Days One & Two - Fly to Siem Reap
On arrival in Siem Reap you will be met in the arrival’s hall by your Local Guide or National Escort from Wendy Wu Tours. Together with all other group members who may be arriving at a similar time, travel to your hotel for check in. Any time before this evening’s dinner and welcome briefing is at leisure to start your explorations.
Day Three - Angkor
The UNESCO-managed Angkor complex boasts over 1,000 temples and was the seat of the colossal Khmer Empire from the 9th to the 14th centuries. We spend the morning at the city of Angkor Thom, built by Jayavarman VII during his restoration of the Angkorian Empire in the late 12th century. Here, sights include the enigmatic Bayon, the Elephant Terrace and the Terrace of the Leper King. One of the most evocative ruins here is to the monastery temple of Ta Prohm, enveloped in a labyrinth of jungle just outside Angkor Thom. Enjoy lunch before devoting the afternoon to the fascinating and awe-inspiring temple complex of Angkor Wat, the largest religious monument in the world. It predates the city of Angkor Thom and is Cambodia’s spiritual heart. Later, return to Angkor Thom to enjoy the sunset from its moat, with a refreshing drink in hand.
Day Four - Tonle Sap
This morning, visit a small rural village and enjoy a glimpse into the personal life of a Khmer family, learning about local dynamics and daily routines. After lunch, visit the Tonle Sap Lake for an insight into how local communities create floating homes on the water. Return to Siem Reap for dinner. The exact village visited will depend on water levels at the time of your visit.
Day Five - Phnom Penh
Depart Siem Reap and fly 1 hour to Phnom Penh. This fascinating capital city sits on the banks of the Mekong, at the junction with the Bassac River. The architecture here is a pleasant mixture of Khmer, French and modern styles. Board a cyclo and visit Wat Phnom and the ornate Cambodian Royal Palace with the opulent Silver Pagoda before dinner. Check into your hotel for a one-night stay in the city.
Day Six - Tuol Sleng, The Killing Fields & Victoria Mekong
Reflect on the history of the city with a visit to the Tuol Sleng Museum (the former S-21 Prison) and the Killing Fields, where you will learn about the suffering of the Khmer people under the brutal Khmer Rouge regime of the 1970s. These visits are educational but can be emotional; you will be given time to explore alone. After lunch, transfer to the ship's embarkation point in Phnom Penh (usually at Sisowath Quay), where you will say goodbye to your National Escort and board the Victoria Mekong, your river cruise ship and home for the next four nights. Relax with a sundown drink and enjoy a dance performance and welcome briefing on board before dinner in the panoramic restaurant.
Day Seven - Into Vietnam
The Victoria Mekong departs this morning, with plenty of onboard activities available; alternatively, spend the morning relaxing on the sun deck or by the pool. Cruise into Vietnam around lunchtime, anchoring near Tan Chau. Border crossing formalities will be handled on your behalf during lunch. Take a sampan through a floating village to see how locals raise fish beneath their stilt houses, a unique Mekong Delta tradition. Return to the ship in time for an exciting lion dance performance on the Sky Deck as the sun sets.
Day Eight - Phu Tan & Tiger Island
After breakfast, tender ashore in Phu Tan to visit a craft village famed for its handmade clay stoves. Return to the ship for lunch in the panoramic Claypot Restaurant, watching the scenery drift by as you cruise downstream. This afternoon, tender to Tiger Island, where you can stretch your legs for a scenic walk-through rice fields and gardens, visit local plant pot makers, and hear the story behind 'Mr. Tiger’s Temple'. Return to the ship in time for a cocktail competition and the evening’s entertainment.
Day Nine - Long Xuyen & Dinh Yen
Hop on a tender boat for an extended visit to Long Xuyen’s captivating floating market and gain a deeper insight into daily life along the river. Enjoy a lunch onboard as the ship continues downstream to Dinh Yen, where you’ll see villagers weaving colourful straw mats. This evening, watch a traditional Southern Vietnamese folk music performance as the ship continues to Can Tho, the beating heart of the Mekong Delta.
Day Ten - Can Tho - Saigon
Bid farewell to the Victoria Mekong and drive from Can Tho to Saigon, stopping en route in Cai Be for a delicious local lunch. Meet your National Escort, who will guide you through all that Vietnam has to offer. This evening, dinner will be at Noir, a restaurant that supports Saigon’s visually impaired, for a sensory ‘dining in the dark’ experience.
Day Eleven - Cu Chi & Saigon
This morning, visit the fascinating Cu Chi Tunnels to learn the history of the Viet Cong and their guerilla tactics during the Vietnam War. Sightseeing here involves two hours on foot on wide but uneven paths through the forest, seeing examples of reconstructed bamboo traps, Viet Cong kitchens, and tunnel entrances. Should you choose, you also can spend a few minutes underground, on a short, crouched walk through an example section of the tunnel network, which has been slightly enlarged for visitors’ safety. Stop for lunch at an organic farm en route back to Saigon. 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. The latter is an emotional visit; you will be given time to explore independently.
Day Twelve - Saigon – Hoi An
Take a 1 hour and 20-minute flight from Saigon to Danang and transfer 45 minutes through the countryside to the enchanting town of Hoi An. Head out on a walking tour of the Old Town, with visits including Chua Ong Chinese Pagoda, a 200-year-old merchant house, and the spectacular Japanese Covered Bridge. With its charming yellow buildings and vivid silk lanterns, a stroll through this traditional town feels like stepping back in time. Take a visit to the Reaching Out Arts & Crafts, a social enterprise providing meaningful employment for people with disabilities where they can showcase their craft, before a couple of hours at leisure ahead of dinner.
Day Thirteen - Tra Que Village
Head out into Hoi An’s peaceful countryside to visit an organic farming community. Here you can enjoy the lush green landscapes and stroll through the gardens to see the farmers at work. You’ll even have an opportunity to try the techniques for yourself! The afternoon is at leisure to head to the beach or explore the Old Town’s charming shops and boutiques.
Day Fourteen - Hanoi
After breakfast, transfer to Danang and fly 1 hour and 20 minutes to the charming city of Hanoi. This afternoon, visit the serene Temple of Literature, Hanoi’s first university, before taking a cyclo tour of Hanoi’s Old Quarter. Each cyclo (rickshaw) takes one passenger and is operated by a cycle driver behind the carriage. Wrap up your ride with an opportunity to taste some ‘egg coffee’ – a local speciality!
Day Fifteen - Hanoi
Discover the sights of Hanoi. 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, along with a visit to the One Pillar Pagoda and Ethnology Museum. This evening, sit back and enjoy the Quintessence of Tonkin, a cultural celebration of northern Vietnamese history.
Day Sixteen - Halong Bay
Drive 2.5 hours from Hanoi to Halong Bay, where you will take an overnight cruise to the far-most corners of this famously beautiful bay by boat. Enjoy lunch onboard as you cruise out into the bay, stopping to anchor for an afternoon of activities such as kayaking, swimming, or relaxing on an island beach (determined by the local weather conditions). Sightseeing may include visiting underground caves on the islands, which require climbing up and down steps inside and outside of the caves. End the day on deck with a drink in hand to watch the sunset, followed by a freshly prepared dinner, before retiring to your cabin for the night.
Day Seventeen - Halong Bay - Hanoi
After a night anchored out on the bay, rise early to enjoy a Tai Chi lesson on deck as the sun rises. Cruise back to port, stopping en route to visit one of the bay’s impressive caves. Return to Hanoi, where your afternoon is at leisure ahead of this evening’s farewell dinner.
Day Eighteen & Nineteen - Depart Hanoi
You will be transferred 1 hour from the hotel to the airport, according to the departure time of your international flight. Any time before your flight is at leisure. You may arrive back in New Zealand today or the following day.
