Highlights of Southeast Asia
Experience the sights, history & culture of four incredible countries: Thailand, Laos, Vietnam & Cambodia, plus a deluxe overnight Halong Bay cruise
Style | Small Group Tour Tour escorts & guides for some segments | ||
Departures | November 2025 – March 2026 | Group Size | 16 travelers max |
Themes | Active, History & Culture, Grand Tours, Bucket List | ||
Activity Level | |||
What to Expect | This fast-paced, escorted tour involves a significant amount of walking or hiking, often on uneven terrain, requiring a high level of physical fitness to fully enjoy the trip. This tour also includes long scenic drives between destinations, sometimes on bumpy unpaved roads and may have limited rest stops.Travel safely and confidently with our new health & safety protocols. | ||
Already booked? | Find everything you need to know before you go, including information about passport & visa requirements, flights, luggage, and more. |
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Embark on an unforgettable journey through Southeast Asia, where ancient history, vibrant cultures, and expansive landscapes converge. This thoughtfully crafted tour takes you through the heart of Thailand, Laos, Vietnam, and Cambodia, revealing each country’s unique spirit and enduring beauty. Begin in the bustling metropolis of Bangkok, Thailand, where lively street markets, ornate temples, and the majestic Grand Palace showcase the harmony between tradition and modern life. In Laos, find serenity as you glide along the Mekong River and explore the UNESCO World Heritage town of Luang Prabang. Vietnam beckons with a captivating blend of historic sites and unmatched scenery. Cruise along the UNESCO-listed Halong Bay, gliding through emerald waters and limestone islands that create an otherworldly landscape. Conclude your journey in Cambodia, beginning in Phnom Penh, where the city’s royal history and colonial architecture paint a picture of the country’s past, then stand in awe before Angkor Wat as the sun’s first light illuminates the intricate carvings and iconic towers of this ancient temple complex. Every step of this adventure is designed to captivate, inspire, and deepen your connection to the rich tapestry of Southeast Asia.
Package includes
- Flights
- Cruise
- Coach
- Transfers
- Hotel
- Meals
- Guides
- Round-trip flights from Los Angeles including taxes & fees
- All intra-Asia flights and ground transportation
- 15 nights superior & deluxe hotel accommodations
- 1 night aboard the deluxe Orchid Trendy Cruise Ship on Halong Bay
- 28 Meals: 16 breakfasts, 5 lunches & 7 dinners, including welcome & farewell dinners
- Comprehensive touring program including entrance fees
- Professional English-speaking tour director and local guides
Optional add-ons
- Flights from other cities are available. Upgrades may be available to Premium Economy or Business Class. Request pricing when making your reservation.
- Optional Bangkok Flavors of Nighttime Chinatown tour
- Optional Village of Love neighborhood tour (Bangkok)
- Optional half-day crafting class in Laos
- Optional Angkor tethered Balloon Experience in Angkor Wat
Why you'll love it
- Enjoy the sights, history & culture of four incredible countries: Thailand, Laos, Vietnam & Cambodia.
- For each traveler visiting, Friendly Planet contributes to a carbon-neutral program which supports reforestation, clean water, replenishing mangroves, and seeding coral reefs.
- Explore the highlights of Bangkok, including the Royal Grand Palace, Wat Pho, and the Royal Barge Museum.
- Enjoy a long-tail boat ride along the Chao Phraya River.
- Cruise the Mekong River and visit the Pak Ou Caves, home to thousands of gold Buddha statues.
- Participate in a Laos Baci Ceremony and express goodwill and luck to others.
- Embark on a city tour of Hanoi, including Ba Dinh Square, the Thang Long Imperial Citadel, and the Temple of Literature.
- Awaken your taste buds and learn about Hanoi’s gastronomy through a foodie tour.
- Set sail on the emerald waters of Halong Bay, a UNESCO World Heritage site dotted with thousands of limestone karsts and isles.
- Experience the near-magical health and relaxation benefits as you join an early morning Tai Chi lesson.
- Explore Ho Chi Minh City’s Saigon Central Post Office, Dong Khoi Street, and Gia Long Palace.
- Pay a visit to a local home factory where you'll see the production of rice paste, rice popcorn and coconut candies, followed by visiting a rooftop workshop that specializes in leaf-sewing.
- Marvel at the ruins of Angkor Archaeological Park.
- Learn about Tonlé Sap’s marine life and the conservation efforts at the Angkor Wildlife and Aquarium (AWA).
- Tour colonial Phnom Penh by cylco, including Wat Phnom and the National Museum.
Itinerary at a Glance
- 1 Depart USA
- 2 En route
- 3 Arrive Bangkok, Thailand
- 4 Bangkok
- Optional Excursion: Flavors of Nighttime Chinatown (purchased locally) , $70
- 5 Bangkok
- Optional Excursion: Night Bites & Sites in the Village of Love (purchased locally) , $129
- 6 Bangkok & Luang Prabang, Laos
- 7 Luang Prabang & Pak Ou Caves
- 8 Luang Prabang & Kuang Si Waterfalls
- 9 Luang Prabang & Hanoi, Vietnam
- Optional Excursion: Half-day crafting class at Ock Pop Tok , $65
- 10 Hanoi
- 11 Hanoi & Halong Bay
- 12 Halong Bay, Hanoi & Ho Chi Minh City
- 13 Ho Chi Minh City
- 14 Ho Chi Minh City & Mekong Delta
- 15 Ho Chi Minh & Siem Reap, Cambodia
- 16 Siem Reap
- Optional Excursion: Angkor Tethered Balloon Experience (purchased locally) , $25
- 17 Siem Reap & Phnom Penh
- 18 Phnom Pen
- 19 Depart Phnom Penh/Arrive USA
Dates & Prices
Detailed Itinerary
To see full details, click the button to the right.
Day 1 Depart USA
- Depart on your flight to Southeast Asia
Day 2 En route
- Cross the international dateline and lose a day. (You’ll recover this day on your return trip)
Day 3 Arrive Bangkok, Thailand
- Upon arrival, meet your guide and transfer to the hotel for check-in
- Enjoy a welcome dinner with your fellow travelers
Montien Hotel Surawong or similarDinner
Day 4 Bangkok
- Create your own garland at the Flower Market
- Admire the Emerald Buddha at the Royal Grand Palace
- Visit Wat Pho, Bangkok's oldest and most sacred temple
- Spend the afternoon at leisure or join an optional excursion
Montien Hotel Surawong or similarBreakfast
Day 5 Bangkok
- Ride along the Chao Phraya River aboard a long-tail boat
- Visit the Royal Barge Museum
- Cruise past the iconic Wat Arun
- Spend the evening at leisure or join an optional excursion
Montien Hotel Surawong or similarBreakfast
Day 6 Bangkok & Luang Prabang, Laos
- Fly to Luang Prabang, the spiritual capital of Laos
- Enjoy a panoramic drive to your hotel
- Spend the remainder of the day at leisure
- Join your fellow travelers for dinner
AVANI+ Luang Prabang or similarBreakfast & dinner
Day 7 Luang Prabang & Pak Ou Caves
- Enjoy a guided tour of Luang Prabang, including the former Royal Palace and Wat Mai
- Embark on a boat ride on the Mekong River
- Discover the famous Park Ou Caves
- Participate in a Baci Ceremony
AVANI+ Luang Prabang or similarBreakfast & lunch
Day 8 Luang Prabang & Kuang Si Waterfalls
- Witness an early morning alms giving
- Discover the natural views around the Kuang Si Waterfalls
- Climb the 328 stairs to the summit of Mt. Phousi
- Experience the lively hill tribe night market
AVANI+ Luang Prabang or similarBreakfast
Day 9 Luang Prabang & Hanoi, Vietnam
- After a leisurely breakfast, transfer to the airport for your flight to Hanoi, Vietnam
- Upon arrival, meet your guide and transfer to the hotel for check-in
Pan Pacific Hanoi or similarBreakfast
Day 10 Hanoi
- Enjoy a city tour of Hanoi
- Visit the Temple of Literature, Vietnam’s first university
- Have lunch at KOTO, a non-profit restaurant that trains young people
- Visit the highly-acclaimed Vietnam Women’s Museum
- Learn more about Hanoi’s gastronomy through a foodie tour
Pan Pacific Hanoi or similarBreakfast, lunch & dinner
Day 11 Hanoi & Halong Bay
- Drive to Halong Bay, a UNESCO World Heritage Site
- Board your cruise ship and enjoy a welcome drink and orientation
- Cruise through Halong Bay, passing by beautiful limestone karst formations
- Kayak or swim at Ba Trai Dao beach
- Join a traditional cooking class with the ship’s chef
- Enjoy a happy hour with shipmates before a sumptuous Vietnamese dinner
Orchid Trendy Cruise or similarBreakfast, lunch & dinner
Day 12 Halong Bay, Hanoi & Ho Chi Minh City
- Join an early morning Tai Chi lesson
- Explore the bay by canoe near the Sang Toi cave
- Disembark and transfer back to Hanoi for your flight to Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon), Vietnam
- Upon arrival, meet your guide and transfer to the hotel for check-in
Pullman Saigon Centre or similarBreakfast
Day 13 Ho Chi Minh City
- Explore the sites of Ho Chi Minh City on a guided tour
- Embark on a sunset cruise along the Saigon River
Pullman Saigon Centre or similarBreakfast & lunch
Day 14 Ho Chi Minh City & Mekong Delta
- Journey to Cai Be, deep in the heart of the Mekong Delta
- Experience the lively Cai Be floating market
- Visit a local home factory which produces rice paste, rice popcorn and coconut candies
- Enjoy lunch at Ut Kiet Mandarin Home before slowly cruising back Cai Be
- Stop at Cao Dai Temple before continuing back to Ho Chi Minh City
Pullman Saigon Centre or similarBreakfast & lunch
Day 15 Ho Chi Minh & Siem Reap, Cambodia
- Fly to Siem Reap, Cambodia
- Upon arrival, meet your guide and transfer to your hotel for check-in
- Enjoy a boat ride on Tonlé Sap Lake and learn about life on the lake at the village of Kompong Khleang
- Learn about Tonlé Sap’s marine life and the conservation efforts at the Angkor Wildlife and Aquarium (AWA)
- Take your tastebuds on a journey during a culinary tour by Cambodian tuk-tuk
FCC Angkor by Avani or similarBreakfast & dinner
Day 16 Siem Reap
- Visit the12th-century Angkor Wat
- Explore Ta Prohm Temple
- Discover the ancient city of Angkor Thom, including the Bayon Temple
- Enjoy a gondola ride along the moat of Angkor Thom
FCC Angkor by Avani or similarBreakfast & dinner
Day 17 Siem Reap & Phnom Penh
- Explore Siem Reap's artistic scene, including Senteurs d’Angkor
- Fly to Phnom Penh
- Upon arrival, meet your local guide and transfer to your hotel for check-in
Sofitel Phnom Penh Phokeethra or similarBreakfast
Day 18 Phnom Pen
- Tour the remarkable sights of Phnom Penh by Cyclo
- Admire the Khmer architecture and statues of Wat Phnom
- Visit the National Museum, home to over 5000 statues and others artifacts
- Explore most visited place in Phnom Pen, the Royal Palace
- Dive into Cambodia's recent history at Tuol Sleng Prison (S-21)
- Stop at the Champey Academy of Arts (CAA), a non-profit dedicated to teaching Cambodian youth traditional arts
Sofitel Phnom Penh Phokeethra or similarBreakfast & dinner
Day 19 Depart Phnom Penh/Arrive USA
- Today, transfer to the airport to check-in for your return flight to the USA
Breakfast
Hotels & Ship
Hotels
In the unlikely event that a particular hotel is not available, a similar or better hotel may be substituted.
Cruise Ship
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Trip Details
- What should I know before I go?We've compiled a comprehensive checklist, including information on how to pay your balance due, flights & transfers, packing & luggage, and more.
- Do I need a visa or other documents? Are there any entry requirements?Travel visas are required for this package. Please review the visa & entry requirements.
- Can I make changes to my trip?Want to upgrade your seats? Stay a few extra days? Something else? Just ask!
- Can I bring my kids? Are there any age restrictions?To book this package, you must be 18 or older. Your traveling companions must be 8 or older at the time of travel.
- Should I purchase travel insurance?Yes! We recommend you purchase travel insurance to help protect you and your travel investment against the unexpected. For your convenience, we offer a plan provided by Travelex Insurance Services.
- What's the fine print?Review the terms & conditions for this package.
What should I know about Cambodia?Check out our guide for practical travel tips, the best time to go, videos, and more.
What should I know about Thailand?Check out our guide for practical travel tips, the best time to go, videos, and more.
What should I know about Vietnam?Check out our guide for practical travel tips, the best time to go, videos, and more.
What should I know about Laos?Check out our guide for practical travel tips, the best time to go, videos, and more.
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