Day 1
Hanoi
You’ll arrive in Hanoi where you’ll be met at the airport and transferred to your hotel. Once here you have the day at leisure to explore the city and get to know your surroundings. Tonight you’ll have a welcome briefing and dinner with your tour group.
(Dinner included)
Day 2
Hanoi
Perhaps tour the 500-year-old village of Bat Trang. Or, relax and enjoy a foot massage back at your hotel. Embark on a walking tour to observe Hanoi’s French colonial architecture, and explore the interior of the Hanoi Opera House, or take in a water puppet show. Other options include a visit to the home of an artist or a leisurely bicycle ride.
This evening, choose from a range of different but equally superb restaurants for dinner that have been carefully selected for you.
(Breakfast and dinner included)
Day 3
Ha Long Bay
After breakfast this morning, farewell Hanoi as you travel by coach to Ha Long and embark on your three-day cruise on the World Heritage-listed Ha Long Bay. Enjoy lunch on board, as you traverse through the stunning scenery of Ha Long Bay and later, tour the World Heritage-listed Sung Sot Cave with its thousands of beautiful stalactites. Relax on board during dinner this evening.
Stay: Two Nights, Ha Long Bay, Paradise Elegance (Two breakfasts, two lunches and two dinners included)
Day 4
Ha Long Bay
Perhaps enjoy tai chi on the sun deck during a leisurely morning spent cruising the bay. After breakfast, your ship will sail towards Ti Top Island and Tung Sau Pearl Farm, a region dedicated to growing the precious gem. Enjoy a traditional lunch on board before visiting Cua Van Floating Village by bamboo boat or kayak. Upon retiring to the Paradise Elegance for the evening, relax and enjoy dinner.
Day 5
Ha Long Bay/Ho Chi Minh City
This morning, cruise beside Thien Cung and Dau Go Caves, and the Fighting Cock Islet. After a delicious breakfast, disembark and transfer to Hanoi airport for your included flight to Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon). On arrival, be transferred to your hotel.
(Breakfast, lunch and dinner included)
Day 6
Ho Chi Minh City
You may journey to Ba Ria and learn about the Battle of Long Tan. Afterwards, attend a memorial service at Long Tan Cross – a memorial erected by the 6th Battalion, Royal Australian Regiment which is set in a rubber plantation and marks the site of the Battle of Long Tan. On the second alternative, visit the impressive Cu Chi Tunnels, an incredible tunnel network constructed by Vietnamese resistance fighters during the war. These tunnels served as Viet Cong hiding spots, supply and communication routes, hospitals and weapon caches, and make for a fascinating visit.
This evening, head to Vietnam House where a tantalising and exclusive degustation dinner, complete with matching wines – a menu created by APT Ambassador Luke Nguyen – awaits.
(Breakfast, lunch and dinner included)
Day 7
Ho Chi Minh City, My Tho, Cruise
In the morning you can take a walking tour of the city, opt for a cooking class or take a motorbike tour. Later you’ll leave Ho Chi Minh City and transfer to My Tho Port to embark on your cruise along the Mekong River.
(Breakfast, lunch and dinner included)
Day 8
Cai Be, Sa Dec
A local boat will take you to the beautiful river-land town of Cai Be today. Once here, step ashore to visit the French Gothic cathedral as well as the colourful port area, which is filled with crumbling colonial buildings and delightful flowering gardens. The morning then takes you onwards to a rice paper manufacturer where you’ll see how Vietnamese rice paper is made. Lunch will be served back on board later as your ship cruises past scenes of charming rural life towards the quaint town of Sa Dec. This delightfully sleepy locale is where iconic French writer Marguerite Duras met her Vietnamese-Chinese lover, Huynh Thuy Le. On arrival, tour Huynh Thuy Le’s old house and learn the story behind Marguerite Duras’ best-selling novel, ‘The Lover’. Later, pay a visit to a traditional Cao Dai temple. Watch visitors and pilgrims come and go, and appreciate the beauty of the building.
(Breakfast, lunch and dinner included)
Day 9
Tan Chau, Evergreen Island, Border Crossing
Transfer to a small boat for a journey along the tiny tributaries that snake around the riverside town of Tan Chau. Cruise right past a floating fish farm, then step ashore for an authentic rickshaw tour of Tan Chau. Ride past local shops, rice wine rooms and friendly locals eager to say hello. Later today, step back in time during a visit to an evergreen island where you’ll experience authentic rural Mekong life. The remainder of today is left free for you to relax on board your luxurious river ship as you cross the border into Cambodia and cruise towards Phnom Penh.
(Breakfast, lunch and dinner included)
Day 10
Phnom Penh
Perhaps rise early to take in Phnom Penh’s river promenade as your ship nears the majestic capital. After breakfast on board, disembark and join your chosen activity. Opt to enjoy a guided tour of the dazzling white and gold Royal Palace and Silver Pagoda, which is located on the south side of the palace complex and houses many national treasures. Alternatively, you may wish to discover some of Cambodia’s sobering history with a moving excursion to the infamous Killing Fields before visiting the Tuol Sleng Genocide Museum which is located on the site of the Khmer Rouge’s notorious Security Prison 21 (S-21). Here, you’ll learn of the atrocities inflicted upon Cambodians during Pol Pot’s Khmer Rouge regime in the mid-to-late 1970s. Your other options are a visit to the National Museum of Cambodia or a guided city tour in a tuk tuk which is an excitingand thrilling way to take in a range of city sights, including the Independence Monument and Wat Phnom, a sacred Buddhist pagoda.
(Breakfast, lunch and dinner included)
Day 11
Phnom Penh, Koh Chen
With a free morning in Phnom Penh, you may like to enjoy a restful start to the day and stay aboard your ship. Or, make use of your time in this beautiful city and head out on your own to discover the sights and attractions. Your Cruise Director can provide inspiration should you need it. Later in the day, your ship will cruise to remote Koh Chen, a small village specialising in silverware and copperware. Here you’ll visit some of the delicate home-workshops that manufacture handmade copper souvenirs. Watch the clever artisans at work and perhaps purchase a memento.
(Breakfast, lunch and dinner included)
Day 12
Oudong, Kampong Tralach
This morning take a coach to Oudong, the fascinating royal capital of Cambodia from 1618 until 1866. During your time here, you’ll call in at a monastery where local monks will provide you with a Buddhist blessing experience. Afterwards, continue to the interesting village of Kampong Tralach for a visit to the Wat Kampong Tralach Pleu pagoda. Then, take an exciting ox cart ride through the beautiful countryside, passing lush rice fields and smiling locals on your way back to your luxury river ship.
(Breakfast, lunch and dinner included)
Day 13
Kampong Chhnang
Board a small boat and head to the wetlands near Kampong Chhnang. Known as the ‘Clay Pot Port’, the local people craft pottery under their stilt homes on the river. Afterwards, you’ll return to your ship and cast off towards Prek K’dam, enjoying a Farewell Dinner.
(Breakfast, lunch and dinner included)
Day 14
Prek K’dam, Disembark Cruise, Siem Reap
Disembark at Prek K’dam and transfer to your hotel. Then, head to World Heritage-listed Angkor Archaeological Park to visit Angkor Thom and the historic 12th-century temple, Bayon. In Siem Reap tonight, you can select from a number of delicious and authentic local restaurants for dinner.
(Breakfast and dinner included)
Day 15
Angkor Wat
Rise early and travel back to Angkor Archaeological Park to enjoy a sunrise experience at Angkor Wat with drink in hand. After your Signature Experience, enjoy a guided tour of this temple, the best-preserved temple of Angkor and said to be the world’s largest religious monument. Return to your hotel for breakfast and time at leisure. This afternoon, you’ll explore the temple of Ta Prohm. Later, visit ‘Opportunities of Development thru Art’ (ODA), a Siem Reap organisation that provides education opportunities for disadvantaged children.
(Breakfast and included)
Day 16
Siem Reap
Visit the temple of Wat Preah Prom Rath and participate in a Buddhist blessing; enjoy a tuk tuk ride; participate in a Apsara dance class; take off on a quad bike adventure; enjoy a bicycle tour; take a horse and cart ride; partake in a traditional Khmer cooking class; go on a shopping adventure; or indulge in a spa treatment. With the afternoon at leisure, perhaps step out to explore the city. Tonight, enjoy a traditional Apsara dance performance before a Farewell Dinner.
(Breakfast and dinner included)
Day 17
Depart Siem Reap
Transfer to the airport or extend your stay with us
