Siem Reap, Fascinating Vietnam Cambodia Mekong 2019 ex Siem Reap to Ho Chi Minh

7 Night Cruise sailing from Siem Reap to Ho Chi Minh aboard Avalon Siem Reap. Hotel stays in Siem Reap pre-cruise and Ho Chi Minh post-cruise.

• Departs: Monday, 16th December 2019
• Ship: Avalon Siem Reap
• Cruise line: Avalon Waterways
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7 Night Cruise sailing from Siem Reap to Ho Chi Minh aboard Avalon Siem Reap. Hotel stays in Siem Reap pre-cruise and Ho Chi Minh post-cruise.

DAY 1 SIEM REAP, CAMBODIA.
Welcome to Siem Reap, home to the Temples of Angkor, considered by many to be the most spectacular architectural ruins on Earth! Hotel rooms are available for mid-afternoon check-in.

DAY 2 SIEM REAP.
The Tranquil Temples of Angkor and Joyful Dances. CLASSIC - Explore the temples by tuk-tuk. Start at the best preserved and most famous of all the temples: Angkor Wat. Featuring five trademark towers, it is the symbol of Cambodia. Then, continue your Guided Excursion to visit Angkor Thom, where you will explore Bayon Temple with its 200 striking faces carved in 54 towers and impressive bas relief sculptures, OR: ACTIVE - Visit Angkor Wat, Angkor Thom, and Bayon Temple by bike. Enjoy some time at your leisure this afternoon to explore Siem Reap's shops for local artisan crafts. DISCOVERY - This evening, a private Apsara Dance Performance brings ancient Khmer culture to life through music, song, and dance. (B,L,D)

DAY 3 SIEM REAP.
Root-Covered Ruins and Native Noodles. CLASSIC - Continue your Sightseeing Tour of the Angkor temples at Ta Prohm. Tree roots cover the ruin walls, allowing you to experience the temple with the same wonder as early explorers. Then visit Banteay Srei, a unique temple built on a small scale from red sandstone, which can be carved like wood. En route, stop at a village famous for making Khmer noodles by hand. Spend the afternoon at your leisure. (B)

DAY 4 SIEM REAP-PHNOM PENH (EMBARKATION).
Your intimate Suite Ship Awaits! Fly to Phnom Penh and transfer to the port where your ship's crew will be waiting to welcome you onboard. Get acquainted with the ship and relax before your welcome reception this evening. AFTERNOON/EVENING CRUISE TO WAT HANCHEY (B,L,D)

DAY 5 WAT HANCHEY-ANGKOR BAN.
Water Blessings and Back-to-School Adventures. DISCOVERY - Visit Wat Hanchey, a hilltop temple dating back to the 8th century. Climb or be driven to the top where you will enjoy stunning views of the surrounding area and partake in a traditional water blessing given by local monks. DISCOVERY - After lunch, enjoy a Walking Tour through the rural village of Angkor Ban. Here, you will visit a traditional Khmer house and interact with children at a local school. EVENING/OVERNIGHT CRUISE TO KAMPONG TRALACH (B,L,D)

DAY 6 KAMPONG TRALACH-KONPONG LOUANG.
Calm in the Cambodian Countryside. DISCOVERY - Your Guided Sightseeing starts in Kampong Tralach with an Ox-Cart Ride through the beautiful Cambodian countryside. Along the way, stop to meet a local farmer and learn about his daily life. At the silversmith village in Konpong Louang, see talented craftsmen use age-old techniques to turn pure silver into works of art. Sail to the capital city of Phnom Penh this afternoon. PHNOM PENH: Shining a Light on a Dark History. CLASSIC - After lunch, a Visit to the Tuol Sleng Genocide Museum and one of the Killing Fields provides a glimpse into the atrocities inflicted on the Cambodian people by the Khmer Rouge regime. This evening, spend some free time exploring the city on your own. Perhaps follow the riverfront promenade to the historic Foreign Correspondents Club (FCC). (B,L,D)

DAY 7 PHNOM PENH.
Bonjour! French Charm in Cambodia. CLASSIC - Join a Guided Tour of the city by private cyclo with visits to the Royal Palace with the spectacular Silver Pagoda, and the National Museum featuring an outstanding display of Khmer artifacts. The remainder of the day is yours to enjoy at your leisure. Consider a Guided Optional Tour of a local brewery with free-flowing local beer! Just before dinner, children from a local orphanage will perform a show, featuring local song and dance. EVENING/OVERNIGHT CRUISE TO VIETNAM/CAMBODIA BORDER (B,L,D)

DAY 8 BORDER CROSSING-CHAU DOC, VIETNAM.
Good Morning, Vietnam! DISCOVERY - Take a Village Walk through the Chau Doc market, and absorb the atmosphere as locals are busy buying and selling fish, meat, and produce. After lunch, embark on a Guided Excursion down the backwaters of the Mekong. Along the way, see traditional floating homes, speedboat merchants, religious sites, a market selling dried goods, and more. EVENING CRUISE TO LONG KHANH A (B,L,D)

DAY 9 LONG KHANH A-CU LAO GIENG.
Cotton Weavers & Sampan Makers. DISCOVERY - This morning, a sampan brings you to the village of Long Khanh A, for a Cotton- Weaving Demonstration of this wellpreserved tradition. DISCOVERY - This afternoon, enjoy scenes of daily life along the river near Cu Lao Gieng via sampan. Join a Guided Excursion to a local home, where a skilled family hand-crafts sampan boats. Then, ride a motor cart to one of Vietnam's oldest churches for a special interaction with a catholic priest. EVENING CRUISE TO BEN TRE (B,L,D)

DAY 10 BEN TRE.
Sweets and Sampans. DISCOVERY - Board a sampan this morning and Visit a Local Workshop in Ben Tre to see how rice paper, rice wine, and traditional candies are made. Continue on to a local garden, where several types of fruit indigenous to the area are grown. This afternoon, enjoy time on board the ship as we sail to exciting Ho Chi Minh City. AFTERNOON CRUISE TO HO CHI MINH CITY (B,L,D)

DAY 11 HO CHI MINH CITY (DISEMBARKATION).
Motorbikes, Monuments, and Mouthwatering Cuisine. CLASSIC - Take a Walking Tour of Ho Chi Minh City's historic landmarks, including a stop at the Rex Hotel for a refreshing drink at the rooftop bar where the U.S. Military held the infamous "Five O'Clock Follies" during the war. Then, visit the War Remnants Museum and bustling Ben Thanh Market. DISCOVERY - For lunch, participate in a hands-on Vietnamese Cooking Class. Learn to prepare several local dishes and how to recreate them at home. Last, but not least, sample your delicious creations! Enjoy time at your leisure this afternoon and evening for independent exploration. Maybe stop for a drink at the famous rooftop bar at the Caravelle Hotel. (B,L)

DAY 12 HO CHI MINH CITY. EXCURSION TO CU CHI TUNNELS.
Secret Passageways and Underground Hideouts. CLASSIC - Drive out of the city for a Guided Visit to the Cu Chi Tunnels-an extraordinary network of tunnels more than 193 kilometres (120 miles) in length-used as a hideout and secret village by the Viet Cong. Explore the city further during free time this afternoon. This evening, join your travelling companions for a special dinner in a local restaurant. (B,D)

DAY 13 HO CHI MINH CITY.
Your holiday ends with breakfast this morning. (B)