Your tailor-made tours specialist in Vietnam, Thailand, Cambodia, Myanmar & Laos
- Asia tour packages -

Thailand & Vietnam:19-Day Nature Immersion & Beach Escape

Explore the vibrant cities of Thailand and Vietnam: Bangkok and Saigon, famous for its bustling city life with the effect from the western culture waves. Digging deeper into the country evergreen nature and experiencing the local culture. Lost in paradises of some of the most beautiful and quiet beaches in the world on Koh Yao Noi (Thailand) and Con Dao (Vietnam). Be prepared for the unforgettable nature immersion and beach escape in Thailand & Vietnam.

HIGHLIGHTS

Various activities on sites

  • City tour of the busting cities of Bangkok and Ho Chi Minh City
  • Nature exploration in Khao Sok National Park and Mekong River Delta
  • Beach Break on the isolated islands of Koh Yao Noi (Thailand) & Con Dao (Vietnam)

Unforgettable moments

  • Strolling around the street of Bangkok and Saigon whilst the sea of motors running around
  • Admiring the evergreen nature of Khao Sok National Park and explore some hidden spots
  • Admiring the beauty of the authentic and quiet island of Koh Yao Noi and Con Dao
  • Cruising along the Mekong River Delta whilst admiring the vibrant local life

Nature exploration

  • The nature of Bangkok and surrounding area along the river of Chao Phraya
  • The evergreen nature of Khao Sok National Park with plenty of hidden spots
  • The nature of Mekong River Delta in southern Vietnam with the complicated canal system
  • The virgin beach nature of Koh Yao Noi and Con Dao Islands

Culture experience

  • The bustling culture of Bangkok and Saigon with the effect of western culture waves
  • The peasant culture of local people living in Mekong River Delta
  • The friendly culture of local people living on the isolated islands of Koh Yao Noi & Con Dao

Map

Detailed schedule

Day 1 - Welcome to Bangkok

Upon arrival at Suvarnabhumi International Airport, Sonasia’s guide & driver will pick you up and transfer directly to the hotel in the center of Bangkok.

Same same, but different. This Thailish T-shirt philosophy sums up Bangkok, a city where the familiar and the exotic collide like the flavors on a plate of pàt tai. At noon, we leave the hotel by walk and take the skytrain to the river. We board a private long-tail boat taking guests onto the peaceful Klong Bang Luang floating market.

Pass by shophouses, local temples and vendors on this waterway which was once a major trading route and lined with impressive homes of aristocrats. 
The guide will point out local landmarks and cultural idiosyncrasies of the area. After observing this lively area, the boat stops at Baan Silapin, a 100-year old renovated house now home to an art gallery. 

Here stop for up to two hours to enjoy the gallery, take part in an art workshop or explore the local community, before experiencing a unique puppet show performed by puppeteers trained under the Joe Louis School of puppetry (puppet show performance not guaranteed due to short notice changes). En-route back to the city stop to visit the Temple of Dawn – Wat Arun.  

Begin your nice dinner this evening onboard with Supanniga Cruise, a brand-new modern cruise that will give you a whole new perspective on Chao Phraya River. 
The dinner cruise is designed for those who would like to indulge in a 6-course dinner of genuine and exquisite Thai taste while enjoying the grande nighttime view of the river. Back to hotel by transportation.

Overnight in Bangkok.

Notes

Check out the Bangkok travel guide

icon [none]

Day 2 - Bangkok - Phuket - Khao Sok National Park

We take the morning flight to Phuket.

Upon arrival, transfer to Khao Sok, the region of Thailand’s rainforest. Head towards the pier or Ratchaprapa Dam and embark on a scenic boat ride to The Greenery Panvaree, seeing the emerald waters of Chiew Larn Lake along the way.

Arrive at The Greenery Panvaree Floating Resort and be welcomed by the resort’s staff. Check in at the resort and enjoy a delicious lunch at the restaurant.

Spend the afternoon at leisure, swimming in the lake, exploring the surroundings by kayaking or simply relaxing in the natural atmosphere.

In the late afternoon, enjoy a boat ride around the place.

Dinner at the resort.

Overnight at the Greenery Panvaree

Notes

Phuket Hotel – Khao Sok (147 km): 2 hrs

icon [b/l/d]

Day 3 - Khao Sok - Exploration

The morning will be spent with the most beautiful view of the lake along with the sunrise over the mountains as the mist floats across the water.

Get breakfast at the resort, relaxing in the tranquil beauty of the surroundings.

Lunch at the resort.

After lunch, enjoy an adventurous trip to Prakarang Coral Cave, jungle trek to the emerald lagoon, then embark on the bamboo raft to the cave. See the wildlife and rare plants in the rainforest. 

Return to the resort and relax at leisure until dinner time.

After dinner, embark on a boat ride out to the lake for a Loy Krathong activity at the Holy Land of the lake.

Overnight at the Greenery Panvaree

icon [b/l/d]

Day 4 - Khao Sok - Phuket - Koh Yao Noi

Wake up in the morning under the beautiful mist floating across the sky. Enjoy breakfast. 

Check out and board a longtail boat for cruising back across the reservoir with a panoramic view of ‘Guilin Thailand’. Return back to the pier.

Upon arrival at the pier, meet with the Sonasia Travel guide and transfer to Phuket. Lunch at a local restaurant on the way. Head towards Yacht Haven Marina pier to board the hotel’s private VIP speedboat and transfer to Koh Yao Noi Island.

Overnight at Tree House Villa Koh Yao Noi

icon [b/l/-]

Day 5 - Koh Yao Noi - Leisure Day

Breakfast at the hotel. Free day at leisure on the beautiful white sandy beach. The beach here offers tranquility and more privacy.

Overnight at Tree House Villa Koh Yao Noi

icon [b/-/-]

Day 6 - Koh Yao Noi - Leisure Day

Breakfast at the hotel. Free day at leisure on the beautiful white sandy beach. The beach here offers tranquility and more privacy.

Overnight at Tree House Villa Koh Yao Noi

icon [b/-/-]

Day 7 - Koh Yao Noi - Leisure Day

Breakfast at the hotel. Free day at leisure on the beautiful white sandy beach. The beach here offers tranquility and more privacy.

Overnight at Tree House Villa Koh Yao Noi

icon [b/-/-]

Day 8 - Koh Yao Noi - Leisure Day

Breakfast at the hotel. Free day at leisure on the beautiful white sandy beach. The beach here offers tranquility and more privacy.

Overnight at Tree House Villa Koh Yao Noi

icon [b/-/-]

Day 9 - Koh Yao Noi - Phuket // Bangkok

You are free before taking the speedboat back to Phuket to take the flight back to Bangkok, where we will spend another night in the capital city of Thailand.

Upon arrival, transfer to your hotel.

Overnight in Bangkok

icon [b/-/-]

Day 10 - Bangkok // Saigon - Exploration

Take the morning flight to Saigon. Meet with the driver upon arrival and transfer to the hotel.

Once known as the ‘Pearl of Indochina’, Saigon boasts an enormous architectural wealth, mirroring its colourful history. From the pagodas, museums and European architecture of the city’s recent past to the growing number of skyscrapers, Saigon is like a trip through time. On the way to the hotel, make a quick stop at the city historic landmark of Saigon Post Office and Notre Dame Cathedral (outside visit)

This afternoon, meet with a respected cultural and history expert and enjoy a guided tour through the Pearl of Indochina. Start with the French colonial area with a visit to the Archbishop's Palace and its more than 200-year-old house of prayer.

Continue through the ages and encounter a local who specialises in the stretch of time that cover the Vietnam war right until today. Visit Gia Long Palace, built in 1885 combining classical Baroque architecture elements with European and Oriental influences.

Walk over to the city’s oldest colonial-era apartment, built in 1886, and see what the young creative Vietnamese are up to from their funky boutiques and coffee shops. Sit down at one of the stylish coffee shops and interact with a local resident who moved here in 1975. During the ride back, there is an optional visit to a restored opium factory. Considering the importance of the opium trade in the first half of the last century, this is another interesting view on Saigon’s history and the city’s power struggles.

Overnight in Saigon.

icon [b/-/-]

Day 11 - Saigon - My Tho - Chau Doc

After breakfast, departure for My Tho, where you will enjoy a boat cruise as well as rowing sampans (rowboats) up the river.

After lunch, we will leave My Tho for Chau Doc. 

Along the way we will stop for a visit at the Crocodile Farm where we will have the chance learn about crocodile incubation and other interesting facts about crocodiles and their hatchlings. We will then check into a hotel before visiting Sam Mountain and the Cave Pagoda. 

We will stay overnight in Chau Doc. 

Notes
icon [b/l/-]

Day 12 - Chau Doc - Can Tho

We will begin with a morning boat trip to visit the Floating Fish Farm, the Floating Village and the Cham Weaving Village. After experiencing the floating village and floating fish farm, we will leave Chau Doc for Can Tho. There, we will check-in at a hotel before having dinner at a nice restaurant. We will spend the night in Can Tho. 
 

Notes
icon [b/l/-]

Day 13 - Can Tho - Ho Chi Minh City

After breakfast, we will check out of our hotel and travel by boat to Cai Rang Floating Market. Floating markets are a staple of life in the Mekong. This is where many of the natives make their living by selling or bartering their goods. On the way back to Ho Chi Minh City, we will visit Dong Tam Snake Farm, the largest of its kind in Viet Nam. Departing Can Tho, we will have lunch at the Mekong Rest Stop before returning to Ho Chi Minh City.

Notes

Can Tho to Ho Chi Minh City (171km): 3.5hrs

icon [b/-/-]

Day 14 - Saigon - Con Dao

Free to stroll around for your own exploration of the city before taking the flight to Con Dao Islands.

Also known as Con Dao National park, Con Dao Islands are an archipelago of 16 mostly uninhabited islets just off the southern coast of Vietnam, each of which offering expansive beaches shaded with evergreen trees. Great for savvy travelers looking to escape bustling city life, the main island also boasts miles of coastal roads, hiking trails and a wide range of outdoor activities.

The main (and only inhabited) island, Con Son was once the site of French-run prisons for Vietnamese involved in the independence movement. Most of the derelict prisons are located in Con Son Town, where you can visit the prison cells, and infamous tiger cages. Many locals visit Con Son to pay their respects to revolutionaries such as Vo Thi Sau, the first women on the island to have been executed by the French.

Upon arrival, transfer to your hotel. Overnight on Con Dao Islands

icon [b/-/-]

Day 15 - Con Dao - Leisure Day

Free day at leisure at your own relaxation or explore the beach by yourselves. 

There are plenty of unexplored spots around the hotel or the nearby islands for your own exploration.

Overnight on Con Dao Islands

icon [b/-/-]

Day 16 - Con Dao - Leisure Day

Free day at leisure at your own relaxation or explore the beach by yourselves. 

There are plenty of unexplored spots around the hotel or the nearby islands for your own exploration.

Overnight on Con Dao Islands

icon [b/-/-]

Day 17 - Con Dao - Leisure Day

Free day at leisure at your own relaxation or explore the beach by yourselves. 

There are plenty of unexplored spots around the hotel or the nearby islands for your own exploration.

Overnight on Con Dao Islands

icon [b/-/-]

Day 18 - Con Dao - Leisure Day

Free day at leisure at your own relaxation or explore the beach by yourselves. 

There are plenty of unexplored spots around the hotel or the nearby islands for your own exploration.

Overnight on Con Dao Islands

icon [b/-/-]

Day 19 - Con Dao Islands - Ho Chi Minh - Departure

Free before taking the flight back to Saigon to connect with another onward flight back home or to the next destination.

icon [b/-/-]
image
Does this tour inspire
you?
PERSONALIZE
SIMILAR TOUR PACKAGES
Northern Thailand & Beach Holiday in 3 weeks Northern Thailand & Beach Holiday in 3 weeks

- Thailand -

Northern Thailand & Beach Holiday in 3 weeks
Wellness & Leisure / 21 days / fr. $2,520

Start in Bangkok and end in Koh Phangan with our tour package of northern Thailand and Beach Holiday within 3 weeks! With the beach tour Northern Thailand & Beaches, you have a... More

Absolute Vietnam Itinerary in about 3 weeks Absolute Vietnam Itinerary in about 3 weeks

- Vietnam -

Absolute Vietnam Itinerary in about 3 weeks
Must-see / 25 days / fr. $2,950

From ancient cities, beachside towns to Vietnam’s natural landscapes, go on this absolute Vietnam trip that will cover all things essential for an in-depth understanding of the country. From... More

Vietnam Adventure Travel: 3-Week Trek the Northwestern Vietnam in Style Vietnam Adventure Travel: 3-Week Trek the Northwestern Vietnam in Style

- Vietnam -

Vietnam Adventure Travel: 3-Week Trek the Northwestern Vietnam in Style
Trek & Hike / 24 days / fr. $2,590

Venture into Vietnam’s north, escaping the modern world and delving into a land rich in culture and natural beauty. Spend the night in the middle of nowhere, trek through vibrant rice terrace... More

Classic Vietnam Tour & Beyond in 18-day Itinerary Classic Vietnam Tour & Beyond in 18-day Itinerary

- Vietnam -

Classic Vietnam Tour & Beyond in 18-day Itinerary
Must-see / 18 days / fr. $1,960

Discover a more authentic, more unique side of Vietnam. Travel from Hanoi to Ho Chi Minh City, taking insightful tours that shine a different light on local culture. Venture through Hoi An’s... More

Vietnam Adventure Travel: 19-Day The Mysterious Northeast Mountains Vietnam Adventure Travel: 19-Day The Mysterious Northeast Mountains

- Vietnam -

Vietnam Adventure Travel: 19-Day The Mysterious Northeast Mountains
Trek & Hike / 19 days / fr. $2,190

Head to the hills for a challenging, yet rewarding, trekking adventure. In the far northeast of Vietnam discover a land of immense beauty and intriguing hilltribe villages. Spend the days hiking up... More

Vietnam Adventure Tours: 18-Day The Unseen Northeastern Vietnam Adventure Tours: 18-Day The Unseen Northeastern

- Vietnam -

Vietnam Adventure Tours: 18-Day The Unseen Northeastern
Unseen / 18 days / fr. $1,990

With its endless mountains and forests, green hills and sweeping rice paddies, northeastern Vietnam is a place unlike any other. The region’s natural beauty is breathtaking and will make a tr... More

NOT READY YET?

We believe you have the right to arm yourselves with as much information as possible before making any decision.

Check below the detailed information for our different destinations, our plans by travel theme or time frame to learn more before moving forward...

OUR DESTINATIONS
Vietnam
bee-white Vietnam

A land of staggering natural beauty and cultural complexities, of dynamic megacities and hill-tribe villages, Vietnam is both exotic and compelling.

Thailand
bee-white Thailand

Friendly and food-obsessed, hedonistic and historic, cultured and curious, Thailand tempts visitors with a smile as golden as the country's glittering temples and tropical beaches.

Cambodia
bee-white Cambodia

There's a magic about this charming yet confounding kingdom that casts a spell on visitors. In Cambodia, ancient and modern worlds collide to create an authentic adventure.

Myanmar
bee-white Myanmar

It's a new era for this extraordinary and complex land, where the landscape is scattered with gilded pagodas and the traditional ways of Asia endure.

Laos
bee-white Laos

Vivid nature, voluptuous landscapes and a vibrant culture collide with a painful past and optimistic future to make Laos an enigmatic experience for the adventurous.

PLANS BY TRAVEL THEME
Must-see
Family Vacation
Luxury Holiday
Honeymoon Vacation
bee-white Honeymoon Vacation
Trek & Hike
Cycling & Biking
bee-white Cycling & Biking
Wellness & Leisure
bee-white Wellness & Leisure
PLANS BY TIME FRAME
white-icon About 1 week
white-icon About 2 weeks
white-icon About 3 weeks
white-icon About 4 weeks
image
Already got a plan? REQUEST A FREE QUOTE
TRAVEL TIPS & GUIDE

Either are you wondering about best time to visit, visa policy, or how to get the cheapest flight, we have your back!

WHAT MORE? Choose the country you plan to visit, then search for your nationality below to see our special travel tips & advice for your country. CONTACT US if you cannot find yours.

Destinations

Best Time to Visit
bee-white Best Time to Visit
Tourist Visa Policy
bee-white Tourist Visa Policy
Getting Flight There
bee-white Getting Flight There
Getting Around
Vaccinations
Internet & Phone
bee-white Internet & Phone
Packing List
Budget & Currency
bee-white Budget & Currency
Buying & Bargaining
bee-white Buying & Bargaining
Safety & Precautions
bee-white Safety & Precautions
Tipping Customs
Local Etiquette
Travel Insurance
bee-white Travel Insurance
Useful addresses
bee-white Useful addresses
LATEST BLOG ARTICLES

In Vietnam, the Mid-Autumn Festival, also known as Full Moon Festival or Tết Trung Thu, is an occasion for a children’s night out and family reunions. Children enjoy art performances like singing, plays and lion dances, light up the night with colorful lanterns and enjoy mooncakes. 

A long-standing traditional festival that showcases Vietnam’s undeniable charm takes place when nature is at its breathtaking best.

For thousands of years, the Mid-Autumn Festival has been an occasion for family reunions and a children’s night out. It dates back to the Wet Rice Civilization of the Red River Delta over 4,000 years ago.

Back then, rice was harvested before the 15th day of the 8th lunar month. The festival falls on the full moon night of Lunar August, the most beautiful night of the year, when the moon is perfectly round and bright, and shines a magical golden hue.

The event takes place in the middle of the eighth lunar month. In 2022, the festival falls on September 10th. For the upcoming year, please find below in the article. Now, let's see more detail and prepare for it.

...more

On the lunar full moon, the townsfolk will celebrate Hoi An's bygone days, reenacting cultural activities and honouring ancestors with offerings to shrines and burning incense. The old quarter is pedestrianized (no bicycles or motorized vehicles until 10pm) and fluorescent lights are banned, adding to the old-world charm.)

This is a truly special night where you can wander the old town while it is lit up with lanterns and watch traditional performances, hear musical renditions, poetry recitals or watch as some of the older townsmen play a game of traditional Chinese chess.

...more

Fresh herbs, hearty soups and powerful, funky fish flavors are just a few of the hallmarks of Laotian food, a cuisine that isn’t widely represented in the world but is showcased at a number of excellent restaurants in some big cities like NYC, Seattle, London, Sydney, or Melbourne.

Papaya salad, beef jerky, sticky rice and laap, or larb, are examples of typical Laotian dishes - there’s a commonality with Northern Thai food that frequently causes the two cuisines to be lumped together. Lao food, though, has unique characteristics that give it a flavor all its own.

Below is our recommended list of restaurants in Laos & some big cities where you can really enjoy the authentic Laos food.

...more

Experiencing all that Lao cuisine has to offer is not an experience for the faint of heart. Laos’ famous fermented fish sauce, padek, has a distinct fragrance. Insects ranging from silkworms to ants and crickets can be found on many menus. Raw and cooked meats from all manner of animals are grilled and served on a stick or sautéed and served with rice. 

Ah, while we are learning about Laos traditional dishes, why don't we take a break and take a bite of Laos food history and culture.

In case you want to move directly to the dishes that you prefer, just navigate via the below table of content.

...more

Sticky rice is the staple food of any Laotian meal. It is called “khao niew” and made from glutinous rice. It contains a higher sugar level than normal rice, which gives it its stickiness.

Despite the name (glutinous rice), Laotian sticky rice is gluten free and therefore great for people with celiac. Sticky rice is steamed and traditionally served in small cute bamboo baskets in Laos called “lao aep khao”.

Sticky rice is a traditional Lao and Thai base dish that is served and paired another delicious main meal. You typically do not eat sticky rice on its own unless it’s been transformed into a dessert that is doused in coconut milk or sugar (if you’ve had Lao food, what I’m referring to here is purple rice). 

Sticky rice is a transparent and opaque rice that requires soaking overnight for preparations. Once cooked, the rice “sticks” to each other, and you use your hands to eat the rice by forming delicious little balls of rice and putting it into your mouth!

...more

Larb! Larb! Larb!

If you have already traveled to Laos, you will realize that it is one of the highlighted dishes of your trip.

Larb is basically a salad - made out of meat. (So, like, the best KIND of salad, right?). It’s a meat salad from Laos that has made its way into Thailand and other areas of Southeast Asia, as well as many countries in the world.

Like other dishes in Southeast Asian cooking, the dish combines savory flavors with fresh ones - fresh herbs like cilantro, scallions, and mint, and fresh lime juice. The addition of toasted ground rice also adds texture and nuttiness to the final dish.

...more
loading
back top