Magnificent Mekong - Ho Chi Minh City to Hanoi - Viking River Cruises - tcm:37-24177

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Price from: for 15 Days

Fly to Ho Chi Minh City, formerly known as Saigon, then transfer to your hotel.* Check in for a 2-night stay and then relax or take a walk to stretch your legs and begin getting acquainted with the city.

After breakfast, check out of your hotel and proceed to My Tho to embark your ship. As you settle in to your stateroom, we begin sailing along the Mekong River. This afternoon we visit the floating markets of Cái Bè where you see local workers producing rice noodles, coconut candy and a host of other handmade products. This evening, meet the ship’s officers over a welcome cocktail, and enjoy a screening of the film l’Amant (the Lover) which will prepare you for tomorrow’s visit to Sa Dec. (B, L, D)

This morning, enjoy an exciting sampan boat excursion along the canals and backwaters of the Mekong Delta. Small factories line the river channels here; see local workers producing rice noodles, coconut candy and a host of other products, usually in a traditional manner, mostly with manual labor. Stop in Sa Dec to see the home of Mr. Huynh Thuy Le, the protagonist in Marguerite Duras’s beloved autobiographic novel, l’Amant.

Later this afternoon, visit Cu Lao Gien Island where you see the monastery of St. Paul of Chartres, built in 1875 and later known as “la Providence.” Once a thriving mission with an orphanage, a hospital to treat leprosy victims, a school and a hospice, it serves today as a retreat for some 180 retired nuns. This evening, attend an onboard screening of the 2002 film The Quiet American, based on Graham Greene’s novel set in 1952 Saigon. (B, L, D)

Begin your morning with a tour of the busy riverside port of Châu Ðôc riding a trishaw. Afterwards, board a small boat to visit a Cham tribal village. Descended from an ancient Malay-Polynesian empire that arrived in Southeast Asia during the 1st and 2nd centuries B.C., the Champa people competed with the Khmer for dominance of the area. Observe village life and visit a catfish farm.

Return aboard for lunch and scenic cruising along the Mekong; this afternoon we cross over into Cambodia. Onboard activities include a fruit-carving workshop and a presentation about the history of Vietnam. This evening we screen the 1984 film The Killing Fields. (B, L, D)

Dock along the lovely waterfront of Cambodia’s capital and explore the city in style, in a cyclo—the ubiquitous passenger bicycles of Southeast Asia. This mode of transportation provides many Cambodians with a source of income and visitors with a speedy and enjoyable way to move around. See the magnificent Royal Palace with the Silver Pagoda, built in the 19th century by the French but inspired by the centuries-old architecture of the Khmer. The National Museum of Cambodia houses treasures of Khmer art and craftsmanship and also displays art that predates the mighty empire.

This afternoon, join an excursion to the sobering memorial in the Tuol Sleng detention center, a former high school in which thousands of victims of the murderous Khmer Rouge regime died, and the Killing Fields of Choeung Ek, or explore the city’s maze of small alleys, markets and busy streets on your own if you prefer. Tonight’s dinner is accompanied by a folkloric performance. (B, L, D)

Today, enjoy scenic cruising along the Mekong, one of the world’s great rivers. The Mekong is truly the Mother River of Southeast Asia, sustaining civilizations through the centuries. Pass by some of the Mekong rice fields—the Khmer empire was founded on a rice surplus and rice is still the main staple of Vietnamese cuisine. We stop to visit Chong Koh, a Khmer river community, and the village of Peam Chi Kang along the way. There will also be a film on board about the Mekong River and Angkor Wat. (B, L, D)

You will visit the hilltop temple of Wat Hanchey this morning, which affords stunning views of the Mekong River. The temple itself dates back to the 8th century and it is surrounded by smaller religious monuments dotting the hillsides. After lunch, visit the twin holy mountains of Phnom Pros and Phnom Srey with their many temples and pagodas, still used during traditional Khmer festivals. Continue to the ecotourism village of Choeungkok, supported by the French–Cambodian Amica organization. (B, L, D)

Bid farewell to your ship this morning as your cruise through Vietnam and Cambodia comes to an end. Disembark in Kampong Thom, then take a ride through the Cambodian countryside to Siem Reap. Check in to your hotel for a 3-night stay. Tonight’s dinner is accompanied by a traditional Apsara dance show. (B, D)

Siem Reap is the gateway to Angkor, a UNESCO World Heritage Site and one of the most important archeological sites in the world. Begin your day with a visit to one of Angkor’s largest Khmer temples, Angkor Wat, built for King Suryavarman II in the 12th century A.D. With its beautiful proportions and extensive, intricate bas-relief stone carvings, it is one of the most spectacular sights in Southeast Asia. You also visit the mysterious Bayon Temple, known for its giant, stone carved faces with their enigmatic smiles. Journey to Ta Prohm, one of the most popular of the temples of Angkor. Unlike many other buildings, it has been largely left intact as it was when discovered, with trees and large shrubs growing over the ruins. Relax this evening. (B, D)

This morning, check out of your hotel and spend some time learning how local crafts are alive and well in present-day Siem Reap. Start with a visit to a rural silk farm, set amongst mulberry groves, which produces some of the country’s finest silk. Proceed to a vocational center that trains 650 young apprentices every year in the traditional crafts of stone sculpture, wood carving and painting; then take a guided tour through Artisans d’Angkor, a network of studios for the newly trained craftspeople. This afternoon, take a short flight to Hanoi; check in to your hotel for a 2-night stay and relax over dinner. (B, D)

This morning, tour this unique Asian capital where old and new combine for an inviting blend in a lush setting of parks and lakes. Visit the Temple of Literature, a maze of courtyards and graceful gateways, an excellent example of traditional Vietnamese architecture. Proceed to the 11th-century One Pillar Pagoda, one of Vietnam’s most iconic temples, and the nearby Ho Chi Minh Memorial, a vast complex dedicated to the country’s 20th-century Communist leader. You will also see the notorious “Hanoi Hilton,” the facility where American POWs were held captive during the Vietnam War.

This afternoon, visit the Museum of Ethnology, with its numerous fascinating exhibits that bring Vietnam’s history and culture to life. Enjoy some free time this afternoon to explore Hanoi on your own before gathering for a festive farewell dinner. (B, D)