Overview
Thank you, Maureen and Dave, for suggesting Sandra and I join you on the "Charms of the Mekong" holiday.
The itinerary; in brief:
2 nights in Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon) - City Tour, former Palace, War Remnants Museum, Viet Cong Tunnels
7 nights river cruise on the Mekong - Many excursions highlighting Life in and along this important waterway
2 nights at Siem Reap (Angor Wat) - Visits to Ta Prohm, Angor Wat and Angor Thom Temples
3 nights in Hanoi - City tour, tour of the Old Quarter, Water Puppet Show
1 night on Ha Long Bay - Explore a Limestone Cave complex, climb to the top of a lookout
We added on a quick extension:
3 nights in Bejing - The Great Wall, Ming Tombs, Forbidden City, Summer Palace
2 nights in Xi An - Terracotta Warriors, Banpo Art History Museum
It was a well thought out itinerary; full of excursions and comfortable digs on board the AmaDura for the river cruise portion and luxurious accommodations in the hotels. The timing was good (winter at home).
Saigon in the early morning. The city is young with a special vitality propelled by motor scooters that weave through the islands of traffic like a river. The haze is a common feature of urban skies around the world. The downtown retains a lot of the French history in the street layout and historical buildings.
