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About this trip
Blessed with an open, welcoming, and engaging society, Vietnam is a nation balanced between deeply held traditions and an exploding modernity that make it a uniquely wonderful travel destination. The war is a distant memory and Americans are now appreciated as partners in economic opportunity. Vietnam is more about experiences than checklists and boasts the best food in Southeast Asia and you have a formula for travel memories to last a lifetime.
Our brief foray into Cambodia provides access to Southeast Asia’s premier sight: Angkor Wat. We'll spend 2 full days exploring the best temples and sights of this storied archeological area.
Thailand is the foremost jewel of Southeast Asian travel and a great value for American travelers. Blessed with a dizzying array of natural wonders, a welcoming society, a splendid cultural heritage, and a well established tourist infrastructure, Thailand makes for a perfect foray into Asian travel. The tour includes the Buddhist temples and imperial wonders of Bangkok, the spectacular natural wonders of the Andaman coast and Khao Sok National Park, the northern capital of Chiang Mai, and the World Heritage sites of Ayuthaya and Sukhothai.
Note: While the this tours is not particularly physically demanding in the typical way, the region is hot and humid, which has an enervating effect. Additionally, at certain times during the tour we’ll be climbing in and out of boats, sometimes without a pier or dock, or climbing up ladders onto boats (snorkeling excursion), climbing up to and through a cave, riding bikes, etc. Those activities require a reasonable level of strength and dexterity - and an adventurous spirit. However, nothing is required on our tours. Travelers may skip any activities they chose and accommodation will be made for them.
Trip Highlights
- Explore the vibrant city of Bangkok with its Buddhist temples and imperial wonders.
- Visit the spectacular natural wonders of the Andaman islands.
- Discover the lush beauty of Khao Sok National Park.
- Experience the cultural richness of the northern capital, Chiang Mai.
- Explore UNESCO World Heritage sites like Ayutthaya and Sukhothai.
- The wonders of Hue and Hoi An
- Homestay visit Mekong Delta
- The karst geology of Ninh Binh
- Halong Bay overnight
- Exploring the Cu Chi tunnels
- Tours of Hanoi and Saigon
- Angkor Wat in Cambodia, Southeast Asia’s premier historical site.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Visa Requirements: Participants must obtain Visitor Visas for all countries at their own expense. The acquisition of visitor visas to any country is the sole responsibility of the traveler. Imprint is unable to assist with the acquisition of visas or issues you might encounter during the process.
Vietnam requires an E-visa prior to arrival. We recommend the Vietnamese government., but there are many reputable outfits providing E-visas. Cambodia issues visitor visas upon arrival ($36) or an E-visa can be acquired online before arrival. Thailand issues visas upon arrival (no fee).
Q: How do I obtain a visa for Vietnam?
A: You need a visitor visa before arrival. Apply online via the Vietnamese Embassy website: VIETNAM If you would like help acquiring your visa there are many reputable outfits providing E-visas.
Q: What information will I need to complete the online visa process?
A: A digital passport size headshot, digital image of passport ID page, if you click yes on agency you can list Imprint Tours
Q: How much will the visa cost?
A: $25
Q: How long does the process take?
A: Usually a few days to a week.
Registration and Deposit
Q: What should I expect after registering and paying the deposit for the tour?
A: You will receive a confirmation email welcoming you to the tour. This email will include a link to a 'Manage Booking' page where you can view and edit all your trip details, your deposit receipt, payment schedule, and information for purchasing travel insurance through Travelex. Imprint Tours STRONGLY recommends purchasing trip insurance.
Flight Information
Q: Are flights included?
A: International Flights to/from the tour are NOT included. Internal tour flights (Hanoi > Hue, Denang> HCMC, HCMC > Siem Reap, Siem Reap > Chiang Mai, Ayuthaya > Surat Thani, Krabbi > Bangkok) are included.
Q: What airport do I use to join/depart the tour?
A: The tour starts in Hanoi (HAN) on Jan 15 (late afternoon) and ends at Bangkok's Don Muang airport (DMK) on Feb 13 in the early afternoon. Homeward flights will likely need to be booked from Bangkok's Suvarnabhumi Int'l Airport (BKK). Imprint will help with transfers between the two airports. (1 hour) Please do not book any BKK departure earlier than 20:00 on Feb 13.
Q: When can I feel comfortable booking my flights
A: Avoid booking flights before May 15, 2025 unless you confirm the tour status.
Early Pay Discount (EPD)
Q: How do I avail the Early Pay Discount (EPD)?
A: To receive the $600 EPD, you must book your trip and pay in full by May 15, 2025. The payment system already reflects this discount and the price will be adjusted to full price (+ $600) on May 16. Please refer to our Terms and Conditions regarding EPD as cancellation incurs a penalty.
Pre-Departure Information
Q: What should I do to prepare for the tour?
A: About 8 weeks before departure, you'll receive a detailed email with a packing list, sightseeing suggestions, and other important information. Meanwhile, ensure your passport is valid for at least 6 months from the tour end date and has two clean pages for visa stamps.
Pre- and Post-Tour Hotels
Q: Since Imprint is unable to assist with pre- or post-tour hotels bookings, how do I book extra hotel nights?
A: For pre-tour nights, our Hanoi hotel is the Q Hotel. If you would like to book post-tour nights in Bangkok, we do not have a final hotel booked there.
Tour Hotels
Q: If I need a complete list of tour hotels, where do I find that?
A: On the VAWT Tour ITINERARY page on the Imprint website.
Important Reminders
Q: Are there any critical things I need to keep in mind?
A:
- Print and keep the confirmation letter for reference.
- Add [email protected] to your email address book.
- Download & activate Whatsapp for essential on-tour communications.
- Check your bank’s policy on international ATM withdrawal or Credit Card fees.
Health and Safety
Q: What health precautions should I take?
A: Visit the CDC website or your local travel medicine clinic for suggested inoculations for Vietnam, Cambodia, & Thailand. We cannot advise on inoculations due to liability concerns.
This tour involves moderate to difficult physical activity, including walking tours and excursions to natural sites with uneven terrain, getting in and out of boats (often without a dock), riding bikes, etc. Additionally, the climate is tropical. Heat and humidity can be quite enervating. Participants should be in good health and capable of handling such activities and environmental conditions. Finally, traveling for 30 days is demanding.
Tour Member Expectations
Q: What mindset should I have for the tour?
A: Be flexible, independent, and personally responsible. Expect challenges and surprises, especially in less-developed areas. Positive, flexible attitudes contribute to a better group experience.
Travel Insurance
Q: Why is travel insurance important?
A: Travel insurance protects your investment against unforeseen events like flight delays, baggage loss, or sudden illness. We recommend Travelex
In case you haven’t read our Terms and Conditions carefully, we would like to repeat the
importance of purchasing trip insurance. We have partnered with Travelex, a leader in the travel insurance industry. We have chosen Travelex for their very high rating, their record and
reliability of processing claims, and their excellent customer service. Travelex is proud to offer
you a variety of travel protection plans to fit your travel needs. We understand your plans can
change quickly and unforeseen events could impact your travel plans. We feel it’s important to consider purchasing a travel protection plan to help protect you and your travel investment.
Travel protection plans help provide coverage for:
- Trip Cancellation
- Trip Interruption
- Emergency Medical Expenses
- Emergency Evacuation/Repatriation of Remains
- Travel Delay
- Baggage & Personal Effects
- Baggage Delay and more
TRAVEL ASSISTANCE SERVICES*: With a Travelex Travel Protection Plan, emergency assistance and travel services are just a phone call away from virtually anywhere in the world.
For more information on the recommended plans or to enroll, CLICK HERE or contact Travelex
Insurance Services at 800-228-9792 and reference location number 06-0252.
Please Note:
Travelex Insurance Services plans are only available to U.S. Residents. To be eligible for a
waiver of the pre-existing medical condition exclusion, the Ultimate protection plan must be
purchased within 21 days from the time you make your initial trip deposit. However, plans can
be purchased any time up until the day prior to departure.
*Travel Assistance Services are provided by the designated provider as listed in the policy. The product descriptions provided here are only brief summaries and may be changed without notice. The full coverage terms and details, including limitations and exclusions, are contained in the insurance policy. Travelex Insurance Services, Inc. CA Agency License #0D10209. Insurance coverages underwritten by individual member companies of Zurich in North America, including Zurich American Insurance Company (NAIC #16535, state of domicile: New York), 1299 Zurich Way, Schaumburg, IL 60196. Certain coverages not available in all states.With a Travelex Travel Protection Plan, emergency assistance and travel services are just a phone call away from virtually anywhere in the world. For more information on the recommended plans or to enroll, click here or contact Travelex Insurance Services at 800-228-9792 and reference location number 06-0252. For detailed information on coverage options and terms, please refer to our Travel Insurance disclaimer on the Imprint Tours website.
What’s included
- Accommodations29 nights accommodation
- Most mealsAll breakfasts, 11 dinners, 13 lunches
- TransportationAll tour transport (bus, minivan, songthaew, boat, airplane)
- Internal tour flightsHanoi > Hue; Denang > HCMC; HCMC > Siem Reap; Siem Reap > Chiang Mai; Bangkok > Surat Thani; Krabbi > Don Muang airport (Bangkok)
- TipsAll tips (Imprint escort, tour directors, local guides, drivers, boat crews, group meals, hotel staffs)
- GuidesFull-time services of Vietnamese, Cambodian, & Thai tour managers, Imprint escort, local guides
- Entrance FeesSee the complete list of included entrances on the itinerary page of the Imprint website.
- Activities & ExcursionsSee the complete list of included activities & excursions on the itinerary page of the Imprint website.
What’s not included
- International FlightsFlights to and from our tours are NOT included
- Travel InsuranceSTRONGLY Recommended
- VisasParticipants are responsible for obtaining all Visas and paying all associated fees
- Drinks & free-time MealsParticipants are responsible for the cost of all drinks and free-time meals throughout the tour
- Additional activitiesActivities not listed in the itinerary, such as free-time sightseeing and activities
- BaggageFlight baggage overage fees
- Additional expensesExpenditures of a personal nature
Available Packages
For 2 travelers sharing a room on the same booking (1 Double bed or 2 Twin beds).
Price is per person based on double occupancy.
Must pay in full by May 15, 2025 to receive early discount. Please review Terms & Conditions for the Early Pay Discount as cancellation incurs a penalty.
If booking separately, please use the "Twin/Single Sharing" package.
For individuals traveling alone and paying the Single Supplement.
Must pay in full by May 15, 2025 to receive early discount. Please review Terms & Conditions for the Early Pay Discount as cancellation incurs a penalty.
For traveling companions/couples registering separately.
OR - For the individual who doesn't want to pay the Single Supplement and is willing to share a room with a traveler of the same gender.
Note - If Imprint is unable to find a traveler willing to share you will be required to pay the single supplement.
Must pay in full by May 15, 2025 to receive early discount. Please review Terms & Conditions for the Early Pay Discount as cancellation incurs a penalty.
For 2 travelers sharing a room on the same booking (1 Double bed or 2 Twin beds), not taking advantage of the early pay discount.
Price is per person based on double occupancy.
If booking separately, please use the "Twin/Single Sharing" package.
For individuals traveling alone and paying the Single Supplement, not taking advantage of the Early Pay Discount.
For traveling companions/couples registering separately, not taking advantage of the Early Pay Discount.
OR - For the individual who doesn't want to pay the Single Supplement and is willing to share a room with a traveler of the same gender.
Note - If Imprint is unable to find a traveler willing to share you will be required to pay the single supplement.
Itinerary
Day 1 Hanoi
Meeting; Temple of Literature; Dinner
Our tour starts mid-afternoon. We’ll have our get-acquainted meeting, meet our Vietnamese guide, visit the Temple of Literature (founded in 1076, Vietnam’s first university was established within this temple to educate Vietnam's royalty, mandarins and members of the elite), and then head out for a traditional Vietnamese dinner.
Q Hotel (2 nights) http://theqhotel.com.vn/
Day 2 Hanoi
Bai Dinh; Trang An
Today we take a 2 hour drive from urban Hanoi to the rural province of Ninh Binh. Our first destination is Trang An, often referred to as the “Halong Bay of the Mainland”. This excursion is by small boat. Sit back and enjoy the two-hour paddle through caves and past rural temples, always with the stunning backdrop of karst crags and towers. After having lunch at a local restaurant, we depart for a visit to Bai Dinh, the largest complex of Buddhist temples in Vietnam and a popular site for Buddhist pilgrimages. Bring extra storage cards for your camera! After our full day in the countryside, we return to Hanoi for a free evening.
Day 3 Halong Bay
Hanoi Hilton; Halong cruising; cave visit
Our day begins with a visit to the “Hanoi Hilton” where American POW’s were imprisoned during the Vietnam War. Then we are off to Halong Bay, Vietnam’s most impressive scenic wonder. Views of sailing junks navigating the 3000+ karst islands and rocky outcrops jutting out of the bay are nothing short of spectacular. We travel to Halong where we board our sailing junk for an exploration of the bay, enjoy a seafood lunch and dinner, visit a cave, and spend a night on board (Note: a single supplement does not provide for a single cabin on the junk). It is a wonderful experience to spend a night on the bay.
Day 4 Hue
Halong cruising; Flight
After breakfast, we continue cruising around Halong Bay, before returning to port and driving back to Hanoi. We’ll be transported directly to Hanoi’s airport for an afternoon flight to Hue. Upon arrival we’ll be transferred to our centrally located hotel. Hue, located on the Perfume River, is the former capital of the Nguyen dynasty.
Romance Hotel (3 nights) http://romancehotel.com.vn/en/
Day 5 Hue
Citadel; Thien Mu Pagoda; Royal Tomb
This morning we take a tour of the partially ruined Citadel, capital of Vietnam in the 19th century. It’s six miles of walls contain the palaces and pavilions of the ruling Nguyen emperors and the remains of the Forbidden Purple City, where only the emperor or his eunuchs and concubines were allowed entrance. Many buildings remain blackened and crumbling, creating an evocative ambiance, ideal for photographing or imagining the ghosts of the mandarins. Next we’ll visit the famous Thien Mu Pagoda, a center for anti government protests in the early 1960s. We’ll have lunch in a Buddhist monastery before heading to the surrounding countryside to visit one of the extravagant royal tombs in the area.
Day 6 Hue
An Bang
After breakfast we will visit An Bang Cemetery (AKA “The City of Ghosts”). This cemetery is unique in the world and the most luxurious and magnificent graveyard in Vietnam. It boasts brilliantly colored tomb and memorial structures built dramatically on white sand. The rest of the day will be free time for your own discovery! Imprint can arrange a cooking class for those interested.
Day 7 Hoi An
Walking Tour Hoi An
One of Vietnam’s most scenic road trips over Hai Van Pass begins our day. Our destination, Hoi An, was originally a Cham port town so has been influenced down the centuries by traders from many cultures. The town is a living museum, with Chinese, Japanese, Vietnamese, and European architectural influences. There are pagodas, assembly halls, attractive wooden merchant’s houses, and colorful tiled houses scattered along the small streets. Once a bustling port, today Hoi An’s ambiance, tranquility, and charm make it one of the most delightful places to visit in Vietnam. This afternoon will include a guided walking tour and orientation of the town center.
Mulberry Collection Silk Eco - Atlas Hotel (3 nights) https://silkeco.mulberrycollectionvn.com/
Day 8 Hoi An
My Son
This morning, we visit My Son, the Cham civilization’s spiritual home, where Cham kings were buried as early as the fourth century. There are many carved stone towers, sanctuaries, and tombs to explore and photograph at this intriguing archaeological site. This afternoon is free to explore, shop, or relax in Hoi An.
Day 9 Hoi An
Free Day
Today we continue our vacation from our vacation. Hoi An is a marvelous place to wander and enjoy the thriving riverside market – a good place to buy silk. Local tailors can create fine garments for a bargain price, all within a day. Imprint can arrange a Vietnamese cooking class or photography class for those interested. Rent a bike for the day or just relax by the hotel pool.
Day 10 Ben Tre Homestay
Cao Dai Temple; Mekong
This morning we depart Hoi An for nearby Danang, where we board our flight to Ho Chi Minh City, formerly Saigon (flight included). Upon arrival we will depart for the Mekong Delta. Enroute we’ll stop to visit a vibrant and colorful Cao Dai temple. Indigenous to Vietnam, Caodaism is a unique fusion of Taoism, Buddhism, Hinduism, Christianity, Islam and Confucianism. At Cai Be we begin a Mekong River boat trip, taking us to our island homestay. Dinner tonight is followed by local entertainment. (Note: our homestay accommodations are clean and comfortable with mostly private facilities*, but plain and rustic. A single supplement does not provide for a private room at the homestay.)
Bem Tre Homestay (2 nights) *we cannot guarantee private facilities for every guest room
Day 11 Ben Tre Homestay
Mekong activities
After breakfast we will embark on our morning’s activities. We’ll explore the small waterways of the delta in sampans, stop to visit businesses, and observe the locals plying their trades. After sampling various tropical fruits, local candies, and other local specialties we’ll return to our homestay for relaxation. For those interested, you will have the opportunity to participate in the preparation of our traditional dinner.
Day 12 Saigon
Cu Chi Tunnels
Today we depart the Delta and return to Saigon. Enroute we’ll visit a thriving riverside market and then one of the most important sites in southern Vietnam, the famous Cu Chi Tunnels. These complex tunnels were used by the Viet Cong in the long war against the US and were instrumental to the Vietnamese victory. Cu Chi is actually the name of the district that covers an extensive underground network (approximately 125 miles) of tunnels. They contained storage, refuge, hospitals, accommodations, and even schools. A section of the tunnels has been widened to allow tourists a feeling for what underground life must have been like.
Paragon Saigon Hotel (2 nights) https://paragonsaigon.com/
Day 13 Saigon
City Tour; War Remnants Museum
This morning we take a tour of the city, passing the Reunification Palace, Notre Dame Cathedral, and the Post Office. We'll visit the War Remnants Museum for a sobering yet informative lesson on the Vietnam War. Your afternoon is free to relax or explore. We'll then gather for our final dinner together.
Day 14 Cambodia
We'll catch a morning flight to Siem Reap Cambodia, gateway to the Angkor Archeological Zone.