Gems of Southeast Asia

DEPART YOUR HOME CITY

Fly into Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam.  
You will arrive the next day.

ARRIVE HO CHI MINH CITY, VIETNAM

Upon arrival in HCM City, you will be met and transferred to our hotel, where we will stay for the next 3 nights.

No Meals included today.
Overnight – Rex Hotel

HCM CITY – CU CHI TUNNEL , VIETNAM

This morning, travel outside the city to the Cu Chi Tunnels, where the Vietcong built a 200km long network of tunnels connecting command posts, hospitals, shelter, and weapon factories that were never discovered until after the war

After lunch at a local restaurant, enjoy a walking tour of Old Saigon. Visit a thriving local market to see how these bustling and vibrant markets play a major role in the daily lives of Vietnamese people. From here stroll through the colorful back alleyways lined with flower shops and breathe in the aromas of the freshly cut blooms. Pass through another street where mechanics specialize in restoring vintage Vespa scooters. Take in the scenes of local life as you wander these narrow lanes.

Stop for a refreshing traditional drink at the oldest coffee shop in Saigon; this old-fashioned establishment has a colorful history stretching back over seven decades. Continue the walk through some other back lanes then go to another famous street filled with shops selling locally-made guitars before returning to your hotel.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Welcome Dinner
Overnight – Rex Hotel

HCM CITY / BEN TRE & UPPER MEKONG DELTA, VIETNAM

Immerse yourself fully in the local culture of the Mekong Delta with a day out to rustic Ben Tre. A journey of about 2.5 hours will bring you to a peaceful area of lush orchards, green rice paddies and coconut fields. Hop on a Tuk Tuk for a ride along the shady paths to visit the home of local antique collector, Uncle Six. This friendly older man will welcome you into his home from where he also sells his ceramics. If you’re feeling fit, Uncle Six will even show you how to climb the coconut trees using just your bare hands.

Continue exploring the area along rural pathways that wind their way alongside dense vegetation and small tributaries of the Mekong. Board a sampan (row boat) and cruise along the small canals under the shade of the coconut trees before changing your mode of transport to a motorized boat. After a delicious lunch of local specialties cooked by the host, visit some local workshops to see how rice paper and sticky coconut sweets are made. Return to HCM City in the afternoon. 

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
Overnight – Rex Hotel

HCM CITY, VIETNAM & SIEM REAP, CAMBODIA

Transfer for your flight to Siem Reap. Upon arrival, visit the Angkor National Museum for an orientation of the Angkor Temples before checking-in at the hotel for your next 2 nights’ accommodations. 

Tonight, we’ll have a chance to enjoy a traditional Khmer Dinner

Meals: Breakfast, Khmer dinner
Overnight —  Lotus Blanc Resort

SIEM REAP, CAMBODIA

We start the morning with a visit to the magnificent ANGKOR WAT, the symbol of Cambodia. Dedicated to the Hindu god Vishnu by King Surya Varman II, who reigned between 1131 and 1150, Angkor Wat was constructed over a period of 30 years and illustrates some of the most beautiful examples of Khmer and Hindu art. Next visit, TA PROHM, the site of the hit movie Tomb Raiders one of the most popular attractions of Angkor as much of the jungle has not been cleared and it looks very much as most of the Angkor monuments would have appeared when European explorers first stumbled across them

Later, visit the fortified city of ANGKOR THOM, covering an area of 10 square km enclosed by a wall and wide moats, the city includes many of Angkor’s most popular sights. Here, enjoy a Water Blessing Ceremony performed by the monk from Tep Pranom pagoda at one of the ancient temples Angkor Thom. The water blessing is said to bring peace, good luck and happiness. Receive a personalized blessing of your own during this 1-hour water blessing experience at the Tep Pranom pagoda.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch at a local restaurant
Overnight —  Lotus Blanc Resort

SIEM REAP, CAMBODIA
DANANG – HOI AN, VIETNAM

Morning visit to Banteay Srei Temple. Seemingly miniature in comparison to the other Angkor temples, Banteay Srei is considered to be the jewel of classical Khmer art built in pink sandstone. Transfer for your afternoon flight to Danang.

Upon arrival, be met and transferred to the hotel in Hoi An for your next 2 nights’ accommodations.

Meals: Breakfast
Overnight – Overnight – Little Oasis, An Eco Friendly Hotel & Spa – Balcony

HOI AN, VIETNAM

This morning, enjoy a walking tour of beautiful Hoi An. The exquisitely preserved merchant town of Hoi An was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1999. Its colorful shop houses and temples reflect a diverse heritage, dating back to the 16th and 17th century, when it was a major port for Western, Chinese and Japanese traders. Today it is a thriving center of traditional crafts and a shoppers’ paradise, best explored on foot.

Wander through the cobbled streets, past low tile-roofed buildings, the bustling central market and the small harbor where colorfully painted boats are moored. In the afternoon, board a local boat and cruise down the Thu Bon River, enjoying the unspoiled countryside and stopping to visit a pottery village and before returning to Hoi An harbor.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
Overnight – Little Oasis

HOI AN / DANANG – HANOI, VIETNAM

Transfer for your flight to Hanoi. Upon arrival, be met and transferred to our hotel. Take a brief rest at the hotel before embarking on a fascinating Night Foodies tour to experience some of the city’s best street food stalls. Starting at the bustling Hom market, one of the biggest and most popular markets in Hanoi, your guide will take you to popular street food stalls where you can sample some of the city’s signature dishes.

Stop at a local coffee shop to taste this rich and flavorful drink, then continue your culinary exploration with a stroll through the famed “36 Streets” that make up the Old Quarter of Hanoi. Join the locals and pull up a plastic stool at a pavement stall to try Vietnamese snacks and a cup of iced tea, followed by a sweet dessert of fresh fruit and condensed milk. End the tour with a cold draught beer at a sidewalk stall popular with locals.

Meals: Breakfast, Dinner (Snack)
Overnight — The Ann Hotel Hanoi

HANOI FULL DAY CITY TOUR, VIETNAM

Although it is the modern-day capital of Vietnam, Hanoi still retains the mystery and charm of past centuries. Narrow lanes and traditional shop houses invite an exciting exploration by walking, while it’s many beautiful public spaces – lakes, parks, tree-lined boulevards and monuments – give the city an air of elegance and harmony with nature unique among Asian capitals.

Your tour of Hanoi starts with the bustling Chau Long wet market located just off of Truc Bach Lake. Enjoy the walk through the narrow and busy passages with a crowd of vendors displaying all sorts of colorful produce and seafood. Continue to the Ho Chi Minh Complex — his stilt house (and Mausoleum if time/conditions permit) where he lived between 1958 and 1969. Visit the 11th century One Pillar Pagoda which was rebuilt after being destroyed by the French in 1954, and then to the Temple of Literature with its walled courtyards and graceful gateways. Founded in 1070 and dedicated to Confucius, this was also the site of Vietnam’s first university.

After lunch, visit Hoa Lo Prison (a.k.a. “Hanoi Hilton”) where the late John McCain was held captive for 5 years followed by Hanoi’s famed Old Quarters. The Old Quarter holds over a thousand years of history and remains one of Vietnam’s most lively and unusual places where one can buy anything from herbal medicine to household items to silk pajamas.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
Overnight — The Ann Hotel Hanoi

HANOI / HALONG CRUISE, VIETNAM

Depart Hanoi’s hustle and bustle for Halong Bay. After breakfast, you will be picked up and transferred to Halong Harbor to board your Athena Cruise Ship, voted the Best of the Best of cruise ships on Halong Bay! AthenaCruise.com – Executive Suite Cabin With Balcony 

12:00pm Complete the luggage check-in procedure at the waiting lounge before boarding for the cruise. 

12:30pm You will be transferred to the Athena by a small motorboat where the Captain and crew members welcome you onboard. Then a safety briefing and the cruise itinerary will be discussed while you are enjoying our signature welcome drink 

12:45pm  Lunch  is served as the Athena departs towards Halong Bay – a natural wonder of the world. You will be dazzled by the gorgeous scenery and famous sights of limestone cliffs.

2:45pm The cruise stops at “Bo Nau” cave (Pelican Cave), the core area of the world’s natural heritage. You will be transferred by tender, a small motor boat, to Sung Sot Cave (Surprising Cave) – the biggest and the most beautiful cave in Halong Bay. 

3:45pm Leave Surprising Cave and move to Titov Island. Enjoy swimming, relaxing on the beach or climbing the steps of the Rock at the top of the island. A magical panoramic view of Halong Bay will greet you there 

5:00pm  Back to the Athena Ship after a day of interesting activities. Time for relaxing while the Athena moves to the area where you will anchor for the night.

6:00pm Sunset Party on-deck. Enjoy prepared snacks and your favorite drinks while waiting for sunset. Take advantage of Happy Hour “Buy 1 get 1 free” drinks while watching a stunning sunset.

6:30pm Cooking Class / Demonstration of traditional Vietnamese dishes will be organized by the Athena Head Chef.

7:00pm  Sit back and relax and enjoy a lovely dinner after an active day.

9:00pm Free time for evening activities: film entertainment, mini-games in the dining room, squid fishing, or have a massage.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Overnight – AthenaCruise.com Executive Suite Cabin with Balcony

HALONG BAY – HANOI, VIETNAM

6:30am For early risers, join Tai-Chi Exercise on the sundeck while cruising to Luon Cave before a light breakfast.

8:00am Visit Luon Cave –This arc-shaped cave is a truly natural place with impressive stone pillars and a wide variety of endemic plants. You will be greeted by the cave’s tranquility which is perfect for a relaxing experience. 2 options to explore the cave, by kayaking (free) or in a traditional woven bamboo boat rowed by a local boatman (public ticket $2-3 per person) 

9:00am Back to the Athena, relax and pack your luggage and leave outside your cabin door. Staff will collect it; ready to unload once you return to the pier.  Then enjoy a brunch buffet at the restaurant while cruising back to port 

10:45am Upon arrival, transfer by small motorboat back to Halong International Harbor.  Upon disembarkation, transfer to Hanoi.   

Note: Wifi connection is available on board, but has limited internet connectivity, due to the sea and mountains blocking the signal from satellites.

Meals: Breakfast, Brunch
Overnight — The Ann Hanoi

TRAM TUE FOR ZEN PRACTICES / AGARWOOD / TEA CEREMONY
HANOI, VIETNAM

After breakfast at the hotel, our guide will take you over Nhat Tan bridge to Đông Anh – a suburb of Hanoi to visit a great Zen place called Tram Tue, a very special and unique non-profit Buddhist company, which run by a true Buddhist. Tram Tue is located on the bank of Red River, with peaceful surroundings.

It is one of the first Buddhist companies applying Buddhist doctrines in the business world, as well as seeding Buddhist doctrines into the everyday life of local communities. This amazing Zen school is also attracting lots of Foreign Ambassadors to experience meditation courses, traditional high-class tea ceremonies, as well as the ecosystem of Agarwood’s products.

Buddhists believe that Agarwood is the only fragrance that can reach three realms, earth, heaven, and humans. It has been a sacred wood in Buddhism for centuries. They consider it as a sacred prayer and meditation. Agarwood has a calming effect on the body and mind and is thought to help Buddhist practitioners achieve a deeper level of focus and concentration.

• You will attend an introduction course with the Buddhist director of the company to learn more about the company history, culture, vision and mission. 
• Learn about Buddha’s Three Treasures and the Zen/Meditation Center. 
• Visit the ecosystem of Agarwood’s products (incense, wooden bracelets) as well as High-Class teas, which are hundred-year-old teas of Vietnam.
• Sample special Vietnamese vegetarian foods cooked by gourmet chefs. Learn about the meaning, rites of worshiping Buddha, and the origin of vegetarian foods.
• Attend a tea ceremony with the company president and monks and enjoy some special Vietnamese and Chinese high-class teas. Share more about the local culture, history, religions.
• Practice Zen/Meditation under the instruction of Buddhists monks – 30 minutes.
• Early afternoon we’ll say goodbye and return to the hotel for a little rest.

COOKING CLASS:
Around 2:45pm, your guide will escort you to a local restaurant in the old quarters for a hands-on cooking class of some traditional dishes of Hanoians. Then enjoy a delicious cozy dinner. Return to the hotel

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Overnight – The Ann Hanoi

HANOI TO BANGKOK, THAILAND

Morning at leisure, and then transfer to the Noi Bai airport for your flight to Bangkok. Upon landing at Bangkok airport, your guide will greet you and escort you to visit some highlights of Bangkok.

Visit the Temple of the Golden Buddha, famous for its 900-years old five-and- a-half-ton solid gold image. Continue to visit Wat Arun, perhaps better known as the Temple of the Dawn, one of the best-known landmarks and one of the most published images of Bangkok.

After that, visit to Wat Po, the largest and oldest temple in Bangkok, as well as the largest single Buddha image: the Reclining Buddha (Phra Buddhasaiyas), also known as Wat Phra Chetuphon or The Temple of the Reclining Buddha. The temple is also known as the birthplace of traditional Thai massage Reclining Buddha. Afterwards, we will go back to the hotel. Free time this afternoon.

Meals: Breakfast
Overnight – Eastin Grand Hotel Bangkok – Superior Room

ELEPHANT SANCTUARY, THAILAND

After breakfast you will depart for the Elephant Jungle Sanctuary for a hands-on introduction to these Asian Elephants. Enjoy this opportunity to spend quality time with elephants in their natural home, as well as gain an insight into their history and behavior, and create cherished lifelong memories of spending time with these amazing animals.

Upon arrival, enjoy a welcome snack, tea or coffee, and learn about elephants as you are given an introduction to our program. Change into traditional “Karen” clothing and assist with the preparation of natural dietary supplements for the elephants.

Meet the elephants.  Feed them and administer dietary supplements, as you learn each elephant’s story.  Play, interact and take photos with the elephants in a natural setting.Take a Mud Spa with the elephants—good for their skin and yours!  Afterward, join the elephants in a specially constructed outdoor Elephant Shower Room and cool down as you bathe them.

After the elephant’s bath, you will use our facilities to take a regular shower and change clothes.  Then, enjoy lunch of traditional Thai food, freshly cooked Pad Thai and seasonal fruit, before saying goodbye to these amazing new elephant friends.

Leave the Elephant Sanctuary and then stop to visit “The Mothership of All Temples”, Wat Phra Dhammakaya. This Buddhist temple is of humongous size. This $1billion religious monument looks more like a spaceship, or a UFO rather than a traditional Thai temple. At the center of the structure is a huge dome (the Dhammakaya Cetiya) covered with 300,000 gold-coated bronze statues of Buddha — another 700,000 are nestled inside the temple. The golden dome is the Memorial Hall of the sect’s founder, Phramonkolthepmuni. This is surrounded by a massive circular concrete platform which functions as the Meditation Amphitheatre. The entire complex is located on a thousand-acres of land.

Return to the hotel free time and dinner on your own.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
Overnight – Eastin Grand Hotel Bangkok

ALMS GIVING, MONK BOWL VILLAGE, FAREWELL DINNER CRUISE
BANGKOK, THAILAND

Meet with our guide at 6am to be a part of the Alms Giving to Monks which is at 7am (known as ‘Tak Bart’ in Thai), a Buddhist morning ritual that has been a Thai tradition for centuries. Guests can participate by offering food to the monks and receiving a Sanskrit prayer in return, as a blessing. The hotel’s culinary team will prepare vegetarian food as offerings for the monks.  

After the Alms Giving Ceremony, you’ll visit Baan Bat monk bowl village, a community still preserving the ancient craft of making alms bowls in the traditional way. The Ban Baat monk’s bowl community is a short walk away from the Golden Mount in one direction and Wat Suthat and the Giant Swing (Sao Ching Cha) in the other. Enjoy free time to explore the village and craft centers before returning to the hotel to relax and freshen up for your Farewell Dinner Cruise and Music.

At 6pm, you’ll be picked up from your hotel and transferred to the pier on the Chao Phraya River to get on the wonderful Grand Pearl Cruise Ship for a Farewell Dinner 

Check-in at River City Shopping Complex to board The Grand Pearl, the most luxury cruise liner on the Chao Phraya River. You’ll be welcomed by our crew with warm smiles and a special Grand Pearl cocktail. Take in the beautiful night scenery on both sides of the Chao Phraya River. Our captain will pilot the ship to give you the opportunity to take photos of the two most magnificent night views of Bangkok:  Wat Arun – The Temple of Dawn and the Grand Palace Wat Pra Kaew – The Temple of the Emerald Buddha.

Dinner is served under moonlight, with Live Music and a Thai Classical Dance Show. You will delight in the Thai and International cuisine offerings in a sumptuous buffet with a Sushi corner.

Arrival back at the River City Pier after a lovely dinner cruise the return to the hotel.

Meals: Breakfast, Dinner
Overnight – Eastin Grand Hotel Bangkok

RETURN HOME

Transfer to Bangkok Airport for your departure flight home. 
Note: Separate transfers for parties departing at different departure times can be arranged at additional cost.

Meals: Breakfast

• Accommodations at 4 + 5 star hotels
• Regional English-speaking guides
• Transportation in comfortable buses
• Boat trip in Mekong Delta, Halong Bay
• Meals as indicated B, L, D
• Flights within Asia
• Government taxes and service charge
• Luggage handling and drinking water

• Visa stamp fee on arrival
• Travel insurance
• Gratuities and Drinks
• International flights to HCM City and from Bangkok

Gems of Southeast Asia Sacred Journey Costs:

$4240 for the tour, based on a shared room
$500 non-refundable deposit to save your space
$1130 single supplement

Pay by check to Susan Duval
200 Spruce St, Apt C5, Doylestown PA 18901.

OR by Venmo to @Susan-Duval-2

OR by Zelle to SusanDuvalSeminars@gmail.com

For credit card payments:

$4410 for the tour, based on a shared room
$520 non-refundable deposit
$1175 single supplement

Send card payment via PayPal to SusanDuvalSeminars@gmail.com

Balance is due Nov 27, 2023.

Contact Susan to receive a Registration form. 

267-614-6012 cell or SusanDuvalSeminars@gmail.com