On arrival at the airport in Ho Chi Minh City, you’ll meet your local guide who will assist with your transfer to your centrally-located hotel. The rest of the day is yours free to relax and begin your adjustment to the local time zone.

Head out of town with your guide to explore the Cu Chi Tunnels. Cu Chi is actually the name of the district that covers an extensive underground network of tunnels (approx. 200 km / 125 mi) dug initially by the Viet Minh, and later expanded by the Viet Cong. The tunnels contained hospitals, accommodations, and schools. They were used extensively for refuge and storage, and also as a military base for the Viet Cong close to Saigon. The 1968 Tet Offensive was launched from Cu Chi with surprising effect. A section of the tunnels has been widened to allow tourists to get a feel for what life underground must have been like.

After, return to Ho Chi Minh City where you spend the afternoon exploring Saigon’s historic landmarks, including the Reunification Palace and its striking modern architecture, the War Remnants Museum, and the Notre Dame Cathedral. This visit allows you to admire many French colonial buildings such as the main post office and the former Hotel de Ville (city hall). Return to your hotel in the late afternoon.

You’ll have some free time in the morning before your transfer to the pier where you board the Toum Tiou boat and embark on a cruise through the Mekong Delta and along the Mekong River to Cambodia. Enjoy a refreshing welcome drink and a briefing on the cruise. This will be followed by a delicious welcome dinner.

The Toum Tiou is a mid-range passenger boat with a low draft giving it the ability to access the more remote villages that see very few travelers and without western influences. The boat was designed with passenger privacy, comfort, and safety in mind. Each of the 10 double cozy cabins are about 130 square feet with a large panoramic window for clear views of the river and include a private bathroom, a/c, mini-safe, spacious closet, and hair-dryer.

While enjoying a hearty breakfast, the boat will navigate the canal of Cho Gao to My Tho. Here, the boat drops anchor in the proximity of Thoi Son Island. Local boats will pull up alongside the main boat to pick you up and transfer you to the mainland. Spend some time exploring Vinh Trang Pagoda by vehicle and enjoy a short panoramic tour of My Tho and a local market.

Return to the main boat and continue cruising to Cai Be while having lunch. On arrival in Cai Be, you’ll take another local boat to the floating market and surrounding areas. Next, stop in Vinh Long (Majestic Dragon), located right in the heart of the Delta, between two arms of the Mekong. Here, you’ll visit a brick and pottery factory, the Binh Hoa Phuoc Islet fruit tree nursery, and a typical home with traditional farm tools on display. Return to the boat for dinner and overnight. The boat sets sail for Sa Dec.

After breakfast, visit the Trung Vuong primary school before continuing on to Kien An Cung Pagoda. You’ll take a stroll around the Sa Dec Market along the riverbank. This small city is home to 30,000 people and is quite fascinating. It receives few tourists and therefore is a great place to get insight into the daily lives of those who make the Mekong Delta their home.

You’ll then return to the boat and head for Chau Doc while enjoying lunch on board. On arrival in Chau Doc, you’ll board a local boat and visit the fish farms and a minority village. Time permitting, watch the sunset on the Sam Mountain (777 ft) and visit the Lady Chua Xu Temple and Tay An Pagoda.

Return to the boat for dinner and overnight.

The boat departs early in the morning for Vinh Xuong at the Vietnamese border while you have breakfast. On arrival at Vinh Xuong check-point, you’ll clear formalities and cross into Cambodia. After lunch on board, you’ll arrive in Phnom Penh, which translates to “Penh’s Hill”, and enjoy some time in the capital. Dinner and overnight will be on board the boat.

Today’s land excursion in Phnom Penh takes you on a visit to the Royal Palace, Silver Pagoda, and the Russian Market. Return to the boat for lunch and then you’ll have the remainder of the day for free exploration on own.

While not the most uplifting destination, we suggest visiting Toul Sleng, the old detention center where torture and executions took place between 1975 and 1979. A visit to this place is essential to understanding what could be the sheer madness perpetrated by the Khmer Rouge.

Return to the boat around 7:00 pm where you have the treat of watching a traditional “Apsara” performance. Dinner and overnight onboard the boat.

Today the boat navigates its way to Koh Chen, where you take a land excursion to a village of craftsmen that specialize in silver-making. Around 11:30am, return to the boat for lunch and continue on to Kampong Tralach. Here, you’ll visit the village’s wonderful Vihara belonging to Wat Kampong Tralach Leu Pagoda. To get there, you’ll cross Kampong Tralach Krom village along a small road perpendicular to the river, passing some gorgeous stretches of emerald rice paddy as you leave the river behind. The Vihara dates back to early 20th century but was probably built on an older site, as indicated by the latérite foundations. The Pagoda is home to some outstanding mural paintings, though they are starting to suffer from weathering. You return to the boat around 6:00pm for dinner while the boat drops anchor a few miles away.

The boat sets sail early this morning to Kampong Chnang while you have breakfast. Located some 56 miles from Phnom Penh, this town is one of the largest fishing ports on the Tonle Sap Lake and is famous for its pottery. The pottery methods they use have been unchanged for many centuries, and this area supplies the entire country with pottery. In addition, the area is known for producing products of the Thnot tree (sugar palm), a mellow tasting caramel-colored sugar sold in large cakes and palm wine.

Return to the boat for lunch while the boat sails to Chnok Tru. Here, you’ll take a local boat to visit this remote village, which is overlooked by most tourists due to its inaccessibility. The village is completely self-sufficient with its own floating school, church, pagoda, gas stations, stores, bar, police station, and even factories to make ice and keep the fresh fish cold. You’ll return to the boat, which drops anchor nearby, while you enjoy a farewell cocktail with the Captain followed by dinner.

NOTE: The visit to Chnok Tru is only available during the high water season, which runs from July to December. Cruises operating between January and June will not visit Chnok Tru and just spend more time relaxing aboard the boat.

HIGH WATER SEASON SCHEDULE: After breakfast, you’ll have some time to pack your bags and relax while crossing the Tonle Sap Lake to the Phnom Krom Pier. You’ll say good-bye to the boat crew and meet up with your local guide who will assist with the transfer to your centrally located hotel in Siem Reap.

LOW WATER SEASON SCHEDULE: After breakfast, a chartered speedboat will meet the boat passengers and take you across the lake to the Chnok Tru floating village. You’ll continue on to the Phnom Krom Pier and meet your local guide who will assist with the transfer to your centrally located hotel in Siem Reap.

In the evening, you’ll enjoy an Apsara Dance performance.

In the morning, your guide will meet you at the hotel and take you on a tour to discover the famous temple of Angkor Wat. This temple was dedicated to the Hindu god Vishnu by King Suryavarman II in the 12th century. It illustrates some of the most beautiful examples of Khmer and Hindu art and features the longest continuous bas-relief in the world, which runs along the outer gallery walls narrating stories from Hindu mythology.

In the afternoon, you’ll visit 10th-century temple, Banteay Srei “the jewel of Khmer art.” This small pink sandstone temple, also known as “the Citadel of Women,” contains some remarkable carved lintels in very good condition. On the way back to the hotel, visit the ancient Ta Prohm Monastery “Jungle Temple” where immense roots have taken hold of the stones. Here you’ll find some beautifully sculpted Devatas. Lunch and dinner will be on your own.

In the morning, leave by tuk-tuk for the northern end of Angkor to visit Preah Khan Temple, built by Jayavarman VII in 1191 in honor of his father. Of the same era is Neak Pean, an artificial island known as the “entwined serpents.” The large central basin is linked with four smaller ones representing the four great rivers emerging from the earth’s four cardinal points. Of particular interest is the superb statue of Balaha, which represents the legendary savior of shipwrecked boats.

Continuing your exploration of Angkor, you’ll visit the 12th-century temples – Thommanon Temple and Chau Say Tevoda. Both were constructed under the reign of Suryavarman II and feature beautifully sculpted images honoring Shiva and Vishnu. In the afternoon, visit the great city of Angkor Thom, beginning at the southern gate’s famous Bayon temple, which was built in the 12th century and dedicated to Buddhism. Bayon consists of 54 gigantic towers featuring 216 smiling faces of Avalokitesvara.

Next, visit the 1150 foot long Elephant Terrace, used as a giant reviewing stand for public ceremonies and a base for the King’s grand audience hall, followed by the 12th century Terrace of the Leper King. This structure represents many of the city’s most admired Apsara sculptures.

After breakfast, transfer to the airport for your onward flight. Or, perhaps add on a few days relaxing on the beach at Sihanoukville or one of Thailand’s many beautiful beaches. Check-out time from the hotel is 12:00 pm.