Exploring the Mekong & Angkor Wat

Discover this city where East meets West; stroll along the wide boulevards lined with pretty colonial buildings before venturing into the bustling Chinatown area of Cholon. Drive out of Ho Chi Minh City this afternoon and visit the famous tunnels of Cu Chi. Originally built during the wars with the French, the series of intricate passages were later used to devastating effect by the Viet Cong against the Americans.

Today, you leave the city and embark on an overnight cruise through the lush and charming Mekong Delta region, learning about the life of the 'Nine Dragon River' en route.

You rise today and have breakfast floating toward the famous floating markets of Cai Rang. Disembark around midday and transfer to your hotel in Can Tho, the largest town in the Delta. After settling in, you will be taken on a bike tour of the pretty backwater streets.

Today you will head on toward the border town of Chau Doc, an attractive spot on the banks of the Mekong.

Leave Vietnam today and transfer by speedboat along the Mekong River into Cambodia, where you arrive at the bustling waterfront of Phnom Penh, the capital.

The full-day city tour takes Phnom Penh's ancient past with a visit to the Grand Palace and its more recent, turbulent history with visits to the Killing Fields and the infamous S-21 prison. Audley recommends the Friends restaurant in the centre of the city for a great place to stop and have lunch.

Depart Phnom Penh and fly north to the city of Siem Reap, the home of the ancient temples of Angkor. This afternoon you will head out to see the sun set over the largest; visiting Angkor Wat is an incredible experience.

An early start today is the only way to ensure that you see the magnificent colours of the Khmer sunrise while surrounded by the crumbling, jungle-clad ruins of Ta Prohm. You will have the place to yourself at dawn, and the mist rising from this ancient ruin really adds to the eeriness of Ta Prohm. You return to the site later in the day to explore the remaining temples on the main complex.

Venture out of the main complex and explore the ancient sites of Banteay Srei and Banteay Samre, rarely visited and often overlooked.

Today, you travel away from Siem Reap to the massive Tonle Sap, the largest lake in Southeast Asia. As well as being the country's lifeline, the lake is also home to thousands of inhabitants in the numerous floating villages. A number of rare species of birds also call Tonle Sap home.

You have the majority of the day at leisure to explore as you wish or just relax at your hotel before your flight.

Arrive home today to complete your journey.