• Hanoi sightseeing
• Ha Long Bay cruise
• Charming Hoi An
• Extensive touring of Angkor Wat complex
• Luang Prabang alms giving ceremony
• Interactive rice farming experience
• Two-day Mekong cruise with overnight in riverside lodge
• Elephant sanctuary
• Bangkok sightseeing

Day 1: Depart U.S. for Hanoi, Vietnam

Day 2: Arrive Hanoi We arrive in the Vietnamese capital late this evening then transfer to our hotel.

Day 3: Hanoi Our tour of this French-accented city begins in Ba Dinh Square at the revered mausoleum and home of Ho Chi Minh. Next: historic One Pillar Pagoda, a Buddhist retreat; the serene Temple of Literature (c. 1070); Hoa Lo Prison, the infamous “Hanoi Hilton” of the Vietnam War; and Hanoi’s Ancient Quarter, dense with street vendors, where we enjoy a welcome dinner at a local restaurant this evening. B,D

Day 4: Hanoi/Ha Long Bay We depart this morning on a full-day excursion to Ha Long Bay, a breathtaking waterway in the Gulf of Tonkin dotted with 2,000 islands and islets, and surrounded by limestone cliffs and hidden caves. Here we board a traditional “junk” for lunch and an afternoon cruise through the fairytale seascape, a UNESCO site. B,L

Day 5: Hanoi/Da Nang/Hoi An We fly this afternoon to Da Nang then continue on to Hoi An and our riverside hotel. We get our first glimpse of the Old Town and its colorful lanterns as we dine together this evening. B,D

Day 6: Hoi An An easy boat ride on the Thu Bon River brings us to the colorful ancient port of Hoi An. We tour the lively daily market, and stroll the shop- and gallery-lined back streets and alleyways of Old Town, now a UNESCO site. Tonight’s small group highlight: an interactive Vietnamese cooking class, followed by dinner. B,D

Day 7: Hoi An/Da Nang/Siem Reap, Cambodia We see local life up close this morning as we take a walking tour of a nearby farming settlement. Later we visit the acclaimed Cham Museum then transfer to the airport for the flight to Siem Reap, arriving this evening. B,L

Day 8: Siem Reap We make our first visit to the temples at the Angkor Wat complex, a small-scale city built between the 9^th and 13^th centuries and now a UNESCO site. We travel via tuk-tuks (auto rickshaws) to Angkor Thom, the last Khmer capital; and Bayon Temple, an imposing stone edifice of 54 towers each carved with four enigmatic faces. We also explore 12^th-century Ta Prohm, the mystical, decaying Buddhist shrine where the giant roots and limbs of banyan trees have overtaken the labyrinth of stone rooms and hallways. Later we tour stunning 12th-century Angkor Wat itself, the world’s largest temple. B,L,D

Day 9: Siem Reap Today’s highlights include the restored 12^th-century monastery and temple complex at Preah Khan; and 10^th-century Banteay Srei, the “citadel of women” dedicated to the Hindu god Shiva and known for its delicately carved pink sandstone. B,D

Day 10: Siem Reap/Luang Prabang, Laos This morning we visit Les Artisans d’Angkor, a development project for young adults to learn traditional crafts. Late this afternoon, we fly to Luang Prabang. B,L,D

Day 11: Luang Prabang Our introduction to Laos begins early today with a time-honored tradition: the “tak-bat,” where hundreds of saffron-robed monks collect alms from their fellow Buddhists. Later we set out to explore this ancient royal city; our walking tour features the Old City, a UNESCO site, where we tour the beautiful 16^th-century Wat Xieng Thong temple complex, and the National Museum, formerly the royal palace. We return to our hotel for an afternoon at leisure then enjoy dinner in a family restaurant set in a village outside the town and styled like a traditional Laotian stilted bamboo house. B,D

Day 12: Luang Prabang This morning we visit an elephant sanctuary – a community-based eco-project – in the scenic Nam Khan River valley.  Then we learn about the lives of local farmers firsthand as we travel to a communal rice farm, where we enjoy lunch before joining in such farm-based activities as bamboo weaving, blacksmith work, and sugar cane processing. B,L

Day 13: Luang Prabang/Mekong River Cruise/Pakbeng We begin a tour highlight today as we board a private riverboat for an upstream voyage on this remote stretch of the Mekong. Along the way we stop to visit villages of ethnic hill tribes, and the Pak Ou Buddha Caves, housing hundreds of Buddha icons. We enjoy lunch on board our boat, a traditional wooden river cruiser with unobstructed views of the Mekong’s lush banks. Upon arrival in Pakbeng, we check in at our hotel, where we dine tonight. B,L,D

Day 14: Pakbeng/Mekong River Cruise/Chiang Rai, Thailand Back on board our riverboat today, we cruise past wild and diverse mountain scenery, stopping to visit a small village. After crossing the border into Thailand, we transfer to our hotel in Chiang Rai. B,L,D

Day 15: Chiang Rai At this morning’s Thai cooking class, we prepare the feast that we’ll enjoy for lunch today. Then we pay an afternoon visit to Wat Rong Khun, the unusual “White Temple” celebrating Lord Buddha’s purity. Tonight: Chiang Rai’s lively night market, where we can select dinner on our own from the many food stalls. B,L

Day 16: Chiang Rai/Bangkok Today we visit the Doi Tung Royal Villa and Gardens, the former home of the king’s mother who led efforts against the heroin trade. Late today we fly to Bangkok. B,L,D

Day 17: Bangkok We discover the Thai capital at the colorful Flower Market; Wat Pho Temple, home of the gold-leafed Reclining Buddha; and the splendid Grand Palace complex, where we visit the revered Temple of the Emerald Buddha. B,L

Day 18: Bangkok This morning’s visit to the Jim Thompson House reveals the prized Southeast Asian art collection of the American who revived the Thai silk industry. Tonight we celebrate our southeast Asia odyssey at a farewell dinner. B,D

Day 19: Depart for U.S. Today we transfer to the airport for our return flights to the U.S. B

B = Breakfast included L = Lunch included D = Dinner included

• Round-trip air transportation from listed cities; all flights within itinerary
• 17 nights’ accommodations in Deluxe and Superior First Class accommodations
• 38 meals: 17 breakfasts, 10 lunches, 11 dinners
• Extensive sightseeing as described, including all entrance fees
• Services of an Odysseys Unlimited Tour Director
• Private motorcoach transportation
• Luggage handling for one bag per person
• Gratuities for local guides, dining room servers, airport and hotel porters, and all drivers
• $100 frequent traveler credit towards your next Odysseys Unlimited tour ($200 after 3 tours; $300 after 10 tours)

2023 Tour Dates & Prices
including international airfare and all taxes, surcharges, and fees

Please call if your city is not listed or for land only prices. Prices are per person based on double occupancy and include airline taxes, surcharges, and fees of $402, which are subject to change until final payment has been made.

Single travelers please add $1,795. Your $475 deposit is fully refundable up to 95 days before departure. All 2023 tour prices above (excluding airline taxes, surcharges, and fees) are guaranteed.

*Itinerary changes due to flight schedules for Mar departures: Day 9 Siem Reap: Lunch included; Day 10 Siem Reap/Bangkok: Free morning with lunch on own, Afternoon visit to Thiem House art gallery, Evening flight to Bangkok with dinner on own; Day 11 Bangkok/Luang Prabang: Morning flight to Luang Prabang, Afternoon sightseeing tour with lunch, Dinner on own; Day 12 Luang Prabang: Morning alms giving ceremony, Visit to elephant sanctuary, Afternoon visit to rice farm with lunch, Dinner at hotel.

Certain U.S. cities may require an evening flight from Bangkok (or Singapore on the Post-Tour Extension), arriving in the U.S. on Day 20.

Business Class upgrade (subject to availability) on round-trip international flight: $4,995 per person LAX, SFO, SEA, JFK; $6,595 all other cities

A visa is required for this tour. Odysseys Unlimited will provide information about visa requirements upon reservation.

2024 Tour Dates & Prices
including international airfare and all taxes, surcharges, and fees

Please call if your city is not listed or for land only prices. Prices are per person based on double occupancy and include airline taxes, surcharges, and fees of $402, which are subject to change until final payment has been made.

Single travelers please add $1,795. Your $475 deposit is fully refundable up to 95 days before departure. All tour prices above (excluding airline taxes, surcharges, and fees) are guaranteed.

Certain U.S. cities may require an evening flight from Bangkok (or Singapore on the Post-Tour Extension), arriving in the U.S. on Day 20.

Business Class upgrade (subject to availability) on roundtrip international flight: $4,995 from JFK, LAX, SFO, SEA; $6,595 from other cities

A visa is required for this tour. Odysseys Unlimited will provide information about visa requirements upon reservation.

Singapore

4 days/3 nights for $1,495 total price
Single Supplement: $395

Encounter this multicultural city-state, at once exotic and sophisticated.

Your Tour Price Includes

• Air transportation Bangkok/Singapore
• 3 nights’ accommodations at Carlton City Hotel Singapore (Superior First Class)
• 5 meals: 3 breakfasts, 2 dinners
• Extensive sightseeing, including Singapore cultural tour, bumboat ride on Singapore River, National Orchid Garden, and Gardens by the Bay
• Private motorcoach transportation
• Services of an Odysseys Unlimited representative
• Gratuities for dining room servers, airport and hotel porters, and all drivers

Please see the Accommodations tab for hotel information.

Norman Lewis
A Dragon Apparent, Travels in Cambodia, Laos and Vietnam
A classic account of travels and adventure during the last years of French Indochina, strong on atmosphere with wonderfully detailed descriptions of local cultures and archaeological treasures. First published in 1951.

Footprint Guides
Footprint Vietnam, Cambodia & Laos
With practical information on attractions, transportation, food,
activities, and lodgings. Includes Bangkok.

Tom Vater
Moon Angkor Wat
Drawing on his long association with Cambodia, Vater covers all the practicalities of visiting Angkor, Siem Reap, Battambang and Phnom Penh in this slim guide.

Nelles
Vietnam, Laos, Cambodia Map
A great folded map of Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia at a scale of 1:1,500,000. With inset maps for Central Vientiane, Hanoi, Luang Prabang, Phnom Penh and Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon).

Eyewitness Guides
Eyewitness Guide Vietnam and Angkor Wat
Featuring innovative site diagrams, local maps and hundreds of color photographs, this handy companion introduces the culture, history and attractions of Vietnam.

Nguyen Xuanthu
Lonely Planet Vietnamese Phrasebook
A handy palm-sized guide to pronunciation, grammar and essential vocabulary for the traveler.

Kim Fay
Communion, A Culinary Journey Through Vietnam
Fay recounts in savory detail a five-week journey with two friends from Hanoi to Saigon in search of the traditions, rituals and pleasures of food from local markets and street foods to haute cuisine.

David Chandler
A History of Cambodia
An excellent, scholarly history from early civilization through the rise of Angkor, French colonial period, Vietnamization of Cambodia, Khmer Rouge and Coup de Force of 1997.

Joel Brinkley
Cambodia’s Curse, The Modern History of a Troubled Land
Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist Joel Brinkley returns to Cambodia a generation after the fall of the Khmer Rouge regime to report on the country’s continuing struggle to recover from its past.

Frances FitzGerald
Fire in the Lake
A classic historical, political and cultural portrait of the Vietnam War, seen through the eyes of the Vietnamese. Winner of both the Pulitzer Prize and National Book Award, FitzGerald, a staff writer at the New Yorker and a reporter in Vietnam, presents a vivid image of a revolution and a clear-sighted case for why the
U.S offensive was doomed from the start.

Bill Hayton
Vietnam, Rising Dragon
The veteran BBC newsman covers the tangled politics, rapidly changing economy, culture, history and people of Vietnam with great insight in this timely portrait of a nation in transition.

Helen Ibbitson Jessup
Art & Architecture of Cambodia
Jessup includes not just Angkor Wat and Banteay Srei but also lesser-known recent discoveries in the surrounding jungle in this illustrated overview in the World of Art series.

Fiona Kerlogue
Arts of Southeast Asia
A handsome guide to the art, architecture, textiles and crafts of Southeast Asia.

Milton Osborne
The Mekong, Turbulent Past, Uncertain Future
A cultural history of the great river from prehistory to European exploration, colonial tensions and modern challenges. It’s an engaging introduction to the history of Southeast Asia.

Bruno Dagens
Angkor, Heart of an Asian Empire
An excellent guide to the site, this shirt-pocket encyclopedia of discovery features hundreds of color photographs, illustrations and maps.

Andrew X. Pham
The Eaves of Heaven, A Life in Three Wars
Pham recounts the story of his father’s life during the French occupation, Japanese invasion and the American War, weaving such momentous events with anecdotes from his childhood and details of family, friends, food and daily life.

Stephen T. Asma
The Gods Drink Whiskey
Asma writes with verve and wit in this eye-opening account of his year-long stint teaching at the Buddhist Institute in Phnom Penh. His account is both an overview of Theravada Buddhism and a down-to-earth portrait of contemporary Cambodia.

Duong Van Mai Elliott
The Sacred Willow, Four Generations in the Life of a Vietnamese Family
This vivid family saga, beginning with the author’s great- grandfather, captures the momentous history of Vietnam over the last 100 years.

Graham Greene
The Quiet American
A classic, this is the most famous Western work of fiction on Vietnam. Greene writes of a love triangle between a war correspondent, his Vietnamese consort and an optimistic young American during the last days of French rule.

Bao Ninh
The Sorrow of War, A Novel of North Vietnam
A powerful novel by a former North Vietnamese soldier, this short book captures the appalling conditions of war, alternating vivid scenes from the front lines with flashbacks from the protagonist’s rural youth.

Tim O’Brien
The Things They Carried
National Book Award-winner O’Brien captures the daily life of a soldier in Vietnam in this loosely structured, powerful collection of stories.

John Balaban, Nguyen Qui Duc
Vietnam, A Traveler’s Literary Companion
From rainforest to city, these 17 stories from Vietnam’s finest writers explore its landscapes, myths and changing traditions.

Craig Robson
Birds of Southeast Asia
This authoritative, masterfully illustrated guide, featuring 140 color plates covering 1,270 species throughout the region, includes Malaysia, Burma, Borneo and Indonesia.