Legends of the Mekong: Cambodia to Vietnam

An unhurried journey through the storied Mekong Delta for history lovers

Flowing from the snowy Himalayan Plateau, the Mekong’s life-giving waters fan across the vast expanse of Southeast Asia. The Vietnamese call it Cuu Long, “the nine-tailed dragon.” On this journey, you will travel this storied waterway in the comfort of Aqua Mekong, a handsome and luxurious river boat. This unhurried journey brings you deep into the Delta’s bucolic Vietnamese heart and introduces you to those who call it home through immersive experiences, both grand and splendidly humble. It’s an extraordinary journey bookended by Siem Reap and Ho Chi Minh City and accented with a stop in Phnom Penh—all complex places where the present day mingles with the reminders of the past. A bona fide itinerary for history lovers, you’ll explore ancient empires and painful modern pasts. Along the way, you’ll listen to those vulnerable enough to share their personal accounts. Like a white lotus emerging from its muddied wetland habitat, you’ll discover a resilience of spirit among the Cambodian and Vietnamese that commands admiration.  You’ll depart the Delta with an album of postcard-perfect pagodas and iconic temple ruins, but it’s the souvenirs of the heart that you’ll treasure the most.   

Legends of the Mekong: Cambodia to Vietnam: 11 days/10 nights

Legends of the Mekong: Cambodia to Vietnam Trip Highlights

Touch down in Siem Reap, Cambodia’s ancient cultural heart. A VIP escort expedites you through customs and a private driver will transfer you to your hotel. Check into Shinta Mani Angkor for three nights; spend the rest of the day at leisure.
Alongside an expert, discover one of the greatest wonders of the ancient world: Angkor Archaeological Park—one of the best things to do in Cambodia. Depart in the morning to journey back to the ninth-century Khmer Empire, visiting the complex’s most iconic temples with an insider who will bring history to life. Witness in sublime wonder how the ruins of the Khmer Empire endure even as nature tries to reclaim the land.
On day three, venture into the Cambodian countryside with a private guide and driver for a glimpse of rural life and to meet those who call it home. First, you’ll visit APOPO to learn how Cambodia is blighted with unexploded ordinances, a deadly hangover of a devastating civil war. You’ll learn how the non-profit uses “HeroRats” to detect landmines. Not only to avoid tragic accidents but to safely return fertile farmland back to communities. Next, you’ll call on a local market to meet your guide’s favorite vendors. In a nearby temple, receive a Buddhist blessing and be introduced to the resident monks. For a refreshment, you’re invited into the farmhouse of a local family that raises water buffaloes. Meet neighboring families that include rattan weavers, sugar palm harvesters, noodle makers, and a traditional medicine man. We’ve reserved you a dinner reservation at Embassy Restaurant, stewarded by Chef Kimsan Pol. Savor a menu of fine Khmer gastronomy served by an all-female staff.
Depart Siem Reap for Cambodia’s capital, Phnom Penh, via a short, direct flight. A private driver transfers you to the ultra-chic Rosewood Phnom Penh, occupying the upper floors of the 615-foot Vattanac Tower. Check in and relax in your premier river room to enjoy panoramic city views. The rest of your day is at leisure. We recommend sunset at Sora, a cantilevered sky bar that clings to the tower’s concave upper deck.
Once upon a time, Phnom Penh was nicknamed the “Pearl of Asia.” A pretty city where French influence extended to Art Deco architecture, mid-century travelers included Jacqueline Kennedy and Elizabeth Taylor. In the mid-1970s, the bloody reign of the Khmer Rouge forced the displacement of urbanites to the countryside, abandoning parts of the city. Turmoil persisted until the 1991 Paris Peace Agreements. Consequently, modern-day Phnom Penh is a layer cake of history, which you’ll explore today. The morning begins at Tuol Sleng Prison, a former high school-turned-detention center, and Choeng Ek (the "Killing Fields). While somber and distressing, it’s an essential part of understanding the Cambodian national psyche. In the afternoon, tour the capital’s best examples of whimsical Khmer architecture: Wat Phnom, the Royal Palace, and the Silver Pagoda. End this day of cultural exploration at the National Museum, home to a vast collection of artifacts that tell the story of the ancient Angkor Empire.
Enjoy breakfast at your hotel before meeting your private driver for a transfer to the pier. Step aboard Aqua Mekong, a handsome, three-story riverboat that feels less like a ship and more like a well-appointed luxury apartment. Unpack just once along a three-night/four-day route bookended by Phnom Penh and Ho Chi Minh City. Counting just 20 cabins, Aqua Mekong is an intimate, unhurried journey. Settle into your cabin, replete with floor-to-ceiling windows and a private terrace with an inviting day bed. This adventure starts with a beguiling Khmer aspara performance—an indigenous art form you will recognize from the temple walls of Angkor—and a sumptuous, multi-course dinner.
By the time you rise, you will have officially crossed into Vietnam. Sail toward Tan Chau, a border town near Chau Doc. Disembark for a joyful rickshaw ride through the town and its bustling market. You’ll then be whisked by van to Long Son Pagoda, a larger-than-life, blanched-white Buddha that sits atop Sam Mountain. It’s also a wonderful opportunity to meet monks and learn about traditional Mahayana Buddhist practices. In the afternoon, visit My An Hung, a quintessential Mekong Delta village, where you’ll walk through lush plantations and be welcomed into a local home. Snack on fresh local fruits as you enjoy a performance of traditional folk songs, followed by the mesmerizing Unicorn dance—a cultural highlight of the region. Today, there are two opportunities for active travelers to enjoy a long, leisurely bike ride through the paddy-wrapped countryside.
Spend another splendid day cruising along this storied waterway in absolute style. Disembark at Binh Thanh, a weaving village where daily life unfolds in buzzing markets, on fruit plantations, and fish farms. Alongside your guide, learn how the Delta is an aquaculture and agricultural powerhouse. Hobby chefs might instead shop for ingredients at the morning market with Aqua Mekong’s head chef, then visit the historic Lover House and radiant Kien An Cung temple. Return to ship for a gourmet lunch and continue on downstream. In the afternoon, board a traditional sampan (boat) to reach Tan Phong Island. On terra firma, snack your way through a fruit garden, then either enjoy a five-mile peripheral island walk, paddle a kayak along a canal, or explore the community to make heartening cultural connections. Dinner is a multi-course ritual that pays homage to Cambodian and Vietnamese cuisine.
Take your last meal on Aqua Mekong, in her handsome salon. En route to Ho Chi Minh City you will stop at Vinh Trang Pagoda, one of the largest Mahayana Buddhist temples in the region. You’ll be brough to Park Hyatt Saigon, located in the beating heart of downtown Ho Chi Minh City. Unpack and relax. We have a fun and thrilling evening planned for you. Saigon is a city that stokes the senses; a place that turns up after sundown. Let us take your hand for a private, after-dark tour of its vibrant nightlife—by Vespa! (You’ll ride pillion with an experienced Vespa driver; self-navigation is not required.) Kick off with drinks on a stylish rooftop for a sunset cocktail. We’ll then restaurant-hop, sampling lip-smacking, authentic Vietnamese dishes. Conclude the night at a lively music bar where the new generation of Vietnamese unwinds. Between venues, zoom through the pulsing streets, passing the city’s iconic sites, backlit against the night sky. It’s sure to be a night you won’t soon forget.
On your last full day on Legends of the Mekong: Cambodia to Vietnam, you’ll explore unseen Saigon. You’ll have a guide, but this won’t feel like a tour. Perk up with a Vietnamese iced coffee served at a “bird café,” a unique spot where seniors (mostly) gather daily to chat, laugh, smoke, and showcase their prized songbirds. Next, wander the bustling back alleys and vibrant streets of Cho Lon, Saigon’s historic Chinatown. It’s the perfect setting to sample a steaming noodle soup for breakfast. Explore a secret bunker and other hidden treasures before lunch. Later, you’ll call on The Cafe Apartment—a nine-story former apartment building that has been transformed into a collective of trendy boutiques and eateries.
Enjoy a leisurely breakfast. A private driver will collect you three hours before your flight home—or continue on the next leg of your Southeast Asia travel adventure.  

Price

Starting at $10,100 per person sharing in 2025

Legends of the Mekong: Cambodia to Vietnam on a Map

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