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Indochina Explorer Itinerary
Day 1 - UK - Hanoi (Vietnam)
Fly from a choice of UK airports with selected airlines to Hanoi. Perhaps fly from London Heathrow, Birmingham, Glasgow, Manchester or Newcastle with Emirates via Dubai or fly from London Heathrow or Manchester with Singapore Airlines via Singapore.
Days 2-3 - Hanoi
On arrival in Hanoi, transfer to your hotel for a 2-night stay. Visit Hanoi's History Museum and Hoa Lo Prison, go shopping for ingredients for a cookery lesson or explore Ho Chi Minh Quarter and the Temple of Literature. This afternoon enjoy a cyclo ride through the back streets of the Old Quarter. Your Scenic Enrich activity features a performance from Hanoi's famous water puppets. (B,D)
Days 4-5 - Ha Long Bay
Travel to Ha Long Bay and board the Au Co ship for a 2-night cruise through this stunning World Heritage landmark. Enjoy a relaxing Tai Chi lesson on board, visit Cat Ba Island and cruise deep into the National Park to admire the vertiginous limestone islets and karsts rising dramatically from the emerald waters. (B,L,D)
Day 6 - Ha Long Bay - Hanoi
Enjoy a relaxing cruise this morning before returning to Hanoi for an overnight stay. Freechoice Dining - tonight dine at either KOTO on Van Mieu, La Terrace at Sofitel or Ly Club. (B,L,D)
Day 7 - Hanoi - Vientiane (Laos)
Fly to Vientiane this afternoon for an overnight stay at the Settha Palace hotel. (B,D)
Day 8 - Vientiane - Luang Prabang
Explore Vientiane's Wat Sisaket Monastery and Haw Phra Kaew which was once home to the Emerald Buddha. Fly to Luang Prabang and transfer to the Luang Say Residence for a 3-night stay. (B,L,D)
Day 9 - Luang Prabang
Donate food to the local monks during morning alms then visit the former Royal Palace, Wat Xieng Thong, Wat Mai and the Pak Ou Caves. See the traditional rice wine-making village of Ban Xang Hay and join local villagers for a game of Petanque. Tonight grab a bargain at the night markets. (B,L)
Day 10 - Luang Prabang
Today you can choose from three Freechoice activities. Travel to Kuang Si Waterfalls, learn about weaving and dyeing textiles or discover Luang Prabang by bike. Scenic Enrich: Enjoy an ancient traditional Baci ceremony and watch the sun set from Mount Phousi. (B,D)
Day 11 - Siem Reap (Cambodia)
Fly to Siem Reap for a 3-night stay at the Park Hyatt hotel. (B,D)
Day 12 - Siem Reap
Explore the magnificent Angkor Wat, Angkor Thom and the richly-decorated Bayon Temple then visit the atmospheric Ta Prohm Temple. Scenic Enrich: Enjoy a superb performance at the colourful Cambodian circus, Phare. (B,L)
Day 13 - Siem Reap
Scenic Enrich: See the sun rise over the stunning Angkor Wat before enjoying a champagne breakfast at a special location, with food prepared by a local NGO-supported bakery school. For your Freechoice activity you can choose between exploring the temple of Banteay Srei and Landmine Museum and discovering Beng Mealea temples and the Artisans D'Angkor Handicraft Centre. Alternatively view the floating villages on a cruise on Tonle Sap (seasonal) or take a tethered balloon ride (weather dependent) for an amazing view over Angkor Wat. Scenic Enrich: Enjoy a themed gala dinner, drinks and show featuring Aspara dancers performing in front of temple ruins. (B,D)
Day 14 - Kampong Cham
Drive to Kampong Cham and embark Scenic Spirit. (B,L,D)
Day 15 - Wat Hanchey - Kampong Cham
Meet the novice monks at Wat Hanchey, before rejoining the ship and sailing to Kampong Cham for a visit to the Phnom Pros (Man Hill) and Wat Nokor, the ecotourism village of Cheung Kok or a rubber plantation factory and betel nut village. (B,L,D)
Day 16 - Kampong Tralach - Oudong - Kho Chen
Cruise to Kampong Tralach for an ox cart ride through a local village then board a coach to the ancient capital of Oudong for a visit to its spectacular pagoda. Scenic Enrich: Receive a blessing in the pagoda and learn how to pray, before taking part in a ceremony and giving a donation of food. Rejoin the coach and travel to Prek K'dam to re-board Scenic Spirit. Later, visit the silversmith village of Kho Chen. (B,L,D)
Day 17 - Phnom Penh
Travel to the Killing Fields and Tuol Sleng or perhaps enjoy a guided tour of the local food market, before joining a hands-on Khmer cooking demonstration. Alternatively, discover Phnom Penh's colonial buildings on a Tuk Tuk tour. Scenic Enrich: Enjoy an indulgent high tea at the celebrated Hotel Le Royal. (B,L,D)
Day 18 - Phnom Penh - Tan Chau (Vietnam)
Visit the famous Royal Palace with its Silver Pagoda then cross the border into Vietnam. Themed evening dinner tonight. (B,L,D)
Day 19 - Tan Chau
Visit Evergreen Island and ride in a Xe Loi (pedicab) to a local silk factory, explore Chau Doc city or head to Tra Su Bird Sanctuary. (B,L,D)
Day 20 - Sa Dec - Cai Be
Explore the historic town of Sa Dec and its lively market, then visit the home of Mr Huynh Thuy Le, the inspiration for Marguerite Duras' novel L'Amant. Later, board a sampan to Cai Be's floating market before stopping at local cottage industries, take afternoon tea at a French colonial house or join an on-board Freechoice activity. (B,L,D)
Day 21 - Ho Chi Minh City
Disembark Scenic Spirit and drive to Ho Chi Minh City for a 2-night stay at the Park Hyatt Saigon hotel. Join a foodie tour by Vespa, dine at an old French colonial house or try Restaurant Nineteen or Square One. (B,L,D)
Day 22 - Ho Chi Minh City
Discover the historic Cu Chi Tunnels which were used by the Viet Cong during the Vietnam War, then visit the Reunification Palace, left as it was when vacated by the South Vietnamese President in 1975, and the War Museum. (B,L,D)
Day 23 - Ho Chi Minh City - UK
After breakfast, transfer the airport for your flight home. (B)
Day 24 - UK
Arrive back in the UK.
For navigational reasons the Captain of the ship reserves the right to modify the cruise itinerary. The Mekong and Tonle Sap Lake are subject to variations in water levels throughout the level so changes to the itinerary may need to be made, including early disembarkation.