UNIWORLD
15 Days | Timeless Wonders of Vietnam,
Cambodia and the Mekong River
Northbound

HO CHI MINH CITY TO HANOI

Day 1 | Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam. Arrive at Ho Chi Minh City’s Tan Son Nhat International Airport where you will be greeted by a Uniworld representative who will transfer you to the InterContinental Asiana Saigon Hotel. Upon arrival, enjoy a private check-in with a welcome drink.

Day 2 | Ho Chi Minh City. The Cu Chi Tunnels are an astonishing system of underground passageways used by the Viet Cong during the Vietnam War. You’ll learn about the tunnels’ astounding history and interact with a Viet Cong veteran about his experience in the area. Following, we’ll learn about the harvesting and processing of latex at a local rubber plantation before returning to Ho Chi Minh for a panoramic city tour. You’ll also get to visit with lacquer artisans about the history of their beloved craft. Tonight, enjoy a special Welcome Dinner at a local restaurant featuring live music and exquisitely presented food. (BB,L,Welcome Dinner)

Day 3 | Ho Chi Minh City. Transfer to My Tho. Embark. Cai Be. After breakfast, you’ll check out of your hotel and head to My Tho, where your ship awaits you. Enjoy a few hours of scenic sailing before embarking on a luxurious sampan cruise through Cai Be for a tour of the historic An Kiet House—a former imperial residence—and its beautiful gardens. Afterward, take a short walk to a local establishment where workers make everything from rice paper and rice wine to coconut candy. During the evening, you’ll enjoy a special Welcome Reception onboard the ship. (BB,L,Welcome Reception, Vietnamese Theme Dinner)

Day 4 | Sa Dec. Cu Lao Gien. Today’s sampan cruise through Sa Dec’s narrow canals is the perfect opportunity to observe locals going about their daily routines. You’ll visit a local factory where bricks and tiles are made with clay from the Mekong River. Here, you’ll also learn how rice husks from the rice processing facility next door are used to fuel the brick factory’s kilns that fill the Sa Dec landscape—just one example of the Vietnamese people’s remarkable ingenuity. Return to your luxurious sampan and sail past bustling markets into the center of town for a tour of the former home of Mr. Huyn Thuy Le made famous by its connection to best-selling French novelist, Marguerite Duras. After lunch onboard, we’ll sail to the island of Cu Lao Gien to tour one of the oldest Cathedrals in Southern Vietnam. (BB,L,D)

Day 5 | Chau Doc. In the Mekong Delta, residents live, work, and even shop on the water. Today, you’ll be immersed in local life touring lively Chau Doc harbor, which teems with traditional Vietnamese floating markets and homes. You’ll see housewives paddling their sampans from boat to boat, bartering and socializing with the harbor’s many vendors. Then you’ll visit a floating fish farm to learn about this important local industry and where you'll feed the thousands of tilapia and other fish being raised. Later, you’ll board a shuttle to visit the base of Sam Mountain, one of the holiest sites in southern Vietnam, where millions (estimated 8 to 10 million) of Vietnamese visit as part of an annual pilgrimage. (BB,L,D)

Day 6 | Phnom Penh, Cambodia. The orchards and fields surrounding Choeung Ek belie what took place here during the violent reign of the Khmer Rouge. It is impossible to remain unmoved when visiting this area known as the “Killing Fields.” Afterward, you’ll visit the Tuol Sleng Genocide Museum, also known as “S-21,” a former high school transformed by the Khmer Rouge into a torture and interrogation center. The fear, sadness, and disbelief conveyed in many prisoners’ mug shots will touch you, while the brave defiance displayed by others will remind you of the indomitable power of the human spirit. Following your powerful morning excursion, you’ll take an afternoon cyclo (cycle rickshaw), tour of Phnom Penh’s wide boulevards and French-infused architecture. After a visit to the impressive Royal Palace and Silver Pagoda, you’ll tour the National Museum, which features a grand collection of artifacts from the Angkor Wat Temple Complex. (BB,L,D)

Day 7 | Kampong Chhnang. Here, you’ll cruise the Tonlé Sap River to the city of Kampong Chhnang. You’ll stop for a walking tour of Kampong Chhnang, a bustling riverfront community supported by the local fish trade.You’ll then reboard the River Saigon for a sunset cruise as you cruise the Tonlé River returning to the Mekong River. (BB,L,D)

Day 8 | Chong Koh. Angkor Ban. Chong Koh is a small village famous along the Mekong for its silk and cotton weaving; as you walk along the village’s main road, you’ll see looms under nearly every home and women offering beautifully crafted scarves and tablecloths. You’ll pop into a villager’s home to learn about how fruits and vegetables are used by the locals to treat illness. Afterward, you’ll visit the village school to observe and interact with school children. Don’t be surprised if your arrival is greeted by squeals of delight—the children love visitors, and love to practice their English. Later, you’ll sail to the very rural village of Angkor Ban. You’ll enjoy a walking tour of this charming horse-and-cart hamlet, visiting traditional Khmer homes and talking with monks at the local Buddhist monastery. (BB,L,D)

Day 9 | Wat Hanchey. Kampong Cham. You’ll arrive at Wat Hanchey, a beautifully situated temple complex with incredible views overlooking the Mekong River. Take your time enjoying the peaceful atmosphere and marvel at the quality of the 7th-century artifacts and then enjoy a traditional water-blessing by the local monks. You’ll visit the twin holy hilltops of Phnom Prosand Phnom Srey (Man Hill and Woman Hill), both of which are topped by multiple temples and frolicking monkeys. You’ll then descend to the baseof the hills to view the massive gilded statues of Buddha. Afterward, you’ll travel to Nokor Bachey Temple, built during the same period as thetemples constructed at Angkor Wat, it boasts awealth of intricate wall carvings and severalancient Buddha statues. (BB,L,Royal Cambodian Theme Dinner)

Day 10 | Kampong Cham. Disembark. Transfer to Siem Reap. You’ll disembark your ship in the morning and transfer to Siem Reap, gateway to ancient Angkor monument by executive coach. After settling into your deluxe room at the glorious Victoria Angkor Hotel, you’ll hop on a tuk-tuk (auto rick shaw) for a tour of the city. You’ll have free time to explore the city before taking in a traditional Apsara dance show with dinner in the hotel’s courtyard. (BB,D)

Day 11 | Siem Reap. This is the first of two days dedicated to exploring the incredible Angkor Wat Temple Complex, the ancient capital of the Khmer Empire. You’ll begin with the UNESCO World Heritage AngkorWat, the most recognizable landmark in Cambodia and thelargest religious monument in the world. After lunch at a local restaurant, you’ll journey to the intricately decorated South Gate of Angkor Thom and the pyramid-temple of Bayon, which features the enormous carved heads that have become an iconic symbol of Angkor. You’ll also see the Baphuon Temple, the grand Terrace ofthe Elephants, and the lichen-covered Terrace of the Leper King. (BB,L)

Day 12 | Siem Reap. You’ll feel like Indiana Jones as you approach the ancient “jungle temple” of Ta Prohm and marvel at the tentacle-like tree rootsthat have enveloped the entire structure. You’ll also see the Ta Keo pyramid and Preah Khan, which is believed to have been a massive Buddhist university. You’ll visit Banteay Srei, considered by many experts to be the pinnacle of artistic achievement at Angkor, and Banteay Samré. After a long and exciting day of sightseeing, you’ll indulge in sumptuous food and live entertainment at a local French-Indonesian restaurant. (BB,D)

Day 13 | Siem Reap. Fly to Hanoi, Vietnam. You’ll fly from Siem Reap to Hanoi and check into your stunning InterContinental Hotel Westlake. The afternoon and evening are yours to spend at leisure in Vietnam’s charming capital city. (BB)

Day 14 | Hanoi. You’ll spend the morning visiting Hanoi’s most famous historical and cultural sites. Step inside the Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum, a holy place for many Vietnamese. See famed One Pillar Pagoda—which has been built and rebuilt since 1049—and the massive Temple of Literature, an important Confucian institution that also dates from the 11th century. Then hop aboard a cyclo for a tour of the colonial area of Hanoi. The city’s elegant, tree-lined boulevards and weathered colonial buildings are sure to delight you. (BB, Farewell Dinner)

Day 15 | Depart Hanoi. Transfer to the airport for your return flight home, or continue your tour with one of our extraordinary optional extensions. (CB,BB)

Note: Order of sightseeing may change throughout the itinerary. Substitute visits to other sites may occur during your trip due to uncontrollable factors.

NOTE: Itinerary is subject to change without notice. For the most up-to-date information, please refer to the itinerary schedule you receive with your final documents.

NORTHBOUND ITINERARY 15 DAYS | HO CHI MINH CITY TO HANOI Click HERE to view 15 day SOUTHBOUND itinerary.