Tunnels, Temples & Tuk-Tuks

Explore the Cu Chi Tunnels, a 75‑mile underground network outside Ho Chi Minh City built for resistance and survival during the Vietnam War. Discover hidden kitchens, hospitals, and meeting rooms carved beneath the earth, and see bomb craters that remain as evidence of the conflict. Today, the site stands as both a memorial and a powerful visitor experience, offering a glimpse into wartime resilience.

An elegant city built on marshland, the economic center of Vietnam, a metropolis of heavy Soviet architecture and sprawling American-style hotels. Ho Chi Minh City (still often called by its former name of Saigon) comfortably -- and profitably -- combines Vietnam's competing colonial influences. See French symbolism at the Notre Dame Cathedral and City Hall, either of which would look right at home on the Côte d'Azur. The War Remnants Museum looks unflinchingly at the wars with both the French and the Americans, and at the damage inflicted on the country and its residents during the wars. You can almost step back into that time at the Reunification Palace, preserved as it was on the morning of April 30, 1975, when South Vietnam surrendered to North Vietnam.

Along the streets of Tran Phu and Nguyen Duy Hieu in the heart of Hoi An ancient town, see the beautiful architecture of the Chinese Assembly Halls. These temples have been the special meeting place for Chinese communities since the 17th century.

The silk lantern is a simple yet vibrant handicraft that has become an iconic part of Hoi An culture. Inspired and crafted by local artisans, these lanterns are believed to bring good fortune and are deeply rooted in tradition. Explore a workspace with local craftsmen for a brief introduction to the history, shapes, colors, and stages of lantern production. You’ll also have the opportunity to create your own lantern and take it home as a unique souvenir.

Bangkok grew up from rather watery beginnings -- while the original temples and royal palaces were on dry ground, ordinary residences were on bamboo rafts on the river -- into a modern sprawling city. Old secrets and traditions still run deep within the city, however. The sacred Emerald Buddha, for instance, a tiny figure carved from glowing jade and considered to have miraculous powers, is a bit of a clothes horse. Thailand's kings have amassed a full wardrobe for the figure, including gold shawls for the winter and monastic robes for the rainy season. You can peek into his closet in the Grand Palace complex, which is a bit of a dandy itself -- one of the buildings is called "the foreigner with the Thai hat" because of its classical Western design topped by three-tiered Thai tower. A heartier Buddha resides at Wat Po, whose sacred image is 150 feet long (the Buddha's smile alone is 15 feet long). The picturesque spire of the Temple of the Dawn rises across the river. The colorful flower mosaics on the temple were created using bits of pottery donated by local residents.

Visit the Grand Palace complex, a glittering array of temples and the royal residence. Within the palace grounds is Wat Phra Kaew (Temple of the Emerald Buddha), the most sacred Buddhist temple in Thailand. Unlike other temples, it is not one building, nor are there are living spaces for monks. Instead, it is a collection of highly decorated holy buildings and monuments

See the Emerald Buddha, Thailand's most sacred religious image, at Wat Phra Keo Temple.

Visit Wat Arun (the Temple of Dawn), which stands by the Chao Phraya, 'River of Kings'. The main structure is about 70 meters high and it is surrounded by four smaller prangs. It is one of Thailand's most picturesque temples, and it is engraved on the inner part of all ten baht coins. If you climb it, and look closely, you will see that it is actually beautifully decorated with colorful Chinese porcelain pieces.

Thailand's kings used to make annual processions down the Chao Phraya River, surrounded by an elaborate 51-boat entourage. The king's own boat was 150 feet long, carved from a single tree into the shape of a swan and covered with gold and glass mosaics, and required 54 men to row. We can't promise you such luxurious accommodations, but we can guarantee a beautiful ride down Bangkok's main river. Enjoy a Traditional Thai-style buffet dinner along the way. Thailand's celebrated cooking combines fresh vegetables, spicy chilies, sweet coconut milk, and splashes of lemon and lime to create outstanding noodle and rice dishes. Sample some of the best here!

Buddhism entered Thailand at Nakhon Pathom, Thailand's oldest town. The Phra Phathom Chedi (a stupa, or type of temple) commemorates the Buddha's stay here, and is therefore one of the most holy temples in the country. Shaped like an inverted bowl, the temple's spire reaches 400 feet into the air.

During World War II, the Japanese invaders forced Allied prisoners of war to build a railway bridge connecting Thailand to Burma. The conditions and treatment of the prisoners were so harsh that thousands died during the project. Allied bombs destroyed the bridge, but a new bridge is still in operation. The history of the project is chronicled at the Thailand-Burma Railway Centre, and the seven-thousand dead are honored at the War Cemetery.

Attain true enlightenment. Amid the dramatic stalagmites and stalactites of the Khao Luang Caves sit five golden Buddhas. A hole in the stone above lets sunlight stream in, illuminating the statues and creating an eerie, beautiful sight.

Spend time relaxing in Hua Hin, Thailand's oldest beach resort.