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- September 3 - Arrive Hanoi, Vietnam
- Welcome to Hanoi, Vietnam’s vibrant capital city, known for its graceful colonial architecture, frenetic streets, verdant parks and ancient temples. After your airport greeting, you will be transferred to your hotel. The remainder of the day is yours to explore the city on your own.
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| Wed |
- September 4 - Hanoi, Vietnam
- A morning sightseeing tour will take you to Hanoi’s most famous historical sites, the ‘Hanoi Hilton’ and the Temple of Literature. In the afternoon, experience an authentic rickshaw ride (known as ’cyclo’) in the Old Quarter, followed by a traditional water puppet show.
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| Thu |
- September 5 - Hanoi – Ha Long Bay, Vietnam
- After breakfast, depart Hanoi for a scenic motor coach ride to one of Vietnam’s most renowned locations, Ha Long Bay. Board a traditional wooden junk that combines classic beauty with modern conveniences, plus luxurious overnight accommodations. Set sail to discover the Bay’s magnificent scenery set amidst stunning limestone cliffs. That evening, you’ll enjoy dinner onboard and overnight on the junk.
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| Fri |
- September 6 - Ha Long Bay, Vietnam – Siem Reap, Cambodia
- This morning, your Ha Long Bay junk continues its scenic cruise while a delightful breakfast is served in the dining lounge. In the late morning, you will disembark for a motor coach transfer to the Hanoi Airport. After a short flight, arrive in Siem Reap, Cambodia. This is the gateway to Angkor, the former capital of the Khmer Empire and one of the most renowned archaeological sites in all of South East Asia.
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| Sat |
- September 7 - Siem Reap – Angkor, Cambodia
- After breakfast, begin a guided sightseeing tour of the Angkor Archaeological Park, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Highlights include Angkor Thom, the newly-restored Baphuon Temple, Terrace of the Elephants, Terrace of the Leper King and the Banyon, This afternoon, travel through the rural countryside to visit the pink sandstone temple of Banteay Srei, known as the ‘Shrine of the Women.’ Afterwards, we visit an English-language school in the village of Ta Toum. We will have the opportunity to meet the children and donate school supplies.
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| Sun |
- September 8 - Siem Reap – Angkor, Cambodia
- This morning we visit the most iconic of all Angkorian temples, Angkor Wat. Known as the world’s largest religious temple complex, it was built in the early 12th century by the Khmer King Suryavarman II and dedicated to the Hindu God Vishnu. We will also visit Ta Prohm, a temple famous for its intertwined trees (and showcased in the film Tomb Raider).
This afternoon is free to explore the town, dine at local restaurants, seek out $3 foot massages, or enjoy the beautiful hotel pool and facilities. You may also return to Angkor Wat in the late afternoon for a different lighting opportunity for photographs.
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| Mon |
- September 9 - Siem Reap – Tonle Sap Lake/Embarkation – Kampong Chhnang, Cambodia
- Welcome aboard your luxurious vessel, docked at Tonle Sap Lake. The great lake dominates Cambodia and is known for its profuse birdlife and tranquil fishing villages. Settle in to your new home for the week as you cruise to Kampong Chhnang. The ship moors overnight.
Read more about what you can see and do in Kampong Chhnang, Kampong Tralach and Oudong
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| Tue |
- September 10 - Kampong Chhnang – Kampong Tralach – Oudong, Cambodia
- After breakfast, a motor boat excursion takes you into the lakeside wetlands that form the mouth of the Tonle Sap
River. Enjoy a stunning variety of birdlife, and see great fish traps, some over a half-mile long. After your excursion, return to your vessel and cast off towards Kampong Tralach. An afternoon tour includes an ox-cart ride from the river bank through the countryside to the beautiful Wat Kapong Tralach Pleu. Tour the pagodas, and then board a motor coach to Oudong, the former capital of Cambodia, where you will tour the Buddhist monastery. Afterward, your motor coach will return you to your ship, which will cruise towards the village of Chong Koh.
Read more about what you can see and do in Kampong Chhnang, Kampong Tralach and Oudong
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| Wed |
- September 11 - Chong Koh – Phnom Penh, Cambodia
- This morning, visit the Chong Koh silk weaving village for a leisurely walk. Your vessel then departs for Phnom Penh, the capital of Cambodia. An afternoon walking tour provides an orientation to this spectacular city. Return to the ship for dinner, followed by a special Khmer folk performance given onboard by children from a local orphanage. The vessel moors overnight in Phnom Penh.
Read more about what you can see and do in Kampong Chhnang, Kampong Tralach and Oudong
Read more about what you can see and do in Phnom Penh
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| Thu |
- September 12 - Phnom Penh, Cambodia
- A morning tour explores the highlights of Cambodia’s capital city, famous for its French colonial architecture, busy cafes, vibrant nightlife and renovated river ’corniche.’ Visit the Royal Palace and the spectacular Silver Pagoda. The National Museum is another highlight, with outstanding displays of Khmer crafts. Enjoy shopping opportunities at the local market before coming back to the ship. After lunch onboard, we visit the infamous Killing Fields and the Khmer Rouge’s grim Tuol Sleng or S21 Detention Centre (Genocide Museum), situated in the suburbs of the city. An overnight on the waterfront provides an opportunity to dine in one of many nearby restaurants and to experience Phnom Penh’s vibrant nightlife.
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| Fri |
- September 13 - Phnom Penh, Cambodia – Border Crossing – Tan Chau, Vietnam
- Spend a day cruising the Mekong River and crossing the border into Vietnam. Your vessel moors at the small town of Tan Chau, Vietnam.
Read more about what you can see and do in Tan Chau, Sa Dec, Xeo Cuyt and Cai Be
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| Sat |
- September 14 - Tan Chau – Sa Dec, Vietnam
- After breakfast, transfer to small boats, which navigate through narrow channels to visit an evergreen island. You will also explore a catfish farm and attend a workshop on making rattan mats and slippers. Back ashore, a traditional xe-loi (trishaw) awaits to transport you around Tan Chau. In the afternoon, your vessel cruises downstream to Sa Dec. We will moor here overnight.
Read more about what you can see and do in Tan Chau, Sa Dec, Xeo Cuyt and Cai Be
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| Sun |
- September 15 - Sa Dec – Xeo Quyt – Cai Be, Vietnam
- In the morning, board a local boat for Sa Dec. You will pass floating markets as your boat maneuvers through the river’s channels. Once ashore, you will tour Sa Dec, noteworthy as the town where the French writer Marguerite Dumas spent many years in her youth. Visit a local market, Fujian Temple and the house of Mr. Huynh Thuy Le, Duras Dumas’ Chinese lover, which is now a small museum. Afterwards board a motor coach for the one-hour ride to Xeo Quyt, used as a base during the French and American wars and now an important ecological site. After lunch onboard, a local boat will take you to Cai Be’s spectacular floating market, then go ashore to see candy and rice paper workshops. In the evening, enjoy a gourmet Farewell Dinner onboard.
Read more about what you can see and do in Tan Chau, Sa Dec, Xeo Cuyt and Cai Be
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| Mon |
- September 16 - Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam – Disembark
- Your cruise comes to an end as the ship docks at My Tho Port, followed by a transfer to Ho Chi Minh City (also known as Saigon). As the capital of the French colony of Cochinchina, it was known as the ’Paris of the Orient.’ Today, Vietnam’s largest city is an industrial, cultural and educational hub, but it still retains vestiges of its colonial past. Upon arriving in Ho Chi Minh City, you will explore famous landmarks, such as the former Presidential Palace, Central Post Office, Notre Dame Cathedral; Cho Lon (China Town) and its famous Binh Tay market and Thien Hau pagoda.
This afternoon is free to explore Ho Chi Minh City on your own, perhaps venturing to nearby shops and markets to purchase mementos of your Southeast Asian odyssey or to visit the Vietnam War Museum. Top the evening off with dinner in a local restaurant. You will overnight at a Sheraton (or comparable hotel) in Ho Chi Minh City.
Read more about what you can see and do in Ho Chi Minh City
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| Tue |
- September 17 - Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam – Disembark
- Transfer to the airport for your flight home or purchase an additional hotel night to extend your vacation. If your flight departs in the evening, this will give you another day to explore the city.
Please note: Itinerary is subject to change.
Read more about what you can see and do in Ho Chi Minh City
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