All of our arrangements have been specially designed to incorporate a reason to travel and, for ease of choice, these have been categorised under the titles shown below.
13 nights from
£5995
Sailing deep into the highlands to discover the complex culture and ravishing riverscapes of Northern Vietnam, this is an intriguing cruise of contrasts, from the bustling, vibrant capital to backwater villages off the beaten track. The ‘Song Hong’ Red River and less-visited tributaries drift through other-worldly landscapes of limestone karsts, luxuriant hills, misted mountains and bright green rice paddies. Bamboo jetties jut from the banks as the waterways flow past ‘floating’ fishing shacks to historic sites, traditional craft communities, and the little-changed lifestyles of hill tribes. The slow-boat journey begins amid the beguiling caves and islands of the ‘descending dragon’, Ha Long Bay, before cruising westward to Bat Trang and onward to Hanoi, where a thousand years of heritage is echoed in architecture, from Chinese pagodas to French colonial elegance, the characterful Old Quarter, and striking signs of modernity; all intermingled and straddling the Red River itself. We follow the ancient trade route’s course to its last navigable point at Viet Tri, then take the tangents to the Lo River’s Tien Du dragon temple, and onto the Da (Black) River to visit the UNESCO village of Ancient Duong Lam, for a glimpse of life in times gone by.
The cruise itinerary may vary according to local conditions.
Operated by the excellent Pandaw River Expeditions, our partner of many years, the intimate RV Angkor Pandaw has a mix of Vietnamese and Cambodian crew and is hand finished in brass and teakwood with an air-conditioned panorama dining room, observation deck, open-air lounge, bar, fair-trade shop, library and WiFi (free/limited). Enjoy a range of Asian and Western cuisine served either as a buffet or à la carte with the occasional themed dinner. Tea, coffee, water and locally made soft drinks and alcoholic beverages are included on board. Bottled drinking water is distributed before excursions and shoe cleaning, cold towels and a refreshing drink is offered post excursion. 16 air-conditioned, outside cabins with private facilities, hairdryer, safe, luggage storage and wardrobe; 10 Main Deck and six Upper Deck cabins (172 sq. ft.).
Air travel and taxes, all port charges, transfers, 10-night cruise, full board on cruise, excursions, tipping for crew, local guides and representatives. If our specially negotiated airfares are unavailable at the time of booking, a supplement may apply.
Travel insurance, visa procurement, tipping, any government taxes or compulsory charges introduced after publication.
VIP arrival in Hanoi plus private transfers to the hotel with a guide (if travelling on a group flight). On return to the UK use of a day room at Pan Pacific included, and private transfer to Hanoi airport.
Grand Tour of Indochina
Discover old Saigon, cruise on the Mekong River and mystical Ha Long Bay, see the temples in Hue, Hoi An, Hanoi and ancient Angkor, and explore Laos home to luxuriant landscapes and intriguing cultural customs; and Cambodia encapsulates Indo-Chinese heritage in ancient Angkor
Classical Tour of Vietnam
From busy cities to blissful scenery and beguiling Buddhist temples, this classic tour takes you from buzzing Ho Chi Minh City to Hue, Hoi An, the capital, Hanoi, and Ninh Binh; via cruises on the Mekong River and Ha Long Bay, and sampan sailing into karst rock caves
The Original Mekong Cruise
An exotic cruise on the Mekong River and Tonle Sap Lake, this journey teams city sights in old Saigon and Phnom Penh, with rural riverbank towns, remote, romantic pagodas, rarely-visited villages, and the Siem Reap gateway to Angkor’s exquisite temple enclave
Highlights of Vietnam and Cambodia
From the historic streets of Hanoi to the mystical islands of Halong Bay, this 12-day tour explores some of Vietnam’s most spectacular sights, and crosses into Cambodia to take in the iconic towers and silhouetted stupas of Angkor Wat – the largest religious complex in the world. Beyond the charms of the better-known spots, you’ll have the chance to explore rural farming villages set between emerald rice paddies, and local workshops flanked by coconut palms, veering off the tourist trail and into the heart of the region.
