My Journey Through Vietnam & Cambodia with Scenic

Some holidays are about seeing new places. Others stay with you because of the people you meet, the experiences you have and the moments that simply can’t be captured properly in a photograph.

My journey through Vietnam and Cambodia on Scenic’s Treasures of the Mekong was definitely one of those trips.

Travelling from the energy of Ho Chi Minh City, along the mighty Mekong River and into Cambodia before finishing amongst the incredible temples of Angkor.

This journey gave me the opportunity to experience Southeast Asia from a completely different perspective.

And after experiencing it for myself, I can understand exactly why the Mekong is such a special way to explore this part of the world.

Stepping into Vietnam

My journey began in Ho Chi Minh City, and what an introduction to Vietnam.

The first thing that struck me was the energy. Scooters everywhere, incredible aromas coming from street stalls, historic buildings sitting amongst modern skyscrapers and something happening on every corner.

It can feel wonderfully chaotic at first, but that’s part of its charm.

One of my favourite ways to experience the city was getting out amongst it rather than simply watching everything go past from a coach window. Exploring the streets, tasting the local food and experiencing Ho Chi Minh City after dark gave me a much better feel for the destination. If you are up for a little thrill, try Scenic’s Foodie Vespa Tour and don’t worry if a Vespa isn’t your style, you can travel in a vintage Jeep instead.

It’s vibrant, busy, fascinating and completely different from home – exactly how I want to feel when I travel somewhere new.

Alana on her Vespa adventure exploring the local sights and street food.

Time to Meet the Mekong

Leaving the city behind and stepping aboard for the cruise on The Mekong completely changed the pace of the journey.

Suddenly, instead of busy city streets, I was watching life unfold along the riverbanks.

This was one of my favourite aspects of the entire trip. You unpack, settle into your suite and your accommodation essentially travels with you. There’s no constant packing of suitcases or checking in and out of hotels.

Instead, I’d wake up each morning, look outside and discover somewhere new.

As we travelled through places including Cai Be, Sa Dec and Tan Chau, I began to appreciate that the Mekong itself wasn’t simply a way of getting from one destination to another.

It was a huge part of the experience.

Sailing along the Mekong with a glass of champagne in hand. The perfect way to slow down, take in the scenery and enjoy the journey

Experiencing Life Along the River

Some of my favourite memories aren’t necessarily of the famous landmarks. They’re the smaller moments.

Watching boats move along the river. Seeing houses and villages lining the banks. Visiting communities and getting a glimpse into everyday life. Watching the landscape slowly change as we made our way towards Cambodia.

There is something about travelling slowly that gives you time to actually absorb where you are. I never felt as though I was simply flying into a destination, seeing the highlights and moving on again.

Instead, I felt like I was travelling through Vietnam and Cambodia. For me, that’s what makes river cruising on the Mekong so different.

Continuing along the Mekong and crossing from Vietnam into Cambodia was another memorable part of the journey.

By this point, I’d settled beautifully into life onboard. The Scenic Spirit ship is an ultra-luxury experience; the staff onboard are all local and absolutely make your time onboard special.

Explore during the day, return to the ship, enjoy a drink and a lovely meal, then wake up somewhere completely different the following morning.

Exploring the colourful wet market in Sa Dec, filled with fresh produce, local flavours and the energy of everyday life in Vietnam.

A new country and a whole new experience to discover

Our journey eventually brought us into Phnom Penh, Cambodia’s fascinating capital. Phnom Penh is a destination that left a real impression on me. There is beauty and energy here, but there’s also an incredibly important history to understand.

Experiencing the city, seeing places such as the Royal Palace and learning more about Cambodia’s past gave me much more context for the country I was travelling through.

Then, after the sightseeing, being able to experience Phnom Penh by remork – Cambodia’s version of a tuk tuk – at night brought another completely different side of the city to life.

Exploring Cambodia like a local aboard a remork, the Cambodian version of a tuk-tuk

The Cambodia I Might Otherwise Have Missed

One of the reasons I enjoyed this itinerary so much was that it wasn’t solely focused on the big-name destinations.

As we continued through Cambodia, we visited places including Oudong, Silk Island, Angkor Ban, Wat Hanchey and Kampong Cham.

These were the places that gave me a glimpse into everyday Cambodia. It reminded me why I love itineraries that include smaller towns and communities alongside the major attractions. Sometimes it’s these quieter experiences that end up becoming the stories you tell when you get home.

Travelling along the river gave me access to places I probably wouldn’t have included if I’d planned a traditional Vietnam and Cambodia holiday myself.

Memorable moment receiving a Monk blessing – Wat Hanchey Monastery

And Then Came Angkor

After our time on the Mekong, the journey continued to Siem Reap.

I knew Angkor was going to be impressive.

But knowing you’re about to see Angkor Wat and actually standing there are two very different things.

There are some places in the world where photographs simply don’t prepare you for the scale or atmosphere, and this was one of them.

After travelling all the way from Ho Chi Minh City, along the Mekong and through Cambodia, arriving at Angkor felt like the journey had been building towards this moment.

Scenic also creates some wonderful experiences around the temples, which made this part of the trip feel even more special.

Having experiences such as a Champagne breakfast at an Angkor temple and an exclusive Gala Dinner at an Angkor temple turned an already extraordinary destination into something genuinely memorable.

It was a spectacular way to finish the journey.

Alana exploring the incredible Angkor Wat, one of Cambodia’s most iconic and unforgettable landmarks

Who Would I Recommend This Trip To?

Having now experienced it myself, I would happily recommend this journey to travellers who want to see more than just the major tourist attractions of Vietnam and Cambodia.

It’s particularly suited to anyone who enjoys culture, history, food and meeting local people, but still appreciates comfort at the end of an adventurous day.

I’d also recommend it to travellers who have done some of the more traditional holidays and are wondering, where should we go next?

Vietnam and Cambodia offer something completely different.

There’s colour, noise, history, beautiful scenery, wonderful food and a warmth that makes travelling here incredibly rewarding.

And doing it from the Mekong gives you a perspective that you simply wouldn’t get by flying between the major cities.

It’s a journey that reminded me why I love travel – and also why I love being a travel advisor.

If Vietnam and Cambodia have been sitting on your travel wish list, I would absolutely encourage you to consider seeing them this way.

Written by Alana Dixon following her adventure through Cambodia and Vietnam with Scenic Cruises.

Alana Dixon