Trip Inclusions
- Six nights in premium accommodation
- Seven-night Mekong River cruise aboard the RV Apsara, featuring all suites with twin balconies
- Two-night Ha Long Bay cruise on the Bhaya Classic
- Services of a Travelmarvel Tour Leader and expert English-speaking local guides
- 37 meals - 15 breakfasts, 10 lunches and 12 dinners, plus select international wine and local beer included with lunch and dinner on board your Mekong River cruise
- Relax at the stylish Shinta Mani Angkor and Bensley Collection Pool Villas
- Receive a traditional Buddhist blessing by monks in Oudong
- Witness the sunset over the magnificent Angkor Wat temples
Map & Itinerary
Trip Notes
- Itinerary and inclusions are subject to change
- Disruptions to cruising and touring may occur due to operational issues, including high or low water levels, and unforeseen weather conditions
- Prices include transfers, port charges, tipping and flight within Vietnam & Cambodia
- Days 1-4 of touring are escorted by a local guide, internal flight between Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City is unaccompanied
- Flights should arrive in Hanoi before 4pm
- Prices are for land, cruise and flights as specified only
Insider Experiences
Designed exclusively for our guests
Insider Experience
Enjoy an included special or unique excursion or event
Arrive Hanoi
INSIDER EXPERIENCE
Listen to a private Hat Xam performance and engage with the artists.
INSIDER EXPERIENCE
Delight in a stay at the five-star Movenpick Hotel Hanoi in the heart of the city.
On arrival in Vietnam's capital, Hanoi, you'll be met at the airport and transferred to the Movenpick Hotel Hanoi, a short walk from the Old Quarter. Enjoy your Insider Experience tonight before sitting down to a multicourse Vietnamese dinner in the hotel.
Stay: Two Nights, Movenpick Hotel Hanoi
Daily :Hanoi
INSIDER EXPERIENCE
Feast on a soulful Vietnamese lunch hosted by a KOTO, a social enterprise.
INSIDER EXPERIENCE
Take a rickshaw ride through the Old Quarter.
Embark on a guided sightseeing tour of Hanoi, including the Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum and historic Ba Dinh Square, the iconic One Pillar Pagoda and the Temple of Literature, a beautiful example of Vietnamese architecture and the first university in Vietnam. Afterwards, an Insider Experience awaits.
The afternoon and evening are at leisure or choose from one of our select experiences.
Daily :
Hanoi, Tuan Chau, Embark Ship, Ha Long Bay
INSIDER EXPERIENCE
Board the Bhaya Classic for an incredible two-night cruise on World Heritage-listed Ha Long Bay.
Set off early to Tuan Chau to board your boutique ship, your home for two nights. Meet your crew and set sail among thousands of limestone islets. Feast on a Vietnamese lunch as you soak in the views of Ha Long Bay. Then it's time to kayak around the Tung Sau area.
Catch the sunset on board as you cruise towards anchor for the night. Enjoy dinner before doing some squid fishing, sipping cocktails or relaxing in your cabin.
Stay: Two Nights, Ha Long Bay, Bhaya Classic
Daily :Ha Long Bay
Board rowing boats to visit the Luon Cave area, listen to the ancient folklore and enjoy close views of the magnificent limestone karsts. Visit Cua Van Floating Village in the heart of Ha Long Bay, by kayak or traditional rowing boat.
Enjoy lunch on board while cruising to Trinh Nu. Spend time relaxing at the private beach or visit one of the finest sunlight caves with stunning stalactites and stalagmites. Later gather for a sumptuous dinner.
Daily :Ha Long Bay, Disembark Ship, Tuan Chau, Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City
INSIDER EXPERIENCE
Relax in comfort and soak in the Saigon River views from your well-appointed room at Le Meridien Saigon.
Visit Sung Sot Cave before docking back at Tuan Chau and transferring to Hanoi airport. Board your included flight to Ho Chi Minh City. A delicious dinner awaits you tonight.
Stay: Two Nights, Ho Chi Minh City, Le Meridien Saigon
Daily :Ho Chi Minh City, Cu Chi Tunnels, Ho Chi Minh City
Discover the military history of the area. Visit the Cu Chi Tunnels, built by the Viet Cong during the war. Take the opportunity to crawl through a section to understand first-hand what it was like for the soldiers who lived and fought here.
The afternoon and evening have been left free for you to explore at your own pace or choose from one of our select experience touring and dining options.
Daily :Ho Chi Minh City, My Tho, Embark Ship, Cai Be
INSIDER EXPERIENCE
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 with your Insider Experience then return to the hotel for breakfast. Drive to My Tho and board your river ship. Soak in the scenery as you cruise towards Cai Be where the ship will anchor overnight. Tonight, enjoy your first dinner prepared by your onboard chef.
Stay: Seven Nights, Mekong River, RV Apsara
Daily :
Cai Be, Sa Dec, Tan Chau
Today, take a local boat to the town of Cai Be to see the French Gothic cathedral, the tallest church in the Mekong Delta with its impressive bell tower, and visit a manufacturer of rice paper and coconut candy to learn how they're made.
Head back to the ship and sit down to a delicious lunch whilst cruising to Sa Dec. Afterwards, take a boat ride to the charming town of Sa Dec for a guided tour. Stroll through the colourful markets and continue by foot to the home of Huynh Thuy Le, once the lover of French writer Marguerite Duras, who penned her best-selling novel, The Lover, about their affair. As the sun sets the RV Apsara sets sail for Tan Chau.
Daily :Tan Chau, Cambodia, Border Crossing, Phnom Penh
Explore the village of Tan Chau. Go ashore for a rickshaw tour and weave through the tiny laneways of this sleepy town. Home to one of the largest silk-weaving centres in Vietnam, you can observe how silk is woven in the local workshops.
After lunch, take a small-boat ride to discover rural life on Evergreen Island. Observe the traditional Vietnamese farming techniques, where the land is ploughed by water buffalo and where you can see authentic rural Mekong life.
Later, relax or enjoy the onboard activities and presentation as you cross the border into Cambodia and cruise towards Phnom Penh.
Daily :Phnom Penh
Today learn of the atrocities inflicted upon Cambodians during Pol Pot's Khmer Rouge regime in the 1970s. Explore the Tuol Sleng Genocide Museum and the Killing Fields, where you'll find the Memorial Stupa, a glass monument erected in memory of the thousands of Cambodians who lost their lives. After lunch on board, visit the spectacular Royal Palace, with its dazzling white and gold architecture. Then head to the glorious Silver Pagoda, set on the southern side of the palace complex.
The remainder of the afternoon is at your leisure. You may wish to head to the local markets for souvenirs or perhaps to taste the local delicacy of fried tarantula. Alternatively, relax on board and enjoy the facilities and service.
Daily :Phnom Penh, Oudong, Koh Chen, Phnom Penh
INSIDER EXPERIENCE
Visit a Buddhist monastery where you will have the opportunity to partake in a blessing ceremony conducted by the resident monks.
Disembark and travel by coach to Oudong for an Insider Experience. Then continue to Koh Chen to see the open-air copperware workshops. Return to the ship and enjoy a free afternoon in Phnom Penh, or perhaps enhance your time by choosing one of Travelmarvel's Enhance Your Journey options.
Daily :Phnom Penh, Oknha Tey, Angkor Ban
Rise early as your ship glides along the lush banks of the Mekong to Oknha Tey (Oknha Tei), or Silk Island renowned for its silk manufacturing traditions, preserved over centuries. Travel by tuk tuk, pass rice fields and get a glimpse into rural life. Stroll amongst the still houses and gain an insight into the traditional silk weaving process. Watch as the village women create the beautiful Khmer fabrics from their wooden looms. Set sail for Angkor Ban this afternoon.
Daily :Angkor Ban, Koh Pen, Kampong Cham
INSIDER EXPERIENCE
Discover the agricultural island of Koh Pen by tuk tuk.
Start your morning with a guided walk of Angkor Ban, a village awash with stories of Cambodia's cultural history, and one of the few traditional villages that survived the Khmer Rouge regime. Nicknamed the 'Lucky Village', stroll through town, see traditional stilted houses and a Khmer style pagoda. After lunch, enjoy an Insider Experience. This evening, enjoy a Farewell Dinner on board with your fellow travellers as you reminisce about your Mekong River cruise.
Daily :Kampong Cham, Disembark Ship, Siem Reap
INSIDER EXPERIENCE
Visit Opportunities of Development thru Art (ODA) which supports local underprivileged children.
INSIDER EXPERIENCE
Take your seat at Phare Circus and be wowed by the skills of the performers.
INSIDER EXPERIENCE
Unwind at the Shinta Mani Angkor and Bensley Collection Pool Villas, an oasis of tranquillity.
Transfer to Siem Reap, the gateway to Angkor Wat, passing through picturesque countryside and remote villages. Take a break before heading to the jungle temple of Ta Prohm, commonly referred to as the Tomb Raider temple having featured in the movie starring Angelina Jolie. En route to the hotel enjoy your Insider Experiences.
Stay: Two Nights, Siem Reap, Shinta Mani Angkor and Bensley Collection Pool Villas
Daily :Siem Reap
INSIDER EXPERIENCE
Witness an awe-inspiring sunset at the magnificent Angkor Wat.
INSIDER EXPERIENCE
Dine on tantalising Khmer cuisine and watch a private Apsara performance.
Set off early to explore some of the breathtaking Khmer architecture and sites at the World Heritage-listed Angkor Archaeological Park. Delve deeper into the history and significance of Angkor Wat as you wander inside the vast temple complex. Continue to Angkor Thom, the last and most enduring capital, built in the 12th century and head to the intriguing Bayon Temple, with its carved stone smiling faces. Visit the Terrace of Elephants, which used to be the base for the king's grand audience hall and the Terrace of the Leper King, which housed the royal crematory.
Later, explore Siem Reap at your own pace or choose from one of our select experience options. Cap off your visit to Siem Reap and celebrate your unforgettable journey with your Insider Experiences.
Daily :
Depart Siem Reap
Your journey ends this morning. after breakfast with a transfer to Siem Reap–Angkor International Airport for your onward flight.
Daily :Throughout our 16 days we had excellent guides and we were pleased with all but our dealings with Lily were special and we felt you should know about this valuable resource.
Similar Trips
Essential Vietnam and Cambodia
Ho Chi Minh City to Siem Reap
Wonders of Vietnam and Cambodia
Hanoi to Siem Reap
Natural Wonders of Vietnam and Cambodia
Hanoi to Siem Reap
Essential Vietnam and Cambodia
Ho Chi Minh City to Siem Reap
Wonders of Vietnam and Cambodia
Hanoi to Siem Reap
Natural Wonders of Vietnam and Cambodia
Hanoi to Siem Reap