Vietnam, Cambodia and Hidden Treasures of the Mekong

Romantically referred to by the French as the Pearl of the Orient, Ho Chi Minh City today is a super-charged city of sensory overload. Motorbikes zoom day and night along the wide boulevards, through the narrow back alleys and past vendors pushing handcarts hawking goods of all descriptions. Still called Saigon by most residents, this is Vietnam's largest city and the engine driving the country's current economic resurgence, but despite its frenetic pace, it's a friendlier place than Hanoi and locals will tell you the food—simple, tasty, and incorporating many fresh herbs—is infinitely better than in the capital.This is a city full of surprises. The madness of the city's traffic—witness the oddball things that are transported on the back of motorcycles—is countered by tranquil pagodas, peaceful parks, quirky coffee shops, and whole neighborhoods hidden down tiny alleyways, although some of these quiet spots can be difficult to track down. Life in Ho Chi Minh City is lived in public: on the back of motorcycles, on the sidewalks, and in the parks. Even when its residents are at home, they're still on display. With many living rooms opening onto the street, grandmothers napping, babies being rocked, and food being prepared, are all in full view of passersby.Icons of the past endure in the midst of the city’s headlong rush into capitalism. The Hotel Continental, immortalized in Graham Greene's The Quiet American, continues to stand on the corner of old Indochina's most famous thoroughfare, the rue Catinat, known to American G.I.s during the Vietnam War as Tu Do (Freedom) Street and renamed Dong Khoi (Uprising) Street by the Communists. The city still has its ornate opera house and its old French city hall, the Hôtel de Ville. The broad colonial boulevards leading to the Saigon River and the gracious stucco villas are other remnants of the French colonial presence. Grisly reminders of the more recent past can be seen at the city's war-related museums. Residents, however, prefer to look forward rather than back and are often perplexed by tourists' fascination with a war that ended 40 years ago.The Chinese influence on the country is still very much in evidence in the Cholon district, the city's Chinatown, but the modern office towers and international hotels that mark the skyline symbolize Vietnam's fixation on the future.

Arrival in Saigon - On arrival, you will be met and transferred to your centrally located hotel where we'll stay for three nights. If you arrive before normal check in time, we will arrange an early check in for you. The rest of the day will be for you to relax after your overnight flight* or enjoy the facilities of the hotel and the local area. *Based on current flight schedules.

Romantically referred to by the French as the Pearl of the Orient, Ho Chi Minh City today is a super-charged city of sensory overload. Motorbikes zoom day and night along the wide boulevards, through the narrow back alleys and past vendors pushing handcarts hawking goods of all descriptions. Still called Saigon by most residents, this is Vietnam's largest city and the engine driving the country's current economic resurgence, but despite its frenetic pace, it's a friendlier place than Hanoi and locals will tell you the food—simple, tasty, and incorporating many fresh herbs—is infinitely better than in the capital.This is a city full of surprises. The madness of the city's traffic—witness the oddball things that are transported on the back of motorcycles—is countered by tranquil pagodas, peaceful parks, quirky coffee shops, and whole neighborhoods hidden down tiny alleyways, although some of these quiet spots can be difficult to track down. Life in Ho Chi Minh City is lived in public: on the back of motorcycles, on the sidewalks, and in the parks. Even when its residents are at home, they're still on display. With many living rooms opening onto the street, grandmothers napping, babies being rocked, and food being prepared, are all in full view of passersby.Icons of the past endure in the midst of the city’s headlong rush into capitalism. The Hotel Continental, immortalized in Graham Greene's The Quiet American, continues to stand on the corner of old Indochina's most famous thoroughfare, the rue Catinat, known to American G.I.s during the Vietnam War as Tu Do (Freedom) Street and renamed Dong Khoi (Uprising) Street by the Communists. The city still has its ornate opera house and its old French city hall, the Hôtel de Ville. The broad colonial boulevards leading to the Saigon River and the gracious stucco villas are other remnants of the French colonial presence. Grisly reminders of the more recent past can be seen at the city's war-related museums. Residents, however, prefer to look forward rather than back and are often perplexed by tourists' fascination with a war that ended 40 years ago.The Chinese influence on the country is still very much in evidence in the Cholon district, the city's Chinatown, but the modern office towers and international hotels that mark the skyline symbolize Vietnam's fixation on the future.

Saigon - On our first full day of exploration, we'll enjoy a comprehensive tour of the lively city of Ho Chi Minh - previously Saigon - delving into its rich history, beautiful French architecture and poignant war memories. Our first port of call is Vinh Nghiem Pagoda, a popular Buddhist Temple for locals. Consisting of several buildings, each with its own architectural style and cultural significance, we'll stop to admire the carved wood columns, frescoes and pictures which align with Buddhist teachings and astronomy. Then we'll continue to the War Remnants Museum to gain a deeper understanding of the brutal realities of the Vietnam War and its impact as we explore the museum's poignant exhibits. We'll make our way to the iconic Reunification Palace, a symbol of the war's end, where history comes to life. It was at this historic site that a North Vietnamese Army tank famously crashed through the gates, marking a pivotal moment in Vietnam's history. Wrapping up our tour, we'll discover the captivating beauty of French Colonial architecture on a visit to the Central Post Office and the majestic Saigon Opera House. These architectural marvels stand as timeless symbols of the city's cultural heritage and are sure to leave a lasting impression.  Returning to the hotel, the rest of the day is at leisure. You may wish to try your hand at bartering at the Ben Thanh market or perhaps take a stroll around Tao Dan Park, the largest in the city with delightful green spaces and over 1,000 species of trees and tropical plants. An absolute must-try is a traditional coffee, where coffee beans, usually roasted in butter, are added to a filter with hot water and allowed to drip through to the cup below onto condensed milk. Delicious!

Romantically referred to by the French as the Pearl of the Orient, Ho Chi Minh City today is a super-charged city of sensory overload. Motorbikes zoom day and night along the wide boulevards, through the narrow back alleys and past vendors pushing handcarts hawking goods of all descriptions. Still called Saigon by most residents, this is Vietnam's largest city and the engine driving the country's current economic resurgence, but despite its frenetic pace, it's a friendlier place than Hanoi and locals will tell you the food—simple, tasty, and incorporating many fresh herbs—is infinitely better than in the capital.This is a city full of surprises. The madness of the city's traffic—witness the oddball things that are transported on the back of motorcycles—is countered by tranquil pagodas, peaceful parks, quirky coffee shops, and whole neighborhoods hidden down tiny alleyways, although some of these quiet spots can be difficult to track down. Life in Ho Chi Minh City is lived in public: on the back of motorcycles, on the sidewalks, and in the parks. Even when its residents are at home, they're still on display. With many living rooms opening onto the street, grandmothers napping, babies being rocked, and food being prepared, are all in full view of passersby.Icons of the past endure in the midst of the city’s headlong rush into capitalism. The Hotel Continental, immortalized in Graham Greene's The Quiet American, continues to stand on the corner of old Indochina's most famous thoroughfare, the rue Catinat, known to American G.I.s during the Vietnam War as Tu Do (Freedom) Street and renamed Dong Khoi (Uprising) Street by the Communists. The city still has its ornate opera house and its old French city hall, the Hôtel de Ville. The broad colonial boulevards leading to the Saigon River and the gracious stucco villas are other remnants of the French colonial presence. Grisly reminders of the more recent past can be seen at the city's war-related museums. Residents, however, prefer to look forward rather than back and are often perplexed by tourists' fascination with a war that ended 40 years ago.The Chinese influence on the country is still very much in evidence in the Cholon district, the city's Chinatown, but the modern office towers and international hotels that mark the skyline symbolize Vietnam's fixation on the future.

Cu Chi Tunnels - The Cu Chi Tunnels are a unique and complex underground network stretching for 124 miles and included hospitals, meeting rooms, sleeping quarters and kitchens. Begun during the last years of French rule and vastly expanded during the 1960s, the tunnels provided a base for the Vietcong from which to attack US forces within just 30 miles of Saigon. Our visit here is a fascinating insight into these troubled times: we see the tunnels themselves and examples of the many mantraps and stake pits which protected them. Despite being carpet bombed, the tunnels were never really penetrated, and should you wish, you can try out real period weapons on a firing range. After our tour, we'll return to our hotel for an afternoon and evening at leisure. If you're peckish this afternoon, why not try Banh Mi, a delicious Vietnamese sandwich? Made with a freshly cooked short baguette and traditionally packed with pate, meats, mayo, pickles and salad - it's so popular that you can find versions of it in UK street food markets! Or, if you prefer something heartier, you could try a warming bowl of pho noodles. Delicious flat rice noodles, served in a broth, traditionally cooked for many hours for a deep, rich flavour. Best paired with Vietnamese rice paper rolls made with fresh vegetables, prawns and vermicelli noodles. Whatever you choose, you will be spoilt for choice!

Phnom Penh, Cambodia’s busy capital, sits at the junction of the Mekong and Tonlé Sap rivers. It was a hub for both the Khmer Empire and French colonialists. On its walkable riverfront, lined with parks, restaurants and bars, are the ornate Royal Palace, Silver Pagoda and the National Museum, displaying artifacts from around the country. At the city’s heart is the massive, art deco Central Market.

Cruise to Phnom Penh - Today is all about relaxing as the ship cruises towards the Vietnam - Cambodia border. With a full day on board, why not begin the day with a dip in the infinity pool followed by a leisurely breakfast? Relax on board and enjoy the ship’s many facilities. Perhaps challenge your new-found friends to a round of mini golf? Or pamper yourself with a treatment from the spa? Maybe crack open that book you've been meaning to read in the library. There's plenty to keep you entertained as we sail. After crossing the border into Cambodia, we'll arrive in the country's charming capital, Phnom Penh, in the late afternoon. Once known as the ‘Pearl of the Orient’ or the ‘Paris of the East’, Phnom Penh has preserved much of its wonderful rustic charm, elegance and French allure. As our ship moors here overnight, there's the opportunity to get out and explore the city's French colonial buildings, tree-lined boulevards and attractive riverside walk. Tonight, we'll enjoy Khmer Apsara dancing and the chance to meet the performers afterwards. This unique dance, known for its beautiful costumes and captivating hand movements, was once only performed for the royal family and their special guests. In recent decades, it has gained worldwide recognition as a symbol of Khmer culture. In 2003, UNESCO recognized the Royal Ballet of Cambodia as an 'Intangible Cultural Heritage' due to its significance.

Phnom Penh, Cambodia’s busy capital, sits at the junction of the Mekong and Tonlé Sap rivers. It was a hub for both the Khmer Empire and French colonialists. On its walkable riverfront, lined with parks, restaurants and bars, are the ornate Royal Palace, Silver Pagoda and the National Museum, displaying artifacts from around the country. At the city’s heart is the massive, art deco Central Market.

Phnom Penh - We'll begin with a guided tour of the city on a three-wheeled cyclo - the oldest mode of transportation in Cambodia. Our first stop is the majestic Royal Palace and Silver Pagoda complex. Established in 1866, it stands as a symbol of Khmer grandeur and history. Exploring its intricate detail, we'll admire the elaborately constructed palace buildings and see the 5,000 silver floor tiles which give the Silver Pagoda its name, as well as spectacular gold and bejewelled Buddha statues - they're considered national treasures. After that, we will visit the National Museum, a beautiful sandstone structure that houses the world's most extensive collection of Khmer sculptures. This collection spans over a millennium and showcases the masterful and timeless Khmer design. After lunch back onboard, there'll be the opportunity to head just outside of the city for a poignant visit to Choeung Ek, one of the mass grave sites of the Killing Fields where the Khmer Rouge executed over a million men, women and children between 1975 and 1979. Today, Cheoung Ek is a peaceful memorial with a Buddhist stupa filled with skulls and bones, arranged by sex and age, to honour the victims. After a somewhat haunting visit, you will be taken to Raffles Hotel Le Royal to complete your afternoon on a lighter note with a cocktail at the famed Elephant Bar. The former first lady, Jackie Kennedy Onassis, visited Cambodia in 1967 and had an honorary cocktail created for her in this very bar. The femme fatale is still on the menu today - as is their unique version of the Singapore Sling. We'll return to the ship for another delicious dinner as we sail away from Phnom Penh and overnight in Koh Chen.