Discover the heart and soul of Vietnam & Cambodia History etched in stone and hearts 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-diamondencrusted 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.
A tale of two countries 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 remork will take you through
68
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.
A river runs through them 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.
“Indiana Jones” travel in five-star luxury 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.
◀ Vietnamese
woman in traditional dress ▶ Phnom Penh, Cambodia
