Essential Vietnam and Cambodia

INSIDER EXPERIENCE – Two Nights at Le Meridien Saigon

Experience an unforgettable stay at the unique Le Meridien Saigon. Nestled on the banks of the Saigon River in bustling District 1, this contemporary hotel is perfectly situated just moments away from Ben Thanh Market and Independence Palace.

Arrive in Ho Chi Minh City, a bustling metropolis formerly known as Saigon. Meet your Travelmarvel representative and transfer to your hotel. Tonight, feast on a delicious Welcome Dinner showcasing the distinctive flavours of Vietnamese cuisine.

Stay: Two Nights, Ho Chi Minh City, Le Meridien Saigon

• Dinner

INSIDER EXPERIENCE – Morning Walking Tour

Step out on an early morning guided walk to watch the busy streets come to life and gain a deeper understanding of what drives this urban centre.

Begin the day with your Insider Experience then return to your hotel for breakfast. Drive to My Tho and board the RV Apsara, your boutique river ship and home for the next seven nights. Exuding an authentic ambience, the ship offers twin balconies with every suite to ensure a unique and scenic perspective on your Mekong River cruise.

Set sail from My Tho and soak in the scenery as you cruise towards Cai Be, where you anchor overnight. Settle in and familiarise yourself with your suite or relax up on the Sun Deck and watch life along the river. Tonight, enjoy your special Welcome Dinner on board with your fellow travellers.

Stay: Seven Nights, Mekong River, RV Apsara

• Breakfast
• Lunch
• Dinner

Early risers can witness the sunrise from the Sun Deck and enjoy coffee and freshly baked pastries in the Saigon Lounge. Keep an eye open for the wholesalers pedalling their tropical fruits and vegetables at the floating market.

Board your small tender boat, a traditional sampan for your first excursion on the banks of the Mekong. See the colonial port filled with crumbling colonial buildings and flowering gardens. Step ashore to visit the Cai Be Church, the tallest church in the Mekong Delta, with its impressive bell tower. Afterwards, visit a rice paper and coconut candy manufacturer and learn how these tasty Vietnamese favourites are made.

Head back to the ship and sit down to lunch while cruising to the quaint town of Sa Dec. Upon arrival, explore Sa Dec by foot and meet some sellers at the market. From fish to leafy vegetables and mangoes, the markets are a riot of colour and activity. Continue past crumbling waterside mansions to the home of Mr. Huynh Thuy Le, who inspired the French writer Marguerite Duras’ novel, L'Amant (The Lover). Hear the stories of this Vietnamese Chinese tragic love story retold by your local guide.

Return to the ship to unwind or relax with a rejuvenating treatment from the spa. As the sun sets the RV Apsara sets sail for Tan Chau. Dine in the restaurant and later spend time in the lounge enjoying the evening entertainment or sip on a late-night cocktail.

• Breakfast
• Lunch
• Dinner

Transfer to a small boat for a cruise along the tiny tributaries that snake around Tan Chau, the last stop before the border. Step ashore for a rickshaw tour and weave through rambling laneways past shops and friendly locals and stop to visit a local silk and rattan weaving workshop.

Later, step back in time during a visit to Vinh Hoa, also known as Evergreen Island. Take the opportunity to see traditional Vietnamese farming, where the land is ploughed by water buffalo and where you will see authentic rural Mekong life.

Appreciate some downtime and watch the scenery of the Mekong River pass as the RV Apsara spends the afternoon cruising towards the Cambodian border. While border formalities are carried out, sit down and enjoy the onboard activities and presentations. Cross into Cambodia and cruise overnight towards the capital, Phnom Penh.

• Breakfast
• Lunch
• Dinner

Start the morning with an excursion to the Killing Fields and the Tuol Sleng Genocide Museum, where you will learn about the atrocities inflicted upon the Cambodian people by the Khmer Rouge regime, as well as the resilience of the Cambodian people. Take a moment to pay your respects at the Memorial Stupa, a monument erected in memory of the thousands of people who lost their lives. After lunch, visit the Royal Palace built in 1866, and delight in its white and gold Khmer architecture. Head inside the glorious Silver Pagoda - named after its floors, which are designed with 5,000 silver tiles. The remainder of the afternoon is at your leisure. You may wish to head to the Russian Market for souvenirs, the Central Market where you can try the local delicacy of fried tarantula and crickets, or simply stay on board and enjoy the facilities and service.

• Breakfast
• Lunch
• Dinner

Rise early as you cruise towards Oknha Tey (Oknha Tei), more commonly known as the Silk Island, renowned for its silk manufacturing traditions, preserved over the centuries. Travel by tuk tuk, pass rice fields and get a glimpse into rural life. Stroll among the stilt houses and gain insight into the traditional silk weaving process. Watch as the village women create the beautiful Khmer fabrics from their wooden looms. Enjoy lunch on board as you sail towards Angkor Ban. In the afternoon, take a dip in the pool and soak in the passing scenery from the Sun Deck.

• Breakfast
• Lunch
• Dinner