Vietnam & Cambodia Luxury Tour

Welcome to Hanoi, Vietnam’s bustling colonial capital. Your driver and guide will meet you outside the baggage claim of Noi Bai Airport and take you to your hotel in the city center.

Meals: N/A

Accommodation: Hotel in Hanoi

Today you have a full day to explore Vietnam’s charming capital. With its wide tree-lined boulevards, French colonial architecture, peaceful lakes and ancient oriental pagodas, Hanoi is an eclectic mix that offers something for everyone. Your city tour will take you to Hanoi’s key sites: the Ho Chi Minh Complex (Ho Chi Minh's Mausoleum and stilt house), the nearby One Pillar Pagoda; the Presidential Palace; the Temple of Literature; the Quan Thanh Temple, the sedate Tran Quoc Pagoda & West Lake; and one of the city's museums (a choice between the Hoa Lo Prison and the Ethnology Museum).

Then have one hour on cyclo to go around the Old Quarter. In the evening enjoy a traditional Water Puppet Performance – a unique Vietnamese Art form hailing from Southeast Asia’s wet-rice culture. Welcome dinner of authentic Vietnamese food at one of Hanoi’s finest restaurants.

Meals: B, D

Accommodation: Hotel in Hanoi

Arrive in Hanoi in the early morning. Your guide and driver will meet you at the railways station and take you to a local restaurant for breakfast, before setting out on a 3 to 4 hour drive to the UNESCO World Heritage Site: Halong Bay. Spend 24 hours on a traditional Junk Cruise in the amazing bay: a natural wonderland composed of jutting limestone islands and sparkling turquoise waters. Arrive at the dock around noon and board your junk.

Savor a gourmet lunch of fresh seafood onboard as we sail out into the mystical bay. In the afternoon, cruise around some of Halong’s many islands, including Dinh Huong and Ga Choi. Along the way visit one of the bay’s 3 largest caves (Thien Cung, Dau Go or Sung Sot). Stop at an island cove with a sheltered white-sand beach and take a dip in the warm waters of the Tonkin Gulf (weather permitting). Pass the night on your junk, lulled to sleep by the gentle rocking of calm waters.

Meals: B, L, D

Accommodation: On Halong Cruise

Awake early and participate in Tai Chi on the top deck or simply relax and enjoy the sunrise over the bay’s towering islands. Enjoy a morning cup of coffee or tea, before setting out to explore nearby islands by rowboat.

Return to the junk for breakfast then take advantage of the sundeck and admire the amazing rock formations of Bai Tu Long Bay as we navigate back to Halong City. Have brunch on board the boat before returning to Halong pier. Your driver will meet you at the dock and take you to Noi Bai Airport of Hanoi for flight to Siemreap. Upon arrival, your guide and driver will meet you and take you to your hotel.

Meals: Br

Accommodation: Hotel in Siemreap

After breakfast, visit Angkor Wat complex. This architectural masterpiece was constructed in the 12th century and covers an area of about 210 hectares. You stroll around this massive edifice, seeing the many galleries with columns, libraries, pavilions, courtyards and ponds full of water reflecting the towering temple and then you will to get the blessing ceremony in temple of in Angkor Wat complex from the master of monk to release your bad luck and bring you the happiness, good luck for your trip in Cambodia, and the best successful in life/love/business.

Afternoon visit to the wondrous ancient ruins with the South Gate of Angkor Thom, which is famous for its series of colossal human faces carved in stone, the impressive Bayon Temple, the Royal Enclosure, Phimeanakas, the Elephant Terrace, the Terrace of the Leper King. Tonight, you will enjoy a special “Apsara Dancing Show” at your hotel, featuring local Cambodian/Khmer folk dancers.

Meals: B, D

Accommodation: Hotel in Siemreap

After breakfast at hotel, you will visit to the ancient Khmer civilization site of Hariharalaya which flourished in the late 9th and earlier 10th centuries. These are the earliest temples in the Angkor area and are referred to the Rolous group. Lunch at local house with the villagers

After lunch you continue to the intricately carved and well preserved temple of Banteay Srei and before back to hotel we visit Preah Khan temple. Built by the King Jayavarman VII, Preah Khan is, like Ta Prohm, a place of towered enclosures and shoulders-hanging corridors. Unlike Ta Prohm, however, Preah Khan is in a reasonable state of preservation and ongoing restoration efforts should maintain and even improve this situation.

Meals: B

Accommodation: Hotel in Siem Reap

The Tonle Sap (The Great Lake) is the flowing heart of Cambodia, giving love and life to this nation. The Tonle Sap has more fish than any other lake in the world and is home to an incredible variety of birds, including rare – and endangered – feathered life.

At 12.00h (noon), you gather at the meeting point followed by a quick transfer to the boutique Ship. The ever-smiling crew welcomes us with unbridled warmth. A refreshing welcome drink awaits us followed by a sumptuous lunch on the Ship. Then, it is a lazy afternoon as the ship glides along the water. Dinner is at Dining Hall. Enjoy a spectacular experience on the sun deck as you bathe in the glow of the moon and the radiance of the stars.

The ship moors overnight in the river or on the lake.

Meals: B, L, D

Accommodation: Cruise

The day – in fact everyday – starts with an invigorating Tai Chi lesson on the sun deck, just as the sun begins its slow rise. Coffee and tea awaits the early bird. Before dawn, the ship sets sail across the Tonle Lake. As the ship is about to exit the lake, we see spectacular marshlands floating along the river banks of Kampong Chhnang province.

The afternoon cruise continues with a languid meander along the Tonle River, which narrows through leafy swaths of the Southeast Asian jungle. Here, the river is very narrow and we are greeted by kids waving enthusiastically at us from the banks. Follow a short bus trip to the see the Khmer-styled pottery at the Aundaung Russey village. We then embark on a truly marvellous motorboat excursion from Kampong Chhnang to see the wetlands, floating houses and fish farms in the region before reaching Kampong Cham in the evening. Further down the river we take part in an ox cart rally before being introduced to the Heritage Line pro bono “literacy project”.

Meals: B, L, D

Accommodation: Kampong Cham

We will wake up in the small hours of the morning, truly energized to embark on a land journey to the pre-Angkorian temple of Wat Hanchey. Travelers either take a motor-taxi or climb 291 steps to the top. Located at the top of a hill overlooking the river, it offers one of the most breath-taking views in Cambodia. Built in the 8th century, this ancient structure, together with a bigger and newer addition underscores the superb architecture of the Chenla Empire which predates the mighty Angkor temple complex. We even get to engage in light banter with some of the monks in the area. We will return to the Ship to witness a blessing ceremony performed by orange-clad local monks.

When the tide allows, we will enjoy a surprise sojourn in our zodiacs (inflatable boats) to the nearby bank to swim in the teacoloured Mekong River, an experience that will, no doubt, dominate dinner conversations in the weeks to come. We will then cruise towards Kampong Cham to visit Wat Nokor, a wat built within the ruins of an ancient temple which holds a timeless story. On the way back to the Ship, we will visit an orphanage. Along the way, we will have to maneuver a 2-kilometer rickety bamboo bridge. Our sense of balance lies in the balance!

Overnight midstream near Phnom Penh.

Meals: B, L, D

Accommodation: Cruise

Phnom Penh was once the Paris of the East. Despite its rapid development, it has retained a lot of its rustic charm and elegance. After breakfast, we will be captivated by a comprehensive lecture on Cambodia’s modern history. This will be followed by a city tour of this dynamic, historical capital city of Cambodia which has managed to preserve huge slices of its French colonial allure. Sightseeing in the morning will include visiting the dazzling white and gold edifice of the Royal Palace and the Silver Pagoda, and witnessing exceptionally beautiful Khmer craft at the National Museum.

After lunch at a local restaurant, we will visit the Genocide museum and the Killing Field in town. Be prepared to be heart wrenched by this stark reminder of the genocide that transpired during Cambodia’s Khmer Rouge regime.

We go back to the Ship after our museum visit. A variety of cocktails will be served followed by a traditional Apsara dance performance on board. Experience the brilliance and richness of this culture, the soothing sounds of traditional music, the calming scent of incense sticks and a barbeque on the sun deck. It is indeed a truly marvellous experience, dining in the open with the stars and the moon as our companions. Overnight in Phnom Penh.

Meals: B, L, D

Accommodation: Cruise

The cruise liner then sets sail for a lazy day of cruising along the main Mekong Channel. As this is an international shipping route, you will witness large commercial ships plying this route. Later, in the afternoon, we set off to the Vietnamese border for the requisite cross border paperwork. As the process tends to take some time, we bask in the glow of the afternoon sun on the sun deck, pamper ourselves silly at the Spa, or sharpen our culinary skills with the Heritage Line’s Cambodian and Vietnamese cuisine cooking class.

The ship moors midstream overnight.

Meals: B, L, D

Accommodation: Cruise

This morning, you will start your excursion on a local boat (sampan) and discover the border town of Tan Chau. Firstly, the journey takes you to the “evergreen” islands where you will be thrilled to learn the life of the locals.

The inhabitants of these islands live on houses poised on high stilts – a centuries-old tradition in this part of the Mekong Delta. We stop to visit a fish farm located in the Tan Chau canal – this farm consists of floating houses and the villagers make their living by cultivating fish. You continue by boat to Tan Chau pier, disembark here and stroll around this colorful local market with lots of regional products. You return to the cruise ship after your market visit.

Meals: B, L, D

Accommodation: On Cruise

In the morning, we embark a traditional sampan (a flat bottomed traditional Vietnamese wooden boat) to tour Binh Thanh Island and its man-made canals. Here, every villager is involved in the process of growing and processing water hyacinths into natural fibre floor mats and rattan baskets.

After lunch on board, the Ship arrives in Cai Be. The tour starts with a visit to Cai Be’s boisterous and colorful floating market where traders gather in a cacophonous congregation. During the languid ride, we discover breathtaking landscapes along the river and quaff the rustic life on the Mekong Delta. The evergreen islands along the Mekong River remain unknown to many people.

The cruise will halt intermittently to allow us to observe how rice paste, rice cookies and coconut candies are made, along with the Longan fruit drying process. After touring the canals, we head to an ancient house surrounded by fruit orchards before heading to the Ship for dinner. We then board the ship for a tranquil evening cruise towards My Tho. A wonderful farewell party awaits us on the terrace deck. Overnight in My Tho.

Meals: B, L, D

Accommodation: On Cruise

Our magnificent cruiser winds its way to My Tho, approximately 70km south of Saigon on the upper Mekong river in Vietnam. We bid farewell to the cruise as our journey comes to a close. But the memories and the friendships made on board linger on for a lot longer.

We disembark at around 8.30h and we join the transfer to the madding crowd of Saigon. Drop off will be at the meeting point in Saigon.

Upon your arrival, enjoy a city tour that explores such famous landmarks as the former Presidential Palace, the Central Post Office, Notre Dame Cathedral, Cho Lon (China Town) and the Thien Hau pagoda. You will also visit the War Remnants Museum, one of the city’s most popular tourist attractions, known for its vast collection of artifacts from the Vietnam War. An optional tour of Thanh Market is available this afternoon. You will spend the night at a fine hotel in Ho Chi Minh City.

Meals: B, L

Accommodation: Hotel in Ho Chi Minh City

Today is free to explore Ho Chi Minh City on your own.

Meals: B

Accommodation: Hotel in Ho Chi Minh City

Free until time for transferred to the airport for your departure flight home. Have a good journey back home.

Meals: B

Accommodation: N/A