Journey on the Mekong (Ho Chi Minh City to Siem Reap)

Welcome to Ho Chi Minh City; arrive and navigate the airport effortlessly with A&K’s fast track arrival services. Transfer to your hotel and soak up the city vibe before your adventure begins.

Park Hyatt Saigon

Join your guide for a locals-only tour of the trades and traditions of Cho Lon (Chinatown). Meander through this vibrant district, which has been trading since the 17th century. Drive past traditional Chinese medicine stores filled with aromatic dried ginger, ginseng and all manner of herbs and meet old community of craftsmen who spend their days creating small amulets and religious statues. Chat with some of the artisans to learn about their age-old way of life. Next, discover a neighbourhood market where you’ll sample traditional delicacies, before lighting your own spiral incense cone as an offering in a 19th century Chinese temple.

Enjoy lunch a delicious fresh Vietnamese lunch at a local restaurant, before embarking on an historical deep dive into Ho Chi Minh. Follow your expert guide as they unravel secrets and stories at the Reunification Palace — where the Fall of Saigon took place in 1975 — and your choice of either the History Museum or the War Remnants Museum.

This evening, feel the rush of the city from the back of a vintage Vespa as you weave through the buzzing streets (additional cost). Plunge into the maze of narrow alleyways to savour the sizzling street food at places only locals know. Stop at a hidden coffee shop for a taste of Vietnamese acoustic music before finishing the evening with a drink at the city's top live music venue.

Park Hyatt Saigon | Meals: BL

After a morning at leisure, transfer to My Tho dock and board Aqua Mekong. Settle into your floating retreat, with its window wall conferring an endlessly captivating panorama as you begin your journey into the Mekong Delta.

Aqua Mekong | Meals: BD

Begin the day at Binh Thanh mat weaving village or opt to visit Sa Dec where we will peruse the vibrant market and see the famous house of Marguerite Duras' legendary lover, Mr. Huynh Thuy Le. In the afternoon, visit a typical Mekong Delta village called My An Hung where we will walk through verdant plantations. We will be invited to a local's home to taste local fruits while hearing traditional folk songs performed by villagers followed by a unique unicorn dance. A 17-kilometer Biking option is also available.

Aqua Mekong | Meals: BLD

Travel by skiff along Bassac Canal to Chau Doc floating market then head off by van to Long Son Pagoda atop Sam Mountain. Ask the monks about their age-old Buddhist practices. Return via the bustling morning market. Optional 18 kilometers bike ride on Long Khanh Island or take a rickshaw ride to visit Tan Chau Market with chef. After lunch, relax by the pool, try traditional Khmer massage or learn to cook Mekong inspired dishes while we cross the border.

Aqua Mekong | Meals: BLD

On this river of time we admire dexterous Khmer artisans dyeing and weaving kroma, the ubiquitous item no Khmer lives without. Explore the riverbank on two wheels if you wish, past Buddhist temples and thatch houses perched on spindly wooden stilts while white oxen wade just offshore. After lunch, we board our marine-grade aluminum skiffs and head towards the tamarind trees of Preah Prosop, a remote village little changed over several lifetimes.

Aqua Mekong | Meals: BLD

Disembark in the Cambodian capital where you explore the city by motorised tuk-tuk. See the Royal Palace, Silver Pagoda and the National Museum of Cambodia, home to the world’s largest collection of Khmer art. For those interested, a visit to the poignant and thought-provoking Tuol Sleng Museum of Genocide can be included or choose to shop at the Russian Market.

Transfer to Phnom Penh airport for the flight north to Siem Reap where you are met and transferred to your hotel.

This evening, a gourmet experience awaits. Travel by tuk tuk to the finest kitchens in Siem Reap led by the country’s top chefs. Start with a cocktail at an intimate lounge that harks back to the speakeasies of the 1920s. Whet your tastebuds with appetisers at a traditional house and garden serving sophisticated Khmer cuisine followed by mains at an authentic home-style eatery. Complete your meal with dessert at a contemporary venue dishing up Cambodia’s culinary heritage with a twist.

Park Hyatt Siem Reap | Meals: BD

Rise early this morning and join a professional archaeologist for an exclusive tour of legendary Angkor Wat — one of the final vestiges of the Khmer Empire and a UNESCO World Heritage site. Said by some to symbolise the soul of the Khmer people, the magnificent temple was built during the reign of King Suryavarman II in the early 12th century. Historians believe that many of the fascinating bas reliefs and stone carvings immortalise many of the mighty king’s wars. Images of Apsara dancers decorate the five famous towers which replicate the universe according to Hindu mythology.

Your archaeologist will take you to a serene viewpoint where you can experience the dramatic sunrise as the first rays of the day bathe the magnificent temple. Your archaeologist will then take you on an hour-long tour of the resplendent temple.

Afterwards, toast the day with a champagne picnic breakfast on the banks of the ancient reservoir at Srah Srang Baray. Then climb through the snake-like roots that engulf the temple of Ta Prohm to discover an intriguing history hidden amongst strangler figs and kapok trees. Marvel at towers etched with bodhisattva faces and bas-reliefs revealing ordinary Khmer life. A photographer’s paradise, the temple seems to be held together by the thick roots in places; your guide will show you the most popular photo opportunities.

Park Hyatt Siem Reap | Meals: BD

Today's exploration takes you to the former capital of the great Khmer Empire, Angkor Thom, travelling by your choice of vehicle or bicycle. Embark on your guided discovery at the glorious Bayon in the heart of the ancient city. Take in the 37 stone faces of this elaborate temple built by and for King Jayavarman VII. Wander through the perfectly square, walled city and stop awhile at the sanctuary of Baphuon. See where kings once worshipped at Phimeanakas Temple. Imagine life in the Royal Palace and picture the performances that once regaled royal crowds on the impressive Terrace of the Elephants. The Terrace of the Leper King, with its fascinating sculptures, promises the perfect finale. Return to your hotel for an afternoon at leisure.

If you so choose, you can embark on an afternoon excursion to Siem Reap’s outer villages and visit the exquisitely preserved Banteay Srei temple, nicknamed the ‘Citadel of Women’ due to its pink sandstone façade. Continue to a local family home to learn about the Cambodia Clean Water Project, an Abercrombie & Kent Philanthropy (AKP) initiative installing wells in rural areas to provide much-needed clean water. Meet one of the recipient families to see firsthand how this project is changing lives, one well at a time. If you would like to find out more, or to get involved, visit www.akphilanthropy.org.

Park Hyatt Siem Reap | Meals: B

Transfer to the airport for your onward flight.

Meals: B