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This trip is for travel prior to July 2020. Traveling after July 2020? click here.

Classic Vietnam & Mekong River Adventure

17 days, Hanoi to Siem Reap

Map of the route for Classic Vietnam & Mekong River Adventure
Day 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17

Itinerary

Day 1Hanoi

Arrive at any time.

There are no planned activities today until an evening welcome meeting. After the meeting, opt for dinner out with the group.

Please note, if you would like to visit the Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum it is only open from 7:30 - 10:30 AM and closed on Mondays and Fridays.

Your Welcome Moment: Welcome Moment - Meet Your CEO and Group

Your opportunity to meet your CEO and fellow travellers, and learn more about your tour. Opt to join the group for a local meal afterwards. Don't forget to see the notice in the lobby (or ask reception) for the official time and place to meet up with the group.

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Optional Activities - Day 1 HideShow

Tran Quoc Pagoda Visit
Hanoi

Visit one of the oldest pagodas in Vietnam located on the eastern shore of Tay Ho. Learn about Tran Quoc's history from the 17th-century stela found on site. View it later in the day, if you can – the tall structure is striking against the setting sun.

Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum and Museum Visit
Hanoi
Free-1USD per person

Tour the Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum and Museum built in the square where Ho Chi Minh read the Declaration of Independence in 1945. Get in line to tour the grounds; queues of visitors come to pay their respects daily.

Thăng Long Water Puppet Theatre Performance
Hanoi
200000VND per person

Watch a traditional Vietnamese water puppet show with beautiful live music and intricate puppets dancing in a water stage. The price listed above is for a VIP seat.

Day 2Hanoi/Ha Long

Enjoy a Ha Long Bay cruise on a junk boat with visits to a cave and an island lookout. Savour a seafood lunch and dinner.

Drive to Bai Chay harbour, the jumping off point for Ha Long Bay. Thousands of islands with intricate cave systems rise dramatically from the waters. Sail past limestone karst mountains in the junk boat and stop to visit some of the islands and caves.

In the evening, devour a seafood dinner, then opt to enjoy a drink on deck under the stars.

Shared Van
Hanoi – Hạ Long Bay4h

Climb aboard and make friends with your seatmate en route to the next stop.

Junk Boat
Ha Long

Skim across the water aboard this iconic traditional Asian sailboat.

Halong Bay Overnight Cruise

Board a traditional junk boat at Ha Long Bay harbour and cruise out onto serene waters. Marvel at massive limestone karst mountains jutting out of the water, creating unforgettable spectacular scenery. Swim, kayak or go cave exploring on one of the islands, if conditions are right. Indulge in fresh seafood meals with a variety of dishes to sample. Drift to sleep in a cozy cabin on board.

On rare occasion Halong Bay is closed to tourist vessels by the government authorities due to extreme weather conditions. Should this occur, an alternate activity will be provided.

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Optional Activities - Day 2 HideShow

Kayaking
Hạ Long Bay1h-2h
10USD per person

Transfer from boat to kayak in this guided water tour, giving you the chance to get even closer to the stunning natural surroundings.

Meals included:

Breakfast | Lunch | Dinner

Day 3Ha Long/Huế

Enjoy breakfast and lunch on board before sailing back to the port and return to Hanoi. Enjoy some time in the city before an overnight train to Hue.

Interested in local cuisine? Opt to pre-book the "Hanoi Foodie Culture Tour" activity on the checkout page to include this optional on your tour.

Private Vehicle
Hạ Long Bay – Hanoi3h

Settle in and scan the scenery from the convenience of a private vehicle.

Free Time
Hanoi Afternoon

Spend a few hours exploring this beautiful capital city. Visit some shops, have a bia hoi on a street corner or grab a coffee in a lakeside café.

Overnight Train (beds)
Hanoi – Huế13h-14h

Drive about 15 mins to the station and then board the southbound train for the overnight journey.

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Optional Activities - Day 3 HideShow

Hanoi Foodie Culture Tour
Hanoi 1-2km

Indulge your inner foodie with a street food tour through bustling Hanoi. Follow your guide through the back streets and markets of the city’s old quarter, sampling local fare along the way. Mingle with city natives and experienced street food artists alike, as you taste a variety of Hanoi faves like “nem ran” and “banh goi.” Stop at a streetside bar to savour a draught beer like Hanoians do. Cap off the tour at the Hanoi Food Culture restaurant, a G Values Fund Project, and try the city’s signature specialty coffee.

Meals included:

Breakfast | Lunch

Day 4Huế

Pull into Hue early in the morning and dive right into the city, starting with a guided tour of the Imperial Citadel, Royal Tomb and Tien Mu Pagoda. The rest of the day, you are free to explore the city how you'd like.

Arrive early to Hue, once the imperial capital of Vietnam. Start the day with a visit to the Tien Mu Pagoda followed by a visit to the tomb of one of Vietnam’s former emperors. After, opt for a vegetarian lunch at a local nunnery.

While in the city, try some local Hue specialties such as banh khoai (Hue savoury pancakes), and banh bot loc boc tom thit (thin rice paper filled with meat and shrimp). Wash it all down with a Hue beer.

Opt to pre-book the "Hue Motorbike Tour" activity on the checkout page ahead of time, to include this optional on your tour.

Thien Mu Pagoda Visit
Huế

Visit Tien Mu, one of the tallest and, perhaps, most elegant pagodas in Vietnam, at seven storeys high. Take a step back in time touring this historic temple - built more than 400 years ago along the north shore of the Perfume River, it has been the site of many political protests.

Imperial Citadel Tour
Huế

Tour this one-time capital city and UNESCO World Heritage site. See the walled fortress and former palace, which has many palaces, gateways, courtyards, and gardens to explore. The Forbidden Purple City (modelled on China's Forbidden City) inside the citadel was once home to the imperial family and was significantly damaged during the Vietnam War.

Royal Tombs Visit
Huế

Visit the Royal Tombs along the Perfume River in Hue. Embracing the concept of Feng Shui, these tombs are extremely ornate and provide fantastic insight into the lives of the former rulers.

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Optional Activities - Day 4 HideShow

Hue Motorbike Tour
Huế

Grab a helmet, hop on a motorbike driven by your experienced local guide, and get ready for a crash course in authentic Viet culture. Spend the next four hours exploring the stalls of a local market, admiring the view of the Perfume River, learning to plough and make rice, creating your own incense sticks, and seeing the most iconic local sights. Don’t forget to bring your camera!

Day 5Huế/Hoi An

Drive the Hai Van pass. Take advantage of Hoi An's many options over the 2.5 days in town. Opt for a cooking class, riverboat trip, bike ride, beach time, tailor visit or My Son ruins.

Cross the Hai Van Pass (weather permitting), with fantastic views in all directions, before arriving to Hoi An in the afternoon.

With three nights here, there's plenty of time to explore all this charming town has to offer.

Private Vehicle
Huế – Hoi An4h

Settle in and scan the scenery from the convenience of a private vehicle.

Free Time
Hoi An Afternoon

Use free time in this quaint town to explore any way you like.

Meals included:

Breakfast

Day 6Hoi An

Explore all Hoi An has to offer. Dive into the culture, hang out on the beach or get clothes tailor-made in one of the many shops around town. Enjoy a noodle making demonstration and lunch at Oodles of Noodles, a G Adventures-supported project.

Your G for Good Moment: Oodles of Noodles

Try some of the oodles of noodles (more than 26 types!) available in the city in this tasty cooking class. Run by our G for Good partners, STREETS International, this class was developed exclusively for G Adventures. Former street youth that are part of this hospitality training program, will help you prepare and cook a number of different types of noodles. This program helps these youth practice their English, increasing their skill-set and opportunities available to them in the tourism industry. Enjoy your yummy creations while learning more about the local cuisine and this initiative which empowers street youth through skills and employment training.

Free Time
Hoi An Half Day

Explore this charming city.

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Optional Activities - Day 6 HideShow

Bike Rental

Rent a bike from a local shop and head out to explore.

Tailor Shops
Hoi An

Go home with some new (handmade!) clothes from one of Hoi An’s famous tailor shops. Walk the streets lined with hundreds of local shops that turn out gorgeous suits, dresses, winter coats, shoes, purses – almost anything – in a day's time to create next season's wardrobe.

Thu Bon River Boat Trip
Hoi An
12USD per person

The Thu Bon River plays an important part in Hoi An's history and culture. Take a trip down the Thu Bon by river boat for an alternative tour of the city.

Hoi An Old Town Walking Tour
Hoi An2h-3h
6USD per person

Stroll through the narrow winding streets of Hoi An’s old town to see Chinese assembly halls, ancestral homes, The Japanese Covered Bridge, and well-preserved pagodas on this self-guided tour. Opt to try local delicacies and fusion food at one of the restaurants for which Hoi An is becoming famous.

Mỹ Sơn Excursion
Mỹ Sơn
38USD per person

Travel approximately one hour from Hoi An to arrive at My Son. Tour these Hindu temples built between the fourth and 14th centuries; the site is widely accepted as one of the most important Hindu temple complexes in Southeast Asia. Learn about the architectural style and history of a site that’s often compared to Angkor Wat in Cambodia and Bagan in Burma. Please note this optional activity is a half-day and includes a guide, transportation, and the entrance fee.

Meals included:

Breakfast | Lunch

Day 7Hoi An

Spend a free day exploring all Hoi An has to offer.

Free Time
Hoi An Full Day

Enjoy free time in this charming town.

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Optional Activities - Day 7 HideShow

Thu Bon River Boat Trip
Hoi An
12USD per person

The Thu Bon River plays an important part in Hoi An's history and culture. Take a trip down the Thu Bon by river boat for an alternative tour of the city.

Mỹ Sơn Excursion
Mỹ Sơn
38USD per person

Travel approximately one hour from Hoi An to arrive at My Son. Tour these Hindu temples built between the fourth and 14th centuries; the site is widely accepted as one of the most important Hindu temple complexes in Southeast Asia. Learn about the architectural style and history of a site that’s often compared to Angkor Wat in Cambodia and Bagan in Burma. Please note this optional activity is a half-day and includes a guide, transportation, and the entrance fee.

Hoi An Cooking Class
Hoi An
35USD per person

Take a cooking class to learn more about Vietnamese food and its distinct flavours. Tour the local market to buy fresh ingredients before preparing some popular regional dishes. Enjoy your creations when you're done!

Meals included:

Breakfast

Day 8Hoi An/Ho Chi Minh City

Fly from Hoi An to Ho Chi Minh City with free time to explore this hectic and amazing city.

Drive to Da Nang for the flight to Ho Chi Minh City, once the capital of South Vietnam and the country’s commercial centre. Start exploring the small alleys and busy streets, keeping an eye out for laquerware shops and delicious local food stalls.

Plane
Da Nang – Ho Chi Minh City1h30m

Look! Up in the sky! It's a bird! It's a plane! It's... yup, it is a plane, actually.

Meals included:

Breakfast

Day 9Ho Chi Minh City

Enjoy a guided tour of the Cu Chi Tunnels and learn more about the Vietnam War. Use free time in the afternoon to explore sprawling Ho Chi Minh City.

With some free time in the city, opt to visit the Thien Hau and Giac Vien pagodas and stroll through the immense Ben Thanh Market. Also well worth a visit are the Reunification Palace (the residence of South Vietnam presidents before 1975), the city's Chinese quarter of Cholon, and the War Remnants Museum.

Cu Chi Tunnels Guided Tour
Củ Chi

Take a guided tour of the Cu Chi Tunnels, a complex network of tunnels that the Viet Cong lived in to protect themselves from opposing forces during the Vietnam War. Try crawling through some of the tunnels (if you’re not claustrophobic). These tunnels stored ammunition, had underground hospitals, and served as a hidden base for attacking allied forces.

Free Time
Ho Chi Minh City Afternoon

Get out and explore this frenetic city.

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Optional Activities - Day 9 HideShow

Ben Thanh Market
Ho Chi Minh City

Wander this bustling market for more insight into Ho Chi Minh City. Pick up souvenirs, sample local cuisine, and experience local living. Learn a little history along the way; Ben Thanh started as a cluster of street vendors selling wares by the Saigon River, and was formalized into a true market in 1859.

Cholon Visit
Ho Chi Minh City

Take in the busy rhythm of daily life in Cholon, the Chinatown of Ho Chi Minh City. Tour the area full of teahouses, pagodas, and people, and learn a little more about the unique culture within the city.

Thien Hau Pagoda Visit
Ho Chi Minh City

Visit the Thien Hau Pagoda, a beautiful temple in the Chinatown district of Ho Chi Minh City. Learn more about the customs associated with this 19th-century monument – it is dedicated to the goddess Thien Hau (the 'Lady of the Sea') who is worshipped in Chinese communities throughout Asia by those who depend on the sea for their livelihoods.

Dam Sen Water Park Visit
Ho Chi Minh City
4USD per person

Get away from the hustle and bustle of Ho Chi Minh City at this nearby water park. A lush setting and refreshing water make Dam Sen the perfect place for the whole family to cool off and have some fun—splash around or take a ride down one of the slides.

Giac Vien Pagoda Visit
Ho Chi Minh City

Find this hidden pagoda behind some small alleyways – it’s a rare treat of a monument that has been spared the over-restoration that has been done to so many temples. Tour the inside of this 18th-century pagoda to see nearly 100 carvings of divine beings.

Reunification Palace Visit
Ho Chi Minh City
2USD per person

Wander the historic halls of the Reunification Palace (Independence Palace), a landmark in Ho Chi Minh City. This former home of the South Vietnamese president during the Vietnam War became the location of the end of the war when a North Vietnamese tank pushed through the palace gates on April 30, 1975.

War Remnants Museum Visit
Ho Chi Minh City
2USD per person

Visit the War Remnants Museum, a gut-wrenching but worthwhile experience that includes three storeys of exhibits and military hardware. Learn about the devastation that occurred in Saigon during the Vietnam War, a period that greatly contrasts the joy and liveliness of the Vietnamese people today.

Meals included:

Breakfast

Day 10Ho Chi Minh City/Mỹ Tho

Transfer to the pier for the start of the riverboat journey. Embark, settle in, and get to know the crew as the adventure begins. Sail towards My Tho.

Meet in the lobby of our accommodation at 12:00pm for the transfer to the starting point of the riverboat journey.

Riverboat Welcome Meeting

Welcome aboard! It's time to meet the crew and get some information about the cruise.

Toum Tiou II Riverboat
Ho Chi Minh City – Mỹ Tho

Hop aboard and float on to the next stop.

Meals included:

Dinner

Day 11Mỹ Tho/Sadek

Visit Vinh Trang Pagoda with a short tour of My Tho town en route. Take local boats to Thoi Son Island to see a coconut product manufacturer, taste some local fruit and honey and meet traditional musicians. Continue on to Cai Be and enjoy a visit to the floating market. Opt to wander the small paths through local communities on the island and visit a Rice Popping cottage industry. Continue by local boat to Vinh Long to meet the vessel. Embark for the evening sail to Sa Dec.

Toum Tiou II Riverboat
Mỹ Tho – Cái Bè

Hop aboard and float on to the next stop.

Cai Be Floating Market Visit
Cái Bè14:00-16:30 Afternoon

Local boats will pull up alongside the Toum Tiou II to pick up the group and whisk everyone off to cruise around Cai Be Floating Market. Navigating the narrow Island canals is a unique experience, as the bustling market surrounds the boats.

Vĩnh Trang Pagoda Visit
Mỹ Tho08:00 Morning

Explore the buddhist temple of Vĩnh Tràng. Known for its enormous buddha statues and peaceful surroundings. The monks here maintain an an ornate, gilded wood sanctuary, and tend to the impressive gardens.

Coconut Manufacturing Visit
Xã Thới Sơn

Take local boats to Thoi Son Island to see a coconut product manufacturer, taste some local fruit and honey and meet traditional musicians.

Toum Tiou II Riverboat
Vĩnh Long – Sadek

Hop aboard and float on to the next stop.

Meals included:

Breakfast | Lunch | Dinner

Day 12Sadek/Xã Vĩnh Xương

Visit the Kien An Cung Pagoda in Sa Dec and stroll through the market along the river. View the old colonial houses by the delta. Enjoy breakfast and lunch on board as you cruise the Mekong. Arrive at Chau Doc and visit Sam Mountain for sunset. Gaze out over the rice paddies or relax in a hammock. Visit some temples and pagodas along the way. Opt for dinner in town.

Toum Tiou II Riverboat
Sadek – Châu Đốc

Hop aboard and float on to the next stop.

Toum Tiou II Riverboat
Châu Đốc – Xã Vĩnh Xương Evening

Hop aboard and float on to the next stop.

Sam Mountain Visit
Châu Đốc – Thị Xã Châu Đốc

Travel to Sam Mountain by private vehicle and enjoy views of the surrounding landscape from the summit.

Sa Dec Visit
Sadek06:30-08:00 Morning

Stroll around the Sa Dec river bank and through the Sa Dec market. This small city of 30,000 inhabitants is fascinating due to its unspoiled authenticity and the fact it remains relatively undisturbed by tourists. It provides a glimpse of traditional life on the Mekong, complete with tree lined streets and fading colonial villas.

Meals included:

Breakfast | Lunch

Day 13Xã Vĩnh Xương/Phnom Penh

Cross the border into Cambodia and continue on to Phnom Penh. Enjoy an evening in the capital city starting with a cyclo tour to see the city from a new perspective. Opt to finish up at the Foreign Correspondents Club for Happy Hour overlooking the river or dinner in town.

During the border crossing all passengers must stay on board and the formalities are done on the riverboat. The ship will usually stay at the border for a 2-3 hours whilst all the formalities are completed. Depending on the time spent at the border, the itinerary for the afternoon may vary, although this process is usually quite simple delays can happen. Please note for visa purposes that the official name of the border in Vietnam is Son Tien border and in Cambodia it is Kaam Samnar border.

Toum Tiou II Riverboat
Xã Vĩnh Xương – Phnom Penh

Hop aboard and float on to the next stop.

Free Time
Phnom Penh Evening

Explore Cambodia's charming capital city.

Phnom Penh Cyclo Tour
Phnom Penh45m-1h

Settle in a traditional cyclo and depart from Wat Phnom. Tour busy streets to soak up the real vibe of the city. Pass the post office and Van's restaurant, both stunning colonial buildings, and make your way to the Royal Palace and National Museum. Go along the riverside road and take in the atmospheric cafes that line the street.

Border Crossing (Vietnam - Cambodia)
Xã Vĩnh Xương

Ready for a little more ink in your passport? Grab your bags and get ready to check another country off your bucket list.

Meals included:

Breakfast | Lunch

Day 14Phnom Penh

Visit the sobering S21 Museum and the Killing Fields with a local guide. After lunch, use free time to visit sights like the Royal Palace, Silver Pagoda, the National Museum, or the Russian Market.

Free Time
Phnom Penh Half Day

Discover more of this dynamic city.

Choeung Ek (Killing Fields) Guided Tour
Phnom Penh

Learn more about the atrocities of the Khmer Rouge visiting the killing fields of Choeung Ek; the grounds now stand as a powerful memorial filled with victims’ skulls and mass graves. Tour this sombre, yet serene, site with a guide.

Tuol Sleng Museum (S-21 Prison) Guided Tour
Phnom Penh

Learn about the dark history and devastation that occurred at Security Prison 21 (S-21); the prison, used by the Khmer Rouge regime, is now Tuol Sleng Museum. Take a guided tour to hear the stories behind the sombre photos lining the museum walls.

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Optional Activities - Day 14 HideShow

Russian Market
Phnom Penh

Visit the Russian Market for a selection of souvenir stalls along with jewellers and fabric sellers.

Royal Palace & Silver Pagoda Visit
Phnom Penh
10USD per person

Visit the Royal Palace, a complex of buildings where the kings of Cambodia have resided since the 1860s (except for during the reign of the Khmer Rouge). Be sure to tour the Silver Pagoda compound (aka the Temple of the Emerald Buddha) and the central compound. See the many magnificent treasures inside this beautiful vihara (Buddhist monastery), including its floor lined with more 5,000 tiles of silver.

Meals included:

Breakfast | Lunch

Day 15Phnom Penh/Kâmpóng Trâlach

Continue to Kampong Tralach and visit the local vihara (Buddhist monastery) and Wat Kampong Tralach Leu pagoda. Opt to cycle, or ride in a tuk tuk or buffalo cart, through the village and past rice paddies to reach the monastery.

Toum Tiou II Riverboat
Phnom Penh – Kâmpóng Trâlach

Hop aboard and float on to the next stop.

Kampong Tralach Visit
Kâmpóng Trâlach – Kampong Chhnang15:00-18:00 Afternoon

Arrive at Kampong Tralach and visit its wonderful Vihara (Buddhist Monastery) and Wat Kampong Tralach Leu pagoda. Travel through Kampong Tralach Krom village along a small road perpendicular to the river, crossing beautiful stretches of emerald rice paddies. The Vihara dates back to early last century and is home to some outstanding mural paintings. Standing isolated in the middle of the rice fields, it is a modest pagoda that receives very few international visitors, enjoy this truly unique experience.

Meals included:

Breakfast | Lunch | Dinner

Day 16Kâmpóng Trâlach/Koh Chen

Sail on to Kampong Chhnang, one of the largest fishing ports on the Tonle Sap RIver. Learn more about the fish farming, pottery and sugar palm production in the area. Wander through the local market then opt to cycle to visit the local industries.

Enjoy lunch back on the ship en route to Koh Chen, an island in the river. Visit silver and copper workshops and meet a Khmer Rouge survivor eager to tell his story.

Enjoy an evening cocktail and the Captain's farewell dinner.

Toum Tiou II Riverboat
Kâmpóng Trâlach – Kampong Chhnang

Hop aboard and float on to the next stop.

Kampong Chhnang Visit
Kampong Chhnang – Chnok Tru Morning

Located around 56 miles from Phnom Penh, the town of Kampong Chhnang is a very large fishing port on the Tonlé Sap. A lot of locals make a living from fish farming, a popular occupation in this area. Kampong Chhnang is also famous for its pottery ware, the style of which has not changed much for centuries and is distributed to the rest of the country. Wander through the local market, and head out to explore a family run brick factory to watch the process. Continue to visit the locals and observe the process of hand making pottery.

Before heading back to the riverboat, explore a sugar palm farm where the Thnot tree (sugar palm) that abounds in the area is used to create a mellow tasting, caramel coloured sugar sold in large cakes and palm wine.

Toum Tiou II Riverboat
Kampong Chhnang – Koh Chen

Hop aboard and float on to the next stop.

Koh Chen Visit
Koh Chen – Kampong Chhnang

Visit the small town of Koh Chen. Wander through the streets and visit family run silver and copper workshops. Watch the craftsmen and learn about the process. If possible, meet a Khmer Rouge survivor eager to share his story.

Meals included:

Breakfast | Lunch | Dinner

Day 17Koh Chen/Siem Reap

This morning, say goodbye to the crew of the Toum Tiou II Riverboat. Hop into a private vehicle for an included transfer to Siem Reap. Tour ends upon arrival. Please book onward travel after 4pm.

Departure Day

Not ready to leave? Your CEO can help with any onward travel arrangements you require.

Private Vehicle
Koh Chen – Siem Reap5h285km

Settle in and scan the scenery from the convenience of a private vehicle.

Meals included:

Breakfast

Classic Vietnam & Mekong River Adventure

| 17 days - Hanoi to Siem Reap - Sold Out