Cu Chi Tunnel Half Day Private Tour Begin your journey to the Cu Chi Tunnels by departing at around 8am from your hotel where you’ll head off into the countryside, once a stronghold of the Viet Cong. Upon arrival, watch a short video about what life was like for soldiers who lived there during the war. The cramped tunnels were central to a few of the war’s strategic operations, including the famous 1968 Tet Offensive, and they didn’t escape damage. American B52 bombers dropped hundreds of missiles leaving huge tell-tale craters behind. The tunnels served not only as living quarters, but as supply routes and hospitals for thousands of guerilla fighters. Many died there from malaria and other diseases, and a few were also born or married. Today they are viewed by some as a testimony to the Vietnamese people’s resiliency. Return to Ho Chi Minh City around 2pm. Ho Chi Minh City Half Day Private Tour The tour continues with a stop at the Reunification Palace, where a North Vietnamese tank crashed through the gates in 1975 to end a war that killed an estimated 58,000 Americans and three million Vietnamese. You will also visit the War Remnants Museum, where Vietnam’s government has assembled presentations - some of them graphic - of wartime hardships and atrocities.

Depart Saigon from your hotel (if centrally located) via coach and drive towards Can Tho, the beating heart of the Mekong Delta. Stop at the rustic, riverside town of Cai Be where lunch is served at the elegant Le Longanier Restaurant set amidst lush fruit trees by the river. Continue to Can Tho, arriving mid-afternoon and board the Victoria Mekong Cruise Ship. As the ship cruises towards Long Xuyen, watch the sunset over the Hau River, sundowner in hand. As day turns into night, enjoy a traditional Southern Vietnamese folk music performance known as don ca tai tu, followed by a Vietnamese dinner buffet to officially welcome you aboard your Victoria Mekong Cruise. Later, you will be joined by one of our Local Legends, Mr, Nham Hung who will tell their story of making a living from this mighty river. Your guide will translate his/ her fascinating tales whilst you sit back and listen to their remarkable stories. Overnight near Long Xuyen.

After breakfast, tender ashore to visit the authentic Long Xuyen Floating Market and the An Giang Museum, with fascinating exhibits on Kinh, Chinese, Khmer and Cham cultures in the region. During lunch the ship sails on before anchoring near Tiger Island. Head ashore by sampan and explore Tiger Island by 3-wheeled "xe loi", visiting cottage industries such as plant pot making and incense making. Visit a site locally known as “Mr. Tiger’s Temple” and hear the story that won the island its name. Return on board in time for dinner and the evening’s entertainment as the ship continues cruising to Vam Nao where we anchor and overnight.

Wake up to another leisurely breakfast as the ship cruises towards Phu Tan, the provincial capital of An Giang in the Mekong Delta. Tender ashore to visit a craft village famed for handmaking Ca Rang clay stoves. Used for hundreds of years by the southern Vietnamese, these stoves have a unique design which allows them to block the wind, retain heat, and keep ash from dispersing. After lunch on board, visit more Mekong Delta attractions, including floating fish farms and a sacred temple, the spiritual center for residents. Return to the ship in time for a cocktail competition and traditional Vietnamese lion dance, followed by dinner and the evening’s entertainment. Overnight in Tan Chau.

As the ship begins cruising towards the Vietnam - Cambodia border, start the day with an early yoga session on the Sky Deck or by the Infinity Pool, followed by a leisurely breakfast in the restaurant. After, select from the many onboard activities including a ship’s tour, mini-golf tournament, or simply enjoy the scenery as we cross the border between Vietnam and Cambodia and sail on towards Phnom Penh. We arrive late afternoon in the charming capital of Phnom Penh, once known as the “Pearl of the Orient” for its French colonial buildings, tree-lined boulevards, and scenic river walk. Before dinner tonight, take in a lively performance of Khmer Apsara dancing with the opportunity to meet the performers afterward. Overnight in Phnom Penh.

This morning, hop on a three-wheeled cyclo and be driven to the majestic Royal Palace and Silver Pagoda complex. Admire the elaborately constructed palace buildings, some of the 5,000 silver floor tiles that give the Silver Pagoda its name, as well as spectacular gold and bejeweled Buddha statues that are considered national treasures. Walk to the nearby National Museum, a beautiful sandstone building that showcases the world’s largest collection of Khmer art. Set off for lunch afterward before driving to Choeung Ek, one of the mass grave sites of the Killing Fields where the Khmer Rouge executed over a million men, women, and children between 1975 and 1979. Today, Choeung Ek is a memorial with a Buddhist stupa filled with skulls and bones to honor the victims. Finish off the afternoon in style at Raffles Hotel Le Royal, sipping on a signature cocktail at the famed Elephant Bar. Return to the ship and enjoy an interesting pre-dinner lecture about Cambodia as well as learn some basic Khmer phrases.

After breakfast, go on a walking tour of the village of Koh Chen where the highlight is meeting a local copper and silversmith. Afterward, travel by coach to Oudong, the ancient capital of Cambodia with a stop at the fascinating Vipassana Dhura Mediation Center. After having lunch on board, travel by three-wheeled tuk tuk to Silk Island where you will learn about the process of silk weaving, from worm to loom, with the chance to observe local families weaving the iconic Cambodian krama.

This morning, explore the village of Angkor Ban with its wooden stilt houses and local vibe. Enjoy lunch on board as the Victoria Mekong sails to Wat Hanchey. Walk up the steps to this 7th-century hilltop temple built under the Chenla Empire and take in gorgeous panoramic views over the Mekong River.

Disembark from the ship at Kampong Chham and travel through the lush Cambodian countryside. Upon arrival at Siem Reap, gateway to the mystical Angkor Complex, sit down to a final lunch where the cruise program ends. Transfer to your hotel for check-in. Free time at your own leisure for the rest of the day.

Start with a visit to the South Gate of the brilliant Angkor Thom where statues of the gods of good and evil line the entrance. Your next stop is the Bayon temple, known for the hundreds of smiling faces that grace the towers. The bas reliefs are impressive and tell stories of daily life and the great battles that were fought between the Khmers and ancient Thais. Move on to Phimeanakas, shaped a bit like a pyramid with two ponds to the rear. The ponds were once used for religious rituals but today serve as swimming pools for Khmer kids. Walk to the top of the temple for incredible views of the Angkor complex. See the rows of trunks that form the wall of the Terrace of the Elephants, a platform from which King Jayavarman surveyed his army. Close by is the Terrace of Leper Kings, which includes a statue depicting Yana, the Hindu god of death. Then it’s a short drive to one of the most loved temples of all - Ta Prohm. This small crumbling temple is held together by giant tree roots giving it a magical feel. Return to Siem Reap for lunch and to escape the hot sun. Then later in the afternoon enjoy a tuk tuk trip to the magnificent Angkor Wat, the world’s largest religious monument. This visually spectacular temple is a massive three-tiered pyramid, rising 65 metres from the ground and crowned by five lotus towers. It’s the national symbol of Cambodia and proudly appears on the country’s flag. End your day with sunset views over the jungle from the top of Pre Rup Temple before returning to Siem Reap.

Today you will enjoy some wonderful interactions with some of Asia’s warmest people, the local Khmer communities. Begin your first stop at the CMAC museum to learn about the legacy of the civil war and how it affected the lives of millions as well as a brief look into life after the war. Next, we’ll visit a local community village named Kok Sangkai. Your time spent at the village today will financially support several projects planned to help create a sustainable future for the villagers themselves. You’ll meet some of the local families who earn a living by growing vegetables, raising chickens & ducks as well as making bamboo sticky rice. Your guide will be able to describe how the locals live and you might ask questions to interact further. Next, enjoy a simple Khmer style lunch at the community before walking to a local fish farm and an ancient pagoda where you will witness a traditional monk blessing. Return to your hotel this afternoon and free at leisure to relax before tonight enjoy your farewell dinner at a local restaurant with a glass of cocktail included.

You will have free time until the pick-up time to the airport for your departure flight.