Fascinating Vietnam, Cambodia & the Mekong River (Northbound) 2026 - 13 Day River Cruise Ho Chi Minh City to Siem Reap

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Fascinating Vietnam, Cambodia & the Mekong River (Northbound) 2026

13 Day River Cruise Ho Chi Minh City to Siem Reap



Tour Description:

On this unique and inspiring Southeast Asia river cruise through Vietnam and Cambodia, you’ll be immersed in the cultures and ancient traditions as you sightsee and spend time with locals in the most fascinating places along the mighty Mekong River.

Spend time in the bustling Ho Chi Minh City which combines historic architecture with modern skyscrapers. See the famous landmarks and try your hand in the kitchen—Vietnamese-style, with a cooking class. Go back in time with an excursion to the Cu Chi Tunnels where you’ll have an opportunity to walk through a section of the immense underground tunnel system used extensively during the Vietnam War. Embark on your river cruise along the Mekong River and immerse yourself in the local cultures with a visit to a vibrant market, the home of a local family making handcrafted sampans, and a workshop to learn how rice wine and traditional candies are made.

In the capital of Cambodia, Phnom Penh, tour the National Museum and Royal Palace with its striking Silver Pagoda. On a hilltop at the site of the 8th-century temple of Wat Hanchey, take in the stunning views before walking through the rural village of Angkor Ban to visit with welcoming schoolchildren. Go on an ox-cart ride amongst rice paddy fields and witness the daily lives of farmers.

The grand finale of this memorable Southeast Asia river cruise vacation is a stay in Siem Reap, home to the phenomenal Temples of Angkor with an intricacy and architectural grandeur unmatched in the world. Visit famous Angkor Wat, Angkor Thom, and the grandeur of the Bayon temple featuring some 200 mysterious faces carved in its many towers. Then enjoy an inspiring Aspara dance performance—a perfect ending to this remarkable and cultural journey!

Map for Fascinating Vietnam, Cambodia & the Mekong River (Northbound) 2026 - 13 Day River Cruise Ho Chi Minh City to Siem Reap
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Dates & Pricing

Sunday 04 Jan 26 — Saturday 17 Jan 26Starting at $6,999Check Mark Icon SPECIALGet a Quote
Sunday 15 Feb 26 — Saturday 28 Feb 26Starting at $6,999Check Mark Icon SPECIALGet a Quote
Sunday 01 Mar 26 — Saturday 14 Mar 26Starting at $6,779Check Mark Icon SPECIALGet a Quote
Sunday 15 Mar 26 — Saturday 28 Mar 26Starting at $6,509Check Mark Icon SPECIALGet a Quote
Sunday 29 Mar 26 — Saturday 11 Apr 26Starting at $5,899Check Mark Icon SPECIALGet a Quote
Sunday 12 Apr 26 — Saturday 25 Apr 26Starting at $5,899Check Mark Icon SPECIALGet a Quote
Sunday 16 Aug 26 — Saturday 29 Aug 26Starting at $5,399Check Mark Icon SPECIALGet a Quote
Sunday 30 Aug 26 — Saturday 12 Sep 26Starting at $5,669Check Mark Icon SPECIALGet a Quote
Sunday 13 Sep 26 — Saturday 26 Sep 26Starting at $5,669Check Mark Icon SPECIALGet a Quote
Sunday 27 Sep 26 — Saturday 10 Oct 26Starting at $6,389Check Mark Icon SPECIALGet a Quote
Sunday 11 Oct 26 — Saturday 24 Oct 26Starting at $6,389Check Mark Icon SPECIALGet a Quote
Sunday 25 Oct 26 — Saturday 07 Nov 26Starting at $6,999Check Mark Icon SPECIALGet a Quote
Sunday 08 Nov 26 — Saturday 21 Nov 26Starting at $6,999Check Mark Icon SPECIALGet a Quote
Sunday 22 Nov 26 — Saturday 05 Dec 26Starting at $6,999Check Mark Icon SPECIALGet a Quote
Check Mark Icon Disclaimer: Prices listed are per person, based on double occupancy, and in USD. All promotions are valid for new bookings only, capacity controlled and valid on select dates and departures. Individual Terms and Conditions will apply to all promotions. Any promotion can be withdrawn at any time without notice. Please speak with your Pavlus Travel Planner for complete vendor terms and conditions, including eligible tour and cruise dates.


Destination & Sightseeing

Day 1 Ho Chi Minh City: Welcome to Vietnam
Day 2 Ho Chi Minh City: Walking tour; visit the famous Rex Hotel for a drink, War Remnants Museum, and Ben Thanh Market; cooking class and lunch
Day 3 Ho Chi Minh City: Cu Chi Tunnels excursion
Day 4 Ho Chi Minh City (Embarkation): Onboard welcome reception
Day 5 Vinh Long–Cu Lao Gieng: Visit a local workshop to see how rice paper, rice wine, and traditional candy are made in Vinh Long; interact with sampan-making and conical hat making families in Cu Lao Gieng
Day 6 Chau Doc–Long Khanh A–Cambodian Border Crossing: Visit a local market and the religious sites at Sam Mountain in Chau Doc; walking tour of Long Khanh A with cotton-weaving demonstration
Day 7 Phnom Penh: Sightseeing by private cyclo, including the Royal Palace, Silver Pagoda, and the National Museum; afternoon at leisure; show by children from a local orphanage
Day 8 Phnom Penh: Visit the Tuol Sleng Genocide Museum and visit one of the Cambodian Killing Fields, or visit the lively central market
Day 9 Wat Hanchey–Angkor Ban: Visit Wat Hanchey and partake in a traditional water blessing by local monks; walking tour in Angkor Ban with school visit
Day 10 Konpong Louang–Kampong Tralach: Visit the silversmith village of Konpong Louang; ox cart ride through the countryside, and visit a local farmer’s home in Kampong Tralach
Day 11 Phnom Penh (Disembarkation)–Siem Reap: Fly to Siem Reap; visit Angkor Wat, Angkor Thom, and Bayon Temple
Day 12 Siem Reap: Visit Ta Prohm, Banteay Srei, and a noodle-making village; Apsara dance performance
Day 13 Siem Reap: End of vacation

ITINERARY

Day 1
HO CHI MINH CITY, VIETNAM Historic Ho Chi Minh Welcome to Ho Chi Minh City, still known as Saigon to many. Hotel rooms are available for mid-afternoon check-in. HO-CHI-MINH-CITY-WELCOME.jpg

Day 2
HO CHI MINH CITY Motorbikes, Monuments, and Mouth-watering Cuisine CLASSIC Take a Walking Tour of Ho Chi Minh City’s historic landmarks, including a stop at the Rex Hotel for a refreshing drink at the rooftop bar where the U.S. Military held the infamous “Five O’clock Follies” during the war. Then visit the War Remnants Museum featuring the history and relics of the Vietnam War before spending time in bustling Ben Thanh Market. DISCOVERY For lunch, participate in a hands-on Vietnamese Cooking Class. Learn to prepare several local dishes and how to recreate them at home. Last, but not least, sample your delicious creations! Explore the city further during free time this afternoon. This evening, join your traveling companions for a special welcome dinner at a local restaurant. HO-CHI-MINH-CITY-FOOD.jpg
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Day 3
HO CHI MINH CITY. EXCURSION TO CU CHI TUNNELS Secret Passageways and Underground Hideouts CLASSIC Drive out of the city for a Guided Visit to the Cu Chi Tunnels—an extraordinary network of tunnels more than 120 miles in length—used as a hideout and secret village by the Viet Cong. Explore these tunnels and learn what life was like living in these cramped spaces. Enjoy free time this afternoon and evening. Consider stopping for a drink at the famous rooftop bar at the Caravelle Hotel. HO-CHI-MINH-CITY-CU-CHI-TUNNELS.jpg
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Day 4
HO CHI MINH CITY (EMBARKATION) Your Suite Ship® is Ready for Boarding Transfer to the port in the heart of Ho Chi Minh on the Saigon River for embarkation. Get acquainted with the ship and relax before your welcome reception this evening. AFTERNOON/EVENING CRUISE TO VINH LONG HO-CHI-MINH-CITY-SKYLINE.jpg

Day 5
VINH LONG–CU LAO GIENG Sweets, Sampans, and Sun Hats DISCOVERY Board a sampan this morning to visit a local workshop in Vinh Long where you will see how rice paper, rice wine, and traditional candies are made. DISCOVERY This afternoon, enjoy scenes of daily life on Cu Lao Gieng Island via sampan and local motor cart. Your Guided Excursion starts at a local workshop, where a skilled family hand-crafts sampan boats. Then, visit the home of a local family that makes Vietnamese conical hats, or “Non la,” from materials available to them such as palm leaves and bamboo. These iconic hats are primarily used as protection from the sun and rain, but you may also see them used as a basket to carry home goods from the market. Lastly, stop at one of Vietnam’s oldest Catholic churches. AFTERNOON/EVENING CRUISE TO CHAU DOC CU-LAO-GIENG-HAT-MAKING.jpg
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Day 6
CHAU DOC–LONG KHANH A–BORDER CROSSING, CAMBODIA Colorful markets, Charming Locals, and Cotton Weavers DISCOVERY In Chau Doc take a Guided Walk through the local market and absorb the atmosphere as locals are busy buying and selling fish, meat, and produce. Then embark on a River Excursion down the backwaters of the Mekong. Along the way, see traditional floating homes, speedboat merchants, religious sites, a market selling dried goods, and more. DISCOVERY After lunch, a sampan brings you to the village of Long Khanh A for a Cotton-Weaving Demonstration of a well-preserved artisan’s tradition. Return to the ship to set sail for the Cambodian border. EVENING/OVERNIGHT CRUISE TO PHNOM PENH LONG-KHANH-A-WEAVING.jpg
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Day 7
PHNOM PENH The Royal Treatment CLASSIC Take a City Tour by private cyclo to visit the Royal Palace with the spectacular Silver Pagoda, and the National Museum featuring an outstanding display of Khmer artifacts. The remainder of the day is yours to enjoy the city at your leisure. Just before dinner, children from a local orphanage will perform a show featuring local song and dance. PHNOM-PENH-ROYAL-PALACE.jpg
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Day 8
PHNOM PENH A Dark History or Market Dynamics CLASSIC This morning, a Guided Visit of the Tuol Sleng Genocide Museum and one of the Killing Fields offers a glimpse into the atrocities inflicted on the Cambodian people by the Khmer Rouge regime, OR: DISCOVERY Visit the lively Central Market by tuk-tuk to see its unique Art Deco design. After lunch, depart Phnom Penh and enjoy some time at leisure on the ship. AFTERNOON/EVENING CRUISE TO WAT HANCHEY PHNOM-PENH-CENTRAL-MARKET.jpg
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Day 9
WAT HANCHEY–ANGKOR BAN Water Blessings and Back To School Adventures DISCOVERY Visit Wat Hanchey, a hilltop temple dating back to the 8th century. Climb or be driven to the top where you will enjoy stunning views of the surrounding area and partake in a traditional water blessing given by local monks. DISCOVERY After lunch, enjoy a Walking Tour through the rural village of Angkor Ban. Here, you will visit a traditional Khmer house and interact with children at a local school. EVENING/OVERNIGHT CRUISE TO KONPONG LOUANG WAT-HANCHEY.jpg
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Day 10
KONPONG LOUANG–KAMPONG TRALACH Calm in the Cambodian Countryside DISCOVERY Start your Guided Sightseeing at the silversmith village in Konpong Louang. Here, see talented craftsmen use age-old techniques to turn pure silver into works of art. In Kampong Tralach board an ox cart for a ride through the beautiful Cambodian countryside. Along the way, stop to meet a local farmer and learn about his daily life. This afternoon, enjoy scenic cruising on the Tonle River. EVENING CRUISE TO PHNOM PENH KAMPONG-TRALACH-OX-CART.jpg
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Day 11
PHNOM PENH (DISEMBARKATION)–SIEM REAP A Pilgrimage of Inspirational Beauty Fly to Siem Reap, home to the Temples of Angkor, considered by many to be the most spectacular architectural ruins on Earth! CLASSIC After lunch, begin your Sightseeing Tour by tuk-tuk to explore the temples. Start at the best preserved and most famous of all the temples: Angkor Wat. Featuring five trademark towers, it is the symbol of Cambodia. Then, visit Angkor Thom, where you will explore Bayon Temple with its 200 striking faces carved in 54 towers and impressive bas-relief sculptures. The evening is yours to explore charming Siem Reap, stay to witness the sunset at Angkor Wat. SIEM-REAP-ANGKOR-WAT.jpg

Day 12
SIEM REAP Roots Carved in Stone and Celebrated in Dance CLASSIC Continue your Guided Sightseeing of the Angkor Temples at Ta Prohm. Tree roots cover the ruin walls, allowing you to experience the temple with the same wonder as early explorers. Then visit Banteay Srei, a unique temple built on a small scale from red sandstone, which can be carved like wood. En route stop at a local village famous for making Khmer noodles by hand. Be sure to sample some of the freshly prepared noodles! Spend the afternoon at your leisure. DISCOVERY This evening, enjoy dinner and a private Apsara Dance Performance brings ancient Khmer culture to life through music, song, and dance. SIEM-REAP-ANGKOR-WAT-TEMPLE.jpg
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Day 13
SIEM REAP Your vacation ends with breakfast this morning. SIEM-REAP-ANGKOR-WAT-STATUES.jpg
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Accommodations

Ho Chi Minh CitySiem Reap
Park Hyatt Saigon
Deluxe



2 Lam Son Square Ho Chi Minh City Vietnam

Discover urban luxury with a combination of sophisticated design, handcrafted details, and modern-day comforts at Park Hyatt Saigon. Enjoy world-class dining, tranquil spa, and refreshing pool all on site. French-colonial inspired room rooms combine elegant, traditional comfort with the latest technology and desired amenities.
Check Mark Disclaimer: Prices listed are per person, based on double occupancy, and in USD. All promotions are valid for new bookings only, capacity controlled and valid on select dates and departures. Individual Terms and Conditions will apply to all promotions. Any promotion can be withdrawn at any time without notice. Please speak with your Pavlus Travel Planner for complete vendor terms and conditions, including eligible tour and cruise dates.

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Pavlus Travel tells you there's a wide World out there just waiting to be explored on river cruises by you, and Avalon Waterways like Pavlus Travel knows there is more than a river cruise for you and your family to see it all. Why not experience local cities, villages, and countrysides your way with a wide selection of active excursions and activities brought to you by Avalon River Cruises that put you right in the middle of it all. Borrow a bike to ride through the streets of Amsterdam, grab a Nordic walking stick to capture the castle with a hike up the vineyard off the Rhine River, or paddle a canoe along Austria’s river shores. Pavlus makes it easy to turn sightseeing into doing your adventure in real time. You’ll find all the guidance and gear you from Avalon Waterways staff to embark on an expedition of your own. From a complimentary yoga class aboard your Avalon River Cruise to a jogging tour of Vienna or an optional kayaking excursion. Know that Pavlus Travel discounts Avalon River Cruises be they in Europe or the Far East. You'll enjoy every Avalon River Cruises Ship.