Your Itinerary
Day 1 - Arrive Ho Chi Minh City tour
Welcome to Ho Chi Minh City, once the bustling French colonial city known as Saigon. Be met on arrival with Fast Track Service and transferred to your luxury hotel. This evening, enjoy a welcome dinner.
Leave the city behind and relish in your Signature Experiences today. Learn about the remarkable tunnel network concealed the Viet Cong and served as supply and communication routes, as well as hospitals and weapon caches. Tonight your dinner is another Signature Experience.
Signature Experience – Cu Chi Tunnels Visit
Enjoy the thrill of a journey by speedboat along the Saigon River to the Cu Chi tunnels, built by Vietnamese resistance fighters during the war.
Signature Experience – Private Gin Tasting
Meet a Master Distiller at Lady Trieu Gin Distillery and enjoy a guided tour and private tasting of the multi-award-winning gin. Follow up your tour with a light lunch, accompanied by a refreshing Lady Trieu gin and tonic.
Signature Experience – Dinner at Vietnam House
Savour dinner at the highly acclaimed restaurant Vietnam House, and enjoy a special cocktail designed specifically for APT guests.
Day 3 - Ho Chi Minh City, Da Nang, Hoi An
A range of Freedom of Choice options await today. This afternoon, board your included flight to Da Nang. On arrival enjoy a scenic transfer to Hoi An, the charming ancient town with a rich history, lantern lit streets, exquisite architecture, and delightful blend of culture.
Freedom of Choice – City Walking Tour
Discover the city’s iconic landmarks and French Colonial architecture on an informative guided walk. Stroll by the Saigon Opera House, the Central Post Office and Notre Dame Cathedral.
Freedom of Choice – Motorbike Ride
Jump on the back of a motorbike like a local for a thrilling sightseeing adventure. Weave through the streets past the Central Post Office and Independence Palace. Visit Chinatown and Thien Hau pagoda.
Freedom of Choice – Tai Chi Class
Set off early by cyclo to Tao Dan Park and meet your instructor for a 30-minute introduction to Tai Chi. Discover why it is described as ‘meditation in motion’ and appreciate how it can help with strength, flexibility and balance.
Freedom of Choice – Cooking Class
Meet your chef, visit the market and discover Vietnamese ingredients. Continue to a villa and relax in the outdoor garden before you create your dishes. Learn the intricacies of Banh Mi Xiu Mai.
Freedom of Choice – Ho Chi Minh City Shopping Adventure
Seek out the city’s boutiques like only a local knows. Discover high-quality handmade goods on a visit to Mekong Quilts. Saigon Kitsch sells quirky souvenirs, while L’Usine is a trend-setting lifestyle store.
Set out on a guided discovery of Hoi An this morning, taking in sights such as the Japanese Covered Bridge and the 19th-century Chinese Temple. Visit a handicraft workshop to see local artisans making silk lanterns and other traditional crafts. You will also stop off at a local cafe to try a Vietnamese specialty, coconut coffee. This afternoon, travel by boat along the Thu Bon River where a special Signature Experience awaits.
Signature Experience – Red Bridge Cooking School
Discover Hoi An's colourful market and find local ingredients to use during an exclusive cooking class with the Red Bridge Cooking School.
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.
Venture to the Imperial Citadel which served as the nation's political capital and religious hub. Stroll among the citadel's monuments and hear stories of its construction under the Nguyen Dynasty, which ruled Vietnam from 1802 to 1945. Next, visit the historical Tien Mu Pagoda, an active Buddhist monastery that dates to 1601, which at seven storeys, is the tallest pagoda in Vietnam. Marvel at the seven successive tiers, each of which is dedicated to a human form taken by the Buddha before exploring the gardens, flowers and ornamental plants surrounding the pagoda.
Soak in the beautiful landscapes and passes some of Hue's most important monuments during your Signature Experience.
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.
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.
Day 9 - Hanoi, Tuan Chau, Embark Ship, Ha Long Bay
After your Signature Experience set off by coach to Ha Long and set sail among thousands of limestone islets. Savour an assortment of Vietnamese dishes during lunch as the Au Co slowly glides towards the southeast of Ha Long Bay, passing Trong Mai Islet. Visit Trinh Nu area and explore one of the finest sunlight-filled caves in Ha Long Bay before spending some time swimming or kayaking in its emerald waters.
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.
Day 11 - Ha Long Bay, Tuan Chau, Disembark Ship, Hanoi, Siem Reap
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 Siem Reap, Cambodia. Upon arrival, be transferred to your hotel. Indulge in a delightful dinner at the Citadel restaurant at your hotel.
Begin your exploration of the World Heritage-listed Angkor Archaeological Park with a visit to Angkor Thom, the last and most enduring capital of the Khmer Empire. Built during the heyday of the Empire in the 12th century, this is an extraordinary complex of Hindu and Buddhist monuments. Head to the intriguing Bayon Temple, with its carved stone smiling faces of gods, goddesses and other mythology beings. Visit the Terrace of Elephants, which used to be the base for the king's grand audience hall and the Terrace of the Leper King, which housed the royal crematory.
Journey to Ta Prohm, known for the thick jungle of fig trees and vines that have enveloped the structure, giving it a lost world feel. Commonly referred to as the 'Tomb Raider temple' due to it being used as a location in the blockbuster 2001 film Lara Croft: Tomb Raider which starred Angelina Jolie, Ta Prohm is a captivating glimpse into the past and testament to a bygone era. En route to the hotel, enjoy your Signature Experiences.
Rise early this morning and travel back to Angkor Archaeological Park for a Signature Experience. Afterwards, join a guided tour of the temple before breakfast back at your hotel. This afternoon, set out on your included Freedom of Choice activity. Tonight, your Signature Experience awaits. Set amid a stunning garden, this promises to be an enchanting and memorable evening.
Day 14 - Siem Reap, Kampong Cham, Embark Ship, Koh Pen, Angkor Ban
Journey through remote Cambodian villages to Kampong Cham, where you'll board the Mekong Serenity, your home for the next seven nights. Following lunch on board, discover the island of Koh Pen with its wooden stilt houses and local farming culture during your Signature Experience. Tonight, a welcome dinner awaits, showcasing the diverse flavours from the region.
Day 15 - Angkor Ban, Oknha Tey, Phnom Penh
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.
Today presents a wealth of included sightseeing choices. After lunch back on board, you may wish to explore Phnom Penh independently or simply relax.
Day 17 - Phnom Penh, Oudong, Koh Chen, Phnom Penh
Disembark in Phnom Penh and discover Oudong, a place of pilgrimage for Cambodians. While here, enjoy a Signature Experience. On the way back to your ship, take a leisurely stroll through the village of Koh Chen and visit some home workshops that make copperware. The afternoon is yours to explore Phnom Penh as you wish.
Day 18 - Phnom Penh, Border Crossing, Tan Chau
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.
Day 19 - Tan Chau, Evergreen Island, Sa Dec
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.
Day 20 - Sa Dec, Cai Be, My Tho
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.
Day 21 - My Tho, Disembark Ship, Depart Ho Chi Minh City
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.
