Cruising Vietnam to Cambodia

On arrival at Tan Son Nhat Airport, and you are welcomed by the Vietnam Backroads team and transferred to the hotel. Take a rest, recover after a long flight, and enjoy leisure in downtown Saigon.

Ho Chi Minh is known as Saigon formerly, and today locals often called it the city center. It’s one of the country’s leading commercial city hubs. The tour will begin at 8:30 am, visit the iconic Saigon Central Post Office, built between 1886 and 1891 by Foulhoux- French architecture. Then a short walk to Reunification Palace, also known as Independence Palace, a landmark building, the home and workplace of the President of South Vietnam during the Vietnam War. Walk to Gia Long Palace, now is Ho Chi Minh City Museum, for its beautiful architecture, and visit Le Loi Street to meet a local artisan specializing in traditional engravings and then enter Ben Thanh. Various products, such as local handicrafts, souvenirs, clothes, food, and more, are sold in this old central market. Next is the Bitexco Financial Tower; enjoy coffee on the rooftop and views of panoramic Ho Chi Minh City from the sky. Then, stroll down the most notable French colonial buildings on the Nguyen Hue and Dong Khoi Streets, the national Treasure, City Halls, and Opera Houses, and end the day at the hotel.

Depart from the hotel at 8:00 am, travel through crowded Ho Chi Minh City, and enjoy views of lush green countryside, rice paddy fields, and rubber plantations. Spend a couple of hours walking through and exploring the incredible underground network of 250km that Vietnamese soldiers dig over two generations, from Viet Minh to Viet Cong. Crawl underground, explore three levels of the tunnels, and see how small the tunnel are! Imagine how hard life was for those who lived there. After lunch, return to Ho Chi Minh City.

After a leisurely breakfast, a transfer to My Tho, board on Aqua Mekong Cruise. Lunch on board and enjoy all services on board with the following activities of Aqua Mekong Cruise’s itinerary.

In the morning, spend time wandering through the old town of Sadec by the river, visit the vibrant market and the famous house of Marguerite Duras’ legendary lover. The house was the setting of a passionate love affair between its owner Huynh Thuy Le, and Marguerite Duras. In the afternoon, visit a rustic village called My An Hung and stroll through verdant farmlands. Visit a local’s home to taste fresh seasonal fruits and listen to traditional folk songs performed by villagers, followed by a unique unicorn dance. Afterward, venture into the authentic countryside by bicycle with endless photo opportunities through the countryside on back roads. Return the cruise and overnight on board.

Take a small boat ride, entering Basac Canal to Chau Doc floating market, and travel by van to Long Son Pagoda by Sam Mountain. Ask the monks about their age-old Buddhist practices. Return via the bustling morning market. The option a bike ride on Long Khanh Island, Hong Ngu or a rickshaw ride to visit Tan Chau Market and return on the cruise. After lunch, relax by the pool, try traditional Khmer massage or learn to cook Mekong-inspired dishes while you cross the border. 

On this river of time, you can admire dexterous Khmer artisans dyeing and weaving Kroma, the ubiquitous item no Khmer lives without. Explore the riverbank on two wheels, past Buddhist temples and thatch houses perched on spindly wooden stilts while white oxen wade just offshore. After lunch, board the marine-grade aluminum skiffs and head towards the tamarind trees of Preah Prosop, a remote village little has changed over several lifetimes. 

Disembark from the Aqua Mekong and be welcomed by a local English-speaking guide who will accompany you to the hotel for check-in. Phnom Penh was once considered one of the most beautiful cities, located by the Mekong River in oriental countries. The capital city suffered from a turbulent history during the Khmer Rouge and recent development, but it retains its colonial charm. Explore the Cambodian capital by motorized tuk-tuk, the Royal Palace, Silver Pagoda, and the National Museum of Cambodia, home to the world’s largest collection of Khmer art. Then, resume travel to Tuol Sleng Museum of Genocide and the Killing Field or shop at Russian Market. Spend the rest of the day for shopping. 

After breakfast at the hotel, a transfer to the airport for a flight to Siem Reap. Be met by a local English-speaking guide and be transferred to the hotel in Siem Reap. In the afternoon, enjoy a half-day tour of Angkor Wat, and visit significant temples of the Angkor complex. Built during the reign of King Suryavarman II in the early 12th century, Angkor Wat was constructed following the model of the temple mountain symbolizing Mount Meru, home of the gods. The divine residence of Vishnu, the King himself, was to reside here after his death. Inside the temple, the walls are covered with stone carvings and bas-reliefs depicting Hindu mythology and the wars Suryavarman II fought during his reign. Moreover, Angkor Wat is well known for the more than 2,000 Apsara dancers decorating the temple. Construction is thought to have taken around thirty years.

An early start to Angkor Wat, enjoy a sunrise breakfast at Angkor, and then explore the temples by local Cambodian tuk-tuk. The city of Angkor was both the Empire’s political capital and the center of spiritual and cultural power. Commence with escaping the crowds at the picturesque Srah Srang Baray, a “bath” built by the kings of Angkor as a public pool. A multi-tiered landing platform on the west edge of the baray is adorned with naga balustrades and guardian lions, and the sparse remains of an island temple can be seen emerging from the middle of the lake at low water during the dry season. Here, enjoy a beautiful champagne breakfast overlooking the lake on a luxurious cushion and table set up, providing an incredible and serene start to any Angkorian exploration. Many visitors are still strolling around Angkor Wat after sunrise, so this is the best time to experience Ta Prohm. The temple is a perfect example of how nature has crept in and reclaimed its land after the fall of the Angkorian Empire. Continue to the ancient city of Angkor Thom. Angkor Thom was the last capital of the Great Khmer Empire under the reign of Jayavarman VII. This city is surrounded by an 8m high wall, drawing a perfect square. From here, continue to Bayon Temple in the city’s exact center. This 12th-century masterpiece is a study in grandeur and is well-known for its murals depicting daily life at Angkor and the 52 towers with enigmatic faces of the Buddha looking out over the vast provinces of the Great Khmer Empire. Spend this afternoon leisurely shopping at the markets, or return to the hotel to relax.

In the morning, take a rustic countryside tour to learn about life in Ta Brak Village. Meet friendly locals and experience the traditional customs and culture of villagers. Ta Brak is busiest in the morning hours. Sit down with a local family while observing the activities of the village. Take an ox cart ride, a traditional countryside transport for people and goods. The 30-minute ride passes through the tiny villages to the local market, where various vegetables, herbs, and other locally-grown produce are available for sale. Then stroll into the village with opportunities to chat with locals and experience local lives. Locals may plant vegetables or rice or make other products depending on the seasons. For a truly immersive experience, lend a hand and join the locals in these activities! Before leaving the village, partake in a particular Buddhist tradition. Local monks will impart wishes of good luck and success in a solemn, age-old ceremony. Afterward, travel by private vehicle to Siem Reap’s countryside and visit the Golden Silk Pheach Farm, a local NGO that helps to revive the ancient Khmer know-how in silk activities and provides job opportunities to more than 100 local staff. Golden Silk products are ecologically made from the yellow silkworm, unique to Cambodia. Some of the silk products are months, or even years, in the making, each unique. This is one for the connoisseurs of high-quality craftwork. Resume traveling to The “The Citadel of Women” Banteay Srei – Pink Temple is unique because it is constructed of pink sandstone, seen nowhere else in Angkor. The unique temple has some of the most intricate carvings, which display some of the finest examples of classical Khmer art as this small temple is noted for its truly remarkable fine bas-reliefs. On this last evening in Cambodia, enjoy dinner at the incredible Embassy Restaurant; Siem Reap is your gateway to discovering Cambodia’s Gastronomy. Offer high-quality Khmer cuisine and headed by executive chefs Pol & Sok, known as the ‘Kimsan Twins’. Their experience has taken them to different continents. Under the mentoring of Michelin-starred chefs, they have created one of the unique five-star quality cuisines that can be experienced in Siem Reap. With a constantly changing menu based around seasonality, savor the skilfully prepared masterpieces from multiple-course set menus paired with a selection of fine wines.

Breakfast at hotel, and spend your own time exploring Siem Reap City, and it’s a vibrant market in town until a transfer to the airport. Tour End!