The final morning on the water begins with a yacht excursion to Dark and Bright Cave, one of Ha Long Bay’s most striking natural formations, before returning to the ship to check out and enjoy a final lunch onboard. A private yacht transfer brings you back to the mainland, where your guide and driver will take you to the airport for the flight south to Ho Chi Minh City. On arrival, a transfer brings you to your hotel with the rest of the day at leisure.

Set out for a privately guided exploration of Saigon. The morning begins at a local park where residents gather early for exercise, followed by an iced coffee at an off-the-beaten-path café and a bowl of traditional Vietnamese noodle soup at a neighborhood eatery. From there, the route takes you through some of the city’s lesser-known historical sites, including secret wartime bunkers and the former Revolutionary Headquarters, before venturing into the back alleys and markets of Saigon’s Chinatown. The day winds down with a leisurely walk through central Saigon, a local lunch, and dessert.

Your guide and driver will take you to the Aqua Mekong meeting point, where the ship’s own transfer will bring you to Marina My Tho dock to board. The Aqua Mekong will be your home for the next four nights as the vessel sets sail into the Mekong Delta, each suite designed around a floor-to-ceiling window wall that keeps the river and its constantly shifting life in view.

The morning offers a choice of two experiences. Active travelers can cycle through Binh Thanh mat weaving village, passing local markets, fruit plantations, and fish farms along the way. Those who prefer a slower pace can join the ship’s chef at the vibrant markets of Sa Dec, followed by a visit to the Lover House and Kien An Cung pagoda, both local landmarks with distinct stories.

In the afternoon, the ship stops at My An Hung, a typical Mekong Delta village where a walk through fruit plantations leads to a local family home for fresh fruit tastings and a performance of traditional folk songs, finishing with a Unicorn dance. A cycling option covering around 10 miles through the surrounding countryside is also available for those who want to keep moving.

A skiff ride along Bassac Canal brings you to Chau Doc, a lively border town where a xe loi rickshaw takes you through the local streets and market. From there, a van climbs to Long Son Pagoda on Sam Mountain, where the resident monks share their Mahayana Buddhist practices before the route returns through the bustling morning market below. A cycling option of around 11 miles on Long Khanh Island is available for those who want to take in the paddy fields and local life on two wheels.

After lunch, the afternoon is yours to spend by the pool, try a traditional Khmer massage, or join a cooking class of Mekong-inspired dishes as the Aqua Mekong crosses the border into Cambodia.

Today moves deeper into Cambodia’s riverside life, beginning with a visit to Khmer artisans who dye and weave the kroma, the traditional cloth that is as essential to daily Cambodian life as it is iconic. A cycling option follows for those who want to explore the riverbank past Buddhist temples and thatch houses on wooden stilts, with white oxen wading in the shallows offshore.

After lunch, skiffs take you toward the tamarind trees of Preah Prosop, a remote village where life along the river has changed little over generations.

Disembark and set out on a motorized tuk-tuk tour of Phnom Penh, taking in the Royal Palace and Silver Pagoda before the group splits based on interest. Options include the Tuol Sleng Museum of Genocide, the National Museum of Cambodia, home to the world’s largest collection of Khmer art, or time at the Russian Market.

From Phnom Penh, a private car transfer brings you to the airport for the flight to Siem Reap, where a VIP fast-track service processes you on arrival before your guide and driver transfer you to your hotel. The rest of the day is at leisure.

Today’s visit to Angkor Wat is led by Mr. Seng Kompheak, a local archaeologist with over 17 years of experience and a former curator of Collections at the Angkor National Museum. The day begins at the museum itself, where Mr. Kompheak sets the historical and cultural context of the Angkorian Empire before a Khmer-style lunch in town, during which he delivers a more in-depth lecture on what lies ahead. The afternoon moves to Ta Prohm, the jungle temple where ancient trees grow through the ruins, and Mr. Kompheak’s personal involvement in the site’s conservation process adds a layer of detail no standard tour could offer. The day closes at Angkor Wat at dusk.

In the evening, a private dinner moves through three locations across Siem Reap. It begins with a sunset cocktail and starter at a restaurant where much of the produce comes from the kitchen garden, continues to a traditional Khmer wooden house on the city’s outskirts for a tasting platter of iconic Cambodian dishes, and finishes back in town with a dessert course by one of Cambodia’s top chefs and a locally inspired cocktail.

The morning takes you out of Siem Reap to Kna Por village, surrounded by rice fields, where different families open their doors to share their trades and daily routines. You’ll gain hands-on insight into the production of rice wine, woven mats, and traditional brooms before a remork takes you to the village outskirts to take in the scenery and learn about the role of water buffaloes in Cambodian agriculture. The route also includes a visit to the ancient ruins of Banteay Ampil Temple before lunch at a local restaurant on the way back to town.

In the late afternoon, board the Chnneah Chivit, a beautifully restored traditional fishing vessel, for a sunset cruise on the Tonle Sap, Southeast Asia’s largest freshwater lake. Handcrafted cocktails and canapés are served as the boat drifts past the floating village, where daily life continues on the water as the fishermen bring in the evening catch and the light shifts over the lake.

Your guide will transfer you to the airport for the short flight to Sihanoukville. There, a driver will meet you on arrival and take you to the Song Saa lounge before the shuttle boat brings you out to Song Saa Private Island, one of Cambodia’s most secluded and celebrated island retreats, set in the Koh Rong Archipelago in the Gulf of Thailand.

Two full days to spend entirely as you please on one of Cambodia’s most stunning tropical islands. The reef just offshore is home to parrotfish, sea horses, spotted rays, and turtles, making it some of the best snorkeling in Cambodia, while the dive center offers guided scuba explorations and PADI certification for those who want to go deeper.

On land, guided rainforest tours, mangrove kayaking, and forest foraging with local experts offer a more active exploration of the island. For a slower pace, the open-air treatment salas on Koh Bong island, a dawn birdwatching session over the archipelago, or a moonless night boat trip to see bioluminescent plankton in the water are all worth considering.

Say goodbye to Cambodia and head to the airport to catch your departing flight.