Mekong Mystique, 14 Night Timeless Wonders of Vietnam, Cambodia & the Mekong ex Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon), Vietnam to Hanoi, 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 – Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam
Arrive at Tan Son Nhat International Airport. If you have arranged a Uniworld arrival transfer, you will be greeted by a Uniworld representative and transferred to the Park Hyatt Saigon. Tonight, consider popping out to explore the lively Ben Thanh Night Market or one of the city’s quintessential evening cafés—either choice would mark a splendid start to your adventure.

Day 2 – 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 3 – Ho Chi Minh City, Transfer to My Tho (Embark), Tien Loi (Ben Tre)
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. Following lunch, you’ll be taken to the Mekong Jewel or the Mekong Mystique.

Day 4 – Tien Loi (Ben Tre), Vinh Long, Sa Dec
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. Back onboard, savor an authentic Vietnamese meal this evening.

Day 5 – Sa Dec, Gieng Island, Hong Ngu, Cruising the Mekong River
Following breakfast, continue your journey via sampan, where you’ll observe the daily routines of the villagers in Sa Dec. Visit a colorful temple, the home of Mr. Huynh Thuy Le, and then venture to Gieng Island, where you’ll experience how a local family makes incense sticks and the conical hat.

Day 6 – Hong Ngu, Cruising the Mekong River, Phnom Penh
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.
This afternoon, you’ll cross the Vietnamese border, and tomorrow you’ll awake in Phnom Penh, Cambodia’s capital city, for the next leg of your exciting journey.

Day 7 – 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 8 – Phnom Penh, Cruising the Mekong River, Angkor Ban
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 9 – Angkor Ban, Wat Hanchey, Kampong Cham
If yesterday was an exploration of Cambodia’s dark past, today is a celebration of the country’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 10 – Kampong Cham (Disembark), Transfer to Siem Reap
You’ll disembark in the morning and transfer via executive motorcoach to Siem Reap, the gateway to Angkor, the legendary archaeological site. You will enjoy three nights at the Sofitel Angkor Phokeethra Golf & Spa Resort, minutes away from the famed temple complex of Angkor Wat.

Day 11 – 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 12 – 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 13 – Siem Reap, Fly to Hanoi
Enjoy free time in Siem Reap before your included flight to Hanoi. Then, check in to your luxury accommodations, the Sofitel Legend Metropole Hanoi Hotel.

Day 14 – 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 15 – Hanoi
Check out of your luxury hotel. If you have arranged a Uniworld departure transfer, you will be transferred to the airport for your flight home.

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.