Day 1: Arrival in Bangkok
Arrive at Bangkok Airport by flight.
You will be welcomed by your English-speaking guide and transferred privately to your hotel.
Overnight in Bangkok.
Day 2: Grand Palace – Wat Pho – Cooking at Blue Elephant (Breakfast/Dinner)
Breakfast at the hotel.
Depart for a visit to the Royal Palace, founded in 1782 by King Rama I. The palace grounds cover an area of 259 hectares, enclosed by a high wall. You will discover Wat Phra Keo Temple (Temple of the Emerald Buddha), which serves as the Royal Chapel of the Grand Palace. The Emerald Buddha, measuring just 60 cm, is the most famous and revered statue in Thailand.
Next, visit Wat Pho Temple, home to the famous Reclining Buddha, which measures 43 meters long and 15 meters high. Wat Pho is one of the oldest Buddhist temples in Bangkok and is also known as the birthplace of traditional Thai massage. Since 1962, it has housed a renowned massage and traditional medicine school.
From 1:00 PM to 4:00 PM, continue to Blue Elephant Royal Thai Cuisine for a cooking class. During this half-day session, you will learn to cook 4 or 5 recipes like a Thai chef. After the class, each participant receives a culinary certificate and can either savor their creations at the restaurant or take them home.
Overnight in Bangkok.
Day 3: MOCA Museum – Jim Thompson – Klongs – Wat Arun – Pak Klong Talad (Breakfast)
Breakfast at the hotel.
Depart for a visit to the MOCA Bangkok, a museum designed to showcase the exceptional works of art collected over the past three decades by Boonchai Bencharongkul. The museum honors King Rama IX for his contributions to the people of Thailand and is dedicated to Professor Silpa Bhirasri, known as the “Father of Contemporary Art” in Thailand.
Next, visit the Jim Thompson House, a museum dedicated to the American architect who revitalized Thailand’s silk industry in the 1950s and 1960s. The museum consists of six teak houses showcasing traditional Thai architecture and is set in a beautiful tropical garden.
You will then take a boat ride through the Khlong of Thon Buri, the ancient capital of Thailand, to experience the traditional life along the canals. This journey contrasts the modern, bustling life of Bangkok with the well-preserved areas of the old capital.
Continue to Wat Arun, also known as the Temple of Dawn, famous for its magnificent bell tower.
Finally, visit the Pak Klong Talad, Bangkok’s flower market, which is open 24 hours a day. This vibrant market bursts with colors from a wide variety of flowers sourced from different provinces in Thailand, especially Chiang Mai and Chiang Rai.
Overnight in Bangkok.
Day 4: Damnoen Saduak – Mae Klong (Breakfast)
Breakfast at the hotel.
0700: Depart for the Damnoen Saduak Floating Market, the most popular floating market in Thailand, to explore by long-tail boat along the river. Located in Ratchaburi province, about an hour from Bangkok, this market is best visited early to experience its authenticity and avoid the heat. You will encounter boats filled with exotic fruits, vegetables, fish, and shellfish.
Next, visit the Mae Klong Market in Samut Songkhram, one of Thailand’s largest fruit markets, which is uniquely set on railway tracks. As trains pass through, the vendors swiftly clear the tracks before reclaiming them once the train has passed.
Overnight in Bangkok.
Day 5: Tuk Tuk Tour of Ayutthaya (Breakfast)
Breakfast at the hotel.
Today, depart for the Ayutthaya historical site (1,5 hours driving from Bangkok). Experience Ayutthaya by Tuk Tuk, a city founded in 1350 by King U-Thong that became the capital of the Kingdom of Ayutthaya. Located at the confluence of the Chao Phraya and Pasak rivers, it was strategically positioned for defense against enemies. The name Ayutthaya comes from Sanskrit, meaning “the invincible.” Despite its defenses, Ayutthaya was invaded by Burmese armies and was ultimately destroyed on April 7, 1767. The ruins of the original city now comprise the Ayutthaya Historical Park, designated as a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1991.
You will visit the remains of notable sites such as:
– Wat Phra Mahathat, known for the Buddha’s head entwined in the roots of a tree.
– Wat Phra Nan Choeng, featuring a massive golden Buddha.
– Wat Chai Watthanaram, with its central prang surrounded by eight smaller prangs adorned with stucco reliefs.
– Wat Yai Chai Mongkol, built by the first king of Ayutthaya.
Return to the hotel by late afternoon.
Overnight in Bangkok.
Day 6: Bangkok – flight to Saigon - Saigon untold food stories on vintage vespa (Breakfast/Dinner)
After breakfast, time at leisure till leave for the airport for the flight to Saigon. Upon arrival, take a 2-hour drive northwest to the famous Cu Chi Tunnels. The 220km underground tunnel system served as living quarters, communication and supply routes, and housed hospitals, food and weapons caches for VC during the American War. Enjoy a walk around the area to have a better understanding of the hardship and resilience of the Vietnamese during the war. Return to Saigon.
Tonight, enjoy a charter chef table dinner with Chef Minh Tan at his Michelin Selected dining restaurant tucked away in a quiet alley. After his years at the Park Hyatt Saigon, Tan moved to work at the Park Hyatt Abu Dhabi for another two years, before returning to Saigon to start his own pathway. Tan opened his first speakeasy kitchen and bar in 2016 called the Alley Cocktail Bar & Kitchen, and after that came ATM Cocktails Bar & Kitchen, The Liquid House, Tre Cafe and Bakery, and his most recent successful innovation Mia Dining. Born in Ben Tre, fertile land with numerous farm products, Tan is passionate about presenting those local products on the dining table, with a twist of his own creation. Standing behind the opened kitchen, Tan will share with you his cooking techniques and stories of every drink paired with the food, including wine, whisky or cocktails. After dinner, you can relax at next door Liquid House, have a sip of tea or coffee with Tan.
Day 7: Exploring Saigon through architecture and old buildings - Taste local food and nightlife by a vintage vespa (Breakfast/Dinner)
Discover Saigon’s vibrant past through its architectural perspective. Meet Hieu, a young Saigonese who has spent all of his passion researching on Saigon historic buildings. He and his team are working on several projects to preserve and restore Saigon architecture, and especially to inspire the young people to appreciate such heritages. Hieu will share with you stories behind the iconic buildings during the tour. Visit Ho Chi Minh City Museum at the former Lieutenant Governor’s Palace. Uncover remnants of a colonial opium refinery within the bustling cityscape. Experience the blend of tradition and modernity at the General Science Library, symbolizing Vietnam’s path to independence. Wrap up your tour at a revitalized 1960s bar, now a lively coffee haven and cultural hotspot for local artists, concluding your exploration of the city’s architectural heritage.
Saigon untold food stories on vintage car
The darker the night gets, the more vivid Saigon becomes! Get ready for a fascinating ride by vintage vespa tonight to discover busy Saigon after dark, together with fun street food tasting in the most authentic local restaurants. Make your first stop at a small yet popular Vietnamese bread stall, line up to get a fresh bread roll before heading to a vintage coffee shop tucked away in a back alley for a briefing. Then continue to enjoy the hustle and bustle of the streets and explore an old apartment complex that comes to life at night with hundreds of food and drinks stalls. Continue riding to a hidden boutique local restaurant to taste the freshest Southern Vietnamese courses. Take a break at a 30-year-old street dessert shop. Conclude your night at a speak easy bar tucked away in a quiet alley to taste their signature cocktails and have a chat with people here. Hop back on the vespa and ride back to your hotel.
Notes for the Vespa tour:
- Suggested time: 18:30
- Duration: 3.5 hours
Overnight at Saigon
Day 8: Saigon – Mekong Delta - Saigon (Breakfast/Lunch)
Leave Saigon for a 1.5-hour drive to Ben Tre Province in the Mekong Delta, which is famous for its coconut products and tropical fruit orchards. Living with coconut trees can be a harmonious blend of utilizing natural resources, enjoying the beauty of nature, and respecting the cultural significance of these versatile trees. Board on a local boat and cruise along the Mekong river. Stop at a coconut workshop where you will get to know how every part of the coconut can be used for candies and crafts. Talk to the people working here and get to know how their lives attach to coconut and how coconut helps them to make a living. Visit a fruit farmer’s home after a 3km (2mi) tuk-tuk or bicycle ride, the host will show his skill of climbing up the coconut tree to get coconut, enjoy fresh coconut juice here. After lunch, paddle a sampan through the Delta’s palm-lined rivers. Return to Saigon by car.
Overnight in Saigon
Day 9: Saigon departure (Breakfast)
Breakfast at the hotel, time at leisure till leaving for the Saigon airport for your flight back Home.
