Timeless Wonders of Vietnam, Cambodia & the Mekong River Delta

January 15th-29th, 2019

I was fortunate to have an opportunity to travel to Vietnam and Cambodia to

experience this itinerary with Uniworld Cruises. Like all of my previous experiences with

this company, all expectations were exceeded. The land portion of the tour was very

well arranged with 5-star accommodation and excellent guides. The 7-nights on the

Mekong Navigator was a great way to see the country, with outstanding cuisine. With

only 34 cabins accommodating 68 guests, the vessel was more intimate than my

previous river cruise experiences.

I was particularly impressed by the visit to a local family to support their cottage

industry of making rice noodles. Another day we had an opportunity to interact with

kids from a local English language school that’s sposored by the cruise line.

Experiencing the local transportation was particularly unique, from a ride Siem Reap’s

Pub Street on a Tuk Tuk, to taking a sampan to a floating market.

The weather is ideal for Travel to Southeast Asia in January, and it’s not a bad time to

leave the dark and wet behind for a couple of weeks. I’ve had a great deal of interest in

this tour already and look forward to escorting this group.

Tour overview

Two of the most beautiful, historic and friendly places in all of Asia, dynamic Vietnam and pastoral Cambodia are intriguing studies in contrast. Each possesses its own unique charm and social traditions, its own tragic history and complex past. In many ways, a

visit here is less about the sights you see than it is about the people you meet and the experiences you have along the way.

Ho Chi Minh City offers a heady mixture of old and new while Hanoi, the capital of Vietnam, surprises visitors with its charm. As the lifeblood of Southeast Asia, the Mekong teems with colorful floating villages and mementos of its French Colonial past. Phnom Penh, Cambodia’s thriving capital, is fast-forwarding to the future yet retains a provincial intimacy. And colorful Siem Reap provides the gateway to the vast UNESCO-designated jungle temple complex of Angkor Wat.

DAY 1: HANOI, VIETNAM Arrive at Hanoi’s Noi Bai International Airport. If your cruise/tour package includes a group arrival transfer or if you have purchased a private arrival transfer, you will be greeted by a Uniworld representative and transferred 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. The remainder or your time today is yours to spend at leisure in Vietnam’s charming capital city.

DAY 2: HANOI Featured Excursions:

• Atmospheric Hanoi

With its tree-lined streets and graceful old architecture, traditional culture and fabulous street food, multifaceted Hanoi is a heady mixture of old and new, timeless and trendy. 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.

DAY 3: HANOI, FLY TO SIEM REAP Spend the day exploring Hanoi on your own before flying to Siem Reap. Siem Reap is your base for exploring Angkor Wat, the heart of the ancient Khmer empire. The city has an allure all its own, with sprawling markets, a lively dining scene and enticing street food. 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.

DAY 4: SIEM REAP Featured Excursions:

• Amazing Angkor Wat

Today is a Bucket List Moment kind of day, as you unleash your inner Indiana Jones and explore the ancient temples of Angkor Wat, a gigantic religious complex that is now a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Regarded as the pinnacle of the dazzling, inventive culture that flourished in medieval Cambodia, it is one of the most spectacular monuments you will ever lay eyes on. The next two days are devoted to the astonishing Angkor Wat complex.

DAY 5: SIEM REAP Featured Excursions:

• South gate of Angkor Thom, Bayon and Ta Prohm • Apsara show and dinner

Today you will enter the spectacular remnants of Angkor Thom, the royal city. Prepare to be amazed! Built during the heyday of the Khmer dynasty in the 12th century, this extraordinary complex of Hindu and Buddhist monuments was once lost to the world for many years, hidden under dense jungle vines.

DAY 6: SIEM REAP, TRANSFER TO KAMPONG CHAM (EMBARK) Featured Excursions:

• Gateway to Angkor Wat

Today, you’ll explore the 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. Later check out and transfer via executive motor coach to Kampong Cham, to embark on the beautiful Mekong Navigator—your elegant home for the next seven nights—and set sail on the beautiful Mekong.

DAY 7: WAT HANCHEY, ANGKOR BAN Featured Excursions:

• Cambodia’s vibrant cultural life

Today is a celebration of the Cambodia’s bright future. You’ll meet young children at a local school and friendly villagers in their homes, and have a rare opportunity to receive a special water blessing from Buddhist monks. The mighty river carries you into the Cambodian countryside today, giving you an opportunity to meet and chat with locals.

DAY 8: CRUISING THE MEKONG RIVER, PHNOM PENH Featured Excursions:

• The Killing Fields—tragedy and reconciliation in Cambodia

Today’s featured excursion may be the most profound and memorable experience of your entire journey. You’ll learn about the infamous Killing Fields of the Khmer Rouge and visit a former school-turned-prison that is now a genocide museum.

DAY 9: PHNOM PENH Featured Excursions:

• Cambodia’s capital—Phnom Penh

Once considered the loveliest of Indochina’s French-built cities, Phnom Penh has somehow retained much of its charm despite all the political and cultural turmoil of the 20th century. See how this fascinating city is rediscovering itself with an insightful panoramic tour and time to explore on your own. 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.

DAY 10: CRUISING THE MEKONG RIVER, EVERGREEN ISLAND, TAN CHAU Featured Excursions:

• Daily life on the great delta

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. 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.

More authentic encounters await you today, starting with a cruise through the canals to Evergreen Island, where village houses are built on stilts. Stop at a temple devoted to Vietnam’s homegrown religion, and hop aboard a rickshaw for a ride to a factory that makes handwoven reed baskets. Later, take a sampan ride through the floating villages lining the banks of the great river.

DAY 11: CRUISING THE MEKONG RIVER, GIENG ISLAND, SA DEC Featured Excursions:

• Sampans and colonial romance

Dip into Vietnam’s colorful and culturally eclectic past in Sac Dec—the former haunt of author Marguerite Duras—and the island of Gieng, which boasts a rather unexpected array of Catholic churches and monasteries. Two very different destinations await you today: busy Sa Dec and peaceful Gieng Island. Both reflect Vietnam’s multicultural history.

DAY 12: VINH LONG, CAI BE Featured Excursions:

• Village life on the Mekong

Get set for an authentic slice of daily life along the Mekong with visits to two quintessentially Vietnamese locales, Vinh Long and Cai Be, which you’ll see by trishaw and by sampan. Meet village elders, experience the lively floating market and visit workshops creating products made from rice. 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.

DAY 13: MY THO (DISEMBARK), TRANSFER TO HO CHI MINH CITY Featured Excursions:

• Vestiges of war—Cú Chi Tunnels

Ready for an adventure? Today’s featured excursion provides a fascinating glimpse of the Viet Cong’s vast network of incredibly narrow, booby-trapped tunnels dating from the Vietnam War. If you dare, you can even climb down inside for an up-close look.

DAY 14: HO CHI MINH CITY Featured Excursions:

• Dynamic Ho Chi Minh City

As Asia’s “comeback kid,” there’s something so invigorating about Ho Chi Minh City, a busting metropolis with a youthful and innovative energy—and no wonder, given that more than half the population is younger than 35. Embrace the dynamic spirit of the city formerly known as Saigon on today’s panoramic tour. 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.

DAY 15: DEPART HO CHI MINH CITY If your cruise/tour package includes a group departure transfer or if you have purchased a private departure transfer, you will be transferred to Tan Son Nhat International Airport for your flight home or continue your tour with an extraordinary Bangkok optional extension program.

Tour Option

HA LONG BAY, VIETNAM Glide across the emerald waters of Ha Long Bay.

Included in your 3-day stay:

• 1 night in Hanoi • 1 night on a luxury junk in an outside stateroom with all meals onboard • Breakfast daily • All service charges, taxes, and porterage • Visit to Sung Sôt Cave and floating village • English-speaking local expert • All transfers

$649 per person Single supplement $349

What’s included in this cruise/tour

• 7-night Mekong River cruise in a river-view stateroom onboard the Mekong

Navigator

• 7 nights in deluxe hotels, including buffet breakfast and all service charges, taxes

and porterage (2 nights Hanoi, 3 nights Siem Reap, 2 nights Saigon)

• Tips for local experts and drivers

• All transportation throughout your trip, including flights within Vietnam and

Cambodia. (Intercontinental flights purchased separately)

• All transfers on arrival and departure days

• 14 buffet breakfasts, 9 lunches, 10 dinners

• Welcome and Farewell Dinners with wine and live entertainment onshore

Complimentary house wine, local beers and spirits, and soft drinks throughout the

cruise

• Onboard/Onshore dinners include complimentary red and white house wine,

local beers or soft drinks. EXPLORE 12 days of captivating, fully escorted

excursions with English-speaking local experts

• Services of an experienced Uniworld Cruise/ Tour Manager throughout your trip

• State-of-the-art portable audio headset system on select excursions throughout

your trip

• Flowers and fruit plate upon arrival Private group check-in with a welcome drink

at each hotel

• Apsara dance performance with dinner

• Thang Long water puppet show

• Angkor Archaeological Park, a UNESCO World Heritage Site

Your cost*

Category 3/Superior Suite $5599.00 per person

Category 2/Vista Suite $6399.00 per person

Category 1/Signature Suite $6799.00 per person

Prestige Suite $8099.00 per person

Grand Suite $9299.00 per person

Port taxes and Cambodian airport tax of $175 not included in these prices.

Discounts available:

10% off by paying in full at time of booking

5% off for past cruise guests of Uniworld Cruises

*Prices reflect a group discount of $200 per person

Group amenities include a ship board credit of $100 per person

Category descriptions:

Grand Suite $9299 per person Number of cabins : 2

Bed Type : Double King Size Bed Cabin Size: 584 square feet

Location: Orchid deck (upper deck)

Features: French Private balcony, Panorama windows and

sliding glass doors

Facilities: Balcony, View, Telephone, Safety Deposit Box, Air

Conditioning, Desk, Seating Area, Shower, Bath, Hairdryer, Free

toiletries, Toilet, Bathroom, Slippers, Tea/Coffee Maker,

Minibar, Refrigerator, Wake Up Service/Alarm Clock, A larger

sofa.

Prestige Suite $8099 per person Number of cabins: 2

Bed Type: Double King Size Bed Cabin Size: 387 square feet

Location: Orchid deck (upper deck)

Features: French Private balcony, large windows and sliding glass

doors

Facilities: Balcony, View, Telephone, Safety Deposit Box, Air

Conditioning, Desk, Seating Area, Shower, Bath, Hairdryer, Free

toiletries, Toilet, Bathroom, Slippers, Tea/Coffee Maker, Minibar,

Refrigerator, Wake Up Service/Alarm Clock, A Larger Sofa.

Category 1/Signature Suite $6799 per person Number of cabins: 16

Bed Type: Twin or Double Queen Size Bed

Cabin Size: 291 square feet

Location: Orchid deck (upper deck)

Features: French Private balcony, large windows and sliding

glass doors

Facilities: Balcony, View, Telephone, Safety Deposit Box, Air

Conditioning, Desk, Seating Area, Shower, Bath, Hairdryer,

Free toiletries, Toilet, Bathroom, Slippers, Tea/Coffee Maker,

Minibar, Refrigerator, Wake Up Service/Alarm Clock, A Larger

Sofa.

Category 2/Vista Suite $6399 per person Number of Cabins: 10

Bed Type: Twin or Double Queen Size Bed

Cabin Size: 276 square feet

Location: Lotus deck (main deck)

Facilities: French Balcony, Telephone, Safety Deposit Box, Air

Conditioning, Desk, Seating Area, Shower, Bath, Hairdryer, Free

toiletries, Toilet, Bathroom, Slippers, Tea/Coffee Maker,

Minibar, Refrigerator, Wake Up Service/Alarm Clock, A Larger

Sofa.

Category 3/Superior Suite $5999 per person Number of Cabins: 4

Bed Type: Twin or Double Queen Size Bed

Cabin Size: 256 square feet

Location: Jasmin deck (lower deck)

Facilities: Porthole style window, Telephone, Safety Deposit

Box, Air Conditioning, Desk, Seating Area, Shower, Bath,

Hairdryer, Free toiletries, Toilet, Bathroom, Slippers, Tea/Coffee

Maker, Minibar, Refrigerator, Wake Up Service/Alarm Clock, A

Larger Sofa.

FAQ’s for this tour

Documentation:

You’ll need a passport, valid for at least 6 months beyond your exit date from Vietnam

and Cambodia with at least one blank page for each visa.

Visas will be required for Vietnam and Cambodia

Cost will be $100 per person to obtain visas for both countries

Flights

There are a number of carriers that will get you to southeast Asia for this tour. Asiana,

Korean, JAL, Eva Air, or United will all get you there with one stop each way. I like EVA

option a little more than the others in that you arrive in Hanoi mid-morning instead of

the late evening arrivals offered by the other carriers.

The main tour begins in Hanoi on January 15th. Flights will depart from Seattle on

January 14th because you will lose a day crossing the dateline.

If you are planning to join the pre-tour option the Ha Long Bay, you’ll schedule your

departure from the US on January 12th to arrive there on the 13th.

Returning home, your flight will depart from Saigon on January 29th.

Flights range from about $800-$1200 for coach seats, depending on when you purchase

them. Since airline seat inventory is available 330 days from date of flights, you should

be able to start pricing schedules toward the end of February 2018.

Business class will be priced at about $4000. Premium economy, the happy medium,

should be in the $1400-$1600 range.

Flights won’t be available to book until the end of February 2018. The estimates I’ve

provided here are historical fares. Actual fares at the time of booking may be a little

higher or lower.

Insurance details for this cruise/tour

Because cancellation penalties apply, travel insurance is suggested. Both of the

companies listed below have a policy rate calculator online. Enter the cost of your tour

and personal data to receive a no-obligation cost estimate.

Two recommended companies are:

CSA Travel Protection www.csatravelprotection.com

Travelex Insurance www.travelexinsurance.com

Cancellation insurance will range in price based on the cost of your travel and the age of

the applicant. Get a quote at the websites above before making a purchase.

Please note that there are exclusions that are not covered by these policies. job

scheduling, jury duty and simply changing your mind are not reimbursable reasons to

cancel your cruise.

Weather in Vietnam and Cambodia

Hanoi

Located much farther north than the tropical south, Hanoi will be cooler with

temperatures ranging from the upper 50s to mid-60s. January is among the driest

months, with about ½ inch falling during the month.

Siem Reap (Angkor Wat)

Very similar to the weather we’ll experience in Saigon, temperatures will typically range

from 72-88 degrees. Monthly rainfall is negligible.

Saigon (Ho Chi Minh City)

January in one of the driest and coolest months of the year. Expect and average less

than 1/2 inch of rain for the month versus almost 8 inches in June or July. Temperatures

will be warm with an average of 81 with highs in the 90s and lows in the lower 70s.

Dress

Casual! Daytimes will be warm. With the exception of dinner time aboard ship, warm,

tropical attire is expected. Dinners aren’t formal, but they’d like to have men wear long

pants and collared shirts in the evening.

You’ll be doing a lot of walking through the ancient ruins. Closed toes sandals, like

Keens, are great for that. Whatever shoes you bring, be sure to wear them in before

you go.

Take a sunhat. Sunscreen is good to bring as well. Bugs weren’t a problem when I was

there. That’s an issue mostly during the rainy season. If mosquitos usually search you

out, I suggest bringing some spray from home.

Shots/Innoculations

Various websites will tell you different things about traveling to this part of the world.

The consensus seems to be the following:

Get current on Tetanus

We won’t travel to malarial areas, but some sites do suggest malaria vaccine

Hepatitis A and Typhoid are suggested due the possibility of food contamination. This is

a pretty low risk since most of your meals are prepared, but may be a good precaution.

Check with your doctor to see how current you are on vaccines.

Food

You can go native or eat western. It’s up to you. I had excellent meals aboard the ship

and in hotels and restaurants along the way. I’m not an adventurous eater, but spicy

options are plentiful if you’re into that.

The Mekong Navigator

With a design reminiscent of the French Colonial–era manor homes that once lined the

streets of Old Saigon, the all-suite Mekong Navigator features a sophisticated and

comfortable ambience. This beautiful ship—a new addition to our fleet in 2017—carries

no more than 68 guests, assuring gracious and attentive service from our impeccably-

trained staff. Every suite is a beautiful and tranquil retreat, a blend of timeless elegance

and modern conveniences and luxuries. Public areas include the inviting Le Salon

Lounge with full-service bar on the Sun Deck, La Bibliothèque Library & Internet Lounge,

the Observation Lounge, Le Marché Restaurant, and the La Vie Spa and Fitness Center.

Cambodia was once the seat of one of Asia’s most magnificent early civilizations. Its

deep heritage can be seen in its Silver Pagoda with its 9,000-diamond encrusted

Maitreya Buddha and in the emblematic Angkor Wat, which spellbinds everyone who

visits and demonstrates how resourceful and artistically brilliant its people are.

The past blends perfectly with the present with modern-day growth, expanding schools

and bustling shopping centers. Vietnam’s growth has been even more profound, with

remnants of French Colonial life-giving way to thriving cities like Ho Chi Minh City and

Hanoi. Vietnam possesses an equally ancient heritage, with rural workers following

their forebears in such trades as brick making and paper pressing in the shadows of

iconic temples.

Your story starts and ends in two equally amazing Vietnamese cities, Ho Chi Minh City,

capital of the past, and Hanoi, capital of the present. Ho Chi Minh City, a city in

perpetual motion, offers a modern-day vibe that pulsates, while Hanoi offers shaded

boulevards, verdant parks, grand temples and mystic lakes, as well as the final resting

place of Ho Chi Minh himself. In between these two iconic yet different cities lies

Cambodia’s Phnom Penh and Siem Reap—also two very different cities—and like their

neighbors, both significant and historic.

Be whisked by cyclo down wide boulevards laid out by French Colonial administrators in

the 1860s, past beautiful pagodas and saffron-robed monks, on your way to Phnom

Penh’s Royal Palace. A Tuk Tuk will take you through the heart of Siem Reap—gateway

to Angkor Wat— with its French Colonial and Chinese-style buildings lining shady streets

juxtaposed with its iconic nightlife.

While Vietnam and Cambodia’s major cities provide different insight into both their past

and present, it’s along the Mekong and in sacred places uncovered along the way that

will offer you a better understanding of the past’s deep impact on the present.

Visit artisan workshops and a lively floating market via a traditional wooden sampan, as

well as local fish farms still operating the way they always have. Visit a hilltop

monastery where local monks will bestow a special Buddhist blessing upon you. One of

the many highlights of your journey will be Cambodia’s spectacular UNESCO-designated

Angkor Wat with its massive stones smothered under the roots of giant banyan trees

and enigmatic stone faces.

Many memorable moments await on this journey through two equally compelling yet

utterly different cultures and neighboring countries united by the Mekong. Indulge your

cultural curiosity with the best of both countries while staying at five-star hotels

onshore and onboard our 68-passenger, all-suite ship, the Mekong Navigator. Let

Uniworld’s exceptionally trained Cruise/Tour Managers and local experts share their

precious insight into their countries, which will leave an imprint on your heart for years

to come.

The Mekong River has been a vital link between the cities, towns and villages clustered

along its shores for thousands of years, and millions of people continue to depend on it

for their livelihoods. Flowing through five countries from the mountains of Tibet to the

South China Sea, the Mekong’s historical and cultural significance simply cannot be

overstated. An economic lifeline and stoic witness to the region’s complex and troubled

past, the Mekong is without question one of the world’s greatest rivers.

An intimate portrait of Southeast Asian life Cruising along the Mekong transports you

back in time to another era, where the rhythms of the countryside move at a slower

pace and allow for fascinating glimpses into a traditional way of life. Relax onboard the

authentic Mekong Navigator as you take in the lush tropical scenery unfolding along the

nearby riverbanks.

You will see women in graceful ao dai dresses and conical hats. Groves of bamboo

swaying gently in the breeze. Water buffalo wallowing in the river. Fishermen repairing

traps and children shyly peering out from thatched roof houses on bamboo stilts.

Going ashore in a small group of no more than 22 people, you’ll enjoy authentic,

immersive experiences that will give you a deeper understanding of the local culture

and way of life. Explore ancient temples, the flag and stone floors smooth and cool

under your feet, and fragrant smoke spiraling upwards from smoldering joss sticks.

Experience the lively hustle and bustle of open-air and floating markets, a riot of color

and exotic produce. Throughout your voyage along the Mekong, you’ll enjoy many

personal interactions with local experts and sightsee via local transportation—sampans,

remorks and rickshaws. You may even be invited into the home of a local family to see

how they make cloth using time-honored methods.

You’ll also have an opportunity to watch skilled artisans at small workshops devoted to

making handcrafted candy and rice paper products. You may travel to Southeast Asia

for the history, the food and the scenery, but the things you will cherish most will be the

friendly people. With their genuine warmth and cheerful hospitality, gentle smiles and

resilient natures, the Vietnamese and Cambodian people are as much national treasures

as any designated UNESCO site.

Payment:

Uniworld accepts all major credit cards for this tour. The initial deposit to confirm your

reservation is 10% of the cost of the main tour and any extensions. Balance is due by

August 15th, 2018. If you choose to take advantage of the full pre-payment option, your

payment will be processed by the cruise line when inventory opens, which will be later

in summer 2017.

Questions? Comment? Please contact me via email at Brad@nwtravel.com or by phone

at 425 313 1691. For reservations, you have the option of sending the registration form

to me by email or US Post. You may find it easier to complete the reservation form

online at nwtravel.com.

Brad Cilley

Northwest Travel Service

4271 257th Place SE

Issaquah, WA. 98029

www.nwtravel.com

To make a reservation:

You may either reserve online or complete this form (one form per cabin) to remit to Northwest Travel at the address below:

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Northwest Travel Service 4271 257th Place SE Issaquah, WA. 98029 425 313 1691 brad@nwtravel.com www.nwtravel.com