Vietnam & Cambodia with Mekong
15 Days | 7 Citys
Unsere Reise bietet Ihnen die besondere Möglichkeit, neben der Entdeckung der vietnamesischen Städte Hanoi und Saigon auch die bizarren Kalksteinberge von Halong Bay zu besuchen. Im kambodschanischen Angkor bestaunen Sie die Jahrtausende alten hinduistischen Tempel und verbringen anschließend entspannende und interessante Tage während einer Kreuzfahrt auf dem mächtigen Mekong.
Itinerary
Day 1 > Hanoi
Arrive at Noibai International Airport, where you will be met by your English-speaking tour guide and accompanied to the transfer to Hanoi.
During a city tour you will visit, among other things, the former residence of Uncle Ho, a stilt house, the Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum, the One Pillar Pagoda and the Tran Quoc Pagoda, the oldest Buddhist place of worship in Hanoi, which was built in the 6th century.
In the afternoon, you’ll take a rickshaw ride through several narrow but interesting streets and alleys of Hanoi’s Old Quarter in the Hoan Kiem Lake area. In the evening, you can enjoy a fresh beer on Ta Hien Street and experience Hanoi’s nightlife.
Overnight stay in Hanoi.
Day 2 > Hanoi – Halong (F, M, D)
Breakfast at the hotel.
After breakfast, you’ll drive approximately four hours to Halong Bay, a renowned UNESCO World Heritage Site. Along the way, enjoy the panoramic views of rural settlements nestled among green rice fields.
You’ll arrive at the port around noon, board the excursion boat, and begin an impressive cruise through Halong Bay. A sumptuous lunch of fresh seafood will be served on board.
In the afternoon, you can admire the uniquely beautiful mountain formations in the bay during a boat trip. You also have the opportunity to visit a large stalactite cave with beautiful stalactites and stalagmites.
Dinner will be served on board. Weather permitting, you’ll have the chance to fish for squid.
Overnight stay on the ship.
Day 3 > Halong – Hanoi (F, F)
Light breakfast on board.
Today, experience dawn among the karst mountains on board the ship (weather permitting!). Brunch will be served during the return journey to the port, arriving in the late morning. Afterwards, you’ll return to Hanoi by car.
Overnight stay in Hanoi.
Day 4 > Hanoi – Siem Reap (F)
Breakfast at the hotel.
Transfer to Noi Bai Airport; then flight from Hanoi to Siem Reap.
Your driver will take you to your hotel in Siem Reap.
Overnight stay in Siem Reap.
Day 5 > Siem Reap (F)
Breakfast at the hotel.
In Khmer, Angkor Thom means “grand city.” It was the last capital of the Angkor Empire. Your tour begins at the South Gate, one of the four city gates, through which you enter the Bayon Temple. This temple is easily recognizable by the hundreds of meter-high smiling faces on its walls. Like a labyrinth, you will be guided through long corridors, narrow staircases, and narrow rooms to admire the impressive graphics on the walls of this monument.
North of the Bayon Temple, you’ll see another magnificent 11th-century building. This was originally a Hindu temple that was converted into a Buddhist place of worship in the 15th century. Directly behind it is the old Royal Palace, which, although not completely preserved, is still very impressive. Also worth seeing are the Elephant Terrace and the Terrace of the Leper King. And don’t forget Ta Prohm Temple, which clearly demonstrates the ingenious architecture of its builders.
Lunch at a local restaurant.
South of Angkor Thom lies another UNESCO World Heritage Site. This is Angkor Wat, the pride of the Cambodian people. This temple complex was built in the 12th century under the reign of King Suryavarman II and embodies the achievements and splendor of the architecture, culture, and religion of the Khmer people. A visit to this vast, phenomenal temple complex requires plenty of time. But don’t forget to experience the wonderful twilight over Angkor Wat, ideally from the Pre-Rup Temple!
Overnight stay in Siem Reap.
Day 6 > Siem Reap – Kampong Cham (F, D)
In the morning, we leave Siem Reap and head south to the district town of Kampong Cham. During the journey, we are provided with a light breakfast and water. After a four to five-hour drive, we arrive in Kampong Cham. The cruise ship is already waiting for us. We are assigned to our cabins immediately after boarding and briefly familiarize ourselves with the ship’s facilities. Lunch is served as a buffet in the ship’s restaurant.
In the afternoon, a group of children from a Cambodian non-governmental project will be arriving on the ship. They will provide us with detailed information about the education and upbringing of Cambodia’s younger generation. The children will enthusiastically showcase their artistic talent in a short music and dance program. After the children’s performance, we will disembark and continue our sightseeing tour of Kampong Cham by car. When the tide is low, we can see a bamboo bridge from afar that connects the mainland to the island. This bridge must be rebuilt by the locals every year, as it is only usable at low tide. Our next destination is the ancient temple of Wat Hanchey. This enchanting temple was built in the 7th century and stands on a hill on the coast, offering wonderful views of the beautiful Mekong Delta.
We can spend our time at our own leisure until dinner in the ship’s restaurant. The ship has a movie room where selected classic films are shown every evening.
Overnight stay on the ship.
Day 7> Kreuzfahrt Kampong Cham – Oknha Tey – Kampong Chhang (M; D)
Every morning, you have the opportunity to practice Tai Chi exercises on the deck of your cruise ship to recharge your batteries for the day. Breakfast is then served in the ship’s restaurant.
Today our ship sails towards Angkor Ban. This is a small village in Cambodia’s Mekong Delta. The village is known nationwide for its beautiful traditional houses.
We enjoy lunch while the ship sails down the Mekong.
In the afternoon, we can enjoy a cup of tea on the ship and watch a show featuring a variety of traditional Khmer fashions. The cruise continues to the island of Koh Oknha Tey. Here, we’ll travel by tuk-tuk to visit a silk factory. We’ll see how natural silk is produced in Cambodia.
After returning to the ship, we continue to Kampong Chhang, where the ship docks. Admire the surrounding swamp landscape before dinner.
Overnight stay on the ship.
Day 8>Kreuzfahrt Kampong Chhang – Kampong Tralach – Phnom Penh (F, M, D)
It’s worth experiencing this wonderful landscape again early in the morning. Afterwards, the breakfast buffet opens on the ship.
After breakfast, our guide will escort us ashore. There, we’ll visit an interesting village where beautiful ceramics and local Thoth Not sugar are produced.
Before we return to the ship, we visit a floating village in the middle of a vast swamp area.
Lunch is served on board again as our ship continues along the Tonle River toward Kampong Tralach. Small villages dot the riverbanks, where buffalo and cattle are herded. We stop at the “Green School,” a school supported by Heritage Line, to discover this, for us, completely foreign, everyday life on the water.
Our ship docks this evening in Phnom Penh, near the Phnom Penh Bridge. After dinner, you’ll have free time. Stroll along the riverbank, visit a bar, and discover the nightlife of the Cambodian capital.
Overnight stay on the ship.
Day 9> Phnom Penh (F, M, D)
Welcome to Phnom Penh – once called the Paris of the East. The city is rich in historical and cultural traditions. Despite its rapid development, the city retains its simple, magnificent beauty, which can be clearly felt in almost every street and alley.
After breakfast, we’ll set off by car for a sightseeing tour. We’ll first visit the Killing Fields and then the former S21 prison in the city center. These two memorials commemorate Cambodia’s recent, tragic history and the crimes committed by the Khmer Rouge when they ruled the country and brutally oppressed their own people. These memorials have remained unchanged since their creation in the 1970s.
After lunch at a restaurant in the city, the program continues in Phnom Penh. We visit, among other things, the Royal Palace, the Silver Pagoda, and the National Museum, which exhibits exquisite Khmer handicrafts. Towards the end of the city tour, we’ll experience the lively streets of the city center from a rickshaw.
In the evening, a BBQ buffet will be served on board, along with an Apsara show. You’ll enjoy your delicious meal to the gentle melodies of Cambodian folklore and admire the folk dances of Khmer dancers.
Overnight stay on the ship.
Day 10> Kreuzfahrt Phnom Penh – Tan Chau (F, M, D)
After breakfast, a professor from the Royal University of Phnom Penh will provide insights into Cambodia’s modern history. Before and after lunch, you’ll have time to relax on the ship. We recommend booking a massage.
During a cooking class in the afternoon, you can delve deeper into the local cuisine and the different ways of preparing it. Our ship is now approaching the Vietnamese border. Throughout the border region, different ethnic groups, including Khmer, Vietnamese, and Chinese, live together peacefully in a diverse mix.
Dinner is served on board earlier than usual, followed by an exciting film screening.
Day 11> Kreuzfahrt Tan Chau – My An Hung – Sa Dec (F, M)
Welcome back to Vietnam!
After breakfast, you will visit Tan Chau, a district town on the Vietnamese-Cambodian border. Three large communities of Vietnamese, Chinese, and Khmer live here. To explore Tan Chau, you will first board a “xe loi.” This is a typical local vehicle, a type of “local taxi” that is common throughout the region. Our “xe loi” will transport you slowly through the streets, past architecturally interesting houses.
You’ll stop at the town’s marketplace. Here, you’ll have the opportunity to interact with the friendly vendors and deepen your personal bargaining experience. After visiting the market, you’ll return to the ship and take a local boat past a floating village to a fish farm. You’ll learn about the farming techniques on site. The fish farmed here is processed and exported all over the world. You’ll return to the ship in time for lunch. Afterward, you’ll have time to relax in the spa or by the ship’s pool. In the afternoon, there’ll be an interesting talk about life in the Mekong Delta as the ship sails toward An My Hung, a village in Sa Dec Province.
After arriving in An My Hung, we tour the village. We visit a family and are informed about their daily life by the owner of the house. We then cross the Monkey Bridge and visit a vegetable field. The friendly villagers gladly invite us to try some local tea. This somewhat bitter tea is usually sweetened with honey, a well-known village specialty. We also have the opportunity to taste freshly picked fruit and experience a traditional lion dance performed by a local performing group. After returning to the ship, we continue downriver. Around dinnertime, the ship docks near the provincial capital, Sa Dec.
Day 12> Kreuzfahrt Sa Dec - Insel Binh Thanh – Cai Be - My Tho (M, D)
In the morning, our ship reaches Binh Thanh Island. Binh Thanh is a large island on the widest branch of the Mekong River. For many years, islanders have lived off water hyacinths.
Here we visit a simple farming village and take a stroll to learn more about the lives of the villagers. You can try weaving fabrics on a traditional loom or listen to the locals talk about everyday life on the island. Lunch is served on board as the ship continues down the Mekong.
In the early afternoon, we reach Cai Be. This county town is known for its traditional handicrafts and food, but above all for its floating market. Boats laden with fruit, vegetables, and other regional produce busily move back and forth. These boats are marked differently so that customers can recognize what is on offer from afar. However, trade is increasingly shifting to land, while sales at the floating market are noticeably declining.
You’ll now disembark the ship and visit a small, family-owned factory on land. Here, rice flour, rice cakes, and rice vodka are produced. In Cai Be and its surrounding villages, many coconut palms are planted, and their flesh is used to make coconut candy, a specialty of this region. In a smaller boat, you’ll explore some of the dense network of canals that crisscross the entire area.
The farewell dinner will be served at sunset. Before that, you can dance with young locals and enjoy atmospheric music.
Our ship docks in My Tho this evening.
Day 13> My Tho – Ho Chi Minh City (F)
Today you will enjoy your last breakfast on the ship.
Afterwards you will leave the ship and drive to Saigon (Ho Chi Minh City), which you will reach around noon (approx. 70km drive).
The rest of the day is at your leisure.
Overnight stay in Ho Chi Minh City.
Day 14> Ho Chi Minh City – Cu Chi Tunnel – Ho Chi Minh City (F, M)
Breakfast at the hotel.
In the morning, you will travel by car (approximately 2 hours) to visit the Cu Chi underground tunnel system. Construction of this ingeniously interconnected underground tunnel system began in 1948 in the fight against the French colonial rulers and continued systematically over the next 25 years. At its peak, it housed 10,000 people. It also housed living quarters, kitchens, food stores, an arms factory, an emergency hospital, and command centers.
During the war against US aggression, the entire Cu Chi area was bombed and severely damaged. In 1988, two tunnel sections were opened to tourists, so you can now easily visit the tunnel complex.
You will have lunch on the return journey to Ho Chi Minh City.
In the afternoon, a city tour will explore the country’s largest city. You’ll visit, among other things, the Palace of Unity, the Cathedral, the Post Office, Dong Khoi Boulevard with the City Hall, and the Opera House (exterior only).
Overnight stay in Ho Chi Minh City.
Day 15> Ho Chi Minh City – Rück- oder Weiterreise (F)
Breakfast at the hotel
Depending on your departure time, transfer to the airport, with free time beforehand.
Return or onward journey
Hotel list
| Location | Hotel | Ratings |
|---|---|---|
|
Hanoi |
Tirant Hotel |
4⭐ |
|
Halong Bay |
Victory Cruise |
4⭐ |
|
Siem Reap |
Tara Angkor Hotel |
4⭐ |
|
Saigon |
Eden Star Saigon Hotel |
4⭐ |
|
Mekong Cruise |
The Jahan (Heritage Line) |
4⭐ |
Gallery
Reserve
Vietnam & Cambodia with Mekong
(Valid for 2 or more people based on
double room accommodation)