Retrospect

We're back in Vancouver, the trip pasted all too quickly! Looking back, there were many highlights;
The gourmet walking tour of Hanoi.
Watching the sunset from the deck of our junk in Halong Bay.
The incredible temples of Angkor Wat, Angkor Thom and Ta Prohm.
Swimming under the stars in Siem Riep with bats swooping overhead.
The storys of our Cambodian guides about life under Pol Pot.
Sunrise on the Mekong River.
The delightful children from the small villages, schools and orphanage.
Shopping in the local markets.
Watching local artisans weave silk & mats, prepare food.
The wonderful hotels we stayed in, Sofitel Legend Hanoi, Sofitel Angkor Phokeenthra, and Sheraton Towers Saigon.
The comfortable cabins and sundeck with pool on the Amalotus.
The friendliness of the people in the small villages we visited.
Our interesting and well travelled fellow guests.

This is a trip that would appeal to people who are interested in history and seeing both the grand world heritage sites and the way people live in the countryside. Although things are improving you're travelling in developing countrys. There is much less infrastructure in place than for example a River Cruise in Europe. Most places we docked the gangplank was dropped to the bank, and as the water was low it was a steep walk up the riverbank. There is a lot of pollution, litter and dirt. It can be extremly hot and there can be very heavy downpours. Internet is not always available, and when available can be slow. ATMs don't always work. Roads are often rough and under construction. I can't say enough about Ama's scheduling and orginization. We were taken care of from the moment we were picked up at the airport in Hanoi till when we were dropped off at Ho Chi Minh airport. We never had to check-in to a hotel, boat or flight. Sightseeing started early to beat the heat, with a break of several hours midday at the hotel or ship for lunch and rest. Most days there was also sightseeing in the afternoon, but you could choose to just go in the morning or just the afternoon if that's what you prefered. The guides were very interesting, they all had their own stories and were very open about what their life was like. All in all a fantastic experience and one of the best trips I've ever taken.
I'll try and upload more pictures in the next few days, there are so many to go through!
If you would like more details about the trip, feel free to phone or email;
604 987-2214
carla@wdtravel.com