When: November 5-15, 2027
Where: Vietnam, Cambodia, and the Mekong River
Optional Extensions: We’ll talk about optional extensions after we confirm
Trip Status: Registration is open!
Join us for a 10-night river cruise through Vietnam & Cambodia! We’ll explore the ancient temples of Angkor Archaeological Park, sail along the scenic Mekong River, and visit traditional villages, historical sites, craft workshops, and an elementary school. We’ll also enjoy folk dancing and immerse ourselves in meaningful cultural experiences that offer a deeper connection to the region.
Highlights include:
- Tours of the temples in the Angkor Archeological Park (a bucket-list UNESCO World Heritage Site) to include Angkor Thom, Ta Prohm, Banteay Srei, and the most iconic temple, Angkor Wat
- Multiple cultural experiences, including Cambodian and Khmer folk dancing, traditional silk weaving, a visit to an elementary school, tuk tuk rides, and candy and rice paper workshops
- Angkor Ban village tour, where people still live in traditional stilted wooden houses and keep their cultural traditions
- Tour of Phnom Penh and visits to the Royal Palace, Silver Pagoda, and National Museum
- Visit to the Killing Fields and the Khmer Rouge’s grim Tuol Sleng S21 detention center (Genocide Museum)
- Excursion to Oudong, including a visit to a monastery
- Visit to Tan Chau, including a trishaw ride with stops at silk and rattan mat-making workshops
- Exploration of the Mekong Delta and a tour through Vietnam’s Tra Su Forest and Sanctuary on a traditional sampan boat
- A selection of more active walking tours and more – ports have multiple excursion options to choose from, so you can personalize your experience (all included in the price)
Itineraries for 2027 are still being finalized so listed sites may change, but this is what we’re planning so far.
A cell phone and international data plan for one adult in your party is required for the duration of the trip. This trip is recommended for ages 10 and up.
Cabins, Cost, and What’s Included
We have a private charter, so our group will be the only travelers on the ship. Our price is discounted and includes all breakfasts starting on Day 2, all lunches starting on Day 4 except for our departure day, and all dinners starting on Day 2 except for our departure day. It also includes all excursions on the itinerary, all transfers after we arrive in Siem Reap and to Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon) for our departure, and port charges.
Gratuities are included for the ship’s staff and crew during the cruise. Gratuities for our cruise director during the land portion in Siem Reap is extra. Gratuities for local drivers and guides is extra.
Cabins have two twins or one queen bed (your choice of configuration) and have a maximum capacity of 2 people. There are no triple, quad, or connecting cabins. Since the price is based on two people per cabin, if you have a party of 3, 5, 7, etc., you’ll have to pay for an unused spot in a cabin. Consider bringing an extra person along to get the best value. (Every cabin must have at least one person 18 years old or older.)
Cabins are on three decks, with all decks above the waterline, and all have outside balconies. The suites are larger than the cabins, have a separate sitting area, and a tub in addition to a shower. Please read the description of each cabin carefully to decide which is the best choice for you.
Price Per Cabin (not per person)
NOTE: All cabins on this ship have outside balconies.
Category C – Lowest & middle decks, 251 sq ft – No more available
Cabins are at the end of the lowest and middle decks, very few cabins available in this category
2 people: $7,870
1 person: $6,886
Category B – Lowest, middle, & highest decks, 251 sq ft
Same size as previous category, most cabins are centered on lowest deck, with a few near the end of middle deck, and the rest at the end of the highest deck
2 people: $8,736
1 person: $7,752
Category A – Middle deck, 251 sq ft
Same size as previous categories, but all cabins are centered on the middle deck
2 people: $9,108
1 person: $8,124
Suite – Highest deck, 366 sq ft
Larger than previous categories, includes a bathtub in addition to a shower, larger sitting area and balcony, centered on the highest deck
2 people: $10,348
1 person: $9,364
Luxury Suite – Highest deck, 502 sq ft – No more available
Largest of all the categories, includes bathtub in addition to a shower, largest sitting area and balcony, center of highest deck, very few luxury suites available
2 people: $11,588
1 person: $10,604
During the cruise portion of our trip, complimentary coffee, tea, soft drinks, local beer, and house brand spirits are available all day, and complimentary wine is available with lunch and dinner. Bottled water is provided in the cabins and is replenished daily.
These prices don’t include flights, airport transfers, required visas for Vietnam and Cambodia, any additional tours or excursions you choose to take independently, any optional pre- or post-cruise extensions we may add, and trip insurance.
Payment Schedule, Cancellation, and No-Refund Policy
A $100-per-person, nonrefundable registration fee will be charged to your credit or debit card when you submit your request for spots. This fee is separate from your cruise fare. If I can’t accommodate one of your cabin category choices, this fee will be returned.
Half your cruise fare will be due within 10 days of my confirmation of your spots. I can’t hold spots after 10 days. The remaining balance will be due by August 31, 2026.
*NOTE: I require registration and payment this far in advance because this a discounted custom cruise with unforgiving contract terms. The contract must be signed a year or more in advance, and once signed, I’m responsible for paying for the entire ship, regardless of whether all cabins are filled or not. This is also why I can’t refund any payments for any reason (medical, job lay-off, death in the family, or anything else). Your cabin/spots aren’t transferable.
Before you register, please make sure you understand and are comfortable with my policy: there are no refunds and no transfers for any reason. I’m not able to cover the cost of unused spots, so your completed registration form and payment indicate that you agree to and accept this policy.
I accept checks (personal, bank checks, BillPay through your bank) and Zelle transfers through your bank (if your bank allows you to transfer the full amount – no split payments).
I don’t accept credit or debit cards (other than for the registration fee), money orders, PayPal, Venmo, anything that requires me to provide my account number to a third party, or any other payment method.
Travel insurance that covers your expenses if you cancel the trip is strongly recommended. Thoroughly research policies to make sure of the reasons you can cancel, and that it covers emergencies and any unforeseen circumstances such as sickness, death of a loved one, acts of God (natural disasters, etc.).
Food Allergies, Special Needs
Make sure you list any food allergies or other special needs on your registration form. I’ll check to see if your needs can be accommodated before I confirm your registration. (No refunds or special accommodations can be made due to allergies or other special needs if you don’t tell me about them when you register.)
Transportation
Your flight from your home airport to Siem Reap and from Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon) back to your home airport is not included in the price. Don’t purchase non-refundable flights until the trip is confirmed. Airlines have their own refund policies and I have no control over them.
I’ll email flight recommendations/details after the cruise is confirmed.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is this trip still open? Are any spots left? Will you have a waitlist? Is it first come, first served?
I’ll update this page if we run out of spots. I can’t answer “do you have spots left” questions because I receive registrations throughout the day. What’s available when I get your availability question may not be available five minutes later.
Waitlist texts go to everyone who signed up for them, so everyone has an equal chance of getting spots (regardless of when they signed up). When the cancellation period for a trip closes, the waitlist also closes since we can no longer replace spots.
Is the price per person?
It’s per cabin, not per person. For example, a Category C cabin is $7,870 total for two people. The cabin is $6,886 if there’s only one person in the cabin.
This is a lot of money to send to someone I don’t know, especially so far in advance and with no refunds. Can you provide references?
I could provide references from families who’ve traveled with me since I began doing these trips in 2006, but references can be faked.
Instead, read my About page to find out more about me, then do a search of “Carolina Homeschooler trips” and “Traveling Homeschooler trips.” If I’ve cheated anyone, it’ll be all over the internet. (I’ve organized trips under both names, but Carolina Homeschooler trips are now focus on local, member-based trips, while Traveling Homeschooler trips are national/international and are open to all homeschoolers.)
You can also follow me on Facebook and read the featured post (and other posts) where many families have shared their experiences traveling with me.
It’s too stressful to send money if you don’t trust me. Please research before you register and pay.
I’ve never been on a river cruise before. Can you give me an idea of what the ship is like, activities, etc.?
Our ship may change (since it’s 2 years out), but it’s much smaller than ocean cruise ships, and the decks are half cabins, half social areas (lounge, seating areas, restaurants, etc.).
All cabins are above the water line and have outdoor balconies. They have two twin beds or 1 queen bed (your choice, they hook the twins together if you want a queen).
Unlike ocean cruise ships, you don’t have to pay extra to get better food or excursions. Port charges and gratuity for the ship’s staff/crew during the cruise are also included in the price. (Gratuity for the local drivers and guides aren’t included.)
The focus of river cruising is on the places we visit, not the ship (the opposite of ocean cruises), so there aren’t a lot of planned ship activities during the day (because we’re out touring the sites).
In the evenings, we enjoy socializing, playing games, and just spending time together. They also bring local entertainment (musicians, etc.) on board.
There’s plenty to do, but also time for parents and children to socialize and bond. And we did plenty of socializing on previous cruises, often leaving the ship feeling as if we are one big (and growing!) extended family.
Does the description list everything we’ll be doing?
We usually have a choice of tours each day, so you’ll have a lot of options – tours, walks, hikes, etc. However, I’ve listed some highlights of what to expect. (The itineraries for 2027 are subject to change, but they should include the highlights I’ve listed and more.)
Will we have a land portion for this river cruise, like we did for Egypt? Does it cost extra?
An extension in Siem Reap is included in the price. Among other things, this 3-night extension includes a visit to the amazing Angkor Archeological Park, a UNESCO World Heritage site and the largest religious structure in the world.
When will you post information about optional pre- and post-cruise extensions?
I’ll share more information about optional extensions when I confirm the cruise.
Are travel visas required for US citizens visiting Vietnam and Cambodia?
Vietnam and Cambodia require travel visas. The cost of a single-entry visa is currently $25 for Vietnam and $36 for Cambodia. I’ll update and share more information about getting travel visas when the time comes.
I have three people in my party. How many cabins would I need?
There are no triple cabins on this ship, so you would need two cabins, with someone age 18 and older in each of them. Your cost would be the 2-person price for one cabin, and the 1-person price for the second cabin. I recommend bringing an extra person to pay half of the second cabin and get the best value.
I have young children. Can we all share one cabin? I have a baby, toddler, preschooler – do they count in the price?
We can’t accommodate younger children on this trip. It’s recommended for ages 12 and up, but 10 and up worked for our Egypt cruise, so I’ll stick with that for this one, too. Everyone counts in the price. Cabins are limited to two passengers per cabin, and one must be an adult.
Should people with mobility issues go on this trip?
We’ll have “gentle walker” versions of most tours to accommodate travelers that need a slower pace. There’s no elevator on this ship, and there’s very limited access (on the ship and at the sites) for guests confined to scooters or wheelchairs.
Describe your needs in the “special needs” section of the registration form and I’ll make sure we can accommodate you before I confirm your spots.
What cities will we fly into and out of?
For the main trip, we’ll arrive in Siem Reap and depart from Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon). We may add one or more optional extensions. If we do, and you decide to add them, your arrival and/or departure airports may change.
Please don’t book your flights until I confirm the cruise (and optional extensions) and send you more details.
What payment methods do you accept?
The non-refundable $100 registration fee must be paid by credit/debit card when you submit your registration. It’s separate from your cruise fare.
For your cruise fare, I accept checks (personal, bank checks, BillPay through your bank) and Zelle transfers.
I don’t accept credit or debit cards (other than for the registration fee), money orders, PayPal, Venmo, any payment method that requires me to provide my account number to a third party, or any other payment method.
Are there any health requirements? Are vaccinations or masks required?
We don’t know what health requirements will be in place for 2027. Even if we did, requirements could change even a week or two before our cruise. Only register if you’re willing to accept whatever requirements are in place when we travel.
Want to go?
- Register here for our Vietnam & Cambodia River Cruise!
- If you don’t receive a confirmation with payment information within 5 days, please email me.
- If I confirm your spots, half of your cruise fare is due within 10 days. The remaining balance is due by August 31, 2026. (Your registration fee is charged upon submission of this form and is separate from your cruise fare.)
- And that’s it! Email me if you have any questions.
