HANOI, HALONG BAY, SAIGON & SIEM REAP

DAY 1 HOA BINH

Transfer to Hoa Binh, visiting a museum and local village where villagers still wear traditional dress. In the afternoon, set sail downstream for sunset and a night on the Da River.

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 a morning boat ride on the reservoir of Hoa Binh and explore the inner workings of the power station. In the afternoon, we sail downstream on the Da River before being treated to a traditional performance by local hill tribe people. We moor overnight mid-River.

DAY 3 THE DA RIVER

Day sailing downstream while admiring the unspoilt beauty of the Da River. We stop to visit K9 Ho Chi Minh Memorial House, a small museum newly opened to international visitors introducing the life of President Ho Chi Minh and his contributions to the country’s revolution.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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