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Fascinating Vietnam, Cambodia & the Mekong River (Southbound) 2021
14 DAYS FROM ONLY $3,559
Countries:
Cambodia, Vietnam
Embark:
Siem Reap
Disembark:
Ho Chi Minh City
Ship:
Avalon Saigon (Other Ships)
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Login to your Account On a hilltop at the site of the 8th-century temple of Wat Hanchey, take in the stunning views before walking through the rural village of Angkor Ban to visit with welcoming schoolchildren. Continue your cruise into Vietnam and visit a colorful market, the home of a local family making handcrafted sampans, and a workshop to learn how rice wine and traditional candies are made.This memorable Southeast Asia river cruise vacation concludes in the bustling Ho Chi Minh City which combines historic architecture with modern skyscrapers. See the famous landmarks and try your hand in the kitchen—Vietnamese-style, with a cooking class. Go back in time with an excursion to the Cu Chi Tunnels where you’ll have an opportunity to walk through a section of the immense underground tunnel system used extensively during the Vietnam War.
| Day | Activity |
| Day 1 | Depart USA |
| Day 2 | SIEM REAP, CAMBODIA |
| Day 3 | SIEM REAP The Tranquil Temples of Angkor and Joyful Dances |
| Day 4 | SIEM REAP Root-Covered Ruins and Native Noodles |
| Day 5 | PHNOM PENH (EMBARKATION) |
| Day 6 | WAT HANCHEY—ANGKOR BAN |
| Day 7 | KAMPONG TRALACH—KONPONG LOUANG Calm in the Cambodian CountrysideDISCOVERY Your Guided Sightseeing starts in Kampong Tralach with an Ox-Cart Ride through the beautiful Cambodian countryside. Along th |
| Day 8 | PHNOM PENH The Royal Treatment |
| Day 9 | BORDER CROSSING—CHAU DOC, VIETNAM |
| Day 10 | LONG KHANH A—CU LAO GIENG |
| Day 11 | VINH LONG |
| Day 12 | HO CHI MINH CITY (DISEMBARKATION) Motorbikes, Monuments, and Mouthwatering Cuisine |
| Day 13 | HO CHI MINH CITY. EXCURSION TO CU CHI TUNNELS Secret Passageways and Underground Hideouts |
| Day 14 | HO CHI MINH CITY |
| Day | Activity |
| Day 1 | Depart USA |
| Day 2 | SIEM REAP, CAMBODIA |
| Day 3 | SIEM REAP The Tranquil Temples of Angkor and Joyful Dances |
| Day 4 | SIEM REAP Root-Covered Ruins and Native Noodles |
| Day 5 | PHNOM PENH (EMBARKATION) |
| Day 6 | WAT HANCHEY—ANGKOR BAN |
| Day 7 | KAMPONG TRALACH—KONPONG LOUANG Calm in the Cambodian CountrysideDISCOVERY Your Guided Sightseeing starts in Kampong Tralach with an Ox-Cart Ride through the beautiful Cambodian countryside. Along th |
| Day 8 | PHNOM PENH The Royal Treatment |
| Day 9 | BORDER CROSSING—CHAU DOC, VIETNAM |
| Day 10 | LONG KHANH A—CU LAO GIENG |
| Day 11 | VINH LONG |
| Day 12 | HO CHI MINH CITY (DISEMBARKATION) Motorbikes, Monuments, and Mouthwatering Cuisine |
| Day 13 | HO CHI MINH CITY. EXCURSION TO CU CHI TUNNELS Secret Passageways and Underground Hideouts |
| Day 14 | HO CHI MINH CITY |
| Day | Activity / Description |
| Day 1 | Depart USA Depart the US on your overnight flight. |
| Day 2 | SIEM REAP, CAMBODIA Welcome to Siem Reap, home to the Temples of Angkor, considered by many to be the most spectacular architectural ruins on Earth! Hotel rooms are available for mid-afternoon check-in. |
| Day 3 | SIEM REAP The Tranquil Temples of Angkor and Joyful Dances CLASSIC Explore the temples by tuk-tuk. Start at the best preserved and most famous of all the temples: Angkor Wat. Featuring five trademark towers, it is the symbol of Cambodia. Then, continue your Guided Excursion to visit Angkor Thom, where you will explore Bayon Temple with its 200 striking faces carved in 54 towers and impressive bas relief sculptures, OR:ACTIVE Visit Angkor Wat, Angkor Thom, and Bayon Temple by bike.Enjoy some time at your leisure this afternoon to explore Siem Reap’s shops for local artisan crafts.DISCOVERY This evening, a private Apsara Dance Performance brings ancient Khmer culture to life through music, song, and dance. Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner |
| Day 4 | SIEM REAP Root-Covered Ruins and Native Noodles CLASSIC Continue your Sightseeing Tour of the Angkor temples at Ta Prohm. Tree roots cover the ruin walls, allowing you to experience the temple with the same wonder as early explorers. Then visit Banteay Srei, a unique temple built on a small scale from red sandstone, which can be carved like wood. En route, stop at a village famous for making Khmer noodles by hand. Spend the afternoon at your leisure. Meals: Breakfast, Lunch |
| Day 5 | PHNOM PENH (EMBARKATION) Your intimate Suite Ship® Awaits! Fly to Phnom Penh and transfer to the port where your ship’s crew will be waiting to welcome you onboard. Get acquainted with the ship and relax before your welcome reception this evening. AFTERNOON/EVENING CRUISE TO WAT HANCHEY Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner |
| Day 6 | WAT HANCHEY—ANGKOR BAN Water Blessings and Back-to-School Adventures DISCOVERY Visit Wat Hanchey, a hilltop temple dating back to the 8th century. Climb or be driven to the top where you will enjoy stunning views of the surrounding area and partake in a traditional water blessing given by local monks. DISCOVERY After lunch, enjoy a Walking Tour through the rural village of Angkor Ban. Here, you will visit a traditional Khmer house and interact with children at a local school. EVENING/OVERNIGHT CRUISE TO KAMPONG TRALACH Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner |
| Day 7 | KAMPONG TRALACH—KONPONG LOUANG Calm in the Cambodian CountrysideDISCOVERY Your Guided Sightseeing starts in Kampong Tralach with an Ox-Cart Ride through the beautiful Cambodian countryside. Along th CLASSIC After lunch, a Visit to the Tuol Sleng Genocide Museum and one of the Killing Fields provides a glimpse into the atrocities inflicted on the Cambodian people by the Khmer Rouge regime, OR:DISCOVERY Visit the lively Central Market with its unique Art Deco design by tuk-tuk. This evening, spend some free time exploring the city on your own. Perhaps follow the riverfront promenade to the historic Foreign Correspondents Club (FCC). Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner |
| Day 8 | PHNOM PENH The Royal Treatment CLASSIC Join a Guided Tour of the city by private cyclo with visits to the Royal Palace with the spectacular Silver Pagoda, and the National Museum featuring an outstanding display of Khmer artifacts. The remainder of the day is yours to enjoy at your leisure. Consider a Guided Optional Tour of a local brewery with free-flowing local beer! Just before dinner, children from a local orphanage will perform a show, featuring local song and dance.EVENING/OVERNIGHT CRUISE TO VIETNAM/CAMBODIA BORDER Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner |
| Day 9 | BORDER CROSSING—CHAU DOC, VIETNAM Good Morning, Vietnam! DISCOVERY Take a Village Walk through the Chau Doc market, and absorb the atmosphere as locals are busy buying and selling fish, meat, and produce. After lunch, embark on a Guided Excursion down the backwaters of the Mekong. Along the way, see traditional floating homes, speedboat merchants, religious sites, a market selling dried goods, and more. EVENING CRUISE TO LONG KHANH A Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner |
| Day 10 | LONG KHANH A—CU LAO GIENG Cotton Weaving, Conical Hats, and Handcrafted SampansDISCOVERY This morning, a sampan brings you to the village of Long Khanh A, for a Cotton-Weaving Demonstration of this well-preserved tradition. DISCOVERY This afternoon, enjoy scenes of daily life on Cu Lao Gieng Island via sampan and local motor cart. Your Guided Excursion starts with a stop at one of Vietnam’s oldest Catholic churches. Then, visit the home of a local family that makes Vietnamese conical hats, or “Non la,” from materials available to them such as palm leaves and bamboo. These iconic hats are primarily used as protection from the sun and rain but you may also see them used as a basket to carry home goods from the market. Lastly, visit a local workshop where a skilled family hand-crafts sampan boats.EVENING CRUISE TO VINH LONG Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner |
| Day 11 | VINH LONG Sweets and Rice Treats DISCOVERY Board a sampan this morning to Visit a Local Workshop in Vinh Long where you will see how rice paper, rice wine, and traditional candies are made. This afternoon, enjoy time on board the ship as we sail to exciting Ho Chi Minh City.AFTERNOON CRUISE TO HO CHI MINH CITY Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner |
| Day 12 | HO CHI MINH CITY (DISEMBARKATION) Motorbikes, Monuments, and Mouthwatering Cuisine CLASSIC Take a Walking Tour of Ho Chi Minh City’s historic landmarks, including a stop at the Rex Hotel for a refreshing drink at the rooftop bar where the U.S. Military held the infamous “Five O’Clock Follies” during the war. Then, visit the War Remnants Museum and bustling Ben Thanh Market. DISCOVERY For lunch, participate in a hands-on Vietnamese Cooking Class. Learn to prepare several local dishes and how to recreate them at home. Last, but not least, sample your delicious creations!Enjoy time at your leisure this afternoon and evening for independent exploration. Maybe stop for a drink at the famous rooftop bar at the Caravelle Hotel. Meals: Breakfast, Lunch |
| Day 13 | HO CHI MINH CITY. EXCURSION TO CU CHI TUNNELS Secret Passageways and Underground Hideouts CLASSIC Drive out of the city for a Guided Visit to the Cu Chi Tunnels—an extraordinary network of tunnels more than 120 miles in length—used as a hideout and secret village by the Viet Cong.Explore the city further during free time this afternoon. This evening, join your traveling companions for a special dinner in a local restaurant. Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner |
| Day 14 | HO CHI MINH CITY Your vacation ends with breakfast this morning. Meals: Breakfast, Lunch |
| Day | Activity / Description |
| Day 1 | Depart USA Depart the US on your overnight flight. |
| Day 2 | SIEM REAP, CAMBODIA Welcome to Siem Reap, home to the Temples of Angkor, considered by many to be the most spectacular architectural ruins on Earth! Hotel rooms are available for mid-afternoon check-in. |
| Day 3 | SIEM REAP The Tranquil Temples of Angkor and Joyful Dances CLASSIC Explore the temples by tuk-tuk. Start at the best preserved and most famous of all the temples: Angkor Wat. Featuring five trademark towers, it is the symbol of Cambodia. Then, continue your Guided Excursion to visit Angkor Thom, where you will explore Bayon Temple with its 200 striking faces carved in 54 towers and impressive bas relief sculptures, OR:ACTIVE Visit Angkor Wat, Angkor Thom, and Bayon Temple by bike.Enjoy some time at your leisure this afternoon to explore Siem Reap’s shops for local artisan crafts.DISCOVERY This evening, a private Apsara Dance Performance brings ancient Khmer culture to life through music, song, and dance. Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner |
| Day 4 | SIEM REAP Root-Covered Ruins and Native Noodles CLASSIC Continue your Sightseeing Tour of the Angkor temples at Ta Prohm. Tree roots cover the ruin walls, allowing you to experience the temple with the same wonder as early explorers. Then visit Banteay Srei, a unique temple built on a small scale from red sandstone, which can be carved like wood. En route, stop at a village famous for making Khmer noodles by hand. Spend the afternoon at your leisure. Meals: Breakfast, Lunch |
| Day 5 | PHNOM PENH (EMBARKATION) Your intimate Suite Ship® Awaits! Fly to Phnom Penh and transfer to the port where your ship’s crew will be waiting to welcome you onboard. Get acquainted with the ship and relax before your welcome reception this evening. AFTERNOON/EVENING CRUISE TO WAT HANCHEY Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner |
| Day 6 | WAT HANCHEY—ANGKOR BAN Water Blessings and Back-to-School Adventures DISCOVERY Visit Wat Hanchey, a hilltop temple dating back to the 8th century. Climb or be driven to the top where you will enjoy stunning views of the surrounding area and partake in a traditional water blessing given by local monks. DISCOVERY After lunch, enjoy a Walking Tour through the rural village of Angkor Ban. Here, you will visit a traditional Khmer house and interact with children at a local school. EVENING/OVERNIGHT CRUISE TO KAMPONG TRALACH Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner |
| Day 7 | KAMPONG TRALACH—KONPONG LOUANG Calm in the Cambodian CountrysideDISCOVERY Your Guided Sightseeing starts in Kampong Tralach with an Ox-Cart Ride through the beautiful Cambodian countryside. Along th CLASSIC After lunch, a Visit to the Tuol Sleng Genocide Museum and one of the Killing Fields provides a glimpse into the atrocities inflicted on the Cambodian people by the Khmer Rouge regime, OR:DISCOVERY Visit the lively Central Market with its unique Art Deco design by tuk-tuk. This evening, spend some free time exploring the city on your own. Perhaps follow the riverfront promenade to the historic Foreign Correspondents Club (FCC). Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner |
| Day 8 | PHNOM PENH The Royal Treatment CLASSIC Join a Guided Tour of the city by private cyclo with visits to the Royal Palace with the spectacular Silver Pagoda, and the National Museum featuring an outstanding display of Khmer artifacts. The remainder of the day is yours to enjoy at your leisure. Consider a Guided Optional Tour of a local brewery with free-flowing local beer! Just before dinner, children from a local orphanage will perform a show, featuring local song and dance.EVENING/OVERNIGHT CRUISE TO VIETNAM/CAMBODIA BORDER Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner |
| Day 9 | BORDER CROSSING—CHAU DOC, VIETNAM Good Morning, Vietnam! DISCOVERY Take a Village Walk through the Chau Doc market, and absorb the atmosphere as locals are busy buying and selling fish, meat, and produce. After lunch, embark on a Guided Excursion down the backwaters of the Mekong. Along the way, see traditional floating homes, speedboat merchants, religious sites, a market selling dried goods, and more. EVENING CRUISE TO LONG KHANH A Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner |
| Day 10 | LONG KHANH A—CU LAO GIENG Cotton Weaving, Conical Hats, and Handcrafted SampansDISCOVERY This morning, a sampan brings you to the village of Long Khanh A, for a Cotton-Weaving Demonstration of this well-preserved tradition. DISCOVERY This afternoon, enjoy scenes of daily life on Cu Lao Gieng Island via sampan and local motor cart. Your Guided Excursion starts with a stop at one of Vietnam’s oldest Catholic churches. Then, visit the home of a local family that makes Vietnamese conical hats, or “Non la,” from materials available to them such as palm leaves and bamboo. These iconic hats are primarily used as protection from the sun and rain but you may also see them used as a basket to carry home goods from the market. Lastly, visit a local workshop where a skilled family hand-crafts sampan boats.EVENING CRUISE TO VINH LONG Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner |
| Day 11 | VINH LONG Sweets and Rice Treats DISCOVERY Board a sampan this morning to Visit a Local Workshop in Vinh Long where you will see how rice paper, rice wine, and traditional candies are made. This afternoon, enjoy time on board the ship as we sail to exciting Ho Chi Minh City.AFTERNOON CRUISE TO HO CHI MINH CITY Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner |
| Day 12 | HO CHI MINH CITY (DISEMBARKATION) Motorbikes, Monuments, and Mouthwatering Cuisine CLASSIC Take a Walking Tour of Ho Chi Minh City’s historic landmarks, including a stop at the Rex Hotel for a refreshing drink at the rooftop bar where the U.S. Military held the infamous “Five O’Clock Follies” during the war. Then, visit the War Remnants Museum and bustling Ben Thanh Market. DISCOVERY For lunch, participate in a hands-on Vietnamese Cooking Class. Learn to prepare several local dishes and how to recreate them at home. Last, but not least, sample your delicious creations!Enjoy time at your leisure this afternoon and evening for independent exploration. Maybe stop for a drink at the famous rooftop bar at the Caravelle Hotel. Meals: Breakfast, Lunch |
| Day 13 | HO CHI MINH CITY. EXCURSION TO CU CHI TUNNELS Secret Passageways and Underground Hideouts CLASSIC Drive out of the city for a Guided Visit to the Cu Chi Tunnels—an extraordinary network of tunnels more than 120 miles in length—used as a hideout and secret village by the Viet Cong.Explore the city further during free time this afternoon. This evening, join your traveling companions for a special dinner in a local restaurant. Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner |
| Day 14 | HO CHI MINH CITY Your vacation ends with breakfast this morning. Meals: Breakfast, Lunch |
The all-suite Avalon Siem Reap, one of our incredible new Suite Ships®, was specifically designed to offer the best river cruise experience on the Mekong River. She is the only ship in the industry cruising from Ho Chi Minh City to Phnom Penh (or vice versa) eliminating hours of motorcoach travel time, which means you enjoy more cruising along the Mekong River! <br><br>The ship has been meticulously crafted to offer all the modern features you expect, yet it retains the colonial charm fitting to Vietnam and Cambodia. While the number of guests on the ship may be small, the ship isn't. Built as long and wide as other ships that carry twice as many guests, the public spaces never feel congested. From the air-conditioned Panorama Lounge to the open-air observation lounge, there is plenty of seating and spots to relax. Plus, our lounges are located at the front of the ship, not the back, so no matter where you sit you'll always have a great view.<br><br>Our crew embodies the spirit of you first, no matter what. From the reception staff and bartender to wait staff and room attendant, we always deliver exquisite service that's comfortable and friendly, never stuffy! With Avalon, our ship becomes your home away from home.