Grand Mekong Odyssey

Fly overnight to Hanoi, Vietnam's leafy capital city. Meet your guide for your transfer to the hotel. Depending on your time of arrival, the rest of the day is yours to start soaking up the local culture ahead of this evening's welcome dinner and guide briefing.

Today, enjoy an introduction to Vietnamese history at the Ethnology Museum, for a fascinating window into Vietnam's many indigenous groups. See tribal antiques and full-scale replicas of Vietnamese longhouses and stilt houses. Continue to the Confucian Temple of Literature before lunch. This afternoon, explore the city's French Quarter, and enjoy a cyclo tour of the Old Quarter's narrow historic streets.

Visit the Ho Chi Minh Quarter for an insight into the Vietnam War. Visit the Humble House on Stilts, where Ho Chi Minh lived in the grounds of the Presidential Palace, and see his Mausoleum in Ba Dinh Square. Stop to see the wreckage of an American bomber plane, still visible in the lake where it was shot down in 1972. Later, visit a 1980s apartment in the Old Quarter and hear about life in the difficult post-war subsidy period.

Drive two hours into the countryside to Ninh Binh, famously known as‘Halong Bay on land' thanks to its dramatic karst mountains. En route, stop to visit Hoa Lu Ancient Citadel, the tenth century capital of Dai Viet. This afternoon, enjoy a boat trip through the paddy fields, stopping to explore prehistoric caves before checking in at your hotel.

Begin the day at Four Paws Bear Sanctuary. Learn the stories of these bears, rescued from the illegal pet and bile industries, and hear how they have been given a second chance in life. Enjoy a fresh lunch at the sanctuary, made from ingredients grown on site. This afternoon, head into Cuc Phuong National Park and hear all about the local wildlife on a short stroll through the rainforest. Return to the hotel.

Drive to Halong Bay and embark on a two-night scenic cruise through this famous UNESCO-listed bay’ known for its emerald waters and towering limestone islands. Head to a hidden spot and try your hand at kayaking through these mesmerising seascapes.

See the bay through a local's eyes! The local fishermen will row you through their floating village, where many families have lived for generations. Later, head to one of the bay's beaches for a chance to sunbathe on the sands.

Rise early for Tai Chi on deck as the sun rises over Halong Bay. Visit one of the bay's largest caves before cruising back to port after brunch. Disembark and fly to Hue, a charming city and once the seat of the Nguyen emperors.

Discover Hue's imperial history, beginning at the Imperial Citadel and Forbidden Purple City. Continue to Thien Mu Pagoda. After lunch, visit the Royal Tomb of Minh Mang before a leisurely cruise along the Perfume River.

The 102-kms railway journey from Hue to Danang is considered one of the best in the world. Three hours of scenic coastline await, with beautiful tropical beaches on one side and dramatic mountain scenery on the other. On arrival in Danang, transfer to the wonderfully traditional town of Hoi An. The afternoon is at leisure to explore the Old Town's charming shops and boutiques before dinner. With its charming yellow buildings and vivid silk lanterns, a stroll through this traditional town feels like stepping back in time.

Head out on a walking tour of Hoi An's Old Town, with visits including Chua Ong Pagoda, a 200-year-old merchant house, and the spectacular Japanese Covered Bridge. Afterwards, continue into Hoi An's peaceful countryside to visit an organic farming community.

Fly to Saigon, perhaps Vietnam's most evocative city. Embark on a city tour to explore the city's heady mix of local culture and colonial influences. See the Notre-Dame Cathedral and visit the Central Post Office, the Reunification Palace and the poignant War Remnants Museum.

Discover the reality of guerrilla warfare at the Cu Chi Tunnels, which were central to the Viet Cong's military operations, including the Tet Offensive. For a truly authentic insight into the war, meet a Vietnamese veteran and hear his story. Stop for lunch at an organic farm en route back to Saigon.

Transfer to Can Tho and board the Victoria Mekong for your seven-night cruise. Enjoy a welcome cocktail on deck as the ship sets sail.

Take a tender boat through a fascinating floating market to reach Long Xuyen, the region's main town. Visit the local museum, with displays of ancient crafts. Later, head to Tiger Island. Visit a temple and see local industries such as incense-making. Cruise upstream towards Vam Nao.

Head ashore in Phu Tan and visit a craft village famous for its handmade clay stoves. Enjoy lunch on board as you cruise toward Tan Chau, where a local rickshaw will take you to explore a colourful temple and local market. This evening, enjoy a riotous Vietnamese lion dance on the sky deck!

Hop on a cyclo and head to the elaborate Royal Palace, Silver Pagoda and National Museum. Later, drive into the countryside to pay respects at the Killing Fields, where the Khmer Rouge executed over 1 million victims in the 1970s. Today, it is a memorial site for peaceful reflection. Return to the city and end the afternoon in style with a signature cocktail at Raffles Hotel Le Royal before returning to the ship for a lively Apsara dance performance.

Hop on a cyclo and head to the elaborate Royal Palace, Silver Pagoda and National Museum. Later, drive into the countryside to pay respects at the Killing Fields, where the Khmer Rouge executed over 1 million victims in the 1970s. Today, it is a memorial site for peaceful reflection. Return to the city and end the afternoon in style with a signature cocktail at Raffles Hotel Le Royal before returning to the ship for a lively Apsara dance performance.

njoy a walking tour of Koh Chen village, where you'll meet a local copper and silversmith, before continuing to the country's former capital, Oudong. Visit Buddhist monks at a local meditation centre before taking a tuk-tuk to Silk Island to learn about the process of silk weaving from worm to loom.

Explore the laid-back village of Angkor Ban with its wooden stilt houses. Sail to Wat Hanchey and head up the hill to see its 7th-century temple with panoramic views over the Mekong.

Disembark and drive through lush Cambodian countryside to reach Siem Reap, the gateway to Angkor. The afternoon is at leisure.

Journey to Angkor Thom and visit its many treasures, including the Bayon, Elephant and Leper King Terraces, and the atmospheric Ta Prohm. Continue to the magnificent Angkor Wat and explore its many halls and towers. This evening, return to Angkor Thom and enjoy a cruise on its moat as the sun sets.

Join a morning cooking class at an organic farm. Pick up supplies at the local market, then head to the farm to pick some organic ingredients. Your chef will guide you in creating a traditional Khmer lunch before an afternoon at leisure.

Transfer to the airport for your onward flight.