An intimate experience of two worlds along one river
Uniworld offers an intimate encounter inside Vietnam and Cambodia that other river cruise lines can't match. You'll never descend onto a village, market, or important cultural site as part of a massive tour group. Instead, you’ll be part of small groups, with one local guide for every twenty guests. You will meet the people and visit the places that make up these fascinating destinations. In addition, you’ll travel to floating villages and sites by way of a luxurious sampan, so you’ll have a genuine experience every step of the way.
Uniworld’s commitment to intimacy extends to your shipboard experience as well. The River Saigon, Uniworld’s brand new ship plying the Mekong, boasts just 30 deluxe staterooms, and no more than 60 guests at a time. This means that you will be treated to gracious and personalized service. The staff onboard the River Saigon will be there to ensure you have everything you need—morning, noon, and night. Whether you are sitting on the spacious sun deck being served a refreshing complimentary beverage as you watch the passing scenery or you are listening to an enlightening lecture, your staff will stand ready to make your stay as special and comfortable as can be.
You’ll also notice extra special Uniworld touches throughout your journey, from VIP check-in service at all onshore hotels to luxurious sampans that let you tour the river in style, to relaxing with fresh fruit and tea after your onshore excursions. There’s simply no better way to experience the magic of these destinations along the Mekong River.
|
Day 1
fly to Hanoi (Vietnam)
Arrive at Hanoi Noi Bai International Airport, where you will be greeted by a Uniworld representative who will transfer your hotel.
|
|
Day 1
fly to Siem Reap (Cambodia)
Arrive at Tan Son Nhat International Airport where you will be greeted by a Uniworld representative who will transfer you to the Park Hyatt Saigon.
|
|
Day 2
fly to Siem Reap (Cambodia)
Featured Excursions: Ho Chi Minh city tour
Start the day off with a walking tour of the city’s incredible French colonial architecture, followed by a visit to the Reunification Palace and War Remnants Museum. A special Welcome Dinner at a beautifully decorated local restaurant, complete with live traditional entertainment, caps off your day (BB, Welcome Dinner)
|
|
Day 3
fly to Siem Reap (Cambodia)
Feature Excursion: Siem Reap City Tour
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)
|
|
Day 3
transfer to My Tho (Vietnam)
Featured Excursions: Cu Chi Tunnels and rubber plantation
Enter the astonishing system of underground passages that stretches all the way to the Cambodian border. Then visit a rubber plantation before heading to the port city of My Tho to embark on your memorable Mekong journey. Enjoy a Welcome Reception and themed dinner onboard. (BB, L, Welcome Reception Vietnamese Themed Dinner)
|
|
Day 4
fly to Siem Reap (Cambodia)
Featured Excursion: Angkor archaeological area
The temple of Ta Prohm has been overtaken by the jungle; tentacle-like tree roots spill over millenniumold roofs, enveloping the entire structure. You’ll also see the Ta Keo pyramid; Preah Khan, which is believed to have been a Buddhist university; Banteay Srei, which is considered the pinnacle of artistic achievement at Angkor; and Banteay Samré. Enjoy a traditional Apsara dance performance during dinner. (BB, L)
|
|
Day 4
transfer to My Tho (Vietnam)
Featured Excursions: Sampan cruise, An Kiet House, rice-paper and candy-making shop, Sa Dec canal cruise, brick and rice factories, and Huynh Thuy Le house
Sail aboard a sampan to the historic An Kiet House, a former imperial residence, and then stroll through the village of Cai Be to visit a small family-run factory that makes candies, rice paper, and popped rice. Later, in Sa Dec, visit a factory where bricks and tiles are made with Mekong Delta clay and are fired with rice husks. Then you’ll sail through busy floating markets to the one-time home of Huynh Thuy Le, made famous by Marguerite Duras’s novel, The Lover. (BB, L, D)
|
|
Day 5
fly to Siem Reap (Cambodia)
Featured Excursion: Angkor archaeological area
Built over five centuries, Angkor Wat is the largest religious monument in the world. Today’s expedition encompasses the south gate of Angkor Thom, once the capital of the Khmer empire, and the pyramid temple of Bayon, which features the enormous carved heads that are an iconic symbol of the area. The afternoon ends with a walk around Baphoun Temple, the Terrace of the Elephants, and the moss-encrusted Terrace of the Leper King. (BB, D)
|
|
Day 5
transfer to My Tho (Vietnam)
Featured Excursions: Chau Doc harbor cruise, fish farm, and holy temples at the base of Sam Mountain
Join the locals in lively Chau Doc harbor as your sampan cruises among the traditional floating markets. Visit a local fish farm before cruising to the base of Sam Mountain, one of the most revered holy sites in Vietnam.
Relax onboard your ship in the evening as it sets sail for the Cambodian border. (BB, L, D)
|
|
Day 6
fly to Siem Reap (Cambodia)
You'll transfer from Siem Reap to Kampong Cham. (BB, L, D)
|
|
Day 6
transfer to My Tho (Vietnam)
Featured Excursion: Phnom Penh city tour
The ship docks in Cambodia’s capital city of Phnom Penh. Your morning tour of the city is via cyclo (cycle rickshaw). Visit the Royal Palace’s Reception Hall and Silver Pagoda. The pagoda houses thousands of artifacts, including jewel-encrusted Buddhas, and is floored with tiles made
of pure silver. Then it’s on to the National Museum to see a spectacular collection of Angkor Wat artifacts. (BB, L, D)
|
|
Day 7
fly to Siem Reap (Cambodia)
Featured Excursions: Kampong Cham exploration,Phnom Pros and Phnom Srey Monastery, and Nokor Bachey Temple
Today, you’ll investigate a number of historic sites dedicated to the Buddha. Peaceful eighth-century Wat Hanchey has wonderful views of the vast Mekong; stroll among the ancient and modern buildings and then receive a traditional water blessing from the monks there. During the afternoon in Kampong Cham, visit the Phnom Pros and Phnom Srey temples, where monkeys frolic among massive gilded Buddhas. The tour finishes at Nokor Bachey, where you’ll discover a wealth of intricate wall carvings and statues. (BB, L, Royal Cambodian Dinner)
|
|
Day 7
transfer to My Tho (Vietnam)
Featured Excursions: Choeung Ek Memorial Stupa and grounds, and Tuol Sleng Genocide Museum
Cambodia’s grievous experience under the Khmer Rouge regime is revealed at the Killing Fields of Choeung Ek. Visiting this memorial and the Tuol Sieng Genocide Museum is incredibly moving. This afternoon, following
lunch onboard, explore the city at your leisure. (BB, L, D)
|
|
Day 8
fly to Siem Reap (Cambodia)
Featured Excursions: Kampong Chhnang exploration,Phnom Pros and Phnom Srey Monastery, and Nokor Bachey Temple
Today, you’ll investigate a number of historic sites dedicated to the Buddha. Peaceful eighth-century Wat Hanchey has wonderful views of the vast Mekong; stroll among the ancient and modern buildings and then receive a traditional water blessing from the monks there. During the afternoon in Kampong Cham, visit the Phnom Pros and Phnom Srey temples, where monkeys frolic among massive gilded Buddhas. The tour finishes at Nokor Bachey, where you’ll discover a wealth of intricate wall carvings and statues. (BB, L, D)
|
|
Day 8
transfer to My Tho (Vietnam)
Featured Excursions: Choeung Ek Memorial Stupa and grounds, and Tuol Sleng Genocide Museum
Cambodia’s grievous experience under the Khmer Rouge regime is revealed at the Killing Fields of Choeung Ek. Visiting this memorial and the Tuol Sieng Genocide Museum is incredibly moving. This afternoon, following
lunch onboard, explore the city at your leisure. BB L D
|
|
Day 9
fly to Siem Reap (Cambodia)
Featured Excursion: Phnom Penh city tour
The ship docks in Cambodia’s capital city of Phnom Penh. Your morning tour of the city is via cyclo (cycle rickshaw). Visit the Royal Palace’s Reception Hall and Silver Pagoda.The pagoda houses thousands of artifacts, including jewel-encrusted Buddhas, and is floored with tiles made
of pure silver. Then it’s on to the National Museum to see a spectacular collection of Angkor Wat artifacts. (BB, L, D)
|
|
Day 10
fly to Siem Reap (Cambodia)
Featured Excursions: Choeung Ek Memorial Stupa and grounds, and Tuol Sleng Genocide Museum
Cambodia’s grievous experience under the Khmer Rouge regime is revealed at the Killing Fields of Choeung Ek. Visiting this memorial and the Tuol Sieng Genocide Museum is incredibly moving. This afternoon, following
lunch onboard, explore the city at your leisure. (BB, L, D)
|
|
Day 10
transfer to Siem Reap (Cambodia)
Featured Excursion: Siem Reap city tour via tuk-tuk
Leave your floating hotel and transfer to the Victoria Angkor Resort & Spa. Before check in, enjoy a special lunch at a restaurant. Then hop on a tuk-tuk
(auto rickshaw) for a tour of the city. (BB, L)
|
|
Day 11
fly to Siem Reap (Cambodia)
Featured Excursions: Chau Doc harbor cruise, fish farm,
and holy temples at the base of Sam Mountain
Join the locals in lively Chau Doc harbor as your sampan cruises among the traditional floating markets. Visit a local fish farm before cruising to the base of Sam Mountain, one of the most revered holy sites in Vietnam. Relax onboard your ship in the evening as it sets sail for the Cambodian border. (BB, L, D)
|
|
Day 11
transfer to Siem Reap (Cambodia)
Featured Excursion: Angkor archaeological area
Built over five centuries, Angkor Wat is the largest religious monument in the world. Today’s expedition encompasses the south gate of Angkor Thom, once the capital of the Khmer empire, and the pyramid temple of Bayon, which features the enormous carved heads that are an iconic symbol of the area. The afternoon ends with a walk around Baphoun Temple, the Terrace of the Elephants, and the moss-encrusted Terrace of the Leper King. BB
|
|
Day 12
fly to Siem Reap (Cambodia)
Featured Excursions: Sampan cruise, An Kiet House, rice-paper and candy-making shop, Sa Dec canal cruise, brick and rice factories, and Huynh Thuy Le house
Sail aboard a sampan to the historic An Kiet House, a former imperial residence, and then stroll through the village of Cai Be to visit a small family-run factory that makes candies, rice paper, and popped rice. Later, in Sa Dec, visit a factory where bricks and tiles are made with Mekong Delta clay and are fired with rice husks. Then you’ll sail through busy floating markets to the one-time home of Huynh Thuy Le, made famous by Marguerite Duras’s novel, The Lover. (BB, L, D)
|
|
Day 13
fly to Hanoi (Vietnam)
Enjoy free time in Siem Reap before your flight to Hanoi. Then, check in to the elegant and serene InterContinental Hanoi Westlake.(BB)
|
|
Day 13
fly to Siem Reap (Cambodia)
Featured Excursion: Cu Chi Tunnels
You'll transfer from My Tho to your hotel in Ho Chi Minh City, Park Hyatt Saigon. (BB, L)
|
|
Day 14
fly to Hanoi (Vietnam)
Featured Excursions: Hanoi city tour, Ho Chi Minh City Mausoleum, and Colonial Hanoi cyclo tour
Visit Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum and the famous One Pillar Pagoda. You’ll also see the Temple of Literature, a Confucian institution dating from the 11th century that encompassed Vietnam’s first university. After lunch, step into a cyclo for an exciting tour of the colonial district. Enjoy a Farewell Dinner at one of Hanoi’s most charming establishments. (BB, L, Farewell) Dinner
|
|
Day 14
fly to Siem Reap (Cambodia)
Featured Excursions: 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, D)
|
|
Day 15
fly to Hanoi (Vietnam)
Transfer to the Hanoi Noi Bai International Airport for your flight home, or continue your tour with an extraordinary Ha Long Bay optional extension
program. (CB/BB)
Note: Order of sightseeing may change throughout the itinerary. Substitute visits to other sites may occur during your trip due to uncontrollable factors.
|
|
An intimate experience of two worlds along one river
Uniworld offers an intimate encounter inside Vietnam and Cambodia that other river cruise lines can't match. You'll never descend onto a village, market, or important cultural site as part of a massive tour group. Instead, you’ll be part of small groups, with one local guide for every twenty guests. You will meet the people and visit the places that make up these fascinating destinations. In addition, you’ll travel to floating villages and sites by way of a luxurious sampan, so you’ll have a genuine experience every step of the way.
Uniworld’s commitment to intimacy extends to your shipboard experience as well. The River Saigon, Uniworld’s brand new ship plying the Mekong, boasts just 30 deluxe staterooms, and no more than 60 guests at a time. This means that you will be treated to gracious and personalized service. The staff onboard the River Saigon will be there to ensure you have everything you need—morning, noon, and night. Whether you are sitting on the spacious sun deck being served a refreshing complimentary beverage as you watch the passing scenery or you are listening to an enlightening lecture, your staff will stand ready to make your stay as special and comfortable as can be.
You’ll also notice extra special Uniworld touches throughout your journey, from VIP check-in service at all onshore hotels to luxurious sampans that let you tour the river in style, to relaxing with fresh fruit and tea after your onshore excursions. There’s simply no better way to experience the magic of these destinations along the Mekong River.
|
|