12 days Fully Inclusive Classic Group Tour
With four nights to soak up the sights and sounds of the mighty Mekong on a relaxed cruise, on this tour you'll also discover the beauty of southern Vietnam. Packed with memorable moments and cultural experiences, discover vibrant Saigon, explore the lush waterways of the Mekong Delta and stand awestruck before the magnificent temples of Angkor in charming Cambodia.
Please Note: The uppermost level of Bayon Temple will be undergoing restorations from January 2020 and may last several years. During this maintenance period passengers will be unable to access this area but can continue to enjoy the impressive architecture from the lower two levels.
Our A Mekong Experience tour will see you exploring the most iconic sites, delving into deep-rooted culture and dining on delicious cuisine and thoroughly researched to bring you a range of once-in-a-lifetime experiences, many of which are entirely exclusive to us.
Dine at Noir, where waiters with visual impairments become your eyes and guide you through a delicious meal
Spend 4 nights cruising on the deluxe Victoria Mekong
Ride around discovering the wonders of Phnom Penh
Watch a performance by the NGO that assists street children
Cruise the Mekong in style aboard the contemporary Victoria Mekong with state-of-the-art facilities and an itinerary packed with culturally-immersive shore excursions and onboard activities.
Place your trust in your other senses on a fun 'dining in the dark' experience at Noir, a Saigon restaurant that works with local people who are blind or visually-impaired.
A rip-roaring combination of theatre, music, dance and circus, Phare: the Cambodian Circus, tells tales woven from local folklore, history and modern life in a unique, magical and authentically-Cambodian way.
On arrival in Tan Son Nhat International Airport, you will be met by an English-speaking representative and transfer to your hotel. Please note: Early check in is not included. If your flight arrives in the morning and you wish to arrange this, please speak to your reservations consultant. An informal Welcome Dinner will be held on Day 1. If you miss this due to your arrival time, all information will be provided to you at breakfast the following morning. Additional night's before and after your tour can be arranged.
Confront the reality of guerrilla warfare at the Cu Chi Tunnels. The cramped tunnels were central to a few of the war’s strategic operations, including the famous 1968 Tet Offensive, and they did not escape damage. American B52 bombers dropped hundreds of missiles leaving huge tell-tale craters behind. The Cu Chi experience can be emotional for some visitors, but it offers a fascinating window into the hardship and traumas of war. Sightseeing here involves two hours on foot on uneven paths through the woods and, if you choose, crawling through some of the tunnels. This afternoon, explore modern day Saigon with its heady mix of local culture and colonial influences. See the Notre Dame Cathedral’s facade, the Central Post Office, and the War Remnants Museum, stopping for a coffee break en route. Later on, enjoy a ‘dining in the dark’ experience at NOIR.
After breakfast, transfer to the meeting hotel in Saigon where you will say goodbye to your National Escort and be picked up for your cruise by your local guide from Victoria Mekong. Drive to Can Tho, stopping en route for a delicious local lunch. Board the Victoria Mekong which, after a welcome briefing, will cast off into the waters of the Mekong Delta. Relax with a sundowner on deck and sit down to a welcome gala dinner whilst enjoying a performance of Đờn ca tài tử - traditional folk music of the Mekong. Drop anchor at Tiger Island.
Tender ashore to visit Long Xuyen floating market and explore local cultures at the An Giang Traditions Museum in the morning. After lunch on board, tender ashore to Tiger Island, where you will enjoy an exploration of local industries such as net weaving, incense making and banh in (rice cakes) making. Sit down to dinner and evening entertainment before retiring to your cabin. Tonight, the ship will drop anchor at Vam Nao.
Enjoy breakfast as the ship continues towards Tan Chau. On arrival, head to shore to visit a colourful Cao Dai temple before continuing by local rickshaw to a silk village, where you’ll learn all about the traditional art of making and dyeing silk. Return to the ship for lunch before more shore excursions around Tan Chau, such as floating fish farms and a Taoist temple. Alternatively, there is an option to take an exhilarating speedboat ride to Chau Doc to see the wildlife and mangroves of the submerged Tra Su Forest. This evening’s onboard entertainment features a thrilling lion dance performance!
Today, the Victoria Mekong will pass over the border into Cambodia and sail towards Phnom Penh. Spend a relaxed day enjoying the passing scenery and a wealth of onboard activities, such as lectures and cocktail making. In the late afternoon, dock in downtown Phnom Penh, where you will be entertained with a traditional Cambodian apsara performance by local children. Afterwards, enjoy a final gala dinner.
Enjoy breakfast on board before bidding farewell to the Victoria Mekong and meeting your new Cambodian National Escort. Board a cyclo and head from the pier into the heart of the city to visit the magnificent Royal Palace and Silver Pagoda before perusing the treasures of the National Museum. After a final stop at Wat Phnom, enjoy a cold glass of local beer with beautiful views over the riverfront.
Reflect on the history of the city with a visit to the Tuol Sleng Museum and Killing Fields. The visit to the Tuol Sleng Museum involves 1 hour on foot. This museum commemorates the atrocities that occurred during the regime of Pol Pot. The transfer south-west to the Killing Fields will take 30 minutes, where you will spend an hour on foot for a harrowing insight into Cambodia’s tumultuous past. Many people find it quite confronting and emotional, so you will be given time to explore on your own. Later on, transfer to the airport for your 45-minute flight to Siem Reap.
Spanning from the 9th to 15th century, the Angkor complex with over a thousand temples was the seat of the thriving Khmer Empire. The complex is now managed by UNESCO; to enter, your group will drive approximately 6km out of town to the main gate to get your entrance passes, which you must carry with you. If you choose to climb at any site, you must be able to climb and descend without assistance. Begin at the city of Angkor Thom and the enigmatic Bayon, the Elephant Terrace and the Terrace of the Leper King before continuing to the temple of Ta Prohm, enveloped in a labyrinth of jungle. This afternoon is devoted to the fascinating and awe-inspiring Angkor Wat. Later, relax on-board a boat and admire the sunset on Angkor Thom’s moat. Please note: The Central Tower of the Angkor Wat complex is closed on Buddhist holidays, and on all other days has a limited number of visitors allowed at any given time, under regulations from UNESCO. If you wish to visit this tower, you will be required to wait in the queue alongside all other visitors. The ability to do this will be determined upon the group’s’ schedule.
In the high-water season, drive to Kampong Phluk, a cluster of three villages of stilt houses built within the floodplain of the Tonle Sap lake. In the lower water season, you will visit Chong Kneas floating village. Get a glimpse into local life at the home of a Khmer family. Return to Siem Reap to enjoy a performance by the PHARE Cambodian Circus, an NGO which teaches street children to become internationally renowned circus artists.
Today, travel by tuk-tuk to a shared cooking lesson, where you will learn to prepare traditional Khmer dishes. The chef will teach you all about what goes into the local cuisine, as you create a delicious meal! Spend your afternoon at leisure before a farewell dinner.
Any time before your flight is at leisure and breakfast will be included. You will be transferred from your hotel to Siem Reap or Phnom Penh International airport, according to the departure time of your international flight. Late check-out is not included. Additional night's before and after your tour can be arranged.
The best times to visit Vietnam as a whole are the spring (March and April) and autumn (September to December).
All of our tour departures include international flights and taxes in the price unless a land only option is selected
We have a selection of dedicated departures for solo travellers. These departures feature a maximum group size of 18 and exclusive benefits including a single room throughout your tour, complimentary return airport transfers (within 50km radius of major Australian airports) and a cocktail on arrival at your destination. Travellers from Sydney, Brisbane and Melbourne also receive a complimentary Australian airport lounge pass for use prior to departure.
Extend your holiday or break up your journey with one of our extensions and stopovers. Choose from city breaks or some beach time, or spend more time in your chosen destination.
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