Essential Vietnam and Cambodia

Make your way to London Heathrow for your flight to Vietnam.

Arrive in Ho Chi Minh City, a bustling metropolis formerly known as Saigon. Meet your Travelmarvel representative and transfer to your hotel. Tonight, feast on a delicious Welcome Dinner showcasing the distinctive flavours of Vietnamese cuisine.

Take a step back in time and travel to the Cu Chi Tunnels, built by Vietnamese resistance fighters. Listen to stories of the history of the Vietnam-American war, the ingenuity of the Cu Chi residents and the daily activities of the people. Part of a larger network, the tunnels were used by Viet Cong guerrillas as hiding spots during combat. Crawl through a section for a firsthand experience of what it was like for the soldiers who lived and fought here. Return to the city and enjoy the afternoon to explore at your own pace or choose from one of our Select Experience options.

Begin with your Insider Experience then return to your hotel for breakfast. Drive to My Tho and board the RV Apsara, your boutique river ship and home for the next seven nights. Exuding a true Asian ambience, the ship offers twin balconies with every suite to ensure a unique and scenic perspective on your Mekong River cruise. Set sail from My Tho and soak in the scenery as you cruise towards Cai Be where you anchor overnight. Settle in and familiarise yourself with your suite or relax up on the Sun Deck and watch life along the river. Tonight, enjoy your special Welcome Dinner on board with your fellow travellers.

Early risers can witness the sunrise from the Sun Deck and enjoy coffee and freshly baked pastries in the Saigon Lounge. Keep an eye open for the wholesalers pedalling their tropical fruits and vegetables at the floating market. Board your small tender boat, a traditional sampan, for your first excursion on the banks of the Mekong. See the colonial port filled with crumbling colonial buildings and flowering gardens. Step ashore to visit the French Catholic cathedral, the tallest church in the Mekong Delta with its impressive bell tower. Afterwards, visit a rice paper and coconut candy manufacturer and learn how these tasty Vietnamese favourites are made. Head back to the ship and sit down to lunch while cruising to the quaint town of Sa Dec. Upon arrival, explore Sa Dec by foot and meet some sellers at the market. Continue past crumbling waterside mansions to the home of Huynh Thuy Le, who inspired the French writer Marguerite Duras’ novel ‘The Lover’. Hear the stories of this Vietnamese-Chinese tragic love story retold by your local guide. Return to the ship to unwind or relax with a rejuvenating treatment from the spa as the sun sets the RV Apsara sets sail for Tan Chau. Dine in the restaurant and later spend time in the lounge enjoying the evening entertainment or sip on a late-night cocktail.

Transfer to a small boat for a cruise along the tiny tributaries that snake around Tan Chau, the last stop before the border. Step ashore for a rickshaw tour and weave through rambling laneways past shops and friendly locals and stop to visit a local silk and rattan weaving workshop. Later, step back in time during a visit to Vinh Hoa, also known as Evergreen Island. Take the opportunity to see traditional Vietnamese farming, where the land is ploughed by water buffalo, and where you will see authentic rural Mekong life. Appreciate some down time and watch the scenery of the Mekong River pass as the RV Apsara spends the afternoon cruising towards the Cambodian border. While border formalities are carried, out sit down and enjoy the onboard activities and presentations. Cross into Cambodia and cruise overnight towards the capital Phnom Penh.

Start the day with a sobering excursion to the Killing Fields and the Tuol Sleng Genocide Museum. Learn about the brutal Khmer Rouge regime as well as the resilience of the Cambodian people. Spend a moment to pay your respects at the Memorial Stupa, a monument erected in memory of the thousands of people who lost their lives. After lunch visit the Royal Palace built in 1866 and admire its Khmer architecture. Head inside the Silver Pagoda – named after its floors, which are designed with 5,000 silver tiles. The remainder of the afternoon is at your leisure. You may wish to head to the Russian Market for souvenirs, the Central Market where you can try the local snacks or relax on board.

Begin your morning with an excursion by road to Oudong, Cambodia’s former royal capital from the early 17th until the 19th century. While here, enjoy your memorable Insider Experience. En route back to Phnom Penh, take a leisurely walk to explore Koh Chen, a village specialising in the manufacture of copperware. Here you’ll visit some small family workshops and have the opportunity to buy some souvenirs. Enjoy a free afternoon or choose one of our select experience options.

Rise early as you cruise towards Oknha Tey, or Silk Island, renowned for its silk manufacturing traditions preserved over centuries. Travel by tuk tuk, pass rice fields and get a glimpse into rural life. Stroll amongst the stilt houses and gain insight into the traditional silk weaving process. Watch as the village women create the beautiful Khmer fabrics from their wooden looms. Enjoy lunch on board as you sail towards Angkor Ban. In the afternoon take a dip in the pool, take in the passing scenery from the Sun Deck.

Start your day with a tour of Angkor Ban by foot. Nicknamed the 'Lucky Village', Angkor Ban is one of the few rural villages that escaped destruction from the Khmer Rouge. Stroll through town and see traditional wooden houses, some over a century old, and a Khmer-style pagoda surrounded by stupas dedicated to Buddha. This afternoon, your cruise docks at its final location, Kampong Cham. After lunch, jump in a tuk tuk for your Insider Experience. This evening, savour a final dinner on board and reminisce about your Mekong River cruise.

Bid farewell to the crew and disembark the RV Apsara. Travel to Siem Reap, the gateway to Angkor Wat, passing through picturesque countryside and remote villages. Take a break before heading to the jungle temple of Ta Prohm, commonly referred to as the Tomb Raider Temple having featured in the movie starring Angelina Jolie. En route to the hotel enjoy your Insider Experiences.

Set off early to explore some of the breathtaking Khmer architecture and sites at the World Heritage-listed Angkor Archaeological Park. Delve deeper into the history and significance of Angkor Wat as you wander inside the vast temple complex. Continue to Angkor Thom, the last and most enduring capital, built in the 12th century, and head to the intriguing Bayon Temple with its carved stone smiling faces. Visit the Terrace of Elephants, which used to be the base for the king’s grand audience hall, and the Terrace of the Leper King, which housed the royal cremator. Later explore Siem Reap at your own pace or choose from one of our Select Experience options. Cap off your visit to Siem Reap and celebrate your unforgettable journey with your Insider Experiences.

Your Vietnam and Cambodia journey comes to an end after breakfast with a transfer to Siem Reap-Angkor International Airport for your onward flight back to the UK.

Arrive back in London today.