Fascinating Vietnam, Cambodia & the Mekong (Northbound) 2019

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.

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!

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.

Board a sampan this morning for a local workshop visit in Vinh Long to see how rice paper, rice wine and traditional candies are made.

This afternoon, enjoy scenes of daily life on Cu Lao Gieng Island via sampan and local motor cart. Your Guided Excursion starts at a local workshop, where a skilled family hand-crafts sampan boats. 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, stop at one of Vietnam’s oldest Catholic churches.

In Chau Doc take a guided walk through the local market and absorb the atmosphere as locals are busy buying and selling fish, meat and produce. Then embark on a river 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.

After lunch, a sampan brings you to the village of Long Khanh A for a cotton-weaving demonstration of a well-preserved artisan’s tradition. Return to the ship to set sail for the Cambodian border.

Take a city tour by private cyclo to visit the Royal Palace with the spectacular Silver Pagoda and the National Museum featuring an outstanding display of Khmer artefacts. The remainder of the day is yours to enjoy the city at your leisure.

This morning, a guided visit of the Tuol Sleng Genocide Museum and one of the Killing Fields offers a glimpse into the atrocities inflicted on the Cambodian people by the Khmer Rouge regime.

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.

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.

Start your guided sightseeing at the silversmith village in Konpong Louang. Here, see talented craftsmen use age-old techniques to turn pure silver into works of art. In Kampong Tralach board an ox cart for a ride through the beautiful Cambodian countryside. Along the way, stop to meet a local farmer and learn about his daily life.

After lunch, begin your sightseeing tour by tuk-tuk to explore the temples. 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, visit Angkor Thom, where you will explore Bayon Temple with its 200 striking faces carved in 54 towers and impressive bas-relief sculptures, OR:

Visit Angkor Wat, Angkor Thom and Bayon Temple by bike.

Continue your guided sightseeing 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 local village famous for making Khmer noodles by hand.

This evening, a private Apsara Dance Performance brings ancient Khmer culture to life through music, song and dance.