Vietnam and Cambodia Discovery
Tour Operator: APT
Prices From:
Tour Overview
Experience a seven-night Mekong River cruise aboard APT’s brand new Mekong Serenity. Glide through Vietnam and Cambodia and explore the Angkor Archaeological Park, as well as the bustling cities of Ho Chi Minh and Phnom Penh.
Highlights
- Watch the golden glow of a sun rise over the temples of Angkor Wat.
- Participate in a special Buddhist Blessing with monks in the former royal capital of Oudong.
- On a rickshaw tour of Tan Chau glide past shops, rice wine rooms and stop to visit to a local silk weaving workshop.
Itinerary
Day 1: Ho Chi Minh City
Welcome to Ho Chi Minh City, once the bustling French colonial city known as Saigon. Be met and transferred to your hotel. This evening, enjoy a welcome dinner.
Day 2: Ho Chi Minh City, Long Tan or Cu Chi Tunnels
Your first full day here offers you the chance to choose from two Signature Experiences. Tonight, another Signature Experience awaits.
Day 3: Ho Chi Minh City, My Tho, Embark Ship
Exploring more of Ho Chi Minh City, select from the array of Freedom of Choice experiences on offer. Later, transfer to My Tho and embark your ship.
Day 4: Cai Be, Sa Dec
In Cai Be, visit the French Gothic cathedral and port area. Then, at a rice paper manufacturer, learn how this Vietnamese staple is made. Continue to Sa Dec where French writer Marguerite Duras met her Vietnamese-Chinese lover, Huynh Thuy Le. Tour his former home and learn the story behind Marguerite Duras’ best-selling novel, The Lover. After, visit a traditional Cao Dai temple.
Day 5: Tan Chau, Evergreen Island, Border Crossing
Transfer to a small boat to cruise the tiny tributaries around the town of Tan Chau. Pass a floating fish farm, then step ashore for a fun rickshaw tour and a visit to a local silk and rattan weaving workshop. Later, step back in time as you experience authentic rural Mekong life on a nearby evergreen island. The remainder of today is yours to relax on board and soak up views of the Mekong. Upon entering Cambodia, you’ll cruise towards its enthralling capital, Phnom Penh.
Day 6: Phnom Penh
Explore Cambodia’s past or present today with a range of Freedom of Choice experiences. After lunch back on board, more choices await. The evening is yours to relax.
Day 7: Oudong, Koh Chen, Oknha Tey
Today, journey to historic Oudong, which was Cambodia’s fascinating royal capital from 1618 until 1866. During your time here, you’ll enjoy a Signature Experience. On the way back to Phnom Penh, take a leisurely stroll through the village of Koh Chen and perhaps visit some home workshops that manufacture copperware. Later, your ship glides along the lush banks of the Mekong to Oknha Tey, which is renowned for its silk manufacturing traditions, preserved over centuries. Here, gain an insight into the traditional silk weaving process. After, return to your river ship to relax before enjoying delicious onboard dining tonight.
Day 8: Angkor Ban
Join a walking discovery of Angkor Ban, one of the few villages in Cambodia that was not destroyed under the Khmer Rouge regime in the 1970s. Here, people still live in traditional wooden homes and keep ancient cultural traditions alive. Continuing cruising towards Siem Reap this afternoon, enjoy some time at leisure on board. Perhaps go for a dip in the pool, or kick back on the Sun Deck with a good book and relax as life along the Mekong passes you by.
Day 9: Kampong Cham, Koh Pen
If you are feeling active this morning, perhaps set out on a walk to the hilltop pagoda of Wat Hanchey. From here, enjoy views over the Mekong, making it well worth the climb. You’ll find many temples, pagodas and stupas, some dating back to the 8th century. Lunch is back on board, before taking a tuk tuk to explore the island of Koh Pen with its wooden stilt houses and local farming culture. On your ship this evening, toast the end of your cruise during a final farewell dinner.
Day 10: Kampong Cham, Disembark Ship, Siem Reap
Disembark your ship in Kampong Cham and transfer to Siem Reap. Then, head to World Heritage-listed Angkor Archaeological Park to visit Angkor Thom and the 12th-century temple, Bayon. In Siem Reap tonight, dine in one of the local restaurants.
Day 11: Siem Reap
Rise early this morning and travel back to Angkor Archaeological Park for a Signature Experience. After experiencing the majesty of World Heritage-listed Angkor Wat, enjoy a guided exploration of what is regarded as Angkor’s best-preserved temple, said to be the world’s largest single religious monument. Relax back at your hotel after breakfast. Then this afternoon, explore the temple of Ta Prohm, a World Heritage-listed site which is famous for its intertwined trees. Later, visit ‘Opportunities of Development thru Art’ (ODA), a Siem Reap organisation that provides education opportunities for disadvantaged children. The evening is at your leisure.
Day 12: Siem Reap
Explore Siem Reap your way today. The afternoon is yours to enjoy as you like, before tonight’s traditional Apsara dance performance and a delicious farewell dinner.
Day 13: Depart Siem Reap
Farewell Siem Reap after breakfast this morning, as you transfer to the airport for your onward flight.
Your Peace of Mind Options
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Low Deposit
APT requires a deposit of 500 GBP to secure a place on this tour, and the final balance is not due till 100 days before departure..
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Secure payments
All payments to TourHub are deposited into an externally regulated Trust account.