Mekong River Cruise: Cambodia to Vietnam

Arrive in Siem Reap and transfer to your hotel. Overnight in Siem Reap

Start your exploration of Angkor with a visit to the great city of Angkor Thom; visit the famous Bayon Temple, Phimeanakas Temple within the Royal Palace enclosure, Baphuon Temple, the Terrace of the Elephants, and the Terrace of the Leper King. Then, experience the beauty of Angkor Wat, an architectural masterpiece constructed in the 12th century. It has many galleries with columns, libraries, pavilions, courtyards, ponds full of water, and carved low-reliefs about Ramayana Story and day-to-day life at the time of Angkor’s construction. End the day with a sunset view of Angkor temples. Overnight in Siem Reap

Head to the enchanting Banteay Samre and Banteay Srei Temples. Banteay Srei, “The Citadel of Women,” with its rose colored, sandstone walls is considered to have the best carvings of any temple at Angkor. The quality of the carving and the state of preservation make Banteay Srei extraordinary. Overnight in Siem Reap

In the morning, fly to Phnom Penh. After a brief visit to the Royal Palace and Silver Pagoda, the National Museum, and Wat Phnom Pagoda, transfer to the pier and board your cruise.
Set sail for a lazy day of cruising along the Mekong’s main shipping route on the way to the Vietnamese border, basking in the glow of the afternoon sun on the sundeck. You may choose to participate in a Cambodian and Vietnamese cuisine cooking class (if available). Overnight on board

Tan Chau is a pleasant town near the Cambodian border with large Chinese, Kinh, and Khmer communities. In a traditional vehicle called “xeloi,” visit the local market, then continue in a local boat to visit a fish farm to see the daily life of Vietnamese people in Mekong.
In the afternoon, visit a small village and meet with a local family, visiting their home and garden and tasting tea with honey and local delicacies and fruits before returning to the ship to set off for Sa Dec in the late afternoon. Overnight on board

In the morning, embark a traditional sampan (a flat bottomed traditional Vietnamese wooden boat) to Binh Thanh Island and its man-made canals. Here, every villager is involved in the process of growing and processing water hyacinths into natural fiber floor mats and rattan baskets. Continue sailing to Cai Be to visit the boisterous and colorful floating market and enjoy the breathtaking landscape along the river and the rustic life on the Mekong Delta. At the evergreen islands along the Mekong River, see how rice paste, rice cookies, and coconut candies are made, along with the Longan fruit drying process. Board the ship for an evening cruise towards My Tho. Overnight on board

As the cruise winds its way to My Tho on the upper Mekong River, the journey comes to an end. Disembark and join the transfer to Saigon where you will be collected for a tour of Saigon’s historic landmarks including the Old Saigon Post Office, Notre Dame Cathedral, the former Presidential Palace, City Opera House, and City Hall. Overnight in Saigon

Transfer to the airport and fly to Hue, the ancient royal capital of the Nguyen Dynasty and a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Visit the magnificent Mausoleum of Emperor Tu Duc, resplendent in traditional architecture overlooking tranquil lotus ponds. Continue to Khai Dinh’s Tomb, remembered as the “Puppet Emperor” because of his affiliation with the French. This tomb was designed with a colonial flair, a glass mosaic frieze dominates the interior. Overnight in Hue

Enjoy a morning dragon boat ride on the Perfume River to Thien Mu Pagoda. Continue by boat to the lesser visited and perhaps most majestic of all of Hue’s tombs, the tomb of Minh Mang. Built between 1841 and 1843, this tomb is well known for its harmonious blend of architecture and natural landscape. Depart Hue and transfer to Hoi An. Enjoy some of Vietnam’s most beautiful scenery of mountains and the South China Sea as you travel through the Hai Van Pass (Pass of the Ocean Clouds).
Overnight in Hoi An

Strolling along the waterfront in tranquil Hoi An, it’s hard to imagine that this riverine town was once an important port and major player in the South-East Asian trading markets. Today, Hoi An Ancient Town is listed by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site and without doubt is one of the most attractive destinations in Vietnam. This exceptionally well-preserved example of a trading port was active between the 15th and 19th centuries and its design reflects centuries of influences from both local and foreign residents. Colorful scenes of traditional merchant houses, painted yellow and blanketed in purple bougainvillea, present picture-perfect scenes and, as night falls, delicate silk lanterns create a rainbow of hues against the night sky.
After the morning tour, enjoy free time to explore the town or enjoy to beautiful beaches of central Vietnam. Overnight in Hoi An

Day at leisure, optional tours are available. Consider visiting My Son or exploring villages by bike. Hoi An is also a wonderful place for a cooking class. Overnight in Hoi An

Transfer to the airport and fly to Hanoi. In the afternoon visit Hanoi’s colorful Old Quarter. This densely populated corner of the city, once a center of commerce, is full of narrow alleys and shops. This evening enjoy a traditional Vietnamese puppet show. Overnight in Hanoi

Enjoy a morning orientation of the tree-lined streets of Hanoi, resplendent with French colonial architecture. Visit Ba Dinh Square, where silent sentries guard the marble and granite mausoleum where Ho Chi Minh lies, and visit his simple wooden house and the One Pillar Pagoda. Visit the Temple of Literature, dedicated to Confucius, which later became Vietnam’s first university. Overnight in Hanoi

Transfer to Hanoi Airport for your departure. You have the option to add a two-day/one-night or three day/two night cruise in HaLong Bay – contact a Destination Specialist for details!