DAY 1: DEC 2: ARRIVE HO CHI MINH CITY (SAIGON), VIETNAM

Welcome to Vietnam! A WAI representative will meet you at the Ho Chi Minh City Tan Son Nhat International Airport as you exit customs and arrange transportation to our hotel in downtown Ho Chi Minh City. Since travelers are arriving from across the Pacific throughout the day and into the evening, no formal activities are planned for today.

DAY 2: DEC 3: HO CHI MINH CITY, VIETNAM (BLD)

This morning, we depart on an excursion to the fascinating Cu Chi Tunnels. Built during the Vietnam War to protect from bombing raids, the tunnels extend underground for over 212 km and range in depth from 3 to 12 meters! They feature the remnants of a living city: schools, community kitchens, sleeping quarters, and hospitals, as well as military production facilities. In the afternoon, we visit the Presidential Palace (Reunification Palace) before boarding our floating hotel, the lovely R/V Indochine. After embarkation and welcome by the crew, we’ll enjoy our first dinner aboard.

DAY 3: DEC 4: HO CHI MINH CITY, VIETNAM (BLD)

Walking Saigon offers an intriguing kaleidoscope of traditional Vietnamese markets; the Notre Dame Cathedral – holdover from the French occupation; the War Remnants Museum, uncomfortable reminder of the painful period we know as the Vietnam War; and a blend of the hustle and bustle of 4 million motorbikes amidst a fast-paced, hard-working culture. Later this evening, the Indochine departs Saigon for the mighty Mekong River.

DAY 4: DEC 5: SAILING: MY THO–CAI BE–VINH LONG, VIETNAM (BLD)
Walk #2–Part 1: Thoi Son Island Walk – 3 miles, rated 1+

We cross the Cho Gao canal this morning, humming with all manner of shipping on all types of watercraft! At Thoi Son Island, small boats transfer us to the island, where our local guide leads us through the island, where we enjoy rural life, tropical foliage, and the ever-present smiles of the people. Back aboard ship, we weigh anchor and set sail for Cai Be to visit a floating market, then continue on small boats through narrow fingers of the Mekong to Vinh Long, while life unfolds all around us on the river.

DAY 5: DEC 6: SA DEC – CHAU DOC, VIETNAM (BLD)
Walk #2-Part 2: Sa Dec Canal Walk – 2 miles, rated 1

The Mekong town of Sa Dec provides another chance to explore areas foreigners almost never see. A small canal lined by homes, tiny bonsai farms, schools, and markets is our walk venue. Scenes of morning life in small town Vietnam are timeless and delightful. A late morning sailing takes us upriver to Chau Doc to visit a floating village and a community of the local Cham, a Muslim minority group.

DAY 6: DEC 7: KOH DEK CHAU - PHNOM PENH, CAMBODIA (BLD)
Walk #3: Koh Dek Chau Island Walk – 3 miles, rated 1+

After crossing the border into Cambodia, we arrive at Koh Dek Chau. From the simplicity of life in Vietnam, we transition to the almost primitive existence of rural Cambodia. Our island walk takes us by homes where an agrarian style of life seems virtually untouched by the 21st century. Interacting with the locals, especially the kids, is becoming a centerpiece of our Mekong experience. Embarking once more, we’ll enjoy magnificent views as we continue sailing to bustling Phnom Penh, capital of Cambodia.

DAY 7: DEC 8: PHNOM PENH, CAMBODIA (BLD)
Walk #4: Phnom Penh Capital Walk – 6 miles, rated 1+

After breakfast, our walk through Phnom Penh introduces us to a city of Buddhist temples, remnants of French colonial architecture, and intriguing street activity indicative of Cambodia’s struggle to establish a new post-Khmer Rouge identity. Our walk finishes with a tour of the National Museum, repository of Cambodia’s past glories. After lunch aboard ship, we take to the streets on tuk-tuks (motorcycle taxis) to explore more of Phnom Penh, and check out some of the fun local markets.

DAY 8: DEC 9: PHNOM PENH, CAMBODIA (BLD)

Our second day in Phnom Penh begins with a tour of the impressive Royal Palace, with its richly ornamented Silver Pagoda. Next, a sobering visit to Toul Sleng (S21) detention, torture and execution center reminds us of the brutal Khmer Rouge years, and the seemingly endless Cambodian civil war that followed. The afternoon is free, but we are working on a visit to a local orphanage that may be one of our most memorable activities. After dinner this evening, consider a visit to the famous Foreign Correspondents Club or a stroll down the bustling riverside promenade full of street vendors and night markets.

DAY 9: DEC 10: PHNOM PENH – KAMPONG TRALACH, CAMBODIA (BLD)
Walk #5: Kampong Tralach Walk - 3.5 miles, rated 1

From Phnom Penh, we sail up the Tonle Sap River, enjoying more timeless scenes of life along the river, which seems the source of life both here and in Vietnam. Today’s highlight is a walk from the tiny riverside community of Kampong Tralach that takes us through the countryside to a local Buddhist temple, Pagoda Wat Kampong. One stark contrast between Vietnam and Cambodia is the increase in the presence of religion in Cambodia, specifically Buddhism.

DAY 10: DEC 11: KAMPONG CHHNANG – TONLE SAP LAKE, CAMBODIA (BLD)

At Kampong Chhnang, the river narrows and we can better view the rich tapestry of rural life. Following an excursion to a neighborhood that specializes in harvesting palm sugar and producing local pottery, we return to the ship for lunch. This afternoon, we experience another floating village, this time on Tonle Sap Lake, the largest lake in Southwest Asia and traditionally one of the richest fishing grounds in Asia. This evening we enjoy our final night aboard the Indochine at the Captain's Farewell Dinner.

DAY 11: DEC 12: DISEMBARKATION – SIEM REAP, CAMBODIA (BLD)

We bid our crew goodbye today as we disembark and transfer to our hotel in Siem Reap, fast-growing gateway to the Angkor Temples. Afternoon activities include a stop at the National Silk Center to observe the making of silk from start to finish, and a sunset stop at Angkor Wat, crown jewel of the amazing collection of Angkor temples we’ll see more of tomorrow.

DAY 12: DEC 13: SIEM REAP, CAMBODIA (BL)
Walk #6 – Part 1: Angkor Temples Walk - 3 miles, rated 1+/2

The temples of Angkor number over 1000, and served what archeologists now consider to be the world’s largest pre-industrial city, a metropolis possibly 1000 square kilometers in area with a population up to one million people. We spend the next two mornings exploring a number of these temples on a WAI walk of epic proportions. Today, we visit spectacular Angkor Wat with our local guide, walking through the ruins and striving to understand intricate bas-relief carvings that seem to cover almost every stone surface. After an optional tethered hot air balloon ride to see Angkor Wat from above, we’ll drive to Preah Kahn and Ta Prohm Temples, both marvels of an evocative blend of human architectural prowess and the smothering jungle that wraps its roots in all directions! Following lunch back in Siem Reap, the afternoon and evening are free to explore the town and rest.

DAY 13: DEC 14: SIEM REAP, CAMBODIA (BD)
Walk #6 – Part 2: Angkor Temples Walk - 3 miles, rated 1+/2

We return this morning to Angkor Thom, fortified city of the Angkor Empire. Our walk takes us through the Terrace of the Leper King, Elephant Terrace, the Temple of Baphoun, and the amazing Bayan Temple with its astounding collection of bas-relief carvings. We finish the walk on a delightful trail along the jungle-covered city walls, looking down onto the glass-like surface of the moat. Back in Siem Reap, lunch at the Foreign Correspondents Club is followed by a free afternoon. Join us again this evening to reminisce about the unforgettable experiences we’ve shared during our Farewell Dinner.

DAY 14: DEC 15: RETURN HOME FROM SIEM REAP (B)

Our explorations of this fascinating part of Southeast Asia come to an end today! After a final breakfast, and farewells to new walking friends, we will check out of our hotel and transfer to the airport for our homebound flights.

Workin’ Willie Voluntourism Extension – Cambodia

WAI offers a unique opportunity to participate in an experience that has potential to be among your most meaningful ever.

After finishing our delightful, mind-expanding, sensory-overloading river-cruising Adventure in Vietnam and Cambodia at the Angkor Temples in Siem Reap, Cambodia, we are happy to announce an opportunity to stay behind a few more days and lend a hand to the excellent work of the Family Care Foundation. See below to find out what's included.

We visit an orphanage the FCF supports in Phnom Penh on our route up river, so you will gain some familiarity with their work even if you are not able to join us for the voluntourism project.

Here is our schedule:

DEC 15: Instead of flying home today, we will be departing Siem Reap by air-conditioned bus, returning to Phnom Penh through completely different Cambodian countryside than we saw from the river. Our hotel in Siem Reap will provide a box lunch for us to take on the bus. 

We arrive in Phnom Penh before dinner and will be enjoying a 4 night stay in our 3 star tourist hotel.

DEC 16 -18: After breakfast, we will meet our friends at the Family Care Foundation and drive and sail to the island of Koh Rumdual, formerly called Koh Kor. Koh Rumdual is situated on the Bassac River, and was a former “killing field” during the Pol Pot regime. There we will interact with children, teaching them English and working on art projects that have been arranged ahead of time. We may also help in the repair of the simple huts of families on the island. The work performed could change as the needs change. One thing is likely, however; we will be the ones that change the most.

DEC 19: Transfer to the airport from our hotel. We leave Cambodia having given perhaps one of the most meaningful Christmas gifts ever.