Classic Mekong River Cruise: Cambodia & Vietnam

Within the Victoria Angkor Resort and Spa enjoy the comfort, elegance and superb refinement of the French Art de Vivre in the heart of Siem Reap. The building's graceful colonial architecture of the 1930's provides a sense of peaceful tranquillity. The hotel has been designed to be in total harmony with its natural surroundings and is enchantingly situated in the heart of Siem Reap, opposite the Royal Park. The Hotel is located within close proximity to World Heritage listed Angkor Temples, the quaint old market town of Siem Reap and only 7km from the International airport.

This morning, you will visit the monumental magnificence of Angkor Thom, last capital of the Khmers, with its Elephant Terrace, the Terrace of the Leper King and the stunning Bayon temple. This 12th century masterpiece lies at the very centre of Angkor Thom and is an archaeological wonder of symmetry and grandeur. Continue to visit Thommanon, Ta Keo and Ta Prohm. Ta Prohm, the temple that has been left largely in it's natural state since its 're-discovery' by French explorers. Surrounded by jungle, its labyrinth of stone hallways is overgrown with the roots and limbs of massive banyan trees. This afternoon, you will visit to Angkor Wat, the largest temple in the world, with a volume of stone equalling that of the Cheops pyramid in Egypt. It is unlike all the other Khmer temples in that it faces west, and is inspired by 12th Century Hinduism.

Today is totally free and at leisure. You can take advantage of any optional activities available or simply relax.

Morning pick up from your hotel in Siem Reap to travel through the local countryside, skirting the Tonle Sap Lake, before arriving in Kampong Chhnang to embark your vessel and the commencement of your adventure. Enjoy your first lunch on board.

After breakfast we board our tender boat to visit the famous Tonle Sap Floating Villages and Markets, observing locals fishing and tending their floating vegetable gardens. We then cruise back to Kampong Chhnang City and disembark our Tender for a walk along the newly constructed River Walkway. Upon returning to the ship, we navigate the very narrow canals of the Tonle Sap River and get up close and personal with the local riverside villagers. After lunch, we board our local limousines (Ox-Carts) for a meander along the Tonle Sap River visiting local villages, markets and temples. Tonight, we will host our Cocktail Hour around a fire pit in one of the local Khmer Villages where we will join the villagers dancing and learning about the local culture.

After a short morning cruise along the Tonle Sap River we will disembark at Kampong Trollach and travel by coach to the Ancient Capital of Cambodia, Oudong. We visit the VipassanaDhura Meditation Centre for a morning of relaxation and meditation before taking a drive around the old capital. After lunch we visit KohNgheTei (Silk Island) to study the entire silk-making process from worms to weavers. You will have the chance to visit local silk purveyors and purchase the locally made products before we enjoy a demonstration of the ancient martial art of L'bokator. L'bokator, which roughly translates as pounding a lion' includes weapons techniques and is one of the oldest existing fighting systems in Cambodia. Oral tradition indicates that L'bokator, or an earlier form thereof, was the close quarter combat system used by the armies before Angkor 1,700 years ago.

We dock in the Cambodian Capital of Phnom Penh where we will partake in a morning orientation of the city by cyclo, visiting the Royal Palace and Silver Pagoda followed by the National Museum with its marvellous collection of Angkorian statuary. In the afternoon, we visit the Killing Fields and TuolSleng Genocide Museum to learn about the tragic history of the area and local people. Optional half-day and full-day tours are available during our stay in Phnom Penh at extra cost. Please contact us in advance or see your in-cabin information manual for further details. Overnight in Phnom Penh city port with its lively bars, restaurants and nightlife.

We up anchor early morning and cruise downstream along the Mekong River to the Cambodia/Vietnam Border to undergo Immigration Formalities. After lunch our boat docks alongside the picturesque border town of Chau Doc where we visit the famous floating markets and fish farms by Sampan. We make a stop at a local Chham Village and observe the lives of these local Vietnamese Muslims before boarding minivans for a short drive to Sam Mountain, location of PhuocDienTu or the Hang Pagoda. We climb the 400 steps to the top to visit the pagoda, proclaimed an official historic monument on 10th July 1980 by the Ministry of Culture and Information of Vietnam. In the evening, feel free to wander along the Chau Doc Riverside.

Early morning, we leave Chau Doc and travel through the canals of the delta as locals awake to a hive of activity. After lunch, we drop anchor upstream of Cao Lanh and take a short coach journey through the lush countryside to GaoGiong green oasis, a 1,000-acre eucalyptus forest and listed wildlife sanctuary. Here a diverse selection of water birds and egrets gather in their tens of thousands across the Duong Tharp Muoi or Plain of Reeds. Rowboats traverse the canals to take us to view the principal nesting areas where photo opportunities abound.

A morning of sailing passing towns such as Sadec andCai Be provides an insight into life along this mighty waterway. After lunch, we travel by sampans through mangroves and bamboo forests to the fruit orchards of Ben Tre. This is an area rich in birdlife which we will explore via local transport before transferring to a rowboat. We will journey slowly through the bamboo covered canals before arriving at a villagespecializing in coconut candy and rice wine. Here you can view the process of manufacturing these specialties and try them for yourself, including the local Moonshine. In the evening, you will be entertained by a Vietnamese Cultural Group highlighting Life on the Mekong Delta.

We disembark our boat and travel by coach from My Tho City through the countryside to your hotel in Ho Chi Minh.

Located along the active Saigon River, the Liberty Central Saigon Riverside Hotel provides a romantic, tranquil vibe within an easy walk of many of the city's prominent landmarks. This award-winning hotel offers 170 comfortable, stylish rooms with city or river views. Facilities include an entire floor dedicated to health and wellness, swimming pool, in-house bistro, sky bar and restaurant.

Beginning in the centre of the city, the first stop on today's itinerary is Reunification Palace. Formerly named the Presidential Palace, this important city landmark was assured its place in history on 30th April 1975, when the first North Vietnamese tanks rumbled past, signalling the Fall of Saigon and ultimately the end of the Vietnam War. Now a museum complete with period meeting areas, war rooms and a basement communication centre, after your visit, walk the short distance to Notre Dame Cathedral. At the centre of HCMC's government district, this romantic church dates back to the late 19th century and is a popular backdrop for wedding photographs. Across the street from the cathedral is the city's striking French colonial-era post office, whilst Hotel de Ville de Saigon, officially Ho Chi Minh City Hall, is another of the city's more prominent buildings. The Museum of Vietnamese History is housed in yet another fine example of Sino-French architecture. Dating back to the 1920s, it contains an excellent series of exhibits dating from the Bronze Age to the Nguyen dynasty, the last ruling family of Vietnam.

As an alternative to the Museum of Vietnamese History, visit the elegant Fine Arts Museum with its impressive collection of ancient and modern art and sculptures, or the War Remnants Museum, which is primarily dedicated to the Vietnam War but also includes exhibits dating back to the French colonialist period and the first Indochina War.

The final stop today is the unforgettable Jade Emperor Pagoda. With the pungent smell of incense hanging heavy in the air and an interior packed full of ornate carvings and fierce-looking statues, this Taoist temple is one of the most atmospheric places of worship in the city. Transfer back to your hotel after your visit or alternatively be dropped off at Ben Thanh market for personal exploration and a spot of souvenir hunting.