CAMBODIA & VIETNAM
We took an amazing journey through Cambodia and Vietnam with Avalon Waterways
and created a daily vlog of our adventures so that you could experience
this mysterious and magical part of the world with us. Enjoy!
You Ate What?! Siem Reap, Cambodia Street Food Tour with Urban Adventures
Journey Down the Mekong: Day 1
Angkor Wat, Banteay Srei, & Apsara Dance
Urban Adventures hosted us for a memorable night of culinary delights in Siem Reap, Cambodia! Highlights include: Pig and Cow intestine, Fertilized Duck Egg, Scorpion, Tarantula, Cricket, Honey on the Comb, Fermented Fish Sauce...and more!
Day 1 takes you to one of the wonders of the world, Angkor Wat, followed by beautiful Banteay Srei. Both are temples located in the world's largest religious complex in Cambodia. After dinner, witness the captivating and impressive choreography of the traditional Apsara dance.
Journey Down the Mekong: Day 2
Ta Prohm, Bayon & Artisans Angkor
Day 2 begins with a Tuk Tuk ride to the Ta Prohm jungle temple followed by a walk-through of Bayon, the temple of faces. After returning to Siem Reap, we tour Artisans Angkor, a craft workshop celebrating Khmer culture. Then join us for a late lunch on Pub Street, the late night hotspot for tourists in Siem Reap.
Journey Down the Mekong: Day 3
Boarding Avalon Waterways' Siem Reap
Journey Down the Mekong: Day 4
Ox Cart Ride, Silversmith Village, Royal Palace, & National Museum
Journey Down the Mekong: Day 5
Khmer Rouge Regime & Traditional Dance
Day 3 we take to the river! Join us for our embarkation on Avalon's ship, Siem Reap. Our tender takes us across Tonle Sap where we see the floating village before we board the ship. There we give you a brief tour of both the ship and our suite.
Day 4 begins with an Oxcart ride through Kampong Tralach, followed by a stop at the Silversmith Village in Konpong Louang where we learn how generations of locals transform silver into works of art. After hopping back on the ship, we sail into the capital city of Phnom Penh, where we ride private cyclos and visit the Royal Palace and National Museum!
Day 5 was a difficult and emotional day as we visited one of the Killing Fields and the Tuol Sleng Genocide Museum where we learned of the atrocities that occurred during the Pol Pot regime in the 1970s. In the evening, we are treated to a traditional Cambodian dance performance onboard.
Journey Down the Mekong: Day 6
Wat Hanchey, Buddhist Water Blessing & Local School Visit
Day 6 begins with a visit to Wat Hanchey, a temple complex outside of Kampong Cham, where we receive a water blessing from local monks. After walking the grounds of Wat Hanchey and taking in the lovely views of the Mekong river, we hop back on the ship and head to Angkor Ban where we enjoy a walking tour and a visit to a local school!
Journey Down the Mekong: Day 7
Local Market, Vietnamese Coffee & Temple of Ba Chua Xu
On our first day in Vietnam, we browse a local market, try a new tasty treat, enjoy a sampan ride, and visit the Temple of Ba Chua Xu.
Journey Down the Mekong: Day 8
Weavers, Cu Lao Gieng Church & Boat Builders
We continue our journey down the Mekong River! On Day 8 we meet a family that weaves beautiful scarves, see one of Vietnam's first Catholic cathedrals, and discover how sampan boats are made.
Journey Down the Mekong: Day 9
Coconut Candy Confectionery & Sampan Ride
Journey Down the Mekong: Day 10
Ho Chi Minh City Walking Tour & Vietnamese Cooking Class
Journey Down the Mekong: Day 11 Exploring the Cu Chi Tunnels
On Day 9, we visit Ben Tre, Vietnam where we learn how coconut candy and a special rice wine are made. Kelly holds a cobra and Ryan braves a sip of a special concoction. Then they hop in a sampan for a short ride through a lush, palm tree-lined canal.
See the streets of Ho Chi Minh City, formerly known as Saigon, with us as we visit the Saigon Central Post Office, the Notre-Dame Cathedral Basilica of Saigon, Nguyễn Huệ, and the Rex Hotel.
On the final day of our journey down the Mekong River, we explore the Cu Chi Tunnels just outside of Ho Chi Minh City.