Vietnam & Cambodia Luxury Tour

Welcome to Hanoi, Vietnam’s bustling capital, known for its colonial architecture and rich cultural heritage. Your driver and guide will meet you outside the baggage claim area at Noi Bai International Airport and transfer you to your hotel in the city center.

Meals: N/A

Accommodation: Hotel in Hanoi

Today, enjoy a full day exploring Vietnam’s charming capital. With its tree-lined boulevards, French colonial architecture, peaceful lakes, and ancient pagodas, Hanoi offers a fascinating blend of cultures, history, and traditions.

Your city tour will take you to some of Hanoi’s key attractions, including the Ho Chi Minh Complex, featuring Ho Chi Minh’s Mausoleum and stilt house; the nearby One Pillar Pagoda; the Presidential Palace; the Temple of Literature; Quan Thanh Temple; Tran Quoc Pagoda and West Lake; and one of the city’s museums, with a choice between Hoa Lo Prison and the Vietnam Museum of Ethnology.

Next, enjoy a one-hour cyclo ride around the Old Quarter, where you can experience the lively atmosphere of Hanoi’s historic streets. In the evening, watch a traditional water puppet performance, a unique Vietnamese art form rooted in the country’s wet-rice culture. End the day with a welcome dinner featuring authentic Vietnamese cuisine at one of Hanoi’s finest restaurants.

Meals: B, D

Accommodation: Hotel in Hanoi

Arrive in Hanoi in the early morning, where your guide and driver will meet you at the railway station and take you to a local restaurant for breakfast. Afterwards, set out on a 3- to 4-hour drive to Ha Long Bay, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Enjoy a 24-hour cruise aboard a traditional junk through this spectacular bay, a natural wonderland of towering limestone islands and sparkling turquoise waters. Arrive at the dock around noon and board your junk.

Savor a gourmet lunch featuring fresh seafood onboard as you sail into the enchanting bay. In the afternoon, cruise among some of Ha Long Bay’s many islands, including Dinh Huong and Ga Choi. Along the way, visit one of the bay’s three largest caves: Thien Cung, Dau Go, or Sung Sot. Stop at an island cove with a sheltered white-sand beach and take a dip in the warm waters of the Gulf of Tonkin, weather permitting. Spend the night aboard your junk, lulled to sleep by the gentle rocking of the calm waters.

Meals: B, L, D

Accommodation: On Halong Cruise

Wake up early to participate in a Tai Chi session on the top deck, or simply relax and enjoy the sunrise over the bay’s towering islands. Enjoy a morning cup of coffee or tea before setting out to explore the nearby islands by rowboat.

Return to the junk for breakfast, then relax on the sundeck and admire the spectacular rock formations of Bai Tu Long Bay as the boat cruises back to Ha Long City. Enjoy brunch on board before returning to Ha Long Pier. Your driver will meet you at the dock and transfer you to Noi Bai International Airport in Hanoi for your flight to Siem Reap. Upon arrival, your guide and driver will meet you and transfer you to your hotel.

Meals: Br

Accommodation: Hotel in Siemreap

After breakfast, visit the Angkor Wat complex. This architectural masterpiece was constructed in the 12th century and covers an area of approximately 210 hectares. Stroll around this magnificent complex, exploring its many galleries, columns, libraries, pavilions, courtyards, and ponds that reflect the towering temple. You will then participate in a Buddhist blessing ceremony conducted by a senior monk at a temple within the Angkor Wat complex. This traditional ceremony is intended to ward off bad luck and bring happiness, good fortune, and success in your travels in Cambodia, as well as in life, love, and business.

In the afternoon, explore the wondrous ancient ruins of Angkor Thom, beginning at the South Gate, famous for its series of colossal stone-carved faces. Continue to the impressive Bayon Temple, the Royal Enclosure, Phimeanakas, the Terrace of the Elephants, and the Terrace of the Leper King.

Tonight, enjoy a special Apsara dance performance at your hotel, featuring traditional Cambodian Khmer dancers.

Meals: B, D

Accommodation: Hotel in Siemreap

After breakfast at the hotel, visit Hariharalaya, an ancient Khmer civilization site that flourished in the late 9th and early 10th centuries. These are among the earliest temples in the Angkor area and are collectively known as the Roluos Group. Enjoy lunch at a local house with villagers.

After lunch, continue to Banteay Srei, a beautifully preserved temple renowned for its intricate carvings. Before returning to the hotel, visit Preah Khan Temple. Built by King Jayavarman VII, Preah Khan, like Ta Prohm, features towered enclosures and corridors draped with tree roots. Unlike Ta Prohm, however, Preah Khan remains in relatively good condition, and ongoing restoration efforts are helping to preserve and improve the site.

Meals: B

Accommodation: Hotel in Siem Reap

Tonle Sap, also known as the Great Lake, is the lifeblood of Cambodia, sustaining the nation and its people. It supports an abundant fish population and is home to an incredible variety of bird species, including rare and endangered birds.

At 12:00 noon, gather at the meeting point before a short transfer to the boutique ship. The ever-smiling crew will welcome you with genuine warmth and hospitality. Enjoy a refreshing welcome drink, followed by a sumptuous lunch on board. Spend a relaxing afternoon as the ship glides gently along the water. Dinner will be served in the dining hall. Later, head to the sun deck to enjoy a spectacular evening beneath the moonlight and a sky filled with stars.

The ship will moor overnight on the river or lake.

Meals: B, L, D

Accommodation: Cruise

Each day begins with an invigorating Tai Chi session on the sun deck as the sun slowly rises. Coffee and tea are available for early risers. Before dawn, the ship sets sail across Tonle Sap Lake. As it approaches the lake’s exit, admire the spectacular wetlands stretching along the riverbanks of Kampong Chhnang Province.

In the afternoon, the cruise continues with a leisurely journey along the Tonle River, which narrows as it winds through lush stretches of Southeast Asian jungle. Along the way, local children greet us enthusiastically, waving from the riverbanks. After a short bus ride, visit Aundaung Russey Village to discover traditional Khmer-style pottery. Then embark on a memorable motorboat excursion from Kampong Chhnang to explore the region’s wetlands, floating houses, and fish farms before reaching Kampong Cham in the evening.

Further downstream, take part in an ox-cart ride before learning about Heritage Line’s pro bono literacy project.

Meals: B, L, D

Accommodation: Kampong Cham

We will rise in the early hours of the morning, ready to embark on a land excursion to the pre-Angkorian temple of Wat Hanchey. Visitors can either take a motor-taxi or climb 291 steps to reach the top. Perched on a hill overlooking the river, the temple offers one of the most breathtaking views in Cambodia. Built in the 8th century, this ancient structure, together with a larger, more recent addition, showcases the remarkable architecture of the Chenla Empire, which predates the mighty Angkor temple complex. You will also have the opportunity to exchange a few friendly words with local monks.

Return to the ship to witness a blessing ceremony performed by local monks dressed in orange robes.

When the tide permits, enjoy a surprise excursion in Zodiacs (inflatable boats) to a nearby riverbank, where you can swim in the tea-colored waters of the Mekong River. This memorable experience is sure to become a highlight of your journey. The cruise will then continue towards Kampong Cham, where you will visit Wat Nokor, a Buddhist temple built within the ruins of an ancient temple complex steeped in history. On the way back to the ship, visit an orphanage. Along the way, you will cross a rickety, 2-kilometer bamboo bridge, putting your sense of balance to the test.

Overnight on the river near Phnom Penh.

Meals: B, L, D

Accommodation: Cruise

Phnom Penh was once known as the Paris of the East. Despite its rapid development, the city has retained much of its rustic charm and elegance. After breakfast, attend an informative presentation on Cambodia’s modern history. This will be followed by a city tour of Cambodia’s vibrant and historic capital, which still preserves much of its French colonial heritage.

Morning sightseeing includes visits to the Royal Palace, with its dazzling white and gold architecture, and the Silver Pagoda, followed by a visit to the National Museum to admire its exceptional collection of Khmer art and craftsmanship.

After lunch at a local restaurant, visit the Genocide Museum and the Killing Fields. These sites offer a sobering reminder of the atrocities committed during the Khmer Rouge regime and provide an opportunity to reflect on this tragic chapter of Cambodia’s history.

Return to the ship after your visits. Enjoy a selection of cocktails, followed by a traditional Apsara dance performance on board. Immerse yourself in the richness of Cambodian culture, accompanied by the soothing sounds of traditional music and the gentle fragrance of incense. The evening concludes with a barbecue dinner on the sun deck, where you can dine under the stars and moonlight.

Overnight in Phnom Penh.

Meals: B, L, D

Accommodation: Cruise

The cruise ship then sets sail for a relaxing day of cruising along the main Mekong Channel. As this is an international shipping route, you will see large commercial vessels navigating these waters. Later in the afternoon, the ship heads towards the Vietnamese border for the required cross-border formalities. As the process may take some time, relax on the sun deck and soak up the afternoon sunshine, indulge in a spa treatment, or sharpen your culinary skills by joining Heritage Line’s Cambodian and Vietnamese cooking class.

The ship moors midstream overnight.

Meals: B, L, D

Accommodation: Cruise

This morning, begin your excursion aboard a local boat (sampan) to discover the border town of Tan Chau. First, visit the “evergreen” islands, where you will gain fascinating insights into the daily lives of local residents.

The inhabitants of these islands live in houses built on high stilts, a centuries-old tradition in this part of the Mekong Delta. Stop to visit a fish farm along the Tan Chau Canal, where floating houses serve as homes and workplaces for villagers who make their living by farming fish.

Continue by boat to Tan Chau Pier, where you will disembark and stroll through the vibrant local market, featuring a wide variety of regional products. After exploring the market, return to the cruise ship.

Meals: B, L, D

Accommodation: On Cruise

In the morning, embark on a traditional sampan, a flat-bottomed Vietnamese wooden boat, to explore Binh Thanh Island and its man-made canals. Here, villagers are involved in every stage of transforming water hyacinths into natural-fibre floor mats and rattan baskets.

After lunch on board, the ship arrives in Cai Be. Begin your excursion with a visit to Cai Be’s lively and colorful floating market, where traders gather to exchange their goods. During the leisurely boat ride, admire the beautiful river landscapes and experience the traditional way of life in the Mekong Delta. The lush islands along the Mekong River remain relatively undiscovered by many visitors.

The cruise will make several stops to observe the production of rice paste, rice cookies, and coconut candies, as well as the process of drying longan fruit. After exploring the canals, visit an ancient house surrounded by fruit orchards before returning to the ship for dinner.

Later, enjoy a peaceful evening cruise towards My Tho. A wonderful farewell party awaits you on the terrace deck.

Overnight in My Tho.

Meals: B, L, D

Accommodation: On Cruise

Our magnificent cruise ship makes its way to My Tho, approximately 70 km south of Saigon, along the upper Mekong River in Vietnam. As our journey comes to an end, we bid farewell to the ship, taking with us cherished memories and friendships that will last long after the cruise.

Disembark at around 8:30 a.m. and transfer to the bustling city of Saigon. Drop-off will be at the designated meeting point in the city.

Upon arrival, enjoy a city tour featuring some of the city’s most famous landmarks, including the former Presidential Palace, the Central Post Office, Notre-Dame Cathedral, Cho Lon (Chinatown), and Thien Hau Pagoda. You will also visit the War Remnants Museum, one of the city’s most popular tourist attractions, renowned for its extensive collection of artifacts from the Vietnam War. An optional visit to Thanh Market is available this afternoon.

Overnight at a comfortable hotel in Ho Chi Minh City.

Meals: B, L

Accommodation: Hotel in Ho Chi Minh City

Today is free for you to explore Ho Chi Minh City at your own pace.

Meals: B

Accommodation: Hotel in Ho Chi Minh City

Enjoy free time at your leisure until it is time to transfer to the airport for your departure flight home. Have a safe and pleasant journey!

Meals: B

Accommodation: N/A