Saturday 02 Auckland - Singapore
Depart Auckland on Singapore Airlines. On arrival in Singapore overnight at the airport hotel.
Sunday 03 Singapore - Hanoi D
A morning flight to Hanoi. On arrival transfer to a centrally located hotel. Afternoon to relax and explore. Tonight’s welcome dinner is at a local restaurant.
Monday 04 Hanoi B D
Today’s touring includes the Ho Chi Minh Complex, Ho Chi Minh’s mausoleum, his former stilt-house residence, the Presidential Palace, the Ho Chi Minh Museum and one pillar pagoda and the Temple of Literature, originally built as a temple to Confucius.
In the afternoon we will visit the Museum of Ethnology, dedicated to Vietnam’s 54 Ethnic minority peoples. Also included is a one-hour cyclo tour around the Old Quarter. This bustling area of narrow streets is home to literally thousands of small businesses and shopkeepers. Continue on to the unique Water Puppet show.
Tuesday 05 Hanoi - Halong Bay B L D
This morning, transfer to Halong Bay a UNESCO World Heritage Site. At midday check into our deluxe junk, this afternoon and evening cruise the bay and enjoy lunch and dinner on board. Overnight on board.
Wednesday 06 Halong Bay – Hanoi – Danang - Hoi An B D
Enjoy sunrise on the Bay and continue cruising. Return to Hanoi airport for our short flight to Danang. On arrival transfer to Hoi An for a three night stay.
Thursday 07 Hoi An (Moon Festival) B
DURING THE MOON FESTIVAL ON THE 15TH DAY OF EACH LUNA MONTH, THE RIVERSIDE TOWN OF HOI AN GIVES MODERN LIFE THE NIGHT OFF - NO FLUORESCENT LIGHTS. NO MOTORCYCLES, NO TELEVISION
Hoi An has a distinct Chinese atmosphere with low, original tile-roofed houses and narrow streets.
This morning, enjoy a morning walking tour around the ancient city to visit Chua Ong Pagoda, the 200-year old Tam Ky ancestral house, and the Japanese Bridge. Afternoon at leisure to perhaps order tailor made clothes.
Friday 08 Hoi An (Cooking Class) B L
We start the day with a visit to Hoi An’s colourful market and experience the amazing sights, sounds and aromas of this busy market. We will have the opportunity to interact with the local sellers and purchase some of the ingredients to be used in the cooking lesson later. Cruise for 25 minutes along the Hoi An River to the Red Bridge Cooking School. On arrival, explore the cooking school’s herb and vegetable garden. The cooking lesson runs for about 2 hours - each dish is first demonstrated, before we prepare the same dish ourselves. After the lesson we enjoy what we have cooked. Return to the hotel. Evening is free.
Saturday 09 Hoi An – Danang - Ho Chi Minh City B D
After breakfast return to Danang airport for our short flight to Saigon. Check in to our hotel. Afternoon free. Dinner at the roof top restaurant of the Rex hotel.
Sunday 10 Saigon - sightseeing-transfer to ‘RV Indochine’ B L D
The morning city tour includes the Reunification Palace, the War Remnant Museum where you can see countless artefacts, photographs and picture documenting the second Indochina war, the Notre Dame Cathedral and Old Post Office for photographs before transferring to the ship. Check into your floating hotel, enjoy a buffet lunch, then continue your city tour which will include a rickshaw ride to the main Chinese Market where you will have free time to explore. Return to the ship for dinner.
Monday 11 Ho Chi Minh City B L D
This morning your excursion includes the fascinating Cu Chi Tunnels. Built during the Vietnam War the tunnels extend underground for over 212 km and range in depth from 3 to 12 metres, they feature remnants of a living city. Enjoy a Vietnamese style lunch at a local restaurant. Wave goodbye to Hoi Chi Minh as you set sail on your Mekong adventure. Enjoy a pre-dinner welcome cocktail.
Tuesday 12 My Tho - Cai Be - Vinh Long B L D
Sightseeing begins by crossing the river on local boats, followed by a panoramic tour of the city with stops at a local Snake Farm and market. Return to the pier and visit Thoi Son Island. Return to the ship and enjoy lunch as you sail onto Cai Be and Vinh Long. On arrival in Cai Be you will tour the floating market in local boats, and a brick and pottery making business, then continue via local boats to Vinh Long Island home to orange and tangerine plantations. Return to the ship in the late afternoon and set sail for Sa Dec. Enjoy an informal lecture and talk on Vietnam, “Yesterday, today and tomorrow.”
Wednesday 13 Sa Dec-Chau Doc B L D
This morning enjoy a panoramic coach tour of Sa Dec including a visit to a Bonsai Seedbed. Sail to Chau Doc and begin with a visit to the village of the local minority Cham community. Evening free to enjoy a cocktail at the colonial style Victoria Hotel as we are moored at the hotel dock.
Thursday 14 Koh Dek Chau - Phnom Penh (Cambodia) B L D
Morning arrival at the border with Cambodia in Koh Dek Chau. Time to visit this tiny island to mingle with the local people (pop 600). Enjoy the magnificent views as you continue sailing until nightfall. On-board lecture on Cambodia past and present. Dinner on board, evening arrival to Phnom Penh.
Friday 15 Phnom Penh B L D
After breakfast tour the capital of Cambodia which has retained its French colonial charm. Includes the Royal Palace complex and the Silver Pagoda. After a buffet lunch on board continue your sightseeing with a visit to the national Museum featuring the best samples of Khmer art and an excursion to the infamous “Killing Fields,” the former detention, torture and execution centre during the Cambodian civil war.
Saturday 16 Phnom Penh B L D
Enjoy another delightful day in Cambodia’s capital. In the morning enjoy a thrilling ride through the city streets on the local tuk-tuks (motorised tricycles) which will drop you off at the Russian market where you can bargain for souvenirs. Back on board enjoy a buffet style lunch. Afternoon free to explore the vibrant river promenade with cafés, street vendors and shops. On board this evening enjoy special live performances featuring children and a local folklore group.
Sunday 17 Koh Chen - Kampong Tralach B L D
After breakfast tour this small village renown for its silver making. Return to the ship and enjoy lunch on board as you sail on to Kampong Tralach. On arrival, visit the village and rice plantations including the century old Vihara pagoda. Dinner on board.
Monday 18 Kampong Chhnang - Floating Village - Tonle Sap B L D
Kampong Chhnang is one of Cambodia’s largest fishing ports and the centre of fish farming and is famous for its archaic pottery. Your tour will take you to a pottery farm and a local village. Return to the ship for lunch and sail on to Tonle Sap Lake. On local boats explore the “Floating Village,” a unique town completely set on water. See the people living on boats, including a stop at the local floating Catholic Church. The smiles of the local children are priceless. The evening is reserved for our Captain’s Farewell Dinner.
Tuesday 19 Siem Reap - Disembarkation B L D
Early this morning set sail and observe the local farmers, water buffalo and other unspoiled views as the RV “Indochine” crosses the vast 150km wide Tonle Sap Lake. . On arrival disembark and transfer to Siem Reap for the next part of your adventure. Angkor Wat, classified as World Heritage by UNESCO, forms a rectangle of 1500 metres by 1300 and covers an area of almost 200 hectares and includes watershed ditches 190 metres wide. We continue to Phnom Bakheng for Sunset. Dinner is at a local restaurant.
Wednesday 20 Angkor Wat B D
Enjoy the beautiful sunrise at Angkor, then return to the hotel for breakfast. Later this morning visit Angkor Thom located in the middle of Angkor. It is surrounded by a moat and a powerful wall laterite (kraham dey.) Continue to Ta Prohm (Jungle temple) built for the king’s mother in the late 12th century. This afternoon, visit the Land Mine Museum to see and learn of how landmines still affect daily life in Cambodia and the National Silk Centre. Enjoy our farewell dinner at a local restaurant.
Thursday 21 October Siem Reap – Singapore
After breakfast, transfer to the airport for the flight to Singapore. Change planes for the Singapore Airlines overnight flight to Auckland.
Friday 22 Auckland
Mid-morning arrival in Auckland Airport
• Return economy class flights Auckland – Singapore – Hanoi // Siem Reap – Singapore - Auckland
• English speaking guide in Vietnam and Cambodia
• All hotel accommodation on a twin share basis
• Meals as specified
• All transfers and transport as outlined
• Cooking school in Hoi An
• Overnight on board a deluxe junk in Halong Bay
• Sightseeing as outlined
• Two days entrance to Angkor Wat
• Entrance to the Landmine museum
• Vietnam Flights: Hanoi / Danang – Danang / Ho Chi Minh City
• Nine nights on board MV Indochine
• All meals while on board
• Entertainment and lectures as outlined
• Daily excursions as outlined
• Vietnam Domestic Air Tax and Departure Tax
• Cambodian Departure Tax
• Pukekohe Travel escort subject to 15 persons trav