Description:

Visit Hanoi, Siem Reap, Angkor Wat, Kampong Thom, Kampong Cham, Tonle Sap, Kampong Chhnang, Phnom Penh, Chau Doc, Cu Lao Gien, My Tho, Ho Chi Minh City.

MAGNIFICENT MEKONG

Explore the stunningly scenic and culturally distinctive lands that lie along the remarkable Mekong River. On this 15-day cruisetour, discover two countries, two cultures and two ways of life linked by Indochina’s most important river—from Vietnam’s bustling cities to the tranquility of Cambodia. Encounter ancient Khmer monuments and the elegant French colonial capital of Phnom Penh in Cambodia; and in Vietnam, visit the floating markets of the Mekong delta, experience the intimate charm of Hanoi’s old city and tour dynamic Ho Chi Minh City, formerly Saigon. Here you will find gracious hosts and some of the finest cuisine in the world, while enjoying the natural beauty and rich history just beyond the banks of the magnificent Mekong.

Itinerary:-

Day 1 Ho Chi Minh City

Fly to Ho Chi Minh City, formerly known as Saigon, Check in for a 2-night stay and then relax or take a walk to stretch your legs and begin getting acquainted with the city.

Day 2 Ho Chi Minh City

Begin your tour of this bustling metropolis with a visit to its historic center. Take a stroll along Dong Khoi Street, the main shopping boulevard in the old colonial heart. See the grand city hall, the old opera house with its soaring arched entryway, the double-spired Notre-Dame Basilica and the impeccably restored central post office. Walk through the magnificent Emperor Jade Pagoda, fragrant with incense and filled with carved figures. For a perspective on modern-day Vietnam, visit the Reunification Palace and the War Remnants Museum, which provides a stark picture of the Vietnam war, from a decidedly partisan point of view. This afternoon, visit Cholon, the city’s Chinatown, with its colorful markets, temples and pagodas; your festive evening meal is accompanied by a traditional Vietnamese wedding ceremony. (B, D)

Day 3 My Tho & Cái Bè

After breakfast, check out of your hotel and proceed to My Tho to embark your ship, RV Tonle. As you settle in to your stateroom, we begin sailing along the Mekong River. This afternoon we visit the floating markets of Cái Bè where you see local workers producing rice noodles, coconut candy and a host of other handmade products. This evening, meet the ship’s officers over a welcome cocktail, and enjoy a screening of the film l’Amant (the Lover) which will prepare you for tomorrow’s visit to Sa Dec. (B, L, D)

Day 4 Sa Dec & Cu Lao Gien

This morning, enjoy an exciting sampan boat excursion along the canals and backwaters of the Mekong Delta. Small factories line the river channels here; see local workers producing rice noodles, coconut candy and a host of other products, usually in a traditional manner, mostly with manual labor. Stop in Sa Dec to see the home of Mr. Huynh Thuy Le, the protagonist in Marguerite Duras’s beloved autobiographic novel, l’Amant. Later this afternoon, visit Cu Lao Gien Island where you see the monastery of St. Paul of Chartres, built in 1875 and later known as “la Providence.” Once a thriving mission with an orphanage, a hospital to treat leprosy victims, a school and a hospice, it serves today as a retreat for some 180 retired nuns. This evening, attend an onboard screening of the 2002 film The Quiet American, based on Graham Greene’s novel set in 1952 Saigon. (B, L, D)

Day 5 Châu Ðôc & Mekong River Cruising

This morning, board a small boat to visit a Cham tribal village. Descended from an ancient Malay-Polynesian empire that arrived in Southeast Asia during the 1st and 2nd centuries B.C., the Champa people competed with the Khmer for dominance of the area. Observe village life and visit a catfish farm. Later, see the busy riverside port of Châu Ðôc riding a trishaw. Return aboard for lunch and scenic cruising along the Mekong; this afternoon we cross over into Cambodia. (B, L, D)

Day 6 Phnom Penh

Dock along the lovely waterfront of Cambodia’s capital and explore the city in style, in a cyclo—the ubiquitous passenger bicycles of Southeast Asia. This mode of transportation provides many Cambodians with a source of income and visitors with a speedy and enjoyable way to move around. See the magnificent Royal Palace with the Silver Pagoda, built in the 19th century by the French but inspired by the centuries-old architecture of the Khmer. The National Museum of Cambodia houses treasures of Khmer art and craftsmanship and also displays art that predates the mighty empire. This afternoon, join an excursion to the sobering memorial in the Tuol Sleng detention center, a former high school in which thousands of victims of the murderous Khmer Rouge regime died, and the Killing Fields of Choeung Ek, or explore the city’s maze of small alleys, markets and busy streets on your own if you prefer. Tonight’s dinner is accompanied by a folkloric performance. (B, L, D)

Day 7 Tonle Sap & Kampong Chhnang

This morning’s excursion takes you up the Tonle Sap River to reach the eponymous lake. During the wet season, the current in this tributary of the Mekong reverses its flow, and the Tonle Sap Lake fills up with the floodwaters of the great river, acting like a natural safety valve protecting the Delta area from flooding. The fertile wetlands here are teeming with life—its rich fishing grounds providing for birds, mammals and humans alike. The Tonle Sap area is perhaps the most important inland fishing area in the world. Disembark and explore the river banks around Kampong Chhnang in smaller vessels. (B, L, D)

Day 8 Mekong River Scenic Cruising

Today, enjoy scenic cruising along the Mekong, one of the world’s great rivers. The Mekong is truly the Mother River of Southeast Asia, sustaining civilizations through the centuries. Pass by some of the Mekong rice fields—the Khmer empire was founded on a rice surplus and rice is still the main staple of Vietnam’s present-day cuisine. We stop to visit Chong Koh, a Khmer river community, and the village of Angkor Ban along the way. (B, L, D)

Day 9 Kampong Cham

You will visit the hilltop temple of Wat Hanchey this morning, which affords stunning views of the Mekong River. The temple itself dates back to the 8th century and it is surrounded by smaller religious monuments dotting the hillsides. After lunch, visit the twin holy mountains of Phnom Pros and Phnom Srey with their many temples and pagodas, still used during traditional Khmer festivals. Return to Kampong Cham to visit an orphanage sponsored by Pandaw. (B, L, D)

Day 10 Kampong Thom & Siem Reap

Bid farewell to the RV Tonle this morning as your cruise through Vietnam and Cambodia comes to an end. Disembark in Kampong Thom, then take a ride through the Cambodian countryside to Siem Reap. Check in to your hotel for a 3-night stay. Tonight’s dinner is accompanied by a traditional Apsara dance show. (B, D)

Day 11 Angkor Wat

Siem Reap is the gateway to Angkor, a UNESCO World Heritage Site and one of the most important archeological sites in the world. Begin your day with a visit to one of Angkor’s largest Khmer temples, Angkor Wat, built for King Suryavarman II in the 12th century A.D. With its beautiful proportions and extensive, intricate bas-relief stone carvings, it is one of the most spectacular sights in Southeast Asia. You also visit the mysterious Bayon Temple, known for its giant, stone carved faces with their enigmatic smiles. Journey to Ta Prohm, one of the most popular of the temples of Angkor. Unlike many other buildings, it has been largely left intact as it was when discovered, with trees and large shrubs growing over the ruins. Relax this evening. (B, D)

Day 12 Angkor Wat

Today, continue your exploration of the temple ruins left behind by the mighty Khmer Empire, which ruled Cambodia from the early 9th century for some 400 years. Its founder, King Jayavarman II, was a contemporary of Charlemagne, and his dreams of empire were equally grandiose. At its zenith, the Khmer Empire covered most of the Indochinese Peninsula. Ride to Phnom Kulen National Park, considered the birthplace of the Khmer Empire, to see commemorative carvings amidst the streams and waterfalls. Also visit the spectacular Hindu temple Banteay Srey (“Citadel of Women”) to see magnificent carvings of Shiva and Vishnu. Return to your hotel before your final dinner in Siem Reap. (B, D)

Day 13 Siem Reap & Hanoi

This morning, check out of your hotel and spend some time exploring present-day Siem Reap. Visit a training center where young people learn the traditional crafts of stone sculpture, woodcarving and painting, and mingle with Cambodian locals as you stroll through one of Siem Reap’s open air markets. This afternoon, take a short flight to Hanoi; check in to your hotel for a 2-night stay and relax over dinner. (B, D)

Day 14 Hanoi

This morning, tour this unique Asian capital where old and new combine for an inviting blend in a lush setting of parks and lakes. Visit the Temple of Literature, a maze of courtyards and graceful gateways, an excellent example of traditional Vietnamese architecture. Then, see the vast Ho Chi Minh Memorial, a complex dedicated to Vietnam’s 20th-century Communist leader. You will also see the notorious “Hanoi Hilton,” the facility where American POWs were held captive during the Vietnam War. This afternoon, take a tour of Hanoi’s old town areaby cyclo, the ubiquitous passenger bicycles of Southeast Asia. You will see charming French colonial mansions and boulevards, the bustling street life, and countless market stalls where you can buy anything from silk garments to gravestones. Ride through the “36 Streets”—each with its specialty—and watch the locals practicing tai chi in the parks and on the lake shores. Enjoy some free time this afternoon to explore Hanoi on your own before gathering for a festive farewell dinner. (B, D)

Day 15 Hanoi

After breakfast, check out of your hotel and proceed to the airport for your return flight.* Or, continue your Southeast Asia adventure with a 2-night stay in gorgeous Ha Long Bay. (B)

The following meals are included:

B = Breakfast; L = Lunch; D = Dinner