Compare Mekong Discovery (Southbound) by Avalon Waterways vs Vietnam & Angkor- Premium Adventure by Exodus Travels
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5 | Excellent
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5 | Excellent
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| Duration | 8 days | 14 days |
| Price From | $ 4,429 | $ 4,560 |
| Price Per Day | $ 554 | $ 326 |
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| Trip Style | River cruise | Small group tour |
| Lodging Level | Standard | Standard |
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| Flights & Transport | No | No |
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| Meals Included | N/A | All breakfasts, seven lunches and seven dinners are included. Thanks to the tropical climate, long coast and gigantic range of mountains, Vietnam is blessed with a variety of culinary offerings, and maintains a reputation as one of the healthiest, most delicious cuisines in the world. Vietnamese food relies on fresh fish, vegetables, rice and a myriad of verdant herbs and spices; lemongrass, ginger, basil and lime all play an important role in the cuisine. The Chinese and French influence is felt throughout the country where you are just as likely to be offered a banh mi (stuffed baguette) as you are a steaming bowl of pho (noodle soup). Each dish is prepared with the Asian principle of Wu Xing (the five elements) in mind; meaning the perfect combination of spicy, sour, bitter, salty and sweet is the aim. Be sure to also seek out the national beverages: Vietnamese coffee is served iced and sweet with condensed milk, a real sugar and caffeine hit, and beer hoi (local beer, brewed daily) is served on most street corners in the north out of large plastic jugs that are perfect for sharing. Food is cheap in Vietnam and you can generally avoid the spicier dishes if you wish. Western food is readily available almost everywhere, except for the Mekong Delta area. Food is cheap in Cambodia and you can generally avoid the spicier food if you wish. Cambodian food is all about contrasts—sweet and bitter, salty and sour, fresh and cooked. It shares many dishes with its neighbours, and you’ll find noodle soup similar to Vietnamese pho, the refreshing salads and sour soups of Thailand, Indian-inspired curries, and noodles and stir fries handed down from years of Chinese migration. From days as a French Indochina colony, Vietnam has a love of coffee, pâté and good bread. Baguettes are served with soup, made into sandwiches, and sold by cyclists carrying baskets filled with long loaves. Western food is also available in most places visited. Vegetarian food is widely available; however, the offering will be fairly similar in most places. Please advise at time of booking if you have any dietary requirements. |
| Description | On this unique and inspiring Southeast Asia river cruise through Cambodia and Vietnam, you’ll be immersed in the cultures and ancient traditions as you sightsee and spend time with locals in interesting places along the mighty Mekong River.In the enchanting Cambodian countryside, go on an ox-cart ride amongst rice paddy fields and witness the daily lives of farmers. In a Silversmith Village, see craftsmen making silver artwork using ancient techniques. French influences are still apparent in the lovely capital of Cambodia, Phnom Penh. Here you’ll tour the National Museum and Royal Palace with its striking Silver Pagoda and enjoy a song and dance performance by children at a local orphanage. On a hilltop at the site of the 8th-century temple of Wat Hanchey, take in the stunning views before walking through the rural village of Angkor Ban to visit with welcoming schoolchildren. Continue your river cruise into Vietnam where you’ll walk through a vibrant market as the locals are busy with their daily routine of buying and selling produce. See firsthand how handcrafted sampans are built at the home of a family in Cu Lao Gieng. Via sampan, cruise into Vinh Long and experience Vietnamese culture with a visit to a workshop to learn how rice wine and traditional candies are made. This once-in-a-lifetime Southeast Asia river cruise vacation is sure to create lasting memories! |
Immerse yourself in incredible experiences on this expertly led cultural adventure from Hanoi in northern Vietnam to Siem Reap in Cambodia. You’ll explore limestone cliffs and enjoy sundowners on deck as you cruise Ha Long Bay; discover culture and history in Hoi An; witness street life in vibrant Ho Chi Minh City; and slow down on the serene waterways of the Mekong Delta. Finally, you’ll journey to Siem Reap, staying at the intimate Lynnaya Urban River Resort & Spa – the perfect base to visit one of the great surviving archaeological wonders, the mesmerising temple complex of Angkor.Cover the best of Vietnam and the Angkor temples in Cambodia, while staying in premium accommodation |
Day 1: PHNOM PENH, CAMBODIA (EMBARKATION)
Welcome to Cambodia. Your intimate Suite Ship® Awaits!
Get acquainted with the ship and relax before your welcome reception this evening.
AFTERNOON/EVENING CRUISE TO WAT HANCHEY
(Lunch,Dinner)
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Day 2: WAT HANCHEY–ANGKOR BAN
Water Blessings and Back-to-School Adventures
DISCOVERY 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.DISCOVERY 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.EVENING/OVERNIGHT CRUISE TO KAMPONG TRALACH(Breakfast,Lunch,Dinner)
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Day 3: KAMPONG TRALACH–KONPONG LOUANG–PHNOM PENH
Calm in the Cambodian Countryside
DISCOVERY Your Guided Sightseeing starts in Kampong Tralach with an Ox-Cart Ride through the beautiful Cambodian countryside. Along the way, stop to meet a local farmer and learn about his daily life. At the silversmith village in Konpong Louang, see talented craftsmen use age-old techniques to turn pure silver into works of art.Sail to the capital city of Phnom Penh this afternoon.
PHNOM PENH
A Dark History or Market Dynamics
CLASSIC After lunch, a Visit to the Tuol Sleng Genocide Museum and one of the Killing Fields provides a glimpse into the atrocities inflicted on the Cambodian people by the Khmer Rouge regime, OR:
DISCOVERY Visit the lively Central Market with its unique Art Deco design by tuk-tuk.This evening, spend some free time exploring the city on your own. Perhaps follow the riverfront promenade to the historic Foreign Correspondents Club (FCC).
(Breakfast,Lunch,Dinner)
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Day 4: PHNOM PENH
The Royal Treatment
CLASSIC Join a Guided Tour of the city by private cyclo with visits to the Royal Palace with the spectacular Silver Pagoda, and the National Museum featuring an outstanding display of Khmer artifacts.The remainder of the day is yours to enjoy at your leisure. Just before dinner, children from a local orphanage will perform a show, featuring local song and dance.
EVENING/OVERNIGHT CRUISE TO VIETNAM/CAMBODIA BORDER
(Breakfast,Lunch,Dinner)
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Day 5: BORDER CROSSING–CHAU DOC, VIETNAM
Good Morning Vietnam!
DISCOVERY Take a Village Walk through the Chau Doc market and absorb the atmosphere as locals are busy buying and selling fish, meat, and produce. After lunch, embark on a Guided 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.EVENING CRUISE TO LONG KHANH A
(Breakfast,Lunch,Dinner)
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Day 6: LONG KHANH A–CU LAO GIENG
Cotton Weaving, Conical Hats, and Handcrafted Sampans
DISCOVERY This morning, a sampan brings you to the village of Long Khanh A, for a Cotton-Weaving Demonstration of this well-preserved tradition.DISCOVERY This afternoon, enjoy scenes of daily life on Cu Lao Gieng Island via sampan and local motor cart. Your Guided Excursion starts with a stop at one of Vietnam’s oldest Catholic churches. 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, visit a local workshop where a skilled family hand-crafts sampan boats.EVENING CRUISE TO VINH LONG
(Breakfast,Lunch,Dinner)
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Day 7: VINH LONG
Sweets and Rice Treats
DISCOVERY Board a sampan this morning to Visit a Local Workshop in Vinh Long where you will see how rice paper, rice wine, and traditional candies are made.This afternoon, enjoy time on board the ship as we sail to exciting Ho Chi Minh City.
AFTERNOON CRUISE TO HO CHI MINH CITY
(Breakfast,Lunch,Dinner)
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Day 8: HO CHI MINH CITY (DISEMBARKATION)
Your vacation ends with breakfast this morning.
(Breakfast)
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Day 1 Start Hanoi; welcome dinner in the evening
The capital of Vietnam, Hanoi, is ready to welcome you when you arrive. Get acclimatised and familiarise yourself with the city by wandering the tree-lined avenues. There will be a group welcome meeting this evening with your expert leader followed by an included welcome dinner at KOTO (Know One, Teach One), a well-established training restaurant for disadvantaged youths where you'll be served a blend of Vietnamese and Southeast Asian foods. Premium accommodation: Foreign Relations Hotel, Hanoi (four-star)
Day 2 City tour of Hanoi; free afternoon
This morning, enjoy a sightseeing tour of the city that includes a visit to the Temple of Literature, the site of the oldest university in Vietnam; Hoa Lo Prison; and the Old Quarter. For lunch, we'll visit the much-loved restaurant, Bun Cha Huong Lien, to try their bun cha (a local speciality of noodles, broth and meat served with greens). The afternoon is then free for you to wander around the Hoan Kiem Lake and perhaps enjoy the view from a lakeside cafe. Premium accommodation: Foreign Relations Hotel, Hanoi (four-star)
Day 3 To Ha Long Bay; cruise followed by sundowners on deck; overnight on board a Le Journey Cruise
We make an early start for the approximate four-hour journey to Ha Long Bay, one of the most stunning sights in Southeast Asia with some 3,000 limestone peaks rising directly from the emerald sea. We cruise among this striking karst scenery, stopping to swim and kayak, allowing us to get to places inaccessible by boat (weather permitting), and enjoy a seafood lunch on board. Later in the afternoon, join your expert leader and group for a drink or two on the top deck while watching the sunset before spending the night in twin-share cabins. Premium accommodation: Le Journey Cruises (join-in basis), Ha Long Bay
Day 4 Continue cruise; visit Ha Long Women's Association, return to Hanoi
We continue to cruise around Ha Long Bay this morning before returning to port. Your leader will then introduce your group to the Ha Long Women's Association in the Hon Gai township, a local sustainable initiative committed to cleaning waste in Ha Long Bay and upcycling it, where possible, into items of value. Here you'll meet the local women and witness how they upcycle trash into beautiful, handcrafted products. You may also get the chance to try upcycling too. We then drive back to Hanoi for a free evening to explore or relax. There may be an option of seeing a Water Puppets performance, which your leader can arrange if you wish (subject to availability). Premium accommodation: Foreign Relations Hotel, Hanoi (four-star)
Day 5 Fly to Da Nang; transfer to Hoi An
After breakfast, we transfer to Hanoi Airport for a flight to Da Nang. In Da Nang, we climb Marble Mountain where we explore the large caves used by the Viet Cong as a hospital base during the war. There are wonderful views from the mountain peak over My Khe Beach and the surrounding countryside which leads on to the captivating town of Hoi An, our next destination (approximately one-hour transfer). This evening, the group will dine at a local restaurant while enjoying views of the atmospheric Thu Bon River. Premium accommodation: Hoi An Blue Sky Boutique Hotel & Spa, Hoi An (four-star)
Day 6 Walking tour of Hoi An; free afternoon
This morning will include a walking tour of Hoi An, the original European trading port in Vietnam dating back to the mid-16th century. It is now a living museum, with attractive wooden merchant houses and pagoda-style temples with Chinese, Japanese, Vietnamese and European architectural influences. It is also a marvellous place to wander around, dipping into the thriving riverside market and shopping for silk clothing. After lunch at a local eatery, the afternoon is free to enjoy a town that has become a favourite for so many travellers to Vietnam. Options include a trip to My Son (the spiritual home of the Cham civilisation) where Cham kings were buried as long ago as the fourth century. Although bombing has destroyed much of the site, there are several interesting stone towers and sanctuaries. Premium accommodation: Hoi An Blue Sky Boutique Hotel & Spa, Hoi An (four-star)
Day 7 Morning visit to the local market and cooking class; free afternoon
We spend the morning visiting the colourful local market where we will shop for ingredients before visiting the renowned Green Mango Cooking School. Here we learn the intricacies of Vietnamese cooking. Under the supervision of an English-speaking Vietnamese chef, you create your own dishes. You don't need to be a proficient cook to enjoy this activity – but be warned, you eat your creations at the end of the morning! The afternoon is free for you to enjoy Hoi An at leisure, or jump on a bike (optional) for a ride through the countryside, passing markets, schools and villages before continuing to Cua Dai beach (3mi/5km). Premium accommodation: Hoi An Blue Sky Boutique Hotel & Spa, Hoi An (four-star)
Day 8 Fly to Ho Chi Minh City; afternoon city tour
This morning we transfer to Da Nang Airport for the flight (approximately 1hr 25min) to Ho Chi Minh City (formally Saigon). This is an exciting, absorbing city where scooters pack the streets and temples stand alongside modern developments. Devastated by the Vietnam War, it is now a bustling free-market city where anything goes. The Saigon River and Ben Thanh market are within walking distance and are highly recommended. After arrival, your group will dine at a Ho Chi Minh City institution, Pho Hoa on Pasteur, which has been in operation for more than 50 years. Here you will enjoy a tasty lunch of southern-style Vietnamese noodles and spring rolls. An afternoon city tour will include a visit to the Notre Dame Cathedral, the Reunification Palace and the War Remnants Museum. The museum has an interesting photographic record of the Vietnam/American War. Please be aware, some images at the museum are very graphic. Premium accommodation: Sila Urban Living, Ho Chi Minh City (four-star)
Day 9 Morning visit to Cu Chi tunnels; free afternoon
Today we leave the city and head north to visit the Cu Chi tunnels. Used by the Viet Cong during the war, the network covers three levels and incorporates around 150mi (240km) of tunnels. Traditionally, these were very narrow, but some areas have been widened to allow tourists to explore the system. Claustrophobes may prefer to stay outside in the sunshine. In the afternoon, we return to Ho Chi Minh City and the rest of the day is free for individual exploration. Premium accommodation: Sila Urban Living, Ho Chi Minh City (four-star)
Day 10 To Mekong Delta; cruise through waterways
In the morning, we drive to Cai Be in the Mekong Delta (approximately 2hr 30min), known as the rice bowl of Vietnam. This region produces most of Vietnam's fruit, sugar cane and coconuts. We take a boat trip on the mighty Mekong River, passing many orchards and friendly locals also travelling by boat. Recently, Cai Be floating market has become less crowded and smaller as fruit trading is mostly now done by trucks. However, this is still a great opportunity to see a local market and traditional trade on a smaller scale. We stop to see small cottage industries, such as rice paper and coconut candy, getting a chance to sample the produce before enjoying the local specialty, elephant ear fish, for lunch. After, we continue by boat to Vinh Long where our private transport takes us to Can Tho. This evening, the group will dine and enjoy local Mekong specialties. Premium accommodation: Ninh Kieu Riverside Hotel, Can Tho (four-star)
Day 11 Visit floating market; return to Ho Chi Minh City
This morning, we take a boat trip to Cai Rang floating market, the biggest and most lively floating market in the Delta, with great photo opportunities. It is a maze of hundreds of boats packed with fruits, vegetables and plants, where samples are hung from the tops of long poles so buyers can see from a distance what is for sale. After, we drive back to Ho Chi Minh City where the remainder of the afternoon is free. This evening, you'll meet your leader and group for a final traditional meal in a Vietnamese-style house-restaurant in the heart of the city. Premium accommodation: Sila Urban Living, Ho Chi Minh City (four-star)
Day 12 Fly to Siem Reap, Cambodia, and be based at the Lynnaya Urban River Resort & Spa
Today we transfer to Ho Chi Minh City Airport for the flight to Siem Reap in Cambodia. On arrival, the group will be met by our Cambodian expert tour leader. Here the group will spend the next two nights at the intimate Lynnaya Urban River Resort & Spa – the perfect base to explore Angkor. This evening, we enjoy a welcome dinner in the local village of Lum Orng at the first farm-to-table restaurant in Cambodia where we feast on authentic Khmer cuisine made with many ingredients from the organic garden. We may also have the opportunity to see the sunset at the temple-complex this evening (flight time dependent). If not, we enjoy this marvel tomorrow. Premium accommodation: Lynnaya Urban River Resort & Spa, Siem Reap (four-star)
Day 13 Full day to explore Angkor
We visit the incredible Angkor Wat and the many temples inside the Royal City of Angkor Thom, including the magnificent Bayon, which comprises 54 intricately carved towers in a single temple. The Bayon certainly left an impression on an early traveller in 1925 who stated, 'we stand before it stunned. It is like nothing else in the land.' We will also see other less-visited outlying temples. Particularly impressive are Banteay Srei and Ta Prohm, the latter still covered in jungle as it was first found. Re-discovered in the 1870s and described as being 'grander than anything of Greece or Rome' by the French explorer Henri Mouchot, this Unesco World Heritage site is one of the most spectacular archaeological zones in the world. A truly magical experience and a photographer's paradise. This evening, gather with your leader and group members for a special farewell dinner featuring traditional cuisine and entertainment. Premium accommodation: Lynnaya Urban River Resort & Spa, Siem Reap (four-star)
Day 14 End Siem Reap
This cultural tour ends after breakfast. There are free transfers to Siem Reap Airport for all customers (see the Joining Instructions for more information). Alternatively, if you’d like more time to explore this fascinating destination, speak to your sales representative about extending your stay.
