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

HANOI TO HO CHI MINH CITY

Day 1 | Hanoi, Vietnam. Arrive in Hanoi where you will be greeted by a Uniworld representative who will transfer you to the hotel.

Day 2 | 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.

Day 3 | Siem Reap, Cambodia. Fly to Siem Reap. You'll fly from Hanoi to Siem Reap and check into the Victoria Angkor Hotel. You'll have a city tour of Siem Reap in the evening. (BB, D)

Day 4 | Siem Reap. Featured Excursion: Angkor Wat Temple Complex. You’ll feel like Indiana Jones as you approach the ancient “jungle temple” of Ta Prohm and marvel at the tentacle-like tree roots that 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. (BB, L)

Day 5 | Siem Reap. Featured Excursion: Angkor Wat Temple Complex. This is another day dedicated to exploring the incredible Angkor Wat Temple Complex, the ancient capital of the Khmer Empire. You’ll begin with the UNESCO World Heritage Angkor Wat, the most recognizable landmark in Cambodia and the largest 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 of the Elephants, and the lichen-covered Terrace fo the Leper King. (BB, D)

Day 6 | Kampong Cham. You'll transfer from Siem Reap to Kampong Cham. (BB, L, D)

Day 7 | Wat Hanchey. Kampong Cham. Featured Excursions: Wat Hanchey Temple Complex, Phnom Pros and Phnom Srey Monastery, and Nokor Bachey Temple. 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 Pros and Phnom Srey (Man Hill and Woman Hill), both of which are topped by multiple temples and frolicking monkeys. You’ll then descend to the base of the hills to view the massive gilded statues of Buddha. Afterward, you’ll travel to Nokor Bachey Temple, built during the same period as the temples constructed at Angkor Wat, it boasts a wealth of intricate wall carvings and severalancient Buddha statues. (BB, L, D)

Day 8 | Angkor Ban. Chong Koh. Featured Excursions: Angkor Ban walking tour and Chong Koh walking tour. 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. Next is Chong Koh, 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. (BB, L, D)

Day 9 | Kampong Chhnang. Featured Excursions: Tonlé Sap river cruise and Kampong Chhnang walking tour. 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 10 | Phnom Penh. Featured Excursions: Choeung Ek Memorial Stupaand grounds, Tuol Sleng Genocide Museum, and Phnom Penh city tour. 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 11 | Cu Lao Gien, Vietnam. Featured excursions: Chau Doc and Cu Lao Gieng. In the morning, we'll tour the 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. In the afternoon, we’ll visit the island of Cu Lao Gieng to tour one of the oldest Cathedrals in Southern Vietnam. (BB, L, D)

Day 12 | Sa Dec. Featured Excursions: Sa Dec and Cai Be. 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. You'll embark 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. (BB, L, D)

Day 13 | My Tho. You'll transfer from My Tho to your hotel in Ho Chi Minh City, Park Hyatt Saigon. (B)

Day 14 | Ho Chi Minh City. Featured Excursions: Cu Chi Tunnels, rubber plantation, Ho Chi Minh city tour. 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 the tunnels, 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. (BB, L, D)

Day 15 | Ho Chi Minh City. Transfer to Ho Chi Minh City Airport for your return flight home or continue your tour with one of our extraordinary optional extensions. (B)

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.

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