Tour Highlights

* Airfare from major North American airport including Inter-Country airfares
* Superior Hotel and Cruise accommodations
* Meals and Entertainment as outlined
* Tours and Attractions as outlined
* Escorted by David & Brenda Layden of Select Holidays

ITINERARY

Day 1: March 10, 2024~ Depart North America for Vietnam (IFM)
Depart North America for Asia.
Day 2: March 11, 2024~ Arrive Hanoi, Vietnam (IFM/L/ D)
Upon arrival transfer to city centre for lunch at local restaurant. City tour of Hanoi before checking into the hotel. Dinner at  local restaurant. Overnight in Hanoi for two nights.
Day 3: March 12, 2024~ Hanoi, Vietnam (B/ L)
Morning tour of Ba Dinh Square and outside visit to Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum. Afternoon visit to the Vietnam Museum of           Ethnology. Walking tour in the Old quarter of Hanoi for shopping or free time. Enjoy a performance of Hanoi’s famous water puppet show. Overnight in Hanoi.
Day 4: March 13, 2024~ Hanoi – Tuan Chau Marina - Halong Bay, Vietnam ( B/ L/ D)
Drive to Halong Bay. Arrive Tuan Chau marina, transfer by speedboat to your cruise ship.  Check into your cabin with time to refresh and unwind. Enjoy the breath-taking view of some of the islets. Drop anchor for Kayaking to discover limestone islands, soaking yourself in the emerald water or just simply sunbathe on our Celestial Pool area or in your private balcony.  Watch the sun go down and enjoy Sunset party with complimentary cocktails demonstration.  Cooking demonstration will be organized in the restaurant area followed by a BBQ dinner of fresh local cuisine.  After dinner, reward yourself with a large selection of cocktails at panoramic bar with seasonal pool view, at wine and cigars cellar, or take part in one of the onboard activities such as board games, movies, and squid fishing… or relaxing with massage services. Overnight on board. 
Day 5: March 14, 2024~ Halong Bay – Hanoi (or Hai Phong City) – Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam (B/ L/ D)
Join in for a Tai Chi session on the sundeck. After breakfast, immerse yourself in the stunning views of the Bay and its dramatic limestone islets as we sail through the calm emerald waters heading to Dark & Bright Cave. Take an optional excursion either exploring the cave by yourself by kayak or  on a local boat, rowed by the locals. After lunch, disembark from the cruise and transfer to the airport for flight to Ho Chi Minh City. Upon arrival, transfer to city center for late lunch. Overnight in Ho Chi Minh City.
Day 6: March 15, 2024~ Ho Chi Minh City - Cu Chi, Vietnam (B/ L/ D)
Drive to Cu Chi district to visit the amazing tunnel system - The Cu Chi Tunnels are a network of underground defense tunnels built by locals and resistance forces from 1946 to 1968. Back to Ho Chi Minh City for an afternoon city tour, plus time for       shopping on Dong Khoi street and Ben Thanh market. Overnight in Ho Chi Minh City.
Day 7: March 16, 2024~ Ho Chi Minh City – My Tho - Cai Be, Vietnam (B/ L/ D)
Drive to My Tho and board cruise, our luxurious floating “home” for the next 7 nights. Your first inclination may be to step on your balcony to watch the ship set sail on its fascinating Mekong River voyage, one of the largest rivers in Asia. Afternoon tea in the open-air bar. The balance of the day is fully yours to relax on your private balcony or be pampered by our therapists at the spa. While you enjoy dinner, the ship reaches Cai Be.  We anchor mid-stream near Cai Be and moor there overnight. If you are in the mood for some evening entertainment, there is a cinema in the lounge showcasing classic movies and interesting  documentaries on a nightly basis.  Overnight in Cai Be area.
Day 8: March 17, 2024~ Cai Be – Sa Dec - Tan Chau, Vietnam (B/ L/ D)
Wake up early to witness the spectacular scenery at the break of dawn. To make the experience complete, join our daily morning Tai Chi class.  We visit Cai Be, a charming market town which manufactures traditional crafts and food products. Learn from the guide about the long-lasting trading culture and how each boat has a special marker to let buyers know what goods they are selling. By local boat, we sail along the green canal network and watch the farmers working in the fields. A visit ashore of a workshop shows us the manufacturing of rice paste, rice paper, rice cookies and rice wine. Return to vessel and continue       sailing upstream. In the afternoon, the vessel reaches the area of Sa Dec and arrives at one of the larger islands in the vast stream of the Mekong.  Several communities have settled here and make their living by growing water hyacinths. We  exclusively visit one of these untouched areas. By wandering through the village, we get a deep understanding of native life. Back on board this evening, your expert guide offers a presentation on life on the Mekong Delta, as the ship continues sailing to Tan Chau. We moor near the city with views of the riverbanks.
Day 9: March 18, 2024~ Tan Chau, Vietnam - Border crossing - Phnom Penh, Cambodia (B/ L/ D)
Visit Tan Chau’s which has a vibrant town-life.  You hop on “xelois”, which are local vehicles still used as a taxi in this area. Your personal xeloi driver slowly navigates through the streets to observe all the workshops, houses and shops while feeling the laid-back vibe of this community. Take local boats and head to a floating fish farm. You are about to get an exclusive look into the world’s largest inland aquaculture industry.  The region’s specialties are tilapia and the Basa catfish, or Pangasius, which is unique to the Mekong River basin and rapidly gaining popularity on the international seafood market. Back on board our “home”, we sail towards the Vietnamese-Cambodian border. The whole afternoon is at your own disposal.  This evening the  boat arrives and docks at the pier of Phnom Penh. Feel free to go out and explore by yourself after dinner.
Day 10: March 19, 2024~ Phnom Penh, Cambodia (B/ L/ D)
Welcome to Phnom Penh, Cambodia - the city once named Paris of the East. It is an amazing town with centuries of incredible history and culture which can still be felt. Sight-seeing tour after breakfast including a visit to the Killing Fields. This historic site displays the sad and cruel chapter of the country’s history when the Khmer Rouge ruled Cambodia with terror and oppression, and it can be quite heart-breaking.  Our exploration of Phnom Penh continues with the cultural highlights on a city tour and a list of the city’s must-sees. The day trip ends with a “cyclo” ride along the bustling streets of downtown Phnom Penh and back to the ship. In the early evening, the lounge is set up for an eye- and ear-catching lecture about modern Cambodian history. This evening enjoy a wonderful open air gala featuring a barbecue dinner feast. The dinner is accompanied by a classic Apsara dance performance along with other folklore dances. As the evening unwinds, enjoy and marvel at the skyline of Phnom Penh and the calming flow of the Tonle River.
Day 11: March 20, 2024~ Phnom Penh – Kampong Tralach – Kampong Chhnang (Tonle), Cambodia (B/ L/ D)
Set sail towards Kampong Tralach on the Tonle River. This part of the Tonle River is quite interesting to watch from the terrace as the river, at certain points, is very narrow as the boat glides through leafy swaths of this jungle-like landscape. We reach    Kampong Tralach, where traditional ox carts are still a common means of transportation. Our ox-powered vehicle takes us on a journey along the riverside and through back roads lined with rice-paddy fields until we arrive at a tiny village. While we sail upstream, lunch is served and afterwards our crew displays a variety of traditional Khmer fashion locals wear on special occasions. Later in the day, the ship cruises along the narrow Tonle River towards the most fascinating cruising spot in Cambodia, Kampong Chhnang’s “water world”, where everything is balanced on sticks in water-rich soil. We take a local boat to the shore and hop on a mini bus to reach a nearby, unique rural village to explore the village’s specialties. Although we are in the heartland of Cambodia, the residents of these floating villages are actually of Vietnamese descent who were expelled by the Khmer Rouge and soon returned after the ruling party was overthrown in 1979. No longer having land to settle on, they have since lived “on the water”. Once we are back on board, relax until dinner is served.
Day 12: March 21, 2024~ Tonle River - Koh Oknha Tey - Kampong Cham (Mekong), Cambodia (B/ L/ D)
We arrive at the island of Koh Oknha Tey, which lies in the middle of the Mekong and owes its fame to manufacturing high-class silk products. Travel via tuk tuk before arriving at the village’s workshops and witnessing the curious process of making silk, starting from a tiny silkworm larva to cocoon, then dyeing, spinning and weaving the fibres into high-quality Cambodian silk.  Afterwards, a monk’s blessing ceremony delivers spirits and wishes for health and prosperity for all. The ship sails towards the small Angkor Ban village which is famous for its unspoiled community and beautiful, traditional houses. The surrounding natural beauty is a perfect backdrop for a riverbank gathering with drinks and dancing with the crew in this remote, secluded location. We continue cruising while dinner is served and the boat finds its overnight spot at the riverbank of Kampong Cham.
Day 13: March 22, 2024~ Kampong Cham (Mekong), Cambodia (B/ L/ D)
After breakfast, a visit of the enchanting pre-Angkorian temple of Wat Hanchey. This small complex sits on a hilltop with     breath-taking views over the Mekong. Many young, novice monks live on the compound of Wat Hanchey, and we have the chance to observe a bit of their daily lives. Return to ship for lunch then a stop at the tranquil monastery of Wat Nokor. Although not massive in comparison to the vast complexes of Angkor Wat, Wat Nokor is the largest of its kind in Kampong Cham Province. The Koh Paen Bamboo Bridge connects the mainland with Koh Paen Island and is re-built by the local community every November when water levels drop. We cruise further up the Mekong to visit a local school and learn more about the     education of the young Cambodian generation.
Day 14: March 23, 2024~ Kampong Cham (Mekong) – Siem Reap, Cambodia (B/ L/ D)
We disembark the ship for a transfer by bus to Siem Reap. Kampong Cham is an important trade and transportation hub,      connecting the town and the capital of Phnom Penh. The transfer takes approximately 4.5 hours including rest stops. You will arrive in Siem Reap in the early afternoon. Check in hotel and free time. Overnight in Siem Reap.
Day 15: March 24, 2024~ Siem Reap, Cambobia (B/ L/ D)
Discovery of Angkor temples by tuk tuk. Angkor Thom, which means "the great city", is the largest site in the Angkor            Archaeological Park and the last capital of the Angkorian Empire. Bayon Temple is one of the most striking temples with its evocation of a stone forest. Visit the 8th wonder of the world, Angkor Wat: One of the most splendid human achievements to have ever seen the light of day, Angkor Wat is the most famous and the most beautiful monument of Angkor. Surrounded by vast moats of remarkable dimensions and proportions, the temple is surrounded by a series of galleries covered with carved bas-reliefs. Ta Prohm Temple, made famous by the film Tomb Raider, is nestled in the middle of the jungle, is one of the most exceptional on the site. This is the perfect example of nature taking back its rights! Indeed, the great roots of cheese trees and ficus have grown inside the ruins and today sublimate the stones.  Overnight in Siem Reap with dinner and show..
Day 16: March 25, 2024~ Siem Reap, Cambia – Departure  (B/ IFM)
Transfer to the airport for flight back home OR visit amazing Thailand.

Per Person, Double - from $14,880.00, Including ECONOMY CLASS Airfare

Plus Air/Gov't Taxes of $642.00 per person
Single Occupancy - Call For Pricing
Initial Deposit - $3,000.00 per person at time of booking
Second Deposit - $2,500.00 per person due prior to October 31, 2023
Final Payment - per person is due before December 15, 2023

Gallery