Today, set out on your Signature Experience. Visit a local garden and meet the farmers who work there while taking part in several different farming activities. You'll then set out on an exploration of the water coconut palm jungle by basket boat.
Depart Hoi An bound for Hue, the former Imperial Capital. Travel via Da Nang and up and over the stunning Hai Van Pass, with views across Lang Co Beach. This scenic mountain stretch has been voted by some travellers as one of the world's most picturesque drives. Dine on authentic Hue cuisine at Nam Phuong restaurant inside the hotel. The restaurant is named after Vietnam's last queen. Stay Two Nights: Silk Path Grand Hue Resort & Spa (B/D)
Signature Experiences:
Time permitting, stroll through bustling and vibrant Dong Ba market to peruse a variety of local goods and delicacies before transferring to Hue's Phu Bai International Airport for your included flight to Hanoi. Settle into your new surrounds over dinner at Spice Garden Restaurant, the hotel's highly awarded Vietnamese restaurant. Stay Two Nights: Sofitel Legend Metropole Hanoi (B/D)
A guided tour of Hanoi takes you to the city's most famous historical and cultural sites. Highlights include Ho Chi Minh's Mausoleum, Ba Dinh Square and the Temple of Literature, a beautiful example of Vietnamese architecture and the first university in Vietnam. Nearby is the iconic One Pillar Pagoda, one of Vietnam's most significant attractions, marking a notable development of Buddhism in the country. Constructed on a single pillar of stone in the middle of a lotus pond, this pagoda is a religious stop for local pilgrims.
You'll also enjoy a cyclo ride through the Old Quarter. Explore the maze-like streets of this charming area where each street conveys the name of the type of business that once operated there, such as Bamboo Street, Sugar Street and Silver Street. Then, explore more of this vibrant city on your selected Freedom of Choice experience. Tonight, choose your dining experience. (B/D)
Freedom of Choice:
Awake early and as the sun rises, perhaps rejuvenate your body and soul with a Tai Chi class.
Later this morning, gain a first glimpse of Cat Ba Island before disembarking to discover Viet Hai Village.
Following a village-style lunch, a secluded swim or chance to sunbathe is on the cards. Return to the ship and cruise towards the heart of Ha Long Bay. Sightsee around Cua Van Floating Village by kayak or traditional rowing boat. The area is considered one of the most beautiful destinations in the world by Travel + Leisure magazine. A barbeque dinner aboard the Au Co caps off an exciting day. (B/L/D)
Join a walking discovery of Angkor Ban, one of the few villages in Cambodia not destroyed under the Khmer Rouge regime in the 1970s.
Later, your ship glides between the lush banks of the Mekong to Oknha Tey, which is renowned for its silk weaving traditions. Stroll among the stilt houses and gain an insight into the traditional silk weaving process. Watch as the village women create beautiful Khmer fabrics from their wooden looms. (B/L/D)
Enjoy the day cruising towards the Vietnamese border. While border formalities are carried out, perhaps attend a fruit-carving demonstration or learn the art of creating Vietnamese spring rolls. Alternatively, relax your body with a rejuvenating treatment from the spa. Cross into Vietnam and cruise to the riverside town of Tan Chau, the first stop after the border. (B/L/D)
Transfer to a small boat for a journey along the tiny tributaries that snake around the riverside town of Tan Chau. Cruise past a floating fish farm, then step ashore for a rickshaw tour of Tan Chau, passing shops, rice wine rooms and friendly locals who are always eager to say hello. Stop to pay a visit to a local silk and rattan weaving workshop.
Later, step back in time during a visit to Evergreen Island, where you'll experience authentic rural Mekong life. The remainder of today is left free for you to relax on board your river ship. Perhaps take a moment to watch local life gently glide by as you cruise towards Sa Dec. (B/L/D)
Journey by small tender boat past floating fish farms to Sa Dec where French writer Marguerite Duras met her Vietnamese-Chinese lover, Huynh Thuy Le. Tour his former home and learn the story behind Duras' best-selling novel, The Lover. After, visit a traditional Cao Dai temple. Return to the ship and sit down to a delicious lunch while you cruise towards Cai Be. Board your tender boat where you'll visit the French Gothic cathedral and port area. Then visit a rice paper manufacturer to learn how this Vietnamese staple is made.
Tonight, enjoy your farewell dinner on board as you cruise towards your final stop My Tho. (B/L/D)
Bid farewell to the crew and disembark your ship at My Tho. Transfer to Ho Chi Minh City then to Tan Son Nhat International Airport for your onward flight. (B)
Deluxe Twin Balcony Suite
The Deluxe Twin Balcony Suite offers 28 square metres of luxurious space, featuring both panoramic and outdoor balconies. The suite includes a queen-size bed (or optional twin-bed configuration) with luxury bed linen, a comfortable sitting area with a sofa, a reading chair, and a writing desk. The private ensuite bathroom is equipped with a separate standing shower, a hairdryer, and locally sourced amenities.
Guests enjoy daily laundering of up to two items, a minibar replenished daily with local beer, soft drinks, and water, and individual climate control. Additional amenities include free Wi-Fi (connection speed may vary), a flat-screen TV with a selection of channels, plush robes and slippers, twice-daily housekeeping, a large wardrobe and storage area, a telephone, and a safe.
Bayon Suite
The Bayon Suite offers a luxurious 43 square metres of space, featuring both a panoramic balcony and a large outdoor balcony terrace with comfortable sun lounge seating. The suite includes a queen-size bed (or optional twin-bed configuration) with luxury bed linen, a comfortable sitting area with a sofa, a reading chair, and a writing desk. The private ensuite bathroom is equipped with a separate standing shower, a spa bath, a hairdryer, and locally sourced amenities.
Guests benefit from Silver Butler Service, which includes daily fruit platters, shoe shining, appointment bookings, and one spa treatment per person per cruise. Additional amenities include a minibar replenished daily, individual climate control, free Wi-Fi, a flat-screen TV with a selection of channels, plush robes and slippers, and twice-daily housekeeping. The suite also features a large wardrobe and storage area, a telephone, and a safe, along with complimentary laundry for two items per guest per day.
Angkor Suite
The Angkor Suite provides an opulent 63 square metres of space, featuring a panoramic balcony and a large outdoor balcony terrace with comfortable lounge seating. The suite includes a queen-size bed with luxury bed linen and a large separate sitting area furnished with a sofa, reading chair, and writing desk. The private ensuite bathroom is equipped with a separate standing shower, spa bath, hairdryer, and locally sourced amenities.
Guests enjoy Gold Butler Service, which includes daily fruit platters, evening canapés, shoe shining, appointment bookings, one spa treatment per person per cruise, and one bottle of French Champagne per cruise. Additional amenities include a minibar replenished daily, individual climate control, free Wi-Fi a flat-screen TV with a selection of channels, plush robes and slippers, and twice-daily housekeeping. The suite also offers a large wardrobe and storage area, a telephone, a safe, and complimentary laundry for two items per guest per day, ensuring an exceptional and indulgent stay.
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