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Luke Nguyen's Vietnam & Mekong River Cruise

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 Trip Length
14 Days
 Trip Starts
Ho Chi Minh City
 Trip Finishes
Siem Reap
14 Day Luke Nguyen's Vietnam & Mekong River Cruise Itinerary (APT)
Countries Explored: Vietnam, Cambodia
Trip Operator
Trip Style
River Cruise
Accommodation
4.5 - 5 Star
Guide Level
Fully Guided, Locally Guided
Trip Code
VEMRLN14

Overview

Book online and enjoy exclusive savings on APT's 14 Day Luke Nguyen's Vietnam & Mekong River Cruise. APT Ambassador and celebrity chef Luke Nguyen joins you in Vietnam to share his inspiration for Asian cuisine on tours and special dining experiences. Before continuing on an unforgettable Mekong River cruise to explore Cambodia’s iconic sights.

Itinerary

Upon arrival, be met and transferred to your luxury hotel to begin your exciting journey. Stay Three Nights: Ho Chi Minh City, Park Hyatt Saigon (D)

Meet APT Ambassador Luke Nguyen this morning. He'll then guide you through the bustling streets of Old Saigon where you'll wander the atmospheric neighbourhoods. Dodge swarms of motorbikes as they whirl amid the bustling streets. Watch families tending to their bottomless pots of steaming broth. Pass hawkers touting their tasty homemade treats, and observe throngs of locals slurping soup and noodles at roadside stalls. (B/L/D)

Signature Experiences:
  • Visit the area in which Luke Nguyen's parents grew up and meet his extended family of aunties and uncles.
  • Enjoy an exclusive cooking class with Luke at his culinary school, GRAIN by Luke Nguyen, where you'll learn how to prepare some of his favourite Vietnamese dishes.
  • Tonight, head to Luke's own restaurant Vietnam House, for a special dinner menu created by Luke Nguyen.

Choose from one of two Signature Experiences today. Tonight, another Signature Experience awaits. (B/L/D)

Signature Experiences:
  • Journey to Ba Ria and learn about the Battle of Long Tan, followed by a memorial service at Long Tan Cross, a memorial marking the site of this battle. Erected by the 6th Battalion, Royal Australian Regiment, it is located in a rubber plantation. Or visit the Cu Chi Tunnels, built by Vietnamese resistance fighters during the war. This remarkable tunnel network concealed the Viet Cong and served as supply and communication routes, as well as hospitals and weapon caches.
  • Head to Vietnam House to dine on a menu created personally by APT Ambassador Luke Nguyen.

Exploring more of Ho Chi Minh City, select from the array of Freedom of Choice experiences on offer. Later, transfer to My Tho and embark your ship. Stay Seven Nights: Mekong River, Mekong Serenity (B/L/D)

Freedom of Choice:
  • Why not join a motorbike, shopping or walking tour? Or, visit Ky Long Art Villa to learn about Vietnamese lacquer art or enjoy a cooking class at GRAIN by Luke Nguyen cooking studio.
Signature Experiences:
  • Tonight, there's no better dining experience than sitting down to an exclusive Luke Nguyen Vietnamese dinner.

In Cai Be, visit the French Gothic cathedral and port area. Then, at a rice paper manufacturer, learn how this Vietnamese staple is made. Continue to Sa Dec where French writer Marguerite Duras met her Vietnamese-Chinese lover, Huynh Thuy Le. Tour his former home and learn the story behind Marguerite Duras' best-selling novel, The Lover. After, visit a traditional Cao Dai temple. (B/L/D)

Transfer to a small boat to cruise the tiny tributaries around the town of Tan Chau. Pass a floating fish farm, then step ashore for a fun rickshaw tour and a visit to a local silk and rattan weaving workshop. Later, step back in time as you experience authentic rural Mekong life on a nearby evergreen island. The remainder of today is yours to relax on board and soak up views of the Mekong. Upon entering Cambodia, you'll cruise towards its enthralling capital, Phnom Penh. (B/L/D)

Signature Experiences:
  • This afternoon, take part in an exclusive ‘Get to Know Luke' session, where APT's Ambassador and celebrity chef Luke Nguyen will discuss fascinating details of his background and passion for food.

Explore Cambodia's past or present today with a range of Freedom of Choice experiences. After lunch back on board, more choices await. The evening is yours to relax. (B/L/D)

Freedom of Choice:
  • Perhaps experience some of Cambodia's sobering history with a visit to the infamous Killing Fields. Afterwards, see the Tuol Sleng Genocide Museum, on the site of the Khmer Rouge's notorious Security Prison 21 (S-21). Or, discover Phnom Penh on a tuk tuk ride with a stop at the Central Market. History buffs can visit the National Museum or, if you prefer, take a leisurely bike ride through the city's quiet back roads. After lunch, either explore the Royal Palace and Silver Pagoda, enjoy some shopping or indulge in high tea.

Today, journey to historic Oudong, which was Cambodia's fascinating royal capital from 1618 until 1866. During your time here, you'll enjoy a Signature Experience. On the way back to Phnom Penh, take a leisurely stroll through the village of Koh Chen and perhaps visit some home workshops that manufacture copperware.

Later, your ship glides along the lush banks of the Mekong to Oknha Tey, which is renowned for its silk manufacturing traditions, preserved over centuries. Here, gain an insight into the traditional silk weaving process. After, return to your river ship to relax before enjoying delicious onboard dining tonight. (B/L/D)

Signature Experiences:

  • In Oudong, pay a visit to a monastery for a Buddhist blessing experience with local monks.

Join a walking discovery of Angkor Ban, one of the few villages in Cambodia that was not destroyed under the Khmer Rouge regime in the 1970s. Here, people still live in traditional wooden homes and keep ancient cultural traditions alive. Continuing cruising towards Siem Reap this afternoon, enjoy some time at leisure on board. Perhaps go for a dip in the pool, or kick back on the Sun Deck with a good book and relax as life along the Mekong passes you by. (B/L/D)

If you are feeling active this morning, perhaps set out on a walk to the hilltop pagoda of Wat Hanchey. From here, enjoy views over the Mekong, making it well worth the climb. You'll find many temples, pagodas and stupas, some dating back to the 8th century. Lunch is back on board, before taking a tuk tuk to explore the island of Koh Pen with its wooden stilt houses and local farming culture. On your ship this evening, toast the end of your cruise during a final farewell dinner. (B/L/D)

Disembark your ship in Kampong Cham and transfer to Siem Reap. Then, head to World Heritage-listed Angkor Archaeological Park to visit Angkor Thom and the 12th-century temple, Bayon. In Siem Reap tonight, dine in one of the local restaurants. Stay Three Nights: Siem Reap, Hotel Sofitel Angkor (B/L/D)

Freedom of Choice:
  • Tonight, take the opportunity to savour a taste of Cambodia with a choice of local restaurants for dinner.

Rise early this morning and travel back to Angkor Archaeological Park for a Signature Experience. After experiencing the majesty of World Heritage-listed Angkor Wat, enjoy a guided exploration of what is regarded as Angkor's best-preserved temple, said to be the world's largest single religious monument. Relax back at your hotel after breakfast.

Then this afternoon, explore the temple of Ta Prohm, a World Heritage-listed site which is famous for its intertwined trees. Later, visit ‘Opportunities of Development thru Art' (ODA), a Siem Reap organisation that provides education opportunities for disadvantaged children. The evening is at your leisure. (B)

Signature Experiences:

  • At Angkor Archaeological Park, enjoy a special sunrise experience at Angkor Wat.

Explore Siem Reap your way today. The afternoon is yours to enjoy as you like, before tonight's traditional Apsara dance performance and a delicious farewell dinner. (B/D)

Freedom of Choice:
  • Perhaps visit the temple of Wat Preah Prom Rath for a Buddhist blessing or enjoy a tuk tuk ride to the Senteurs d'Angkor workshop. If you're feeling energetic, join a quad bike adventure or take a leisurely bicycle tour through the Cambodian countryside. Other options include a horse and cart ride, a traditional Khmer cooking class, a shopping adventure, or why not indulge in a relaxing spa treatment.

Farewell Siem Reap after breakfast this morning, as you transfer to the airport for your onward flight. (B)

Trip Inclusions

  • Join Luke for a tour of Old Saigon and meet his extended family
  • Enjoy a cooking class led by Luke at his cooking studio GRAIN by Luke Nguyen in Ho Chi Minh City
  • At Luke Nguyen's Vietnam House, enjoy an authentic degustation dinner with matching wines
  • In Ho Chi Minh City, enjoy dinner at a restaurant personally recommended by Luke

  • Experiences in 12 destinations
  • Freedom of Choice Inclusions in three locations
  • Expert cruise and tour directors
  • Transfers, porterage, port charges and gratuities

  • Luxury dining – a total of 35 meals and a wide range of onboard beverages

  • Seven-night cruise aboard the Mekong Serenity

  • Itinerary and inclusions are subject to change
  • Disruptions to itinerary may occur
  • Transfers, porterage, port charges and gratuities included
  • Prices are for land/cruise and flights as specified
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Deck Plans

 
Category E
Balcony Suite
 
Category D
Balcony Suite
 
Category C
Balcony Suite
Lily Deck (Level 1)
 
Category B
Balcony Suite
 
Category A
Balcony Suite
Orchid Deck (Level 2)
 
Bayon Suite
Balcony Suite
 
Angkor Suite
Balcony Suite
Lotus Deck (Level 3)
Sun Deck (Level 4)

Cabins

Deluxe Twin Balcony Suite (Category E, D, C, B & A)

  • Suite Size (300 sq. ft/ 28 sq m)
  • Spacious ensuite with a hairdryer, bathrobes, slippers and toiletries in all suites.
  • Outside Balcony, Panoramic Balcony and individual climate control in all suites.
  • Large amount of space per guest.

Bayon Suite

  • Suite Size (460 sq. ft/ 43 sq m)
  • Spacious ensuite with a hairdryer, bathrobes, slippers and toiletries in all suites.
  • Large Balcony Terrace with Sun Lounges and individual climate control in all suites.
  • Large amount of space per guest.

Angkor Suite

  • Suite Size (677 sq. ft/ 63 sq m)
  • Spacious ensuite with a hairdryer, bathrobes, slippers and toiletries in all suites.
  • Large Balcony Terrace with Sun Lounges and individual climate control in all suites.
  • Large amount of space per guest.

Brochure

Vietnam & Cambodia

APT Vietnam & Cambodia (2023-24)

No matter how many times you’ve been, there’s always something new to discover in Vietnam and Cambodia. Whether you want to cruise the peaceful rivers, traverse stunning scenes by coach, or get deeply immersed in ancient culture, modern cities, charming locals and simply delicious food, APT is for you.

Prices & Dates

There are currently no departures available on this trip. Either it's the end of the season and new departures will be released shortly, or this itinerary has been changed and will no longer continue. Feel free to contact us for information about when next seasons dates will be released or click here to view the general release dates for all destinations.

Note
Tour & cruises prices are per person. Prices shown have savings applied, are subject to availability and may be withdrawn at any time without notice. Prices and trip information are correct at the time at this point in time, however are subject to confirmation at the time of booking and are subject to change by APT. For cruise itineraries, cabin images are sourced from APT. These should be treated as indicative only. Cabin inclusions, upholsteries and room layout may differ to the image(s) shown depending on the ship selected and your sailing dates.

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