Vietnam and Cambodia: Along the Mekong River, Including Angkor and Saigon

Depart in the evening, “lose” a day crossing the international date line, and arrive in Siem Reap on Day 3. Settle into our outstanding Khmer style hotel, La Résidence d’Angkor, on the banks of the Siem Reap River.

Rise early to watch the sunrise over Angkor Wat. This 12th-century Khmer temple, one of the world’s largest religious monuments, is adorned with elaborate bas-reliefs and sculptures. Ride a tuk-tuk, or motorized rickshaw, to the walled city of Angkor Thom. Discover the shrines of Ta Prohm and the temple of Banteay Srei. Visit a workshop where local youth are trained in age-old Khmer arts. Enjoy traditional Cambodian music and dance at a beautifully-lit private dinner at one of Angkor’s temples. (Day 4: B,L,D; Day 5: B,D)

Drive to the bustling town of Kampong Cham and embark The Jahan, our home for the next seven nights. (B,L,D)

At Wat Hanchey, see a variety of temples, including an 8th-century temple from the pre-Angkor Chenla period, or see the silk weaving village of Koh Dach. Continue to the village of Angkor Ban, with its traditional houses and friendly residents. (B,L,D)

Visit a village where artisans make traditional pottery, and board local boats to see the clustered houses and shops that float in midstream. At Kampong Tralach, take an oxcart ride through rice paddies to a local school. (B,L,D)

Explore the Cambodian capital by cyclo (bicycle taxi), and visit the Royal Palace and the National Museum of Cambodia. Learn about the reign of the Khmer Rouge on a visit to the Tuol Sleng Genocide Museum. This evening, enjoy an apsara dance performance. (B,L,D)

Take in views of everyday life along the river, attend talks by our experts, and join our chefs to learn how to cook regional dishes. Cross the border into Vietnam. (B,L,D)

Chau Doc has one of Vietnam’s most interesting markets, with an astonishing variety of tropical fruits, vegetables and other goods. We continue to a floating market on the river and a fish farm, where we see fish being fed through trap doors in the floating platforms. In the afternoon, we continue sailing the Mekong. (B,L,D)

Take a local boat to experience rural life in the Mekong Delta. See the floating market of Cai Be, step into a rice “factory” to watch rice-based candies being made, and cruise among floating markets and fish farms. Tonight, enjoy a farewell dinner aboard The Jahan. (B,L,D)

Disembark in My Tho and visit the Vinh Trang Pagoda, originally built in 1850. Then journey to Saigon (Ho Chi Minh City) and on arrival, visit the landmarks of Saigon including a visit to the Bitexco Tower, post office, and the Reunification Palace followed by lunch. Continue to the Park Hyatt Hotel to check in. Early this evening meet with a local expert on Vietnam’s modern development, and then enjoy dinner at a local restaurant. (B,L,D)

This morning visit the Cu Chi tunnel, part of a huge network of tunnels used by the Viet Cong during the Vietnam War. If you wish, visit the War Remnants Museum, which gives a strong view of the war through the eyes of the Vietnamese. The rest of the afternoon and lunch are at leisure. In the evening we'll take in a performance of water puppetry—a distinctive Vietnamese folk art, practiced here for over 300 years. Dinner is at leisure.

You may depart this evening, if you wish, or depart on Day 15, arriving home the same day. (B)

Depart in the evening, “lose” a day crossing the international date line, and arrive in Saigon (Ho Chi Minh City), Vietnam, on Day 3. Settle into the Park Hyatt Hotel.

This morning meet with a local expert on Vietnam's modern development, followed by a tour of Saigon’s landmarks, including Bitexco Tower, post office, and the Reunification Palace, headquarters of the South Vietnamese government during the Vietnam War. Lunch is at leisure. A visit to the War Remnant Museum is offered in the afternoon. In the evening we'll take in a performance of water puppetry—a distinctive Vietnamese folk art, practiced here for over 300 years, then enjoy dinner at a local restaurant. (B,D)

This morning visit the Cu Chi tunnel, part of a huge network of tunnels used by the Viet Cong during the Vietnam War. If you wish, tour the War Remnants Museum, which gives a strong view of the war through the eyes of the Vietnamese. After lunch we drive to My Tho, and stop at the great Vinh Trang pagoda, originally built in 1850. We continue to the Mekong River, embark The Jahan for the start of our seven-night sail on the Mekong. We have welcome drinks and dinner aboard ship. (B,L,D)

Take a local boat to experience rural life in the Mekong Delta. See the floating market of Cai Be, step into a rice “factory” to watch rice-based candies being made, and cruise among floating markets and fish farms. (B,L,D)

Chau Doc has one of Vietnam’s most interesting markets, with an astonishing variety of tropical fruits, vegetables and other goods. We continue to a floating market on the river and a fish farm, where we see fish being fed through trap doors in the floating platforms. In the afternoon, we continue sailing the Mekong. (B,L,D)

Explore the Cambodian capital by cyclo (bicycle taxi), and visit the Royal Palace and the National Museum of Cambodia. Learn about the reign of the Khmer Rouge on a visit to the Tuol Sleng Genocide Museum. This evening, enjoy an apsara dance performance. (B,L,D)

This morning, we cruise the Tonle Sap River. This afternoon we drive a short way from the town of Kampong Chhnang to a village where pottery is still made for sale to local residents by traditional methods. We’ll see how the pots are made and learn about the uses of the palm tree, complete with a taste of palm sugar if you’re so inclined. Then local boats will take us along the Tonle Sap for a glimpse into a unique way of life: seeing the floating houses and shops that line the riverbanks here. (B,L,D)

Visit a village where artisans make traditional pottery, and board local boats to see the clustered houses and shops that float in midstream. At Kampong Tralach, take an oxcart ride through rice paddies to a local school. (B,L,D)

We explore the community of Angkor Ban, with many old-style houses built on stilts—some of them very tall. There’s a chance to walk through town and meet the friendly local residents. There is a fine pagoda along the riverside, and views of the fields across the river that runs into the Mekong. We also stop at the bustling town of Kampong Cham and visit remarkable Wat Nokor, where a well preserved 11th-century temple forms the heart of a contemporary pagoda that remains in active use. The reliefs on the old temple are exceptional, as are the decorations of the more modern one.  Tonight, enjoy a farewell dinner aboard The Jahan. (B,L,D)

Disembark The Jahan at Kampong Cham for the drive to Siem Reap, where lunch will be available upon arrival to the hotel. We spend the next three nights at outstanding La Résidence d’Angkor, built along the Siem Reap River in traditional Khmer style, with spacious rooms with teak furniture and bamboo screens. Siem Reap is the gateway to the great temple complex of Angkor, and this afternoon we visit the evocative temple Ta Prohm. The jungle has been allowed to continue growing here, framing the structures with the twisted roots and branches of ceiba and fig trees, giving you an idea of what archaeologists encountered when they began their work in the area. Dinner this evening is at a local restaurant. (B,L,D)

We begin early in order to get to Angkor Wat in time for sunrise. This visionary 12th-century temple, the world’s largest religious monument, represents the apogee of Khmer art and architecture. Crowned by five towers, with elaborate bas-reliefs and a profusion of statues that dramatically depict complex religious tales, along with some 2,000 carved apsaras (beautiful female spirits), Angkor Wat is enthralling. We return to our hotel for a late breakfast. In the afternoon we visit Les Artisans d’Angkor to see how local artisans preserve age-old Khmer arts. We then venture out some distance from the central sites to the fine temple of Banteay Srei, known for its exceptional carvings. Tonight we have a very special treat: a private dinner, just for us, by candlelight at one of Angkor's temples, complete with Cambodian music and dance. The effect of seeing the temple gently illuminated and taking in the age-old performing arts is magical, and is bound to stand out as a highlight of your travels. (B,D)

This morning we take tuk-tuks (motorized taxis) to the great remains of Angkor Thom, seeing the Bayon Temple, known for its dozens of serene stone faces of King Jayavarman VII, and the Terrace of the Elephants. The afternoon is free to explore further, shop or just relax. If you should wish to depart this evening, your rooms are reserved until departure. (B)

Transfer to the airport for our flights home. Recrossing the International Date Line, arrive in U.S. the same day. (B)