Heritage of Southeast Asia: Northern Cities Tour in One Week

Three young Lahu Tribe girls in custom dress, smiling among the sunlight in Thailand.

What to expect on this itinerary

From Immaculate stretches of emerald forests to fabled heritage sites and ethnic hill tribes that continue to preserve centuries-old customs, this customized 7-day allows you to experience Southeast Asia’s highlights. Delve into the distinctive flavors of Thai cuisine, indulge in a revitalizing spa session, and witness the cascading stream of Kuang Si Waterfall.

Countries Visited

Laos, Thailand, Vietnam

Places Visited

Chiang Mai, Luang Prabang, Hanoi

Suggested Duration

7 Days

Customizable Itinerary

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Day 1

Chiang Mai – Traditional Thai Cuisine

Chiang Mai is the first stop on this immersive tour through Southeast Asia because of its storied history and cultural offerings. Depending on the time of day that you arrive, you may have the opportunity to explore a little more of the fabled city after being met by a private driver and transferred to your accommodation. Should you step out onto the streets and stroll around the neighborhood, you will begin to discern the qualities that constitute Southeast Asia’s daily culture.

What's Included:

Transfer
Accommodation
Day 2

Chiang Mai – A Karen Hill Tribe

Day 3

Chiang Rai – Ancient Weaving of the Tai Lue

Day 4

Luang Prabang – Laid-Back Laos

Day 5

Luang Prabang – Waterfall Adventures

Day 6

Hanoi – Deep-Rooted Heritage

Day 7

Hanoi – Tea Ceremony & Departure

Trip Highlights

  • Delve into the delectable flavors of Thai cuisine and discover the methods behind beloved dishes at an award-winning culinary school
  • Travel into the lush hills that flank Chiang Mai and visit an ethnic Karen hill tribe
  • Unwind with a revitalizing Thai therapy at a serene wellness spa
  • Witness the intricate art of cotton weaving when visiting the Tai Lue people near Chiang Rai
  • View a spiritual almsgiving with the monks of Luang Prabang in the early hours of the morning
  • Stand below the towering stream of the Kuang Si Waterfall
  • Visit landmarked locations and astonishing architecture in and around Hanoi’s Old Town
  • Savor the nuanced flavors of Vietnam’s marvelous collection of teas during a traditional tea ceremony

Starting Price

$2,100 per person (excluding international flights)

Your Zicasso trip is fully customizable, and this sample itinerary is a starting place for your travel plans. Actual costs are dynamic, and your selection of accommodations and activities, your season of travel, and other such variables will bring this budget guideline up or down. Throughout your planning experience with your Zicasso specialist, your itinerary is designed around your budget. You can book your trip when you are satisfied with every detail. Planning your trip with a Zicasso travel specialist is a free service.

What's Included

  • Accommodations
  • In-country transportation
  • Some or all activities and tours
  • Expert trip planning
  • 24x7 support during your trip

Your final trip cost will vary based on your selected accommodations, activities, meals, and other trip elements that you opt to include.

4.8

Verified Traveler Reviews

Based on 1372 reviews

Bernadette B.
Cambodia, Thailand, Indonesia Travel Review: Bali, Bangkok, Ko Samui, Khao Yai National Park, Markets, Snorkeling, Local Cuisine, Culture, 16 Nights

Our trip was seamless from start to finish. We were thoroughly impressed by the expertise and attentiveness of our local guides—their knowledge, perfectly timed tours, and the thoughtfully planned itinerary by the Zicasso trip planner made for an exceptional experience.

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Maitraye S.
Indonesia, Thailand Trip Review: 8 Nights

Everything was very well arranged by Zicasso's travel specialists. It was a smooth and pleasant experience. The tour guides were always on time. Airport pick-ups and drop-offs were very helpful. The hotels where we stayed were amazing. It was a great experience!

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Miles K.
Thailand Travel Review: Bangkok, Koh Samui, Temples, Elephant Experience, Cooking Class, Scenery, Markets, Boat Ride, 9 Days

We had a great trip to Thailand with our Zicasso trip planner. They set us up with a very helpful guide in Bangkok, who made it easy from the time we stepped off the plane, through all the temples, activities, night markets, tuk-tuks, and boats. 

Our hotel in Bangkok was great, with nice views and a nice breakfast buffet. We took the free hotel ferry to the shopping mall and it was a lot of fun. 

Our resort in Koh Samui was incredible. It had a great beach and pool. The elephant sanctuary and the cooking class were highlights. We would probably pass on Pig Island next time as it was very dirty and we saw pigs getting attacked.

Overall, we had a great time and the tour guide took care of us completely, from start to finish. 

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Jeffrey W.
Vietnam, Cambodia, Thailand, Singapore Travel Review: Lan Ha Bay, Angkor Thom, Chiang Mai, Cruise, Mountain Biking, Elephant Sanctuary, 15 Nights

We had an amazing, nearly three-week trip throughout Southeast Asia. Zicasso's tour operators did an incredible job planning all of the details of the trip. In general, I am not easily impressed and I tend to be pretty upfront with my criticism. In this case, I was truly impressed. I really don't have any criticism about the whole experience.

This was a very complicated trip, with eight cities/locations and six internal flights. We had great communication in the months and weeks leading up to the trip. They were receptive to all of our requests and they gave very good advice when we had questions.

All of the guides were great. The hotels were amazing and all of the details of the activities, transfers, and internal flights were well thought out and well coordinated. I was so impressed by their attention to detail. They were also willing to be flexible and able to make changes, even during the trip. I was able to reach them throughout the trip by WhatsApp and they responded quickly every time. I would recommend them wholeheartedly.

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Marcia H.
Vietnam, Cambodia Tour Review: Ha Long Bay, Angkor Wat, Village, Cruise, Bike Ride, Kayaking, Buddhist Blessing, Water Puppet Show, 2 Weeks

We traveled to Vietnam and Cambodia from May 8 to 22, 2025. This was my fifth trip through Zicasso. As expected, the itinerary was excellent and exactly what we were looking for. I did double my budget from what I initially sent to Zicasso.

All of the lodging selections were outstanding. Along with the tours of the Ho Chi Minh complex, Hue Imperial City, the Angkor Wat complex, and numerous other temples and pagodas, we experienced a cable car ride to a mountain summit, a walk through an ethnic village, a water puppet show, a Cambodian circus, a Vietnamese cooking class, an evening lantern boat ride in Hoi An, and dinner in one of the top 50 restaurants in Asia. The water puppets are an ancient Vietnamese art (11th century) and the show was extraordinary.  

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Marlene H.
Vietnam, Cambodia Trip Review: Food Tour, Art, History, Culture, 21-Day Tour

Zicasso's travel specialist arranged a wonderful trip and was extremely responsive to our interest in all art forms, culture, cuisine, and the American war in Vietnam. She was very receptive to revisions, even during the trip.

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Customizable Itinerary

This is a sample itinerary to inspire a personalized trip designed with your travel specialist.

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