Independent Sensational Southeast Asia: From Hanoi to Singapore
Independent Sensational Southeast Asia: From Hanoi to Singapore
Independent Sensational Southeast Asia: From Hanoi to Singapore
16 Days
Visiting: Arrive In Hanoi, Vietnam, Hanoi, Ha Long Bay Cruise (Embarkation), Ha Long Bay Cruise (Disembarkation), Ho Chi Minh City, Siem Reap, Cambodia, Bangkok, Thailand, Singapore, Asia
Tour operator:
Tour code:
IAH3-2024
Group Type:
Independent
Guide Type:
Self Guided
Interests:
Activities:
Tour Overview
Sample the best of Southeast Asia on this fascinating journey with Independence by Globus. You’ll begin in Hanoi, Vietnam, with guided sightseeing and a cyclo ride through the ancient Old Quarter where merchants trade as they have for centuries. Visit Ho Chi Minh’s humble cottage, as well as the mausoleum, One Pillar Pagoda, the Presidential Palace, and the 900-year-old Temple of Literature. Embark on a cruise on stunning Ha Long Bay, with its 3,000 limestone islands carved by time into spectacular landscapes rising from the Gulf of Tonkin. Savor traditional Vietnamese cuisine on this overnight cruise and visit spectacular caves, tunnels, and pristine beaches. Fly to Ho Chi Minh City to explore the city’s many famed landmarks, including the War Remnants Museum and the bustling Ben Thanh Market. Take an excursion to the Cu Chi tunnels—an extraordinary network of passageways used by the Viet Cong during the war. In Siem Reap, visit the largest temple complex in the world—including incomparable Angkor Wat. See the Bayon Temple at Angkor Thom with more than 200 faces carved in 54 towers. Interact with children at a local school, and venture on to Ta Prohm—virtually untouched and wrapped in ancient tree roots around its ruins. Start your exploration of Bangkok with a boat ride through the city’s famous canals, or klongs, to see family homes and temples—you’ll quickly see why they call this city “Venice of the East.” Next, visit Wat Arun, also known as the Temple of the Dawn, and the Grand Palace, which houses the Temple of the Emerald Buddha. Lastly, stop at the Temple of the Reclining Buddha, the oldest and largest Buddhist temple in Bangkok, featuring one of the largest Buddha statues in Thailand. You’ll also have I-time to explore more of Bangkok and other nearby attractions including Damnoen Saduak floating market and the ancient capital of Ayutthaya. End your independent journey in Singapore, one of the world’s great melting pots. Your guide will show you all the highlights, taking you to visit the Gardens by the Bay and Marina Bay, where you ascend to Sands Skypark to admire beautiful views of the city and its surroundings. During your I-time, continue exploring Singapore on your own or book an optional excursion to the zoo or a Malay village.
Itinerary
Day 1: Arrive In Hanoi,Vietnam
Location: Arrive In Hanoi, Vietnam
Welcome to Vietnam! Your hotel is available for mid-afternoon check-in.
ARRIVE IN HANOI, VIETNAMWelcome to Vietnam! Your hotel is available for mid-afternoon check-in.HANOI-MARKET.jpg
Day 2: Hanoi
Location: Hanoi
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch
HANOI• This morning, enjoy a private guided tour of the city. First, take a cyclo ride though the ancient streets of the fascinating Old Quarter. Here, merchants trade as they have for centuries. • Then, visit the mausoleum and the humble cottage from which “Uncle Ho” ruled Vietnam until his death in 1969. Next on the agenda: One Pillar Pagoda and the Presidential Palace. • Also, visit the ancient Temple of Literature, more than 900 years old and Hanoi’s first university.• Enjoy lunch at Koto, a non-profit restaurant and hospitality program that teaches local children restaurant skills for stable employment opportunities.(B,L)HANOI-CYCLO.jpg
Day 3: Hanoi,Ha Long Bay Cruise (Embarkation)
Location: Hanoi, Ha Long Bay Cruise (Embarkation)
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
HANOI–HA LONG BAY CRUISE (EMBARKATION)• A private transfer takes you from Hanoi through the fertile countryside to Hon Gai, gateway to Ha Long Bay, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Located in the Gulf of Tonkin, the bay is dotted with more than 3,000 limestone islands carved into fanciful shapes by the action of the water. • Upon arrival, board an overnight cruise that takes you to explore the tunnels, caves, pristine beaches, and floating villages that are sprinkled across the bay. • Visit a working pearl farm to see the process of pearl cultivation in the area and visit a nearby island for swimming or a walk to the top of the island for panoramic views of the bay. (B,L,D)You may consider a massage or spa treatment onboard your boat.HA-LONG-BAY.jpg
Day 4: Ha Long Bay Cruise (Disembarkation),Hanoi,Ho Chi Minh City
Location: Ha Long Bay Cruise (Disembarkation), Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City
Meals Included: Breakfast
HA LONG BAY CRUISE (DISEMBARKATION)–HANOI–HO CHI MINH CITY• Early birds can participate in a tai chi demonstration on the Sun Deck at the break of dawn. • Further, explore the massive caves found in the bay to see the dramatic formations inside the caverns before disembarking later in the morning.• A private transfer brings you to Hanoi for your flight to Ho Chi Minh City, still known as Saigon to many.(B)HA-LONG-BAY-CAVES.jpg
Day 5: Ho Chi Minh City
Location: Ho Chi Minh City
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch
HO CHI MINH CITY• Start your private guided sightseeing with a walking tour of the city’s famous and historic landmarks as you stroll through the heart of the city along Dong Khoi Street (formerly Rue Catinat) past the Rex Hotel, Ho Chi Minh Square, the Municipal Theatre, Central Post Office, and Notre Dame Cathedral. • Next, visit the moving War Remnants Museum, followed by bustling Ben Thanh Market, the largest and oldest in the city. (B,L)HO-CHI-MINH-CITY-CITY-HALL.jpg
Day 6: Ho Chi Minh City
Location: Ho Chi Minh City
Meals Included: Breakfast
HO CHI MINH CITY • Today, enjoy a half-day private guided excursion to the Cu Chi tunnels, an extraordinary network of tunnels more than 120 miles in length that was used by the Viet Cong as a hideout during the war. (B)Sample a sweet Vietnamese iced coffee or stop at for a drink at one of the city’s iconic rooftop bars.HO-CHI-MINH-CITY-CHI-CHI-TUNNELS-ENTRANCE.jpg
Day 7: Ho Chi Minh City,Siem Reap,Cambodia
Location: Ho Chi Minh City, Siem Reap, Cambodia
Meals Included: Breakfast
HO CHI MINH CITY–SIEM REAP, CAMBODIA• Today, fly to Siem Reap, your base for exploring the temples of Angkor. Constructed between the 9th and 13th centuries, the temples are unmatched among the world’s ancient ruins. (B)SIEM-REAP-ANGKOR-WAT-REFLECTION.jpg
Day 8: Siem Reap
Location: Siem Reap
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch
SIEM REAP• Your private guided sightseeing starts at the best preserved of all the temples—Angkor Wat, honoring the Hindu god, Vishnu. • Next stop is Angkor Thom to see Bayon Temple. One of the few Buddhist temples in Angkor, it features some 200 striking faces carved in 54 towers. (B,L)You may consider an Apsara dinner show featuring traditional Khmer music and dance or an exciting performance of Phare, The Cambodian Circus.SIEM-REAP-BAYON-TEMPLE-MONKS.jpg
Day 9: Siem Reap
Location: Siem Reap
Meals Included: Breakfast
SIEM REAP• Continue exploring the Angkor temple complex on a private guided tour. • Start at Banteay Srei, a unique, small temple outside the main complex built from red sandstone and dedicated to the Hindu god Shiva. On your return journey stop at a local school to interact with the children.• Then, on to Ta Prohm, which has been left relatively untouched, unlike many other temples. Here, the jungle surrounds you and tree roots grow over and through the ruins. The afternoon is at your leisure.(B)Explore the temple complex further or take a cruise on Tonle Sap Lake to see a floating village.SIEM-REAP-BANTEAY-SREI.jpg
Day 10: Siem Reap,Bangkok,Thailand
Location: Siem Reap, Bangkok, Thailand
Meals Included: Breakfast
SIEM REAP–BANGKOK, THAILAND• Today, fly to Bangkok, Thailand’s capital city. (B)BANGKOK-GRAND-PALACE-DETAIL.jpg
Day 11: Bangkok
Location: Bangkok
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch
BANGKOK• Today’s private guided tour starts with a boat ride through the klongs, Bangkok’s famous canals. • Next, stop at Wat Arun, the Temple of the Dawn, whose 260-foot-tall spire has become identified with Bangkok. • Continue to the Grand Palace, comprised of the Funeral Palace, the Reception Palace, the Throne Hall, the Coronation Hall, the Royal Guest House, and the Temple of the Emerald Buddha. • Lastly, visit the Temple of the Reclining Buddha, the oldest and largest Buddhist temple in Bangkok. It houses more than 1,000 Buddha images, including the 49-foot-high and 151-foot-long massive Reclining Buddha.(B,L)BANGKOK-TEMPLE-OF-THE-RECLINING-BUDDAH.jpg
Day 12: Bangkok
Location: Bangkok
Meals Included: Breakfast
BANGKOK• Enjoy a full day at your leisure.(B)Enjoy a full day at leisure for your own discoveries. You may consider a visit to Jim Thompson’s House, a dinner cruise on the Chao Phraya River, or an excursion to the colorful Damnoen Saduak floating market.BANGKOK-FLOATING-MARKET.jpg
Day 13: Bangkok,Singapore
Location: Bangkok, Singapore
Meals Included: Breakfast
BANGKOK–SINGAPORE• Today, fly to exciting Singapore. (B)SINGAPORE-CITYSCAPE.jpg
Day 14: Singapore
Location: Singapore
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch
SINGAPORE• Your private guided sightseeing introduces you to Singapore’s highlights. Start with a visit to the Gardens by the Bay a showpiece of horticulture and garden artistry. The gardens house flora from five continents and award-winning architecture design as well.• Your tour ends at Marina Bay, where you will ascend to the Sands Skypark’s gravity-defying rooftop for stunning views over the city. (B,L)SINGAPORE-GARDENS-BY-THE-BAY.jpg
Day 15: Singapore
Location: Singapore
Meals Included: Breakfast
SINGAPORE• Enjoy a full day at your leisure.(B)Enjoy a full day at leisure for your own discoveries. Visit the National Orchid Garden, take the popular night safari at the zoo, visit the historic Raffles Hotel, shop and dine at the street markets to experience a melting pot of cultures or explore Malay culture at Changi Village. SINGAPORE-ORCHID-GARDEN.jpg
Day 16: Singapore
Location: Singapore
Meals Included: Breakfast
SINGAPOREYour vacation ends with breakfast this morning. (B)SINGAPORE-MARKET.jpg
UNESCO Sites
Angkor Thom|Angkor Wat|Banteay Srei|Bayon Temple|Ha Long Bay|Ta Prohm
Meals
Breakfast daily; 6 lunches; 1 dinner
Accommodation
Hanoi:Moevenpick Hotel HanoiHa Long Bay:Paradise EleganceHo Chi Minh City:Caravelle SaigonSiem Reap:Borei Angkor Resort & SpaBangkok:Eastin Grand Hotel SathornSingapore:Orchard Hotel Singapore
Check out our Q&As
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How long has the tour company been trading?
For over 90 years.
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Will the accommodation included meet local health and safety regulations?
Yes
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What policies are in place for Covid-19?
Please contact us for latest Covid-19 policies
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What documents will I receive before I travel?
Travel documents, including any air tickets, itineraries, and other information, are available approximately two to three weeks prior to departure provided full payment has been received.
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What Ethical Travel credentials does the tour company have?
The Globus Lighthouse Project - an illuminating initiative where we can all come together to tread lightly and give generously for the globe's greater good. Globus, along with sister companies Avalon Waterways and Cosmos, invite our travellers and partners to help us in supporting causes that provide for a more sustainable planet and a brighter tomorrow.
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Low Deposit
Barrhead Travel requires a minimum deposit of 200 GBP per person or the full booking value, whichever is less, with the final balance not due until 98 days before departure.
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Cancellation Policy
We don't charge a cancellation fee, here is a summary of barrhead travel charges.
Up to 98 days before tour starts: Forfeit 100% of deposit.
At 97 days before tour starts: Forfeit 50% of booking price.
At 74 days before tour starts: Forfeit 75% of booking price.
At 28 days before tour starts: Forfeit 100% of booking price.
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Terms and Conditions
Why book with Barrhead?
Fully Protected
All our holidays are fully financially protected.
Your flight & hotel package is fully ATOL protected.
Range
Our bespoke holidays are tailor-made to suit your personal requirements.
We can book flights, rail journeys, accommodation, cruises, attraction tickets and much more.
Industry leading discounts, we won't be beaten on price.
Expert Knowledge
We know because we go – our Touring & Adventure specialists have travelled to over 55 countries.
Reliable & unbiased advice from our trusted travel experts.
Trusted Agent
Multi award-winning agency with almost 50 years experience.
Rated 4.9/5 on Trustpilot – the highest-rated high-street travel agent.
We look after you every step of the way.