Angkor Wat & the Mekong River: The Wonders of Cambodia & Vietnam

Rest and relax after your long journey to Vietnam. The hotel has many amenities to enjoy.

Welcome dinner with a complimentary welcome drink at the hotel. Coffee, tea and bottled water included; additional beverages available for purchase.

At leisure.

At the hotel. Buffet.

Program Orientation at the hotel. The Group Leader will greet everyone with a warm welcome and lead introductions. We will review the up-to-date daily schedule and go through any changes, discuss responsibilities, safety guidelines, emergency procedures, and answer any questions you may have. Periods in the daily schedule designated as “Free time” and “At leisure” offer opportunities to do what you like and make your experience even more meaningful and memorable. The Group Leader will be happy to offer suggestions. Please be aware that program activities and scheduled times could change due to local circumstances or weather. River conditions and water levels could affect progress of the barge, causing it to run late or miss ports when it becomes unsafe to dock. Because of this, the cruise itinerary should always be regarded as provisional. The operators reserve the right to change the content of field trips and excursions without prior notice. In the event of changes, we will alert you as quickly as possible. Thank you for your understanding. Our first excursion is to transfer by motorcoach to the National University for a lecture on the history of Vietnam. We then enjoy tea with university students, giving us the opportunity to discuss the cultural climate of today's Vietnam as well as their own goals and aspirations.

At a local restaurant. Coffee, tea and bottled water included; additional beverages available for purchase.

Ho Chi Minh City is a vibrant and thriving metropolis reflecting Vietnam's contentious past as well as its fast-forwarding future. On a walking tour, we take note of the past and present amidst intricate traditional French colonial architecture, Chinese pagodas and sleek skyscrapers. We visit such sites as the Rex Hotel, the People's Committee Building (originally the Hôtel de Ville), Notre Dame Cathedral and the Central Post Office. We walk down the famous Le Duan street to the Reunification Palace (the former Presidential Palace), built as a modern administrative center. We return to our hotel via Ben Thanh Market. As the rest of the afternoon and evening is free time, you may choose to linger there and soak up the vibrant atmosphere.

At own arrangements. This meal has been excluded from the program cost to enjoy what we like. The Group Leader will be happy to offer suggestions.

At leisure.

At the hotel. Buffet.

We have a free morning before departing the hotel and joining our cruise.

Enjoy the taste of Vietnam as you sample Pho - a local favorite!

Transfer to the Toum Tiou to begin our fascinating journey up the Mekong River. An information session about the boat will take place on board.

Join the captain and crew for a complimentary welcome drink followed by our welcome dinner on board the boat.

At leisure.

On board.

On the banks of a northern arm of the Mekong, My Tho, which translates as "fragrant herb", is where vistors come to discover the beauty of the delta. It's a quiet, prosperous city of about 100,000 inhabitants, famous for its many fruit orchards, gardens and the huge rice fields that surround it. The climate is warm and pleasant all year round. We disembark the boat and transfer by coach to Vinh Trang Pagoda. We continue to Cai Dai temple and the noodle factory.

On board.

We continue to Vinh Long to visit a brick and pottery factory, the Binh Hoa Phuoc Islet Nursery of fruit trees, as well as a typical house and a show room for traditional farming tools. Vinh Long, which translates as "Majestic Dragon", is right in the middle of the delta, between two arms of the Mekong. The soil of Vinh Long is enriched by silt deposits, making it ideal for growing mandarins and other citrus fruits. Life is organized around the water - houses on stilts, hawkers on boats, and hundreds of small crafts crisscrossing the river in all directions.

On board.

At leisure.

On board.

In Sa Dec we stroll around Sa Dec Market along the bank of Sa Dec River. This small city of 30,000 inhabitants is fascinating in its unspoiled authenticity and undisturbed by visitors. It provides a glimpse of the delta where a few colonial houses still remain, including the "Chinaman's house" (from Duras' novel "The Lover", which was also made into a movie). We return to the boat with a stopover at a nursery of flower and bonsai trees en route. Famous for its horticulture (it has many varieties of fabulously exotic flowers), Sa Dec was known as the "Garden of Cochin Chine" during colonial times.

On board.

We take a field trip to Sam Mountain, the highest elevation on the Mekong. Sam Mountain provides a spectacular view of the region's rice paddies and canal system. We can also see the Cambodian border from the summit. We will pause to view some of the temples such as Tay An Pagoda, the Temple of Lady Xu and the Tomb of Thoai Ngoc Hau.

On board.

At leisure.

On board.

We depart for the Vietnamese-Cambodian border. Upon arrival at the check-point in Vietnam, the Toum Tiou undergoes some formalities as it gains clearance to cross into Cambodia. For your Vietnamese e-Visa purposes, the exit checkpoint is "Song Tien Landport". The vessel leaves the border and proceeds toward Phnom Penh, where participants' visas are obtained. Your Group Leader and the crew of the vessel will assist with this process.

On board.

Relax after lunch while the boat crusies towards Phnom Penh.

On board.

At leisure.

On board.

This morning we have a presentation on the modern history of Cambodia followed by a field trip to Choeung Ek Killing Fields. This is where thousands of Cambodians were executed by the Khmer Rouge. Back in town, we visit the the S-21 (Tuol Sleng) Interrogation Center, where Cambodians were tortured and forced to confess to crimes they did not commit. Through these visits, we will gain a better understanding of this tragic period in Cambodian history, the scars it left, and how it affects both the social and economic development in the country today.

At a local restaurant.

Free time to explore Phnom Penh. Visit one of the local markets, walk the city streets or just relax. The Group Leader will be happy to offer suggestions.

On board.

Enjoy an 'Apsara' dance preformance. As evidenced in part by the innumerable Apsaras (celestial dancers) that adorn the walls of Angkorian and pre-Angkorian temples, this dance has been a part of Khmer culture for more than a millennium.

On board.

Phnom Penh is renowned for its traditional Khmer and French-influenced architecture. We take a step back to ancient times by exploring the Royal Palace and the Silver Pagoda. We then visit the National Museum. This museum is the most significant public repository of Khmer artifacts in the country, displaying many important rare pieces.

On board.

We arrive at Kampong Tralach and visit its wonderful Vihara belonging to Wat Kampong Tralach Leu pagoda. To reach it, we cross some gorgeous stretches of emerald rice paddies. The Vihara dates back to early last century. It was probably built on an older site, as indicated by the laterite foundations. The Vihara is home to some outstanding mural paintings. Standing by itself in the middle of rice fields, it is a modest pagoda that receives very few visitors. Its isolation may well be its undoing, as was the case for Wat Tani Pagoda in the province of Kampot.

On board.

At leisure.

On board.

A great day awaits us in Kampong Chhnang village, or Pottery Village, where villagers still produce pottery using traditional methods. Located some 56 miles from Phnom Penh, the town of Kampong Chnang is one of the largest fishing ports on the Tonle Sap. Fish farming is also widely practiced in the area. This region is famous for its pottery-ware, which has retained the same style for centuries and is produced in quantities sufficient enough to supply the entire country. The village has other products to enjoy such as that produced from the Thnot tree - a mellow tasting, caramel-colored sugar sold in large cakes and palm wine.

On board.

We explore a floating village and learn about this unique community on the Tonle Sap, the biggest fresh water lake in Southeast Asia.

Captain's 'Farewell Dinner' on board.

At leisure.

On board.

Please note that this itinerary varies based on the season, the climatic conditions and the water levels on Tonle Sap. When water levels allow during the high water season (generally September and October), we enjoy our last morning on the boat while cruising towards Siem Reap. We arrive at the pier near Siem Reap and transfer to our hotel. During low water season (generally November to August) or when water levels dictate, we board a motorcoach and drive to Siem Reap. In Kampong Thom, we will stop at a silk farm and learn about the process of creating Cambodian silk.

During high water season: Lunch at the hotel. During low water season: Lunch at the silk farm before we continue by motorcoach to Siem Reap.

Upon our arrival in Siem Reap, we check in and have some time at leisure. We then head out to the Angkor National Museum, where we have an introduction to the temples and art surrounding us. We gain an understanding of the religions and beliefs of the ancient Khmer empire.

Dinner at a local restaurant.

At leisure.

We rise early this morning to take in the breathtaking beauty of Angkor Wat at sunrise. A UNESCO World Heritage Site, Angkor Archaeological Park contains the magnificent remains of the different capitals of the Khmer Empire, from the 9th to the 15th century. The best-preserved temple at the site, Angkor Wat is also the only temple to have remained a significant religious center since its construction. It was built to embody the Hindu tradition – specifically dedicated to the god Vishnu – but gradually shifted to become a primarily Buddhist site as the official religion of the Khmer Empire changed. We return to the hotel for breakfast.

After breakfast, we explore Angkor Thom, the last and most-enduring capital city of the Khmer empire. Established in the late twelfth century by King Jayavarman VII, at the center of the city is the mesmerizing temple of Bayon.

At a local restaurant. Coffee, tea and bottled water included; additional beverages available for purchase.

After enjoying some free time, we go off the beaten path and visit an elementary school, where we will be introduced to the educational system of Cambodia (subject to school holidays and exam schedules). Road Scholar makes a donation to this school.

At own arrangements. The Group Leader will be happy to offer suggestions.

At leisure.

At the hotel.

We continue our discovery of the Angkor Temples with a visit to Ta Prohm, the Jungle Temple. Unlike most of the temples of Angkor, Ta Prohm has been largely left to ruins. With its dynamic interaction between nature and man-made art, this atmospheric temple is a favorite for many - some may feel a little like Indiana Jones or Lara Croft (which was filmed here) as they pick through the rubble. We later visit the temple Banteay Srei, the Citadel of Women. This pink sandstone temple was built in the latter half of the 10th century by Rajendravarman II and Jayavaraman V. The carvings of Banteay Srei are among the oldest and most intricate that we will see.

At a local restaurant. Coffee, tea and bottled water included; additional beverages available for purchase.

This afternoon we visit the Cambodian Landmine Museum. We also visit the studio of a local artist, where we learn about Cambodian art. Afterwards, we take the coach back to Siem Reap for some free time to explore on our own.

At a local restaurant, we have our final dinner together with a "farewell to Vietnam and Cambodia" drink included. Coffee, tea and bottled water are also provided; additional beverages are available for purchase.

Say farewell to new Road Scholar friends. Pack and prepare for departures home tomorrow.

At the hotel. Program concludes.

Transfer to Siem Reap–Angkor International Airport. If you are returning home, safe travels. If you are staying on independently, have a wonderful time. If you are transferring to another Road Scholar program, detailed instructions are included in your Information Packet for that program. We hope you enjoy Road Scholar learning adventures and look forward to having you on another rewarding program in the future. Don’t forget to join our Facebook page and Instagram Feed to share photos of our program. Best wishes for all your journeys!