14 Day 5 Star Luxury Mekong Cruise
This tour includes return international airfares. See the Fine Print section for further details.
This tour is categorised as 1 out of 5
Explore at your own pace: Discover your destination at your own pace with our self-guided itinerary. Options include driving, rail, or cruising (excluding expeditions). Enjoy included guided day trips for sightseeing as outlined in your itinerary.
As a general requirement across all of our trips, you may be required to walk up and down stairs, get on and off transportation, handle your own luggage, and participate in all scheduled sightseeing that may be conducted on uneven ground and terrain. Any physical ailments you may have must be disclosed at the time of booking to determine your suitability and where required, supporting documentation may be requested to ensure that we are comfortable that you will enjoy your trip.
Experience a superior level of comfort. Our Small Group tours have been crafted for Inspiring Vacations travellers exclusively, with personal and unique experiences in mind. Travel with no more than 26 people, allowing for a more personalised and immersive experience. Please see the Important Information on your selected tour for the exact group size.
A portion of this tour runs as a group tour where you will be escorted by an expert tour leader. Another portion is self-guided, whether conducted by rail, cruise or land, and you will travel between destinations on your own, with free time to explore at your own pace.
✓ Return international airfares included
✓ Small group experience, with no more than 20 people
✓ 5 nights luxury 5-star hotel accommodation
✓ 7 nights luxury 5-star river cruise boat including all meals
✓ Return airport transfers
✓ Luxury A/C vehicles
✓ 12 breakfasts, 9 lunches and 8 dinners
✓ The services of a professional English-speaking guide throughout
✓ Sightseeing & all entry fees as per the itinerary
Travel with the experts for a carefully curated, value-packed discovery of the world's most iconic destinations. Our tours are bursting with must-see sights, rich experiences and quality inclusions, all at an unbeatable price. Bucket list dreams are ticked off on these all-encompassing journeys.
Welcome to Ho Chi Minh,
On arrival, you will be greeted by your transfer driver at Tan Son Nhat International Airport and transferred to your hotel for check in. The rest of the day is at leisure to explore this vibrant city.
Please note: Some flights may depart Australia the night before
Enjoy breakfast in your hotel before starting your holiday with a short guided tour around central Ho Chi Minh City (formerly Saigon). Spot Notre Dame Cathedral, Saigon Central Post Office before a visit to the War Remnant Museum. Later, soak up the atmosphere of Ben Thanh market, one of Ho Chi Minh’s liveliest. This afternoon drive to the Cu Chi Tunnels, just a small part of a larger network of tunnels that run under much of the country. The Cu Chi Tunnels were the location of the Viet Congs base of operations for the Tet offensive in 1968. More widely the tunnels were used as communication and supply routes as well as living quarters, stores and hospitals during the Vietnam-US war.
Dinner on Saigon River Cruise offers an opportunity to witness another side of Saigon.. Hop on your wooden barge and sail down the river. Feel the gentle breeze caressing your skin and enjoy a lovely dinner accompanied by the traditional music and dance performances.
Enjoy a free day to explore the city in more detail.
After breakfast, bid farewell to the hustle and bustle of the city and make the short drive to My Tho. On arrival, board your luxury cruise boat; your home for the next 8 nights. Once welcomed onboard, and you’ve checked in to your cabin, enjoy a delicious lunch. Relax onboard, maybe enjoy tea on your private balcony or at the open-air bar while the boat glides upstream to reach Cai Be, a charming town well-known for its spiritual Catholic French Church and manufacturer of traditional crafts and food products. Drop anchor near Cai Be for the evening. This historic town was established in the 19th century by Vietnam’s last ruling family, the Nguyen dynasty, where three provinces meet: Tien Giang, Vinh Long, and Ben Tre. Cai Be would later become the surrounding region’s predominant water-based trading hub
Enjoy dinner on board and maybe finish the day with a classic movie shown in the lounge.
Wake early, and if you’re feeling limber, join in Tai Chi on the top deck or simply relax and enjoy sunrise over the river. First stop of the day is the floating markets, observing boat-to-boat trading of local goods, such as fruits and agricultural products. Learn about local trading culture and how each boat has a special marker to let buyers know what goods they are selling. Next, enjoy a Cai Be tour, head ashore to visit a local workshop to learn how rice and coconut products are manufactured. Continue with a cruise through the lush, green canal networks to observe farmers working in their fields. This afternoon, upon arrival in Sa Dec, board a local boat and head towards Binh Thanh Island to witness more traditional handicrafts, here it's the process of mat making. Meet a local family who will share their stories of life on the island. Back on board, maybe take a dip in the pool on the sun deck or listen to a presentation by an expert guide about “Life on the Mekong Delta” as the boat continues to Tan Chau, the gateway and border town to Cambodia. The vessel docks this evening near Tan Chau.
After breakfast, head ashore for an excursion around Tan Chau by “xe loi”, a cyclo used as a local taxi. Explore local streets, spotting traditional houses and workshops before stopping at a colourful market for a spot of shopping. Afterwards, board a local boat to visit a floating fish farm to learn how farming works. Back on board, continue your cruise towards Phnom Penh, with the rest of the afternoon at leisure. Dinner is served before arriving in Phnom Penh, capital of Cambodia.
A full day of sight-seeing today. Start with the sombre Tuol Sleng Genocide Museum, a former high school used as the notorious Security Prison 21 (S-21) by the Khmer Rouge regime. Continue on to Choeung Ek Killing Field to learn and reflect on the atrocities that took place here.
Today, visit the small Angkor Ban village on the Mekong River, famous for its beautiful traditional houses. Back on board, enjoy a presentation of traditional Khmer fashion before lunch. Continue the tour with a visit to the pre-Angkorian temple of Wat Hanchey, a 7th Century hilltop temple. Next up is the colourful monastery of Wat Nokor, where we might get the chance to engage in conversation with some of the monks living in the area. Back on board after a lovely day and a chance to relax this afternoon.
This morning, enjoy breakfast before a stop on the island of Koh Oknha Teym famous for its high-class silk manufacturing. Explore the island by tuk-tuk, before joining a presentation about “The geography of the Mekong and Tonle Sap” prior to lunch. After lunch, take part in a traditional blessing ceremony, praying for health and prosperity for all on board.
The ship continues towards Kampong Tralach and drops anchor near Kampong Chhnang, a regional hub. Spend the rest of the day relaxing while watching the comings and goings of river life in part of central Cambodia.
If you’re up for it, an early day ahead to witness another spectacular sunrise and a gentle Tai Chi session on deck. After breakfast, visit a nearby rural village and take a walking tour to observe the Khmer style pottery that is a speciality of the region. Explore the floating villages and wetlands of the area before heading back to the boat for lunch. Continue towards the Great Tonle Lake, a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve. In the afternoon, leisurely enjoy a high tea then join in a farewell event on board.
This morning you will arrive in Siem Reap where you will disembark the ship on a small local boat. On arrival at the pier, you will be greeted and transferred to your hotel for check-in. The rest of today is free to explore Siem Riep.
Today is a major highlight of your time in South East Asia.. Enjoy a full day discovering the mysterious Temples of Angkor. Your day starts with a visit to the heart and soul of Cambodia - Angkor Wat. The complex is the largest religious structure in the world and was built in the early 12th Century.
Continue with a visit to the ancient Ta Prohm Temple. Swallowed by the jungle, this 11th Century monastery is one of the most atmospheric ruins in the vast complex.
After lunch, continue to Angkor Thom (the Great City). Enter via the south gate and the famous Bayon of the 12th and 13th centuries. Continue through to the Elephant Terrace and the raised Leper King Terrace, featuring many beautifully sculptured Apsaras.
After a delicious breakfast and at the appropriate time, you will be transported to Siem Reap airport to board your flight home.
Arrive home today. We hope you've been inspired.
✓ Return international airfares included
✓ Small group experience, with no more than 20 people
✓ 5 nights luxury 5 star hotel accommodation
✓ 7 nights luxury 5 star river cruise boat including all meals
✓ Return airport transfers
✓ Luxury A/C vehicles
✓ 12 Breakfast, 9 lunches, 8 dinners
✓ The services of a professional English-speaking guide throughout.
✓ Sightseeing & all entry fees as per the itinerary
Booking Process
COVID-19
Due to COVID there maybe disruptions to standard operating schedules of particular components of this itinerary. Should a component be effected a substitute will be confirmed prior to departure.
Fitness Requirements
While the tour itinerary should give you some guidance and overview to the expected requirements, to determine if this tour is right for you we categorise each of our tours in terms of their intensity. These guidelines are to ensure that each tour group is conducted as expected and to ensure the overall satisfaction of all Inspiring Vacations customers.
As a general rule, porterage is not included, therefore at all times, you are expected to handle your own luggage where help may not be available.
Tipping
A friendly reminder that tipping is not included in your package. Tipping is not compulsory on your trip, but they can make a big difference to locals employed in the tourism industry. If you feel that your guide and driver have done an impeccable job, you can choose to give a gratuity, but this is entirely your decision.
For the services of your guide, it is suggested that you budget for AUD$10 per person, per day. Tipping of your driver is also appreciated and we would suggest AUD$5 per person, per day.
As this particular tour does not collect a ‘kitty’, it is entirely up to the individual whether or not you would like to tip locals for the services of things like taxis or when dining at restaurants. In these cases, we suggest you allow 10-20% of the value of the service as a tip. Again, it is not compulsory and entirely up to the individual.
Accommodation
The accommodation listed is subject to change. Any changes will be of an equal or higher standard. Bedding configurations (double or twin) are requests only. All efforts will be made to meet your preferences, however, any changes are beyond our control.
Single Supplement
Single supplement is $3,795.00 per person, in addition to the twin-share price.
Triple Share
Not available.
Travel Insurance
Travel insurance is recommended to protect yourself against the unexpected. In addition to the support that a policy may provide, you may be asked to present a copy of your travel insurance documentation while travelling.
We have partnered with nib to offer our customers competitive rates for their travel insurance. You can book Comprehensive or Essentials cover for your domestic, international or multi-trip journeys simply by clicking HERE.
Note that Inspiring Vacations cannot provide advice with regards to any insurance product.
Visa & Passport information
It is the traveller's responsibility to ensure they have a valid passport. The passport must be valid for a minimum of six months from the intended date of return.
Australia, New Zealand & United States passport holders require a visa to enter Vietnam.
You will need to arrange your Visas for travel to Vietnam closer to departure. Please note, we don't recommend applying for the e-visa until around 30-45 days prior to your departure.
Visa's are easiest to complete online and take approximately 72 hours to confirm.
You will be able to obtain your e-visa when you have your flight documents indicating your date of entry into Vietnam. Remaining tour documentation, including hotel details, will be sent 4 weeks prior to departure.
Please note the e-visa is limited to 30 days validity from the date of arrival and is only valid for 3 months from date of issue.
You must make sure that the same travel document that was used for applying online is used for entering into Vietnam.
Visit https://evisa.xuatnhapcanh.gov.vn/ to applyvisa for an e-visa.
Information required:
Once approved, please ensure that you travel with the following documentation as they are required to present to customs upon arrival into the country:
Please note that these details are subject to change without notice. We recommend visiting https://smartraveller.gov.au for up to date information in terms of entry requirements. Visas should not be applied for until you receive your final documentation.
Tour Documentation
Final documentation including e-tickets and hotel details will be provided approximately 30 days prior to travel.
Group Size
6-20 people
Children
Children must be 5 years old or above and share a room with parents at all times. Children are charged the same price as adults.
Tour Style
To meet the needs of various types of travelers, we choose to operate various types of tours, and depending on your selected package will mean different services are provided throughout your trip. The following descriptions of each tour style we hope will ensure that each traveller has appropriate expectations before they start their travels: