Southeast Asia promises travellers high-octane cities, idyllic rural villages, culinary delights and fascinating historical insight, all linked by the Mekong River which courses through its interior. Follow this winding waterway through three countries as you journey from Thailand's tropical north to the temple ruins of Cambodia, ending with a river cruise in Vietnam.
Depart on your scheduled, overnight flight to Bangkok.
Dinner
Arrive in Bangkok this evening, transfer to your hotel.
Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
After breakfast, journey through Bangkok's rural surrounds, passing villages and rice paddies before stopping at a salt and coconut farm. Learn about how these agricultural staples are grown then continue on to Damnoen Saduak Floating Market. Join haggling locals as you explore this busy maze of colourful stalls where vendors peddle tropical produce, trinkets and snacks from traditional long-tail boats. Travel to the River Kwai for lunch at a floating restaurant then visit the infamous Bridge over the River Kwai and the WW2 cemetery where the prisoners of war used to build this bridge are buried. Return to Bangkok for tonight's dinner and a Thai classic dance performance.
Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
After breakfast, explore Thailand's charming capital as you visit the impressive golden Buddha at Wat Traimit Temple and stroll past stalls laden with delicacies and handicrafts in Chinatown. This afternoon transfer to the airport for your flight to Sukhothai. On arrival in Sukhothai, you will be met and transferred to your hotel. Dinner will be held at a local restaurant.
Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Begin your day by exploring Sukhothai Historical Park, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Discover over 100 ancient ruins including crumbling palaces, majestic temples, and serene reclining Buddha figures. Wander through tranquil lotus ponds and tree-lined paths that echo the grandeur of Sukhothai's golden era as the first capital of Siam. Next, journey north to the Sri Satchanalai Historical Park, Sukhothai’s sister city. This archaeological gem is home to centuries-old stupas, serene statues, and temple ruins nestled amid lush greenery. On the way to Chiang Mai, take a short stop in Lampang to visit Wat Pongsanuk, a beautifully restored temple. Before enjoying a traditional Khantoke dinner, a variety of Northern Thai dishes served on a low, circular tray while being entertained by a colourful Lanna cultural dance show
Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Chiang Mai, set in Thailand's tropical north, encapsulates the best of Thailand, with modern highrises circling a centuries-old walled city and miles of rolling greenery just outside the city limits. This morning, journey to the hilltop temple of Wat Phra That Doi Suthep and its shimmering golden stupas. The mythical 'Naga' (dragon-headed serpent) staircase leads you upwards to the temple grounds where you can take in sweeping views of the city before a cable car ride back to your vehicle. Browse the delicate sculptures at a local jade factory before lunch and an afternoon at leisure. In the evening enjoy an intimate dining experience at a local cooking class.
Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Enjoy breakfast at your hotel and a relaxed morning at leisure. After lunch at a local restaurant visit the Sankampaeng Handicraft Village where local craftsmen demonstrate traditional techniques including Lacquer and Silverware, Hand-woven Textiles by silk and Teak Wood Carving. Board your overnight sleeper train to Bangkok. Enjoy a boxed dinner served on board as the train rolls south through Thailand’s scenic countryside.
Breakfast & Dinner
Enjoy the morning view from your window as the train approaches Bangkok. Check in early at your hotel to have breakfast and freshen up. This afternoon transfer to the airport for your flight to Siem Reap, Cambodia. On arrival, you will be met and transferred to your hotel, with the remainder of the evening at leisure.
Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Begin your first exploration of Cambodia and historic Siem Reap on today's full-day tour of the magnificent UNESCO Listed Angkor Wat temple complex. Start at the southern gate, flanked by rows of stone figures, followed by the Bayon and its beautifully crafted towers. From here, visit the Elephant Terrace, once used as a viewing stand for public ceremonies, then explore the sprawling temple of Angkor Wat. After lunch, visit the temple of Ta Prohm and wander amongst the towering trees that have overrun these ancient structures.
Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Following breakfast, journey to the peaceful city of Battambang where your first stop is the 11th century temple ruins of Wat Ek Phnom Temple. Encounter Cambodia's rich culinary traditions as you continue on to a local market where 'prahoc', a pungent local fish paste is made and sticky rice is steamed in bamboo. Return to the town centre for a short walk to a local market then return to your hotel.
Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
A morning of sightseeing starts at Battambang's main market before you sample the region's full-bodied coffee. Next, take in red lanterns and colourful murals at a Chinese temple then tour the city's old, abandoned train station. Travel to nearby Phnom Sampeau where spectacular views and a golden stupa lie next to the area's Killing Caves. Tour this Khmer Rouge execution site, a grim reminder of Cambodia's past, before journeying to Phnom Penh for your overnight stay.
Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Cambodia's capital city provides a sensory experience, with tuk-tuk drivers rattling past colourful markets and regal monuments. Today's city tour begins with a visit to the Royal Palace. Marvel at the ornately gilded roofs and the solid gold-encrusted then visit the National Museum that houses a collection of Khmer art from throughout the ages. Round off your day with a tour of the Killing Fields of Choeung Ek, where victims of the Khmer Rouge regime are buried.
Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
A last excursion into Phnom Penh takes you to the Tuol Sleng Prison Museum which chronicles the Cambodian genocide and provides sobering historical insight. After lunch, take a speedboat down the Mekong River, crossing into Vietnam, and disembark at Chau Doc.
Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
This morning, transfer to Can Tho where you will board your vessel for your Mekong River Cruise. Enjoy lunch on the boat while you sail past fields, valleys and jungle undergrowth, observing life on the river banks. In the afternoon, take a shore excursion to a village where you'll meet the locals and sample tropical produce and fruit. Back on board, enjoy a drink at the bar or relax on deck as the sun sets over the river. The boat will anchor for the night with a delicious dinner served on board. Please note that smaller groups may use a smaller boat on the Mekong River.
Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Set sail at sunrise and see the passing landscapes bathed in a wash of colour while you enjoy an early breakfast. Next, explore the winding canals of the Mekong Delta on a traditional sampan boat or by foot before disembarking and travelling to Saigon for your overnight stay.
Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Take in the fusion of old-world, post-war and colonial-era Vietnam on today's city tour. Visit the district of Cu Chi, famous for its extensive 75-mile tunnel system which served as the base of operations for the Viet Cong and once housed supply routes, hospitals, weapon factories and living quarters. In the afternoon, visit the War Remnants Museum and Reunification Palace then take a walking tour of the city's main sights, including the elegant Notre Dame Cathedral, the colonial-era Post Office, the Opera House and City Hall.
Breakfast
After breakfast, transfer to the airport for your return flight to the UK or continue on to your chosen extension.
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Excellent standard of hotel accommodation. Not all hotels were equally as good but on the whole, we were very pleased with the locations and services provided. Wonderful group of travellers on the tour. The places covered were extensive and interesting. All guides demonstrated a good level of knowledge of the locations visited.
Colin Dearing
10 Apr 23The order of events and sightseeing may vary according to local conditions or for operational purposes. Your local guide will inform you of any schedule changes as they are informed of them. The driving times listed are point to point and do not include the duration of excursions or stops en route. Some road construction and/or weather conditions may lengthen the driving times. Our intention is to adhere to the day-to-day itinerary as printed; however, order of events and sightseeing may vary according to local conditions.
If booking more than 12 weeks before departure a deposit of £295.00pp will need to be paid at the time of booking with the full amount payable at 12 weeks prior to departure. The deposit applies to adults and children. If you are within 12 weeks of travel then the full balance of the holiday will be payable.
Thailand visa requirements
A visa is not required before you travel to Thailand; you will be issued with a tourist visa valid for 60 days on arrival into the country. Further advice should be sought from the applicable tourist authority for other nationalities and for general queries. We strongly advise you check your destinations' Tourist Board or Embassy for the most up-to-date guidelines regarding visas and passport validity. You will be required to fill in a digital arrival card 3 days before arrival in Thailand. You can do this online here - https://tdac.immigration.go.th/arrival-card/#/home
Cambodia visa requirements
You will need to purchase a visa for Cambodia which can be purchased on arrival. The cost of this is approximately USD $35 per person, which will need to be paid in cash. Please note that you will need to have at least one completely blank page in your passport for the Cambodian visa to be issued. You cannot use an e-visa at the border crossing.
You must also fill out an e-arrival card. All travellers must complete and submit online within 7 days prior to arrival. Details should be entered on this link https://arrival.gov.kh/ . Upon successful completion, you'll receive a unique QR code that must be presented at immigration upon arrival.
Vietnam visa requirements
A visa is not required for stays up to 45 days for British Passport holders. Further advice should be sought from the applicable tourist authority for other nationalities and for general queries. Passports must have at least 6 months validity from your date of entry and a minimum of 2 blank pages. However, we strongly advise you check your destinations' Tourist Board or Embassy for the most up-to-date guidelines regarding passport validity.
For all destinations, your passport must be valid for at least 6 months before you enter either Thailand, Cambodia and Vietnam. Visa requirements are subject to change and obtaining a visa is the responsibility of the traveller and not Mercury Holidays. We recommend you check with your destinations' Tourist Board or Embassy prior to departure for the most up to date guidelines regarding visas and passport validity.
Please note your final documentation will be sent to you approximately 21 days before departure. Check in baggage is included with your flight. Weight restrictions will be finalized on your final documentation. Should you wish to take additional luggage you will need to pay extra at check-in. Check-in should be at least 3 hours before departure. If you wish to arrange Airport car parking or accommodation at preferential rates, we recommend you book this in advance with Holiday Extras on 0333 188 0407, quoting HX313.
IMPORTANT: A printed E-ticket is no longer required at check-in, all you need to do is present your passport to the staff at the desk and your boarding pass will be given to you. Please note that you should carry your invoice with flight details on it as you will need to show this at the airport.
We strongly recommend that you and all members of your party are suitably insured as soon as you book your holiday. It is a condition of booking that you must have suitable travel insurance. It is important that you purchase travel insurance that suitably covers your participation in whatever activities you may undertake at the time that you make your booking. To assist you with this, we have arranged travel insurance in partnership with Holiday Extras, including up to a 20% discount, which is given to all Mercury Holidays customers. To arrange your insurance with Holiday Extras, please visit https://www.mercuryholidays.co.uk/info/insurance for more details. Please ensure you provide us with the name of your insurer, policy number and their 24 hour emergency contact number as soon as possible. Mercury Holidays will not be liable for any costs incurred by you due to your failure to take out suitable travel insurance from the date of booking.
It is your responsibility to check any health & vaccination requirements applicable to your booked arrangements. We can only provide general information about this. Health and hygiene facilities and disease risks vary from country to country. You should take health advice about your own needs as early as possible and in good time before your departure. Sources of information include; www.fco.gov.uk, www.travelhealthpro.org.uk, www.hpa. org.uk, your General Practitioner or specialist clinic.
All our tours feature a “Tour Pace” to help find the right holiday for you. To travel on any of our tours requires unaided mobility and the ability to stroll around the sights, climb stairs and get on and off coaches and boats. The tour pace of Thailand Cambodia and Vietnam is rated as Intermediate. A good level of fitness is required as you may be on your feet for approximately four hours in a day, though this will be interspersed with regular breaks and will vary from day to day. Your tour involves climbing steep stairs, getting on and off coaches and boats. It also includes travelling by overnight train. This tour is not suitable for anyone with walking difficulties. Our guides will always endeavour to provide the highest level of service and assistance; however, they cannot be expected to cater for customers who are unfit to complete the itinerary.
The currency in Thailand is the Thai Baht (THB). We recommend that you exchange your currency before you leave the UK, however cash machines are available in all the major cities to withdraw money in the local currency.
The currency in Vietnam is the Vietnamese Dong, known as (VND). You can exchange your currency in Vietnam, however, US Dollars are widely accepted in Vietnam should you wish to keep an alternative currency on you. It is important that you budget carefully and ensure you have the right form of currency before you arrive in the country. Cash machines will also be available throughout the tour in order to withdraw money in local currency. Money can be exchanged at the airport or branches of government banks. Credit and debit cards are accepted in most hotels and some shops and restaurants.
The currency in Cambodia is the Cambodian Riel (KHM). We recommend that you take some US Dollars (USD) with you and exchange this currency whilst you are travelling. Cash machines will also be available throughout the tour in order to withdraw money in local currency.
As normal practice you will be asked for your credit card details on check-in at the hotel in order to cover any extras incurred during your stay. If you do not have a credit card, you may be asked for a cash deposit. MasterCard and Visa are widely accepted in hotels.
You will need to take some extra money with you to cover any meals where these are not mentioned in your itinerary and personal purchases, such as souvenirs, extra drinks and snacks. Approximately £400-£500 per person should be sufficient for the duration of your tour.
Tipping is not compulsory and is at your discretion. However, Should you wish to tip we recommend you tip your guide approx. USD $4 per person per day and your driver approx. USD $2 per person per day. Please note tips on the cruise ships are not included either and would recommend USD $2 per person per day. Additionally, if you wish to tip your bell boy, porter, boat crew etc this is at your discretion.
The minimum number of travellers in your group will be 10, and the maximum will be 28. If in the unlikely event there are less than 10 people booked on your tour date, we will endeavour to reduce any disruption to your holiday and try to operate your tour with lower passenger numbers. If we are not able to operate your departure date then you may be asked to change to a different date and a full refund will be made available to you should this alternative not be suitable.
This is a fully escorted tour meaning that you will be met by a local guide in each of the cities that you visit, ensuring that you have first-hand knowledge at all times.
Private Tour: If you have booked a private tour then you will be accompanied by a Driver Guide or a Driver and Local Guides. These will be available to you during all scheduled sightseeing. Private Tours can depart on any day of the week depending on flight and train schedules and the opening days of the attractions. They will follow the itinerary as described in the brochure unless you have been advised otherwise and you will still have all of the same meals, sightseeing and local excursions included.
Boats
During this tour you will be boarding various vessels. Cabins come with en suite facilities and air conditioning. However room size can be restrictive, If you would like to take a smaller overnight bag on to the ships this can be arranged by leaving your larger luggage on your tour bus overnight at your own risk. There will also be a trip on a motor boat to cross the Cambodian border. Please note this is a shared boat which is open at the back, it does not have air conditioning and usually holds one toilet for passengers. The Border crossing can take up to 2 hours.
Overnight Train
During your tour you will have an overnight train from Sukhothai to Bangkok. Please note, that these are local trains and should not be compared to European standards and quality. Overnight trains are booked in second-class, carriages have 34 upper and lower berths and will be in a shared carriage of either four or two with other travellers. Beds usually come with a pillow, bed sheet and blanket. Toilets will be located at the end of the carriage. Please bring toilet roll and hand sanitiser. All trains are air conditioned.
Your accommodation is selected for convenience, location, comfort or character. Hotel accommodation is generally rated as local three to four-star standard, but please note there is no international classification system for hotels, and differences in facilities and quality do exist between the UK and Vietnam. All group tours hotels have private bathroom facilities and air-conditioning, where needed. Rest assured that all accommodation used by Mercury Holidays is regularly inspected by our staff and partners to ensure that standards meet your needs. If you have booked a triple share please note that your room will be a twin room with a rollaway bed or sofa bed added. This may limit the floor space in the room.
Breakfast is always western style and served in the hotel each morning. Lunch and Dinner (when included) will be taken in local restaurants or at the hotel. A variety of restaurants are visited giving you the chance to experience a range of dishes and flavours.
Please contact Customer Experience for questions about other dietary requirements or allergy information. Vegan, vegetarian options are available, all meal requests need to be sent over to our suppliers before travel.
It is not recommended to drink the tap water, even in developed countries water may contain unfamiliar elements that can cause upset stomachs. In less developed countries water is not filtered in the same way, so to ensure your comfort and well-being, two bottles of drinking water will be provided on touring days.
If you are travelling within the below Vietnamese and Cambodian Public Holidays, please note that celebrations can last several days and during these times some businesses will be closed. Coach, air, and train travel may also be affected. Tourist attractions will generally remain open but may be crowded. In Vietnam, key holidays include Tet Holiday (between January and February), International Labour Day (1st May), Reunification Day (30th April), and National Independence Day (2nd September). In Cambodia, major public holidays include Khmer New Year (typically in April), Pchum Ben (usually in September or October), and the Water Festival (held in November). During these times, the atmosphere can be lively with various cultural celebrations taking place across both countries.
During visits to Churches/Temples please note both men and women need to wear long trousers or skirts to cover knees, Tops with sleeve’s should be worn to cover shoulders.
On your arrival in Bangkok you will be met by a representative from our local agent, LV Travel, at gates 9-10 holding a sign displaying: “Mercury Holidays”. The Mercury Holidays/LV Travel Representative will show you to your transfer vehicle. Your guide will be able to answer any queries.
Please find below the emergency contact details for LV Travel head office, Hanoi.
Contact Telephone number: Anna Hanh Office: 0084 865 016 939, Mr Len Office: 0084 989 200 116, Emergency cases: 0084 888713289
24 hour e-mail: operation@lvtravel.vn or len@lvtravel.vn
