2017 CRUISE COMPANION. Timeless Wonders of Vietnam, Cambodia & the Mekong

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1 2017 CRUISE COMPANION Timeless Wonders of Vietnam, Cambodia & the Mekong

2 Icon/Letter Code Legend The symbols below will help guide you through the descriptions of the daily itineraries. They will give you an idea of the length and pace of the excursions, and they will note which meals are provided. Uniworld Signature Icons u UNESCO Site b Motorcoach d Flight S Boat a Additional Cost e Embark/Disembark Icon/LETTER CODE LEGEND Dining Letter Codes CB Continental Breakfast BB Buffet Breakfast L Lunch D Dinner WD Welcome Gala Dinner FD Farewell Gala Dinner Tour Duration Icons 5 1 /4 Day 7 1 /2 Day 9 3 /4 Day 8 Full Day WELCOME Our World Begins with You Thank you for selecting Uniworld Boutique River Cruise Collection. We want to do everything we can to ensure you have the most enjoyable and worry-free vacation. With that in mind, we have prepared this booklet for you, so you can plan your trip with the greatest of ease. Consider it a guideline to help you get ready for your upcoming trip. It contains valuable tips and advice on what to pack, your flight and transfer experience, onboard information, day-to-day details and much more. We highly look forward to hosting you onboard our beautifully appointed ships and making your vacation the most memorable and enjoyable experience possible. Sincerely, The Uniworld Team Shore Excursion Icons All tours involve walking unless strictly noted as a panoramic tour. In many cases, the walking takes place over uneven ground, cobblestones or flagstone walkways, and several tours involve stairs or short uphill climbs. Please wear comfortable, non-skid walking shoes while on all tours. These symbols give an idea of what to expect on each program Easy walking Includes walking of 15 minutes or less from multiple motorcoach stops to and around historical sites. Possibly some steps, or gentle uphill and downhill walks. Intermediate walking Includes walks of up to two hours on uneven terrain. Limited seating at sites. Multiple stairs and/or uphill/ downhill walking. Strenuous walking Involves walking at all sites. Many stairs and uphill/ downhill passages. Those with physical limitations and those who may need private arrangements should contact the Cruise/Tour Manager when onboard. Cover: Monk in Bayon Temple, Siem Reap, Cambodia Hanoi, Vietnam uniworld.com / 1

3 TABLE OF CONTENTS CRUISE/TOUR COMPANION Helpful Hints Before You Go 4 Travel Documents Passports Visa Requirements Passenger Information Form Travel Protection Plan 6 Cruise/Tour Documentation Final Documentation Includes 6 Baggage Limitations 7 Vaccinations 7 Travel Essentials 8 Health and Mobility Physical Limitations Medical Special Diets 9 General Money Matters Getting There 16 Insect Precautions 17 Internet Access 17 Intra-Asia Domestic Air Ticket 17 Land Tours and Shore Excursions 17 Laundry 17 Massage 17 Mooring and Docking Facilities 17 Moving about the Ship 18 Muster Station 18 Responsibility and Waiver 18 Safety Deposit Box 18 Security 19 Ship s Office 19 Shopping 19 Smoking TABLE OF CONTENTS 10 Airport Security and Check-In 19 Suite Amenities 10 Transfers Airport Arrival Transfers Airport Departure Transfers Late Flight Arrivals and Missed Flights Additional Contacts in Case of a Late Arrival Baggage Delays 13 Pre- or Post-Cruise/Tour Land Stay or Optional Extensions 19 Visitors 20 Water 20 Weather 21 What to Wear 21 Omissions 22 Frequently Asked Questions 13 Hotel Check-In and Hotel Check-Out About Your Uniworld Cruise/Tour Package and Onboard and Onshore Services 14 Crew-Only Areas 14 Dining 14 Electrical Current 14 Elevators 2017 RIVER CRUISE/TOUR PROGRAM Timeless Wonders of Vietnam, Cambodia & the Mekong 25 Ho Chi Minh City to Hanoi / 15 Days 39 Hanoi to Ho Chi Minh City / 15 Days 15 Emergency Procedures 15 Excursions 15 Fitness Centers 15 Footwear 15 Gift Shops 15 Going Ashore 16 Gratuities 16 Handicapped Facilities 2 uniworld.com / 3

4 CRUISE/TOUR COMPANION Helpful Hints Before You Go Travel Documents Passports: All Uniworld river cruise/tours require a passport. In most cases, passports must be valid for six (6) months after the scheduled return date from the trip. Travel to Vietnam and Cambodia will require visas. Each guest is fully responsible for obtaining and carrying the travel documents necessary for his or her travel itinerary, with the exception of Cambodian visas. Uniworld will not be responsible for any delays, damages and/or losses (including missed portions of your trip) related to improper or absent travel documents. Visa Requirements: For US and Canadian citizens, a multiple-entry visa is required for entry to Vietnam. A visa is not required for entry to Thailand for US and Canadian citizens. Non-US or non-canadian citizens must contact the appropriate consular office for entry requirements pertaining to their particular trip. For entry to Cambodia, our Cruise/Tour Manager will take care of obtaining Cambodian visas for each guest on the cruise/tour. Each guest will need to provide the Cruise/Tour Manager with his or her passport, one (1) passport photo and $50 US dollars (USD) in cash, per person, while on the cruise/tour for this purpose. The Cruise/Tour Manager will then submit all passports to the Cambodian Immigration Authorities and obtain the visas. For southbound Mekong cruises, this will be done at the Siem Reap Airport. For northbound Mekong cruises, this will be done onboard the Mekong Navigator prior to entering Cambodia. Any visa(s) or other documentation required for a particular itinerary is solely the responsibility of the guest. As a courtesy, our website, uniworld.com, offers a link to a visa service company in the Already Booked section; this company can provide additional information. Obtaining and carrying required documents is solely your responsibility. Uniworld will not be responsible for advising and/or obtaining required travel documentation for any passenger, or for any delays, damages and/or losses, including missed portions of your trip, related to improper or absent travel documentation. Due to governmentimposed security immigration measures, passport information and emergency contact information are required for all passengers prior to release of documentation. Passenger Information Form: By now, you should have completed the Uniworld Passenger Information Form. The information on this form is used to comply with certain foreign government and airline security restrictions in advance of your arrival. If you have completed this form, we thank you for your prompt attention. If you have not completed this form, please visit our website at uniworld.com and complete the online Passenger Information Form in the Already Booked section. Each guest must complete the form. Please note that the name on your airline tickets must match your name exactly as it is shown in your passport. This applies to both international flights as well as the flight between Vietnam and Cambodia (or vice versa) that we will book for you, so please be sure we have your name correct on your booking. Travel Protection Plan: Uniworld strongly recommends that each guest purchase a Travel Protection Plan. Please carry all policy information with you during the course of your trip. During the cruise/tour, it is advisable to have copies of important documents (i.e., first page of your passport, photo, credit card numbers and bank/credit card company phone numbers) in a separate packet, in case the originals are lost or stolen. CRUISE/TOUR COMPANION 4 uniworld.com / 5

5 CRUISE/TOUR COMPANION Cruise/Tour Documentation Uniworld sends all final cruise and air documents between 21 and 30 days prior to your trip departure, provided that Uniworld has received a completed and signed Passenger Information Form and your booking is paid in full. All documents are sent via a priority mail delivery service such as UPS or FedEx. Final Documentation Includes: Cruise/Tour Ticket Passenger Ticket Contract (which is legally binding between Uniworld and each guest) Airline Tickets or E-Ticket Confirmation (if international air ticket was purchased from Uniworld) Cruise/Tour Companion Baggage Tags Leave-Behind Communication Card Travel Protection Plan Pamphlet (if Uniworld travel protection was purchased) Pre- or Post-Cruise/Tour Optional Extension Information (if optional extensions were purchased) Baggage Limitations Airline baggage restrictions change frequently, and each guest needs to check with his or her specific air carrier for limitations concerning baggage weight, baggage size, carry-on regulations, and excess or overweight baggage charges. This information can be found on the carrier s website or on Uniworld s website at uniworld.com/ baggage. Remember to check for both international (over the water) and intracontinental regulations since limitations differ depending on flight routings. Overweight or excess baggage charges vary, and guests who exceed an airline s recommended limits may be asked to pay fees ranging from $25 to $80 USD, or possibly more, per infraction. There are no restrictions concerning the number of bags each person can bring with him or her onboard the ship. However, baggage storage space onboard is limited. Guests are encouraged to limit their baggage to one (1) piece per person for their own comfort and, in cases of pre- or post-cruise/tour stays, for their own convenience. Keep an eye on your baggage and all personal belongings they are solely your responsibility throughout the trip. Uniworld is not responsible for lost, stolen, or damaged baggage and personal belongings. A Travel Protection Plan covering lost, stolen or damaged baggage is highly recommended. Vaccinations All guests should direct questions about vaccinations to their personal physician. As an additional resource, guests may consult the current recommendations of the Centers for Disease Control (CDC). The CDC website is cdc.gov and the phone number is You may also contact the consulates of the countries to be visited to determine vaccination requirements. Travel Essentials The following items are essential for any destination: walking shoes, sunglasses, sunscreen, a hat, an umbrella, and a lightweight raincoat or outerwear garment appropriate for the seasonal weather conditions. It is recommended that you bring duplicates of prescription eyewear, copies of prescriptions for any medications, copies of credit card information, and copies of your passport information pages and visas. Make sure that your baggage has identification tags both inside and outside, with your contact information and address clearly marked. Do not pack valuables or important medication in your checked baggage unless required to do so by the airline; these should be carried with you in your carry-on baggage. Please contact your air carrier for any additional regulations. CRUISE/TOUR COMPANION For intra-vietnam and intra-asia flights, only one (1) suitcase per person can be checked, and it must weigh no more than 44 pounds (20 kilograms) total per person (not per bag). Each checked bag should have dimensions not exceeding 62 linear inches (157 centimeters). You may be asked by the airline to pay fees of approximately $2.50, $5 or more (USD) per pound (0.45 kilograms) in excess of this weight limit. One (1) carry-on is allowed per person. Your carry-on should not exceed 17 x 14 x 8 (43 centimeters x 35 centimeters x 20 centimeters) and should not weigh more than 15 pounds (7 kilograms). 6 uniworld.com / 7

6 CRUISE/TOUR COMPANION Health and Mobility Physical Limitations: Uniworld trips are exciting, relatively active vacations. While there will be plenty of time to relax, there will also be much to see and do. Your included excursions generally require an extensive amount of walking, as well as the navigation of numerous steps and uneven terrain. During shore excursions, guests with physical limitations will find access to sites generally restricted. For your safety and enjoyment, we recommend that all guests be in good physical condition. In addition, river ships, while spacious and comfortable, are not in compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act and do not have elevators. Uniworld, at its sole discretion, reserves the right to refuse passage or to require a current passenger to end his or her trip if the passenger s state of health or physical condition may affect his or her own health, safety and enjoyment, or that of other passengers. The use of mobility devices such as wheelchairs, walkers, scooters, etc. is not recommended for travel in Vietnam, Cambodia and Thailand, and such devices cannot be readily obtained in the region. Medical: Most of the hotels used in Vietnam and Cambodia will be near a clinic staffed by a doctor, but Uniworld does not employ staff nurses or doctors onboard its ships. Medical expenses are the guest s own responsibility. Guests should bring their medications with them. Uniworld is not responsible for any costs incurred as a result of medical service or for the quality of medical care received. A Travel Protection Plan covering medical expenses is highly recommended. General Money Matters Currency in Vietnam is the Vietnamese dong (VDN). Please note that ATMs do not supply US dollars in Vietnam. In Cambodia the US dollar is widely accepted, as is the Cambodian riel. ATMs in Cambodia supply both currencies. Thailand s currency is the baht. Please note that crisp, new, untorn bills are necessary for paying in cash and/or exchanging currencies. Uniworld features a cashless environment onboard, and all charges are billed directly to each guest s onboard account. Currency accepted onboard for settlement of final bills is the US dollar. The major credit cards accepted are Visa and MasterCard, and these will incur extra bank charges for transactions, which will be your responsibility. Credit cards will be charged in US dollars. Please contact your bank and/or credit card companies to let them know that you will be leaving the country to avoid any problems using your credit card(s) overseas. It is not advisable to bring Travelers Checks. The ship does not have ATMs onboard, but ATMs linked to major bank networks can be found throughout Vietnam, Cambodia and Thailand. Most debit and major credit cards can be used for cash withdrawals ashore. Your bank can tell you which network your ATM card can access and whether a debit or credit card must be used. Make sure you have the correct PIN for the card you plan to use before leaving home, as the PIN is required for all money withdrawals. It is also recommended that you bring an overseas contact number for your bank or credit card company in case you require assistance while traveling. CRUISE/TOUR COMPANION Special Diets: Please advise us of any special dietary restrictions in advance of your departure. This information will be provided to the proper personnel. To the extent possible, and in consideration of local conditions, every effort will be made to accommodate your needs. It is the guest s responsibility to provide us with as much detail as necessary concerning any medically related dietary concerns. Not all dietary requests can be accommodated, and we appreciate your understanding in this matter. Dietary restrictions should be reiterated to the service staff at the time of placing orders in restaurants. Limited currency exchange is available onboard for the exchange of cash only. Credit cards cannot be accepted for money exchange. Most hotels and major tourist sites have exchange facilities. Please note currency exchange transactions and ATM cash withdrawals always involve transaction fees. It is always best to inquire as to the fee before exchanging any money. ATMs will typically ask you if you accept the fee before enabling the transaction. Most major credit cards (Visa, MasterCard, American Express) are accepted worldwide. There may be some stores or locations where cash is preferred or where a particular credit card cannot be used for purchases. We recommend bringing at least one major credit card, as well as an ATM card that is both a debit and credit card. 8 uniworld.com / 9

7 CRUISE/TOUR COMPANION Getting There Airport Security and Check-In It is advisable to contact the airline in advance of your departure to verify that there have been no changes to the flight number or schedule found on your travel documents. After your travel documents are issued and sent to you, Uniworld is not responsible for notifying guests of any changes in flight schedules. Please make sure you arrive at the airport at least two and a half (2.5) hours prior to your scheduled departure to complete check-in and security procedures. For peak travel times, you may even want to arrive three (3) hours prior to your scheduled departure time. Transfers Airport Arrival Transfers: If your cruise/tour package includes a group arrival transfer (and your flights coincide with our transfer guidelines and have been communicated to Uniworld), you will be greeted by a Uniworld representative and transferred to the hotel. You will be met as you exit the airport s secure customs area. Please claim all of your baggage before exiting the baggage claim area. From the airport, you ll be transferred to the hotel. Please note that transfers are nonrefundable. There may be a waiting period of up to one (1) hour for scheduled airport transfers, depending on groupings of flight arrivals. Upon clearing customs in the cruise/ tour start city, look for the Uniworld representative outside the secure customs area. If you cannot find the representative, please remain outside the customs area until the representative comes to you. Uniworld will not be responsible for late arrivals or missed transfers due to delayed, changed, canceled or missed flights; for missed cruise/trip days; or for extra costs resulting from delayed, changed, canceled or missed flights. Flight information and pre-trip arrangements for all guests making their own flight arrangements must be given to Uniworld no later than 45 days prior to departure in order for transfers to be properly arranged. Your flight arrangements must also be made in accordance with Uniworld s recommended transfer guidelines. For complete details, please see the Terms and Conditions section of our current brochure or our website, uniworld.com. Guests who have purchased an optional pre-cruise/tour extension or extra hotel nights with Uniworld will be provided transfers as part of the extension or extra nights purchase. If your cruise/tour package does not include arrival transfers (i.e., for flights outside of Uniworld s recommended transfer time guidelines or if flight details have not been communicated to Uniworld in time), please make your own way to the hotel as per your trip itinerary; transportation will be at your own expense. Airport Departure Transfers: If your cruise/tour package includes a group departure transfer (and your flights coincide with our transfer guidelines and have been communicated to Uniworld) or if you have purchased a private departure transfer, you will be transferred to the airport for your flight home. In accordance with Uniworld s recommended transfer time guidelines, all guests making their own flight arrangements are required to provide Uniworld with their flight information and post-trip arrangements no later than 45 days prior to departure in order to receive transfers. For complete details, please see the Terms and Conditions section of our current brochure or our website, uniworld.com. Guests who have purchased an optional post-cruise/tour extension or extra nights with Uniworld hotel stays will be provided transfers as part of the extension or extra nights purchase. If your cruise/tour package does not include departure transfers (i.e., for flights outside of Uniworld s recommended transfer time guidelines or if flight details have not been communicated to Uniworld in time), you must schedule transportation from the hotel at your own expense. Late Flight Arrivals and Missed Flights: If your package includes an arrival transfer and you experience a travel delay of any kind while you are still within North America, please contact Uniworld by calling and advise them of the situation. They will do their best to ensure that you are met and transferred upon your revised arrival. If you are outside North America when you experience the travel delay, please contact for advice and assistance. Upon clearing customs in the cruise/tour start city, look for the Uniworld representative outside the customs area. If you cannot find the representative, please remain outside the customs area until the representative appears. Depending on the nature of the delay, our ground staff can, at times, track flight changes. However, if your flight arrangements were drastically altered, it is unlikely that the ground staff will be notified in time of your specific flight changes. Due to security protocols enacted after September 11, 2001, airlines very rarely provide updated flight information to third parties. CRUISE/TOUR COMPANION 10 uniworld.com / 11

8 CRUISE/TOUR COMPANION If you cannot find the Uniworld representative, please contact the transfer representative in your arrival city. Their contact information is shown in the transfer section of your Cruise/Tour Ticket. If unable to match you up with a scheduled group transfer, the transfer representative will ask you to make your way to the hotel at your own expense. Costs incurred due to missed transfers are the responsibility of the guest; in most cases, compensation can be obtained from your Travel Protection Plan provider or airline carrier. If any transfers are missed, guests should take the green and white taxis approved by the Vietnamese Department of Transportation (also called the Ministry of Transport). Keep in mind that drivers may not speak English. If not, guests should write down the name of the hotel clearly and hand the note to the driver. The same policy applies to Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City. If your delay is serious enough that you miss the starting point of your cruise/tour, please contact our Local Representative, using the number on your Cruise/Tour Ticket to determine the exact location of your tour group on your revised date of arrival. The office personnel will advise you on the best course of action. Uniworld is not responsible for missed transfers or additional costs due to missed or delayed flights. Additional Contacts in Case of a Late Arrival: Mekong Navigator Ship s Cambodian Phone: Ship s Vietnamese Phone: Land Program Cambodia: Vietnam: Baggage Delays: Baggage delays do unfortunately occur from time to time, especially during peak travel periods. First and foremost, do not leave the baggage area without completing a Lost Baggage Report with your air carrier. This report is essential to the tracking of your claim. If traveling with a companion, we recommend one (1) person exit the baggage claim area and locate the transfer representative to inform him or her of the situation. This will allow the representative to ensure that transfers are properly provided. Give the air carrier a copy of your travel itinerary and the hotel and ship s contact information. Report your lost baggage to the Uniworld representative and provide him or her with a copy of your Lost Baggage Report. This will assist our staff in helping to locate your baggage as quickly as possible. Uniworld is not responsible for lost, stolen, or damaged baggage and/or personal belongings. A protection plan covering lost, stolen or damaged baggage is available through the Uniworld Travel Protection Plan. Pre- or Post-Cruise/Tour Land Stay or Optional Extensions All Uniworld land programs are fully hosted and include daily breakfast, transfers and porterage. Most feature at least one (1) special sightseeing program. Your Cruise/ Tour Manager or on-site Uniworld representative will host a welcome briefing upon your arrival to familiarize you with the scheduled program and to provide additional information about optional excursions, dining recommendations and shopping tips. Details about your pre- or post-cruise/tour land stay are included in this booklet and details about your pre- or post-cruise/tour optional extensions are included with final documents. Hotel Check-In and Hotel Check-Out Please note that every effort is made to ensure that your hotel room is available and ready for occupancy upon your arrival at the hotel. This is not always possible due to differences in hotel check-in times and scheduled airport-to-hotel transfers. A short wait for your room to become available may be unavoidable. CRUISE/TOUR COMPANION Most hotels do not allow check-in earlier than 2:00 pm. If you arrive at the hotel before 2:00 pm, you may need to wait until the room becomes available. Hotel check-out must be no later than 12:00 pm. If your arrival or departure schedule does not coincide with these times, you may ask the hotel to store your baggage while you explore independently. 12 uniworld.com / 13

9 CRUISE/TOUR COMPANION About Your Uniworld Cruise/ Tour Package and Onboard and Onshore Services Crew-Only Areas Some areas are clearly indicated as Crew Only. We ask you to respect these areas, as the crew may be working there and your safety cannot be guaranteed. These areas include the Main Deck bow area, the galley, engine rooms, crew accommodation and the gangways aft of the Sun Deck. Crew members have been instructed to escort any unauthorized persons from these areas and make a report to the Captain. Dining All breakfasts on land and onboard are American-style buffets. Most other included meals onshore will be held at local restaurants. Lunch onboard offers a selection of fresh salads, daily soups and entrées. Dinner onboard is seated. Please notify Uniworld in advance if you have any special dietary concerns or considerations that need to be taken into account while traveling with us. We will do our best to ensure that your request is accommodated, but we cannot guarantee that this will happen in all cases. Emergency Procedures The ship is outfitted with modern smoke detectors, fire alarms, extinguishers and hoses. Alarms are situated at regular intervals along the Promenade Deck. An individual emergency alarm button is situated in each stateroom and suite. Fire extinguishers are located at regular intervals around the Promenade Deck and outside all public rooms. Excursions Group shore excursions are organized by the Cruise/Tour Manager and are accompanied by a member of the ship s staff. Details about group shore excursions are posted on the Daily Schedule, and passengers are requested to note this before disembarkation. When disembarking, passengers should hang their keys on the key board found adjacent to the dining room so that we know if anyone has left the ship and not returned. If you go ashore with your stateroom or suite keys and we leave without you, we cannot be held responsible. Fitness Centers There are fitness centers in all hotels, with the exception of the Victoria Angkor Resort and Spa. There is no fitness center onboard the ship. CRUISE/TOUR COMPANION During meals held ashore, guests will be able to enjoy complimentary beverages: For lunch, guests may choose to have water, coffee, hot tea or soft drinks; for dinner, guests may also choose from a selection of house wine and local beer. During onboard dinners, complimentary red and white house wine, locally produced spirits, ice water, iced tea, beer, soft drinks, coffee and hot tea will be included. Complimentary select domestic spirits are available throughout the day at the bar located on the Sun Deck of the ship (excluding premium spirits and premium wines, which are available for purchase). Electrical Current Voltage is 220V/50Hz in all hotels and onboard the ship. On the ship, outlets that accommodate both 110V and 220V appliances are available in the staterooms and suites. In the hotels, dual-voltage appliances or a voltage converter will be needed. In addition, you will need a two-round-pin-type plug adaptor in Cambodia, and a three-flat-pin-type plug adaptor in Vietnam. Elevators The ship does not have an elevator. All the hotels have elevators. Footwear Slippers are provided for your comfort onboard the vessel. When ashore, guests should wear comfortable but safe walking shoes. At certain times, the river banks and paths we use can be muddy and therefore slippery. Due to the possibility of muddy or, conversely, very dusty walking conditions, we ask you to remove your footwear when returning onboard so that we can clean your shoes for you and return them to you later. Gift Shops The only hotel on the tour with a gift shop is the Victoria Angkor Resort and Spa. There is a small gift shop onboard the ship as well. Going Ashore When the ship is docked, you are welcome to move freely between ship and land as much as you like. From time to time, the ship will be anchored in the middle of the river. Because of the varying nature of the riverbank, methods of getting ashore may differ from time to time and, on occasion, access may be difficult. We will ensure that the gangways are safe and that crew members are on hand to assist you. 14 uniworld.com / 15

10 CRUISE/TOUR COMPANION Gratuities Gratuities are customary expressions of appreciation for a job well done, and it is our goal to ensure that the service you receive is as wonderful as the sites you visit. The amount of the gratuity you choose to give is entirely subject to your satisfaction with your travel experience. To assist you in determining the amount of your gratuities, we recommend the following as a guideline: Cruise/Tour Manager: $8 to $10 USD per guest, per day (given on the last day of the cruise/tour before departure) Ship staff and crew: $8 to $10 USD per guest, per day, to be shared among all ship s staff and crew (given on the last day of the cruise before disembarking the ship) Tips and gratuities are included for local experts, drivers, local river guides, the rickshaw driver and boatman during your trip. Gratuities cannot be billed to onboard accounts, so please ensure that you have cash on hand for this expense. Travelers Checks cannot be used to pay gratuities. Handicapped Facilities Embarkation/disembarkation facilities may be impossible to navigate with wheelchairs, scooters, walkers or any other mechanical devices. The ship was not designed to accommodate physically challenged travelers; it does not have elevators and is not handicapped or wheelchair accessible. Additionally, most shore excursions involve walking over uneven ground. Some excursions are walking tours only, and for your safety and enjoyment, we recommend that all guests be in good physical condition. Uniworld, at its sole discretion, reserves the right to refuse passage or to require a current passenger to end his or her trip if the passenger s state of health or physical condition may affect his or her own health, safety and enjoyment, or that of other passengers. Insect Precautions External doors and gauze windows should be kept closed at all times. At night, if on deck or going ashore, make sure to apply repellent to ankles and other exposed skin. While you can expect to encounter insects, these insects are relatively harmless. Make sure to switch off lights when leaving your cabin so as not to lure them in. On the fast-flowing river, mosquitoes are rarely to be seen while sailing. Internet Access Complimentary Wi-Fi is available in the public areas of all hotels; charges may apply for Internet access in guest rooms. Internet is available onboard, but it is cellularbased and can be unreliable. Intra-Asia Domestic Air Ticket Your intra-asia domestic air ticket will be issued on tour, and your boarding passes will be given to you by your Cruise/Tour Manager at the airport. Land Tours and Shore Excursions Each cruise/tour program includes comprehensive shore excursions led by a local English-speaking expert or your Cruise/Tour Manager; these excursions have been designed to provide you with the best possible experience ashore. On motorcoach tours, we ask that passengers rotate to allow everyone to sit near the front. A complete day-by-day shore excursion itinerary is provided in this booklet. Details of your particular itinerary can also be found at uniworld.com. Laundry The Mekong Navigator provides washing, drying and ironing services for a fee. Please note that there is no self-service launderette and there are no dry cleaning facilities onboard. Your hotels, however, will offer full-service laundry and dry cleaning options at an additional cost. Massage Massage services are available onboard the Mekong Navigator. These services are available for a fee and can be paid for in cash or with a credit card at the time of purchase or at the time you settle any of your onboard charges prior to disembarkation from the ship. Mooring and Docking Facilities The local river authorities allocate docking space around ship arrivals and departures in port. There are times when port conditions require ships to tie up alongside each other, and guests may be required to walk through another ship to access their own ship. This is part of the river cruise experience and is perfectly normal. Guests may experience obstructed views from staterooms or suites when the ship is docked. Moving about the Ship Because the ship will often be in motion and the decks will sometimes be slippery, you will need to take care when moving about the decks. Please be extra cautious when using the stairs onboard, as they may be steeper than you are used to. It s best to always use the handrails. CRUISE/TOUR COMPANION 16 uniworld.com / 17

11 CRUISE/TOUR COMPANION Muster Station A deck plan of the ship is provided in your suite. Please familiarize yourself with the location of the ship s muster station. In the event of an emergency, the ship s whistle will blast repeatedly and alarm bells will ring. Proceed immediately to the muster station, where you will put on a life vest and await further instructions. The muster station is located in the dining room on the Lotus Deck and is clearly indicated with signs. Note that we are not required by Class Societies to carry lifeboats since it is much quicker to beach the vessel on the nearest sand bar or river bank and evacuate by foot than to transfer passengers onto lifeboats. Responsibility and Waiver The guest accepts the terms and conditions of the Passenger Ticket Contract when participating in any organized shore excursion/tour that is provided by Uniworld. Participation in some shore excursions or tours may also be subject to an independent operator s own Terms and Conditions. Safety Deposit Box Each hotel room and onboard stateroom or suite comes equipped with a safe. We urge you to leave valuables at home. We are not responsible for any valuables left in staterooms or suites. Any charge to return lost and found property will be at the owner s expense. Please beware of pickpockets when ashore. Security In the countries in which we operate, tourists are rarely targets for theft, but caution is encouraged nonetheless. A 24-hour watch is kept on the gangplank in order to control access to the ship, but please keep your deck door locked when it is not in use and at night. All staterooms and suites have a combination-type safe; please use a number you can remember, like the last four digits of your phone number or your date of birth. The company cannot be held liable for loss of money, jewelry or other valuable items from the ship, from a hotel or while on an excursion ashore during a voyage. In the Conditions of Carriage, you are required to have taken out personal travel insurance to cover these possibilities. Shopping Time for shopping is usually, but not always, allowed for within the framework of the sightseeing programs. The actual amount of time available for shopping may be limited due to tour constraints. Shopping recommendations can be made by your Cruise/Tour Manager. Larger stores accept most major credit cards, while market vendors and small stores usually only accept local currency (with the exception of Cambodia, which widely accepts the US dollar). It is a good idea to take a small amount of cash in local currency to use for on-thespot gratuities and to purchase souvenirs or sundries. Smoking The ship enjoys a non-smoking environment in all public areas and in the staterooms and suites. Smoking is allowed only on the aft section of the upper Sun Deck. Hotels do not permit smoking except in specific areas; all guest rooms reserved are non-smoking. Hotels offer smoking rooms; smoking rooms must be requested at the time of booking and are very limited. For the comfort of all passengers, smoking is not permitted on sightseeing or transfer vehicles. Suite Amenities We want you to be as comfortable as possible during your voyage with us. Our stewarding team will do their best to ensure the highest possible standards of cleanliness and comfort in your room. Please do not hesitate to ask if you require anything at all, and please let us know if you are not satisfied with any aspect of our service. Suites have minibars. Note that suites do not have phones. All suites have their own air-conditioning, mini-safe, luggage storage, wardrobe, writing desk, emergency button and amenities, including hair dryers, robes and slippers. All suites on the Orchid Deck have private balconies, and all suites on the Lotus Deck have French balconies. Visitors Visitors are generally not permitted onboard the ship and are not allowed to join any shore excursions. Please make arrangements to meet your friends and relatives onshore. CRUISE/TOUR COMPANION 18 uniworld.com / 19

12 CRUISE/TOUR COMPANION Water Please do not drink or brush your teeth with the tap water while onboard or onshore. The ship s water supply comes from the river after passing through a sterilization plant. This water is suitable for washing but should not be consumed. Complimentary bottled water for drinking and brushing teeth is provided onboard, and additional bottled water will be made available free of charge on excursions. To save water and reduce detergent use, we will only change towels daily if they are placed on the floor. All hotels also provide complimentary in-room bottled water. Weather Weather forecasts are widely available on the Internet. Uniworld s favorite resource for up-to-the-minute international weather is weather.com. Average Temperatures (Fahrenheit): Average Low/High (F) Jan Feb Mar Sep Oct Nov Dec Hanoi 57/67 59/68 65/73 77/87 72/84 65/77 60/71 Ho Chi Minh City 70/89 73/91 76/93 76/88 76/88 73/88 71/88 Siem Reap 67/90 69/92 79/94 76/90 75/88 72/87 69/88 Bangkok 70/90 74/91 79/95 76/90 76/90 74/89 69/88 Luang Prabang 56/82 58/89 63/93 73/91 69/89 64/85 59/81 Average Temperatures (Celsius): Average Low/High (C) Jan Feb Mar Sep Oct Nov Dec Hanoi 14/19 15/20 18/23 25/30 22/29 18/25 16/22 What to Wear Prepare for a variety of weather conditions depending on your travel season. Layering clothing is smart because it allows each person to adjust to most temperatures, including artificially maintained temperatures, by removing or adding items throughout the day. Comfortable, sporty, smart-casual daywear is appropriate both onshore and onboard. For warmer temperatures, we suggest lightweight clothing that can be layered, such as a mix of sweaters, lightweight knit shirts, everyday khakis, slacks, skirts/dresses and walking shorts. Mixand-match solid color schemes work best to help keep baggage light. This program is very different from European river programs; attire is more casual due to the region s warmer temperatures. During the cruise portion of your program, comfortable, lightweight clothing in lighter colors is strongly recommended. Shorts, cotton shirts, good walking shoes and sun hats during the day are recommended. However, to enter the temples and other holy sites in Cambodia, guests should ensure that their shoulders and knees are covered. For evenings, we recommend casual and cool-weather attire, and we require footwear to be worn at all times in the dining room. You will engage in a significant amount of walking over uneven terrain during your time ashore. We recommend comfortable walking shoes with good ankle support. Sport jackets and cocktail dresses are not needed at any time during this program. Don t forget to pack a lightweight, waterproof jacket (preferably hooded), or even a heavier-weight windbreaker, for colder temperatures that can be found in Hanoi and Ha Long Bay in late October through February. CRUISE/TOUR COMPANION Ho Chi Minh City 21/32 23/33 24/34 24/31 24/31 23/31 22/31 Siem Reap 19/32 21/33 26/34 24/32 24/31 22/31 21/31 Bangkok 21/32 23/33 26/35 24/32 24/32 23/32 21/31 Luang Prabang 13/28 14/32 17/34 23/33 21/32 18/29 15/27 Omissions Uniworld is not responsible for omissions or printing and/or presentation errors in brochures, on Internet sites, or in any other media where such information may be presented; we reserve the right to make corrections as required. 20 uniworld.com / 21

13 CRUISE/TOUR COMPANION Frequently Asked Questions I have concerns about my physical ability. What do I do? Guests with mobility concerns should discuss their concerns with Uniworld staff in advance of their departure. Guests requiring the use of a mobility device, such as a wheelchair, motorized scooter or walker, may not be able to participate in many shore excursions or use them onboard the ships. Also, guests who are limited in their ability to walk long distances may have difficulties as there is often uneven terrain on many shore excursions. How accurate are the shore excursion/tour descriptions? Uniworld does everything possible to ensure that shore excursions are performed as promoted and as outlined in the following pages. In certain circumstances or for reasons beyond the control of Uniworld, it may not be possible or practical for the excursion to be performed exactly as written. The decision not to operate, to alter the operation, to change content, and/or to otherwise adjust or modify any element of the excursion as advertised is at the sole discretion of Uniworld, always taking into account the safety and best interests of the guests and overall product delivery. Any such modifications to excursions will not result in eligibility for a refund. Can the itinerary change? What happens if it does change? You can count on the value of Uniworld s experience and regional knowledge to make sure you enjoy your cruise/tour even when conditions beyond our control occur. The very nature of a river, with its sources and networks of bridges and locks, means that there will be times when weather or other conditions in a region require Uniworld to make adjustments and modifications to the operation of an itinerary. Itineraries may need to be altered specifically because of water levels. Although every effort is made to keep itineraries as advertised, Uniworld reserves the right to make changes and substitutions as necessary to ensure the safety of our guests and the vessels. Time permitting, every possible effort will be made to alert guests in advance of boarding of any known changes. Otherwise, all guests will be informed onboard of amendments. Any changes to itineraries, including the addition of extensive motorcoach touring to effect delivery of the intended itinerary operation, will not result in eligibility for a refund. What time will excursions depart? All shore excursions are carefully coordinated to the ship s daily schedule. Prior to dinner each evening, your Cruise/Tour Manager will brief all guests about what activities will take place the next day. This briefing includes information about departure times, specifics about the shore excursions/tours not covered in this booklet, shopping and restaurant recommendations, and other important information about the port of call. In addition to the briefing, a daily program will be distributed to each guest s stateroom or suite every evening. This program provides a written overview of all events taking place the next day whether onboard or ashore. Does each motorcoach or walking group have its own tour guide? Yes. Each motorcoach or walking group has its own English-speaking local tour guide. Uniworld tries very hard to ensure that our guides are of the highest quality and are well-versed in their subjects to make sure that you have the best possible time ashore. What about tipping? Gratuities should always be in accordance with each guest s personal satisfaction. Uniworld endeavors to work with the best Cruise/Tour Managers and local guides available. Please refer to the Gratuities section of this book for specific recommendations and guidelines. What is the transportation like on excursions? Uniworld works with some of the world s best tour companies, all of which are chosen with our exacting standards in mind. To ensure your maximum enjoyment of each excursion, all motorcoaches seat 29 to 45 people at most and are air-conditioned whenever possible. There are a few destinations where the equipment may not be of a similar standard, and, in such cases, the best possible transportation will be arranged. Rest stops are provided throughout the course of the excursion, as the motorcoaches used for excursions will not have onboard toilets. Is smoking allowed on shore excursions/tours? Smoking is not allowed while on the motorcoach, and many historical venues now request that visitors not smoke anywhere on-site. We ask all our guests who smoke not to do so while on excursions/tours. CRUISE/TOUR COMPANION 22 uniworld.com / 23

14 Start/End River CRUISE LAND FLIGHT NIGHTS ONSHORE EXTENSION UNESCO Timeless Wonders of Vietnam, Cambodia & the Mekong HO CHI MINH CITY TO HANOI / 15 DAYS Explore the old and the new, the grand and the intimate as you tour this dynamic region of Southeast Asia From the lively and changing metropolises of Vietnam s Ho Chi Minh City and Hanoi, and Cambodia s Phnom Penh, to the towns and floating villages of the Mekong (where life is still lived much as it was centuries ago), you ll be given an up-close view of two amazing countries. Throughout your journey, enjoy a plethora of authentic experiences. Visit traditional Vietnamese floating markets by way of luxury sampan. Take a morning cyclo ride through Phnom Penh. Receive a water blessing from monks at a temple overlooking the Mekong. Explore Cambodia s UNESCO-designated Angkor Wat temple complex, and be treated to a traditional Apsara dance during dinner in Siem Reap. These extraordinary experiences offer you a chance to discover the sights, the sounds and the tastes of two countries joined by one river. The expedition of a lifetime begins now. uniworld.com / 25

15 DAY 1 Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam b about the history and cultural significance of a craft that has been practiced in Vietnam for at least 700 years before enjoying lunch on your own. HO CHI MINH CITY TO HANOI Arrive at Tan Son Nhat International Airport, where you will be greeted by a Uniworld representative who will transfer you to your luxury hotel. You will be greeted with a private check-in, welcome drink and information packet at the hotel. An elegant flower arrangement and fruit platter await you in your room. Tonight, consider popping out to explore the lively Ben Thanh Night Market or one of the city s quintessential evening cafés either choice would mark a splendid start to your adventure. DAY 2 Ho Chi Minh City BB WD History melds with the boisterous present in Vietnam s largest city, where skyscrapers tower over ancient temples and motorbikes putter along picturesque alleys. It was founded in 1690; became the capital of French Cochinchina in the 1860s, when it was known as Saigon; and acquired its modern moniker in 1976, when it was named for Communist leader Ho Chi Minh. Dynamic Ho Chi Minh City 7 1 b A landmark in Vietnamese history is the first destination on your panoramic city tour today, as you travel the city s busy streets, passing elegant French Colonial buildings and bustling shopping centers. On April 30, 1975, a North Vietnamese army tank crashed through the gates of the building now called the Reunification Palace, symbolizing the downfall of the South Vietnamese government and the end of the Vietnam War. It s a modern structure, commissioned in 1962 by the president of South Vietnam after his own air force tried to kill him by bombing the 19th-century French palace that had stood on the site. As you will see when you step inside, he intended to enjoy living here: It has a cinema and a nightclub and, not too surprisingly, a spacious bomb shelter. A few blocks away, two monuments from the colonial days still stand: the lofty General Post Office, designed by Gustav Eiffel (of tower fame), and, across the street, twin-towered Notre Dame Cathedral, built entirely with materials shipped from France. Your motorcoach will carry you past other remnants of French colonial glory the Ho Chi Minh Municipal Theater (also known as the Saigon Opera House, built in 1901 and modeled on Paris s Petit Palais) and the City Hall (based on the Hôtel de Ville in Paris) as well as the contemporary American consulate. But the day includes more than sightseeing: Visit a lacquer showroom to learn a bit Ho Chi Minh City is famous for the excellence of its food, which reflects, inevitably, a certain French influence combined with the unique flavors of the region. Tonight you ll be treated to a special Welcome Dinner at a local restaurant, featuring an exquisitely presented traditional meal and complimentary wine a delightful start for your exciting Southeast Asian adventure. Optional Excursion: A O Show a 5 1 b Join us for a visit to Ho Chi Minh s handsome Municipal Theater, with its striking neoclassical facade. Built in 1900 and refurbished in 2009, it now hosts a variety of companies, including the A O Show, a lively theatrical performance featuring astonishing acrobatics and bamboo props poles, baskets, boats used in ways you never would have imagined. DAY 3 Ho Chi Minh City, transfer to My Tho b e BB L D Vestiges of war Cu Chi Tunnels 7 2 b Ready for an adventure? Explore a fascinating aspect of Vietnam s long struggle to free itself from Western control. Begun by the Viet Minh on the outskirts of Saigon in 1945, as shelter from French air raids, these tunnels were expanded in the 1960s by the Viet Cong, who extended them for many miles. A network of booby-trapped tunnels led to underground chambers where people lived in considerable privation, generally wounds were treated and children were taught. Only a small stretch of this network is open to the public, but if you re venturesome, you may climb down into a tunnel for a close (and we do mean close don t expect to stand upright) look. Following lunch, you ll be taken to your ship your elegant home for the next seven nights and set sail on the beautiful Mekong. Onboard your ship this evening, savor a delicious Vietnamese-themed dinner. Notes: HO CHI MINH CITY TO HANOI 26 uniworld.com / 27

16 DAY 4 Cai Be, Vinh Long BB L D DAY 5 Sa Dec, Gieng Island, cruising the Mekong River BB L D Today s itinerary features two towns that have been shaped by the Mekong in this agrarian but densely populated region, Vinh Long and Cai Be. Two very different destinations await you today: busy Sa Dec and peaceful Gieng Island. Both reflect Vietnam s multicultural history. Village life on the Mekong 7 2 S Featured Excursions: Sampans and colonial romance 7 2 S HO CHI MINH CITY TO HANOI Chinese herbal-medicine shops, French Colonial houses and Buddhist temples mingle with modern offices on the streets of Vinh Long, the capital of Vinh Long province. The range of buildings hints at the changes that the region has seen. Hop into a trishaw for a ride through these streets, crossing over some of the many canals that lace through the town, on your way to meet some of the village elders, who will tell you about their experiences living life on the delta. Vinh Long is a gateway to some of the region s most colorful destinations: Step aboard a sampan the style of this vessel is traditional, but the one you ll board is much more luxurious than those generally used on these waters and join the locals thronging the harbor of Cai Be. At the floating market here, merchants advertise their wares by attaching a sample such as a watermelon, a coconut or a bunch of bananas to a tall bamboo pole so their potential customers can easily see what they re selling. It s a colorful and lively scene, typical of Mekong Delta towns, though few similar villages feature a handsome French Gothic style cathedral as a background. You ll sail into the town and land near the An Kiet House, built early in the 19th century for a member of the royal family. Its ornately carved antique screens and furnishings give you an idea of how wealthy Southern Vietnamese families lived. While you re on solid ground, take a look at another aspect of life of the delta: Vietnam is one of the world s largest producers and exporters of rice, and the Mekong Delta is known as the country s rice bowl. You ll learn all about this staple food and its importance to the region as you visit a local establishment where workers make everything from rice paper and rice wine to traditional rice candy. Take to Sa Dec s narrow canals just as the locals do. Children frolic in the water, fishermen ply their trade, and women care for their families. From here, you ll head into town, where you will walk through a crowded and colorful local market stands sell everything from snake blood, fresh fish, clothing and flowers to mangosteens on your way to the romantic, lacelike Huynh Thuy Le House, a late-19th-century home made famous by best-selling French novelist Marguerite Duras. Duras spent her teen years in Sa Dec, and her prize-winning novel, The Lover, is said to be based on her doomed love affair with Huynh Thuy Le, the son of a wealthy Chinese landowner. Sail from bustling Sa Dec to serene Gieng Island to dip into another aspect of Vietnam s past: The triangle-shaped island is home to a surprising array of 19th-century Catholic churches and monasteries that date to an era when it was the largest Catholic parish in Vietnam. Though the Franciscan monastery and the Providence nunnery have been largely abandoned, stately Gieng Island Church is still in daily use. Some records indicate that the graceful French baroque-style church predates the famous basilica in Ho Chi Minh City, but it s more likely that it was built in the 1870s. Regardless of origin or the ups and downs the Catholic community has experienced over the years, the church remains a beautiful tribute to the faith of its founders. Did You Know? The French film based on Duras 1984 novel was the first Western movie to be shot in Vietnam since It was released in 1992 and was a huge hit in France. HO CHI MINH CITY TO HANOI Did You Know? Though the exterior of Cai Be s church is traditional, the interior features an array of colorful neon lights outlining the altar fixtures, including the cross. Notes: 28 uniworld.com / 29

17 DAY 6 Tan Chau, Evergreen Island, cruising the Mekong River BB L D DAY 7 Phnom Penh BB L D HO CHI MINH CITY TO HANOI Thousands of boats ply the waters of the Mekong wooden cargo boats, water taxis, dredges, fishing craft. Traditional and modern elements mingle in this region, but the river rules everything. Daily life on the great delta 7 3 S In the Mekong Delta, hardworking residents live and labor on the water, harvesting what the delta gives them and turning it into products they can sell to earn a living or food they can eat, wasting nothing. Today you ll get a taste of this way of life during a sampan tour that carries you through the floating villages that line the banks of the great river to the town of Tan Chau. Stop at a temple devoted to Vietnam s homegrown religion Cao Dai (a faith that incorporates most major world religions, including Buddhism, Islam and Christianity, as well as a pantheon of saints that range from Joan of Arc to Thomas Jefferson and Victor Hugo); an image of the Divine Eye appears in every temple, and each color that decorates the temple has a specific meaning. After visiting the temple, hop aboard a rickshaw for a ride to a factory where you can watch baskets and mats being handwoven from reeds grown on the delta, and check out a floating fish farm. The raising and harvesting of seafood is one of Vietnam s fastest-growing industries, and you ll be amazed by the efficiency and ingenuity on display. You may even get a chance to feed the fish. Then return to your sampan to cruise through the canals to Evergreen Island, where a rickshaw ride through the village reveals traditional houses built on stilts, an essential precaution during the rainy season, when the Mekong rises and spills into all of the towns that line the river. This afternoon, you ll cross the Vietnamese border, and tomorrow you ll awake in Phnom Penh, Cambodia s capital city, for the next leg of your exciting journey. Founded in the 15th century, Phnom Penh is the thriving capital of the kingdom of Cambodia. It stands at the juncture of three rivers and is divided into three distinct districts: the French colonial area, a handsome residential district and a rapidly changing Old Town. Cambodia s capital Phnom Penh 7 1 A cyclo (a cycle rickshaw) will whisk you down wide boulevards laid out by French colonial administrators in the 1860s, when Cambodia was part of French Indochina, past old French-influenced buildings, beautiful pagodas and (with a bit of luck) saffron-robed monks, on your way to the Royal Palace. Spacious grounds you might notice a resemblance to formal French parterres are home to a group of structures featuring classic Khmer architecture. Each one has a specific function: The Throne Hall, with its spires and flying celestials, hosts royal coronations, while the Moonlight Pavilion was intended as a venue for dance performances (but is now used for receptions). The famed Temple of the Emerald Buddha, commonly known as the Silver Pagoda, boasts a floor-covering of 5,329 silver tiles. In the center of the pagoda are both an emerald and a gold Buddha statue (the latter of which is studded with nearly 10,000 diamonds). You ll also tour the National Museum, which features an incomparable collection of the nation s archaeological and artistic treasures. Following lunch onboard, enjoy the afternoon and evening at leisure, taking in the shopping and lively entertainment venues of Phnom Penh. Optional Excursion: Banana Tree Culinary cooking school a 7 1 b Are you curious about the unique flavors of traditional Khmer cuisine? Cinnamon, garlic, chiles, fish sauce, coconut milk many of the ingredients will be familiar, but they are combined in distinctive ways. Get some hands-on cooking experience as an expert local chef teaches you how to make several typical Khmer dishes in her modern demonstration kitchen, and then sit down and enjoy the fruits of your labors. HO CHI MINH CITY TO HANOI Notes: 30 uniworld.com / 31

18 HO CHI MINH CITY TO HANOI Did You Know? Tucked among the traditional Khmer buildings on the Royal Palace grounds is an ornate white pavilion, complete with wrought-iron balustrades, that would fit perfectly in New Orleans. Napoleon III had it built for the opening ceremonies of the Suez Canal, then disassembled and sent as a gift to King Norodom. DAY 8 Phnom Penh, cruising the Mekong River BB L D The Killing Fields tragedy and reconciliation in Cambodia 7 1 b It s hard to reconcile the pastoral serenity of the orchards and rice fields surrounding Choeung Ek with the horrific mass executions that took place here during the brutal reign of the Khmer Rouge, yet the memorial stupa filled with the skulls of Pol Pot s victims tells the tale. These were the Killing Fields, where more than 17,000 men, women and children were slaughtered and buried in mass graves. First, however, they were tortured in Security Prison 21 (also known as S-21), a former high school on the outskirts of Phnom Penh, now the Tuol Sleng Genocide Museum, which you will also visit today. The guards and staff of the prison were mostly adolescent males aged 15 to 19 among whom was a young photographer whose job was to document the prisoners. Though many of his photos were destroyed, 6,000 of them remain, displayed on the walls here; as you look at these portraits, you ll see grief, fear and defiance and you ll be heartbroken to learn that out of the thousands held here, only seven survived. Those who were killed at Choeung Ek were just a small fraction of the almost two million Cambodians who died in a three-year period between 1975 and the beginning of situated temple complex on a hilltop. Wat Hanchey has incredible views of the Mekong River you get a real sense of just how huge the river is as you see it stretch into the distance, looking more like a great lake than a river. The complex itself is a remarkable mixture of the ancient and the new: An eighth-century Angkor temple and a modern Buddhist temple share the area along with playful gibbons and enormous, colorfully painted concrete statues. Before your departure you ll receive a traditional water blessing from the local monks one of the most personal and touching moments you ll experience on this journey. To mark the end of this special day, and to commemorate your last evening onboard the ship, you ll be treated to a decadent Cambodian-themed dinner. Take your place in the dining room and enjoy delectable dishes prepared in the style of those once served to Cambodian royalty. DAY 10 Kampong Cham, transfer to Siem Reap e b BB L You ll disembark in the morning and transfer via executive motorcoach to Siem Reap, a place name that means, literally, Defeat of Siam which tells you something of its history. It is the gateway to Angkor, the legendary archaeological site. Enjoy a day at leisure. DAY 11 Siem Reap u BB The next two days are devoted to the astonishing Angkor Wat complex. Amazing Angkor Wat 9 3 b HO CHI MINH CITY TO HANOI DAY 9 Angkor Ban, Wat Hanchey BB L D The mighty river carries you into the Cambodian countryside today, giving you an opportunity to meet and chat with locals. Cambodia s vibrant cultural life 7 3 b Be ready to answer questions when you visit a local school because the children love to practice their English and deepen your understanding of Cambodia when you meet villagers in their homes. You may encounter more children when you stop at a beautifully Every aspect of Angkor Wat had religious meaning to its builders 900 years ago: the great rectangular moat, the main gate facing the west, the towers topped with stone lotuses, the huge smiling stone heads, the layout of the lanes and buildings. The largest religious monument in the world, magnificent Angkor Wat is the single most recognizable landmark in Cambodia. It is simply breathtaking in both size and scope and boasts the longest continuous bas-relief in the world. Although Angkor Wat is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, its importance is so Notes: 32 uniworld.com / 33

19 immeasurable, several other conservation organizations have been enlisted to help ensure its protection. You ll have some time for lunch on your own before heading to the amazing jungle temple of Ta Prohm. HO CHI MINH CITY TO HANOI And yet, Angkor Wat is just one piece of this enormous complex at the heart of the ancient Khmer Empire (which ruled this region between the ninth and 12th centuries). It was part of a roughly 250-square-mile (64,749-hectare) city that has largely disappeared into the jungle, though excavation efforts are ongoing (recent laser imaging has revealed another, even larger nearby city under the jungle floor that was linked to the temple city). Today s lunch will be on your own. Art School & Artisan Visit by remork 5 1 b Climb aboard a remork for a relaxing tour of the streets of Siem Reap, with stops at several artisans workshop that will introduce you to Siem Reap s thriving arts scene. Your first stop is Tlai Tno, an art association where young performers learn the intricate moves of traditional Apsara dance. You ll also visit Artisans Angkor s workshops, which promote the resurrection of traditional Khmer crafts: hand-carved sculptures in wood or stone, lacquerwork, silk paintings and silk fabrics all locally made by hand in the traditional way are available at the shop. Note: Order of sightseeing may change throughout the day. Temple visits are subject to change due to factors beyond our control. DAY 12 Siem Reap u BB D Featured Excursions: South Gate Angkor Thom, Bayon and Ta Prohm, Apsara show and dinner 9 3 b Pass between the stone figures lining the lane leading to the intricately decorated south gate and enter the spectacular remnants of Angkor Thom, the royal city. Once a huge, square city, Angkor Thom was founded in the 12th century by King Jayavarman VII after his people s previous capital had been overrun by the Chams. You can still see the defensive measures that surrounded the city in fact, you ll enter through one, crossing over the moat and passing through the intricately decorated south gate in the great wall around Angkor Thom. The king s palace, made of wood, has long since vanished, but the ruins that remain are astonishing: the pyramidal temple of Bayon (with the enormous carved heads that have become an iconic symbol of the Angkor archaeological area), the Baphuon temple, the grand Terrace of the Elephants and the lichencovered Terrace of the Leper King. Unlike the other Angkor temples, which have been painstakingly excavated and restored, Ta Prohm has been left almost as it was found. Massive trees grow like magic out of stone walls and roofs, their tentacle-like roots pouring over doorways and stretching across courtyards. This manmade wonder has been reclaimed by the jungle over the course of many centuries, and exploring it is sure to bring out the adventurer in you. From Ta Prohm, you ll move on to the unfinished temple of Ta Keo. Legend has it that construction on Ta Keo was suspended when the temple was struck by lightning an event that was considered a bad omen. After an exciting day of sightseeing, you ll indulge in a lavish dinner with an Apsara dance show. Apsara is the traditional Khmer dance form that tells stories and conveys messages using ornate costumes, graceful movements, codified facial expressions, and distinctive hand and foot positions. The many Apsara figures that adorn Angkor and pre-angkor temples you ve just visited testify to the dance form s long and esteemed history. Note: Order of sightseeing may change throughout the day. Temple visits are subject to change due to factors beyond our control. Optional Excursion: Bakheng sunrise and Angkor Thom gondola boat tour a 7 3 b For a once-in-a-lifetime dawn experience, watch the sun rise gloriously above the distant towers of Angkor Wat from the summit of Bakheng, savor breakfast at a local café and then the adventure really begins: Step into a traditional Khmer gondola, with its carved scales and dragonhead prow, and drift serenely among the ancient ruins, stopping to inspect a small cave and make a short trek up to the ruins of Prasat Chrung. Notes: HO CHI MINH CITY TO HANOI 34 uniworld.com / 35

20 HO CHI MINH CITY TO HANOI DAY 13 Siem Reap, fly to Hanoi, Vietnam b d BB Today you ll fly from Siem Reap to Hanoi and check into your luxury hotel, where you ll be greeted with a private check-in and a welcome briefing with complimentary drinks. You ll also find that an elegant flower arrangement and fruit platter await you in your room. The remainder of your time today is yours to spend at leisure in Vietnam s charming capital city. Khmer Noodle House at Preak Dak Village 5 1 b Khmer legend holds that China got the recipe for noodles from a Cambodian exile. Modern-day foodies know that if Cambodia has a national dish, it s num banh chok, the traditional rice noodles that are most often combined with fish sauce and fresh vegetables and the num banh chok made in Preah Dak is famous throughout the country. This village, near the Angkor Wat temple complex, abounds in noodle stalls, but the highlight for visitors may be the chance to see the traditional process by which these noodles are made. Watch as the rice flour and water are hand-kneaded to form a dough, which is then laboriously pressed through a heavy mill to create the noodles. Preah Dak itself is as almost as traditional as the noodle-making process, as you ll see as you stroll among the stilt houses: water buffalo graze nearby, water is drawn from wells, and meals are cooked over open fires. DAY 14 Hanoi BB L FD The capital of Vietnam, millennium-old Hanoi gracefully mixes the old and new. French Colonial mansions line handsome boulevards, lakes and parks invite lingering, and modern office buildings tell of economic revival. Atmospheric Hanoi 9 1 b later, the university opened its doors to gifted students from throughout the land, teaching them the principles of Confucianism for another 300 years. Today you can experience Confucian tranquility among its beautiful gardens and pavilions. You can see another aspect of Vietnam s history if you step into one of the dank cells at the notorious Hanoi Hilton, as Hoa Lo, a French colonial era prison, was known to the American pilots who were held there as prisoners of war during the Vietnam War. Much of the original prison has been demolished, but the remnants are now a museum. After an included lunch, it s time to hop aboard an electric car for a tour of colonial Hanoi. The city s elegant, tree-lined boulevards and weathered colonial buildings are sure to delight you, as are the affable street vendors selling everything from flowers to ice cream off the backs of their bicycles. Take in a traditional water puppet show, a thousand-year-old musical performance that tells tales from northern Vietnam s rural villages. The action takes place on a pool of water that stands in for rainy-season rice paddies; the beautifully crafted puppets seem to float on the water and those seated in the front rows might just get wet. Tonight, you ll be treated to a special Farewell Dinner with complimentary wine at a local restaurant featuring live music and an authentic northern Vietnamese dining experience. It s the perfect combination of delectable fare, warm atmosphere and traditional entertainment a fitting finale for such a remarkable adventure. Optional Excursion: Bat Trang ceramic village a 7 2 b The people of Bat Trang have been making fine porcelain since the 14th century, and these days their wares are exported all over the world. Walk through the alleys to a workshop where you can see dishes and many other objects being made by hand. You can even try making a piece yourself a truly special memento of your trip. HO CHI MINH CITY TO HANOI Spend the day exploring a city some call Asia s most beautiful. You ll visit a complex honoring Ho Chi Minh, founder of modern Vietnam, that contains his residence, a museum devoted to his life, and the famous One Pillar Pagoda, which has been built and rebuilt since Also on the agenda: the Temple of Literature, originally built as a Confucian temple in 1070 AD. Six years later on the same grounds, Vietnam s first university was founded to educate members of the nobility. Four hundred years Notes: 36 uniworld.com / 37

21 DAY 15 Depart Hanoi b CB/BB Transfer to Hanoi s Noi Bai International Airport for your flight home or continue your tour with an extraordinary Ha Long Bay optional extension program or unique Sapa optional extension program. Note: Visit uniworld.com for visa information in the Already Booked section. Note: The itineraries presented are subject to modification due to water levels, closures because of public holidays or other uncontrollable factors. Every effort will be made to operate programs as planned, but changes may still be necessary throughout the cruise/tour. Note: All extras, such as optional excursions, bottled water, gratuities for the Cruise/Tour Manager and Crew, drinks, telephone calls, laundry and items of a personal nature, are not included in the cost of the trip. Start/End River CRUISE LAND FLIGHT NIGHTS ONSHORE EXTENSION UNESCO HO CHI MINH CITY TO HANOI Timeless Wonders of Vietnam, Cambodia & the Mekong HANOI TO HO CHI MINH CITY / 15 DAYS Explore the old and the new, the grand and the intimate as you tour this dynamic region of Southeast Asia From the lively and changing metropolises of Vietnam s Ho Chi Minh City and Hanoi, and Cambodia s Phnom Penh, to the towns and floating villages of the Mekong (where life is still lived much as it was centuries ago), you ll be given an up-close view of two amazing countries. Throughout your journey, enjoy a plethora of authentic experiences. Visit traditional Vietnamese floating markets by way of luxury sampan. Take a morning cyclo ride through Phnom Penh. Receive a water blessing from monks at a temple overlooking the Mekong. Explore Cambodia s UNESCO-designated Angkor Wat temple complex, and be treated to a traditional Apsara dance during dinner in Siem Reap. These extraordinary experiences offer you a chance to discover the sights, the sounds and the tastes of two countries joined by one river. The expedition of a lifetime begins now.. 38 uniworld.com / 39

22 HANOI TO HO CHI MINH CITY DAY 1 Hanoi, Vietnam b Arrive at Noi Bai International Airport, where you will be greeted by a Uniworld representative who will transfer you to your luxury hotel. Enjoy a private check-in with a complimentary welcome drink and briefing at the hotel. You ll also find that an elegant flower arrangement and fruit platter await you in your room. The remainder of your time today is yours to spend at leisure in Vietnam s charming capital city. DAY 2 Hanoi BB L WD The capital of Vietnam, millennium-old Hanoi gracefully mixes the old and new. French Colonial mansions line handsome boulevards, lakes and parks invite lingering, and modern office buildings tell of economic revival. Atmospheric Hanoi 9 1 b Spend the day exploring a city some call Asia s most beautiful. You ll visit a complex honoring Ho Chi Minh, founder of modern Vietnam, that contains his residence, a museum devoted to his life, and the famous One Pillar Pagoda, which has been built and rebuilt since Also on the agenda: the Temple of Literature, originally built as a Confucian temple in 1070 AD. Six years later on the same grounds, Vietnam s first university was founded to educate members of the nobility. Four hundred years later, the university opened its doors to gifted students from throughout the land, teaching them the principles of Confucianism for another 300 years. Today you can experience Confucian tranquility among its beautiful gardens and pavilions. You can see another aspect of Vietnam s history if you step into one of the dank cells at the notorious Hanoi Hilton, as Hoa Lo, a French colonial era prison, was known to the American pilots who were held there as prisoners of war during the Vietnam War. Much of the original prison has been demolished, but the remnants are now a museum. After an included lunch, it s time to hop aboard an electric car for a tour of colonial Hanoi. The city s elegant, treelined boulevards and weathered colonial buildings are sure to delight you, as are the affable street vendors selling everything from flowers to ice cream off the backs of their bicycles. Take in a traditional water puppet show, a thousand-year-old musical performance that tells tales from northern Vietnam s rural villages. The action takes place on a pool of water that stands in for rainy-season rice paddies; the beautifully crafted puppets seem to float on the water and those seated in the front rows just might get wet. Tonight, you ll be treated to a special Welcome Dinner with complimentary wine at a lively local restaurant featuring live music and an authentic northern Vietnamese dining experience. It s the perfect combination of delectable fare, warm atmosphere and traditional entertainment a fitting start for your exciting adventure. DAY 3 Notes: Hanoi, fly to Siem Reap, Cambodia b d BB Spend the morning exploring Hanoi on your own before flying to Siem Reap, where you ll enjoy a private check-in and welcome drink at your luxury hotel. You ll also find an elegant flower arrangement and fruit platter in your room, a friendly touch. The evening is at your leisure. You might want to go out and try some of the local Khmer cuisine or simply relax over dinner on your own at the hotel. Tomorrow you will be journeying deep into the heart of the Angkor temple complex. Optional Excursion: Bat Trang ceramic village a 7 2 b The people of Bat Trang have been making fine porcelain since the 14th century, and these days their wares are exported all over the world. Walk through the alleys to a workshop where you can see dishes and many other objects being made by hand. You can even try making a piece yourself a truly special memento of your trip. HANOI TO HO CHI MINH CITY 40 uniworld.com / 41

23 DAY 4 Siem Reap u BB L hand-carved sculptures in wood or stone, lacquer work, silk paintings and silk fabrics all locally made by hand in the traditional way are available at the shop. Siem Reap means, literally, Defeat of Siam, which tells you something of its history. It is the gateway to Angkor, the legendary archaeological site, and you ll dip into both destinations today. Note: Order of sightseeing may change throughout the day. Temple visits are subject to change due to factors beyond our control. Dinner tonight will be on your own. HANOI TO HO CHI MINH CITY Angkor Wat and Khmer Noodle House at Preah Dak Village 7 3 b Put on your walking shoes and prepare to explore one of the wonders of the world: the vast, fascinating and stunning temple complex known as Angkor Wat. Every aspect of Angkor Wat had religious meaning to its builders 900 years ago: the great rectangular moat, the main gate facing the west, the towers topped with stone lotuses, the huge smiling stone heads, the layout of the lanes and buildings. The largest religious monument in the world, magnificent Angkor Wat is the single most recognizable landmark in Cambodia. It is simply breathtaking in both size and scope. Today you ll get your passes to the site and take a tour of the broad outlines of the complex; tomorrow you ll explore further. Following your introduction to Angkor Wat, you ll head off to nearby Preah Dak, a village famous for its num banh chok, the traditional rice noodles that are Cambodia s unofficial national dish. (Noodles are so intrinsic to Cambodian cuisine that the nation claims China got the recipe for noodles from a Cambodian exile.) Noodle stalls abound in Preah Dak, but the highlight for visitors may be the chance to see the traditional process by which these noodles are made at the Khmer Noodle House. Watch as the rice flour and water are hand-kneaded to form a dough, which is then laboriously pressed through a heavy mill to create the noodles. Preah Dak itself is as almost as traditional as the noodle-making process, as you ll see as you stroll among the stilt houses: water buffalo graze nearby, water is drawn from wells, and meals are cooked over open fires. Art School & Artisan visit by remork 5 1 b Climb aboard a remork for a relaxing tour of the streets of Siem Reap, with stops at several artisans workshop that will introduce you to Siem Reap s thriving arts scene. Your first stop is Tlai Tno, an art association where young performers learn the intricate moves of traditional Apsara dance. You ll also visit Artisans Angkor s workshops, which promote the resurrection of traditional Khmer crafts: DAY 5 Notes: Siem Reap u BB D Featured Excursions: South Gate Angkor Thom, Bayon and Ta Prohm, Apsara show and dinner 9 3 b Pass between the stone figures lining the lane leading to the intricately decorated south gate and enter the spectacular remnants of Angkor Thom, the royal city. Once a huge, square city, Angkor Thom was founded in the 12th century by King Jayavarman VII after his people s previous capital had been overrun by the Chams. You can still see the defensive measures that surrounded the city in fact, you ll enter through one, crossing over the moat and passing through the intricately decorated south gate in the great wall around Angkor Thom. The king s palace, made of wood, has long since vanished, but the ruins that remain are astonishing: the pyramidal temple of Bayon (with the enormous carved heads that have become an iconic symbol of the Angkor archaeological area). You ll have some time for lunch on your own before heading to the amazing jungle temple of Ta Prohm. Unlike the other Angkor temples, which have been painstakingly excavated and restored, Ta Prohm has been left almost as it was found. Massive trees grow like magic out of stone walls and roofs, their tentaclelike roots pouring over doorways and stretching across courtyards. This manmade wonder has been reclaimed by the jungle over the course of many centuries, and exploring it is sure to bring out the adventurer in you. From Ta Prohm, you ll move on to the unfinished temple of Ta Keo. Legend has it that construction on Ta Keo was suspended when the temple was struck by lightning an event that was considered a bad omen. HANOI TO HO CHI MINH CITY 42 uniworld.com / 43

24 After an exciting day of sightseeing, you ll indulge in a lavish dinner with an Apsara dance show. Apsara is the traditional Khmer dance form that tells stories and conveys messages using ornate costumes, graceful movements, codified facial expressions, and distinctive hand and foot positions. The many Apsara figures that adorn Angkor and pre-angkor temples you ve just visited testify to the dance form s long and esteemed history. Note: Order of sightseeing may change throughout the day. Temple visits are subject to change due to factors beyond our control. and a modern Buddhist temple share the area along with playful gibbons and enormous, colorfully painted concrete statues. Before your departure you ll receive a traditional water blessing from the local monks one of the most personal and touching moments you ll experience on this journey. Follow it up with another personal encounter as you visit a local school be ready to answer questions as the children practice their English and meet villagers in their homes. HANOI TO HO CHI MINH CITY Optional Excursion: Bakheng sunrise and Angkor Thom gondola boat tour a 7 3 b For a once-in-a-lifetime dawn experience, watch the sun rise gloriously above the distant towers of Angkor Wat from the summit of Bakheng, savor breakfast at a local café and then the adventure really begins: Step into a traditional Khmer gondola, with its carved scales and dragonhead prow, and drift serenely among the ancient ruins, stopping to inspect a small cave and make a short trek up to the ruins of Prasat Chrung. DAY 6 Siem Reap, transfer to Kampong Cham u b e BB L D Board your intimate ship and get your first taste of life on the mighty Mekong River. To mark the end of this special day, you ll be treated to a decadent Cambodianthemed dinner. DAY 7 Wat Hanchey, Angkor Ban BB L D Relax onboard as your ship cruises along the Mekong, the great river that is the lifeblood of Southeast Asia, on your way to Wat Hanchey. Cambodia s vibrant cultural life 7 3 b A beautifully situated temple complex on a hilltop, Wat Hanchey has incredible views of the Mekong River you get a real sense of just how huge it is as you see it stretch into the distance, looking more like a great lake than a river. The complex itself is a remarkable mixture of the ancient and the new: An eighth-century Angkor temple DAY 8 Notes: Phnom Penh BB L D Founded in the 15th century, Phnom Penh is the thriving capital of the kingdom of Cambodia. It stands at the juncture of three rivers and is divided into three distinct districts: the French colonial area, a handsome residential district and a rapidly changing Old Town. Cambodia s capital Phnom Penh 7 1 A cyclo (a cycle rickshaw) will whisk you down wide boulevards laid out by French colonial administrators in the 1860s, when Cambodia was part of French Indochina, past old French-influenced buildings, beautiful pagodas and (with a bit of luck) saffron-robed monks, on your way to the Royal Palace. Spacious grounds you might notice a resemblance to formal French parterres are home to a group of structures featuring classic Khmer architecture. Each one has a specific function: The Throne Hall, with its spires and flying celestials, hosts royal coronations, while the Moonlight Pavilion was intended as a venue for dance performances (but is now used for receptions). The famed Temple of the Emerald Buddha, commonly known as the Silver Pagoda, boasts a floor-covering of 5,329 silver tiles. In the center of the pagoda are both an emerald and a gold Buddha statue (the latter is studded with nearly 10,000 diamonds). You ll also tour the National Museum, which features an incomparable collection of the nation s archaeological and artistic treasures. Following lunch onboard, enjoy the afternoon and evening at leisure, taking in the shopping and lively entertainment venues of Phnom Penh. HANOI TO HO CHI MINH CITY 44 uniworld.com / 45

25 Featured Excursions: South Gate Angkor Thom, Bayon and Ta Prohm, Apsara show and dinner 9 3 b Optional Excursion: Banana Tree Culinary cooking school a 7 1 b Pass between the stone figures lining the lane leading to the intricately decorated south gate and enter the spectacular remnants of Angkor Thom, the royal city. Once a huge, square city, Angkor Thom was founded in the 12th century by King Jayavarman VII after his people s previous capital had been overrun by the Chams. You can still see the defensive measures that surrounded the city in fact, you ll enter through one, crossing over the moat and passing through the intricately decorated south gate in the great wall around Angkor Thom. The king s palace, made of wood, has long since vanished, but the ruins that remain are astonishing: the pyramidal temple of Bayon (with the enormous carved heads that have become an iconic symbol of the Angkor archaeological area). You ll have some time for lunch on your own before heading to the amazing jungle temple of Ta Prohm. Are you curious about the unique flavors of traditional Khmer cuisine? Cinnamon, garlic, chiles, fish sauce, coconut milk many of the ingredients will be familiar, but they are combined in distinctive ways. Get some hands-on cooking experience as an expert local chef teaches you how to make several typical Khmer dishes in her modern demonstration kitchen, and then sit down and enjoy the fruits of your labors. Did You Know? Tucked among the traditional Khmer buildings on the Royal Palace grounds is an ornate white pavilion, complete with wrought-iron balustrades, that would fit perfectly in New Orleans. Napoleon III had it built for the opening ceremonies of the Suez Canal, then disassembled and sent as a gift to King Norodom. HANOI TO HO CHI MINH CITY Unlike the other Angkor temples, which have been painstakingly excavated and restored, Ta Prohm has been left almost as it was found. Massive trees grow like magic out of stone walls and roofs, their tentaclelike roots pouring over doorways and stretching across courtyards. This manmade wonder has been reclaimed by the jungle over the course of many centuries, and exploring it is sure to bring out the adventurer in you. From Ta Prohm, you ll move on to the unfinished temple of Ta Keo. Legend has it that construction on Ta Keo was suspended when the temple was struck by lightning an event that was considered a bad omen. After an exciting day of sightseeing, you ll indulge in a lavish dinner with an Apsara dance show. Apsara is the traditional Khmer dance form that tells stories and conveys messages using ornate costumes, graceful movements, codified facial expressions, and distinctive hand and foot positions. The many Apsara figures that adorn Angkor and pre-angkor temples you ve just visited testify to the dance form s long and esteemed history. Note: Order of sightseeing may change throughout the day. Temple visits are subject to change due to factors beyond our control. DAY 9 Phnom Penh BB L D The Killing Fields tragedy and reconciliation in Cambodia 7 1 b It s hard to reconcile the pastoral serenity of the orchards and rice fields surrounding Choeung Ek with the horrific mass executions that took place here during the brutal reign of the Khmer Rouge, yet the memorial stupa filled with the skulls of Pol Pot s victims tells the tale. These were the Killing Fields, where more than 17,000 men, women and children were slaughtered and buried in mass graves. First, however, they were tortured in Security Prison 21 (also known as S-21), a former high school on the outskirts of Phnom Penh, now the Tuol Sleng Genocide Museum, which you will also visit today. The guards and staff of the prison were mostly adolescent males aged 15 to 19 among whom was a young photographer whose job was to document the prisoners. Though many of his photos were destroyed, 6,000 of them remain, displayed on the walls here; as you look at these portraits, you ll see grief, fear and defiance and you ll be saddened to HANOI TO HO CHI MINH CITY Notes: 46 uniworld.com / 47

26 learn that out of the thousands held here, only seven survived. Those who were killed at Choeung Ek were just a small fraction of the almost two million Cambodians who died in a three-year period between 1975 and the beginning of DAY 10 Cruising the Mekong River, Evergreen Island, Tan Chau BB L D DAY 11 Cruising the Mekong River, Gieng Island, Sa Dec BB L D Two very different destinations await you today: busy Sa Dec and peaceful Gieng Island. Both reflect Vietnam s multicultural history. Sampans and colonial romance 5 2 S HANOI TO HO CHI MINH CITY You leave Cambodia behind and cross into Vietnam today, delving into a region where traditional and modern lifestyle elements mingle: Agriculture may still reign supreme, but TV satellite dishes dot rooftops of houses built on stilts. Daily life on the great delta 7 3 S In the Mekong Delta, hardworking residents live and labor on the water, harvesting what the delta gives them and turning it into products they can sell to earn a living or food they can eat, wasting nothing. Today you ll get a taste of this way of life during a sampan tour that carries you through the floating villages that line the banks of the great river to the town of Tan Chau. Stop at a temple devoted to Vietnam s homegrown religion Cao Dai (a faith that incorporates most major world religions, including Buddhism, Islam and Christianity, as well as a pantheon of saints that range from Joan of Arc to Thomas Jefferson and Victor Hugo); an image of the Divine Eye appears in every temple, and each color that decorates the temple has a specific meaning. After visiting the temple, hop aboard a rickshaw for a ride to a factory where you can watch baskets and mats being handwoven from reeds grown on the delta, and check out a floating fish farm. The raising and harvesting of seafood is one of Vietnam s fastest-growing industries, and you ll be amazed by the efficiency and ingenuity on display. You may even get a chance to feed the fish. Then return to your sampan to cruise along the canals to Evergreen Island, where a rickshaw ride through the village reveals traditional houses on stilts, which are essential during the rainy season, when the Mekong rises and spills into all of the towns that line the river. Take to Sa Dec s narrow canals just as the locals do. Children frolic in the water; fishermen ply their trade; and women care for their families. From here, you ll head into town, where you will walk through a crowded and colorful local market stands sell everything from snake blood, fresh fish, clothing and flowers to mangosteens on your way to the romantic, lacelike Huynh Thuy Le House, a late-19th-century home made famous by best-selling French novelist Marguerite Duras. Duras spent her teen years in Sa Dec, and her prize-winning novel, The Lover, is said to be based on her doomed love affair with Huynh Thuy Le, the son of a wealthy Chinese landowner. Sail from bustling Sa Dec to serene Gieng Island to dip into another aspect of Vietnam s past: The triangle-shaped island is home to a surprising array of 19th-century Catholic churches and monasteries that date to an era when it was the largest Catholic parish in Vietnam. Though the Franciscan monastery and the Sisters of Providence nunnery have been largely abandoned, stately Gieng Island Church is still in daily use. Some records indicate that the graceful French baroque-style church predates the famous basilica in Ho Chi Minh City, but it s more likely that it was built in the 1870s. Regardless of origin or the ups and downs the Catholic community has experienced over the years, the church remains a beautiful tribute to the faith of its founders. HANOI TO HO CHI MINH CITY Notes: 48 uniworld.com / 49

27 DAY 12 Vinh Long, Cai Be BB L D DAY 13 My Tho, transfer to Ho Chi Minh City e b BB HANOI TO HO CHI MINH CITY Today s itinerary features two towns that have been shaped by the Mekong in this agrarian but densely populated region, Vinh Long and Cai Be. Village life on the Mekong 5 2 S Chinese herbal-medicine shops, French Colonial houses and Buddhist temples mingle with modern offices on the streets of Vinh Long, the capital of Vinh Long province. The range of buildings hints at the changes that the region has seen. Hop into a trishaw for a ride through these streets, crossing over some of the many canals that lace through the town, on your way to meet some of the village elders, who will tell you about their experiences living life on the delta. Vinh Long is a gateway to some of the region s most scenic destinations: Step aboard a sampan and join the locals thronging the harbor of Cai Be. At the floating market here, merchants advertise their wares by attaching a sample such as a watermelon, a coconut or a bunch of bananas to a tall bamboo pole so their potential customers can easily see what they re selling. It s a colorful and lively scene, typical of Mekong Delta towns, though few similar villages feature a handsome French Gothic style cathedral as a background. You ll sail into the town and land near the An Kiet House, built early in the 19th century for a member of the royal family. Its ornately carved antique screens and furnishings give you an idea of how wealthy Southern Vietnamese families lived. While you re on solid ground, take a look at another aspect of life of the delta: Vietnam is one of the world s largest producers and exporters of rice, and the Mekong Delta is known as the country s rice bowl. You ll learn all about this staple food and its importance to the region as you visit a local establishment where workers make everything from rice paper and rice wine to traditional rice candy. Onboard your ship this evening, savor a delicious Vietnamese-themed dinner. You ll leave the river behind today, disembarking and heading to the last stop on your Southeast Asian adventure, Ho Chi Minh City. History melds with the boisterous present in Vietnam s largest city, where skyscrapers tower over ancient temples and motorbikes putter along picturesque alleys. It was founded in 1690; became the capital of French Cochinchina in the 1860s, when it was known as Saigon; and acquired its modern moniker in 1976, when it was named for Communist leader Ho Chi Minh. Dynamic Ho Chi Minh City 5 1 b A landmark in Vietnamese history is the first destination on your panoramic city tour today, as you travel the city s busy streets, passing elegant French Colonial buildings and bustling shopping centers. On April 30, 1975, a North Vietnamese Army tank crashed through the gates of the building now called the Reunification Palace, symbolizing the downfall of the South Vietnamese government and the end of the Vietnam War. It s a modern structure, commissioned in 1962 by the president of South Vietnam after his own air force tried to kill him by bombing the 19th-century French palace that had stood on the site. As you will see when you step inside, he intended to enjoy living here: It has a cinema and a nightclub and, not too surprisingly, a spacious bomb shelter. A few blocks away, two monuments from the colonial days still stand: the lofty General Post Office, designed by Gustav Eiffel (of tower fame), and, across the street, twin-towered Notre Dame Cathedral, built entirely with materials shipped from France. Your motorcoach will carry you past other remnants of French Colonial glory the Ho Chi Minh Municipal Theater (also known as the Saigon Opera House, built in 1901 and modeled on Paris s Petit Palais) and the City Hall (based on the Hotel de Ville in Paris) as well as the contemporary American Consulate. But the day includes more than sightseeing: Visit a lacquer showroom to learn a bit about the history and cultural significance of a craft that has been practiced in Vietnam for at least 700 years. The rest of the day is yours. Perhaps you d like to explore on your own or join one of our optional excursions. HANOI TO HO CHI MINH CITY Notes: 50 uniworld.com / 51

28 Optional Excursion: Mai Home cooking class a 5 1 Pho may be the nation s best-known dish in the United States, but that s just the beginning. Learn more about Vietnamese cuisine with a hands-on cooking class that starts with a visit to a local market, where a knowledgeable chef will meet you and tell you about the foodstuffs on display (some may seem quite exotic). Once you ve gathered what you need for a delicious lunch, you ll prepare it under the chef s guidance at the Saigon Culinary Art Centre. You ll leave with a new understanding of Vietnam s traditional cooking, as well as a certificate of participation and a handbook of recipes. Optional Excursion: A O Show a 5 1 b Join us for a visit to Ho Chi Minh s handsome Municipal Theater, with its striking neoclassical facade. Built in 1900 and refurbished in 2009, it now hosts a variety of companies, including the A O Show, a lively theatrical performance featuring astonishing acrobatics and bamboo props poles, baskets, boats used in ways you never would have imagined. Ho Chi Minh City is famous for the excellence of its food. Tonight you ll be treated to a special Farewell Dinner at a local restaurant, featuring an exquisitely presented traditional meal and complimentary wine the perfect finale for your Southeast Asian adventure. DAY 15 Depart Ho Chi Minh City b CB/BB Transfer to Ho Chi Minh City s Tan Son Nhat International Airport for your flight home, or continue your tour with an extraordinary optional Bangkok extension program. Note: Visit uniworld.com for visa information in the Already Booked section. Note: The itineraries presented are subject to modification due to water levels, closures because of public holidays or other uncontrollable factors. Every effort will be made to operate programs as planned, but changes may still be necessary throughout the cruise/tour. Note: All extras, such as optional excursions, bottled water, gratuities for the Cruise/Tour Manager and Crew, drinks, telephone calls, laundry and items of a personal nature, are not included in the cost of the trip. DAY 14 Ho Chi Minh City BB L FD Vestiges of war Cu Chi Tunnels 7 2 b HANOI TO HO CHI MINH CITY Ready for an adventure? Explore a fascinating aspect of Vietnam s long struggle to free itself from Western control. Begun by the Viet Minh on the outskirts of Saigon in 1945, as shelter from French air raids, these tunnels were expanded in the 1960s by the Viet Cong, who extended them for many miles. A network of booby-trapped tunnels led to underground chambers where people lived in considerable privation, generally wounds were treated, and children were taught. Only a small stretch of this network is open to the public, but if you re venturesome, you may climb down into a tunnel for a close (and we do mean close don t expect to stand upright) look. Following this morning s tour you ll enjoy lunch at one of Ho Chi Minh City s well-known restaurants. Afterwards, enjoy the rest of the day on your own in this vibrant city. Notes: HANOI TO HO CHI MINH CITY 52 uniworld.com / 53

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