From spectacular Halong Bay and the treasures of old Hanoi, travel the length of this beautiful country, through Hue and Hoi An to the bright lights of Saigon, experiencing the authentic Vietnam all the way. Then, embark on a four-night cruise on the Mekong, relaxing onboard as you as you witness life on the river, ending up in Cambodia to explore Phnom Penh and magnificent Angkor.
Our Mekong Explorer tour will see you exploring the most iconic sites, delving into deep-rooted culture and dining on delicious cuisine.
Meet Mr Vinh at Tha Om Garden House and learn of its history with a royal dinner.
Stroll through the clouds on the Golden Bridge, held by stone hands.
Spend 4 nights cruising on the deluxe Victoria Mekong
Watch a performance by the NGO that assists street children.
Place your trust in your other senses on a fun 'dining in the dark' experience at Noir, a Saigon restaurant that works with local people who are blind or visually-impaired.
Jump aboard a tuk tuk to journey through the bustling streets of Siem Reap to a cooking class, where you'll learn all the skills you need to prepare several Khmer specialities.
After a day of exploration relax as you float on the gentle waters of the moat of Angkor Thom, seeing the old walled city from a different perspective and savouring the beauty of a peaceful sunset.
Fly overnight to Hanoi. Depending on your time of arrival, the rest of the day is yours to start soaking up the local culture.
Spend the morning exploring the sights of Hanoi today, with the Ho Chi Minh quarter, Mausoleum, Humble House on Stilts, One Pillar Pagoda and more. In the evening, attend The Quintessence of Tonkin, a beautiful open-air performance on a lake.
Stay overnight on a traditionally designed boat on Halong Bay, cruising amongst the karst peaks on the tranquil green waters. A UNESCO World Heritage Site and a vision of awe-inspiring beauty, it isn't hard to see why it is one of Vietnam's most popular destinations. A fresh seafood meal is included during your voyage.
Rise early to watch the sun rise over the bay, and enjoy an invigorating session of Tai Chi. Transfer back to Hanoi and fly to Hue, Vietnam's imperial capital.
This morning visit the imposing Imperial Citadel and Forbidden Purple City at the heart of Hue, once the home of Vietnam's emperors. Cruise on the picturesque Perfume River and admire the Thien Mu Pagoda. Later, see the magnificent tomb of Minh Mang before heading to Zen house where you learn about architecture and spiritual meaning of this beautiful place. Finally, visit Tha Om Garden house to learn of the 19th century heritage of Mr Vinh, its owner.
Leave Hue for Hoi An, taking a scenic route over the Hai Van Pass. Stop en-route at Ba Na Hills and journey up to 1,400m by cable car to visit the Golden Bridge, a beautiful bridge held by gigantic stone hands with panoramic views.
Head out into Hoi An's verdant surroundings to Tra Que, where you'll see the local farmers at work, tending lush gardens of vegetables and herbs. Join a local family for lunch and a cooking demonstration. In the afternoon, take a walking tour of this charming town. Visit the Japanese Bridge, the colourful market and Chinese temple. Stop en route to visit Reaching Out, a social enterprise craft workshop, and watch the artisans at work.
Fly to Saigon, with the rest of your day at leisure.
The exuberant city of Saigon is driving Vietnam forward into the modern world, but it is also a treasure trove of fascinating heritage. See the colonial Notre Dame Cathedral and visit the Central Post Office, the Reunification Palace, and the chilling War Remnants Museum.
Head out of the city to the fascinating Cu Chi Tunnels, a network of underground passageways used by the Viet Cong during the war. After an afternoon at leisure, enjoy dinner in the dark at Noir, a restaurant supporting Saigon's visually impaired.
After breakfast, transfer to the meeting point in Saigon, where you will say goodbye to your National Escort and be picked up for your cruise by your local guide from Victoria Mekong. Dine on delicious local cuisine at the welcome dinner and enjoy a traditional music show as you cruise upstream. Later, retire to your comfortable stateroom for the night.
Tender ashore to Tiger Island, where you will enjoy an exploration of local industries such as net weaving, incense making and banh in (rice cakes) making. Sit down to dinner and evening entertainment before retiring to your cabin. Tonight, the ship will drop anchor at Vam Nao.
Continue your cruise with excursions around Tan Chau, including a stop at a Cao Dai temple, a silk village and the option of a visit to the submerged Tra Su Forest. In the evening, enjoy a thrilling lion dance performance on board.
Cross over into Cambodia, taking in the passing scenery. Onboard activities such as cocktail making will be available. In the late afternoon, dock at Sisowath Quay for a traditional Apsara performance and a farewell dinner.
Enjoy breakfast in the restaurant before disembarking and bidding farewell to the Victoria Mekong and meeting your Cambodian National Escort. Board a cyclo into the heart of Phnom Penh, where you will visit the Royal Palace, Silver Pagoda and the National Museum. After a final stop at Wat Phnom, enjoy a local beer beside the river.
Reflect on the history of the city with a visit to the Tuol Sleng Museum and Killing Fields, locations that provide chilling reminders of the Khmer Rouge regime. Later today, fly to Siem Reap.
Journey to the old city of Angkor Thom and pass through the magnificent South Gate flanked by 54 gods and demons. At Angkor Thom's centre is the enigmatic Bayon, a breathtaking temple of innumerable sculptural decorations. Also admire the Elephant Terrace and the Terrace of the Leper King. Continue to Ta Prohm. The rest of the day is dedicated to Angkor Wat, the most magnificent and best preserved of all of Angkor's treasures. Later, relax on a boat as you watch the sunset from Angkor's moat.
After a day of exploration relax as you float on the gentle waters of the moat of Angkor Thom, seeing the old walled city from a different perspective and savouring the beauty of a peaceful sunset.
In the high water season (Aug to Feb), enjoy a morning cruise on Tonle Sap Lake, visiting the floating village of Kampong Phluk and observing the way of life of these lake communities. In the low water season (Mar to Jul), visit Chong Kneas floating village. Return to Siem Reap to enjoy a rollicking performance of the Phare Cambodian Circus.
Travel by tuk tuk to a cooking lesson, where you will learn to prepare traditional Khmer dishes. The chef will teach you all about what goes into the local cuisine, as you create a delicious meal!
Jump aboard a tuk tuk to journey through the bustling streets of Siem Reap to a cooking class, where you'll learn all the skills you need to prepare several Khmer specialities.
Board an overnight flight, arriving home the following day.
We draw from a wide range of hotels on our holidays, each one is chosen to suit the tour you are travelling on meaning your accommodation can range from a smart business hotel in one city to a family run guesthouse in a smaller town. Here are some examples of the type of hotel you can expect to find on this tour.
In the atmospheric area around Hoan Kiem Lake, the Muong Thanh offers stylish and comfortable accommodation in a great location. Surrounded by shops, restaurants and street food, the hotel has free Wi-Fi, a spa, bar and restaurant serving local dishes. Bright and spacious rooms come with city views, an en suite bathroom with bath or shower, plus air-conditioning, safe, television, minibar and tea and coffee making facilities.
Aboard a traditional-style junk, refurbished in 2015, a Bhaya Classic cruise offers a convivial atmosphere and classic oriental style. There is a sundeck for admiring the scenery and a spa and jacuzzi for relaxing whilst the restaurant serves freshly prepared Vietnamese and international cuisine. Onboard activities as you cruise include Tai Chi and cooking classes. Cabins are cosy and comfortable with big windows for beautiful views, a fridge and a bathroom with walk in shower.
Excellently located close to the Perfume River and Hue’s Imperial Citadel, the Mondial Hotel has 106 rooms and plenty of facilities. Make use of the swimming pool and three dining options before relaxing in the Lobby Lounge with a drink. Rooms offer city, pool or mountain views, have large, modern bathrooms with shower and/or bath and robe and slippers.
Vinh Hung Old Town Hotel is the perfect base to discover the heritage town, at only a 6 minute walk away. With 33 rooms, all rooms have high standard amenities with free wifi, air conditioning, mini bar, hair dryer and more. Home to a swimming pool, pool bar and in house dining, this hotel won a TripAdvisor traveller’s choice award in 2018 and is sure to offer the perfect place to relax after exploring Hoi An.
Muong Thanh Saigon Centre Hotel is situated in District 1. Rooms are equipped with a flat-screen TV and have a private bathroom fitted with a bath or shower. For your comfort, you will find bath robes, slippers and a hairdryer. Guests can enjoy the on-site bar, indoor swimming pool and free WiFi.
The Victoria Mekong is a four star river cruise ship offering superior service and elegance. Offering 3-4 night luxury cruising itineraries between Vietnam's Mekong Delta and Cambodia's capital Phnom Penh, there is no better way to experience the beauty of the Mekong. Furnished with 33 spacious deluxe cabins, all with private balconies, the ship is also home to a cocktail bar and pool, games room, lounge area and treatment spa.
Queen Grand Boutique Hotel and Spa is centrally located in the heart of Phnom Penh, close to a number of the city's major monuments. Featuring an onsite spa offering Khmer massage, a rooftop Jacuzzi, and a sky bar, this modern boutique hotel offers a number of options for relaxation. Complimentary Wi-Fi is available.
Perfectly combining a French and Khmer aesthetic, the Lotus Blanc is a 10 minute tuk tuk ride from the lively heart of Siem Reap. Stately but chic, there is a large pool, fitness centre, spa, 3 bars and 3 restaurants serving a variety of local and international dishes. Rooms are expansive, bright and minimalist and boast a balcony, bathroom with rain shower, television, tea and coffee making facilities, safe, armchairs and air-conditioning.
The best times to visit Vietnam as a whole are the spring (March and April) and autumn (September to December).
Places Visited: UK - Hanoi (2N) – Halong Bay (1N) – Hue (2N) – Hoi An (2N) – Saigon (3N) – Victoria Mekong Cruise (4N) – Phnom Penh (1N) – Siem Reap (4N) - UK
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There are no dedicated Solo departures for this year. You can enjoy any of our tours with no Single Supplement on our Happy to Share option or explore the solo departures in other years.
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