The Heart of Cambodia & Vietnam with Sapa - Northbound

This magical river cruise along the Mekong River will take you through Vietnam and Cambodia, showing you the culture and local traditions of each country and the must-see sites along the way.

Your adventure begins in bustling Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam, where you’ll get a taste of the culture first-hand with a Vietnamese cooking class and go on a fascinating excursion to the Cu Chi Tunnels, an extraordinary network of tunnels used extensively during the war. Immerse yourself in the everyday life of locals with a visit to a family’s home for a cotton-weaving demonstration and a local workshop to see how rice wine and traditional candies are made. In Cambodia, visit the famous sites, such as the temple of Wat Hanchey, providing spectacular views, and take part in a traditional water blessing with local monks. Enjoy an ox cart ride around the Cambodian countryside and meet a local farmer to learn about his daily life. Siem Reap offers the magnificent Temples of Angkor. These ancient ruins are a display of architectural complexity and grandeur unlike anything else in the world. See the most famous temples here, such as Angkor Wat and the Bayon temple, which features some 200 mysterious faces carved in its many towers. Enjoy an inspiring Aspara dance performance and other treasures of the city.

Fly to Hanoi and explore the famous sites, such as the Old Quarter, where peddlers have traded goods for centuries on its 36 ancient streets. Next, a remarkable 2-night cruise along Ha Long Bay will show you its beautiful Limestone Islands. You’ll visit the Cua Van Floating Village and spectacular caves. Fly to Sapa, located in northwest Vietnam, with its lush green hillsides, surrounded by mountains in every direction. Here, you’ll visit the villages of the Zay and Black Hmong ethnic groups to learn about their way of life. And to really appreciate the serene landscape, visit the stunning Silver Waterfall and enjoy the epic views from atop the highest road in Vietnam at a point called Heaven Gate. The perfect ending to an unforgettable river cruise vacation!

City Highlights

Day 1 Arrive Ho Chi Minh City: welcome to VietnamDay 2 Ho Chi Minh City: walking tour of the city’s landmarks; visit the famous Rex Hotel for a drink, War Remnants Museum, and Ben Thanh Market; cooking classDay 3 Ho Chi Minh City: Cu Chi Tunnels excursionDay 4 Ho Chi Minh City (Embarkation): onboard welcome receptionDay 5 Vinh Long–Cu Lao Gieng: visit a local workshop and see how rice paper, rice wine, and traditional candy are made in Vinh Long; visit a sampan-making family and interact with a Catholic priest in Cu Lao GiengDay 6 Chau Doc–Long Khong A, Vietnam–Cambodian Border Crossing: visit a local fish farm and the religious sites at Sam Mountain in Chau Doc; walking tour of Long Khong A with cotton weaving demonstrationDay 7 Phnom Penh: sightseeing by private cyclo, including the Royal Palace, Silver Pagoda, and the National Museum; afternoon at leisure; show by children from local orphanageDay 8 Phnom Penh: visit the Tuol Sleng Genocide Museum and one of the Killing FieldsDay 9 Wat Hanchey–Angkor Ban: visit Wat Hanchey and partake in a traditional water blessing by local monks; walking tour through Angkor Ban village with school visitDay 10 Konpong Louang–Kampong Tralach: visit the silversmith village of Konpong Louang; ox cart ride through the countryside and visit a local farmer’s home in Kampong TralachDay 11 Siem Reap (Disembarkation): visit Angkor Wat & Banteay SreiDay 12 Siem Reap: visit Angkor Thom, Bayon Temple, Ta Prohm, and Les Artisans d’Angkor; Apsara dance performanceDay 13 Siem Reap–Hanoi: fly to HanoiDay 14 Hanoi: visit Ho Chi Minh’s mausoleum, One Pillar Pagoda, Ho Chi Minh Museum, and Temple of Literature; lunch at Koto; electric cart ride through the Old Quarter; water puppets performanceDay 15 Hanoi–Ha Long Bay (Embarkation): drive to Ha Long Bay; visit Cua Van floating villageDay 16 Ha Long Bay: cruise the bay; visit Titop Island, Luon Cave, and Dark and Bright Cave; opportunity to explore by kayakDay 17 Ha Long Bay (Disembarkation)–Hanoi: visit Sung Sot Cave; drive to Hanoi Day 18 Hanoi–Sapa: drive to Sapa; visit a local marketDay 19 Sapa: visit Ta Van village, Lao Chai village, Silver Waterfall, and Heaven GateDay 20 Sapa: visit a weekly market and a Red Dao villageDay 21 Sapa–Hanoi: drive to Hanoi Day 22 Hanoi: end of vacation

Meals

American breakfast daily14 lunches12 dinnersWhile on board the ship, enjoy complimentary wine with lunch & dinner and complimentary coffee, tea, soft drinks, local beer, and local spirits throughout the day.

Notes

Dates and Prices do not include air travel. Participation in this vacation requires purchase of the following flights from Avalon Waterways, not included in pricing: (1) roundtrip air from your U.S. gateway and intra-vacation air segments; or (2) intra-vacation air segments only, starting at $250. Required intra-vacation air segments: Siem Reap/Hanoi. Air prices were effective on April 5, 2017 and their availability is limited. At the time you purchase your tour, air prices may be higher.Gratuities to Local Guides & drivers are included.Price is per person, based on double room occupancy.Please call for single accommodation price. Triples not available.Prices shown include cruise in Category B in an Avalon Suite on Mekong Deck.To upgrade to a Category A on the Tonle Deck, add $400 per person in double occupancy or $800 in single occupancy.Extra Nights per person in Ho Chi Minh City: in single room $236; in twin room $123Extra Nights per person in Hanoi:in single room $215; in twin room $113

PRODUCT_LINE: AVALON-WISS-2018