APT Best Of Vietnam and Cambodia River Cruise

The highlights of Cambodia and Vietnam are yours to enjoy on this gorgeous APT luxury river cruise. Discover the local way of life throughout Vietnam & Cambodia on this incredible journey with APT. Cruise along the Mekong River in luxury and marvel at the dazzling cities and sleepy villages that line its banks.

Signature Experiences Designed Exclusively for APT guests

SIGNATURE EXPERIENCE
These once-in-a-lifetime moments allow you to experience an unforgettable world of exclusive moments, incredible cultures and charming surprises

FREEDOM OF CHOICE™
Give your holiday a personal touch with a choice of included sightseeing or dining options

Vietnam & Cambodia Itinerary

Please note that this itinerary is also available in reverse (Hanoi to Ho Chi Minh City)

Day 1: UK to Vietnam

Make your way to London Heathrow for your flight to Vietnam.

Day 2: Hanoi

Today you’ll arrive in Hanoi and be met and transferred to your luxurious hotel then enjoy the rest of the day to explore this fascinating city at your leisure. Tonight, meet your APT tour director over a welcome briefing and dinner.

Hotel Stay: 2 nights at Sofitel Legend Metropole, Hanoi
Meals included: Dinner

Day 3: Hanoi

This morning, a tour of Hanoi will take you to the city’s most famous historical and cultural sites. Visit Ho Chi Minh’s Mausoleum, Ba Dinh Square and The Temple of Literature. You’ll also take in the sights during a cyclo ride. Spend the afternoon on your selected Freedom of Choice activity.

Freedom of Choice: Perhaps tour the 500-year-old village of Bat Trang or relax and enjoy a foot massage back at your hotel. Embark on a walking tour to observe Hanoi’s French colonial architecture, and explore the interior of the Hanoi Opera House or take in a water puppet show.

Freedom of Choice: How your evening evolves is also up to you – choose from a range of different but equally superb and delicious restaurants for dinner.

Meals included: Breakfast, Dinner

Day 4: Hanoi & Ha Long Bay

Travel by coach to Ha Long Bay and board your ship, the luxurious Au Co. Feel the wind in your hair as you set sail among thousands of spectacular limestone islets this afternoon, gliding slowly over the azure waters. Enjoy lunch on board as you traverse through stunning scenery towards Ba Ham Lake, where you will have the chance to go for a dip or enjoy a spot of kayaking in the emerald green waters. Enjoy dinner back on board this evening.

River Cruise: Embark on your luxurious three-day cruise on World Heritage-listed Ha Long Bay.
Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 5: Ha Long Bay

Awake early and as the sun rises, perhaps rejuvenate your body and soul with a Tai Chi class. A secluded swim or chance to sunbathe is on the cards with a stop at Ba Trai Dao beach. After lunch, continue to Cat Ba Island, where you will take a guided bike tour to Viet Hai Village, nestled among the jungle-clad mountains of Cat Ba National Park. While here, you will also have the chance to visit an ancient Vietnamese house. Upon retiring to The Au Co for the evening, relax and enjoy a barbecue dinner.

Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 6: Ha Long Bay, Hanoi & Hoi An

This morning after breakfast, take to the waters around the Cua Van Floating Culture Centre by kayak or traditional rowing boat. Renowned for its natural beauty, this calm bay allows you to see traditional floating fishing villages and enjoy local life. Return onboard for a farewell Vietnamese tea ceremony and transfer to Hanoi airport for your included flight to Da Nang. On arrival, take a scenic coach ride to the town of Hoi An on the country’s east coast. Arrive at your five-star hotel situated on the banks of the Thu Bon River, where you will enjoy three relaxing nights.

Hotel Stay: 3 nights at Hotel Royal, Hoi An

Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 7: 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 evening, a special Signature Experience awaits.

Signature Experience: Discover Hoi An’s colourful market and find local ingredients that you will use during an exclusive cooking class with the Red Bridge Cooking School. A boat cruise along the Hoi An River takes you to the school, before visiting the herb garden and preparing Vietnamese dishes. Afterwards, sit down to dinner and enjoy the dishes you have created.

Meals included: Breakfast, Dinner

Day 8: Hoi An

Today, catch a glimpse of rural Vietnamese life as you set out on an agricultural eco-tour. Visit a local garden and meet the farmers who work there while taking part in a number of different farming activities. See how soil is prepared and how vegetables are watered and transplanted. You’ll then set out on an exploration of the water coconut palm jungle by basket boat.

The afternoon has been left free for you to explore more of this quaint town at your leisure. This evening, take in a performance at Hoi An Lune Centre, the first and only bamboo theatre in Vietnam. Experience Vietnamese culture at its most unique as you hear stories of daily life from different regions in Vietnam, brought to life by the Vietnamese Bamboo Circus.

Meals included: Breakfast

Day 9: Hoi An & Hue

Travel past the Marble Mountains, a cluster of five marble and limestone hills located south of Da Nang. Cross the Hai Van Pass, one of the country’s most scenic hillside roads, on your way to Hue. Enjoy lunch in a garden restaurant before visiting Hue’s Imperial Citadel and the tallest pagoda in Vietnam, the historic Thien Mu Pagoda.

Hotel Stay: Silk Path Grand Hue Hotel and Spa, Hue

Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 10: Hue & Ho Chi Minh City

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

Hotel Stay: 2 nights at the Park Hyatt Saigon, Ho Chi Minh City

Meals included: Breakfast, Dinner

Day 11: Ho Chi Minh City, Cu Chi Tunnels or Long Tan

After breakfast this morning, you are able to choose from two Signature Experiences. Tonight, another exciting Signature Experience is to be enjoyed.

Signature Experience: Perhaps visit the Cu Chi Tunnels, an incredible tunnel network constructed by Vietnamese resistance fighters during the war. These tunnels served as Viet Cong hiding spots, supply and communication routes, hospitals and weapon caches, and make for a fascinating visit. Alternatively, journey to Ba Ria and learn about the Battle of Long Tan. Afterwards, attend a memorial service at the Long Tan Cross, a memorial erected by the 6th Battalion, Royal Australian Regiment, which is set in a rubber plantation and marks the site of the Battle of Long Tan.

Signature Experience: Experience dinner at Vietnam House, founded by Australia-born Vietnamese celebrity chef Luke Nguyen.

Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 12: Ho Chi Minh City, My Tho & Embark Ship

Choose your sightseeing this morning, then be transferred to your river ship. Tonight, a Vietnamese welcome dinner awaits, showcasing the diverse flavours from the region.

Freedom of Choice: Today you can choose to enjoy a leisurely walking discovery of Ho Chi Minh City, visiting the Reunification Palace and the Central Post Office. Or you might like to jump on the back of a motorbike for an exciting city ride. Alternatively, you may like to go on a shopping spree.

River Cruise: Embark on your luxurious seven-night cruise along the Mekong river onboard Mekong Serenity

Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 13: Cai Be and Sa Dec

In Cai Be, visit the French Gothic cathedral and port area. Then, it’s off to visit a rice paper manufacturer. Continue to Sa Dec where French writer Marguerite Duras met her Vietnamese-Chinese lover, Huynh Thuy Le. Tour his former home and learn the story behind Marguerite Duras’ best-selling novel, The Lover. After, visit a Cao Dai temple.

Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 14: Tan Chau, Evergreen Island and Border Crossing

Step ashore in Tan Chau today for a rickshaw tour. On board your rickshaw, you’ll glide past shops and friendly locals who are always eager to say hello. Stop to pay a visit to a local silk and rattan weaving workshop. Later, step back in time during a visit to an evergreen island aboard a small boat, where you’ll experience authentic rural Mekong life. The remainder of today is left free for you to relax back on board your river ship.

Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 15: Phnom Penh

Enjoy your Freedom of Choice activity then relax back on board this evening.

Freedom of Choice: Perhaps take a sobering excursion to the Killing Fields, before visiting the Tuol Sleng Genocide Museum, located on the site of the Khmer Rouge’s notorious Security Prison 21. Alternatively, see Phnom Penh on a tuk tuk ride with a stop at the Central Market, visit a number of Cambodian microbreweries and enjoy the local craft beers or enjoy a visit to the National Museum. Options also include the Royal Palace and the Silver Pagoda.

Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 16: Oudong, Koh Chen & Oknha Tey

Explore Oudong, Cambodia’s former royal capital. Return via Koh Chen village and perhaps visit local copperware workshops. Back on board, cruise to Oknha Tey, known for its silk weaving traditions.

Signature Experience: In Oudong, be treated to a Buddhist Blessing Ceremony with local monks at a monastery.

Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 17: Angkor Ban

Enjoy a walking discovery of ancient Angkor Ban today, one of the few villages in Cambodia that was not destroyed under the Khmer Rouge regime in the 1970s. Here, people still live in traditional wooden homes and keep ancient cultural traditions alive.

Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 18: Kampong Cham and Koh Pen

If you are feeling active this morning, walk to the hilltop pagoda of Wat Hanchey, for views over the Mekong. Lunch is back on board before taking a tuk tuk to explore the island of Koh Pen with its wooden stilt houses and local farming culture. On your ship this evening, enjoy a final farewell dinner. 

Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 19: Kampong Cham, Disembark Ship and Siem Reap

Disembark at Kampong Cham and transfer to your hotel. Then, head to World Heritage-listed Angkor Archaeological Park to visit Angkor Thom and the 12th-century temple, Bayon.

Freedom of Choice: Tonight, take the opportunity to savour a taste of Cambodia with a choice of local restaurants for dinner.

Hotel Stay: 3 nights at the Hotel Sofitel Angkor, Siem Reap

Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 20: Siem Reap and Angkor

Today, embark on a guided tour of the iconic Angkor Wat and admire the ancient structures in the soft morning light. Later this afternoon, explore the intriguing temple of Ta Prohm, with its stunning ruins, then visit ‘Opportunities of Development thru Art’ (ODA), a Siem Reap organisation that provides education opportunities for disadvantaged local children.

Signature Experience: Rise early and travel back to the Angkor Archaeological Park to enjoy a sunrise at Angkor Wat.

Meals included: Breakfast

Day 21: Siem Reap

Embark on your selected activity today. Tonight, take in an Apsara dance performance, before a memorable farewell dinner.

Freedom of Choice: Perhaps set out a tuk tuk ride to the Senteurs d’Angkor workshop, where you can shop for local handmade crafts. If you’re looking for something a little more adventurous, you might like to join a quadbike excursion through the Cambodian countryside. Alternatively, unwind with a soothing spa treatment.

Meals included: Breakfast, Dinner

Day 22: Depart Siem Reap

After breakfast, transfer to the airport for your return flight to the UK.

Meals included: Breakfast

Day 23: Arrive in UK

Arrive back in UK today.

Your Holiday Includes:

• Return scheduled flights from the UK and home-to-airport transfers by private car*
• Unique cultural experiences in up to 16 towns, villages & cities
• Luxury dining – a total of 51 meals and a wide range of beverages onboard your Mekong River cruise
• Seven nights aboard the luxury river ship, Mekong Serenity
• Services of an APT Cruise Director and expert local guides
• Take part in an exclusive cooking class with the Red Bridge Cooking School in Hoi An
• Embark on a luxurious three-day cruise on World Heritage-listed Ha Long Bay
• Experience a traditional Buddhist blessing ceremony at a monastery in Oudong