Is Southeast Asia on your bucket list? Look back on a recent Small Group Trip to Vietnam & Cambodia.

I can't believe I took the photo above--sunrise at Angkor Wat. That's just one small moment of wonder among many.

A Typical Mekong Itinerary

When you choose a Mekong river cruise, you're highly likely to include land extensions, so let's start there. Normally there will be a few days in Ho Chi Minh City (aka Saigon), Siem Reap, and Hanoi.

It's always a good idea for Asia trips that you allow a few extra days to recover from the jet lag. Depending on the direction of your cruise, you will start in Hanoi or Ho Chi Minh City (or possibly even Bangkok, if you take advantage of every additional destination in an à la carte program).  You will also have the opportunity to explore the awe-inspiring temples around Siem reap, including the legendary Angkor Wat.

Following the pre-cruise stay in one of these cities, you'll be transferred to your ship. For the next week you will explore both Vietnam and Cambodia, through tailor made excursions and encounters with the people, culture, and history. 

Finally, upon disembarkation from the ship, you'll continue on for up to a week in one or more of the cities listed above. One of the highlights of this part of the world is the unique geological formations of Ha Long Bay in northern Vietnam, and that's one of the reasons I advise clients to do this trip in a south-to-north direction. 

Vietnam Highlights

Guests enjoy spending time in the vibrant main cities of both northern and southern Vietnam, before and after a Mekong cruise. Ho Chi Minh City seems to have more motorbikes per capita that anywhere else imaginable, while Hanoi still retains vestiges of the French colonial period. At the Hotel Metropole, you may even have the opportunity to descend into a purpose-built bunker that was used during the Vietnam War.

The meat in the middle of that urban sandwich is the quiet, traditional towns and villages you will be immersed in during your cruise itself. You will have the opportunity to see traditional production of foods, textiles, and more. In the morning you'll see fishermen on the Mekong Delta spreading their nets in the glow of the early morning sky, in the afternoon you may ride around a village in an oxcart or on a bicycle, and in the evening you will revel in the complete quiet of the rural surroundings.

Last but not least, the natural splendor of Ha Long Bay will leave you searching for words. Pictures alone don't capture the epic scenery of this region, and just sailing among the towering shapes that emerge from the bay is an experience you will never forget. As part of this package you may also visit a breathtaking cave system.

Cambodia highlights:

My favorite experiences in Cambodia were truly varied.

The people to people experiences can be some of the most memorable. One day we met a peanut farmer and she told us how the recent weather had been affecting her crop this year. Another day we visited a school and visited with the children, and on another we walked through a village to reach an outdoor establishment where silk is handwoven, thread by thread.

The other Cambodian highlights may be physical structures, but the interest comes from the fascinating human history and culture that undergirds these UNESCO World Heritage sites. Each of the four temples we visited was different from the others, be it the physical design and details, the construction materials, or simply the size.

The difference a special guide makes

How In both Vietnam and Cambodia, our guides were an essential part of our understanding of the cultures we were exploring.

Our guides in Vietnam basically represented two different generations, with two different experiences of the late 20th and 21st centuries. One recounted stories of postwar poverty, where he scrounged around rice paddies to find snails to add protein to her family's meager diet. Despite her accomplishments in the tourism industry, she still has to deal with the subservient role of women in much of Vietnamese society, including her own family.

The other guide was close to 20 years her junior. He has grown up in a time when the US embargo was lifted and he has had opportunities to study at university and advance his economic position.

Our guide in Cambodia recounted stories of his youth, including his having been a child agricultural slave under Pol Pot and having lost numerous families to this terrible regime. It added a profundity to our visit to the scenes of some of Pol Pot's repressive terror that we never would have experienced visiting on our own.

Add the Mekong to your list!

Although I don't have another group scheduled to travel on an escorted Mon Voyage Small Group Trip at this time, why not consider an independent trip as part of an organized tour? If Asia attracts you but you feel less familiar with the culture and surroundings, this kind of trip may be perfect for you. 

The atmosphere on our AmaWaterways trip was warm and welcoming, and will provide memories of a lifetime--whether you are with a few friends or family members or even all alone.

One of the coolest memories of my trip came a month after I was back home. We met an American Airlines pilot, Captain Susan Maule, on our trip and quite enjoyed spending time with her and a friend she was traveling with. Well, she found out I was flying from via Philadelphia base to Amsterdam for the conference I am currently attending, and guess who flew me over the Atlantic last week!?

Who knows what memories you will make next... 

2024 Updates

Gems of Southeast Europe (late June 2025) 

and 

Christmas Markets on the Rhine (Thanksgiving 2025) 
Current special pricing for these river cruises ends in just a couple of weeks! Contact me for details and make your deposit by the end of this month! Remember that March 31st is Easter Sunday, so for all practical purposes the last day we can place your deposit is Friday, March 29th.

Greece: Of Myths and Moussaka Join me the first two weeks of September in Greece for a fabulous fortnight. We will spend time on Santorinini and Crete, as well Athens. The trip includes visits to important historic sites and archaeological museums, a cooking class, a winery visit, scenic hikes, and more. As with many Mon Voyage trips, I try to offer a little bit of everything to keep us all active and engaged, and this one will be no exception.

Please reach out to me at monvoyage@earthlink.net for further info on these upcoming Small Group Trips. 

2024 Updates Private (FIT) Trip Planning

Even though it's only March, my 2024 book is almost full. If you'd like the expertise and careful trip planning with the person touch of Mon Voyage, don't delay!

À la prochaine,