DAY 1 HOA BINH
Transfer to Hoa Binh, embark your ship at around 15.00 and set sail downstream for sunset and a night on the Da River.
More about Hoa Binh
DAY 2 HOA BINH
Hoa Binh was the site of a major battle with the French in 1951 & 1952 and is home to the Muong ethnic group.
The Hoa Binh Dam at the Black River is the largest hydroelectric dam in Vietnam and Southeast Asia. Take an afternoon boat ride on the reservoir of Hoa Binh power station.
A traditional performance by local hill tribe people is given in the evening.
DAY 3 THE DA RIVER
In the morning, visit a museum and local village where villagers still wear traditional dress.
A day sailing downstream admiring the unspoilt beauty of the Da River, passing through the Ba Vi National Park with its rich and diverse tropical and sub-tropical flora and fauna before arriving at Trung Ha.
Our chef will share his skills in fruit carving and demonstrate how to create Vietnamese spring rolls.
DAY 4 VIET TRI
After breakfast by coach through beautiful scenic countryside to the UNESCO praised village of Duong Lam then continue cruising downstream to Viet Tri. Take in the sights and sounds of the bustling river with all kinds of craft and activity.
Meet your guide in the dining room for a lecture on Vietnam, its history, geography and the boat people.
More about Duong Lam
DAY 5 LO - RED RIVERS
Take in the sights and sounds of the bustling river with all kinds of craft and activity. In the morning cruise to Tien Du ferry station to visit the Hung Lo Temple.
Continue by bus to Gia Thanh village, makers of the conical hats (known as ‘non la’). The ‘non la’ are handmade with palm leaves and bamboo. There is no machinery available to create this work of art. Their origin dates approximately 3,000 years back.
Afternoon excursion to a carpenter village famous for exqisite carvings and wood work techniques.
DAY 6 THE LOWER RED RIVER
Go ashore to visit a timeless Arcadian Vietnam with emerald green rice paddies punctuated by limestone rock formations. Of particular interest are the Thay and Tay Phuong Pagodas.
Enroute to Hanoi, stop at Bat Trang in the afternoon, a ceramic village (literally: ‘bat’ means ‘bowl’ and ‘trang’ means ‘workshop’). Bat Trang is a seven century-old pottery village, located in an area rich in clay.
On the way back to the ship watch a traditional unicorn and lion dance at the jetty. This dance originated in China and spread over Southeast Asia.
DAY 7 HANOI
Drop anchor in the capital and bustling city of Hanoi to visit some highlights of this Asian metropolis. Must-sees include the notorious Vietnam War prison known as the Hanoi Hilton, temple of literature where Confucius did his thinking, and the Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum.
Afternoon walking tour of Hanoi’s old quarter,including a visit to a coffee shop to learn about Vietnam’s famous coffee-making industry.
DAY 8 LUOC - THAI BINH - KINH THAY RIVERS
Observe the lively and interesting life on the river before reaching next destination in the afternoon.
Afternoon excursion to Thanh Ha Commune with village walk and a private water puppet show set under the shade by a beautiful pond of lotus and lilies.
Drop anchor near Hai Phong Port.
The Water Puppets are a tradition which dates back as far as the 11th century, originating in the villages of the Red River Delta. The stories tell the day-to-day life of rural Vietnam with a strong reference to Vietnamese folklore. The puppets are made of lacquered wood, and the performers are in a waist-deep pool hidden behind a screen.
DAY 9 HALONG BAY
Cast off early morning along the river before entering Halong Bay’s amazing island scenery with its 2,000 dramatic limestone islands and extraordinary rock formations dating back 20 million years.
Exploration of Halong Bay continues with a visit to the so called “Dark and Bright Cave”. Take a kayak or a local basket boat rowed by fishermen and enter this remarkable cave into an enclosed area similar to a crater. Bats can be heard in the cave and massive stalagmites hang from the ceiling.
Continue cruise around Halong Bay until dropping anchor in Rang Dua.
DAY 10 HALONG BAY
Morning sail around Halong Bay and beyond with its 1,500 dramatic limestone islands and extraordinary rock formations, dating back 20 million years.
Stop at Viet Hai Village and explore on mountain bike or electric buggy, visiting the village’s vegetable farm and typical village houses. It is a breath-taking trip along a small road winding its way through the limestone rocks.
In the afternoon continue cruising towards Lan Ha Bay for a visit to a floating fishing house.
Weather dependent, end the day with cocktails at a beautiful beach in Halong Bay -bring your swimwear!
DAY 11 HALONG BAY - HANOI - SAIGON
Morning sail to Tuan Chau Jetty. Disembark and transfer to Hanoi Airport for your flight to Saigon and your hotel, with stop for lunch at a local restaurant.
More about Halong Bay
DAY 12 SAIGON - MY THO - BEN TRE
Transfer from Saigon to the river port for embarkation. After lunch, we journey by sampans through mangroves and bamboo forests to the fruit orchards of Ben Tre. This is an area rich in birdlife which we will explore via local transport before transferring to a local rowboat. We will journey slowly through the bamboo covered canals before arriving at a village specialising in making local products. In the evening you will be entertained by a Vietnamese dance troupe on deck.
More about Saigon
DAY 13 GAO GIONG
Sailing through the delta offers a real insight into life along this vast waterway. After lunch, a short coach journey through the lush countryside to Gao Giong ‘green oasis’, a 1,000-acre eucalyptus forest and listed wildlife sanctuary. Here a diverse selection of water birds and egrets gather in their tens of thousands across the Duong Tharp Muoi or ‘Plain of Reeds’. Rowboats traverse the canals to take us to view the principal nesting areas where photo opportunities abound.
DAY 14 CHAU DOC - SAM MOUNTAIN - VIETNAM/CAMBODIA BORDER
We go alongside at the picturesque border town of Chau Doc where we visit the floating markets & fish farms by sampan. We make a stop at a Chham Village and observe the lives of Vietnamese Muslims before taking minivans for a short drive to Sam Mountain, location of Phuoc Dien Tu or the Hang Pagoda. We climb the 400 steps to the top to visit the pagoda. Upon return to ship, we navigate a web of canals before dropping anchor on the Vietnam/Cambodia border to undergo Immigration formalities.
DAY 15 PHNOM PENH
We go alongside in the Cambodian capital of Phnom Penh. Morning orientation of the city by cyclo, visiting the Royal Palace and Silver Pagoda followed by the National Museum with its marvellous collection of Angkor statuary. In the afternoon, we visit by coach the Killing Fields and Tuol Sleng Genocide. Optional half-day and full-day tours are available during our stay in Phnom Penh at extra cost. Please contact us in advance or see your in-cabin information manual for further details. Overnight in Phnom Penh city port with its lively bars, restaurants and nightlife.
DAY 16 SILK ISLAND
Morning at leisure in Phnom Penh with its café life and many smart boutiques. After lunch sail up the Tonle River to Koh Nghe Tei (Silk Island) to study the entire silk-making process from worms to weavers. We visit silk makers and can buy from them their lovely silk scarves and other fabrics. This village is a centre of the ancient martial art of L’bokator which roughly translates as 'pounding a lion'. It includes weapons techniques and is one of the oldest combat techniques in Cambodia and believed to date back to the Angkor empire.
More about Phnom Penh
DAY 17 TONLE SAP RIVER - PREK KDAM - OUDONG
Sail further up the Tonle River to Prek Kdam and travel by coach to the ancient capital of Cambodia, Oudong. On the way we stop to visit the Vipassana Dhura Meditation Centre for meditation before taking a drive around the old capital. We re-join our ship at Kompong Trollach. After lunch, we travel on ox-carts ride to visit river-side villages, markets and temples. In the evening cocktails are round a village fire pit where we will be joined by village folk keen to show us their traditional dancing show us more of the delightful Khmer culture.
DAY 18 KAMPONG CHHNANG - TONLE SAP FLOATING VILLAGES & MARKETS
A highlight of any Mekong journey is the navigaton of the web of tight channels as we approach the mouth of the Tonle Sap. From Kampong Chhnang we embark on country boats to explore floating villages and markets, observing fisheries and aquatic horticulture. Back on land at Kampong Chhnang we can walk the riverbank to see the towering stilt houses.
DAY 19 KAMPONG CHHNANG - SIEM REAP
Disembark and travel by coach from Kampong Chhnang through stunningly lovely countryside to reach Siem Reap, adjacent to Angkor Wat.<./p>
More about Siem Reap
