Trip Inclusions
- 13 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
- 22 breakfasts, 13 lunches and 15 dinners, plus select international wine and local beer included with lunch and dinner on board your Mekong River cruise.
- Witness the sunset over the magnificent Angkor Wat temples
- Receive a traditional Buddhist blessing by monks in Oudong
- Watch a mesmerising performance of Cambodia’s Phare Circus
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
- Some ports may have physical conditions that prevent some guests from going ashore
- Prices include transfers, port charges, tipping and flights within Vietnam
- Flights should arrive in Hanoi before 4pm
- Days 1-4 of touring are escorted by a local guide
- Please note: During certain Vietnamese national holidays such as Tet Festival (February) including Independence Day (2 September) touring and activities may be impacted
- 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
Stay at the stylish Movenpick Hotel Hanoi, located right in the heart of the city.
Upon your arrival in Hanoi, transfer to your five-star hotel close to the Old Quarter. Later, get to know your local guide during an informal briefing at your hotel.
Stay: Movenpick Hotel Hanoi
Hanoi, Sapa
Rise early for the drive to Sapa, a mountain town located among green hills and valleys. Once a former French hill station is home to local hill tribe’s people. Witness spectacular mountain views and valleys dotted with terraced paddy fields along the way. Step out on a guided walk around town. Stroll through the local market and learn about several of the ethnic minority groups, including Hmong and Dao, who make their way in from nearby villages to sell their produce. Savour dinner at a local restaurant before returning to your mountain resort perched atop one of Sapa’s highest hills.
Stay: Two Nights, BB Sapa Resort & Spa
Daily :
Sapa
Head out on an easy hike through breathtaking landscapes to explore the small village of Ma Tra, home to the H’mong and Red Dao tribes. Here you will see the famous terraced rice fields and witness the simple lifestyle that this area is renowned for. Take time to explore the ruins of a church dating to the French occupations and stop to chat with the local people. After the village visit, enjoy an included lunch before having the remainder of your afternoon at leisure. Perhaps take the opportunity to go exploring, shopping or relax at your accommodation.
Daily :Sapa, Hanoi
INSIDER EXPERIENCE
Listen to a private Hat Xam performance and engage with the artists.
Drive back to Hanoi and enjoy time at leisure. This evening your Insider Experience awaits before sitting down to a multicourse Vietnamese dinner in the hotel.
Stay: Two Nights, Movenpick Hotel Hanoi
Daily :Hanoi
INSIDER EXPERIENCE
Weave through Hanoi’s Old Quarter on a cyclo adventure.
INSIDER EXPERIENCE
Feast on a soulful Vietnamese lunch hosted by a KOTO, a social enterprise.
Embark on a guided sightseeing tour of Hanoi, taking in the most famous historical and cultural sites. Visit Ba Dinh Square, Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum complex, 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.
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
Cruise the stunning waters of World Heritage-listed Ha Long Bay on a two-night cruise aboard the Bhaya Classic.
Set off early to Tuan Chau before boarding Bhaya Classic, 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, Da Nang, Hoi An
INSIDER EXPERIENCE
Rest and unwind in the luxury surround of the Almanity Hoi An Resort & Spa.
Explore Sung Sot Cave this morning before docking back at Tuan Chau. Travel to Hanoi airport for your included flight to Da Nang, then transfer to your resort in Hoi An.
Stay: Three Nights, Almanity Hoi An Resort & Spa
Daily :Hoi An
INSIDER EXPERIENCE
Discover the art of cooking Vietnamese cuisine, visit the local market, and sit down to dine on your creations.
Make the most of your day today in Hoi An with your Insider Experience at the Morning Glory Cooking School. Enjoy a free evening or choose from one of our select experience dining options.
Daily :Hoi An
Spend the day at leisure, explore this charming World Heritage-listed town at your own pace or choose from one of our select experience options.
Daily :
Hoi An, Hue
INSIDER EXPERINECE
Learn about the craft of paper flower making before trying your hand at making your own.
Journey over the Hai Van Pass, with spectacular views across Lang Co Beach, before reaching Hue, the former Imperial capital of Vietnam situated on the banks of the picturesque Perfume River. Venture to the grand Imperial Citadel, stroll through the monuments and hear stories of former royal inhabitants. Step inside the historical Tien Mu Pagoda, an active Buddhist monastery before enjoying your Insider Experience. Dine tonight on regional cuisine from Hue.
Stay: Hue, Pilgrimage Village Boutique Resort & Spa
Daily :Hue, Ho Chi Minh City
INSIDER EXPERIENCE
Join a private Tai Chi lesson and appreciate the benefits of improved strength, flexibility and balance.
INSIDER EXPERIENCE
Relax in comfort and soak in the Saigon River views from your well-appointed room at Le Meridien Saigon.
Rise early for your Insider Experience before a flight to Ho Chi Minh City, the bustling metropolis formerly known as Saigon.
Tonight, indulge in a multicourse dinner.
Stay: Two Nights, Ho Chi Minh City, Le Meridien Saigon
Daily :Ho Chi Minh City, Cu Chi Tunnels, Ho Chi Minh City
Visit the Cu Chi Tunnels, an elaborate tunnel network built by Vietnamese resistance fighters during the war. Learn more about the construction of the underground passageways and 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. Transfer to My Tho to board your river ship, the RV Apsara, your home for the next seven nights. Exuding a true Asian ambience, the ship offers twin balconies with every suite to ensure a unique and scenic perspective on your Mekong River cruise. Set sail towards Cai Be where you anchor overnight. Tonight, enjoy your special Welcome Dinner with your fellow travellers.
Stay: Seven Nights, Mekong River, RV Apsara
Daily :Cai Be, Sa Dec, Tan Chau
Explore Cai Be and its surrounds by tender boat as you view local life on the river and along its banks. Go ashore to see the French Gothic cathedral, the tallest church in the Mekong Delta with its impressive bell tower and visit manufacturers 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.
Back on board unwind or relax your body with a rejuvenating treatment from the spa. As the sun sets the RV Apsara sets sail for Tan Chau. Enjoy dinner and later head up to the Saigon Lounge for evening entertainment or a cocktail.
Daily :Tan Chau, Cambodia Border Crossing, Phnom Penh
Transfer to a small boat for a journey along the tiny tributaries that snake around Tan Chau. Embark on a rickshaw tour and weave through the tiny laneways of this sleepy town almost untouched by tourism. 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 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 appreciate some down time 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.
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, delighting in 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 monastery in Oudong where you will partake in a Buddhist blessing offered by the monks.
Travel by coach to Oudong, the former capital of Cambodia, for your memorable Insider Experience. Afterwards, you will visit Koh Chen and explore the open-air copperware workshops.
Travel by coach to Oudong, the former capital of Cambodia, for your memorable Insider Experience. Afterwards, you will visit Koh Chen and explore 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 select experiences.
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. Return to your river ship and enjoy lunch on board as the ship sets sail for Angkor Ban.
In the afternoon as you cruise up the Mekong River enjoy time at leisure. Have a dip in the pool or sit and read a book on the Sun Deck while soaking in the scenery.
Daily :Angkor Ban, Koh Pen, Kampong Cham
INSIDER EXPERIENCE
Take a tuk tuk ride through the agricultural island of Koh Pen. Travel along the shaded lanes and past wooden stilted houses, tucked amongst palm and sandalwood trees.
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, your cruise docks at its final location Kampong Cham where you can enjoy your Insider Experience.
This evening, enjoy a Farewell Dinner on board with your fellow travellers as you reminisce about your Mekong River cruise adventure.
Daily :Kampong Cham, Disembark Ship, Siem Reap
INSIDER EXPERIENCE
Visit Opportunities of Development thru Art (ODA) which supports local underprivileged children, part of OneTomorrow.
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.
Bid farewell to the crew and disembark the RV Apsara. Travel to Siem Reap, the gateway to Angkor Wat, passing through picturesque countryside and remote villages where you can observe rural life. Take a break before heading to the jungle Ta Prohm Temple, commonly referred to as the Tomb Raider temple and enroute 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 enjoy an Apsara performance.
Explore Angkor Archaeological Park and visit the temple Bayon Temple with its carved stone smiling faces. Later this afternoon, continue to 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 Insider Experiences.
Daily :Depart Siem Reap
Your journey ends today after breakfast with a transfer to Siem Reap-Angkor International Airport for your onward flight.
Daily :This was our first organised tour - and it met and exceeded all of our expectations. The planning throughout the trip was meticulous, the service delivery in Vietnam and Cambodia was exceptional.
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