Grand Mekong Odyssey
Grand Mekong Odyssey
Grand Mekong Odyssey
26 Days Starting in Hanoi, Vietnam and ending in Siem Reap, Cambodia
Visiting: Hanoi, Ninh Binh, Cuc Phuong National Park, Halong Bay, Hue, Danang, Hoi An, Saigon, Cu Chi, Can Tho, Long Xuyen, Mekong Delta, Phnom Penh, Oudong, Wat Hanchey, Siem Reap, Angkor
Tour operator:
Tour code:
2350
Guide Type:
Fully Guided
Group size:
12 - 24
Age range:
12-99
Tour operated in:
EnglishTrip Styles:
Interests:
Activities:
Tour Overview
Embark on the "Grand Mekong Odyssey," a captivating river cruise that immerses you in the rich cultural tapestry and historical wonders of Vietnam and Cambodia. Begin your journey in Hanoi, Vietnam's vibrant capital, where you'll explore its historical sites and bustling streets. Venture into the serene landscapes of Ninh Binh and the breathtaking beauty of Halong Bay. Discover the imperial history of Hue and the charming town of Hoi An before delving into the dynamic city of Saigon. As you board the Victoria Mekong, cruise through the Mekong Delta, visiting floating markets, craft villages, and historical sites. Cross into Cambodia, where you'll explore Phnom Penh's poignant history and the ancient temples of Angkor. This adventure offers a perfect blend of cultural exploration, historical insights, and scenic beauty, promising an unforgettable experience along the majestic Mekong River.
Highlights
Itinerary
Day 1-2 Fly To Hanoi
Location: Hanoi, Hanoi
Accommodation Name: hotel
Meals Included: Dinner
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.
Day 1-2 Fly To Hanoi
Location: Hanoi, Hanoi
Accommodation Name: hotel
Meals Included: Dinner
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.
Day 3 Hanoi Through The Ages
Location: Hanoi
Accommodation Name: hotel
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
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.
Day 4 Wartime Hanoi
Location: Hanoi
Accommodation Name: hotel
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
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.
Day 5 Ninh Binh Countryside
Location: Ninh Binh
Accommodation Name: cruise
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
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.
Day 6 Bear Sanctuary & Cuc Phuong National Park
Location: Cuc Phuong National Park
Accommodation Name: cruise
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
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.
Day 7 Ninh Binh - Halong Bay
Location: Halong Bay
Accommodation Name: hotel
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
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.
Day 8 Halong Bay
Location: Halong Bay
Accommodation Name: hotel
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
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.
Day 9 Halong Bay - Hue
Location: Halong Bay
Accommodation Name: hotel
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
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.
Day 10 Imperial Hue
Location: Hue
Accommodation Name: hotel
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
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.
Day 11 Hue - Danang By Rail
Location: Danang
Accommodation Name: hotel
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
The 64-mile 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.
Day 12 Hoi An
Location: Hoi An
Accommodation Name: hotel
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
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.
Day 13 Hoi An - Saigon
Location: Saigon
Accommodation Name: Victoria Mekong river cruise ship
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
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.
Day 14 Cu Chi & War Veteran Meeting
Location: Cu Chi
Accommodation Name: Victoria Mekong river cruise ship
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
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.
Day 15 Embark The Victoria Mekong River Cruise Ship
Location: Can Tho
Accommodation Name: Victoria Mekong river cruise ship
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
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.
Day 16 Mekong Cruise: Long Xuyen & Tiger Island
Location: Long Xuyen
Accommodation Name: Victoria Mekong river cruise ship
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
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.
Day 17 Mekong Cruise: Phu Tan & Tan Chau
Location: Mekong Delta
Accommodation Name: Victoria Mekong river cruise ship
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
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!
Day 18 Mekong Cruise: Into Cambodia
Location: Phnom Penh
Accommodation Name: Victoria Mekong river cruise ship
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Enjoy onboard activities such as a cocktail competition or a mini golf tournament as the ship crosses the border into Cambodia. Arrive into Phnom Penh late this afternoon.
Day 19 Mekong Cruise: Phnom Penh & The Killing Fields
Location: Phnom Penh
Accommodation Name: Victoria Mekong river cruise ship
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
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.
Day 20 Mekong Cruise: Oudong & Silk Island
Location: Oudong
Accommodation Name: hotel
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Enjoy 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.
Day 21 Wat Hanchey & Angkor Ban
Location: Wat Hanchey
Accommodation Name: hotel
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
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.
Day 22 Disembark & Transfer To Siem Reap
Location: Siem Reap
Accommodation Name: hotel
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Disembark and drive through lush Cambodian countryside to reach Siem Reap, the gateway to Angkor. The afternoon is at leisure.
Day 23 Explore Angkor
Location: Angkor
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
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.
Day 24 Cooking Class
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
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.
What's Included
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4* accommodation
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Domestic transportation
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Touring with guides and entrance fees
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All meals
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Visa fees for UK passport holders
What's Not Included
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Personal Expenses
Personal expenses such as souvenirs, additional meals, and tips are not included.
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Travel Insurance
Travel insurance is not included and is recommended to be arranged separately.
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Optional Activities
Optional activities not mentioned in the itinerary are not included.
Mode of Transport
Transportation includes flights to Hanoi, a scenic railway journey from Hue to Danang, and a cruise on the Victoria Mekong river ship.
Accommodation
Thien Thai Hotel Hanoi
Set in a charming French colonial building, Thien Thai is a boutique hotel on a quiet side street near the Old Quarter. Its internal decor reflects its French heritage, re-designed with a contemporary aesthetic. The hotel offers a restaurant and bar, along with a relaxing wellness centre with sauna, gym and whirlpool bath.
Bhaya Classic
Aboard a traditional-style junk, refurbished in 2015, a Bhaya Classic cruise offers a convivial atmosphere and classic oriental style. There is a sundeck for admiring the scenery and a spa and jacuzzi for relaxing whilst the restaurant serves freshly prepared Vietnamese and international cuisine. Onboard activities as you cruise include Tai Chi and cooking classes. Cabins are cosy and comfortable with big windows for beautiful views, a fridge and a bathroom with walk in shower.
EMM Hotel
Well-located in Hue' s city centre, the Emm Hotel is a contemporary, comfortable hotel. It has gardens and a swimming pool and 2 restaurant options, serving authentic Hue dishes, Vietnamese food and international fare too. Bedrooms have large windows (some also have balconies), a bathroom with shower, television, minibar and kettle. You are also provided with slipper and a bathrobe.
Silkotel
A stone's throw from the pedestrianised Old Town, Silkotel Hoi An offers 92 elegant rooms close to to the iconic Japanese Covered Bridge. With a reputation for some of the best service staff in Hoi An, Silkotel's facilities include an indulgent spa, an in-house restaurant and an outdoor swimming pool with adjacent pool bar.
Muong Thanh Saigon Centre
Muong Thanh Saigon Centre Hotel is situated in District 1. Rooms are equipped with a flat-screen TV and have a private bathroom fitted with a bath or shower. For your comfort, you will find bath robes, slippers and a hairdryer. Guests can enjoy the on-site bar, indoor swimming pool and free WiFi.
Victoria Mekong
The Victoria Mekong is a four star river cruise ship offering superior service and elegance.
Offering 3-4 night luxury cruising itineraries between Vietnam's Mekong Delta and Cambodia's capital Phnom Penh, there is no better way to experience the beauty of the Mekong. Furnished with 33 spacious deluxe cabins, all with private balconies, the ship is also home to a cocktail bar and pool, games room, lounge area and treatment spa.
Lotus Blanc Resort
Perfectly combining a French and Khmer aesthetic, the Lotus Blanc is a 10 minute tuk tuk ride from the lively heart of Siem Reap. Stately but chic, there is a large pool, fitness centre, spa, 3 bars and 3 restaurants serving a variety of local and international dishes. Rooms are expansive, bright and minimalist and boast a balcony, bathroom with rain shower, television, tea and coffee making facilities, safe, armchairs and air-conditioning.
Experiences
Meet a Vietnam War Veteran
Gain a personal and authentic perspective on history as you meet a Vietnamese war veteran at the Cu Chi Tunnels. Their stories will offer a unique insight into the past.
Ninh Binh Bear Sanctuary
Spend a morning at Four Paws Ninh Binh, a wildlife sanctuary providing a new life for more than 40 Asiatic bears rescued from the illegal bear bile industry.
Khmer Cooking Class
Join a morning cooking class at an organic farm in Cambodia. 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.
Check out our Q&As
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What can I expect on the first day of the Grand Mekong Odyssey tour?
On the first day, you will fly overnight to Hanoi, Vietnam's capital city. Upon arrival, you will meet your guide for a transfer to the hotel. Depending on your arrival time, you can start exploring the local culture before attending a welcome dinner and guide briefing in the evening.
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What historical sites will be visited in Hanoi during the tour?
In Hanoi, you will visit the Ethnology Museum to learn about Vietnam's indigenous groups, the Confucian Temple of Literature, and explore the city's French Quarter. You will also visit the Ho Chi Minh Quarter, including the Humble House on Stilts and Ho Chi Minh's Mausoleum, and see the wreckage of an American bomber plane.
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What activities are included in the Ninh Binh countryside visit?
In Ninh Binh, you will drive through the countryside, visit the Hoa Lu Ancient Citadel, and enjoy a boat trip through paddy fields, stopping to explore prehistoric caves.
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What unique experiences are offered during the Halong Bay cruise?
During the Halong Bay cruise, you will have the opportunity to kayak through hidden spots, be rowed by local fishermen through a floating village, and sunbathe on the bay's beaches. You can also participate in Tai Chi on deck as the sun rises.
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What cultural experiences are included in the Mekong Cruise?
The Mekong Cruise includes visiting a floating market in Long Xuyen, exploring Tiger Island, visiting a craft village in Phu Tan, and enjoying a Vietnamese lion dance. You will also visit Phnom Penh's Royal Palace and the Killing Fields, and learn about silk weaving on Silk Island.
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What will I learn during the cooking class in Siem Reap?
During the cooking class in Siem Reap, you will pick up supplies at a local market, gather organic ingredients from a farm, and be guided by a chef to create a traditional Khmer lunch.
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What happens if I need to change my holiday date once I’ve booked?
If, after our confirmation invoice has been issued, you wish to change your travel arrangements in any way, we will endeavour to make these changes, but it may not always be possible. Any changes to confirmed bookings need to be sent to us in writing via your travel agent. Please refer to our booking conditions for further information and fees.
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Do you operate a “single share” option and how does it work?
Customers booking to travel solo can choose our ‘Happy to Share’ option, which may enable them to share a twin room with other solo customers of the same gender who also request Happy to Share, thus avoiding the need to pay single room supplements. Note that ‘Happy to Share’ requests can be received when you make your booking with us but will not be confirmed until your final payment due date.
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What documents will I receive before I travel?
Your Final Travel Documents are usually sent to you 2-3 weeks prior to your departure. Your travel pack will include your tour itinerary, hotel details, flight e-tickets and a travel guide. If you have booked with a travel agent, your tickets will be dispatched to your travel agent unless we have been otherwise informed.
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Will I be travelling with passengers from other countries?
Our passengers generally enjoy the mixture of British, Australian and American clients on tour. Occasionally we are joined by English-speaking passengers from other countries.
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What is 'Happy to Share'?
Customers booking to travel solo can choose our ‘Happy to Share’ option, which may enable them to share a twin room with other solo customers of the same gender who also request Happy to Share, thus avoiding the need to pay single room supplements. Note that ‘Happy to Share’ requests can be received when you make your booking with us but will not be confirmed until your final payment due date. If a share partner is found, the Single Supplement will be removed from your booking. If a share partner is not found, the Single Supplement will remain and is payable with your final balance in line with our normal booking conditions. Either way, our Operations Team will contact you around 75 days before departure to let you know whether a share partner has been found or not. We regret that Happy to Share requests cannot be accepted within 75 days of departure. Wendy Wu Tours reserves the right to change or withdraw this arrangement at any time.
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Do you allow children on your tours?
We allow children 12 years and over on our group tours. We recommend that families with children of any age take advantage of our private or tailormade tours. This will give you more flexibility while on tour.
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Low Deposit
Wendy Wu requires a minimum deposit of 350 GBP per person or the full booking value, whichever is less, with the final balance not due until 75 days before departure.
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Cancellation Policy
We don't charge a cancellation fee, here is a summary of wendy wu charges.
Up to 75 days before tour starts: Forfeit 100% of deposit.
At 74 days before tour starts: Forfeit 30% of booking price.
At 41 days before tour starts: Forfeit 60% of booking price.
At 27 days before tour starts: Forfeit 90% of booking price.
At 14 days before tour starts: Forfeit 100% of booking price.