The Heart of Cambodia & Vietnam (Southbound) 2024 - 18 Day River Cruise Siem Reap to Hanoi

Call Us 800.528.9300

The Heart of Cambodia & Vietnam (Southbound) 2024

18 Day River Cruise Siem Reap to Hanoi



Tour Description:

This magical Southeast Asia river cruise along the Mekong River will take you through Cambodia and Vietnam, showing you the culture and local traditions of each country and the must-see sites along the way.

Your adventure begins in Siem Reap, Cambodia, with the magnificent Temples of Angkor. Constructed between the 9th and 13th centuries, these ancient ruins are a display of architectural complexity and grandeur unlike anything else in the world. Stand in awe at the most famous of these temples, Angkor Wat, dedicated to the Hindu god, Vishnu; and the Bayon temple, which features some 200 mysterious faces carved in its many towers. Enjoy an inspiring Apsara dance performance and other treasures of the city before embarking on your river cruise. In Kampong Tralach, an ox-cart ride will show you the Cambodian countryside and you’ll meet a local farmer and learn about his daily life. The temple of Wat Hanchey, perched on a hilltop, will provide the most stunning views, and then take part in a traditional water blessing with local monks.

Continue your journey into Vietnam and stroll through a local market—a unique opportunity to see locals buying and selling fresh produce. Via sampan, visit the home of a local family for a cotton-weaving demonstration and a local workshop which makes rice wine and traditional candies. In bustling Ho Chi Minh City, try your hand in the kitchen with a Vietnamese cooking class and go on an excursion to the Cu Chi Tunnels—the extraordinary network of tunnels used by the Viet Cong during the war.

Fly to Hanoi and explore the famous sites, such as the Old Quarter, where peddlers have traded goods for centuries on its 36 ancient streets. Next, a remarkable 2-night cruise along Ha Long Bay will show you its beautiful Limestone Islands. You’ll visit the Cua Van Floating Village, spectacular caves, and even go for a swim at Ti Top Island. The perfect ending to an unforgettable Southeast Asia river cruise vacation!

Map for The Heart of Cambodia & Vietnam (Southbound) 2024 - 18 Day River Cruise Siem Reap to Hanoi
Click for larger view.

Dates & Pricing



Destination & Sightseeing

Day 1 Siem Reap: Welcome to Cambodia
Day 2 Siem Reap: Visit Angkor Wat, Angkor Thom, and Bayon Temple; Apsara dance performance
Day 3 Siem Reap: Visit Ta Prohm, Banteay Srei, and a noodle-making village
Day 4 Siem Reap–Phnom Penh (Embarkation): Fly to Phnom Penh; onboard welcome reception
Day 5 Wat Hanchey–Angkor Ban: Visit Wat Hanchey and partake in a traditional water blessing by local monks; walking tour in Angkor Ban with school visit
Day 6 Kampong Tralach–Konpong Louang–Phnom Penh: Ox-cart ride through the countryside and visit a local farmer’s home in Kampong Tralach; visit the silversmith village of Konpong Louang; visit the Tuol Sleng Museum and one of the Killing Fields in Phnom Penh, or visit the lively central market
Day 7 Phnom Penh: Sightseeing by private cyclo, including the Royal Palace, Silver Pagoda, and the National Museum; show by children from local orphanage
Day 8 Border Crossing–Chau Doc: Visit a local market and the religious sites at Sam Mountain in Chau Doc
Day 9 Long Khanh A–Cu Lao Gieng: Walking tour of Long Khanh A with cotton-weaving demonstration; interact with sampan-making and conical hat making families in Cu Lao Gieng
Day 10 Vinh Long: Visit a local garden and a local workshop to see how rice wine and traditional candy are made
Day 11 Ho Chi Minh City (Disembarkation): Walking tour; visit the famous Rex Hotel for a drink, War Remnants Museum, and Ben Thanh Market; cooking class
Day 12 Ho Chi Minh City: Cu Chi Tunnels excursion
Day 13 Ho Chi Minh City–Hanoi: Fly to Hanoi
Day 14 Hanoi: Visit Ho Chi Minh’s mausoleum, One Pillar Pagoda, and Temple of Literature; lunch at Koto; electric cart ride through the Old Quarter; water puppets performance
Day 15 Hanoi–Ha Long Bay (Embarkation): Drive to Ha Long Bay; visit Cua Van floating village
Day 16 Ha Long Bay: Cruise the bay; visit Ti Top Island, Luon Cave, and Dark and Bright Cave; opportunity to explore by kayak
Day 17 Ha Long Bay (Disembarkation)–Hanoi: Visit Sung Sot Cave; drive to Hanoi
Day 18 Hanoi: End of vacation

ITINERARY

Day 1
SIEM REAP, CAMBODIA Timeless Temples Welcome to Siem Reap, home to the Temples of Angkor, considered by many to be the most spectacular architectural ruins on Earth! Hotel rooms are available for mid-afternoon check-in SIEM-REAP-ANGKOR-WAT.jpg

Day 2
SIEM REAP The Tranquil Temples of Angkor and Joyful Dances CLASSIC 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, a private Apsara Dance Performance brings ancient Khmer culture to life through music, song, and dance. SIEM-REAP-ASPARA-DANCERS.jpg
Meal Icon BreakfastLunchMeal Icon Dinner

Day 3
SIEM REAP Root-Covered Ruins and Native Noodles CLASSIC Continue your Sightseeing Tour to 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. Spend the afternoon at your leisure. SIEM-REAP-ANGKOR-WAT-TEMPLE.jpg
Meal Icon Breakfast

Day 4
PHNOM PENH (EMBARKATION) 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. AFTERNOON/EVENING CRUISE TO WAT HANCHEY PHNOM-PENH-WELCOME.jpg

Day 5
WAT HANCHEY–ANGKOR BAN 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 WAT-HANCHEY.jpg
Meal Icon BreakfastLunchMeal Icon Dinner

Day 6
KAMPONG TRALACH–KONPONG LOUANG Calm in the Cambodian Countryside DISCOVERY 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 PENH A Dark History or Market Dynamics CLASSIC After lunch, a Visit to the Tuol Sleng Genocide Museum and one of the Killing Fields offers 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). KAMPONG-TRALACH-OX-CART.jpg

Day 7
PHNOM PENH 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 PHNOM-PENH-ROYAL-PALACE.jpg
Meal Icon BreakfastLunchMeal Icon Dinner

Day 8
BORDER CROSSING–CHAU DOC, VIETNAM 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 CHAU-DOC-MARKET.jpg
Meal Icon BreakfastLunchMeal Icon Dinner

Day 9
LONG KHANH A–CU LAO GIENG Cotton Weaving, Conical Hats, and Handcrafted Sampans DISCOVERY 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 CU-LAO-GIENG-HAT-MAKING.jpg
Meal Icon BreakfastLunchMeal Icon Dinner

Day 10
VINH LONG 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 VINH-LONG-BRICK-KILN.jpg
Meal Icon BreakfastLunchMeal Icon Dinner

Day 11
HO CHI MINH CITY (DISEMBARKATION) Motorbikes, Monuments, and Mouthwatering 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. HO-CHI-MINH-CITY-FOOD.jpg

Day 12
HO CHI MINH CITY. EXCURSION TO CU CHI TUNNELS 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 the city further during free time this afternoon. This evening, join your traveling companions for a special dinner in a local restaurant. HO-CHI-MINH-CITY-CU-CHI-TUNNELS.jpg
Meal Icon BreakfastMeal Icon Dinner

Day 13
HO CHI MINH CITY–HANOI Hanoi Bound Today, transfer to the airport and fly to Hanoi. Upon arrival, transfer to your hotel for the night. HANOI.jpg
Meal Icon Breakfast

Day 14
HANOI Historic Hanoi and Water Puppets CLASSIC First, join a Guided Visit of the mausoleum and the humble cottage from which “Uncle Ho” ruled Vietnam until his death in 1969. Next, see iconic sites, including One Pillar Pagoda, the Presidential Palace, and the infamous “Hanoi Hilton.” Lastly, visit the 900-year-old Temple of Literature, Hanoi’s first university. Enjoy lunch at Koto, a non-profit restaurant and hospitality program that teaches local children restaurant skills for stable employment opportunities. CLASSIC After lunch, enjoy an Electric Cart Ride through the fascinating Old Quarter—with its 36 ancient streets where merchants trade as they have for centuries. DISCOVERY An early dinner this evening is followed by a fascinating Live Performance of Hanoi’s renowned water puppets, a traditional 11th-century artform. HANOI-ONE-PILLAR-PAGODA.jpg
Meal Icon BreakfastLunchMeal Icon Dinner

Day 15
HANOI–HA LONG BAY Island Shapes and a Floating Village Travel from Hanoi through the fertile countryside to Ha Long Bay, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The bay is dotted with more than 3,000 limestone islands carved into fanciful shapes. Board the luxurious Paradise Elegance for a 2-Night Cruise on the bay. DISCOVERY Visit the Cua Van Floating Village, home to more than 700 people, by bamboo raft, OR: ACTIVE Take a Kayak Ride to visit Cua Van Village. Enjoy scenic sailing for the remainder of the day before anchoring for the night. HANOI-ONE-PILLAR-PAGODA.jpg
Meal Icon BreakfastLunchMeal Icon Dinner

Day 16
HA LONG BAY Caves, Kayaks, and Scenic Climbs DISCOVERY Visit Ti top Island, for a Guided Excursion for a swim, or climb 400 steps to the top of the island for stunning views. You can also visit Luon Cave by boat, and explore Dark & Bright Cave by bamboo raft, OR: ACTIVE Explore Luon Cave and Dark & Bright Cave by Kayak Ride. After a day of exploring, consider a spa treatment or simply relax for happy hour prior to dinner! HA-LONG-BAY.jpg
Meal Icon BreakfastLunchMeal Icon Dinner

Day 17
HA LONG BAY–HANOI Surprising and Amazing Beauty This morning, relax onboard your ship, or visit Sung Sot Cave, considered one of the most beautiful in the area with its magnificent formations. Afterwards, return to Hanoi and check in to your hotel. The remainder of the day is yours to spend at your leisure. HA-LONG-BAY-SUNG-SOT-CAVE.jpg
Meal Icon Breakfast

Day 18
HANOI Your vacation ends with breakfast this morning. HANOI-FLOWER-VENDOR
Meal Icon Breakfast

Accommodations

Siem ReapHo Chi Minh CityHanoiHa Long Bay
Park Hyatt Siem Reap
Deluxe



Sivutha Blvd Siem Reap Cambodia

The Park Hyatt, Siem Reap is the city's most prestigious address and perfect base to explore the Temples of Angkor. Located in the heart of the city, this award winning hotel blends an elegant and contemporary design to create an enlivening resort and residential feel. From the second you arrive you will be welcomed by true Cambodian hospitality and superb service. The stylish guestrooms offer a refined home away from home with all the amenities one would expect from a deluxe hotel. The luxurious collection of accommodation is matched by stylish dining venues that offer fresh, flavorful, well-presented dishes of French and Indochine inspirations. Lighter fare is also offered at The Glass House, the onsite deli-patisserie. Discerning travelers will appreciate the other amenities on offer. Relax by one of the two pools or in the inviting Living Room lounge and bar, get in a work out in the fitness center, or visit The Spa for holistic therapies and treatments using only locally harvested floral and aromatic ingredients.
Check Mark Disclaimer: Prices listed are per person, based on double occupancy, and in USD. All promotions are valid for new bookings only, capacity controlled and valid on select dates and departures. Individual Terms and Conditions will apply to all promotions. Any promotion can be withdrawn at any time without notice. Please speak with your Pavlus Travel Planner for complete vendor terms and conditions, including eligible tour and cruise dates.

FAQ Avalon Cruises Frequently Asked Questions FAQ

Pavlus Travel tells you there's a wide World out there just waiting to be explored on river cruises by you, and Avalon Waterways like Pavlus Travel knows there is more than a river cruise for you and your family to see it all. Why not experience local cities, villages, and countrysides your way with a wide selection of active excursions and activities brought to you by Avalon River Cruises that put you right in the middle of it all. Borrow a bike to ride through the streets of Amsterdam, grab a Nordic walking stick to capture the castle with a hike up the vineyard off the Rhine River, or paddle a canoe along Austria’s river shores. Pavlus makes it easy to turn sightseeing into doing your adventure in real time. You’ll find all the guidance and gear you from Avalon Waterways staff to embark on an expedition of your own. From a complimentary yoga class aboard your Avalon River Cruise to a jogging tour of Vienna or an optional kayaking excursion. Know that Pavlus Travel discounts Avalon River Cruises be they in Europe or the Far East. You'll enjoy every Avalon River Cruises Ship.