Day 1 - Arrive Hanoi

Arrive in Hanoi, the cultural heart of Vietnam. A picture of French-colonial mansions, ornate traditional temples and rows of narrow houses, Hanoi is a vibrant, bustling city filled with small boutiques, Vietnamese coffee houses and lively street vendors built around an Old Quarter with scenic lakes and meandering streets. Explore the city at your own pace. Your guide accompanies you on the transfer from the airport to your hotel and is happy to help with suggestions and recommendations. You may wish to try one of Hanoi’s charming restaurants such as Madame Hien’s. Situated in a restored French-colonial Mansion, this casual restaurant serves refined Vietnamese specialties by Chef Didier Corlou.

Overnight: Hanoi

Meal Plan:

Day 2 - Hanoi

Uncover Hanoi's history and heritage with your private guide. Learn about the life and times of former President Ho Chi Minh, who played a key role in the nation's journey towards independence. Visit the mausoleum where his body is embalmed and see his humble stilted house, which was built in the style of an ethnic village home. Continue to the One Pillar Pagoda, an 11th century structure dedicated to King Ly Thai To's son. Later, discover small local shops and sidewalk cafes in a neighborhood build around a working railway track.

In the late afternoon, travel by local style cyclo (bicycle rickshaw) for a fun foodie adventure in the Old Quarter. The Old Quarter's meandering 15th-century streets are each named after the trade that was once conducted here, such as: Silk Street, Rice Street, Paper Street and Jeweler’s Street. Sample local street food specialties while exploring the area. Continue to “Food Street” where you can sample a variety of snacks and a glass of fresh bia hoi, (locally brewed beer). Continue to an area near Truc Bach Lake for more delicious treats, such as a Vietnamese beef wrap and roll.

Overnight: Hanoi

Meal Plan: B,D

Day 3 - Hanoi - Hoi An

Fly to the central Vietnamese city of Da Nang and transfer to the picturesque old town of Hoi An. UNESCO World Heritage-listed Hoi An is a picturesque old town on the Thu Bon River with a rich cultural, culinary and creative heart. Standing out with its rows of bright yellow traditional houses, the town flourished during the 16th and 17th centuries as one of Southeast Asia’s most prosperous port towns. The diverse influence of Chinese, Japanese and European traders can still be seen today in the town's eclectic mix of architecture, where a Japanese bridge, a Chinese assembly hall grand merchants' houses and French colonial villas are some of the highlights.

Overnight: Hoi An

Meal Plan: B

Day 4 - Hoi An

Explore Hoi An’s farming and food traditions on an early morning cycling adventure. Cycle through rice fields, visit a vegetable farming village and meet Hoi An’s cao lau noodle makers whose traditional recipe has been passed down through five generations. Visit a food hall where chefs prepare street food specialties in open kitchens. Sample freshly baked Vietnamese-style baguettes straight out of the oven, sip traditional Vietnamese tea served with Hoi An local treats and learn how to make noodles, dumplings and rice paper. Prepare your own Vietnamese lunch during a hands-on two-hour cooking experience.

Later, explore Hoi An on foot. Taste black sesame soup made by a town elder, meet a calligraphy master at a temple and visit a traditional house where the owners make coconut coffee, a family business passed down through several generations. Continue walking to the Fukien Assembly Hall and the 400-year-old Japanese covered bridge. The evening is free at leisure. You may choose to stay in town for dinner to try some of Hoi An’s funky restaurants such as Mango Mango, by American-Vietnamese Chef Duc, or have a drink at Gam, a gem stone museum that houses a little wine and cocktail bar in the back (paid locally).

Overnight: Hoi An

Meal Plan: B,L

Day 5 - Hoi An - Ho Chi Minh City

Transfer to Da Nang airport and fly to Ho Chi Minh City. Commonly known by its former name of Saigon, Ho Chi Minh City is the bustling and vibrant economic center of the south. Full of contrasts, the city is known for its cosmopolitan vibe and energetic pace which is unlike any other city in Vietnam. Travel by Soviet era sidecar motorcycle for a retro style adventure in Ho Chi Minh City. A popular mode of transport during World War II, sidecars are a part of history and are also an exciting way to get around. Feel the wind as you whiz around the city, exploring trendy local eateries and popular night spots. Zip over to the Cholon district to sample some of the best Chinese noodles and dumplings in town. Then travel along one of the city’s newest boulevards beside the Tau Hu canal to visit a restaurant that has been making banh xeo (savory pancakes) for over half a century. Try other local favorites such as cha gio (spring rolls), bi cuon (fresh spring rolls) or nem lui (barbecue beef) along the way and end the evening with a Vietnamese coffee or local beer at a live music venue.

Overnight: Ho Chi Minh City

Meal Plan: B,D

Day 6 - Ho Chi Minh City

Learn the secrets to a healthy Vietnamese lifestyle and uncover little-known epicurean delights in downtown Ho Chi Minh City. Experience Vietnamese tea culture with a woman who fell in love with tea in all its varieties while traveling in Vietnam’s northern highlands and now exports her own brand of healthy Vietnamese tea to over 40 countries. Then savor a simple, yet nutritious meal at one of the city's best vegetarian restaurants, showcasing organic beans, nuts, vegetables, flowers and fruits. Later, visit the Reunification Palace, where the official handover of power took place during the Fall of Saigon in 1975 and explore the History Museum or the War Remnants Museum.

In the evening, dinner is not included but your guide can help with suggestions and reservations at one of Ho Chi Minh City’s best restaurants, from fine dining or trendy to the best local style casual cuisine. You might like to try the elegant Lys Club, the kitschy Propaganda Café, or perhaps the Mountain Retreat, a favorite hidden local spot in an old building along some of Saigon’s small backstreets.

Overnight: Ho Chi Minh City

Meal Plan: B,L

Day 7 - Ho Chi Minh City - Mekong Delta

Witness the city slowly come to life in the early hours of the morning. Take a cyclo for a ride past Notre Dame Cathedral and the Central Post Office, stroll through a city park and stop for a Vietnamese coffee. See the memorial dedicated to a Buddhist monk who famously committed an act of self-immolation in 1963. Then take a Vespa to a local street market to discover an underground weapons bunker beneath a typical house and admire colorful floral displays at the flower market before savoring a traditional bowl of pho for breakfast at one of the city's best noodle shops. 

In the afternoon, transfer to My Tho harbor to board the Aqua Mekong, your floating Mekong River home. With its striking matte-black hull and use of sustainable local materials, Aqua Mekong offers a unique and intimate cruise experience with just 20 spacious suites. Each suite features local artisanal design and comes with panoramic views of the river from your private terrace. The ship offers extensive on-board facilities including a fully equipped gym, private theater screening room and library as well as an open-air pool and observation deck. Enjoy the serene river views with a drink at the bar and feast on gourmet Southeast Asian fare throughout the journey with a menu curated by Michelin-starred consulting chef, David Thompson.

Overnight: Aqua Mekong

Meal Plan: B,L,D

Day 8 - Mekong Delta

Begin the day learning about traditional mat weaving at Binh Thanh village or visit Sa Dec’s vibrant market and the famous house of Marguerite Duras’ legendary lover, Mr. Huynh Thuy Le. In the afternoon, stroll through the verdant plantations in the Mekong Delta village of My An Hung, visiting a local’s home to savor local fruits, listen to traditional folk song performances by villagers, and participate in a unique unicorn dance. A 17-kilometer (10.5-mile) biking option is also available if you wish to explore the idyllic countryside on two wheels.

Overnight: Aqua Mekong

Meal Plan: B,L,D

Day 9 - Mekong Delta and Border Crossing

As the sun rises, travel by skiff along Bassac Canal to experience the hustle and bustle of the Chau Doc floating market. Then take a van to Long Son Pagoda at the top of Sam Mountain to meet Buddhist monks who have made this sacred hilltop their home. Take a picturesque 18-kilometer (11-mile) bike ride on Long Khanh Island or hop on a rickshaw to visit Tan Chau Market with your on-board chef. After lunch, relax by the pool, try traditional Khmer massage or learn to cook Mekong inspired dishes while crossing the Cambodia-Vietnam border.

Overnight: Aqua Mekong

Meal Plan: B,L,D

Day 10 - Mekong River

Sail into the legendary land of the glittering former Khmer empire. At Koh Oknha Tey, watch how Khmer artisans dye and weave krama, a silk scarf loved by locals and a treasured cultural asset that dates back to the Angkor period. Then, cycle the idyllic riverbank past Buddhist temples and traditional thatched and stilted homes to see farmers with white Brahman oxen working the rice fields. After lunch, board Aqua Mekong’s private fleet of launch boats which are perfect for traveling further and faster along the river. Head towards the tamarind trees of Preah Prosop, a remote village little changed over several lifetimes and home to a colorful Buddhist temple.

Overnight: Aqua Mekong

Meal Plan: B,L,D

Day 11 - Phnom Penh

See the best of the Cambodian capital on motorized tuk-tuk, including the Royal Palace, Silver Pagoda and the National Museum of Cambodia, home to the world’s largest collection of Khmer art. Based on your preferences, visit the Tuol Sleng Genocide Museum or shop at the Russian Market before returning to your cruise ship.

Overnight: Aqua Mekong

Meal Plan: B,L,D

Day 12 - Mekong River

Visit the silversmith village of Koh Chen for a first-hand encounter with artisans producing royal Khmer silverware. Keep an eye out for their famous silver bowls, regularly chosen by Cambodia’s king as gifts for visiting dignitaries. Continue towards Udong, the royal capital from the 17th to 19th century to learn about the life of Buddhist monks at the Vipassana Dhura Mandala meditation center. In the afternoon, explore Kampong Prasat on foot for an intimate look at local ways of life on the riverside.

Overnight: Aqua Mekong

Meal Plan: B,L,D

Day 13 - Mekong River

As the sun rises over the lush countryside, visit a community traditional potters and palm-sugar producers who practice age-old craftsmanship and techniques dating back to the sixth century. Admire their unique skills which are rare and still highly valued today. On a bicycle or chauffeured tuk-tuk, head into the rice paddies to watch wizened masters scale sky-high sugar palm trees to harvest their fruit. Cruise across the glassy water and disembark among the lotuses for an ox-cart ride along the Tonle Sap riverbanks, past lacquered wooden houses where residents take refuge in the relative cool of these impromptu outdoor living rooms during the dry months.

Overnight: Aqua Mekong

Meal Plan: B,L,D

Day 14 - Phnom Penh - Siem Reap

Arriving in Phnom Penh, enjoy a customized exploration of the Cambodian capital before disembarking from the cruise. Transfer to the airport for your flight to Siem Reap, where your Cambodia journey continues in the ancient lost city of Angkor. A flourishing provincial town, Siem Reap is best known as the gateway to the treasures of Angkor, including the UNESCO World Heritage-listed Angkor Wat. In the evening, embark on an exciting Siem Reap foodie adventure by night. Your local guides take you to their favorite after-dark hotspots and reveal hidden gems that only insiders know about. Immerse in the hustle and bustle as you zip around town by Vespa, exploring the flavors of Cambodia, from sweet to bitter in a fun and exhilarating way. Try exotic fruits, fried creepy crawlies, grilled meats and other treats and wash it all down with local beer, rice wine and soft drinks.

Overnight: Siem Reap

Meal Plan: B,D

Day 15 - Siem Reap

Explore the ancient Angkorian landscape of sandstone temples and palaces. See the old royal reservoir of Srah Srang where kings and queens once bathed, marvel at the tree-covered Ta Prohm temple and discover a small, rarely-seen temple called Ta Nei. Continue to Ta Keo, a five-tiered pyramid structure known as the “mountain with bronze peaks”. Later, travel by air-conditioned vehicle to Angkor Thom, an old walled city which was the last and most enduring center of the Khmer empire. Enter through the Victory Gate and continue by road or walk along the old laterite wall. See the statue at Vihear Prampeilveng and pass by the Terrace of the Leper King. Stroll through shaded parkland from the royal Preah Palilay to Phimeanakas temple and admire the grand Baphuon temple before arriving at the Bayon, a dominating structure in the center of the city. End the day with a cocktail or two on the moat of Angkor Thom while enjoying a leisurely boat ride at sunset.

Overnight: Siem Reap

Meal Plan: B

Day 16 - Siem Reap

Start before dawn today to witness the spectacular sunrise over the iconic lotus towers of Angkor Wat. Watch the sky slowly transition from dark to light, marking the birth of a new day. Then bask in the early morning atmosphere and experience the splendor of Angkor Wat in all its glory. The rest of the day is free at leisure and, depending on your flight departure time, you may wish to take this opportunity to explore more of Siem Reap's arts and culture. Your guide can assist with arrangements to visit local craft workshops or designer boutiques around town. You can also spend time wandering the Old Market, a great place to pick up souvenirs, jewelry or textiles or sample some of the street food. Transfer to the airport where you are assisted with Fast Track departure ahead of your departure flight. 

Overnight:

Meal Plan: B