Vietnam – Cambodia Exclusive & Luxury Mekong Cruise 18 Days

Morning

- Have a full-day exclusive city tour escorted

- Visit historic Ba Dinh Square where President Ho Chi Minh read the Declaration of Independence in the Autumn of 1945 marking the birth of Democratic Republic of Vietnam
- Discover the stilt house which was his temporary residence from 1954 to 1969

- Continue to visit One Pillar Pagoda, which was founded by King Ly Thai To in 1049

- Explore the Temple of Literature, built in the 11th century as Vietnam’s first university

- Head to West Lake and visit Tran Quoc pagoda, one of the oldest Buddhist pagodas in Hano, and visit the nearby Taoist temple of Quan Thanh which dates from the Ly Dynasty

Afternoon

- Stroll through the Old Quater, and enjoy the cyclo tour to explore the quarter

- End the tour with a water puppet show, a uniquely northern Vietnamese art form that depicts scenes from rural life and episodes of national history

Accommodation: Hotel in Hanoi

Morning

- Enjoy breakfast and some leisure time in the morning

- 10:30: Pick you up at the hotel lobby for the transfer to the airport for the flight by seaplane to Halong Bay
- Circle above the bay for a panoramic view of the Bay and will then land at Tuan Chau Marina

- Check-in on the cruise, take a rest and get ready to start your lifetime cruise while the cruise departs from Tuan Chau Island

- Enjoy a delicious lunch as the boat cruises toward South East Halong Bay passing by many islets

Afternoon

- Explore the cave system by bamboo boat or kayaking, swim in the ocean, take a sunbath on board, or enjoy a traditional massage (chargeable)

- Back on board and enjoy Happy Hour "buy one get one free" drink and join a traditional cooking demonstration on the sundeck or in the restaurant

- Back to the overnight area, then enjoy a set menu dinner served in the restaurant

- Free time to watch movies in the restaurant or join squid fishing at the reception

Accommodation: Overnight on board

Morning

- Get up early in the morning to join a Tai Chi lesson on the sundeck with complimentary tea and coffee

- Have breakfast on board while the boat cruises through the bay passing a lot of beautiful spots

- Arrive at Cat Ba Island, then join the tour guide on a cycle tour to explore the tropical junk in the national park

- Get back on the boat for lunch

Afternoon

- Have a special tour which shows you Bridge and Engine room

- Visit the Ho Ba Ham area and then get back to the boat for relaxation on board, or enjoy your special drinks during Happy Hour (buy 1 get 1 free)

- Have a barbecue buffet on the sundeck or in the restaurant depending on the weather while the boat is at anchor

- Free time to watch movies in the restaurant, join squid fishing at the reception or take part in the fruit carving session

Accommodation: Overnight on board

Morning

- Get up early in the morning to join a Tai Chi lesson on the sundeck or just enjoy the beautiful views of the bay while the boat cruises leisurely in Halong Bay

- Have breakfast on board

- Explore Sung Sot cave, one of the biggest caves in Halong Bay which has beautiful stalactites and stalagmites

- Back to the boat, pack your bags, and prepare for checkout

- Disembarking the cruise, you can join a Vietnamese traditional tea ceremony

- 10:30: Arrives at Tuan Chau Island.

Afternoon

- Disembarking the boat and take a seaplane flight back to Noi Bai airport, from which take the domestic flight to Da Nang

- Arrive at Da Nang airport, and transfer to your hotel in Danang

- Free at leisure and enjoy the hotel facility and spa package

Accommodation: Hotel in Da Nang

Rural Villages Experience – Hoi an: Experience local life in the slow lane.

Morning

- Start the tour from Café Zoom in Hoi An
- Head out west along the banks of the Thu Bon River

- Stop at a bustling local fish market, then continue to visit the rice-paddy-rich countryside and local villages

Afternoon

- Cross a bridge over the Thu Bon River, travel through quiet villages, beautiful farmlands, taste the local specialty dish in the middle of the farm surrounded by seasonal vegetables

- Travel through the rice paddies, and duck farms, and visit a local mat-weaving family

- Ride along by the prawn farms and over the river to visit a charming family home where the rice wine, a local and potent favorite brew is produced

- Short ride over the Cam Kim Bridge into Hoi An as the sun begins to set on this beautiful heritage town

Accommodation: Hotel in Hoi An

Morning

- Check out early to get transferred to the flight to Ho Chi Minh City

- Arrive at the airport, and take a full-day tour around the city.

- Stop at Cholon, Cantonese Thien Hau Pagoda, Vietnam's first traditional medicine museum, and the FITO Museum, Ben Thanh Market where you can buy many things including souvenirs

Afternoon

- Choose to visit either the War Remnants or History Museum and the former Presidential Palace
- Take a leisurely stroll to the major sights of colonial Saigon including the Old Saigon Post Office, Dong Khoi Street, Continental Hotel, Opera House, and City Hall

Accommodation: Hotel in Ho Chi Minh City

Morning

- Pick up and transfer to the pier in District 1 for a half-day tour to the Cu Chi tunnel by speedboat

- Chance to crawl through this amazing system of tunnels to learn more about the history of Vietnam.

- Take part in shooting games on original AK47s and other guns from past war times for those who love “thrilling” experiences(The game is subject to a surcharge)

Accommodation: Hotel in Ho Chi Minh City

Morning

- Travel 70 kilometers south by land to My Tho, then embark on your boutique boat

- Enjoy a refreshing welcome drink while the ship steadily glides along the Mekong

Afternoon

- Have free time on the boat followed by a briefing at the lounge

- Enjoy welcome dinner while the cruise approaches Cai Be

- Drop anchor to moor midstream where the river is several kilometers wide

- Overnight in Cai Be

Accommodation: Overnight on board

Morning

- Get up early to join the Tai Chi lesson on the sundeck or watch the sun begins its gentle glow, then enjoy coffee and tea

- Join the day tour to visit Cai Be's colorful floating market on a traditional sampan

- Discover breathtaking landscapes along the river and quaff the rustic life on the Mekong Delta

- Chance to observe how local people make rice paste, rice cookies, and coconut candies, the Longan fruit drying process

- Visit an ancient house surrounded by fruit orchards

- Back on the ship and enjoy lunch

Afternoon

- Cruise to Sa Dec

- Get on a traditional sampan to visit Binh Thanh Island and its man-made canals and see villagers making rattan mats, and interact with them

- Back to the boat and enjoy a tranquil evening while the boat cruises towards Tan Chau

- Overnight near Tan Chau

Accommodation: Overnight on board

Morning

- Welcome to the fish sanctuary of Vietnam

- Have a short excursion in Chau Doc

- Take you to the “evergreen” islands where you will be thrilled to learn about the life of the locals

- Stop to visit a fish farm located in the Tan Chau Canal

Afternoon

- Continue by boat to Tan Chau pier

- Return to the cruise ship after your market visit

- Overnight we anchor midstream near Phnom Penh

Accommodation: Overnight on board

Morning

- Join a city tour to explore the beauty of Phnom Penh

- Take part in a city tour of this dynamic, historical capital city of Cambodia, and stop at many interesting places in Phnom Penh such as the Silver Pagoda, the Royal Palace, and the National Museum

- Have lunch at a local restaurant

Afternoon

- Continue to visit Genocide Museum and the Killing Field in town that transpired during Cambodia's Khmer Rouge regime

- Get back to the ship and get prepared for an exciting evening event

- Take a seat and enjoy the following Apsara dance performance

- Have dinner under the stars

- Overnight in Phnom Penh

- Around 1 am, depart for Kampong Chnnang, which is 100km away from Phnom Penh

Accommodation: Overnight on board

High Water Season (Mid Sep-Dec)

Morning

- Depart from Phnom Penh, then stop at the little-known Chong Koh silk weaving village.

- Return the ship to continue the trip, pass the Mekong's tranquil villages, exhilarating river life, and sun-hardened fishermen on their make-shift boats

- Stop at Angkor Ban village where you can see truly rustic houses made by hand

Afternoon

- Take part in the daily activities of the villagers to experience village life firsthand

- Get back to the Ship to cruise, and travel towards Kampong Cham

- Stay overnight in Kampong Cham
Lower Water Season (Jan - Mid Sep)

Morning

- Set sail towards Kampong Chhnang, and the Tonle Sap River
- Approach Kampong Chhnang, Cambodia's "Waterworld" where everything is on stilts balanced on the water

- Take a motorboat excursion, and a short bus trip to see the Khmer-styled pottery at the Aundaung Russey village, along the river to the wetlands, floating houses, and fish farms

- Have lunch on the ship while it cruises toward Prek K'dam

Afternoon

- Take a walk through the silversmith village of Koh Chen

- Get back to the ship and have dinner

- Sail back towards Phnom Penh and overnight midstream near Phnom Penh

Accommodation: Overnight on board

High Water Program (Mid Sep-Dec)

Morning

- Embark on the land journey to the pre-Angkorian temple of Wat Hanchey

- Choose to take a motor taxi or climb the 291 steps to the top

- Arrive at the top of the hill, enjoy one of the most breathtaking views in Cambodia and the ancient structure of the temple

Afternoon

- Return to the ship to witness a blessing ceremony performed by orange-clad local monks

- If the tide allows, we can enjoy the surprise sojourn in our zodiacs (inflatable boats), and swim in the tea-colored Mekong river...

- Travel towards Kampong Cham to visit Wat Nokor, a wat built within the ruins of an ancient temple

- Visit an orphanage, cross a 2-kilometer rickety bamboo bridge

- Overnight in Kampong Chnnang

Lower water program (Jan - Mid Sep)

Morning

- Depart from Phnom Penh

- Stop at the little-known Chong Koh silk weaving village, then return to the ship

Afternoon

- Cruise past the Mekong's tranquil villages, exhilarating river life, and sun-hardened fishermen on their make-shift boats

- Start the tour to the rural Angkor Ban village, and enjoy the truly rustic houses made by hand, without any concrete

- Get back to the ship, and cruise towards Kampong Cham

Accommodation: Overnight on board

High Water Program (Mid Sep-Dec)

Morning

- Set sails towards Kampong Chhnang on the Tonle Sap River

- Travel along the amazingly narrow river, and be greeted by the cacophonous children who bring their livestock for a bath in the meandering Tonle Sap Rivers

- Approach Kampong Chhnang, Cambodia's 'Waterworld'

- Take a motorboat excursion to the landing, then a short bus trip to see the Khmer-styled pottery at the Aundaung Russey village

- Get back to the river, and continue the adventurous motorboat excursion to the wetlands, floating houses, and fish farms

- Have lunch on the ship while it cruises the narrow and meandering Tonle Sap

Afternoon

- Enjoy a sumptuous spread

- Bring along your dance shoes and learn to jiggle the Cambodian way with our staff doubling up as dance instructors

Lower water program (Jan - Mid Sep)

Morning

- Wake up early in the morning to start the land journey to the pre-Angkorian temple of Wat Hanchey

- Take a motor taxi or climb 291 steps to the top

- Get on top of the hill, and enjoy the great views of the river and Cambodia in general

Afternoon

- Get back to the ship, and witness a blessing ceremony performed by orange-clad local monks

- If the tide allows, we can enjoy a surprise sojourn in our zodiacs (inflatable boats), swim in the tea-colored Mekong River

- Cruise towards Kampong Cham to visit Wat Nokor, a wat built within the ruins of an ancient temple, and visit an orphanage

- Back to the ship, cross a 2-kilometer rickety bamboo bridge

Accommodation: Overnight on board

High Water Season (Mid Sep-Dec)

Morning

- Enjoy the stillness of the water and the quiet tranquility in the lake on the way to Siem Reap. The itinerary may change depending on different seasons

- Reach Siem Reap, the city of the fabled Angkor temple complex

- Cross the Tonle Sap Lake at dawn to enjoy the breath-taking views

- 9:00: Disembark at the Siem Reap Port for onward coach transfer to the drop-off point in town
Lower Water Season (Jan - Mid Sep)

Morning

- 9:00: Disembark the ship and board a coach for the transfer from Kampong Cham to the drop-off point in Siem Reap

- Have some snacks and cold drinks along the way

- Stop at Skon, known as Spiderville for its fried spiders, a delicacy in this country. We arrive in Siem Reap in the early afternoon

Afternoon

- Get picked up at Siem Reap Port and transferred to a hotel in Siem Reap

- Enjoy welcome dinner with Apsara Dance Performance

Accommodation: Hotel in Siem Reap

Morning

- Take a full-day tour to visit the highlights of the small circuit, including Prasat Kravan, the royal bathing pond of Sra Srang, Banteay Kdei, Takeo, and jungle-clad Ta Prohm
- Have lunch at a local restaurant

Afternoon

- Visit magnificent Angkor Wat to view its architecture and basreliefs

Accommodation: Hotel in Siem Reap

Morning

- Free to stroll around the town for your own exploration

- Transfer to the airport to take the departure flight

Accommodation: NA