Song Xanh Sampan Victoria Cruise

Classic Winter Vietnam

Family Classic + 3 more + 3 more

A winter break to Vietnam with a sun-soaked finale.

14 days

from £3,675 pp

Vietnam Express

Family Express + 1 more + 2 more

A short, but perfectly formed introduction to Vietnam.

11 days

from £2,825 pp

Adventurous Vietnam

Family Wildlife & Nature + 3 more + 3 more

An action-packed adventure through Northern & Central Vietnam.

16 days

from £4,350 pp

Go Local in Vietnam

Go Local Off-the-beaten-track + 2 more + 3 more

The real Vietnam, one authentic experience at a time.

12 days

from £3,365 pp

Family Classic + 3 more + 3 more

Highlights of Vietnam & Cambodia

Cambodia, Vietnam

Two countries, one unforgettable journey through South East Asia.

15 days

from £4,150 pp

Vietnam's Overnight Rail

Wildlife & Nature Off-the-beaten-track + 2 more + 3 more

An overland adventure through Northern Vietnam.

15 days

from £5,025 pp

Quirky excursions

View all excursions in Vietnam

Cat Tien National Park

North-east of Saigon and south-east of Dalat is Nam Cat Tien (Cat Tien National Park) - a very diverse region encompassing rolling hills, flat plains, dense forest and meandering rivers. In 1978, the south and north Cat Tien parks were put under the State's protection and then in 1992, Cat Loc park was also listed in a joint program to protect the environment. Eventually, in 1998, these three parks joined together to become the Cat Tien National park, under the management of the ministry of agriculture and rural development. It is now the most important reserve in Vietnam, home to a wealth of flora, as well as much of the country's endangered wildlife. Amongst the species that live in the 70,000-hectare park are the Asian elephants, yellow-cheeked gibbons and sun bears. You begin by visiting the park's Endangered Primate Centre, where you'll be able to see two of the rarest species in the world - the Delacour and Cat Ba langurs. Whilst in the National Park you will be accompanied by one of the Park Rangers – all of whom are knowledgeably experienced, having been trained to a very high standard. Your programme can be tailored to suit your preferences, however typically you will spend your day hiking and spotting wildlife, including the wealth of birdlife. Nam Cat Tien is a three and a half hour drive from both Saigon and Dalat. Consequently, it is far better operated as an overnight excursion from either.

Cai Rang floating market

Wake up early for a boat cruise to the colourful Cai Rang floating market, which bustles with boat-based wholesalers. During the early morning market hours, larger-sized boats anchor and create lanes which the smaller boats weave in and out of. The main items sold here are fruit and vegetables and every boat has a long upright pole at its bow from which samples of the goods for sale are hung. The waterway becomes a maze of hundreds of boats packed with mango, bananas, papaya, pineapple, and even floating pho vendors.

Grand Mekong cruises: from Angkor to the Delta

The boats that steam week-long cruises along the mighty Mekong between Siem Reap and the Delta beyond Saigon (currently the R/V Mekong and the Jayavarman from our portfolio) offer a window into a world gone by, a time of grand leisurely travel, where your cabin is actually a stateroom, where staff are friendly and attentive, and where the G&T is always perfectly mixed. As well as the chance to relax and soak up the timeless landscape of the Mekong River, you also have excursions with knowledgeable and enthusiastic guides. Typically these will include: Cai Be In the heart of the Mekong Delta, Cai Be floating market is everything you expect it to be: colourful, busy, lively and a real slice of Mekong life. Whilst you’re in this area you’ll explore a lot by traditional sampan, taking in the narrow backwaters away from the main channels – where lush green vegetation overhangs the river, and glimpses of village life drift past: people harvesting in the fields, bullocks pulling ploughs, children and dogs playing between wooden houses. Chau Doc On the border with Cambodia, Chau Doc is a chance to get off the boat and stretch your legs, exploring nearby tribal villages of the Cham people, where you can take a look at their bamboo catfish farms. Chau Doc itself has the slightly raffish colonial air you might expect from a frontier town. Phnom Penh Once known as the “Paris of the East”, you’ll tour the city covering the attractive sights, like the golden Royal Palace, the Silver Pagoda, some of the excellent museums the city boasts. Of course, Cambodia’s more recent history is darker and a visit to the Killing Fields and Tuol Sleng prison brings home the real horror of the Khmer Rouge years. Tonle River This most picturesque part of the journey takes in the narrow channel of the Tonle River (depending on water-levels, it’s sometimes negotiated by coach). There are more fish farms and vignettes of rural life to enjoy, as well as off-boat excursions to explore visits to local villages and temples. Kampong Cham A provincial capital with French colonial buildings, Kampong Cham is likely to be your base for a couple of days. As well as the town itself, you head off into the surrounding countryside to visit local villages that have changed little in the last couple of centuries. Traditional crafts are still practiced here, like pottery and silk weaving, and golden-robed monks piously pray at wonderfully decorated monasteries. With your journey bookended by Vietnam’s bustling and fascinating second city, Saigon, and the stunning temples of Angkor at Siem Reap, these Mekong River cruises are an ideal way to link up your odyssey through Indochina, and will undoubtedly be one of the real highlights of your holiday.

Overnight cruises in the Mekong Delta

The Bassac and Song Xanh cruises are our suggestions for delving right into Mekong Delta life. Much smaller than the vessels that ply the Mekong between Siem Reap and the Delta, these cruises are typically just overnight, and concentrate on the backwaters of the Delta where the large vessels can’t sail. Much of your sojourn aboard will require little of you other than to relax on deck and watch the timeless scenery slip past on the banks. Lush green vegetation will part, like curtains pulled back on rural scenes that have remained unchanged for centuries; farmers harvest their crops by hand and sow them using bullocks, whilst their children wave and smile at you. Floating markets like those at Cai Be and Tra On are the lifeblood of the Delta villages. These are not shows for passing tourists, but essential trading posts where colourful vessels carrying even more colourful produce jostle with each other to the soundtrack of shouted offer and counter offer. Your time on the Delta will definitely include a visit to one of these memorable markets. These cruises are great: more affordable than the longer cruises, more intimate and more at “ground level” with everything happening on the river. A wonderful way to dig a little beneath the skin of this part of Vietnam. If you are only looking for a day-cruise in the Delta, and don’t want to overnight on a vessel, there are a couple of day cruise options detailed in the Saigon section of our website.