Compare Mekong Discovery (Southbound) by Avalon Waterways vs A Taste Of Vietnam And Cambodia In 9 Days by Realistic Asia
Compare details and see what other travelers are saying.
| Trip |
5 | Excellent
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5 | Excellent
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| Duration | 8 days | 9 days |
| Price From | $ 4,429 | $ 1,075 |
| Price Per Day | $ 554 | $ 119 |
| Highlights |
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| Trip Style | River cruise | Small group tour |
| Lodging Level | Standard | Standard |
| Physical Level |
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| Travel Themes |
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| Countries Visited | ||
| Cities and Attractions |
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| Flights & Transport | No | Internal airfare and ground transport included |
| Activities |
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| Meals Included | N/A |
8 Breakfasts, 4 Lunches, 1 Dinner |
| 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! |
Let's get lost in stunning panoramas of Vietnam and Cambodia. A Taste Of Vietnam And Cambodia In 9 Days, starts in colonial Hanoi - the elegant capital, graceful yet fast-paced city. Cruise on emerald waters among the peaks of Vietnam's most famous bay. Move to the vibrant Ho Chi Minh City to discover the riverside life of local people alongside the mighty Mekong River. Then fly to Siem Reap and be amazed by the largest religious complex in the world. |
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)
WAT-HANCHEY.jpg
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)
PHNOM-PENH-ROYAL-PALACE.jpg
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 Welcome to Vietnam - Hanoi Arrival
Your Vietnam adventure begins with your arrival in Hanoi. Your private driver will meet you at the airport, holding a signboard with your name. He will escort you to your accommodation right in the heart of the city, with the fascinating Old Quarter at your fingertips. You can easily explore the city at your own pace or relax at the hotel after the flight.
Overnight in Hanoi.
Day 2 Explore The Charms Of Vietnam's Capital - Group Tour (B/L)
Today you will have a full-day exploration of a unique Asian city with tree-lined boulevards, French colonial architecture, peaceful lakes, and oriental pagodas and temples dating back thousand years ago.
The guide will pick you up at your hotel from 8:00-8:45 am. Start your exploration by visiting the Ho Chi Minh complex, including Ho Chi Minh's Mausoleum, the final resting place of the Vietnamese great father, and President Ho Chi Minh's stilt house, where he lived and worked from 1958 to 1969. Then visit Ho Chi Minh Museum where you will learn about his devotion to Vietnam. Then continue to Tran Quoc pagoda, a Buddhist temple, and national heritage, lying on one side of West Lake.
Then proceed to the Ethnology Museum (apply on Sun, Tue, Thu & Sat). Here you will find the diversity of the culture of 54 ethnic groups in Vietnam.
Have lunch at a local restaurant. After lunch, drive to the Temple of Literature, which is the first university in Vietnam. It is an ancient architecture, constructed in 1073 to worship Confucius and the Chu Van An - headmaster of the Imperial College - representing the high moral philosophy and ethics of Vietnamese education. After an amazing time in the Temple of Literature drive back to Hoan Kiem Lake to visit Ngoc Son Temple and see the Vietnamese and French architecture around the lake.
Overnight in Hanoi.
Day 3 Explore The Magnificent Ha long Bay (B/L/D)
In the morning, after breakfast, check out the hotel, the Cruise team will pick you up. Take the most scenic route to reach Ha long Bay, taking you across the Red River Delta with emerald green rice paddies stretching for as far as the eyes can see. On arrival to Ha long, you will enjoy a cruise on the Bay and explore the limestone rocks and the karst grottoes.
After you are done with your exploration of the bay, it is time to enjoy an utterly delicious seafood lunch, after which there will be a trip to the famous limestone cave in Ha Long Bay, you’ll get to spend some time here, kayaking or swimming so that you can get closer to the floating villages and shops. Towards the evening, you will return to the boat for an early dinner, followed by some time at leisure. You can optionally attend the activities taking part on the boat or just relax.
Overnight on cruise.
Day 4 Wake Up With The Dragon in The Bay (B/L)
Rise early today to view the dawn at the Wonder of the Nature World with breakfast served in the dining room. A Tai Chi class on the sun deck will awake your mind and muscles.
Then head off to visit the limestone cave full of stalagmites and stalactites. Then return to the boat to check out and enjoy the brunch while the cruise is sailing back to the harbor. Later you will be transferred to your accommodation in Hanoi.
Overnight in Hanoi.
Day 5 Hanoi - Flight To Ho Chi Minh (B)
Relish the remaining moment in Hanoi before your private driver escorts you to the airport to take the flight to Ho Chi Minh. When you arrive at Ho Chi Minh airport, your driver will pick you up and transfer you to your accommodation. The rest of the time is free at leisure.
Overnight in Ho Chi Minh.
Day 6 Excursion On The Mighty Mekong Delta (B/L)
Kick start your day with a hearty breakfast, and a trip to Mekong Delta follows. The guide will meet you at the hotel lobby around 7:15-7:30 am, and you will head to My Tho, which lies on the left side of the Mekong River.
Upon arrival, board the sampan and cruise down the river around the four beautiful islands, known as Dragon, Unicorn, Phoenix, and Tortoise islands. Stop at Unicorn Island, walk around the country lanes and see the orchards. Visit fruit plantations and enjoy tropical fruits and folk song music performed by the local people.
Then take a hand-rowed sampan through Thoi Son canal and immerse yourself in the beauty of the countryside. Visit family workshops and honey-bee farm, and taste some honey tea and coconut candies.
Refuel yourself with a traditional Vietnamese lunch, and later cycle around the Tan Thach village, and meet the local villagers to experience the local daily life in the Mekong Delta. If you are not keen on a cycling trip, enjoy a cool breeze and a relaxing time in a hammock. Afterward, you will get back to your accommodation.
Overnight in Ho Chi Minh.
Day 7 Ho Chi Minh City Tour (B/L) - Flight to Siem Reap
Take the morning trip to visit Independence Palace, also known as the Reunification Palace, which was built on the sight of the former Norodom palace. The Independence palace is a widely known landmark of Ho Chi Minh City and was designed by the architect Ngo Viet Thu. Continue seeing the beautiful structures from the French Colonial times, such as the Notre Dame Cathedral, and the historic Central Post Office. The next stop is the remarkable site of the War Remnants Museum, which has a vast display of both the Indochina wars.
Then have some free time until our driver will pick you up from your hotel and take you to the airport for your flight to Siem Reap. Upon arrival at Siem Reap International Airport, your private driver will meet you and escort you to the hotel. Rest if the day is at your leisure.
Overnight in Siem Reap.
Please note: The Notre Dame Cathedral is under restoration, so the guests could visit it only outside.
Day 8 Explore The Magnificent Ancient Capital of Khmers (B)
Have breakfast at the hotel and start your sightseeing tour of the Angkor complex. Start your exploration with the wondrous ancient ruins of the South Gate of Angkor Thom, which is famous for its series of colossal human faces carved in stone. Continue your sightseeing to the impressive Bayon Temple, the Royal Enclosure, Phimeanakas, the Elephant Terrace, the Terrace of the Leper King, and the largest as well as the most complete temple of Angkor Wat. This architectural masterpiece was constructed in the 12th century and covers an area of about 210 hectares.
We will stroll around this massive edifice, seeing the many galleries with columns, libraries, pavilions, courtyards, and ponds full of water reflecting the towering temple. Then visit the famous jungle-covered temple of Ta Prohm. Here the enormous fig trees and gigantic creepers embrace themselves in the stone foundations of the structure giving the impression of man’s creation being reclaimed by the powerful forces of nature.
Overnight in Siem Reap.
Day 9 Biggest Farewell and Warmest Thank You - Siem Reap Departure (B)
Relish a healthy breakfast on the final day of your trip to Vietnam and Cambodia. Complete the hotel check-out formalities, after which you can visit the local markets to buy souvenirs for your loved ones. Later your private driver will transfer you to the airport to take your flight back home.
Trip Ends.
