Grand Mekong Odyssey
Grand Mekong Odyssey
Grand Mekong Odyssey
26 Days
Visiting: Cambodia
Tour operator:
Tour code:
2350
Physical rating:
Level1
Trip Styles:
Activities:
From:
$7886
$7384 (USD)
including Flights from the UK
Operator discount: -$501
Tour Overview
This 26-day odyssey is one of our most immersive and in-depth tours of Indochina, featuring a full seven nights of cruising on the Mekong plus two nights cruising in Halong Bay. With two cruises, a breathtaking coastal rail journey and even a meeting with a war veteran, this itinerary showcases Vietnam and Cambodia at their most personal and authentic.
Itinerary
Day 1-2 Fly To Hanoi
Meals Included: Dinner
Fly overnight to Hanoi, Vietnam's leafy capital city. Meet your guide for your transfer to the hotel. Depending on your time of arrival, the rest of the day is yours to start soaking up the local culture ahead of this evening's welcome dinner and guide briefing.
Day 1-2 Fly To Hanoi
Meals Included: Dinner
Fly overnight to Hanoi, Vietnam's leafy capital city. Meet your guide for your transfer to the hotel. Depending on your time of arrival, the rest of the day is yours to start soaking up the local culture ahead of this evening's welcome dinner and guide briefing.
Day 3 Hanoi Through The Ages
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Today, enjoy an introduction to Vietnamese history at the Ethnology Museum, for a
fascinating window into Vietnam's many indigenous groups. See tribal antiques and
full-scale replicas of Vietnamese longhouses and stilt houses. Continue to the Confucian Temple of Literature before lunch. This afternoon, explore the city's French Quarter, and enjoy a cyclo tour of the Old Quarter's narrow historic streets.
Day 4 Wartime Hanoi
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Visit the Ho Chi Minh Quarter for an insight into the Vietnam War. Visit the Humble House on Stilts, where Ho Chi Minh lived in the grounds of the Presidential Palace, and see his Mausoleum in Ba Dinh Square. Stop to see the wreckage of an American bomber plane, still visible in the lake where it was shot down in 1972. Later, visit a 1980s apartment in the Old Quarter and hear about life in the difficult post-war subsidy period.
Day 5 Ninh Binh Countryside
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Drive two hours into the countryside to Ninh Binh, famously known as‘Halong Bay on land' thanks to its dramatic karst mountains. En route, stop to visit Hoa Lu Ancient Citadel, the tenth century capital of Dai Viet. This afternoon, enjoy a boat trip through
the paddy fields, stopping to explore prehistoric caves before checking in at your hotel.
Day 6 Bear Sanctuary & Cuc Phuong National Park
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Begin the day at Four Paws Bear Sanctuary. Learn the stories of these bears, rescued from the illegal pet and bile industries, and hear how they have been given a second chance in life. Enjoy a fresh lunch at the sanctuary, made from ingredients grown on site. This afternoon, head into Cuc Phuong National Park and hear all about the local wildlife on a short stroll through the rainforest. Return to the hotel.
Day 7 Ninh Binh - Halong Bay
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Drive to Halong Bay and embark on a two-night scenic cruise through this famous
UNESCO-listed bay’ known for its emerald waters and towering limestone islands. Head to a hidden spot and try your hand at kayaking through these mesmerising seascapes.
Day 8 Halong Bay
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
See the bay through a local's eyes! The local fishermen will row you through their floating village, where many families have lived for generations. Later, head to one of the bay's beaches for a chance to sunbathe on the sands.
Day 9 Halong Bay - Hue
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Rise early for Tai Chi on deck as the sun rises over Halong Bay. Visit one of the bay's largest caves before cruising back to port after brunch. Disembark and fly to Hue, a charming city and once the seat of the Nguyen emperors.
Day 10 Imperial Hue
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Discover Hue's imperial history, beginning at the Imperial Citadel and Forbidden Purple City. Continue to Thien Mu Pagoda. After lunch, visit the Royal Tomb of Minh Mang before a leisurely cruise along the Perfume River.
Day 11 Hue - Danang By Rail
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
The 64-mile railway journey from Hue to Danang is considered one of the best in the world. Three hours of scenic coastline await, with beautiful tropical beaches on one side and dramatic mountain scenery on the other. On arrival in Danang, transfer to the wonderfully traditional town of Hoi An.
The afternoon is at leisure to explore the Old Town's charming shops and boutiques before dinner. With its charming yellow buildings and vivid silk lanterns, a stroll through this traditional town feels like stepping back in time.
Day 12 Hoi An
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Head out on a walking tour of Hoi An's Old Town, with visits including Chua Ong Pagoda, a 200-year-old merchant house, and the spectacular Japanese Covered Bridge.
Afterwards, continue into Hoi An's peaceful countryside to visit an organic farming community.
Day 13 Hoi An - Saigon
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Fly to Saigon, perhaps Vietnam's most evocative city. Embark on a city tour to explore the city's heady mix of local culture and colonial influences. See the Notre-Dame Cathedral and visit the Central Post Office, the Reunification Palace and the poignant War Remnants Museum.
Day 14 Cu Chi & War Veteran Meeting
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Discover the reality of guerrilla warfare at the Cu Chi Tunnels, which were central to the Viet Cong's military operations, including the Tet Offensive. For a truly authentic insight into the war, meet a Vietnamese veteran and hear his story. Stop for lunch at an organic farm en route back to Saigon.
Day 15 Embark The Victoria Mekong River Cruise Ship
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Transfer to Can Tho and board the Victoria Mekong for your seven-night cruise. Enjoy a welcome cocktail on deck as the ship sets sail.
Day 16 Mekong Cruise: Long Xuyen & Tiger Island
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Take a tender boat through a fascinating floating market to reach Long Xuyen, the region's main town. Visit the local museum, with displays of ancient crafts. Later, head to Tiger Island. Visit a temple and see local industries such as incense-making. Cruise upstream towards Vam Nao.
Day 17 Mekong Cruise: Phu Tan & Tan Chau
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Head ashore in Phu Tan and visit a craft village famous for its handmade clay stoves. Enjoy lunch on board as you cruise toward Tan Chau, where a local rickshaw will take you to explore a colourful temple and local market. This evening, enjoy a riotous Vietnamese lion dance on the sky deck!
Day 18 Mekong Cruise: Into Cambodia
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Enjoy onboard activities such as a cocktail competition or a mini golf tournament as the ship crosses the border into Cambodia. Arrive into Phnom Penh late this afternoon.
Day 19 Mekong Cruise: Phnom Penh & The Killing Fields
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Hop on a cyclo and head to the elaborate Royal Palace, Silver Pagoda and National
Museum. Later, drive into the countryside to pay respects at the Killing Fields, where the Khmer Rouge executed over 1 million victims in the 1970s. Today, it is a memorial site for peaceful reflection.
Return to the city and end the afternoon in style with a signature cocktail at Raffles Hotel Le Royal before returning to the ship for a lively Apsara dance performance.
Day 20 Mekong Cruise: Oudong & Silk Island
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Enjoy a walking tour of Koh Chen village, where you'll meet a local copper and silversmith, before continuing to the country's former capital, Oudong. Visit Buddhist monks at a local meditation centre before taking a tuk-tuk to Silk Island to learn about the process of silk weaving from worm to loom.
Day 21 Wat Hanchey & Angkor Ban
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Explore the laid-back village of Angkor Ban with its wooden stilt houses. Sail to Wat Hanchey and head up the hill to see its 7th-century temple with panoramic views over the Mekong.
Day 22 Disembark & Transfer To Siem Reap
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Disembark and drive through lush Cambodian countryside to reach Siem Reap, the gateway to Angkor. The afternoon is at leisure.
Day 23 Explore Angkor
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Journey to Angkor Thom and visit its many treasures, including the Bayon, Elephant and
Leper King Terraces, and the atmospheric Ta Prohm. Continue to the magnificent Angkor Wat and explore its many halls and towers. This evening, return to Angkor Thom and enjoy a cruise on its moat as the sun sets.
Day 24 Cooking Class
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Join a morning cooking class at an organic farm. Pick up supplies at the local market, then head to the farm to pick some organic ingredients. Your chef will guide you in creating a traditional Khmer lunch before an afternoon at leisure.
Check out our Q&As
-
What happens if I need to change my holiday date once I’ve booked?
If, after our confirmation invoice has been issued, you wish to change your travel arrangements in any way, we will endeavour to make these changes, but it may not always be possible. Any changes to confirmed bookings need to be sent to us in writing via your travel agent. Please refer to our booking conditions for further information and fees.
-
Do you operate a “single share” option and how does it work?
Customers booking to travel solo can choose our ‘Happy to Share’ option, which may enable them to share a twin room with other solo customers of the same gender who also request Happy to Share, thus avoiding the need to pay single room supplements. Note that ‘Happy to Share’ requests can be received when you make your booking with us but will not be confirmed until your final payment due date.
-
What documents will I receive before I travel?
Your Final Travel Documents are usually sent to you 2-3 weeks prior to your departure. Your travel pack will include your tour itinerary, hotel details, flight e-tickets and a travel guide. If you have booked with a travel agent, your tickets will be dispatched to your travel agent unless we have been otherwise informed.
-
Will I be travelling with passengers from other countries?
Our passengers generally enjoy the mixture of British, Australian and American clients on tour. Occasionally we are joined by English-speaking passengers from other countries.
-
Do you allow children on your tours?
We allow children 12 years and over on our group tours. We recommend that families with children of any age take advantage of our private or tailormade tours. This will give you more flexibility while on tour.
Reviews of this Operator
Dates & Availability
Wednesday - Sunday
Sep 04, 2024 - Sep 29, 2024Wednesday - Sunday
Oct 02, 2024 - Oct 27, 2024Wednesday - Sunday
Nov 13, 2024 - Dec 08, 2024Wednesday - Sunday
Jan 08, 2025 - Feb 02, 2025Wednesday - Sunday
Feb 19, 2025 - Mar 16, 2025Wednesday - Sunday
Mar 19, 2025 - Apr 13, 2025Wednesday - Sunday
Apr 16, 2025 - May 11, 2025Wednesday - Sunday
Sep 03, 2025 - Sep 28, 2025Wednesday - Sunday
Oct 01, 2025 - Oct 26, 2025Wednesday - Sunday
Oct 15, 2025 - Nov 09, 2025Wednesday - Sunday
Oct 29, 2025 - Nov 23, 2025Book with Confidence
-
Free Date Changes
Wendy Wu allows you to make 1 free date changes, as long as the change is made at least 0 days before the start of the tour.
-
Low Deposit
Wendy Wu requires a minimum deposit of 350 GBP per person or the full booking value, whichever is less, with the final balance not due until 75 days before departure.
-
Cancellation Policy
We don't charge a cancellation fee, here is a summary of wendy wu charges.
Up to 75 days before tour starts: Forfeit 100% of deposit.
At 74 days before tour starts: Forfeit 30% of booking price.
At 41 days before tour starts: Forfeit 60% of booking price.
At 27 days before tour starts: Forfeit 90% of booking price.
At 14 days before tour starts: Forfeit 100% of booking price.
-
How we Keep you safe on our Tours
Your safety and well-being will always be our Number 1 priority which is why we’ve instituted the most stringent COVID health and safety protocols on all of our tours. Here is a brief summary of the steps we are taking to ensure you will be safe, secure and satisfied when you travel with us.
Guides and National Escorts
Our National Escorts and guides will conduct a Health and Safety briefing with you before the tour begins and will help everyone ensure they adhere to social distancing, hygiene practises and local regulations. They will carry a supply of face masks and hand sanitiser for you to use free of charge and will, of course, observe the highest level of personal hygiene at all times.
Should anyone on the group fall ill your National Escort will ensure the individual receives swift medical attention and can only return to the group once cleared to do so.
Transport & Sightseeing
Vehicles will be thoroughly cleaned with disinfectant after each excursion service, overnight and between different groups.
You will always have at least one seat between you and your fellow tourers, hand sanitiser will be given to the group on each embarkation and vehicles will be thoroughly ventilated prior to passengers boarding.
Drivers will always embark vehicles after clients, disembark the group vehicle prior to clients disembarking, and maintain social distancing and a high level of personal hygiene at all times.
Your guides will assess the situation on the ground avoiding large crowds – where possible, alter timings and splitting the group into smaller sizes.
Accommodation
Wendy Wu Tours will only offer hotels that have undergone a detailed hygiene assessment, have specific COVID-19 protocols in place and comply with government standards.
We will ensure these protocols include staff practising social distancing and wearing appropriate PPI, regular cleaning and disinfection of high frequency touch points in all areas and food safety.
Dining
All the restaurants we visit will be researched and inspected regularly to ensure that they follow the strictest health, cleanliness and safety guidelines.
All waiting staff will wear face masks and gloves and we will arrange à la carte dining, waiter-served meals or waiter-assisted buffets throughout the tour. We will not share open-buffet meals with other hotel or restaurant guests.
Hand sanitiser will be provided to the group before and after every food and beverage service.