Brand g has been going to to Vietnam and Cambodia almost as long as the company’s been around (15 years). It’s one of the favorite trips of our owners Jeff and Brian.
The joining of iconic sights like Angkor Wat and the Killing Fields with a leisurely river cruise down the Mekong, where you meet the locals and learn about their way of life, is a magical combination. Add to this plenty of glamour (every accommodation is 5-star) and Signature Brand g experiences, and this becomes a can’t-miss trip, even for those who don’t think they want to see this part of the world.
It also happens to be a bargain, considering the length of the trip and the 5-star quality. Along with our India and Thailand trips, it’s one of our least expensive trips on a per-day basis, and virtually everything is included (except airfare, of course, since that’s never included).
The trip breaks down as follows:
- A 3-night stay in Siem Reap, Cambodia
- A 7-night river cruise down the Mekong through Cambodia and Vietnam
- A 2-night stay in Ho Chi Minh City (aka Saigon), Vietnam
Tip:
We operate this trip in both directions, and it doesn’t matter at all which direction you book. The trips are identical. Because the trips are named differently, it can imply that there are variations – but there are not.
Softel Golf & Spa Resort, Siem Reap
The trip begins with Siem Reap. (Again, in some departures, this itinerary will be reversed). Here, we stay at the gorgeous Sofitel golf and spa resort, an oasis of elegance with luxuriously manicured grounds, a huge pool, and incredible service. (Not a single hotel worker will pass by you without wishing you a good day or putting their hands together in prayerful greeting.) The resort gets 4.8 stars from 1,600 reviews on Google, so you know they’re doing something right.
In Siem Reap, we’ll tour the iconic Angkor Wat, the largest religious monument in the world, which is quite a wow. Monkeys hang out atop structures, and you’re very likely to see orange-robed monks. Note: this site can be a bit challenging for the mobility-impaired, since there’s a fair amount of walking and stairs.
Tip:
Bring a fan. We bought those little lithium battery fans (you can find them on Amazon for like $20) that hang from a lanyard, and they came in very handy. Southeast Asia is humid, with little breeze, and Angkor Wat in particular has very little shade.
Also in Siem Reap, we tour Angkor Thom, as well as Ta Prohm, which has been overtaken by the jungle. Here, giant tree roots look as if they’re devouring the buildings, with the actual trunks of the trees beginning 50 feet above the buildings.
Tip:
If you want to get a massage in Siem Reap, use the hotel spa (a relative bargain) or ask at the concierge desk, and they’ll point you to local places down the road – you can take a $2 tuk-tuk to get there – where you can get one for a screaming bargain ($15 or $20).
From Siem Reap, we head to Kampong Cham to board your beautiful home for the next seven nights. In 2026, that ship is the luxurious Mekong Jewel, where the smallest cabin is 323 square feet (and they run up to 915 square feet). The food and service aboard this sparkling ship are unparalleled.
Tip:
The onboard spa is a must – treatments are like $30-50, depending on the treatment (an unbelievable bargain, considering on most American cruise ships, a massage, for example, is $150-200). Book your treatments as soon as you get onboard.
You will come to LOVE the staff, for whom no request seems too large or small. When you come back from a dusty shore excursion, for example, you simply place your dirty shoes outside your door, and they’re returned a few hours later, cleaned.
As we sail down the Mekong, you’ll visit local villages, seeing in depth how the people live and make a living. We’ll also spend a night in Phnom Penh, home of the infamous Killing Fields, a site that – much like the concentration camps in Europe – is a bit heavy, but incredibly moving.
For our three departures in 2027, the ship will be either the Mekong Jewel or its brand-new sister ship (debuting in 2027) the Mekong Symphony. The Symphony does not have the two 915 square foot Grande Suites that the Jewel does, but otherwise the rooms are fairly comparable in size, ranging from 300 to 600 square feet. And the ship will be brand spanking new.
Mekong Jewel Prestige Suite bath
Mekong Symphony pool (rendering – ship is not built yet)
Then, from the river cruise, we head to Ho Chi Minh City. Much like Avenue of the Americas (aka 6th Avenue) in New York, most people don’t call it Ho Chi Minh City – it’s still Saigon. Here, we stay at the ultra-glam Reverie, a spectacular 5-star hotel located in the most fashionable section of the city. (Even the hallways are stunning, as you can see.)
Reverie Saigon
Here, we’ll tour the city’s incredible French Colonial architecture (the city was occupied by the French in the 1800’s), and head out to the countryside to see the famous Cu Chi Tunnels – a labyrinthine series of underground tunnels that the Vietnamese built and lived in during the war to avoid getting killed. There, you’ll also see the gruesome traps the Vietnamese laid for the invading American soldiers, like a piece of grass that’s a trap door, which would flip over, causing the soldier to fall onto a giant spike.
Tip:
Have dinner (you have one free night for dinner in Saigon) at Cloud 9. It’s rated 4.9 stars on Google, and 5 stars on Tripadvisor from nearly 800 reviews. This is food as art, with absolutely spectacular presentation. A meal like this would cost $150-200 per person in LA; here it’s $40-50.
You can take an Uber to the restaurant for about $1.
The trip ends here unless you’ve elected to take the optional 4-night add-on to Hanoi and Ha Long Bay. Particularly if you haven’t been to Ha Long Bay, this add-on is an extremely memorable extension. It includes your flight to Hanoi, three nights at the Intercontinental Westlake (in large, very comfortable suites), and one overnight on a beautiful river cruise ship cruising spectacular Ha Long Bay – as well as all touring and meals, of course.
Ha Long Bay, Vietnam
In Hanoi, you’ll see the lake where John McCain’s plane was downed during the Vietnam War (it’s right in the middle of the city!), the infamous Hanoi Hilton, and much more. Then you’ll board your beautiful river ship for an overnight, cruising Ha Long Bay’s nearly 2,000 limestone islands, which rise dramatically into the sky. It’s an otherworldly experience and one of the most Instagrammed places in Asia. While in the bay, you’ll have other adventures as well, like touring Luon Cave (a breathtaking cave with a natural lake inside) and Titov Island.
This trip includes many other memorable activities – performances, fabulous dinners and more – but we don’t want to give everything away! Just know that this is a trip you will NOT soon forget. It’s an extraordinary way to immerse yourself in the cultures of Southeast Asia.
