Vietnam and Cambodia Grand Tour

Join APT’s most comprehensive luxury tour of Vietnam and Cambodia. Spend seven nights aboard the brand-new luxury Mekong Serenity cruising from Ho Chi Minh City to Siem Reap, home of majestic Angkor Wat, and cruise Ha Long Bay for three days. Explore Mai Chau and glide along the Perfume River in Hue.

Itinerary

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Day 1: Arrive Hanoi

Touch down in Hanoi’s Noi Bai International Airport and receive Fast Track Service on arrival. Be whisked through immigration and customs before meeting your APT representative who will transfer you to your accommodation. Settle in before an informal gathering this evening.

Day 2: Hanoi, Mai Chau

Set off for your Signature Experience. Learn about the important work, and see the workshops where silk collages, created from scraps of fabric are turned into works of art. Later step inside Vietnam's only gallery focusing on the art, textiles, and culture of the country's minority people.



Escape from Hanoi’s bustling streets on a scenic drive through lush landscapes to Mai Chau. Set in a picturesque valley, hemmed in by hills, Mai Chau is home to some of Vietnam’s beloved ethnic minorities including White Thai, H’mong and Dao. Spend some time relaxing before taking in the views from the restaurant. Tonight dine on specialties of the region, including fish from the nearby rivers and herbs and spices from the organic garden.

Day 3: Mai Chau

Set off by foot or bicycle to explore some of the nearby idyllic villages. Interact with the warm-hearted locals and learn about their traditional customs. See their stilt houses and appreciate their elaborate and colourful clothing. Head to a local restaurant for lunch and then spend some time at leisure back at the ecolodge. Recline by the pool on cushioned sun loungers beneath palm-leaf parasols or simply soak in Mai Chau’s stunning natural vistas. Tonight, sit down to Ruon Can, a local rice wine and watch a traditional dance performed by ethnic White Thai women, the most significant of the minorities in Mai Chau.

Day 4: Mai Chau

Enjoy a morning at leisure. Relax and indulge in a soothing massage, foot scrub or tribal therapy using local herbal remedies. Late afternoon, visit a nearby village and learn about the daily life of the farmers. Watch them working on their lush green paddy fields, growing rice, vegetable, and grazing livestock depending on the seasons. Then step inside the home of a local family for a special treat, a home cooked meal of local specialities.

Day 5: Mai Chau, Hanoi

After a leisurely morning, depart Mai Chau and travel through scenic landscapes back to Hanoi. The remainder of the day is for you to explore your own way. Tonight, relish dinner at Spice Garden Restaurant, the hotel’s highly awarded and acclaimed Vietnamese restaurant.

Day 6: Hanoi

A guided tour of Hanoi takes you to the city’s most famous historical and cultural sites. Highlights include Ho Chi Minh’s Mausoleum, Ba Dinh Square and the Temple of Literature, a beautiful example of Vietnamese architecture and the first university in Vietnam. Nearby is the iconic One Pillar Pagoda, one of Vietnam’s most significant attractions, marking a notable development of Buddhism in the country. Constructed on a single pillar of stone in the middle of a lotus pond, this pagoda is a religious stop for local pilgrims.



You’ll also enjoy a cyclo ride through the Old Quarter. Explore the maze-like streets of this charming area where each street conveys the name of the type of business that once operated there, such as Bamboo Street, Sugar Street and Silver Street. Then, explore more of this vibrant city on your selected Freedom of Choice experience. Tonight, choose your dining experience.

Day 7: Hanoi, Tuan Chau, Embark Ship, Ha Long Bay

After your first Signature Experience of the day, set off by coach to Ha Long and set sail among thousands of limestone islets. Savour an assortment of Vietnamese dishes during lunch as the Au Co slowly glides towards the southeast of Ha Long Bay, passing Trong Mai Islet. Visit Trinh Nu area and explore one of the finest sunlight-filled caves in Ha Long Bay before spending some time swimming or kayaking in its emerald waters.

Day 8: Ha Long Bay

Awake as the sun rises, perhaps rejuvenate your body and soul with a Tai Chi class. Later this morning, gain a first glimpse of Cat Ba Island before disembarking to discover Viet Hai Village. Following a village-style lunch, a secluded swim or chance to sunbathe is on the cards. Return to the ship and cruise towards the heart of Ha Long Bay. Sightsee around Cua Van Floating Village by kayak or traditional rowing boat. The area is considered one of the most beautiful destinations in the world by Travel + Leisure magazine. A barbeque dinner aboard the Au Co caps off an exciting day.

Day 9: Ha Long Bay, Tuan Chau, Disembark Ship, Hanoi, Da Nang, Hoi An

Set off for an early visit to Sung Sot Cave, the largest cave of the bay with 10,000 square meters of space holding thousands of stalactites and stalagmites in fascinating shapes and sizes. Enjoy brunch on board as your ship makes its way back to port. Disembark and transfer to Hanoi Airport for your included flight to Da Nang, from where you’ll travel to historic Hoi An.

Day 10: Hoi An

Set out on a guided discovery of Hoi An this morning, taking in sights such as the Japanese Covered Bridge and the 19th-century Chinese Temple. Visit a handicraft workshop to see local artisans making silk lanterns and other traditional crafts. You will also stop off at a local cafe to try a Vietnamese specialty, coconut coffee. This afternoon, a boat cruise along the Thu Bon River takes you to where your special Signature Experience awaits.

Day 11: Hoi An, Hue

Set out on your Signature Experience. Visit a local garden and meet the farmers who work there while taking part in a number of different farming activities. You’ll then set out on an exploration of the water coconut palm jungle by basket boat. Depart Hoi An bound for Hue, the former Imperial Capital. Travel via Da Nang and up and over the stunning Hai Van Pass, with views across Lang Co Beach. This scenic mountain stretch is voted by some travellers as one of the world's most picturesque drives. Dine on authentic Hue cuisine at Nam Phuong restaurant inside the hotel. The restaurant is named after Vietnam’s last queen.

Day 12: Hue

Venture to the Imperial Citadel which served as the nation’s political capital and religious hub. Stroll among the citadel’s monuments and hear stories of its construction under the Nguyen Dynasty, which ruled Vietnam from 1802 to 1945. Next, visit the historical Tien Mu Pagoda, an active Buddhist monastery that dates to 1601, which at seven storeys is the tallest pagoda in Vietnam. Marvel at the seven successive tiers, each of which is dedicated to a human form taken by the Buddha before exploring the gardens, flowers and ornamental plants surrounding the pagoda. Soak in the beautiful landscapes and passes some of Hue’s most important monuments during your Signature Experience.

Day 13: Hue, Ho Chi Minh City

Fly to Ho Chi Minh City and enjoy the rest of the day at your leisure before dinner.

Day 14: Ho Chi Minh City

Leave the city behind and relish in your Signature Experiences today. Tonight, your dinner is another Signature Experience.

Day 15: Ho Chi Minh City, My Tho, Embark Ship, Cai Be

Choose your sightseeing this morning, then be transferred to your river ship. Set sail from My Tho and soak in the scenery during your cruise towards Cai Be. Tonight, a Vietnamese welcome dinner awaits, showcasing the diverse flavours from the region.

Day 16: Cai Be, Sa Dec, Tan Chau

Board your traditional sampan for your first excursion on the banks of the Mekong. Step ashore to visit Cai Be Catholic Church and the colourful port area filled with crumbling colonial buildings and flowering gardens. Built in the Roman architectural style, the bell tower, with its set of four bells cast in France in 1931, is the tallest of all the churches in the Mekong Delta. Afterwards, you’ll visit rice paper and coconut candy manufacturers and learn how these Vietnamese staples are made.



Head back to the ship to refresh before sitting down to savour a delicious lunch whilst continuing to cruise to the quaint town of Sa Dec. Upon arrival, explore Sa Dec by foot and meet some of the sellers at the colourful market. Continue to where French writer Marguerite Duras met her Vietnamese-Chinese lover, Huynh Thuy Le. Tour his former home and learn the story behind Duras’ best-selling novel, The Lover. After, visit a traditional Cao Dai temple. Watch visitors and pilgrims come and go and appreciate the beauty of the colourful building. Sail towards Tan Chai as dinner is served.

Day 17: Tan Chau, Evergreen Island, Border Crossing, Phnom Penh

Transfer to a small boat to cruise the tiny tributaries around the town of Tan Chau. Disembark for a rickshaw tour and visit a local silk and rattan weaving workshop. Then explore Evergreen Island to see authentic rural Mekong life. Later, appreciate some down time and watch the scenery pass as the Mekong Serenity spends the afternoon cruising towards the Cambodian border.

Day 18: Phnom Penh

Enjoy your Freedom of Choice activity then spend the remainder of the afternoon at leisure. You may wish to head ashore and explore more of Phnom Penh independently or simply relax on board.

Day 19: Phnom Penh, Oudong, Koh Chen, Oknha Tey

Journey to Oudong, Cambodia’s former royal capital, where you will have your Signature Experience. Following the visit, return via Koh Chen village and visit local copperware workshops. Back on board, cruise to Oknha Tey, known for its silk weaving traditions. Stroll among the stilt houses and gain an insight into the traditional silk weaving process. Watch as the village women create beautiful Khmer fabrics from their wooden looms.

Day 20: Oknha Tey, Angkor Ban, Wat Hanchey

Sail to Angkor Ban, where you'll disembark and enjoy a captivating walking discovery of this historic village. Remarkably, Angkor Ban stands as one of the rare Cambodian villages that remained unscathed during the tumultuous Khmer Rouge regime of the 1970s. Here, people still live in traditional wooden homes and keep ancient cultural traditions alive. This afternoon, your ship continues sailing upstream to Wat Hanchey.

Day 21: Wat Hanchey, Kampong Cham, Koh Pen

If you are feeling active this morning, walk to the hilltop pagoda of Wat Hanchey for expansive views over the Mekong. Here, you may find some novice monks along with many temples, pagodas, and stupas, some built this century while others date back to the eighth century. Take lunch on board before your Signature Experience. Celebrate with a farewell dinner on board this evening.

Day 22: Kampong Cham, Disembark Ship, Siem Reap

Bid farewell to the crew and disembark the Mekong Serenity early at Kampong Cham. Travel to Siem Reap, the gateway to Angkor Wat, passing through picturesque countryside and remote villages where you can observe rural life. On arrival at your hotel, enjoy a light lunch and some relaxation time before your Signature Experiences.

Day 23: Siem Reap

Rise early this morning to witness sunrise over the magnificent Angkor Wat, the world’s largest religious monument. As the sun rises, soak up the atmosphere as you marvel at this ancient wonder. After the sun has risen delve into the history and significance of this sacred site with a guided tour inside the vast temple complex and the sprawling grounds before returning to the hotel for a late breakfast.



Continue your exploration of the World Heritage-listed Angkor Archaeological Park with a visit to Angkor Thom, the last and most enduring capital of the Khmer Empire. Built during the heyday of the Empire in the 12th century, this is an extraordinary complex of Hindu and Buddhist monuments. Head to the intriguing Bayon Temple, with its carved stone smiling faces of gods, goddesses and other mythology beings. 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 crematory.



Journey to Ta Prohm, known for the thick jungle of fig trees and vines that have enveloped the structure, creating a feeling akin to stepping into a lost world. Commonly referred to as the 'Tomb Raider temple' due to it being used as a location in the blockbuster 2001 film Lara Croft: Tomb Raider which starred Angelina Jolie, Ta Prohm is a captivating glimpse into the past and testament to a bygone era. Tonight enjoy your Freedom of Choice dinner.

Day 24: Siem Reap

Embark on your selected activity today. Tonight, your Signature Experience awaits. Set amid a stunning garden this promises to be an enchanting and memorable evening.

Day 25: Depart Siem Reap

After breakfast, transfer to Siem Reap–Angkor International Airport for your onward flight.