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Short Stays and City Tours | 57 BANGKOK Historical sites and natural beauty blend with a flurry of activity in the intriguing city of Bangkok. Always alive with activity, discover the colorful markets and intricate temples, incredible shopping and amazing street food, all among the sounds of chanting monks. From the colorful markets to the intricate temples, there is something for everyone to enjoy. BANGKOK SHORT STAY Immerse yourself in quintessential Bangkok, Thailand's exciting and vibrant capital, for an essential, authentic experience in the heart of this country. DAY 1: ARRIVE BANGKOK Upon arrival in Bangkok Airport, be met for a transfer to your hotel. DAY 2: BANGKOK Embark on a city tour visiting the Royal Grand Palace, the nation's landmark, followed by Wat Phra Kaew, Temple of the Emerald Buddha. Take a longtail boat ride on Chao Phraya River to the fragrant Pak Klong Talaat Flower Market. This evening, watch a classical Thai dance performance while enjoying dinner. (B, D) DAY 3: BANGKOK Rise early this morning to visit the Damneon Saduak Floating Market and Railway Track Market in Samut Songkhram. This is a unique experience— see the vendors quickly pack up their stores as the train approaches. The afternoon is free at your leisure. (B) DAY 4: DEPART BANGKOK Transfer to the airport for your ongoing flight. (B) SAIGON Saigon is one of the world's true cosmopolitan cities, with a history, culture, and style influenced by colonial France, ancient China, and the Art Deco era. While the city was renamed Ho Chi Minh City in 1975, the government soon realized that the proud Saigonese insisted on keeping their traditional name. SAIGON SHORT STAY Immortalized in song and theatre, this break will show you exactly why this city of cultural fusion remains so romantic. DAY 1: ARRIVE SAIGON Upon arrival in Saigon, be met and transferred to your hotel. DAY 2: SAIGON Enjoy a city tour around Saigon, starting at Notre Dame Cathedral—built between 1886 and 1890—and the French-style, Eiffel-designed Central Post Office. Continue on to the Reunification Palace and the emotional War Remnants Museum, where you may explore on your own. After lunch, visit Cholon, Saigon's Chinatown, and the Thien Hau Pagoda, dedicated to the Goddess of the Sea. Enjoy some free time at Ben Thanh Market. (B, L) DAY 3: MEKONG DELTA Travel south to the Mekong Delta province of Ben Tre, passing lush rice paddies and fruit farms. Stroll through the coconut gardens and enjoy a snack of fresh fruit and honey tea while watching a traditional folk song performance. Continue on to the riverbank and begin your sampan cruise on the Mekong River, paddling through palm-lined canals. See a family- run business of coconut candymaking before sailing on to Turtle Island, where you can stroll through the village and fruit orchards. Lunch includes typical Mekong dishes. Next, cruise to Chuong Duong pier, to see stilt houses and local fish farms. En route back to Saigon, stop at Vinh Trang Pagoda, one of the first to incorporate a mixture of Asian and European architecture. (B, L) DAY 4: SAIGON This morning, head to Tay Ninh to visit the Cao Dai Great Temple, a relatively new religion founded in 1926 by a Vietnamese man who elected himself the first Pope. This local religion of over two million followers combines the philosophies of Buddhism, Hinduism, Christianity, and Islam. After exploring this striking temple, transfer to Cu Chi Tunnels for a tour led by a war veteran, hearing firsthand what life was like in this network of tunnels. (B, L) DAY 5: DEPART SAIGON Transfer to the airport for your ongoing flight. (B) TOKYO One quarter of the Japanese population live in Tokyo and its vicinity, creating one of the world's most vibrant cities. Combine a mesmerizing pop culture and futuristic skyscrapers with sacred shrines and ancient temples, plus some of the best restaurants in the world, and you still have only a glimpse of what makes this an amazing destination. TOKYO SHORT STAY Bright lights and electrifying excitement contrast with time-honored tradition in Japan's famous capital. DAY 1: ARRIVE TOKYO Be met at Tokyo Airport and transfer to your hotel by limousine bus. DAY 2: TOKYO Take a full-day tour of Tokyo with a private guide, traveling around town by public transportation for a true sense of the city and local experience. Start the day with an early morning visit to Meiji Shrine, Tokyo's most famous shrine. Next visit Harajuku, Tokyo's youth mecca and Omotesando, commonly referred to as Tokyo's Champs-Élysées. Take the metro to Ginza, Tokyo's most famous upmarket shopping capital. (B) DAY 3: TOKYO Travel to the famed Tsukiji fish market, one of the largest in the world. Explore this fascinating market and purchase various ingredients for lunch. After having successfully explored the market, move on to a nearby location to learn to prepare maki sushi, gunkan maki, and nigiri sushi. Learn how to present them best and then finally, dig in! After enjoying lunch, your guide will escort you to the nearest subway station, where you can continue exploring Tokyo at leisure. (B, L) DAY 4: DEPART TOKYO Transfer to the airport by limousine bus for your ongoing flight. (B) Ask about adding a night in Hakone and Mt. Fuji!