Essential Vietnam and Cambodia

An early drive through picturesque countryside and remote villages brings you to Kampong Cham to join your Mekong River cruise. Step aboard the RV Apsara, your boutique river ship and home for the next seven nights. Spend your afternoon enjoying your Insider Experience. This evening, enjoy a Welcome Dinner on board with your fellow travellers as your Mekong River cruise begins.

Start your day with a tour of Angkor Ban by foot and see one of the few rural villages in Cambodia that escaped destruction from the Khmer Rouge regime. Return to your ship and continue sailing towards Oknha Tey, or Silk Island, renowned for its silk manufacturing traditions, preserved over centuries. Hop in a local tuk tuk for a village tour, pass rice fields and get a glimpse into rural life. 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. Back on board, you start sailing towards the capital, Phnom Penh.

Cruise to Phnom Penh then travel by coach to Oudong, the former capital of Cambodia. After indulging in your memorable Insider Experience, continue to Koh Chen and explore the open-air copperware workshops. This afternoon is free to explore or delight in one of Travelmarvel's select experience options.

Explore the Killing Fields and the Tuol Sleng Genocide Museum, which recalls one of the darkest moments of the 20th century. Learn about the brutal Khmer Rouge and stop to pay your respects at the Memorial Stupa, a monument erected in memory of the thousands of people who lost their lives. Later, take a tour to visit the Royal Palace. See the Silver Pagoda located within the Royal Palace complex and admire the Emerald Buddha carved from Baccarat crystal. The remainder of the day is at leisure. After dinner, perhaps step out for an evening walk.

Spend today on board as your ship cruises to the Vietnamese border. While border formalities are carried out, sit down and enjoy the onboard activities and presentations. Cross into Vietnam and cruise towards the small town of Tan Chau.

After breakfast, transfer to a small boat and travel along the Mekong's tiny tributaries, observing the stilt house villages. Go ashore for a tour of Tan Chau by rickshaw. Tan Chau is known as one of the largest silk-weaving centres of Vietnam, and you’ll visit the fascinating local artisan workshops to learn more about the history of the craft. Later, step back in time during a visit to Vinh Hoa, also known as Evergreen Island. Take the opportunity to see traditional Vietnamese farming, where the land is ploughed by water buffalo and where you will see authentic rural Mekong life. Settle back in and watch the passing scenery as you continue cruising towards Sa Dec.

Take a boat ride to the charming colonial town of Sa Dec and explore the colourful markets on foot. Visit the former home of Huynh Thuy Le. Here Le's one-time lover, French writer Marguerite Duras, penned her best-selling novel, The Lover, about their affair. After lunch, step aboard a local boat and journey to Cai Be to see the French Gothic cathedral. Go ashore to visit a local rice paper manufacturer to learn how rice paper is made. Afterwards, visit a coconut candy factory to see how the local sweet is created. Enjoy a final dinner on board your ship as you cruise to My Tho, your last stop.

Disembark at My Tho and bid farewell to the crew and travel by coach to the Cu Chi Tunnels, a tunnel network built by Vietnamese resistance fighters during the Vietnam War. Listen to stories of the history of the Vietnam-American war, the ingenuity of the Cu Chi residents and the daily activities of the people. Part of a larger network, the tunnels were used by Viet Cong guerrillas as hiding spots during combat. Crawl through a section for a firsthand experience of what it was like for the soldiers who lived and fought here. Later transfer to your accommodation and enjoy time at leisure in Ho Chi Minh City, a bustling metropolis formerly known as Saigon. For dinner, you may like to choose one of our select experiences.

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For a delicious taste of local cuisine, all meals, including a Champagne Breakfast each day, are included during your Mekong River cruise. While each meal presents the chance to dine on exotic Asian fare, Western favourites are always available. An Executive Chef will oversee the kitchen in which each gourmet meal is prepared, while a Restaurant Manager is on hand to ensure attentive service in the Mekong Restaurant.

APT EXCLUSIVE! Luke Nguyen Welcome Dinner

During your Mekong River cruise, you’ll indulge in a three-course Vietnamese Welcome Dinner designed by Luke.

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With large windows which allow you to take in the passing views, the air-conditioned Le Viêt Nam Café combines elegance with a relaxing atmosphere. 

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Decorative food is a big part of Vietnamese food culture. On board, enjoy a fruit-carving demonstration by one of the ship’s chefs, and learn the secrets of making the region’s famous delicacy – Vietnamese Spring Rolls. 

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Enjoy a traditional Khmer folk performance and listen to unique music that’s local to the Mekong Delta region. This evening is all about you getting involved – you can even join in the dance if you wish. During another interactive evening, your multi-talented crew will show off their performance skills. 

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Enjoy the passing riverside views while taking a dip in the Swimming Pool on the Sadec Deck.

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Offering amazing views and reclining lounges, the Sun Deck is the ideal place to sit back and soak up the sights.

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The RV Apsara boasts an air-conditioned lounge and a selection of books, games, DVDs and music to enjoy at your leisure.

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Keep up with your fitness routine with the use of a range of gym equipment. 

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Treat yourself to a range of hair and beauty treatments available in the ship’s spa.

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The spacious Sadec Twin Balcony Suites are perfectly designed for entertaining, and offer a significantly larger living space. You’ll have plenty of room to relax in your suite at the end of a day’s sightseeing. These suites also feature a large Outside Balcony and indoor Panoramic Balcony.

Guests in Sadec Twin Balcony Suites will enjoy Silver Butler Service. Benefits include the laundering of two garments per day, shoe shining, booking of appointments, one spa treatment per person, per cruise and a fruit platter daily.

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Representing a meticulously planned progression in design, APT’s exclusive Deluxe Twin Balcony Suites offer guests 226 square feet of floor space and use of both a Panoramic Balcony and an Outside Balcony. Thanks to this spacious layout, you’ll have ample viewpoints to sit back and enjoy the passing scenery.