2024 5★ Vietnam & Cambodia Discovery

Upon arrival, be transferred to your hotel, Sofitel Legend Metropole Hanoi for your two night stay. Later this evening, enjoy a Welcome Dinner. (D)

This morning, a tour of Hanoi will take you to the city’s most famous historical and cultural sites. Visit Ho Chi Minh’s Mausoleum, Ba Dinh Square and The Temple of Literature. You’ll also take in the sights of the Old Quarter during a cyclo ride. Spend the afternoon on your selected Freedom of Choice activity.

Freedom of Choice

Perhaps tour the 500-year-old village of Bat Trang. Or, relax and enjoy a foot massage back at your hotel. Embark on a walking tour to observe Hanoi’s French colonial architecture, and explore the interior of the Hanoi Opera House, take in a water puppet show, or a leisurely bicycle ride.

How your evening evolves is also up to you – choose from a range of different but equally superb and delicious restaurants for dinner. (B,D)

Travel by coach to Ha Long Bay and embark your ship, the luxurious Au Co. Embark on your luxurious three-day cruise on World Heritage-listed Ha Long Bay. Feel the wind in your hair as you set sail among thousands of spectacular limestone islets this afternoon, gliding slowly over the azure waters.

Enjoy lunch on board as you traverse through stunning scenery towards Ba Ham Lake, where you will have the chance to go for a dip or enjoy a spot of kayaking in the emerald green waters. Back on board, you might like to try your hand at creating authentic Vietnamese dishes during a cooking demonstration. Dinner this evening will be accompanied by a Vietnamese cultural dance. Afterwards, perhaps catch a movie at the ship’s moonlight open cinema, or take in the views as you enjoy a cocktail on the sun deck. (B,L,D)

Awake early and as the sun rises, perhaps rejuvenate your body and soul with a Tai Chi class. A secluded swim or chance to sunbathe is on the cards with a stop at Ba Trai Dao beach. After lunch, continue to Cat Ba Island, where you will take a guided bike tour to Viet Hai Village, nestled among the jungle-clad mountains of Cat Ba National Park. While here, you will also have the chance to visit an ancient Vietnamese house.

Upon retiring to The Au Co for the evening, relax and enjoy a barbecue dinner. (B,L,D)

This morning after breakfast, take to the waters around the Cua Van Floating Culture Centre by kayak or traditional rowing boat. Renowned for its natural beauty, this calm bay allows you to see traditional floating fishing villages and enjoy local life. Return onboard for a farewell Vietnamese tea ceremony.

After, transfer to Hanoi airport for your included flight to Ho Chi Minh City.

On arrival, you will be transferred to your hotel, Park Hyatt Saigon, for your two night stay. (B,L,D)

Today, choose from two Signature Experiences, and enjoy another unforgettable Signature Experience in the evening.

Signature Experience

Journey to Ba Ria and learn about the Battle of Long Tan, followed by a memorial service at Long Tan Cross, a memorial marking the site of this battle. Erected by the 6th Battalion, Royal Australian Regiment, it is located in a rubber plantation. Or visit the Cu Chi Tunnels, built by Vietnamese resistance fighters during the war. This remarkable tunnel network concealed the Viet Cong and served as supply and communication routes, as well as hospitals and weapon caches.

Experience dinner at Vietnam House, founded by Australia-born Vietnamese celebrity chef Luke Nguyen. (B,L,D)

Enjoy a Freedom of Choice Sightseeing activity today

Freedom of Choice

Perhaps jump on the back of a motorbike and tour the vibrant streets of Saigon, or rise early for some city discovery and morning Tai Chi in the park. Other options include a walking tour of the capital, retail therapy at a bustling Vietnamese market, a tour of artist workshops or an authentic Vietnamese cooking class.

Afterwards, transfer to My Tho to embark your ship, the Mekong Serenity for your seven night all-inclusive river cruise. 

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. (B,L,D)

Step ashore in Tan Chau today for a rickshaw tour. On board your rickshaw, you’ll glide past shops, rice wine rooms and friendly locals who are always eager to say hello. Stop to pay a visit to a local silk and rattan weaving workshop.

Later, step back in time during a visit to an evergreen island aboard a small boat, where you’ll experience authentic rural Mekong life.

The remainder of today is left free for you to relax back on board your river ship. (B,L,D)

Freedom of Choice

Explore Cambodia's past or present today wit a range of Freedom of Choice experiences. After lunch back on board, more choices await.

Perhaps experience some of Cambodia’s sobering history with a visit to the infamous Killing Fields. Afterwards, see the Tuol Sleng Genocide Museum, on the site of the Khmer Rouge’s notorious Security Prison 21 (S-21). Or, discover Phnom Penh on a tuk tuk ride with a stop at the Central Market. History buffs can visit the National Museum or, if you prefer, take a leisurely bike ride through the city’s quiet back roads.

After lunch, either explore the Royal Palace and Silver Pagoda, enjoy some shopping or indulge in high tea.

This evening is yours to relax. (B,L,D)

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.

Signature Experience

In Oudong, partake in a traditional Buddhist blessing ceremony.

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.

Afterwards, return to your river ship to relax before enjoying delicious onboard dining tonight. (B,L,D)

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. (B,L,D)

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 on board. (B,L,D)

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.

Freedom of Choice

Tonight, choose where to dine in Siem Reap.

Three night stay in, Siem Reap, at Hotel Sofitel Angkor (B,L,D)

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. (B)

Embark on your selected sightseeing activity.

Freedom of Choice

Perhaps set out a tuk tuk ride to the Senteurs d’Angkor workshop, where you can shop for local handmade crafts. If you’re looking for something a little more adventurous, you might like to join a quadbike excursion through the Cambodian countryside. Alternatively, unwind with a soothing spa treatment.

Tonight, enjoy a traditional Apsara dance performance before enjoying a Farewell Dinner. (B,D)

After breakfast, transfer to the airport. (B)