Welcome to Ho Chi Minh City, still affectionately referred to by locals as Saigon. This former capital of Indochina was once known as the “Paris of the Orient.” Today, Vietnam’s largest city is an industrial, cultural, and educational hub, but still retains vestiges of its colonial past. After checking in to your hotel, the rest of the day is at your leisure.

Today enjoy a city tour that explores such famous landmarks as the former Presidential Palace, a photo stop at the Central Post Office, and Notre Dame Cathedral. Visit the War Remnants Museum, one of the city’s most popular tourist attractions, known for its vast collection of artifacts from the Vietnam War. Finish with a visit to the Ben Thanh Market – one of the oldest and most iconic structures in Ho Chi Minh City, where you can search for local handicrafts, colorful textiles, as well as other unique souvenirs and gifts. 

In the morning, visit Ben Thanh Market—one of the oldest and most iconic structures in Ho Chi Minh City. Board the AmaDara at My Tho Port. Meet your fellow travelers at a Welcome Dinner as the ship cruises to Cai Be. 

After breakfast, take an excursion in a local boat around Cai Be to see the spectacular floating market. Also have an opportunity to visit candy and rice paper workshops. An afternoon excursion takes you to Sa Dec, a sprawling town on the Mekong Delta, where French writer Marguerite Duras spent part of her childhood. Visit the local market, Cao Dai Temple, and the house of Mr. Huynh Thuy Le, Duras’s Chinese paramour. The ship sails overnight to Tan Chau. 

Enjoy a visit to Tan Chau, a small Mekong River town unspoiled by tourism. Have the opportunity to get an authentic experience and take a traditional “xe-loi” (trishaw) ride around the town, with stops at silk-making and rattan mat workshops, followed by a boat ride through the narrow channels of the Mekong River to “Evergreen Island.” Alternatively, simply take the boat ride to Evergreen Island and return to Tan Chau, where you can visit a rattan mat workshop. Later in the day, cruise from Vietnam to the Cambodian border en route to Phnom Penh.

This morning’s excursion takes you to Cambodia’s infamous KillingFields and the Khmer Rouge’s grim Tuol Sleng S21 detention center (Genocide Museum). After lunch on board, explore the highlights of the city, followed by a visit to the Royal Palace, the spectacular Silver Pagoda and the National Museum, which has an outstanding collection of Khmer crafts. After returning to the ship, enjoy Khmer folk dancing performed by local children in the Saigon Lounge. 

Experience Phnom Penh via an authentic Tuk Tuk ride and be enchanted by the city's French Colonial architecture and tree-lined boulevards set amidst monumental Angkorian architecture. Alternatively, you may wish to shop for unique treasures at the bustling yellow-colored Central Market. Later in the morning, set sail for Oknhatey Village. Oknhatey is “Silk Island,” located on the lush banks of the Mekong River and known for its rich tradition of silk weaving. While here, visit a local elementary school and observe the traditional silk weaving of handicrafts. Afterwards, the ship set sail to Kampong Chhnang. 

A local motorboat takes you into the lakeside wetlands that form the mouth of Tonle Sap River. Enjoy the stunning variety of bird life here as well as tranquil floating villages. Later in the day, the ship sails to Kampont Tralach. 

In Kampong Tralach, have a truly authentic excursion – an oxcart ride through a local village along the river bank. Afterwards, you’ll go to Oudong, Cambodia’s former royal capital from the early 17th century until 1866. Today, Oudong is a place of pilgrimage for Cambodians. While here, be treated to a memorable Buddhist Blessing Ceremony at a monastery. During the afternoon, take a leisurely walk through Koh Chen and visit home workshops specializing in silver- and copper-smithing. Get an up-close view of how local artisans make ornamental items often used in traditional ceremonies. 

Your cruise comes to an end as you disembark at Prek Kdam, a small village on the Tonle River. After disembarking, transfer by motor coach to Siem Reap, the gateway to Angkor and the former capital of the Khmer empire. After checking in to your hotel, the rest of the day is yours to spend at your leisure. Tonight, enjoy a special “Apsara Dancing Show” at your hotel, featuring local Cambodian/Khmer folk dancers. 

This morning visit the most iconic of all Angkorian temples, Angkor Wat. This intricate and massive temple complex was built by King Suryavarman II in the early 12th century to honor the Hindu god, Vishnu. The temple stands as a masterpiece of Khmer architecture. Afterwards visit Angkor Thom, Bayon Temple, best known for its gigantic smiling stone faces, the Terrace of the Elephants, and the Terrace of the Leper King. This afternoon, travel through the rural countryside to visit the pink sandstone temple of Banteay Srei, the "jewel of Khmer art." This afternoon, visit an English-language school sponsored by the expedition company in a nearby village. 

After breakfast, have a guided sightseeing tour of the Angkor Archaeological Park, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Highlights include Ta Prohm Temple, known as the “Kingdom of Trees” for the way in which the temple stones have become intertwined with thick forest vegetation over the centuries. A short flight that takes you to Hanoi. This evening, arrive in Hanoi and check in to your hotel. 

Hanoi, Vietnam’s capital city, is known for its graceful colonial architecture, frenetic streets, and verdant parks and temples. A morning sightseeing tour takes you to some of Hanoi’s most famous historical and cultural sites, including the Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum, Ba Dinh Square, One-pillar Pagoda, and The Temple of Literature. Also visit the infamous prison that American POWs sarcastically dubbed the “Hanoi Hilton” during the Vietnam War. In the afternoon, experience an authentic rickshaw ride (known as a “cyclo”) in the Old Quarter, followed by a traditional water puppet show. 

After breakfast, leave Hanoi behind and take a scenic ride to one of Vietnam’s most renowned locations, Ha Long Bay, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Board a contemporary junk with traditional accents, and spend the night – an incredible once-in-a-lifetime experience and an expedition company exclusive. Enjoy an onboard dinner set against the bay’s magnificent scenery and dramatic limestone cliffs and rock formations. 

Disembark the Junk in Ha Long Bay and transfer to Hanoi. The rest of the day is free to explore on your own and perhaps venture to nearby shops for mementos of your Southeast Asia adventure. 

Bid farewell to Vietnam and prepare for your homeward flight