOI MEALS:B,L,D

SofitelMetropoleHotelHanoi'smostlegendary5-starhotel,theMetropole,isintheFrenchQuarter.It'sastudyinsophisticateddesignandextremecomfort,withitssuperbservice,tropicalgardensandoutdoorpool.ItisconsistentlyrankedoneofAsia'sbesthotels.

DAY6

Halong Bay •MarvelattheincrediblesceneryinHalongBay•EnjoytheamenitiesandserviceonourluxuryjunkboatLeavingHanoibehind,weheadforoneofourall-timefavoritetravelexperiences–HalongBay.ThebayisconsideredVietnam’seighthwonderoftheworldandit’seasytoseewhy.Threethousandspectacularchalkandlimestoneoutcroppings,cliffs,arches,andcovesformadragon’stailofislandsacrossthebay.Traditionalsailingjunksandlocalfishingboatsglideby,sellingtheirlatestcatch.Intimeforlunch,weboardourluxuryjunkboat.Ourcruiseontheemeraldgreenwatersofthebayoffersusthechancetovisitandexploremanyislandsandcaves.Butmakenomistake:Thisisn’tlikecruisingonacruiseship!Ondeck,everybodycanjoininacookingdemonstrationanddiscoverthesecretsofspringrolls.Aswesailintoapearlfarmcove,youcangokayakingorjumpintothewarmbayforaswim.Eveningactivitiesonthejunkrangefromfishingtoboardgamestospaservices.OVERNIGHT:HALONGBAY MEALS:B,L,D

DragonLegendCruiseEachofthe24spacious,wood-paneledcabinshavebeenluxuriousydesignedforthecomfortandenjoymentofourguests.Therestaurantsandbarsareperfectforlounging.Thereisamineralseawaterpool,alongwithfitnessandspafacilities.

DAY7

Halong Bay / Laos •WaketosunriseonHalongBay•Getyourhandsdirtyatahands-onpotterylesson•BanterwithshopkeepersatLuangPrabang'sfamednightmarket

Ifmoremorningscouldbelikethisone.It’sthemostserene.Themostpicturesque.Themostromantic.Themostofjustabouteverythingwetravelfor.Wehappilyrecommendaquietbreakfastasyouwatchandlistentotheworldcometolife.Youcanalsohopaboardthetenderwithustogoashoreandexplorehigh-ceilingedcavernsonabriefwalk.Backashore,wemakeourawaybacktoHanoibywayofthehamletsofThuCong,PhanTrungandDongSai.Aswewalkamongthem,westoptochatwiththefriendlylocalsbeforewearriveattheworkshopoflocalartisansforahands-onlessoninmakingthepotteryforwhichthispartofVietnamisfamous.Laterintheafternoon,wereturntoHanoiforaneveningflighttoLaos.SereneLuangPrabangsitsattheconfluenceoftheKhanandMekongRiversand–ahintofeventstocome–itwasoncethecapitalofthe“LandoftheMillionElephants.”We’llsettleintoourgraciousandglamorouscolonial-stylehotel.Dinnerisonyourown,butbesuretosavetimetoramblewithourLaotianguide,Toubee,throughthetown’snightmarket,knownespeciallyforfinehandicraftsfromethnicvillagers.OVERNIGHT:LUANGPRABANG MEALS:B,L



MaisonSouvannaphoumHotelTheformerresidenceofLaos'PrinceSouvannaPhoumainthe1960sand70s,thishotelhasbeenrenovatedinamannerthatcombinesthecontemporarywithcolonialandtraditionalLaoinfluences.AmenitiesincludeacelebratedAngsanaSpa.

DAY8

Luang Prabang •Wakeearly(ifyou’dlike)toseethemovingritualofmonksinprocession

•Becomeamahout(elephanttrainer)onourvisittoa2,000-acreelephantsanctuary

•ChooseariversidewalkandnarrowboatbacktoLuangPrabangortimetorelaxoveroptionalspatreatments

Earlyriserswillwitnessamovingritualaslonglinesofbarefootmonkswalksilentlyalongthestreetsontheirmorningalmsrounds.BecauseToubeehimselfenteredthemonkhoodasaboy,hecanarrangeforyoutobewelcomedintotheceremonytoofferanallotmentofricetothemonks.He’llalsoofferspecialinsightsonmonasticlifeandthestudyofBuddhism.Beforereturningtothehotelforbreakfast,we’llexplorethelivelymorningmarket,asthelocalsshopandbargainfortheday’sprovisions.Today’sadventureisavisittoa2,000-acreelephantsanctuaryinthebeautifulandunspoiledNamKhanRivervalley.We’llmeetthemahoutsthattrainandcarefortheelephants.They’llteachushowtogivetheelephantscommandsourselves,andofcoursewe’llclimbupfortrulymemorableridealongandrightintotheriver.(Pleasehaveyourcameraandswimsuitready;theexperienceandsettingisunforgettable.)Afterlunchatthesanctuary,youhavetheoptionofreturningtothehotelforsomedecadenceintheformofoptionalspatreatments.Orboardalong-tailboattofloatbackdownrivertoLuangPrabang,hoppingoffalongthewayforwalksandachancetochatwiththeverysweetlocalLaopeopleworkingintheirfields.OVERNIGHT:LUANGPRABANG MEALS:B,L,D

DAY9

Siem Reap—Angkor Thom •AbsorbtheincrediblescaleoftheAngkorThomandTaProhmtempleswithourexpertguide

•TimeavisittoAngkorWatatsunsetForthetrulygrandfinaleofamemorableweek,wecatchaflighttoSiemReapinCambodia.Onceagain,you’llbeinthecompanyofanoutstandinglocalguidesuchasourgoodfriendRoath,oneofthecountry’sfirstandmostexperiencedguides.Thenourexplorationsoftheregion’sawesomeAngkortemplesbegin.Intheafternoon,wevisitTaProhm.Unlikemanyoftheregion’stemples,thisonestilllooksmuchasitdidwhenitwasdiscovered–surroundedbyjunglewithgreattreesgrowingfromtheruins.Later,wepayourfirstvisittoAngkorWattoseethefamedtemplecomplexatsunsetbeforesettlingintoourhotel.OVERNIGHT:SIEMREAP MEALS:B,D

RafflesGrandD'angkorRatedasoneoftheworld’sbestplacestostay,theRafflesGrandhasbeensynonymouswithAngkorWatfor75years.GuestroomsareappointedwithCambodianartandartdecofurnishings.Thestate-of-the-artspaincludesa35-meterlappool.

DAY10

Siem Reap – Angkor Wat •Anin-depthguidedvisitofAngkorWat•BayonTempleandtheLeperKingTerraceatAngkorThom

Sleepinifyoulike,butit’swellworthrisingbeforethesunforavisittoAngkorWatatdaybreak.Afterbreakfast,weallreturnforanin-depthwalkingtourinthelargesttempleintheworld.ErectedatthecommandofKingSuryavarmanII,AngkorWattookanestimated30yearstobuild,probablyashisfuneraltemple.Ourknowledgeableguidewillhelpyougrasptheenormityoftheplace.Afterlunch,weentertheancientwalledcityofAngkorThom,literally“GreatCity”.Builtinthe12thCenturybyJayavarmanVII,AngkorThomcontainsthefamousBayonTemplewithitsmorethan200enormousmysteriousfacesandtheElephantandLeperKingTerraces.We’llalsotakeinthesitesofPreahKhan(TheSacredSword),ahugemonasticcomplex.



Lateafternoon,wepartcompanyattheairportinSiemReap. MEALS:B

T R I P I N F O R M A T I O N VIETNAM,LAOS&CAMBODIAFAMILY


TRIPESSENTIALS

TOURS BEGIN: Saigon, Vietnam - Lobby of the Park Hyatt Hotel at 9:00am

TOURS END: Siem Reap, Cambodia - approximately 1:00pm. Complimentary airport transfers provided from 3pm to 7pm.

TERRAIN: easy to moderate with 2 to 3 hours of walking per day

TRIP LENGTH: 10 Days & 9 Nights

TOUR DATES TOUR PRICE SINGLE SUPPLEMENT

Jul23-Aug1,2018 $5900 $1,195Tourpricesareperpersonbasedondoubleoccupancy.Singlesupplementisonlyapplicableifyouaretravelingsoloand/orhavearoomtoyourself.

WHAT’SINCLUDED

• Memorable accommodations for 9 nights • All breakfasts, 8 lunches and 7 dinners • Full-time experienced guide(s) who are with you throughout your trip, handle behind-the-scenes logistics and are there to help with anything • Admissions to museums, historic sites and other scheduled events as noted in the detailed itinerary • Gratuities for hotels, meals and baggage • All land transportation and internal airfare during the trip

TRAVELWORRYFREE!It’seasywithinsurancefromTravelGuard.Yourpolicycancovertripcancellation,traveldelays,lostluggage,medicalemergencies,andmore.Clickhereorcall800-826-4919fordetails.

ENJOYTHEUNEXPECTED:AtClassicJourneys,wehandcraftsurprisesintoeverytrip,butsomethingswejustcan’tanticipate.Unusualweather,aonce-a-yearfestivaloranunscheduledsiteclosingwillinspireusandyourlocalguidetoimproviseandmodifythisitinerary.Likewise,thehotelswenamehereareusedonthemajorityofourtrips,butoccasionallyoneofthemcan’taccommodateus.Ifthathappens,we’llletyouknowbeforedepartureandmakesureyou’reinahotelofequalorbetterquality.It’sourgoaltomakeyourtripexceptional!

800-200-3887 | CLASSICJOURNEYS800-200-3887 | CLASSICJOURNEYS.COM We return to Hanoi for lunch at Indochine restaurant, followed by a visit to the Hanoi Ethnology Museum. After some

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