Vietnam and Cambodia Discovery

• Receive Fast Track Service for a seamless arrival in Hanoi, Vietnam.

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, the iconic One Pillar Pagoda and the Temple of Literature, a beautiful example of Vietnamese architecture and the first university in Vietnam. 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:

• Perhaps tour the 500-year-old village of Bat Trang, world famous for its pottery. Or relax and enjoy a hand, head or foot massage back at your hotel. Embark on a walking tour to observe Hanoi's French colonial architecture, discover the importance of Vietnamese coffee during a private hands-on workshop or take in a water puppet show.
• Tonight, you're invited to choose from a vast range of superb restaurants that have been carefully selected for you.

• Join a local historian for a private tour of a bomb shelter. Hear stories of its chance discovery and learn about the famous guests that sought shelter during air raids.
• Embark on your three-day cruise on the World Heritage-listed Ha Long Bay.

Awake 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)

Set off for an early visit to Sung Sot Cave, the largest cave of the bay with 10,000 square meters of space holding thousands of stalactites and stalagmites in fascinating shapes and sizes. Enjoy brunch on board as your ship makes its way back to port.

Disembark and transfer to Hanoi airport for your included flight to Ho Chi Minh City, where you'll be met by your Tour Director. Stay Two Nights: Ho Chi Minh City, Park Hyatt Saigon (B/L/D)

• Journey by speedboat to the Cu Chi Tunnels, built by Vietnamese resistance fighters during the war.
• Meet a Master Distiller at Lady Trieu Gin Distillery and enjoy a private tasting.
• Dine on a specially selected multicourse fusion meal at the highly acclaimed Vietnam House, and enjoy a special cocktail designed specifically for APT guests.

• Today you can choose to enjoy a leisurely walking discovery of Ho Chi Minh City. Or you might like to jump on the back of a motorbike for an exciting city ride. Or join a local instructor for a gentle Tai Chi class. Alternatively, you may like to try out your culinary skills with a fun cooking class or embark on a shopping spree.

Board your traditional sampan for your first excursion on the banks of the Mekong. Step ashore to visit Cai Be Catholic Church and the colourful port area filled with crumbling colonial buildings and flowering gardens. Built in the Roman architectural style, the bell tower, with its set of four bells cast in France in 1931, is the tallest of all the churches in the Mekong Delta.

Afterwards, you'll visit rice paper and coconut candy manufacturers and learn how these Vietnamese staples are made. Head back to the ship to refresh before sitting down to savour a delicious lunch whilst continuing to cruise to the quaint town of Sa Dec. Upon arrival, explore Sa Dec by foot and meet some of the sellers at the colourful market.

Continue to 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. Watch visitors and pilgrims come and go and appreciate the beauty of the colourful building. Dinner is served as you cruise towards Tan Chau. (B/L/D)

Transfer to a small boat to cruise the tiny tributaries around the town of Tan Chau. Pass a floating fish farm, then step ashore for a fun rickshaw tour and a visit to a local silk and rattan weaving workshop.

Later, step back in time as you experience authentic rural Mekong life on a nearby Evergreen Island. The remainder of today is yours to relax on board and soak up views of the Mekong. Upon entering Cambodia, you'll cruise towards its enthralling capital, Phnom Penh. (B/L/D)

• Experience some of Cambodia's sobering history with a visit to the infamous Killing Fields and Tuol Sleng Genocide Museum. Otherwise, discover Phnom Penh on a cyclo ride to uncover some well-known sights. History buffs can admire the exhibits at the National Museum, or perhaps explore the Royal Palace and Silver Pagoda. Or you may wish to set off on a journey to sample some locally brewed beers at two of the city's craft breweries.

Today, journey to historic Oudong, which was Cambodia's fascinating royal capital from 1618 until 1866. During your time here, you'll enjoy a Signature Experience. On the way back to Phnom Penh, take a leisurely stroll through the village of Koh Chen and visit some home workshops that manufacture copperware.

Later, your ship glides along the lush banks of the Mekong to Oknha Tey, which is renowned for its silk manufacturing traditions, preserved over centuries. Stroll among the stilt houses and gain an insight into the traditional silk weaving process. Watch as the village women create the beautiful Khmer fabrics from their wooden looms. Return to your river ship to relax before enjoying delicious onboard dining tonight. (B/L/D)

Signature Experiences:

• In Oudong, pay a visit to a monastery for a Buddhist blessing experience with local monks.

Sail to Angkor Ban, where you'll disembark and enjoy a captivating walking discovery of this historic village. Remarkably, Angkor Ban stands as one of the rare Cambodian villages that remained unscathed during the tumultuous Khmer Rouge regime of the 1970s. Here, people still live in traditional wooden homes and keep ancient cultural traditions alive.

This afternoon, your ship continues sailing upstream to Wat Hanchey. (B/L/D)

• Journey by local tuk tuk around a riverside village and gain an insight of village life.

• Be welcomed backstage at Phare Circus and watch a mesmerising performance from your VIP seats. Combining captivating acrobatics, theatre and storytelling, this performance showcases the country's rich culture and talent.
• Visit ODA, Opportunities of Development through Art, a OneTomorrow partner.

• Tonight, take the opportunity to savour a taste of Cambodia with a choice of local restaurants for dinner.

• At Angkor Archaeological Park, enjoy a special sunrise experience at Angkor Wat.

• Perhaps enjoy a tuk tuk ride to the Senteurs d'Angkor workshop. If you're feeling energetic, join a quad bike adventure or take a leisurely bicycle tour through the Cambodian countryside. Other options include a horse and cart ride, a traditional Khmer cooking class, and a shopping adventure, or why not indulge in a relaxing spa treatment.

• Treat yourself to a private visit to Theam's Gallery and discover this talented Cambodian artist known for his unique sculptures, paintings, and intricate crafts. Indulge in a tantalising five-course Khmer dinner while enjoying a traditional Apsara dance performance accompanied by live musicians.

Farewell Siem Reap after breakfast this morning, as you transfer to Siem Reap–Angkor International Airport for your onward flight. (B)