Mekong Mystique, 14 Night Timeless Wonders of Vietnam, Cambodia & the Mekong ex Hanoi, Vietnam to Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon), Vietnam

Two of the most beautiful, historic, and friendly places in all of Asia, dynamic Vietnam and pastoral Cambodia, are intriguing studies in contrast. Each possesses its own unique charm and social traditions, its own tragic history and complex past.

Ho Chi Minh City offers a heady mixture of old and new, often surprising visitors with its charm. As the lifeblood of Southeast Asia, the Mekong teems with colorful floating villages. Phnom Penh, Cambodia’s thriving capital, is fast-forwarding to the future yet retains a provincial intimacy. And colorful Siem Reap provides the gateway to the vast UNESCO-designated jungle temple complex of Angkor Wat.

Day 1 – Hanoi, Vietnam
Arrive at the Hanoi airport. If you have arranged a Uniworld arrival transfer, you will be greeted by a Uniworld representative and transferred to your luxury accommodations, the Sofitel Legend Metropole Hanoi Hotel.

Day 2 – Hanoi
Hanoi’s elegant boulevards are lined with trees and handsome buildings, as you’ll see on today’s fascinating tour of the city. At the same time, this lively cultural center—Vietnam’s capital city—is replete with bustling streets, food vendors, museums, and historic sites, making for an intriguing study in contrasts that rivals any other metropolitan destination.

Day 3 – Hanoi, fly to Siem Reap
Enjoy free time in Hanoi before your included flight to Siem Reap, Cambodia, where you will be transferred to your luxury hotel, the Sofitel Angkor Phokeethra Golf & Spa Resort.

Day 4 – Siem Reap
Today is a bucket list kind of day as you explore the ancient temples of Angkor Wat, a gigantic religious complex that is now a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Day 5 – Siem Reap
Today you will enter the spectacular remnants of Angkor Thom, the royal city. Built during the heyday of the Khmer dynasty in the 12th century, this extraordinary complex of Hindu and Buddhist monuments was once lost to the world for many years, hidden under dense jungle vines.

Day 6 – Siem Reap, Transfer to Kampong Cham (Embark)
Today, you’ll have free time to explore Siem Reap, a place name that means, literally, “Defeat of Siam”—which tells you something of its history. It is the gateway to Angkor, the legendary archaeological site. Later check out of your hotel and transfer via executive motorcoach to Kampong Cham where you’ll embark on the beautiful Mekong Jewel or the Mekong Mystique—your elegant home for the next seven nights—and set sail on the beautiful Mekong.

Day 7 – Wat Hanchey, Angkor Ban, Phnom Penh
Today is a celebration of Cambodia’s bright future. You’ll meet young children at a local school and friendly villagers in their homes, and have a rare opportunity to receive an unforgettable water blessing from local Buddhist monks.

Day 8 – Phnom Penh
Today, you’ll discover the thriving capital of the Kingdom of Cambodia, Phnom Penh. It stands at the juncture of three captivating rivers and represents a dizzying blend of architectural styles—French colonial, Khmer, modern, and everything in between. Here, you’ll find an alluring riverside esplanade amid numerous bewitching Buddhist temples, palaces, and artifacts.

Day 9 – Phnom Penh
Today’s featured excursion may be the most profound and memorable experience of your entire journey. You’ll learn about the infamous Killing Fields of the Khmer Rouge and visit a former school-turned-prison that is now a genocide museum.

Day 10 – Cruising the Mekong River, Hong Ngu
You leave Cambodia behind and cross into Vietnam today, delving into a region where traditional and modern lifestyle elements mingle: Agriculture may still reign supreme, but TV satellite dishes dot rooftops of houses built on stilts. You’ll visit the local island village of Hong Ngu, a major producer of the traditional Khmer scarves located not far from the Vietnam-Cambodia border. Since they’re woven in many homes around the village, you’ll have the opportunity to see the process first-hand. You’ll also stop at a local temple dedicated to a unique religion founded in this area of Vietnam, Hoa Hoa.

Day 11 – Gieng Island, Sa Dec
Following breakfast, you’ll venture to Gieng Island, where you’ll experience how a local family makes incense sticks and the conical hat. Later, your journey continues via sampan, where you’ll observe the daily routines of the villagers in Sa Dec and visit a colorful temple, the home of Mr. Huynh Thuy Le.

Day 12 – Vinh Long, Tien Loi (Ben Tre), My Tho
Today, you’ll witness the hustle and bustle of delta river life on a unique excursion created exclusively for Uniworld guests, where you can see how local farmers weave sedge hats, decorate bonsais, and more.

Day 13 – My Tho (Disembark), Transfer to Ho Chi Minh City
Experience how ancient history melds with the boisterous present in Vietnam’s largest city, where skyscrapers tower over ancient temples and motorbikes putter along picturesque alleys.

Day 14 – Ho Chi Minh City
Today’s featured excursion provides a fascinating glimpse of the Viet Cong’s vast network of incredibly narrow tunnels dating back to the Vietnam War.

Day 15 – Depart Ho Chi Minh City
If you have arranged a Uniworld departure transfer, you will be transferred to Tan Son Nhat International Airport for your flight home. Or continue your tour with an extraordinary optional extension program.

A brand-new ship is set to sail in Vietnam and Cambodia in 2028. The alluring Mekong Mystique will welcome guests to this extraordinary destination with a design story that draws inspiration from 1930s French Indochine style and the lush environment of the Mekong itself.

Leading the Way since 1976 We were the first American company to set sail in Europe, and we’ve been revolutionizing the landscape of river cruising ever since. With more experience than practically any other line on the rivers, we spent our time developing deep local connections, destination expertise, and the most incredible crew in the industry. Over the years we’ve grown to offer unparalleled itineraries on the rivers of Europe, Egypt, India, Southeast Asia, and the Peruvian Amazon.

The Original Floating Boutique Hotels We took everything travellers love about boutique hotels and made it float—think warm and personalized service, unique design schemes that highlight your destination, locally-inspired dining, thoughtfully curated activities, and ultra-comfortable furnishings. Each member of our fleet is one-of-a-kind, a work of art with its own bespoke details, custom fabrics, and local craftsmanship to bring the destinations outside in. Many of our ships even share a design team with the award-winning Red Carnation Hotel Collection. And the best part is, you’ll wake up to a wonderful new place to explore every day.

The Highest Quality in All-Inclusive Luxury River Cruising Our all-inclusive itineraries are tailored to deliver authentic luxury. You can keep your wallet closed the entire trip, and still find everything you need and more to have a fantastic time. What truly distinguishes the meaning of “All-Inclusive” at Uniworld is our commitment to quality and passion for Tiny Noticeable Touches™. Handmade Savoir beds, a wide selection of premium wines and spirits, and delicious cuisine made with locally sourced ingredients—every piece of the Uniworld experience is hand selected to transform good experiences into exceptional ones.*

No Request Too Large, No Detail Too Small® “No request too large, no detail too small”—that’s our driving ethos, and every member of the Uniworld crew lives by it. Our service is second to none. With a 2.4-to-1 crew-to-guest ratio and the longest tenured team in the business, our team starts to learn your name and your drink order from day 1. It’s little touches like this that make you feel like family onboard with us, and what makes returning for your next sailing feel like coming home.

Our Travel Family We’re proud to be a part of The Travel Corporation (TTC) collection of award-winning travel brands—including Trafalgar Tours, Luxury Gold, Insight Vacations, Contiki, and African Travel. We share a collective ethos: treat your guests, your staff, and the local communities you visit like family, and you’ll create the most rewarding travel experiences out there.

*Note: Inclusions may vary in Egypt, Asia, and Peru.