Romantically referred to by the French as the Pearl of the Orient, Ho Chi Minh City today is a super-charged city of sensory overload. Motorbikes zoom day and night along the wide boulevards, through the narrow back alleys and past vendors pushing handcarts hawking goods of all descriptions. Still called Saigon by most residents, this is Vietnam's largest city and the engine driving the country's current economic resurgence, but despite its frenetic pace, it's a friendlier place than Hanoi and locals will tell you the food—simple, tasty, and incorporating many fresh herbs—is infinitely better than in the capital.This is a city full of surprises. The madness of the city's traffic—witness the oddball things that are transported on the back of motorcycles—is countered by tranquil pagodas, peaceful parks, quirky coffee shops, and whole neighborhoods hidden down tiny alleyways, although some of these quiet spots can be difficult to track down. Life in Ho Chi Minh City is lived in public: on the back of motorcycles, on the sidewalks, and in the parks. Even when its residents are at home, they're still on display. With many living rooms opening onto the street, grandmothers napping, babies being rocked, and food being prepared, are all in full view of passersby.Icons of the past endure in the midst of the city’s headlong rush into capitalism. The Hotel Continental, immortalized in Graham Greene's The Quiet American, continues to stand on the corner of old Indochina's most famous thoroughfare, the rue Catinat, known to American G.I.s during the Vietnam War as Tu Do (Freedom) Street and renamed Dong Khoi (Uprising) Street by the Communists. The city still has its ornate opera house and its old French city hall, the Hôtel de Ville. The broad colonial boulevards leading to the Saigon River and the gracious stucco villas are other remnants of the French colonial presence. Grisly reminders of the more recent past can be seen at the city's war-related museums. Residents, however, prefer to look forward rather than back and are often perplexed by tourists' fascination with a war that ended 40 years ago.The Chinese influence on the country is still very much in evidence in the Cholon district, the city's Chinatown, but the modern office towers and international hotels that mark the skyline symbolize Vietnam's fixation on the future.
Mekong Serenity
Itinerary
Take in Vietnam and Cambodia’s most iconic sights, including the incredible Angkor Wat. Explore historic Ho Chi Minh City, enjoy life on the Mekong and be blessed by a Buddhist monk in Oudong.
Ready to Book?
For more information; please contact our Cruise specialists who will be delighted to help you plan your next holiday.
Call us on 01625 858158 Request Availability & PriceSuites
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Deluxe Twin Balcony Suite
All cabins include : Minibar filled with local beer, soft drinks, water and replenished daily | Individual climate control | Free Wi-Fi (connection speed may vary) | Flat-screen TV with a selection of TV channels | Plush robes and slippers | Twice-daily housekeeping | Large wardrobe and storage area | Telephone and safe | Complimentary two pieces of laundry per guest per day
- Spacious dual balcony suite featuring large indoor floor-to-ceiling panoramic balcony plus outdoor balcony with comfortable seating
- Queen-size bed (optional twin-bed configuration) with luxury bed linen
- Comfortable sitting area with sofa, single reading chair, and writing desk
- Private ensuite with separate standing shower, hair dryer and locally sourced amenities
Deluxe Twin Balcony Suite
Deluxe Twin Balcony Suite
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Bayon Suite
All cabins include : Minibar filled with local beer, soft drinks, water and replenished daily | Individual climate control | Free Wi-Fi (connection speed may vary) | Flat-screen TV with a selection of TV channels | Plush robes and slippers | Twice-daily housekeeping | Large wardrobe and storage area | Telephone and safe | Complimentary two pieces of laundry per guest per day
- Spacious dual balcony suite featuring large indoor floor-to-ceiling panoramic balcony plus outdoor balcony terrace with comfortable sun lounge seating
- Queen-size bed (optional twin-bed configuration) with luxury bed linen
- Comfortable sitting area with sofa, single reading chair and writing desk
- Private ensuite with separate standing shower, spa bath, hair dryer and locally sourced amenities
- Silver Butler Service including daily fruit platter, shoe shining, booking of appointments and one spa treatment per person per cruise
Bayon Suite
Bayon Suite
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Angkor Suite
All cabins include : Minibar filled with local beer, soft drinks, water and replenished daily | Individual climate control | Free Wi-Fi (connection speed may vary) | Flat-screen TV with a selection of TV channels | Plush robes and slippers | Twice-daily housekeeping | Large wardrobe and storage area | Telephone and safe | Complimentary two pieces of laundry per guest per day.
- Spacious dual balcony suite featuring large indoor floor-to-ceiling panoramic balcony plus large outdoor balcony terrace with lounge seating
- Queen-size bed with luxury bed linen
- Large separate sitting area with sofa, reading chair and writing desk
- Private ensuite with separate standing shower, spa bath, hair dryer and locally sourced amenities
- Gold Butler Service including daily fruit platter, evening canapes, shoe shining, booking of appointments, one spa treatment per person per cruise and one bottle of French Champagne per cruise
Angkor Suite
Angkor Suite
Restaurants
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Indochine Restaurant
Indulge in a special and intimate private dining experience Indochine. Feast on a six course menu paired with premium wines for a truly memorable experience.
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Lemongrass Restaruant
Whether it is an indulgent champagne breakfast or a delicious dinner, flavoursome local dishes or Western classics, the cuisine served in the Lemongrass restaurant is second to none.
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Horizon Bar & Grill
The Mekong Serenity features an onboard swimming pool, alongside the Horizon Bar & Grill, a great place to enjoy a light lunch, relax with a cold beverage or take in the stunning landscapes.
Deckplans
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Sun Deck
- Sun Deck
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Lotus (Upper Deck)
- Swimming Pool
- Horizon Bar & Grill
- Bar
- Gym
- Angkor Suite
- Bayon Suites
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Orchid (Main Deck)
- Indochine Private Dining
- Reception
- Harmony Lounge & Bar
- Category A cabin
- Category B cabin
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Lily (Lower Deck)
- Lemongrass Restaurant
- Category C cabin
- Category D cabin
Category E cabin
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