Riviera Travel Vietnam, Cambodia & Hidden Treasures of the Mekong

• Enjoy a memorable performance by the Cambodian Phare Circus
• Marvel at the temples of Angkor Wat
• Take a guided tour of Phnom Penh
• Explore Ho Chi Minh

• Return flights and transfers
• 5-6nts in 5* hotels
• 7nts onboard the Victory Mekong
• Full board dining onboard cruise
• Daily breakfasts in hotels
• Selected drinks on board
• 19 experiences
• Services of an expert Riviera Tour Manager throughout

Day 1: Travel to Ho Chi Minh City
Travel to the airport for an overnight flight to Ho Chi Minh City

Day 2: Arrival in Vietnam
On arrival, transfer to your hotel. The rest of the day is free for you to relax or being exploring the city independently.

Day 3: Ho Chi Minh City
This morning, take a tour of the city. The first port of call is Vinh Nghiem Pagoda, a popular Buddhist Temple. Then, continue to the War Remnant Museum. Head to the Reunification Palace later on before visiting the Opera House and Central Post Office to admire the French Colonial architecture

Day 4: Cu Chi Tunnels
Visit the famous Cu Chi Tunnels, an underground network stretching for 124 miles that were used by the Vietcong during the war. After the tour, return to the hotel for an afternoon and evening at leisure.

Day 5: Board the Victoria Mekong
Leave the city behind and head towards the immense Mekong Delta. Stop at the riverside town of Cai Be for lunch before continuing to Can Tho. On arrival, board your cruise ship, the Victoria Mekong. You’ll have time to settle into your cabin before being treated to a Vietnamese folk music performance, known as Do Ca Tai Tu, before a delicious buffet dinner.

Day 6: Long Xuyen & Tiger Island
After breakfast onboard, visit the Long Xuyen floating market on a traditional boat called a sampan. Return to the ship for lunch, sailing to Tiger Island. Disembark by sampan and visit one of the cottage industries here. Then continue to Tiger Island itself to enjoy a walking tour, visiting a site known locally as ‘Mr Tiger’s Temple’. Rejoin the ship for a cocktail competition and dinner, followed by an evening of entertainment.

Day 7: Phu Tan & Tan Chau
Spend the morning sailing towards Phu Tan. On arrival, tender ashore to a village famed for its Ca Rang clay stoves, used for hundreds of years in South Vietnam. Enjoy lunch on the boat before spending the afternoon visiting more attractions along the river, including a floating fish farm. See a traditional Vietnamese lion dance before dinner.

Day 8: Cruise to Phnom Penh
Relax today, with a whole day of sailing ahead of you to reach the Vietnam-Cambodia border. Once across the border, arrive in the capital of Phnom Penh. The ship moors here overnight, giving you the chance to explore the city before enjoying a Khmer Apsara dance performance.

Day 9: Explore Phnom Penh
Begin your exploration of Phnom Penh with a tour on a three-wheeled cyclo. Your first stop is the Royal Palace and Silver Pagoda complex, where you can admire the 5,000 silver tiles that give it its name. Then, visit the National Museum. After lunch on board the ship, head outside the city to visit Choeung Ek, one of the mass graves of Killing Fields. After some time at the memorial, you’ll head to Raffles Hotel Le Royal for a cocktail in the famed Elephant Bar. Return to the ship for dinner as it sails to Koh Chen.

Day 10: Koh Chen & Koh Dach
In the morning, take a walking tour of Kok Chen, meeting its famed silver and copper smiths along the way. Then, travel to Oudong, Cambodia’s ancient capital. Here you’ll have the chance to visit the Vipassana Dhura Buddhist Meditation retreat. Later, return to the ship for lunch.  In the afternoon, you’ll visit Silk Island, journeying through in a charming tuk-tuk to learn about the process of silk-weaving.

Day 11: Angkor Ban & Wat Nokor Bachey
Continue upstream, stopping at the village of Angkor Ban, where you’ll see traditional stilt houses and witness a slice of rural life. After lunch, visit Wat Nokor Bachey, built in the mid 11^th Century, some of whose archways have been incorporated into a modern Theravada Buddhist pagoda. Return to the ship for an afternoon of cruise to reach Kampong Cham

Day 12: Kampong Cham and Siem Reap
Disembark the Victoria Mekong and travel through the Cambodian countryside towards Siem Reap. On the way, stop at the Kampong Kdei Bridge. On arrival in Siem Reap, enjoy lunch at a local restaurant before checking into your hotel. Spend the rest of the day at leisure.

Day 13: Highlights of Angkor
Spend today exploring the incredible temples of Angkor. Visit the city of Angkor Thom, which contains the astonishing Temple of Bayon, crowned with over 50 towers. Continue to the smaller temple of Ta Prohm, where giant trees burst through the ruins. Return to Siem Reap for some free time to find lunch. Later in the afternoon, discover the temple of Angkor Wat, one of the largest religious structures in the world.

Day 14: Tonle Sap Lake
Head out of the city to visit Tonle Sap Lake, the largest freshwater lake in Southeast Asia, and home to an estimated 360 floating villages. Take a boat ride to see Kompong Khleang. Return to the hotel for an afternoon at leisure. In the evening, enjoy a performance by the Phare Cambodian Circus, showcasing a mix of modern acrobatics and traditional folk stories and music.

Day 15: Journey Home
Transfer to the airport for your flight home.

Day 16: Arrive Home
Arrive back in the UK

Hotel Grand Saigon, Ho Chi Minh City – 5*
Located by the Saigon riverside area, the hotel is within reach of several local attractions. In the hotel you’ll find a restaurant serving both Asian and European cuisine as well as a rooftop lounge bar. Rooms here feature a tv, telephone, a safe and a hairdryer. Daily complimentary water and tea/coffee are also provided

Sohka Angkor Resort, Siem Reap – 5*
In the centre of Siem Reap, you’re in walking distance of the famous Pub Street as well as the Old Market. You’ll find a large pool and private gardens to relax in during your free time. The restaurant offers both Khmer and western dishes. Rooms here have a balcony with views of the pool, and are equipped with a tv, safe, mini bar and tea/coffee making facilities.

Victoria Mekong – 5*
This modern ship is perfect for cruising on the Mekong, with a selection of activities on board including mini-golf, a cinema and a spa. In the evenings, enjoy your dinners at the restaurant on the Panorama desk, with the option to dine on the terrace. There’s a choice of three types of cabins, Deluxe rooms on either the River or Panorama Decks, or the Victoria and Mekong Suites, which can be found on the Panorama Deck.

Fact File

• Currencies: Vietnamese Dong, Cambodian Riel
• Flight time: Approx. 11 hrs 30 mins to 13 hrs 10 mins*
• Languages: Vietnamese, Khmer
• Time zone: GMT+7
• Countries: Vietnam, Cambodia

*All transfer times listed here are approximate and dependent on traffic