Travel Dossier — July 2026

Pam's 60th Birthday

Thailand • Cambodia • Vietnam — 16 Days of Luxury
16
Days
14
Nights
3
Countries
7
Hotels
$38K
Est. Budget
IAD → Bangkok 2N → Koh Samui 2N → Siem Reap 3N → Hoi An 4N → Hanoi 1N → Ha Long Bay 1N → Saigon 1N → IAD
International Flights
Business Class, Both Ways
Outbound — Jul 2
IAD
Washington
via Seoul (ICN)
BKK
Bangkok
Airline
Korean Air
Passengers
2 pax
Total Price
$7,155
Business Class
Book NOW — business class fills fast for July peak
Return — Jul 18
SGN
Saigon
via Dubai (DXB)
IAD
Washington
Airline
Emirates
Passengers
2 pax
Total Price
$5,528
Business Class
Book NOW — Emirates business is premium value
Accommodations
Seven Properties, Zero Compromises
The Siam
Bangkok, Thailand • Art Deco riverfront • Forbes 5-star
Jul 3 – 5
2 nights
Rate: $500–800/night
Book Direct
Est. Total: $1,000–1,600
39 suites on the Chao Phraya River. Intimate, soulful, not a chain.
Four Seasons Koh Samui
Koh Samui, Thailand • Private pool villas • Gulf of Thailand views
Jul 5 – 7
2 nights
Rate: $800–1,200/night
Book Direct
Est. Total: $1,600–2,400
Hillside pool villas. Each villa is its own private retreat with plunge pool.
Park Hyatt Siem Reap
Siem Reap, Cambodia • Michelin Key • Art Deco meets Khmer
Jul 7 – 10
3 nights
Rate: $188/night
Booking.com
Est. Total: $564
Breakfast included. Free cancellation. Best hotel in Cambodia — incredible value in green season.
Four Seasons The Nam Hai
Hoi An, Vietnam • Forbes 5-star • Ha My Beach • 100 villas
Jul 10 – 14
4 nights
Rate: $600–1,200/night
Book Direct
Est. Total: $2,400–4,800
Birthday Hotel — Pam's 60th (Jul 12) + Praveen's 58th (Jul 13)
THE anchor property. Private beach dinner, lantern-making, couples spa. Where the magic happens.
Capella Hanoi
Hanoi, Vietnam • 47 rooms • Opera house theme • French Quarter
Jul 14 – 15
1 night
Rate: $450/night
Booking.com
Est. Total: $450
Breakfast included. Boutique, theatrical, intimate.
Heritage Line — Ha Long Bay Cruise
Ha Long Bay, Vietnam • Luxury junk-style • Private balcony cabin
Jul 15 – 16
1 night
Rate: $600–1,000/night
Book Direct
Est. Total: $600–1,000
Full-board. Kayaking, squid fishing, cooking class, tai chi at sunrise on deck.
The Reverie Saigon
Saigon, Vietnam • Italian luxury • District 1 • Maximalist
Jul 17 – 18
1 night
Rate: $262/night
Booking.com
Est. Total: $262
Each floor by a different Italian house (Versace, Giorgetti). Over-the-top farewell night.
Day-by-Day
Sixteen Days, Three Countries, One Unforgettable Journey
✈ Travel
1
Thu
Jul 2

Depart Washington

  • Korean Air IAD → Seoul (ICN) → Bangkok (BKK)
  • Business class — lie-flat seats, arrive rested
  • Cross the date line — arrive evening Jul 3
🇹🇭 Thailand 4 nights • Bangkok + Koh Samui Bangkok Guide → Koh Samui Guide →
2
Fri
Jul 3

Arrive Bangkok

  • Arrive BKK evening, private transfer to The Siam
  • Light dinner at the hotel — don't push it after the flight
  • Settle into the art deco riverfront suite
The Siam • Night 1
3
Sat
Jul 4

Bangkok Immersion

  • AM: Private long-tail boat through the klongs (canals)
  • Late AM: Grand Palace & Wat Pho with private guide
  • Lunch: Nahm or Bo.Lan (Michelin-starred Thai)
  • PM: Opium Spa at The Siam — world-class
  • Evening: Rooftop cocktails at Vertigo (61st floor) → dinner at Sühring (2 Michelin stars)
The Siam • Night 2
4
Sun
Jul 5

Fly to Koh Samui

  • AM flight BKK → USM (~1 hr, Bangkok Airways)
  • Check in Four Seasons Koh Samui — private pool villa
  • First swim, explore the resort
  • Dinner at KOH Thai Kitchen — toes in the sand, ocean view
Four Seasons Koh Samui • Night 3
5
Mon
Jul 6

Koh Samui Beach Day

  • AM: Couples spa — Four Seasons signature treatment
  • Midday: Beach + pool villa lounging
  • PM: Ang Thong Marine Park by private speedboat — emerald lagoons, kayaking
  • Evening: Fisherman's Village in Bophut — stroll + seafood dinner
Four Seasons Koh Samui • Night 4
🇰🇭 Cambodia 3 nights • Siem Reap Temple Guide →
6
Tue
Jul 7

Fly to Siem Reap

  • AM flight USM → BKK → REP (~5 hrs total)
  • Check in Park Hyatt Siem Reap
  • PM: Explore Siem Reap old town, Pub Street area
  • Dinner: Cuisine Wat Damnak (Michelin-starred Cambodian)
Park Hyatt Siem Reap • Night 5
7
Wed
Jul 8

Angkor Wat — The Main Event

  • 4:30 AM departure for sunrise at Angkor Wat
  • Full-day private guide: Angkor Wat → Bayon (face temple) → Ta Prohm (Tomb Raider)
  • PM: Banteay Srei — most intricate carvings in all of Angkor
  • Evening: Phare, The Cambodian Circus — absolutely unmissable
Park Hyatt Siem Reap • Night 6
8
Thu
Jul 9

Slower Siem Reap

  • AM: Tonle Sap floating village — floating schools, stilted villages
  • Midday: Spa at Park Hyatt
  • PM: Artisans Angkor (silk weaving, stone carving) or Angkor National Museum
  • Farewell dinner at The Sugar Palm
Park Hyatt Siem Reap • Night 7
🇻🇳 Vietnam 7 nights • Hoi An + Hanoi + Ha Long Bay + Saigon Hoi An & Birthday → Hanoi & Ha Long → Saigon →
9
Fri
Jul 10

Fly to Hoi An

  • AM flight REP → Da Nang (DAD), transfer to Hoi An (~30 min)
  • Check in Four Seasons The Nam Hai — beach villa
  • PM: Beach time, settle in
  • Evening: First walk through Hoi An Ancient Town — thousands of lanterns
Four Seasons Nam Hai • Night 8
10
Sat
Jul 11

Hoi An Culture Day

  • AM: Cooking class — market tour + cao lau, banh mi, white rose dumplings
  • Midday: Start custom tailoring at Yaly Couture or A Dong Silk
  • PM: Bike ride through rice paddies to Tra Que Vegetable Village
  • Dinner at Morning Glory or The Field (rice paddy setting)
Four Seasons Nam Hai • Night 9
11
Sun
Jul 12

🎂 PAM'S 60th BIRTHDAY

  • AM: Sleep in. Champagne + flowers + cake delivered to villa
  • Late AM: Couples spa journey — Heart of the Earth Spa, Vietnamese healing rituals
  • PM: Pool villa time. Reading, napping, being pampered. No agenda.
  • Pre-dinner: Private lantern-making workshop with local artisan
  • Evening: PRIVATE BIRTHDAY DINNER ON THE BEACH
  • Personal chef • Vietnamese tasting menu • Hundreds of lanterns • Live music
  • After dinner: Lantern release on the Thu Bon River — Pam's 60 wishes
Four Seasons Nam Hai • Night 10
12
Mon
Jul 13

🎂 Praveen's 58th Birthday

  • AM: Tailor fitting (adjustments from yesterday)
  • Late AM: Private boat trip on the Thu Bon River — fishing villages, pottery village
  • Lunch: Birthday lunch riverside — relaxed recovery day
  • PM: Beach or pool time
  • Dinner: Vy's Market Restaurant or Four Seasons La Sen
Four Seasons Nam Hai • Night 11
13
Tue
Jul 14

Hoi An Final Day → Hanoi

  • AM: Final tailor pickup + alterations
  • Optional: My Son Sanctuary day trip (UNESCO Champa ruins)
  • PM flight DAD → HAN (~1.5 hrs)
  • Check in Capella Hanoi
  • Evening: Old Quarter walking tour → dinner at Cha Ca La Vong (130+ years old)
Capella Hanoi • Night 12
14
Wed
Jul 15

Ha Long Bay Overnight Cruise

  • AM: Transfer to Ha Long Bay (2.5 hrs drive or seaplane ~45 min)
  • Board Heritage Cruises — luxury junk-style vessel
  • Kayaking through limestone karsts
  • Swimming in emerald waters
  • Squid fishing at night, cooking class on board
  • Sleep on the bay under the stars
Heritage Line Cruise • Night 13
15
Thu
Jul 16

Ha Long Bay → Saigon

  • AM: Tai chi on deck at sunrise, brunch on the bay
  • Return to Hanoi by midday
  • PM flight HAN → SGN (~2 hrs)
  • Check in The Reverie Saigon — Italian maximalist luxury
The Reverie Saigon • Night 14
16
Fri
Jul 17

Farewell Saigon

  • Explore District 1 — War Remnants Museum, Ben Thanh Market
  • Farewell dinner: Noir. Dining in the Dark (served by visually impaired staff) or The Deck Saigon
  • Last night — make it count
The Reverie Saigon • Night 15
17
Sat
Jul 18

Depart Saigon → Home

  • Last pho in Saigon (mandatory)
  • Emirates SGN → Dubai (DXB) → IAD
  • Business class home — arrive same day or next morning
Budget
Investment in a Once-in-a-Lifetime Trip
Category Estimate
International Flights (2 pax, business class) $12,683
Internal Flights (5 segments, 2 pax) $2,000–3,500
Hotels (14 nights + 1 cruise) $6,876–10,576
Private Tours & Guides $3,000–5,000
Dining (Michelin + fine dining + casual) $3,000–5,000
Spa Treatments (3–4 sessions) $1,500–2,500
Tailoring (Hoi An bespoke) $500–2,000
Birthday Celebrations $1,000–2,000
Transfers, Tips, Misc $1,500–2,000
TOTAL ESTIMATE $32K–45K
Estimated Total
$32–45K
For 2 travelers • 16 days • All 5-star
Flights$14.7K (38%)
Hotels$8.7K (22%)
Experiences$4K (10%)
Dining$4K (10%)
Spa & Birthday$4K (10%)
Other$4K (10%)
Booking Actions
  • NOW Book Korean Air + Emirates business class flights
  • NOW Reserve Sühring dinner (3-month waitlist)
  • APR Book all 7 hotels / Heritage cruise
  • MAY Angkor guide, cooking class, spa packages
  • MAY Birthday dinner setup with FS Hoi An concierge
  • JUN Vietnam e-visa ($25/pp) + Cambodia e-visa ($36/pp)
  • JUN Travel insurance with medical evac
Logistics
Internal Flights & Visas
Route Date Airline Duration Notes
BKK → USM Jul 5 Bangkok Airways ~1 hr Only airline to Samui. Book early.
USM → BKK → REP Jul 7 Bangkok Airways + Cambodia Angkor Air ~5 hrs Connection in Bangkok
REP → DAD Jul 10 Vietnam Airlines / Cambodia Angkor Air ~2–3 hrs May connect via HCMC
DAD → HAN Jul 14 Vietnam Airlines / VietJet ~1.5 hrs Frequent flights
HAN → SGN Jul 16 Vietnam Airlines / VietJet ~2 hrs Frequent flights
🇹🇭
Thailand
Visa-Free 30 days
US passport — no action needed
🇰🇭
Cambodia
e-Visa Required
$36/person — apply 1–2 weeks before
🇻🇳
Vietnam
e-Visa Required
$25/person — apply 2–3 weeks before
Good to Know
Weather & Practical Notes
July = Green Season — Afternoon showers (1–2 hours), not all-day washouts. Upside: 30–50% lower hotel rates, zero crowds, everything is lush and green. Koh Samui's east coast is the BEST coast in July.
Pack Smart — Light rain jacket, quick-dry clothes, waterproof bag for electronics. Temple-appropriate wraps (covered shoulders/knees for Grand Palace, Angkor Wat).
Book Now — Business class flights and Sühring dinner in Bangkok (3-month waitlist) need to be secured immediately. Four Seasons properties should be booked by April.