Mekong River Cruise including Vietnam & Cambodia
Your Escorted Mekong River Cruise Holiday Overview
Sail with us down the Mekong River through Vietnam and Cambodia on this 14-night guided holiday. As well as a 7-night, full-board river cruise, we’ll enjoy multiple guided shore excursions and 4 Star hotel visits in Ho Chi Minh City and Siem Reap. In Vietnam, we’ll discover Ho Chi Minh City (formerly Saigon) and witness the sights and sounds that have made this place one of the most exciting in South East Asia. On our 7-night Mekong River Cruise, we’ll travel towards the Cambodian border, discovering floating villages and enjoying wonderful scenery en route to Siem Reap. We'll uncover the country's dark history under Pol Pot's regime and visit the Royal Palace in Phnom Penh. In Siem Reap, we’ll explore the magnificent temple of Angkor Wat, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and witness the Cambodian sunset in one of the most iconic locations on earth.
Please note that visas are required for travel on this tour. Please visit our visa information page for more information.
Trip Itinerary
Activity Level: Busy
Day
Travel to Vietnam
Depart for Ho Chi Minh
Depart for your overnight flight to Ho Chi Minh and begin this trip of a lifetime.
Arrive in Ho Chi Minh City
Transfer to Hotel
Upon arrival in Vietnam, you will be met by our local representative before being transferred to our hotel in Ho Chi Minh City. We will have the afternoon at leisure to relax and settle into our new surroundings.
Explore Ho Chi Minh & Chu Chi Tunnels
Experience Chu Chi Tunnel Tour
Today we will embark in an excursion to discover the Chu Chi network of underground tunnels. These tunnels were the location of many of the Viet Cong’s military campaigns during the Vietnam War (or American War, as it is called in Vietnam). The tunnels were used as hiding places during combat; also serving as communication and supply routes, hospitals, food storage and living quarters for the Vietnamese fighters.
For those preferring to remain above ground, there is ample opportunity to view excavated areas from above. The more daring among us can enter some of the tunnels with our guide. As this requires crawling along on hands and knees in the darkness of the tunnel, it is certainly not for the faint hearted.
Lunch is included today.
Uncover Ho Chi Minh
After lunch, join us for the chance to explore Ho Chi Minh, we will take in the highlights like the former Presidential Palace, the Historical Museum and the Notre Dame Cathedral.
This evening, we will enjoy a welcome dinner at a local restaurant.
Commence River Cruise
Commence River Cruise
This morning after breakfast, we will check out of our hotel and settle any extra charges incurred before transferring to Can Tho, the beating heart of the Mekong Delta.
Let’s enjoy a stop at the rustic riverside town of Cai Be where we will enjoy a local lunch served at the Le Longanier Restaurant set amidst fruit trees by the river.
Embark on Your River Cruise
Join us tonight for welcome drinks & evening dinner served onboard as the ship cruises towards Long Xuyen, here we will enjoy the sunset over the Hau River before experiencing a traditional Southern Vietnamese folk music performance known as don Đờn Ca Tài Tử.
Discover Long Xyyen and Tiger Island.
Uncover Long Xyyen
Join us today to visit the famous Long Xuyen Floating Market and the An Giang Museum, with fascinating exhibits on Kinh, Chinese, Khmer and Cham cultures in the region before returning to the ship for lunch.
Explore Tiger Island
After lunch on board, we will sail towards Tiger Island, we will explore Tiger Island by 3-wheeled "xe loi", visiting cottage industries such as plant pot making and incense making, followed by a visit to locally known site as “Mr. Tiger’s Temple” and we will uncover the story that won the island its name.
This evening, we will enjoy dinner on board with some local entertainment as we sail to Van Nao.
Discover Tan Chau.
Tan Chau
This morning, we will set sail from Vam Nao to Phu Tan, the capital of An Giang in the Mekong Delta.
Let’s enjoy a visit to a craft village famed for the handmaking Ca Rang clay stoves. Used for hundreds of years by the southern Vietnamese, these stoves have a unique design which allows them to block the wind, retain heat, and keep ash from dispersing.
We will return to our ship for some lunch before continuing exploring attractions along the Mekong Delta, including floating fish farms and a sacred temple, the spiritual centre for the local residents.
Tonight, we will enjoy dinner on board along with a traditional Vietnamese lion dance
Cross into Cambodia
At Leisure on Board
This morning, we will sail towards the Vietnam – Cambodia border, enjoy a leisurely morning on board. Relax on our sun deck as we enjoy the scenery as cross the border sail towards Phnom Penh or take advantage of the many activities on board.
Arrive in Phnom Penh
This afternoon we will arrive at the charming capital of Cambodia, Phnom Penh, once known as the “Pearl of the Orient” for its French colonial buildings, tree-lined boulevards and scenic river walk Join us for an onboard performance of the traditional Khmer Apsara dancing before dinner.
Discover Phnom Penh City Tour & Killing Fields
Guided Phnom Penh City Tour
After breakfast we will disembark in the Cambodian capital of Phnom Penh where we will enjoy a city tour on a three-wheeled cyclo. We will explore the Royal Palace and The Silver Pagoda here we can admire the elaborately constructed palace buildings, some of the 5,000 silver floor tiles that give the Silver Pagoda its name, as well as spectacular gold and bejewelled Buddha statues that are considered national treasures.
Our tour will continue to the Khmer Craft at the national museum a beautiful sandstone building that showcases the world’s largest collection of Khmer art
Explore The Killing Fields
After lunch at a local restaurant, we will visit the Genocide Museum and the Killing Fields, which tell the story of Cambodia's horrific past under the Khmer Rouge.
In the evening, we will return to the ship for dinner and local entertainment.
Discover local villages of Koh Chen, Oudong and Silk Island
Koh Chen
Join us today after breakfast for a walking tour of the village of Koh Chen, here we will uncover the highlight of meeting a local copper and silversmith.
Oudong & Vipassana Dhura Meditation Centre.
We will travel onwards to Oudong, the ancient capital of Cambodia with a stop at the Vipassana Dhura Meditation Centre, a peaceful retreat where people practice Vipassana meditation, an ancient Buddhist method for developing mindfulness and insight.
Silk Island
In the afternoon we will enjoy a tuk tuk ride to Silk Island where you will learn about the process of silk weaving, from worm to loom, along with a chance to observe local families weaving the iconic Cambodian krama.
Join us this evening for dinner on board our cruise.
Explore Angkor Ban & Wat Nokor Bachey
Angkor Ban
Join us this morning as we explore the village of Angkor Ban famous for its wooden stilt houses, here we will experience what rural life in Cambodia is. We will notice most of the wooden houses are Blue as most locals believe the colour blue is lucky and it is a way to allow happiness to enter the home.
Wat Nokor Bachey
After lunch, we will visit the Wat Nokor Bachey famous for the many cultural and historical sites before returning to the ship.
Disembark cruise and travel to Siem Reap
Disembark cruise and travel to Siem Reap
Today it’s time to say goodbye to the Mekong and depart our cruise. We will disembark our cruise at Kampong Chham and travel through the beautiful Cambodian countryside to Siem Reap.
Upon arrival in Siem Reap we will enjoy lunch together before continuing onto our hotel.
After we have checked in at our hotel we will have the afternoon at leisure to relax and settle into our new surroundings.
Experience Angkor Temple Tour
Explore Angkor Wat
Today, let’s explore the Angkor Temples of Cambodia. The first tour is to Angkor Thom and then you will travel on to Ta Prohm.
After lunch we visit the most famous of them all and the largest religious monument in the world, Angkor Wat. The temple was first a Hindu, then a Buddhist shrine and is the top attraction in Cambodia. Before our tour ends, we will enjoy sunset views over this beautiful site before returning to our hotel.
Please Note: Angkor Wat temple is still considered a sacred site and appropriate attire must be worn during the visit of the Bakan Tower. Please ensure to cover your knees and shoulders during the visit. Angkor Wat temple will be closed on the Buddhist Sabbath Days, religious days and four days a month in accordance with the Lunar calendar.
Experience a full day community village tour of local Khmer communities
Experience a full day community village tour of local Khmer communities
Today we will enjoy exploring the local Khmer communities, where we will experience some wonderful interactions with some of Asia’s warmest people. We will begin our tour at the CMAC museum which aims to raise awareness about the dangers of landmines and unexploded ordnance in Cambodia and to highlight the work being done to clear these remnants of war.
Our tour will continue onto the local community village of Kok Sangkai, our guide will describe how the locals live and how today’s visit will help to financially support several projects planned to help create a sustainable future for the villagers themselves, we will meet local families who earn a living by growing vegetables, raising chickens & ducks as well as making bamboo sticky rice. We will enjoy a simple Khmer style lunch at the community before walking to a local fish farm and an ancient pagoda where you will witness a traditional monks blessing.
Afternoon at Leisure
In the afternoon we will return to our hotel and have the afternoon at leisure to explore Siem Reap at our own pace. You might like to visit the Psar Chass open air market where you haggle with vendors while enjoying the unique local atmosphere.
Farewell Dinner
Let’s get together for our farewell dinner at a local restaurant with a cocktail included and enjoy our final night in Cambodia.
Return Home
Return Home
After breakfast we will check out of our hotel and transferred to Siem Reap airport and check in for our homeward flights.
Arrive Home
Arrive Home
Arrive home following your adventures in fantastic South East Asia.
* We aim to operate your tour itinerary according to the format shown. Occasionally, local conditions and unexpected events may result in adjustments to the planned schedule. We kindly ask for your understanding and flexibility in the event of any changes.
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Know before you go
What if there is an emergency?
We have local representatives in all of our destinations who are available 24/7 as well as an emergency contact number for our offices in Ireland should you ever need it.
Do I need a Visa?
Please visit our visa page for information on requirements for each country's entry requirements
Will I be met at the airport?
You will be met on arrival at your destination airport and transferred to your accommodation. You will be accompanied on all included excursions by your Travel Department guide. Your expert local guide is also available to give you tips and advice on any aspect of your holiday.