This is much more than a river cruise… it’s a transformative journey where the Mekong slowly reveals a vibrant world along its shores.
Start each day with an optional Tai Chi class, Asia’s ancient form of physical and mental exercise. It is the perfect start to the day before sitting down to a relaxing breakfast and the day’s activities begin.
You’ll visit Phnom Penh where you’ll see the architectural splendour of the Royal Palace and Silver Pagoda, where Khmer craftsmanship is beautifully showcased. In contrast, you’ll pay your respects at the harrowing Killing Fields, a poignant reminder of Cambodia’s tragic history.
Your river voyage concludes in Ho Chi Minh City, formerly known as Saigon, where the old meets the new in a harmonious fusion of French colonial architecture and modern skyscrapers.
Explore the bustling streets, savour the delectable Vietnamese cuisine, and dive into the city’s vibrant culture on your final evening.
As with all Amaco conferences, we have integrated the educational program into the daily itinerary ensuring that conference participants don’t miss a thing.
The ‘Mekong Odyssey – Siem Reap to Saigon’ itinerary offers participants exceptional value for money.
The all-inclusive nature of our conference travel packages means that not only is the cost of the best available accommodation already covered but so too are all the entrance fees and touring costs. We also incorporate many specially arranged activities not available to the general public.
The Conference Travel package includes all breakfasts, lunches, and dinners with us taking great care to ensure those with special dietary requirements are well looked after. It even includes all beverages during meals.
We certainly hope you can join us as we travel through Cambodia and Vietnam in September 2024.
Register today or risk missing out!
18 September 2024 @ 6:30pm
29 September 2024 @ 9:00am
Starts: Siem Reap, Cambodia
Ends: Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon), Vietnam
Conference Participant: $995 pp
Non-Conference Participant: $795 pp
Amaco Family Price: $9,995 pp
(For previous Amaco Conference Participants)
Early Bird Price Price: $10,995 pp
(If booked on or before 18 May 2024)
Standard Price: $11,995 pp
(If booked on or after 19 May 2024)
Single Supplement (if traveling alone): $1,995
Upgrade from Superior Stateroom to Deluxe Stateroom: $1,495 per room (Max 11 available)
Upgrade from Superior to Signature Suite: $2,995 per room (Max 2 available)
Please note that the Jayavarman vessel we will be cruising on does not have lifts and all guests need to be able to comfortably climb up and down stairs unassisted. Similarly, many of the tours and activities included on this itinerary involve walking varying distances over uneven ground with little or no support easily available. By electing to register for this Small Group Tour and Conference, you attest to the fact that you are physically capable of participating unassisted.
Amaco is not only a member of ATIA (the Australian Travel Industry Association) and CATO (Council of Australian Tour Operators) but we are also ATAS Travel Accredited.
This means we have met strict industry financial, operational, and management standards and criteria. Only the best industry agents achieve this accreditation meaning that you can travel with us knowing that you’re in safe and very capable hands.
With almost 30 years of experience in planning and running conferences and booking international travel, we understand that participants may want to add additional destinations and adventures either before or after the all-inclusive packages we provide.
Other companies might discourage you from doing this. Sometimes, it’s because of the added complexity it creates and at other times they’ll try to talk you out of it simply because they don’t have capable or experienced advisors with the breadth and depth of knowledge our team has.
We encourage all participants to make the most of the time away. This might mean departing earlier than the rest of the group and visiting other destinations before meeting up with the main group at the conference or staying on at the conclusion and doing some additional travel.
Either way – our advisers are perfectly positioned to assist you with making these arrangements and will do all the hard work for you – seamlessly combining your personalised itinerary with the group program.
Whatever you’re interested in, we will create your bespoke, perfect trip. Get inspired with our example trips and get in touch to plan your own unforgettable tailored adventure.
Fly into Danang Airport and discover Hoi An.
An ancient riverside town scattered with narrow alleys, traditional houses, and some of Asia’s most skilled tailors – it’s hard to leave Hoi An without a brimming suitcase of custom-made garments. With its pretty architecture and beguiling riverside setting packed into its neat size, Hoi An is small enough to stroll around and soak up its rich wealth of heritage.
Once an important port and trading town, Hoi An is one of Vietnam’s greatest cultural relics and a melting pot of Chinese, Japanese, and French influences. Visit the atmospheric Old Town to see the Japanese Merchant Houses, the famed Japanese bridge, the Chinese temples, old tea warehouses, temples, and traditional pagodas.
Motorised traffic is banned from the town centre which has cemented Hoi An’s status as one of Vietnam’s most prized and pleasant towns. It’s especially romantic in the evening when lanterns light up the paved streets.
We recommend 2 or 3 nights here.
Continue the adventure in Hanoi, a bustling and fascinating place – a whirlwind of colours, smells and sounds and a wonderful place to get a real flavour of life in Vietnam.
It is unmissable in terms of its pretty pagodas, ancient temples, enchanting French colonial quarter and cultural institutions.
Just as fun, however, is darting down its winding lanes and discovering your own favourite hidden corners. The hustle and bustle of Hanoi is contagious, and it is also one of the best places to sample the mouthwatering array of street food that Vietnam is famous for.
This is where the country’s most important centres for arts, literature, folklore and music can be found.
Depending on your interests, we can take you on a discovery of the best foodie spots, delve deep into the country’s history, visit a traditional puppet show or help you uncover the city’s best artisans on a specialised shopping tour.
We recommend a minimum of 3 nights here.
From Hanoi, it’s a 2-hour drive north to Halong Bay – a UNESCO World Heritage Site famous because of its stunning limestone mountains rising up from emerald waters that were formed over a thousand years ago.
Hop on board a shared or private boat for a 1, 2, or 3-night (and longer) cruise where you will weave your way through the islands. Explore secluded bays, white sandy beaches, and countless floating villages. There are caves to visit, and the pristine waters are perfect for swimming, snorkeling, and kayaking.
There are few experiences as magical as watching the sunrise from the comfort of your cabin, and then watching it sink behind the sparkling water as the day draws to a close.
We have some exquisite vessels we can recommend for 1 or 2-night cruises.
For the more adventurous head to the hills and discover the local hill tribes of the H’mong and Dzao people. From Hanoi, it’s a nostalgic overnight train journey or a 4 ½ hour drive through breathtaking rice terraces to the former French hill station and haven of Sapa.
Sitting high in the mountains in northwest Vietnam along the Chinese border, this town looks down to plunging valleys of cascading rice fields – and eye-popping panoramas on a clear day.
Local hill tribes scatter the surrounding scenery’s remote villages and then fill the town with colour when they come to sell their handicrafts and trinkets. Peruse their goods and chat with the H’mong and Dzao people who have lived here for centuries, before heading out on easy treks.
We recommend at least 2 nights here.
Amaco is an Accredited Education Provider for the Royal Australian College of General Practitioners (RACGP) and the Australian College of Rural & Remote Medicine.
Each conference we run includes an education syllabus that assists GP’s, pharmacists and health professionals to improve the quality of care they provide to patients and customers while at the same time providing them the opportunity to travel to and experience new and exciting destinations.
Our conference will allow delegates the opportunity to earn CPD hours / points based on the content and time in sessions. As has been the case with past conferences, we will work closely with participants affiliated with other associations to ensure that they receive maximum recognition for attending the conference.
The content of the education sessions will be relevant to GPs, Medical Specialists, Pharmacists, Dentists, Nurses, and other health providers. We encourage all attendees to register for the conference sessions.
The Education Committee for the Mekong Odyssey – Siem Reap to Saigon Small Group Tour & Conference will be selected in early 2024 with final conference topics to be chosen based on the feedback from our previous conference attendees and with input from the RACGP, ACRRM, and medical journals. Suitable speakers will be approached based on the topics selected.
Subject to final accreditation, the Mekong Odyssey – Siem Reap to Saigon Small Group Tour & Conference will include up to 14 hours of accredited education.
ACRRM members can also expect the education program to be accredited and to earn CPD points. RACGP and ACRRM accreditation will be applied for under the triennium 2023 to 2025.
As has been the case in the past, Amaco will work with pharmacy bodies and those affiliated with other associations to ensure that they receive maximum recognition for attending the conference.
We welcome applications from potential presenters and encourage anyone interested to contact us to obtain further information.
