Itinerary
- Day 1
Hanoi
You'll land in Hanoi today and clear immigration using the Fast Track Service. Your APT representative will meet you for a transfer to the hotel. Spend the afternoon checking out this city on your own - it's got this interesting mix of busy streets and peaceful lakes that makes it feel quite contrasting. Tonight you have a welcome dinner at Spice Garden, the hotel's Vietnamese restaurant.
- Meals
- Dinner (Welcome dinner at Spice Garden, the hotel's highly awarded and acclaimed Vietnamese restaurant)
- Accommodation
- Hotel (Sofitel Legend Metropole Hanoi)
Included Activities
- Fast Track Service through immigration and customs
- Welcome dinner at Spice Garden restaurant
Optional Activities
- Leisure exploration of Hanoi
Landmarks Hanoi - Day 2
Hanoi
This morning starts with a guided tour hitting Hanoi's key historical sites like Ho Chi Minh's Mausoleum, Ba Dinh Square, and the Temple of Literature, which was Vietnam's first university. You'll see the One Pillar Pagoda next, a significant Buddhist site built on a single stone pillar in a lotus pond. After that, a cyclo ride takes you through the Old Quarter's maze-like streets where each lane was named after the business that operated there. The afternoon gives you some Freedom of Choice options, and you get to pick where you want to eat dinner.
- Accommodation
- Hotel (Sofitel Legend Metropole Hanoi)
Included Activities
- Guided tour of Ho Chi Minh's Mausoleum
- Ba Dinh Square visit
- Temple of Literature visit
- One Pillar Pagoda visit
- Cyclo ride through Old Quarter
Optional Activities
- Bat Trang Pottery Village - pottery-making village with 700+ years history
- Head, Hand or Foot Massage at Le Spa du Metropole
- Walking Tour of Hanoi - St. Joseph's Cathedral, Hanoi Opera House, Hoa Lo Prison
- Water Puppet Performance at a renowned water puppet theatre
- Vietnam's Coffee Culture - coffee history, cultivation, and unique drinks
- Dinner at La Terrasse - Parisian cafe atmosphere at Sofitel Legend Metropole
- Dinner at La Table Hanoia - fine dining in French Quarter
- Dinner at KOTO Van Mieu - Vietnamese cuisine at training restaurant for disadvantaged youth
Landmarks Ho Chi Minh's Mausoleum Ba Dinh Square Temple of Literature One Pillar Pagoda Hanoi Old Quarter - Day 3
Hanoi to Ha Long Bay
Begin with a private tour of the hotel's bomb shelter with a local historian who'll share stories about its discovery and notable guests. Later you'll travel by coach to Ha Long Bay and board the Au Ce for a two-night cruise among thousands of limestone islets. Vietnamese lunch happens while the ship moves toward Trong Mai Islet. You'll explore Trinh Nu, one of Ha Long Bay's finest caves filled with light, then have time to swim or kayak in the emerald waters.
- Meals
- Lunch (Assortment of Vietnamese dishes during Ha Long Bay cruise)
- Accommodation
- Hotel (Ha Long Bay)
Included Activities
- Exclusive access to bomb shelter tour with local historian
- Coach transfer to Ha Long Bay
- Ha Long Bay cruise on Bhaya Classic/Au Co
- Vietnamese lunch during cruise
- Trinh Nu cave exploration
- Swimming or kayaking in Ha Long Bay
Landmarks Ha Long Bay Trong Mai Islet Trinh Nu Cave 
- Day 4
Ha Long Bay
Early morning gives you the option to watch sunrise and join a Tai Chi class if you want to. You'll see Cat Ba Island before disembarking at Viet Hai Village for a village-style lunch and a secluded swim or sunbathing afterward. Back on ship, you'll cruise deeper into Ha Long Bay and explore Cua Van Floating Village by kayak or traditional rowing boat, which is considered one of the world's most beautiful spots. Dinner is a barbeque aboard the Au Ce.
- Meals
- Lunch (Village-style lunch), Dinner (Barbeque dinner aboard the Au Co)
- Accommodation
- Hotel (Ha Long Bay)
Included Activities
- Optional Tai Chi class at sunrise
- Visit to Viet Hai Village
- Village-style lunch
- Swimming or sunbathing time
- Cua Van Floating Village exploration by kayak or traditional rowing boat
- Barbeque dinner aboard Au Co
Landmarks Cat Ba Island Viet Hai Village Cua Van Floating Village - Day 5
Ha Long Bay to Ho Chi Minh City
Early on you'll visit Sung Sot Cave, Ha Long Bay's largest cave at 10,000 square meters with thousands of stalactites and stalagmites inside. Brunch happens on board as the ship returns to port. After disembarking, you'll transfer to Hanoi airport for your included flight to Ho Chi Minh City, where your Tour Director meets you.
- Meals
- Brunch (Brunch on board as ship returns to port)
- Accommodation
- Hotel (Ho Chi Minh City)
Included Activities
- Sung Sot Cave visit
- Brunch on board
- Included flight to Ho Chi Minh City
Landmarks Sung Sot Cave - Day 6
Ho Chi Minh City
Today takes you away from the city for some Signature Experiences. A speedboat travels along the Saigon River to the Cu Chi tunnels, built by Vietnamese resistance fighters during the war. Later you'll meet a Master Distiller at Lady Trieu Gin Distillery for a guided tour and private tasting of award-winning gin, followed by lunch with a gin and tonic. Dinner happens at Vietnam House restaurant with a special cocktail created just for APT guests.
- Meals
- Lunch (Light lunch with Lady Trieu gin and tonic), Dinner (Dinner at Vietnam House restaurant with special APT-designed cocktail)
- Accommodation
- Hotel (Ho Chi Minh City)
Included Activities
- Speedboat journey along Saigon River to Cu Chi tunnels
- Cu Chi tunnels visit
- Master Distiller guided tour at Lady Trieu Gin Distillery
- Private gin tasting
- Light lunch with gin and tonic
- Dinner at Vietnam House restaurant
- Special APT-designed cocktail at Vietnam House
Landmarks Cu Chi Tunnels Lady Trieu Gin Distillery - Day 7
Ho Chi Minh City to Mekong River
Pick your morning activity: a walking tour through the city's iconic landmarks and French Colonial architecture, or a motorbike ride through streets and temples. You could also do a cooking class at a villa or explore boutiques for handmade goods. After that, you'll transfer to My Tho and set sail toward Cai Be on the river. This evening brings a Vietnamese welcome dinner with regional flavors.
- Meals
- Dinner (Vietnamese welcome dinner showcasing diverse flavors from the region)
- Accommodation
- Hotel (Mekong River)
Included Activities
- Transfer to My Tho
- River cruise from My Tho toward Cai Be
- Vietnamese welcome dinner
Optional Activities
- City Walking Tour - Saigon Opera House, Central Post Office, Notre Dame Cathedral
- Motorbike ride through city streets - Central Post Office, Independence Palace, Chinatown, Thien Hau pagoda
- Cooking class at villa with market visit to discover Vietnamese ingredients
- Ho Chi Minh City Shopping Adventure - Mekong Quilts, Saigon Kitsch, L'Usine
Landmarks Saigon Opera House Central Post Office Notre Dame Cathedral Independence Palace Thien Hau Pagoda - Day 8
Cai Be to Sa Dec
Board a traditional sampan for your first Mekong outing. You'll visit Cai Be Catholic Church with its distinctive bell tower built in Roman style with four bells cast in France in 1931, making it the tallest church in the delta. The colorful port has colonial buildings and flowering gardens to explore. Rice paper and coconut candy manufacturers show you how these Vietnamese staples are made. After lunch on ship while cruising to Sa Dec, you'll walk the colorful market and see the former home of Huynh Thuy Le, connected to Marguerite Duras's novel 'The Lover'. A traditional Cao Dai temple visit comes before dinner as you cruise toward Tan Chau.
- Meals
- Lunch (Lunch on board during river cruise), Dinner (Dinner served during cruise toward Tan Chau)
- Accommodation
- Hotel (Mekong River)
Included Activities
- Traditional sampan excursion
- Cai Be Catholic Church visit
- Colorful port area exploration
- Rice paper manufacturer visit
- Coconut candy manufacturer visit
- Lunch on board during cruise
- Sa Dec market exploration on foot
- Huynh Thuy Le's former home tour
- Traditional Cao Dai temple visit
- Dinner during cruise
Landmarks Cai Be Catholic Church Sa Dec Cao Dai Temple - Day 9
Tan Chau to Cambodia
Transfer to a small boat to cruise tiny tributaries around Tan Chau past a floating fish farm. A fun rickshaw tour follows, stopping at a local silk and rattan weaving workshop. You'll experience authentic rural Mekong life on Evergreen Island, then spend the rest of the day relaxing on board taking in the views. As you cross into Cambodia, the ship heads toward Phnom Penh.
- Accommodation
- Hotel (Mekong River)
Included Activities
- Small boat cruise through tributaries around Tan Chau
- Floating fish farm visit
- Rickshaw tour
- Local silk and rattan weaving workshop visit
- Evergreen Island visit for authentic rural Mekong experience
Landmarks Tan Chau Evergreen Island - Day 10
Phnom Penh, Cambodia
This morning you have Freedom of Choice: visit the Killing Fields and Genocide Museum to learn about Cambodian history, take a cyclo through Phnom Penh, see the National Museum's Khmer sculptures with a private guide, tour the Royal Palace and Silver Pagoda completed in 1870, or visit two microbreweries. The afternoon is yours to explore Phnom Penh independently or relax back on the ship.
- Accommodation
- Hotel (Mekong River)
Optional Activities
- Killing Fields and Genocide Museum visit - Tuol Sleng Genocide Museum
- Cyclo ride through Phnom Penh's iconic sites
- National Museum visit with private guide - Khmer sculptures, art and relics
- Royal Palace and Silver Pagoda tour - official royal residence completed in 1870
- Craft brewery tour - Hops Brewery and Himawari Microbrewery
Landmarks Killing Fields Tuol Sleng Genocide Museum National Museum of Cambodia Royal Palace Silver Pagoda Hops Brewery Himawari Microbrewery - Day 11
Oudong to Oknha Tey
You'll travel to Oudong, Cambodia's royal capital from 1618 to 1866. Participate in a traditional Buddhist blessing ceremony with resident monks at a monastery. On the way back to Phnom Penh, stroll through Koh Chen village and visit home workshops making copperware. Later you'll cruise along the Mekong to Oknha Tey, known for centuries-old silk manufacturing. Walk among stilt houses and watch village women create beautiful Khmer fabrics on wooden looms, then return to the ship for dinner.
- Meals
- Dinner (Delicious onboard dinner)
- Accommodation
- Hotel (Mekong River)
Included Activities
- Journey to historic Oudong
- Traditional Buddhist blessing ceremony with monks
- Koh Chen village stroll
- Copperware workshop visits
- Cruise to Oknha Tey
- Stilt house exploration
- Traditional silk weaving observation
- Onboard dinner
Landmarks Oudong Koh Chen Oknha Tey - Day 12
Angkor Ban to Wat Hanchey
Sail to Angkor Ban and disembark to walk through this historic village. It remained untouched during the Khmer Rouge regime of the 1970s, and residents still live in traditional wooden homes preserving ancient cultural traditions. This afternoon the ship continues sailing upstream to Wat Hanchey.
- Accommodation
- Hotel (Mekong River)
Included Activities
- Walking discovery of Angkor Ban
- Village exploration
Landmarks Angkor Ban Wat Hanchey - Day 13
Wat Hanchey to Kampong Cham
If you're up for it, walk to the hilltop pagoda of Wat Hanchey for views over the Mekong, which is worth the effort. You'll explore many temples, pagodas and stupas, some dating back to the 8th century. Lunch happens on board afterward. Take a local tuk tuk around riverside Koh Pen to see village life and stilted houses, then observe various crops along shaded lanes. Tonight ends your cruise with a final farewell dinner.
- Meals
- Lunch (Lunch on board), Dinner (Final farewell dinner toasting the end of cruise)
- Accommodation
- Hotel (Mekong River)
Included Activities
- Hilltop pagoda of Wat Hanchey walk
- Temple, pagoda and stupa exploration
- Lunch on board
- Tuk tuk tour of Koh Pen riverside village
- Village life exploration
- Final farewell dinner
Landmarks Wat Hanchey Koh Pen - Day 14
Kampong Cham to Siem Reap
Disembark early at Kampong Cham and travel to Siem Reap, the gateway to Angkor Wat, passing through countryside and remote villages where rural life is visible. At your hotel you'll have lunch and relaxation time. Visit ODA, a OneTomorrow partner giving free English and computer skills to children in remote villages. Tonight you get backstage access at Phare Circus to meet performers and see a VIP performance combining acrobatics, theatre, and storytelling from Cambodian culture.
- Meals
- Lunch (Light lunch on arrival at hotel)
- Accommodation
- Hotel (Siem Reap)
Included Activities
- Early disembark at Kampong Cham
- Travel to Siem Reap through countryside and villages
- Light lunch on arrival
- Local Charity Visit - Opportunities of Development through Art (ODA)
- VIP Circus Show and Backstage Visit - Phare Circus
Landmarks Kampong Cham Opportunities of Development through Art (ODA) Phare Circus - Day 15
Angkor Wat and Angkor Thom
Rise early to watch sunrise at Angkor Wat, the world's largest religious monument, watching it shimmer in reflective ponds under brilliant orange and pink skies. A guided tour inside the temple complex and grounds follows, then late breakfast. You'll continue through the World Heritage-listed Angkor Archaeological Park exploring Angkor Thom, the 12th century Khmer capital, Bayon temple with carved stone smiling faces, the Terrace of Elephants and Terrace of the Leper King. Head to Ta Prohm with its thick jungle of fig trees and vines creating that lost world feeling famous from 'Lara Croft: Tomb Raider'. Tonight choose your Freedom of Choice dining.
- Meals
- Breakfast (Late breakfast after sunrise tour)
- Accommodation
- Hotel (Siem Reap)
Included Activities
- Sunrise at Angkor Wat
- Guided tour of Angkor Wat temple complex
- Late breakfast after sunrise tour
- Angkor Thom visit - last and most enduring Khmer Empire capital
- Bayon temple visit
- Terrace of Elephants visit
- Terrace of the Leper King visit
- Ta Prohm temple visit
Optional Activities
- Dinner at Sokkhak River Restaurant - French-Khmer fusion cuisine in gardens overlooking river
- Dinner at Mouhot's Dream - beside Sala Lake at Sofitel Angkor Phokeethra Golf & Spa Resort
- Dinner at Malis - Cambodian cuisine in garden setting overlooking Siem Reap River
- Dinner at Butterfly Pea - intimate traditional Khmer house or tropical garden
- Dinner at Fellini - authentic Italian cuisine
Landmarks Angkor Wat Angkor Thom Bayon Temple Terrace of Elephants Terrace of the Leper King Ta Prohm - Day 16
Siem Reap
Explore Siem Reap your way today. Take a private visit to Theam's Gallery to see this Cambodian artist's unique sculptures, paintings, and crafts. Have a five-course Khmer dinner with a traditional Apsara dance performance and live musicians. Or pick from multiple Freedom of Choice options: a tuk tuk ride to Senteurs d'Angkor handicraft workshop, quad biking through countryside and forgotten temples, cycling through rice paddies and villages, a horse and cart ride into rural Cambodia, a Khmer cooking class at farm-to-table Lum Orng, shopping at the Angkor Handicraft Association, or a traditional Khmer massage.
- Meals
- Dinner (Five-course Khmer dinner at Theam's Gallery with traditional Apsara dance performance and live musicians)
- Accommodation
- Hotel (Siem Reap)
Included Activities
- Private visit to Theam's Gallery
- Five-course Khmer dinner at gallery
- Traditional Apsara dance performance with live musicians
Optional Activities
- Tuk tuk ride to Senteurs d'Angkor handicraft workshop - observe artisans, contemporary designs inspired by Khmer knowledge
- Quad bike adventure through Cambodian countryside - off-road tracks, rice fields, forgotten temples, local communities
- Bicycle tour through rice paddies and villages - quiet back trails, local rural life
- Horse and cart ride through rural Cambodia - hand-made cart, varied terrain, beautiful countryside
- Khmer cooking class at Lum Orng farm-to-table restaurant - market visit, prepare New Mekong cuisine
- Siem Reap shopping adventure at Angkor Handicraft Association - handmade goods, traditional techniques, Fair-Trade Village
- Khmer massage - 60-minute oil-free massage using acupressure and muscular stretching
Landmarks Theam's Gallery Senteurs d'Angkor Lum Orng Angkor Handicraft Association - Day 17
Siem Reap to Departure
Bid farewell to Siem Reap after breakfast. Transfer to Siem Reap-Angkor International Airport for your onward flight.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Breakfast
- Transfer to Siem Reap-Angkor International Airport
Landmarks Siem Reap-Angkor International Airport
