River Cruise Itinerary

This inspiring Southeast Asia river cruise takes you to Vietnam and Cambodia, including stays in Hanoi, Ha Long Bay, and Bangkok, Thailand. You’ll be immersed in the cultures and ancient traditions as you sightsee and spend time with locals in the most fascinating places along the mighty Mekong River.The best way to experience Vietnamese culture is with a tour of its fascinating capital of Hanoi. Go on a cyclo ride through the ancient streets of the Old Quarter and enjoy a water puppet performance. Travel through the peaceful countryside to Ha Long Bay, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, where you’ll cruise by its breathtaking limestone islands. In Siem Reap, Cambodia, see the phenomenal Temples of Angkor with an intricacy and architectural grandeur unmatched in the world. Visit famous Angkor Wat, Angkor Thom, and the grandeur of the Bayon temple featuring some 200 mysterious faces carved in its many towers. Enjoy an inspiring Aspara dance performance before embarking on your river cruise. In the capital of Cambodia, Phnom Penh, tour the National Museum and Royal Palace with its striking Silver Pagoda. On a hilltop at the site of the 8th-century temple of Wat Hanchey, take in the stunning views before walking through the rural village of Angkor Ban to visit with welcoming schoolchildren. Continue your Southeast Asia cruise into Vietnam and visit a colorful market, the home of a local family making handcrafted sampans, and a workshop to learn how rice wine and traditional candies are made. In Ho Chi Minh City, see the famous landmarks and try your hand in the kitchen—Vietnamese-style, with a cooking class. On an excursion to the Cu Chi Tunnels, walk through a section of the immense underground tunnel system used during the Vietnam War.Your adventure ends in Bangkok, where you’ll visit its most renowned temples, including the Temple of the Reclining Buddha—the oldest and largest of its kind. The perfect way to conclude this unforgettable river cruise vacation!

1. Day 1
   HANOI, VIETNAM

   Fri, Jan 24, 2025

   Welcome to Vietnam!HANOI-CITY-VIEW.jpg
2. Day 2
   HANOI

   Sat, Jan 25, 2025

   Historic HanoiThis morning, your Guided Sightseeing takes a look at the life of Ho Chi Minh, the father of modern Vietnam. First, visit the mausoleum and the humble cottage from which “Uncle Ho” ruled Vietnam until his death in 1969. Next on the agenda: One Pillar Pagoda, the Presidential Palace, and the infamous “Hanoi Hilton.” Also visit the ancient Temple of Literature, over 900 years old and Hanoi’s first university. Lunch is at Koto, a non-profit restaurant and hospitality program that trains local street children in restaurant skills they can use to find a job and build a stable life. After lunch, enjoy an electric cart ride through the fascinating Old Quarter, with 36 ancient streets where peddlers trade as they have for centuries. An early dinner this evening is followed by a fascinating performance of Hanoi’s renowned water puppets, a traditional art form dating back to the 11th century.(B,L,D)HANOI-ONE-PILLAR-PAGODA.jpg
3. Day 3
   HANOI–HA LONG BAY

   Sun, Jan 26, 2025

   Tunnels, Caves, and Islands Travel from Hanoi through the fertile countryside to Hon Gai, gateway to Ha Long Bay, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Located in the Gulf of Tonkin, the bay is dotted with more than 3,000 limestone islands carved into fanciful shapes by the action of the water. Tunnels, caves, and weirdly shaped outcroppings with imaginative names can be found on many of the small islets sprinkled across the bay. Board a Cruise Excursion to explore the caves and admire the beauty and scale of this bay before stopping at one of the many secluded islands. Enjoy dinner at the hotel this evening.(B,L,D)HA-LONG-BAY.jpg
4. Day 4
   HA LONG BAY–HANOI–SIEM REAP

   Mon, Jan 27, 2025

   Hanoi Bound This morning, drive to Hanoi and board your flight for Siem Reap. (B)SIEM-REAP-ANGKOR-WAT.jpg
5. Day 5
   SIEM REAP

   Tue, Jan 28, 2025

   Tranquil Temples and Joyful DancesCLASSIC Explore the temples by tuk-tuk. Start at the best preserved and most famous of all the temples: Angkor Wat. Featuring five trademark towers, it is the symbol of Cambodia. Then, continue your Guided Excursion to visit Angkor Thom, where you will explore Bayon Temple with its 200 striking faces carved in 54 towers and impressive bas relief sculptures.Enjoy some time at your leisure this afternoon to explore Siem Reap’s shops for local artisan crafts.DISCOVERY This evening, enjoy dinner and a private Apsara Dance Performance brings ancient Khmer culture to life through music, song, and dance.(B,L,D)SIEM-REAP-ASPARA-DANCERS.jpg
6. Day 6
   SIEM REAP

   Wed, Jan 29, 2025

   Root-Covered Ruins and Native NoodlesCLASSIC Continue your Sightseeing Tour of the Angkor temples at Ta Prohm. Tree roots cover the ruin walls, allowing you to experience the temple with the same wonder as early explorers. Then visit Banteay Srei, a unique temple built on a small scale from red sandstone, which can be carved like wood. En route, stop at a village famous for making Khmer noodles by hand. Be sure to sample some of the freshly prepared noodles!Spend the afternoon at your leisure.(B)SIEM-REAP-ANGKOR-WAT-TEMPLE.jpg
7. Day 7
   SIEM REAP–PHNOM PENH (EMBARKATION)

   Thu, Jan 30, 2025

   Your Suite Ship® Awaits! Fly to Phnom Penh and transfer to the port where your ship’s crew will be waiting to welcome you onboard. Get acquainted with the ship and relax before your welcome reception this evening. Please note: Flight schedules are constantly changing which may require a scenic overland transfer to Phnom Penh.AFTERNOON/EVENING CRUISE TO WAT HANCHEY(B,L,D) PHNOM-PENH-WELCOME.jpg
8. Day 8
   WAT HANCHEY–ANGKOR BAN

   Fri, Jan 31, 2025

   Water Blessings and Back-to-School Adventures DISCOVERY Visit Wat Hanchey, a hilltop temple dating back to the 8th century. Climb or be driven to the top where you will enjoy stunning views of the surrounding area and partake in a traditional water blessing given by local monks.DISCOVERY After lunch, enjoy a Walking Tour through the rural village of Angkor Ban. Here, you will visit a traditional Khmer house and interact with children at a local school.EVENING/OVERNIGHT CRUISE TO KAMPONG TRALACH(B,L,D)WAT-HANCHEY.jpg
9. Day 9
   KAMPONG TRALACH–KONPONG LOUANG–PHNOM PENH

   Sat, Feb 01, 2025

   Calm in the Cambodian CountrysideDISCOVERY Your Guided Sightseeing starts in Kampong Tralach with an Ox-Cart Ride through the beautiful Cambodian countryside. Along the way, stop to meet a local farmer and learn about his daily life. At the silversmith village in Konpong Louang, see talented craftsmen use age-old techniques to turn pure silver into works of art.Sail to the capital city of Phnom Penh this afternoon. PHNOM PENHA Dark History or Market DynamicsCLASSIC After lunch, a Visit to the Tuol Sleng Genocide Museum and one of the Killing Fields provides a glimpse into the atrocities inflicted on the Cambodian people by the Khmer Rouge regime, OR: DISCOVERY Visit the lively Central Market with its unique Art Deco design by tuk-tuk.This evening, spend some free time exploring the city on your own. Perhaps follow the riverfront promenade to the historic Foreign Correspondents Club (FCC).(B,L,D)KAMPONG-TRALACH-OX-CART.jpg
10. Day 10
    PHNOM PENH

    Sun, Feb 02, 2025

    The Royal treatment CLASSIC Join a Guided Tour of the city by private cyclo with visits to the Royal Palace with the spectacular Silver Pagoda, and the National Museum featuring an outstanding display of Khmer artifacts.The remainder of the day is yours to enjoy at your leisure. Just before dinner, children from a local orphanage will perform a show, featuring local song and dance.EVENING/OVERNIGHT CRUISE TO VIETNAM/CAMBODIA BORDER(B,L,D)PHNOM-PENH-ROYAL-PALACE.jpg
11. Day 11
    BORDER CROSSING–CHAU DOC, VIETNAM

    Mon, Feb 03, 2025

    Good Morning, Vietnam! DISCOVERY Take a Village Walk through the Chau Doc market and absorb the atmosphere as locals are busy buying and selling fish, meat, and produce. After lunch, embark on a Guided Excursion down the backwaters of the Mekong. Along the way, see traditional floating homes, speedboat merchants, religious sites, a market selling dried goods, and more.EVENING CRUISE TO LONG KHANH A(B,L,D)CHAU-DOC-MARKET.jpg
12. Day 12
    LONG KHANH A–CU LAO GIENG

    Tue, Feb 04, 2025

    Cotton Weaving, Conical Hats, and Handcrafted SampansDISCOVERY This morning, a sampan brings you to the village of Long Khanh A, for a Cotton-Weaving Demonstration of this well-preserved tradition.DISCOVERY This afternoon, enjoy scenes of daily life on Cu Lao Gieng Island via sampan and local motor cart. Your Guided Excursion starts with a stop at one of Vietnam’s oldest Catholic churches. Then, visit the home of a local family that makes Vietnamese conical hats, or “Non la,” from materials available to them such as palm leaves and bamboo. These iconic hats are primarily used as protection from the sun and rain, but you may also see them used as a basket to carry home goods from the market. Lastly, visit a local workshop where a skilled family hand-crafts sampan boats.EVENING CRUISE TO VINH LONG(B,L,D)CU-LAO-GIENG-HAT-MAKING.jpg
13. Day 13
    VINH LONG

    Wed, Feb 05, 2025

    Sweets and Rice Treats DISCOVERY Board a sampan this morning to Visit a Local Workshop in Vinh Long where you will see how rice paper, rice wine, and traditional candies are made.This afternoon, enjoy time on board the ship as we sail to exciting Ho Chi Minh City.AFTERNOON CRUISE TO HO CHI MINH CITY(B,L,D)VINH-LONG-BRICK-KILN.jpg
14. Day 14
    HO CHI MINH CITY (DISEMBARKATION)

    Thu, Feb 06, 2025

    Motorbikes, Monuments, and Mouth-watering Cuisine CLASSIC Take a Walking Tour of Ho Chi Minh City’s historic landmarks, including a stop at the Rex Hotel for a refreshing drink at the rooftop bar where the U.S. Military held the infamous “Five O’clock Follies” during the war. Then, visit the War Remnants Museum and bustling Ben Thanh Market.DISCOVERY For lunch, participate in a hands-on Vietnamese Cooking Class. Learn to prepare several local dishes and how to recreate them at home. Last, but not least, sample your delicious creations!Enjoy time at your leisure this afternoon and evening for independent exploration. Maybe stop for a drink at the famous rooftop bar at the Caravelle Hotel.(B,L)HO-CHI-MINH-CITY-FOOD.jpg
15. Day 15
    HO CHI MINH CITY. EXCURSION TO CU CHI TUNNELS

    Fri, Feb 07, 2025

    Secret Passageways and Underground Hideouts CLASSIC Drive out of the city for a Guided Visit to the Cu Chi Tunnels—an extraordinary network of tunnels more than 120 miles in length—used as a hideout and secret village by the Viet Cong. Explore these tunnels and learn what life was like living in these cramped spaces.Explore the city further during free time this afternoon. This evening, join your traveling companions for a special dinner in a local restaurant. (B,D)HO-CHI-MINH-CITY-CU-CHI-TUNNELS.jpg
16. Day 16
    HO CHI MINH CITY–BANGKOK, THAILAND

    Sat, Feb 08, 2025

    Bangkok BoundThis morning, fly to Bangkok. Upon arrival, transfer to your hotel. (B)BANGKOK-CITY-VIEW-EVENING.jpg
17. Day 17
    BANGKOK

    Sun, Feb 09, 2025

    Sacred Sights of Thailand This morning, your Guided Sightseeing begins with a boat ride on the klongs, Bangkok’s famous canals. Stop at the stunning Grand Palace featuring the Temple of the Emerald Buddha. Also, Visit the Temple of the Reclining Buddha, the oldest and largest Buddhist temple in Bangkok. It houses more than 1,000 Buddha images, including the 49-foot-high and 151-foot-long massive Reclining Buddha. The remainder of the day is at your leisure.(B,L)BANGKOK-GRAND-PALACE-SUNRISE.jpg
18. Day 18
    BANGKOK

    Mon, Feb 10, 2025

    Bold Colors of Bangkok Enjoy a full day at your leisure.(B)BANGKOK-FLOATING-MARKET.jpg
19. Day 19
    BANGKOK

    Tue, Feb 11, 2025

    Your extension ends with breakfast this morning.(B)BANGKOK-WAT-PHRA-KAEW.jpg

Inclusions

Gratuities for Local Guides & drivers are included (excludes extensions which are to be paid locally).

Avalon offers the opportunity for solo travelers to sail with no single supplement (subject to availability).

Ship Information

Cabins

Life on Board

Questions & Answers