We depart Sydney Tuesday 10th November on Singapore Airlines flight SQ 212 at 9:05 arriving at Changi, Singapore at 14:15 (flying time 8hr 10min). Then depart Changi, Singapore on Silair flight MI 654 at 15:20 arriving at Noibai, Hanoi at 17:45 (flying time 3hr 25min).

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Today I have been finishing up last minute jobs, packed the bag and confirmed my aiport transfer for 5am tomorrow morning and both legs of the flight - first to Singapore and then to Hanoi. 

Hoping that the strike action at the airports is over and we get an easy trip through. Next update should be at the terminal waiting to board!

My driver Eddie aka 'speedy Gonzalez' arrived early (4:30am) for a 5am pick up and because I was ready (of course I was ready with half an hour to go) we left around 4:45. He made it to the airport in record time - I was at the terminal at 5:30.

As for Steve and Bevs transfer - the driver took a wrong turn at the pass and started travelling to Wollongong. Once he realised the error and turned around they to made it to the airport at 6:00.

Checking-in and customs was quick (compared to yesterday with the strike (sorry Peter no photo's allowed). The usual explosives check (no body scan this time) and we were into the departure lounge.

Plenty of time for breakfast and the last 'real' coffee before leaving.

Xin Chao (welcome) to Vietnam! On arrival we will be personally met by our Scenic Tour Representative and transferred to our luxury hotel. Time for leisure before meeting our Tour Director for a welcome briefing followed by dinner.

Two Night Special Stay: Hanoi, Sofitel Legend Metropole

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We had a good flight yesterday, Singapore airlines always looks after you and the seats aren't too cramped.

We flew over central australia across Lake Eyre and then out over Port Headland, then across the water past Indonesia into Singapore. The flight was delayed at Sydney when a passenger had too much cabin luggage, refused to check it in and decided not to fly at all, so all of her bags had to be removed. We made up time and arrived as scheduled just over 8 hours of flying.

We then had an hour to get from our flight in terminal 1 to the connecting flight in terminal 2 in Singapore airport. A fast paced walk and skytrain got us there on time. This flight was around 3 hours 20 minutes.

The airport in Hanoi is about a year old and spotless, customs was not too bad and our luggage was already on the belt. Then into our transfer to the hotel, leaving the airport the roads were new and there was not much traffic and I began to wonder if this was going to be the city I imagined.

This did not last long before our van became part of a tangled mess of cars and bikes. The horns on each had there own language. Off to the side of the roads you could see markets and people eating on the street. I can't wait to see more of this side of Vietnam.

When we finally arrived at the hotel it was close to midnight Sydney time and we needed a shower and bed.

We had a lazy start to the day after arriving late last night. The hotel is very nice, typical of Sofitel. It is colonial style - I will post some photo's.

Breakfast included some nice pastries - the french influence!

Time then to explore the hotel and its various restaurants and bars. Then we became braver and ventured outside and walked around the block, including the opera house. Then braver still I crossed the road with bikes dodging me.

Then it was a longer walk down to the lake. where there is a temple on an island accessed by a bridge. We walked around it and took in daily life in Hanoi.

Now to the weather, it is warm, but not super hot, although the humidity makes it a bit uncomfortable. Having some problems with the camera and the humidity.

After the trip to the lake we returned to the hotel for a snack and drink - Vietnamese spring roles. The food has been very good. Then a break before officially starting the tour at 6pm. I am just about to head down now.

This morning we travel through rich fertile farmlands to Halong Bay then embark on board the luxurious Au Co, for our two night cruise through the tranquil emerald waters, taking in the spectacular scenery of this World Heritage area.

Two Night Special Stay: Au Co Cruise

Sunday is time to disembark our luxury cruise and return to Hanoi for our flight to Danang. Transfer to Hoi An, an exceptionally well-preserved trading port dating from the 15th century and Vietnam's most charming and relaxing town

Three Night Special Stay: Hoi An, Almanity

More choices for the a new day: We can visit the temple ruins of My Son; or take a street food tour; unwind on Cham island; or learn how to make traditional Pho noodle soup; or even cycle (what??) to a nearby farming village.

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Ho An is on both a river and coastline. This afternoon we departed for a sunrise cruise on the river. As part of the cruise we experienced a demonstration of local fishing using nets. After showing us how they then called for volunteers and Steve took up the challenge transferring to a much smaller fishing boat and casting a net into the water. There was also small round bamboo boats (if you could call them that) that the crew demonstrated some of their 'moves' to music.

The crew entertained us well with food - spring rolls and music and dancing! We all had a great time.

Then it was back into town for dinner, Hoi An comes alive at night and it is much cooler. it was great to see the city lit up and wander through some of the markets. Dinner was also very good, finished by a mango dish that was strips of mango in brown sugar, rum, cinnamon and coconut cream.. yummm

Our last day in Hoi An included a speed boat trip to an island for swimming, snorkeling and relaxing on the beach. Let me clarify speed boat - more like a jet boat ride without being strapped in - although we did have a life jacket, it was very bumpy and wet, but also good fun.

Arriving back at the hotel it was time for another massage and rest before yet another dinner. bye for now!

We travel through the picturesque Marble Mountains via the breathtaking Hai Van Pass to Hue, the former capital. En-route we enjoy a visit to the open air Cham Museum, relive the grandeur of Hue's Imperial Citadel and enjoy a traditional dance performance accompanied with traditional court music in the Royal Ancient Theatre. We then take a cruise down the Perfume River to Thien Mu Pagoda.

Two Night Special Stay: Hue, La Residence Hotel & Spa

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The journey into Hue was very scenic with coastline and mountains. Another warm day with blue sky's. Our first stop was for lunch, another five course meal - crab soup, papaya salad, pork and shrimp pancake, grilled chicken with chilli and lemongrass, passion fruit ice cream.

Then a walk into the citadel and a concert of traditional song and dance.

Off to the airport for our flight to Ho Chi Minh City. Then enjoy lunch at KOTO, a restaurant set up to train and educate street children with English and hospitality skills. During a walking tour we can admire the historic landmarks of Ho Chi Minh.

Then endulge in a sumptuous contemporary Vietnamese meal in the unusual setting of a former opium refinery.

Two Night Special Stay: Ho Chi Minh City, Caravelle Hotel.

Enjoy some time at leisure before our transfer to My Tho to board the luxurious Scenic Spirit. Commence cruising through the Mekong Delta and this evening enjoy our Champagne welcome reception followed by a welcome dinner.

Seven Night Special Stay: Scenic Spirit

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After breakfast we started the day with a walking tour of the city. This included a walk through the park watching the mornings exercises. Then onto a temple and then an outdoor coffee shop where the locals bring their birds in cages and hang them on stands. We joined them for coffee in a strange outdoor environment with the sounds of birds chirping and traffing humming.

Then more walking into the small alleys seeing the locals houses and them enjoying the saturday. They were very friendly and enjoyed saying hello to us. You see a lot of people cooking and eating on the street.

Then onto the market with all of the people, smells and produce you see. This time it included the skin of a cobra snake, frogs that were skinned but still alive, a stuffed weasel.

Back to the hotel for a few minutes before leaving for lunch. At Koto, a restaurant set up to help train street kids in the hospitality industry and helping them get jobs. Another great meal. Steve is now ordering his vietnamese coffee in the local language.

Then a city tour including the unification palace, notre dame catherdral, post office and china town.

Another short break before heading back out for dinner!

Early this morning we enjoy Tai Chi on the Sun Deck as we cruise into the charming town of Cai Be with its lively floating markets. Following our Champagne breakfast, board a sampan (a traditional local boat), observe how each wholesaler hangs the goods they sell on a bamboo pole above their vessel and witness how people exchange goods. Cruise past the French Gothic Cathedral built in the early 20th century and see the characteristic feature of the eyes painted on the prows of boats in the delta. Explore ancient houses and visit a small family-operated rice factory and watch as they produce rice paper, rice wine, rice pop and candies all by hand. Return to the ship and cruise to the historic town of Sa Dec. Appreciate life along the river and see a cluster of brick kilns along the river bank. Take a stroll through Sa Dec’s bustling market, stop to visit the home of Mr. Hyun Thuy Le, who inspired French novelist Marguerite Duras’ novel L’Amant (The Lover), and discover a colourful Cao Dai Temple. Return to the ship and continue cruising towards Chau Doc, a town close to the border with Cambodia and famed for fish farms, fermented fish and fish sauce.

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We have enjoyed the last two days on the boat, twice a day we take a sampan into the villages. We have seen more markets, a fish farm, brick works, temples and more...

Something new in the market here has been baby rabbit. This is code for rat. It is skinned and sold at the market.

For most of its history Chau Doc was under Cambodian rule and large Khmer communities together with local Cham, Chinese and Vietnamese combine to form a melting pot of cultures. We have a choice; board a small boat and cruise down canals, visit family-operated fish farms before strolling through settlements of Cham people; or journey to nearby Sam Mountain, appreciate the expansive views and explore a clutch of pagodas and shrines; or explore Tra Su Bird sanctuary, home to a rich array of wildlife and birds (storks, egrets, cormorants, peafowls and water cocks).

We return to the ship, cruise to the Cambodian border and complete border formalities.

Sous Sdei (welcome) to Cambodia! We spend the afternoon at leisure, relax in the pool, pamper ourselves with a spa, join a short talk or sip one of the ship’s signature cocktails as the rest of the day is spent cruising towards Phnom Penh.

Cruise into Phnom Penh, the capital of Cambodia, a charming city crisscrossed by broad tree-lined boulevards and dotted with French villas and wonderful colonial architecture. Take a rickshaw journey along the city’s riverfront to the Royal Palace complex, with its famous Silver Pagoda and Temple of the Emerald Buddha before discovering many Angkor period artefacts at the National Museum.

Raffles, Hotel Le Royal, is one of Asia’s essential landmark hotels and is the perfect place to enjoy high tea before an exclusive private shadow puppet performance accompanied by a traditional Khmer orchestra.

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Early in the morning we sailed into the capital of Cambodia. Our first trip was to one of the killing fields and prison. It was terrible to hear the stories told by the local guide. Even though there were pathways you were still walking over bones that were uncovered through the weather. Around 2.8 million people killed across the country. The torture and methods of killing was unbelievable.

This afternoon a bit of rest before wandering the town

Wake to choose one of these morning activities; a journey through the countryside to the Killing Fields and tour Tuol Sleng, the former school that was converted to the main prison and torture headquarters of the Khmer Rouge; or take a guided tour of the local food market before joining in a hands on Khmer cooking demonstration; or travel by cyclo and explore central Phnom Penh, its colonial buildings as well as modern, post-independence architecture; or lastly, visit Silk Island, learn about silk weaving and see how the families are maintaining old traditions of hand looming silk and dyeing it to bright hues.

Lunch will be at a restaurant operated by an NGO that supports the education and training of former street children. Meet some of the teachers and students and see how their lives have been changed by this initiative.

Spend the rest of the day at leisure, continue exploring the city, discover wonderful shopping at the Russian Market or simply enjoy the comfort of our luxury ship. Later we can enjoy a wonderful performance of Apsara, a traditional dance.

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Cruise along the scenic Tonle Sap River. This narrow winding river provides a rare up-close glimpse of rural river life and the area is well known as the pottery centre of Cambodia. Board smaller boats and experience a panoramic cruise to the unique floating villages with houses, shops and schools all bobbing on the water.

Cruise to Wat Hanchey with its ancient hill top pagoda and monastery complex. Walk to the top, meet with some young novice monks before soaking in some of the best Mekong River views. Return to the ship and cruise towards Kampong Cham a quiet provincial capital with French architecture from the colonial period. Explore Kampong Cham, discover the legend of Phnom Pros (Man Hill) and Phnom Srei (Woman Hill) and stroll through the ecotourism village of Cheung Kok, supported and developed by AMICA (Assistance Mediation Internationale pour le Cambodge). Walk among the stilt houses, watch women weave scarves called ‘krama’ a typical Khmer cloth and learn about their traditional farming techniques.

We discover the ancient stories surrounding the 11th century temple complex of Wat Nokor. At the centre of the ancient complex a more contemporary and brightly coloured wat has been built and here we will receive a traditional monk’s blessing.

Return to the ship and gather for a Champagne farewell reception and dinner.

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In the last days of our river cruise we visited a floating village, where people live, work and play. It is amazing to see the conditions they live in. We also visited a school, all of the children were very shy, they have classrooms with no power, so no lighting or air conditioning. They were all dressed in clean white and blue uniforms. They have only recently raised enough money for toilets. There are two shift for school, they either go in the morning or afternoon 6 days a week. After the school we walked up the mountain to a Buddhist temple. Here we received a water blessing from the monks. All of the children from the village came out and followed us around, wanting to hold our hand.

After breakfast transfer to our luxury hotel in Siem Reap, home to the Angkor Wat complex.

We attend a performance and learn about Phare the Cambodian Circus, a special show that blends contortion, juggling, acrobats with high energy music with modern dance forms to tell uniquely Cambodian stories.

Three Night Special Stay: Siem Reap, Park Hyatt

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It was sad to leave the boat after our week. The staff were so friendly and would do anything for you. Most of the staff came from Cambodia and it was good to see them with jobs, they were so grateful. The staff all knew our names and food and drink preferences.

There was a 4 hour bus trip from the boat into Siem Reap. It was good to drive through some of the country side, mostly flat, with palm trees and rubber plantations, rice fields and other crops. Houses were all on stilts, for the water and to keep the house cool.

Siem Reap is a very busy tourist town. There are 150 hotels and a further 100 guest houses. The main attraction is the temples. The afternoon we arrived we had some time to walk to the markets and restaurants. In the evening we went to dinner and then to the Cambodian circus. this circus is mostly acrobatics performed by kids that were from poor families or on the street. It was a great show.

I have put up all of the photos now from the Mekong, there are also some from the killing fields just so you are aware.

As for the weather Peter, it is probably mid thirties, but it is the humidity that makes the difference. It is like being in a sauna and we are out in it most of the day either walking or climbing stairs!

Options today are; discover the temple of Banteay Srei and visit the Landmine Museum (tread carefully!); or visit a local market and take part in an authentic Khmer cooking class; or explore the recently accessible Beng Mealea temples in the jungles of Siem Reap; or appreciate Cambodia’s exquisite handicrafts.

As we farewell Cambodia this evening we can enjoy authentic Khmer dinner.

Some leisure time before transferring to the airport for our flight to Luang Prabang, the spiritual capital of Laos.

Three Night Special Stay: Luang Prabang, Luang Say Residence

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Our final day in Parkse was at a coffee and tea plantation and then to a waterfall where we had lunch. Then it was off to the airport for our domestic flight. Planes in Laos tend to run early, yes that is right, if the plane is there and people checked in it leaves.

It was dark when we arrived in Luang Prabang and it was also very wet. The hotel is very nice and our dinner was nine courses.

There was a small itinerary chance because of the weather, but it meant we could sleep in a bit. After around 10am the weather had cleared. On the agenda today was a visit to the royal museum and then a cruise up the Mekong river to a local village and a cave with hundreds of Buddha statues.

Options today to either; journey to the serene Kuang Si Waterfalls; or take a hands-on Lao cooking class; or discover different methods of weaving and dyeing textiles; or ride an E-bike to uncover why Luang Prabang has become a haven for artists. Then watch the sun set from the top of Mount Phousi before heading to the evening hill tribe market. Our farewell dinner will showcase Laotian cuisine with French touches.

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Had a great day today, woke early (very early) to go and see the monks who each morning walk the streets to collect food from the locals, who line the streets with offerings of sticky rice.

There were around 200 monks and it was a great sight to see. Then back to the hotel for breakfast before a trip to the waterfall and a small village along the way. The weather was good (not as hot here) and the waterfall was really impressive.

On the way back we saw an elephant parade, around 20 of the walking down the road. It is part of a celebration of the towns 20 year anniversary as a UNESCO site.

Now off to our farewell dinner and tomorrow traveling home. Should be home Tuesday afternoon.