| | | | | Arrive | Depart |
| 20th20 | JulJul | 202222 | 2 nights accommodation before your cruise, staying in Ho Chi Minh City | | |
| 22nd22 | JulJul | 202222 | Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam, embark on the Scenic Spirit | | |
| 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. After breakfast and checkout visit the War Museum and Reunification Palace. The former Presidential House of South Vietnam become famous in 1975 with images of tanks crashing through its gates leading to the South's surrender and end of the War of Independence. After lunch a coach will transfer you to My Tho where the breath-taking Scenic Spirit awaits. Start with a cocktail reception hosted by your Cruise Director. Take a stroll around the decks to orientate yourself as to where all the amenities are. After your welcome dinner, settling into your private suite does not mean you settle for service. At any time, your dedicated personal butler is free to swing by with a nightcap and delivery of your preferred pillows. A calm 4-hour sail brings you to a halt off Cai Be where the ship will anchor overnight. |
| 23rd23 | JulJul | 202222 | Cái Bè, Vietnam | | |
| Enjoy a full gourmet champagne breakfast before heading out on your chosen Scenic Freechoice activity. Freechoice: Choose to board a sampan, gliding through a floating market and soaking in the local life on your way to visit Cai Be before stopping at local cottage industries and a French colonial or traditional Vietnamese house. Alternatively take a sampan to savour a delicious morning tea at the Le Longanier, a French colonial house restaurant, where staff will welcome you with tea, coffee and a range of local fruit and snacks for your tasting. You can dive into a local experience with a band playing music and performing traditional Vietnamese songs. Alternatively if you are enjoying the comforts of the luxurious Scenic Spirit and not quite ready to disembark, our highly skilled bar team is ready to welcome you for our on board hands on cocktail/mocktail making class featuring fresh local ingredients, along with our delicious favourites from the Scenic Spirit menu. After your morning activity, head back to the ship for lunch whilst sailing to Sa Dec. Sometimes everyone needs a break from the hustle and bustle of this exciting cruise and for those bookworms, kick back in the Scenic Spirit library to obtain some back knowledge of each port and getting the key information for the exciting activities ahead. Or head to the heart of this ship, the Scenic Spirit lounge, which is a great place to unwind with a glass of wine. |
| 24th24 | JulJul | 202222 | Sa Déc, Vietnam | | |
| This morning re-board your sampan to explore and interact with the sellers in the lively wet market in Sa Dec where you will see live fishes, frogs and even snakes. This 2-hour exploration lets you dive deep into the local lifestyle. You can also visit the home of Mr. Huynh Thuy Le who inspired marguerite Duras novel L'Amant a story of tragic love told by your entertaining expert. After returning to the ship, you will have time to take an evening dip in the pool overlooking the Mekong as the sun sets. The ship will set sail after your arrival back on board for the 6-hour journey to Tan Chau. |
| 25th25 | JulJul | 202222 | Tân Châu, Vietnam | | |
| You may want to start with some exercise in the on board gym, try stretching at the early morning yoga class or relax in the sauna before setting off to a Scenic Freechoice of your choosing in the areas surrounding Tan Chau. Freechoice: A prime example of leaving the city life behind can be located at Tra Su Bird Santuary in Tra Su Forest where you travel by sampan through endless waterways flanked by mangroves and lush greenery. This eco reserve spans 850 hectares and is known as an ecological haven for fauna and flora, with more than 100 species of water birds known to reside here. Of course, if you are not a bird fan but want to experience the wilderness of Vietnam, look no further than Evergreen Island for a morning of discovery about the local farmers. Enjoy the stunning and tranquil views of Monkey Bridge, orchards and traditional homes. Back in Tan Chau you will have the option to experience a ride in a Xe Loi. This is a commonly used form of transportation in rural Vietnam will lead you to a silk workshop where you will discover the unique dying process of silk which has resulted in a sort after export product, particularly in Paris. Your third choice is boarding a speedboat to visit Chau Doc, a major city in the Mekong Delta. Upon arrival, continue on board a coach to visit Tay An temple, which is a mixture of Indian and Islamic style architecture located at the foot of Sam Mountain. Then board another sampan to visit Vinh Te canal and view life along the riverfront of Chau Doc, stop at a family-operated fish farm and then return to the Scenic Spirit. After lunch upon your arrival back on board, enjoy sailing to the Vietnamese and Cambodian border. Some down time is a great way to relax and what better way to do that than heading to the Wellness Centre or Beauty Salon for a bit of pampering. At the border, you will experience a fantastically themed dinner on board the Spirit along with a lion dance performed by locals. |
| 26th26 | JulJul | 202222 | Phnom Penh, Cambodia | | |
| This morning is at your leisure. Attend an on board demonstration or enjoy some solitude in the library and observation lounge or on your private balcony whilst sailing upstream from the Vietnamese border to Phnom Penh, the capital of Cambodia. Enrich Later this evening revel in our Phnom Penh by City Lights tour, giving you an insight to the nightlife of the capital before stopping at a distillery for an exclusive tour and tasting. |
| 27th27 | JulJul | 202222 | Phnom Penh, Cambodia | | |
| After breakfast, it will be time to head into Phnom Penh. Freechoice: Your Scenic Freechoice provides the option to journey to the Killing Fields and tour Tuol Sleng Prison. This attraction is a sobering reminder of the terrors unleashed by the Khmer Rouge regime. Although not a delightful tour, visiting these monuments unlocks the keys to understanding the development of this country. At the conclusion of this choice, you can head back to the Scenic Spirit for lunch. The second choice is for the kitchen wizard, where a cooking class may be the option for you. Take a trip to the local market with a local chef to purchase your ingredients. Head back to the kitchen to cook your own lunch, testing out the styles and flavours of the Cambodian cuisine. The third option is to travel by Remok, a local style of Tuk Tuk to visit the French architecture and history of Phnom Penh. Finish this tour with a stop at the unique designed Central Market for some shopping. Before returning to the Scenic Spirit, stop for lunch at a local Non Government Office (NGO) sponsored restaurant supporting street kids get a start in the hospitality industry. The remainder of the afternoon is at your leisure. |
| 28th28 | JulJul | 202222 | Phnom Penh, Cambodia | | |
| Board your bus for the short drive to the former capital of Cambodia, Oudong. Here witness the life of the monks and nuns who reside here at the monastery and if you are lucky, you maybe able to partake in one of the many festivals and customs often held here. Even the most developing countries have a standard of luxury and opulence. You can experience this this afternoon back in Phnom Penh at the Royal Palace with the famous Silver Pagoda within, on your included visit to this must-see attraction. If you are running out of clean clothes, be sure to utilise the complimentary laundry facilities and get an outfit ready for an evening of style with a cocktail reception on the sundeck against the backdrop of Phnom Penh's lights and stunning scenery as the ships sets sail towards Oknha Tey, commonly known as Silk Island. |
| 29th29 | JulJul | 202222 | Angkor, Cambodia | | |
| This morning we explore the island of Oknha Tey, dedicated to the art of silk weaving. Travel by tuk tuk to the farm and learn about the process of silk production. Return to Scenic Spirit for lunch and some free time. With travelling throughout South-East Asia comes the heat and what better way to cool down than socialising with a fresh cocktail and dipping your toes in the pool. Next port after lunch is Angkor Ban. Explore its historical rural wooden houses, which survived the Khmer rouge and visit a school that teaches English to the local students after their regular school lessons. Back on board, continue sailing to Kampong Cham. The option to immerse yourself in local culture with our team is available by learning how to make and wear the Cambodian scarf. |
| 30th30 | JulJul | 202222 | Kampong Cham, Cambodia | | |
| Meet the novice monks at Wat Hanchey, an ancient hilltop pagoda and monastery. Walk (or drive) to the top and soak in some of the best elevated views of the cruise. Enrich Receive a blessing from a monk and learn how to pray in a Buddhist pagoda before partaking in a ceremony, which contributes to the daily meal of the resident monks. Back in Kampong Cham, your Scenic Freechoices this afternoon provide the chance to learn about the history and industries of the area. Freechoice: First option is to learn about the local folklore with stops at Phnom Pros (Man Hill and Wat Nokor). Phnom Pros was part of a traditional local legend but more recently was used as a Killing Field during the Khmer Rouge era. The temple now features a Buddha garden and is home to a local troop of monkeys. Wat Nokor Bachey is a unique architectural experiment blending an Angkorian era temple with a new temple built inside it. This a truly enriching experience can be completed in under 2 hours leaving the rest of the day to unwind either exploring or enjoying the luxurious facilities located on the Scenic Spirit. Alternatively explore Kampong Cham's history and industry with a drive through past shop houses, remnants of the French colonial era and the large Central market. Visit a local rubber plantation established by the French, followed by a tour to view the processing of the raw rubber at a rubber factory before stopping at a village known for growing betel nut, a popular item in Cambodian Culture. Cambodia is known for its villages so your third option is to visit a local village where the locals are being educated through a French NGO to be self-sustaining and live in a clean environment through rubbish collection and recycling. Back on board you will have time to relax and overlook the gorgeous sunset of the Cambodian skyline before your engaging farewell dinner with the crew. |
| 31st31 | JulJul | 202222 | Siem Reap, Cambodia, disembark the Scenic Spirit | | |
| Today we journey to Siem Reap via stops at Kampong Tom and the Angkorian bridge in Kampong Kdei. Siem Reap is a split in time with ancient and traditional architecture weaved between the modern developments. Your hotel, is a step back in time in the definition of luxury and your historical home for the next three nights in Siem Reap. This brilliantly appointed accommodation is styled with a mix of French inspired architecture, local interior furnishings, the attentive staff provide a service beyond expectations, and brilliant amenities fit for royalty. Enrich Head to the colourful Cambodian Phare Circus where your VIP premium reserved seating awaits you. Beautifully dressed performers style a stunning show that is more than just a circus. The performers use theatre, music, dance and modern circus arts to tell uniquely Cambodian stories; historical, folk and modern. |
| 31st31 | JulJul | 202222 | 3 nights accommodation following your cruise, staying in Siem Reap | | |
| 3rd03 | AugAug | 202222 | Check out of accommodation | | |
