After breakfast at your hotel, join a guided tour of Ho Chi Minh City, exploring historic sites and French colonial architecture.

Highlights of the morning include the Reunification Palace, Notre Dame Cathedral, Old Central Post Office, Opera House, and City Hall.

Enjoy lunch at a local restaurant, then in the afternoon, visit Chinatown, Thien Hau Pagoda, and Binh Tay Market, followed by the War Remnants Museum and Phuong Nam lacquer workshop to discover Vietnam’s history, art, and craftsmanship.

This evening, enjoy a welcome dinner aboard the Saigon/Ben Thanh Princess River Cruise, cruising the Saigon River with the city skyline as your backdrop.

**Optional Vespa street food tour – 6-10pm
Experience Saigon by night on a vintage Vespa, exploring the city’s bustling streets and vibrant street food scene. Stop at a local café for a welcome drink, then enjoy a free flow of local beer, soft drinks, and traditional street food including Banh mi, pork BBQ, and other local favourites. Visit back-alley eateries and popular snack spots for an authentic taste of local life. This tour is perfect for food lovers eager to taste Vietnamese cuisine while feeling the energy of Saigon by night.
US$211 per person (minimum 2 guests)

This morning begins with an early start. Following breakfast, board a luxury speedboat and glide along the scenic Saigon River, enjoying tranquil waters, lush riverbanks, and glimpses of local life.

Arrive at the world-renowned Cu Chi Tunnels, an extensive underground network built in 1948 and used by Vietnamese soldiers as hiding places, supply routes, and living quarters during times of conflict. Explore the tunnels to gain a fascinating insight into their history and the incredible resilience and ingenuity of those who lived and fought here.

After your visit, cruise back to Saigon and enjoy lunch at a local restaurant. Return to your hotel for the remainder of the afternoon at leisure. Dinner is by your own arrangements.

After breakfast at the hotel, meet your guide in the lobby for your group transfer to the Mekong Princess at Saigon Port.

Once on board, attend a safety briefing in the Ramvong Lounge and meet your Vietnamese and Cambodian crew before setting off on your extraordinary Mekong journey. Lunch is served as you begin cruising along the Saigon River, a perfect time to settle into your suite and take in the passing scenery.

As evening falls, enjoy cocktails on deck while watching the sunset over the Mekong Delta, followed by a traditional Vietnamese à la carte dinner in the Indochine Restaurant.

This morning, sampans take you through mangrove-lined channels to visit a local coconut candy maker. Walk through the village to an orchard with native Vietnamese fruits, enjoy fresh fruit tasting, then board small local boats for a trip through narrow creeks lined with Nipah palms before returning to the ship.

In the afternoon, the ship sails through a less-visited area of the Mekong Delta to Can Tho City, the region’s riverside capital. Take a short city tour to Zihuang Pagoda (Chua Ong) and enjoy the welcome unicorn dances, then explore the city at your leisure before dinner onboard.
We will dock in Can Tho overnight.

Prior to breakfast, explore the Cai Rang floating market near Can Tho aboard sampans, weaving through the bustling boats selling local produce. Enjoy fresh fruit and coconut water, and visit a local noodle factory to see how traditional noodles are made. Return to the ship for breakfast.

After lunch, travel by boat to Hoa An village, known for its flowers and handmade crafts. Visit flower gardens, meet a local family, and continue by motor cart to see conical hat-making and mat weaving, with opportunities for hands-on experiences and walks through peaceful rice fields and fruit orchards.

Tonight, we anchor near Gieng Island.

After breakfast, board sampans to Gieng Island. Take a short walk around the local village, visit mango gardens, and ride a “xe loi” (motor trishaw) to a historic Catholic Church dating back to the 1870s.

In the afternoon, visit the island village of Hong Ngu, known for its traditional Khmer scarves and embroidery. Observe the weaving process and meet local artisans, then visit a temple of the Hoa Hoa religion.

This late afternoon, the Mekong Princess reaches the Vietnam-Cambodia border to complete exit procedures before continuing up the Mekong River to Phnom Penh, Cambodia’s capital.

** US $50 Cash required for entry visa to Cambodia.

The Mekong Princess docks in Phnom Penh, where after completing immigration, local cyclo drivers take you on a city tour along the riverfront to the Independence Monument, then continue to the National Museum, home to the largest collection of pre-Angkorian and Angkorian artefacts.

Tonight, the ship remains docked in Phnom Penh.

This morning, take a scenic 45-minute drive to Choeung Ek, “The Killing Fields”, and explore the memorial stupa and museum. On the return to Phnom Penh, visit Tuol Sleng (S-21), a former school converted into a Khmer Rouge prison.

The afternoon is free at leisure to explore Phnom Penh, followed by onboard evening entertainment featuring Apsara and traditional folk dances.

Tonight, the ship remains docked in Phnom Penh.

The Mekong Princess sails from Phnom Penh to Angkor Ban. In the afternoon, visit the charming town of Angkor Ban to experience daily life: attend a pagoda blessing by local monks, meet a local family in their home, and visit the village school to join the children in their classroom.

Tonight, the ship docks in Kampong Cham.

Enjoy a sumptuous buffet breakfast in the Indochine Restaurant. After breakfast, disembark the Mekong Princess in Kampong Cham and transfer by motorcoach to Siem Reap, arriving at your hotel around noon. Stay 3 nights.

Stop for lunch at a charming local restaurant, savouring authentic Cambodian cuisine.

This evening, attend an Apsara Cultural Evening and Welcome Dinner.

After breakfast at the hotel, depart for a tour of Angkor Wat, one of the most spectacular religious sites in the world and the pinnacle of the 12th-century Khmer Empire. Visit Banteay Srei Temple, with the order of visits subject to local conditions.

Lunch is included at a local restaurant. For dinner, take a one-way Tuk Tuk to the famous Pub Street and Red Piano, where you can choose from a variety of Khmer and international cuisine, right alongside the night market.

Depart the hotel before dawn by Tuk Tuk to watch the sunrise over the peaks of Angkor Wat, a truly unforgettable experience. Return to the hotel to freshen up and enjoy breakfast.

After breakfast, continue exploring the Temples of Angkor, including the spectacular remnants of Angkor Thom, the Royal City, featuring both Hindu and Buddhist monuments hidden for centuries in the jungle, including the South Gate, Bayon Temple, and Ta Prohm Temple, each showcasing the remarkable artistry and history of the Khmer Empire.

Lunch is at your leisure, allowing time to relax and soak in the surroundings. In the evening, enjoy a group dinner at a local restaurant, sharing highlights of the day with your fellow travellers.

After breakfast at your hotel, check out and transfer to Siem Reap–Angkor International Airport for your flight home, concluding your unforgettable journey through Vietnam and Cambodia.

Arrive back in Auckland, bringing your memorable escorted tour to a close. May the experiences and memories you’ve gathered stay with you always.