Cruise along the massive Mekong Delta, which covers some 15,000 square miles. This picturesque area accounts for over half of Vietnam's rice production, prompting it to be nicknamed as the "rice bowl" of the country. One of the highlights is a visit to a local establishment to see how traditional sweets and rice wine are made before sampling some yourself. Also explore a colourful local market, take a sampan ride to visit a brick factory, visit a fish farm, and relish many other fascinating activities.
Explore French-influenced Phnom Penh, the spectacular Silver Pagoda, and learn about the sobering Khmer Rouge regime. Interact with friendly Cambodian people at work and play as you explore several villages to see silk weavers, master silversmiths, and local school children.
Other highlights include an ox cart ride through the countryside and a visit to the home of a farmer to learn about his daily life. You will also partake in a traditional water blessing ceremony with area monks.
Beyond the Mekong you will explore great sights on land. In Ho Chi Minh City, enjoy a sightseeing tour, a cooking class, and visit the Cu Chi Tunnels, a network of tunnels used by the Viet Cong in the war.
In charming Siem Reap, enjoy a traditional Apsara dance performance and explore the spectacular Angkor temple complex, whose architectural grandeur is arguably unmatched among the world's ancient ruins.
See several of the temples, including spectacular Angkor Wat and the mesmerising faces of Bayon. Researchers now believe that Angkor was the largest pre-industrial city in the world, and the remaining temples stand as a testament to the wealth and power of the Khmer Empire.
By the end of your journey along the Mekong you will have a better understanding of life along the river and the friendly people who depend on it.
