There are vacations you take simply because you need a getaway. And then there are trips you dream about for years.
This is definitely the second kind.
In August 2027, I’m traveling with Avalon Waterways on an incredible journey through Vietnam, Cambodia and Thailand, and I’m inviting a small group of my clients to experience it with me.
What caught my attention about this itinerary is just how much we’ll experience. This isn’t simply a Mekong River cruise. Over 19 days, we’ll travel by land, river and air, visiting some of Southeast Asia’s most famous places while also getting a glimpse into the villages, traditions and everyday life that make this part of the world so fascinating.
And yes, Angkor Wat is included!
Our Adventure Begins in Vietnam
Our journey begins in Hanoi, Vietnam’s fascinating capital. We’ll explore the city’s history, visit the Temple of Literature, travel through the Old Quarter by electric cart, enjoy a traditional water-puppet performance and experience some of the food and culture of this remarkable city.
From Hanoi, we travel to one of the places I’ve wanted to see for years: Ha Long Bay.
Ha Long Bay is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, famous for the thousands of limestone islands and formations rising from the water. We’ll actually cruise through the bay, exploring its caves, islands and incredible scenery.
And we’re only on Day 3!
Cambodia and the Temples of Angkor
Next, we fly to Siem Reap, Cambodia, where we’ll spend three nights.
This portion of the trip includes one of the biggest bucket-list experiences of the entire journey: Angkor Wat.
We’ll travel by tuk-tuk to explore Angkor Wat, Angkor Thom and Bayon Temple, with its enormous carved faces. The following day takes us to Ta Prohm, where huge tree roots have grown over and around the ancient ruins, as well as Banteay Srei and a village where traditional Khmer noodles are still made by hand.
We’ll also enjoy a private Apsara dance performance, bringing Cambodia’s ancient Khmer culture to life through music and dance.
These are the kinds of experiences that make me excited about travel. We’re not simply stopping somewhere long enough to take a picture and move on. We’re spending time there.
Then We Board the Avalon Saigon
After Siem Reap, we’ll travel to Phnom Penh and board the Avalon Saigon for our seven-night journey along the Mekong River.
And this is another reason I love this trip.
The Avalon Saigon is an incredibly intimate river ship, carrying just 36 guests in 18 Panorama Suites. Think about that for a moment. Only 36 people!
That small size is perfect for a journey like this. Rather than feeling like we’re watching Southeast Asia from a distance, we’ll be able to travel into the heart of the region and experience communities along the Mekong.
And Avalon hasn’t sacrificed comfort to make the ship small. The Panorama Suites are a spacious 245 square feet, with Avalon’s signature wall-to-wall panoramic windows that open to create an Open-Air Balcony. Even the bed faces the river.
I can already picture waking up, opening those curtains and watching the Mekong go by.
The Mekong Is About More Than the Scenery
Some of the experiences planned during our river cruise are actually what excite me most.
At Wat Hanchey, we’ll visit a hilltop temple and have an opportunity to receive a traditional water blessing from local monks. Later, we’ll walk through the rural village of Angkor Ban, visit a traditional Khmer home and visit a local school.
We’ll ride an ox cart through the Cambodian countryside, meet a local farmer and visit craftspeople who still create beautiful silver pieces using traditional techniques.
In Phnom Penh, we’ll explore the Royal Palace and Silver Pagoda and have an opportunity to learn about Cambodia’s much more difficult history. Avalon offers a visit to the Tuol Sleng Genocide Museum and one of the Killing Fields, or guests can instead choose to explore Phnom Penh’s Central Market by tuk-tuk.
Then we cross the border back into Vietnam.
We’ll explore local markets and the backwaters of the Mekong, travel by sampan, see traditional cotton weaving, visit families making Vietnam’s famous conical hats and watch craftspeople building sampan boats by hand. We’ll even visit a local workshop to see how rice paper and traditional candies are made.
This is the Southeast Asia I want to see.
Of course I want to see Angkor Wat and the Grand Palace. But I also want to meet the people, visit the villages, try the food and experience a little bit of everyday life along the Mekong.
Ho Chi Minh City and the Cu Chi Tunnels
Our river cruise eventually brings us to Ho Chi Minh City, but the adventure certainly doesn’t end when we leave the Avalon Saigon.
We’ll explore the city on foot, visit the War Remnants Museum and Ben Thanh Market, stop at the historic Rex Hotel rooftop bar and even participate in a hands-on Vietnamese cooking class.
The following day takes us outside the city to the Cu Chi Tunnels, an extraordinary underground network used by the Viet Cong during the Vietnam War.
As someone who loves history, I think this is going to be one of those days that stays with me long after I’ve returned home.
And We’re Still Not Finished…We’re Going to Bangkok!
For the final part of our journey, we fly to Bangkok, Thailand, where we’ll spend three nights.
Our included sightseeing takes us by boat along Bangkok’s famous canals before visiting the spectacular Grand Palace, Temple of the Emerald Buddha and Temple of the Reclining Buddha. We’ll also have a full free day in Bangkok, which I love. After so many included experiences, we’ll have a day to shop, explore, relax or simply decide what else we’d like to see.
Adventure During the Day, Comfort at Night
Something else I think is important about this trip is that we don’t have to sacrifice comfort to have an adventure.
Avalon’s currently planned hotels include the Lotte Hotel Hanoi, Vinpearl Resort & Spa Ha Long, Park Hyatt Siem Reap, The Reverie Saigon and JW Marriott Hotel Bangkok.
We’ll be out exploring temples, markets, villages and historic sites during the day, but we’ll still have wonderful accommodations waiting for us at night.
For the same reason, I’m recommending that everyone arrive in Hanoi at least one day before the official itinerary begins. Two nights would be even better if your schedule allows.
It’s a long trip from the United States to Vietnam. I’d much rather arrive early, get a good night’s sleep and have some time to adjust than step off an international flight and immediately begin a 19-day adventure. Avalon can arrange our pre-tour hotel in Hanoi, which makes arriving early very easy.
So, What Does a Trip Like This Cost?
I think the value here is impressive when you consider everything we’re doing over nearly three weeks.
For two adults sharing a room and Panorama Suite, current group pricing is:
Category A: $17,098 total for two adults
Approximately $8,549 per person
Category B: $16,158 total for two adults
Approximately $8,079 per person
Those prices include the land accommodations, seven-night Mekong cruise aboard the Avalon Saigon, included sightseeing and experiences, meals as indicated in the itinerary, prepaid gratuities, taxes and fees, as well as the three intra-vacation flights connecting Hanoi with Siem Reap, Siem Reap with Phnom Penh, and Ho Chi Minh City with Bangkok.
The primary expenses you’ll still need to plan for are your international airfare to and from Southeast Asia, travel insurance, required visas, optional activities and personal expenses.
A $500 non-refundable deposit per cabin ($250 per person) is required to reserve your space.
For more information click here!
This One Really Is a Bucket-List Trip
I probably use the words bucket list more carefully than most people because there are so many wonderful places in the world to visit.
But I don’t know what else to call this one.
Ha Long Bay. Angkor Wat. The Mekong River. Phnom Penh. Ho Chi Minh City. The Cu Chi Tunnels. Bangkok. Three countries over 19 days.
And we’re not trying to piece all of this together ourselves. Avalon has put the hotels, transportation, internal flights, sightseeing, river cruise and many of the meals and experiences into one seamless journey.
That’s especially important to me in a destination like Southeast Asia.
I’ll be traveling on this adventure too, and I’m genuinely excited about sharing it with a small group of my clients. There is something very special about experiencing a part of the world like this together, especially when it’s somewhere that may have seemed a little too far away or complicated to tackle on your own.
August 6–24, 2027. Vietnam, Cambodia and Thailand.
I have a feeling we’re going to come home from this one with a lot of stories to tell.
I hope you’ll be there with me.
Cleared For Take-Off! 