Itinerary
- Day 1
Ho Chi Minh City
You'll arrive in Ho Chi Minh City, still called Saigon by many locals. Check into your hotel mid-afternoon and take time to settle in before exploring the neighborhood.
- Day 2
Ho Chi Minh City
Start the morning with a walking tour of historic landmarks, including the Rex Hotel rooftop bar where U.S. Military held the 'Five O'clock Follies' during the war, then move to the War Remnants Museum. After that, head to bustling Ben Thanh Market before joining a hands-on Vietnamese cooking class for lunch where you'll prepare local dishes and eat what you make. You'll have free time this afternoon to wander around on your own, then gather with your group for a welcome dinner.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch (Vietnamese Cooking Class lunch - prepared dishes from class), Dinner (Special welcome dinner at local restaurant)
Included Activities
- Walking Tour of Ho Chi Minh City's historic landmarks including Rex Hotel rooftop bar visit
- War Remnants Museum visit
- Ben Thanh Market exploration
- Hands-on Vietnamese Cooking Class with lunch included
- Welcome dinner at local restaurant
Landmarks Rex Hotel War Remnants Museum Ben Thanh Market - Day 3
Cu Chi Tunnels
You'll drive out of the city for a guided visit to the Cu Chi Tunnels, an extraordinary network stretching over 120 miles that the Viet Cong used as a hideout and secret village. Explore these cramped spaces and learn what daily life was like there. The afternoon and evening are free, so you might consider stopping by the famous rooftop bar at the Caravelle Hotel for drinks.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Guided Visit to the Cu Chi Tunnels
Optional Activities
- Drink at rooftop bar at Caravelle Hotel
Landmarks Cu Chi Tunnels Caravelle Hotel - Day 4
Ho Chi Minh City to Vinh Long (Cruise)
Head to the port on the Saigon River in the heart of Ho Chi Minh City to board your suite ship. You'll get time to explore the vessel and get comfortable before a welcome reception this evening as you cruise toward Vinh Long.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner (Welcome reception with dinner)
Included Activities
- Welcome reception onboard
- Day 5
Cu Lao Gieng Island to Chau Doc (Cruise)
Board a sampan this morning to visit a local workshop in Vinh Long where craftspeople make rice paper, rice wine, and traditional candies. This afternoon, you'll see daily life on Cu Lao Gieng Island via sampan and local motor cart, visiting a workshop where families hand-craft sampan boats, a home where locals make Vietnamese conical hats from palm leaves and bamboo, and one of Vietnam's oldest Catholic churches. Later you'll cruise toward Chau Doc.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Sampan visit to local workshop - rice paper, rice wine, and traditional candies
- Guided Excursion on Cu Lao Gieng Island via sampan and local motor cart
- Local workshop visit - hand-crafted sampan boat making
- Visit to local family home - Vietnamese conical hat making
- Visit to historic Catholic church
Landmarks Cu Lao Gieng Island - Day 6
Chau Doc to Phnom Penh (Cruise)
In Chau Doc, walk through the local market and see how locals buy and sell fish, meat, and produce. From there, take a river excursion down the Mekong backwaters where you'll see traditional floating homes, speedboat merchants, religious sites, and markets selling dried goods. After lunch, board a sampan to Long Khanh A village for a cotton-weaving demonstration showing this well-preserved artisan tradition. You'll return to the ship and sail toward the Cambodian border for an overnight cruise to Phnom Penh.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Guided Walk through Chau Doc local market
- River Excursion down the Mekong backwaters
- Sampan visit to Long Khanh A village
- Cotton-Weaving Demonstration
Landmarks Chau Doc Market - Day 7
Phnom Penh
Take a city tour by private cyclo to visit the Royal Palace with its spectacular Silver Pagoda and the National Museum, which features an outstanding display of Khmer artifacts. The rest of the day is yours to explore Phnom Penh at your own pace. Just before dinner, children from a local orphanage will perform a show of local song and dance.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner (Dinner with local orphanage performance - song and dance show)
Included Activities
- City Tour by private cyclo
- Royal Palace visit
- Silver Pagoda visit
- National Museum visit
- Local orphanage performance - song and dance show
Landmarks Royal Palace Silver Pagoda National Museum of Cambodia - Day 8
Phnom Penh to Wat Hanchey (Cruise)
This morning you can choose between a guided visit to the Tuol Sleng Genocide Museum and one of the Killing Fields to learn about the Khmer Rouge regime, or visit the lively Central Market by tuk-tuk to see its unique Art Deco design. After lunch, you'll depart Phnom Penh and have leisure time on the ship as you cruise toward Wat Hanchey.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Guided Visit to Tuol Sleng Genocide Museum and Killing Fields (option 1) OR Visit to Central Market by tuk-tuk (option 2)
Landmarks Tuol Sleng Genocide Museum Killing Fields Central Market - Day 9
Angkor Ban to Konpong Louang (Cruise)
You'll visit Wat Hanchey, a hilltop temple from the 8th century. Climb or get driven to the top for views of the surrounding area and participate in a traditional water blessing given by local monks. After lunch, take a walking tour through the rural village of Angkor Ban where you'll visit a traditional Khmer house and interact with children at a local school. Later you'll cruise toward Konpong Louang.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Visit to Wat Hanchey temple
- Traditional water blessing by local monks
- Walking Tour through Angkor Ban village
- Traditional Khmer house visit
- Local school visit and interaction with children
Landmarks Wat Hanchey Angkor Ban - Day 10
Kampong Tralach to Phnom Penh (Cruise)
Start with a guided tour of the silversmith village in Konpong Louang where you'll watch craftsmen use age-old techniques to turn pure silver into works of art. Then in Kampong Tralach, board an ox cart for a ride through the Cambodian countryside and meet a local farmer who'll tell you about his daily life. This afternoon, enjoy scenic cruising on the Tonle River as you head back to Phnom Penh.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Guided Sightseeing at silversmith village in Konpong Louang
- Ox cart ride through Cambodian countryside in Kampong Tralach
- Meet with local farmer
Landmarks Konpong Louang Kampong Tralach - Day 11
Phnom Penh to Siem Reap
You'll fly to Siem Reap, home to the Temples of Angkor, considered by many to be the most spectacular architectural ruins on Earth. After lunch, start your sightseeing tour by tuk-tuk to explore the temples. Begin at Angkor Wat, the best preserved and most famous temple with five trademark towers that are Cambodia's symbol. Then visit Angkor Thom to explore Bayon Temple with its 200 striking faces carved in 54 towers and impressive bas-relief sculptures. The evening is yours to explore charming Siem Reap or stay to watch the sunset at Angkor Wat.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch
Included Activities
- Sightseeing Tour by tuk-tuk of Angkor temples
- Angkor Wat visit
- Angkor Thom visit
- Bayon Temple exploration
Landmarks Angkor Wat Angkor Thom Bayon Temple - Day 12
Siem Reap
Continue your guided sightseeing at Ta Prohm where tree roots cover the ruin walls, giving you the same sense of discovery as early explorers felt. Then visit Banteay Srei, a unique temple built on a small scale from red sandstone that can be carved like wood. On the way, stop at a local village famous for making Khmer noodles by hand and try some freshly prepared noodles. You'll have the afternoon at leisure, then enjoy dinner and a private Apsara Dance Performance that brings ancient Khmer culture to life through music, song, and dance.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Dinner (Dinner with private Apsara Dance Performance)
Included Activities
- Guided Sightseeing of Ta Prohm temple
- Banteay Srei temple visit
- Stop at local village - Khmer noodle making and sampling
- Dinner with private Apsara Dance Performance
Landmarks Ta Prohm Banteay Srei - Day 13
Siem Reap
Your vacation ends this morning after breakfast.
- Meals
- Breakfast
