Day #1 Arrive in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam. Welcome to Ho Chi Minh City, still known to many as Saigon. Hotel rooms are available for mid-afternoon check-in.

Day #2 Ho Chi Minh City. Today’s full-day sightseeing includes a visit to the CU CHI TUNNELS, a network of tunnels used by the Viet Cong as a hideout during the war. Return to Ho Chi Minh City and visit the WAR REMNANTS MUSEUM and the REUNIFICATION PALACE. The evening is at your leisure to explore this lively city. (B)

Day #3 Ho Chi Minh City. A free day to explore the city and surrounding area on your own. (B)

Day #4 Ho Chi Minh City-Hanoi. Today, fly to Hanoi, the nation’s capital and one of Southeast Asia’s most engaging cities. The remainder of the day is at your leisure. (B)

Day #5 Hanoi. This morning’s sightseeing focuses on Ho Chi Minh, the father of modern Vietnam. First, visit the MAUSOLEUM and the humble cottage from which “Uncle Ho” ruled Vietnam until his death in 1969. Next on the agenda: the ONE PILLAR PAGODA, the HO CHI MINH MUSEUM, and the PRESIDENTIAL PALACE. Also visit the ancient TEMPLE OF LITERATURE, over 900 years old and Hanoi’s first university. (B)

Day #6 Hanoi. Today is free for independent exploration. (B)

Day #7 Hanoi-Siem Reap, Cambodia. Board your flight 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)

Day #8 Siem Reap. Your sightseeing starts at the best preserved of all the temples—ANGKOR WAT, which honors the Hindu god Vishna. 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. Enjoy the afternoon at leisure. (B)

Day #9 Siem Reap. This morning, visit striking 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. Next, visit BANTEAY SREI, a unique, small temple built from red sandstone and dedicated to the Hindu god Shiva. The afternoon is at your leisure. (B)

Day #10 Siem Reap-Luang Prabang, Laos. Today, fly to Luang Prabang. The remainder of the day is at your leisure. (B)

Day #11 Luang Prabang. Today, enjoy a full day of sightseeing in this UNESCO World Heritage Site. Visit WAT VISOUN, the ROYAL PALACE MUSEUM (closed Tuesdays), and a LOCAL VILLAGE to see silk weaving and rice papermaking demonstrations. (B,L)

Day #12 Luang Prabang. A full day at your leisure. (B)

Day #13 Luang Prabang–Chiang Mai, Thailand. Today, fly to Chiang Mai. The remainder of the day is at your leisure. (B)

Day #14 Chiang Mai. Today, enjoy a morning sightseeing tour that visits WAT PHRA SINGH, with its famous Buddha image, and WAT DOI SUTHEP, a temple tucked away in the mountains. For the final ascent to the temple, you can take a tram car or walk up the Naga (dragon-headed serpent) staircase with over 300 steps. On a clear day, you will enjoy spectacular views of Chiang Mai. The remainder of the day is at your leisure. (B)

Day #15 Chiang Mai. Enjoy a full day for independent activities. (B)

Day #16 Chiang Mai–Bangkok. Today, transfer to the airport and fly to Bangkok. Upon arrival, transfer to your hotel and overnight. (B)

Day #17 Bangkok. Your vacation ends with breakfast this morning. (B)