Viking Cruises

viking.com | 67 E X P E R I E N C E S I S S U E 2 3 The following day we visited the famous and renowned Angkor Wat. And we were not disappointed. Our local guide, Sim, was excellent. The next day we visited the other two Angkor Temples, which were equally impressive. We learnt so much, but also had plenty of time to explore and take photos, a must in this ancient delight. Another highlight, and something different, was a visit to a Viking-sponsored school. It was lovely to mingle with the children, who were learning English. They were delightful! Then it was time for a long scenic drive to the ship. The journey was quite incredible in itself. Combined with the visual sights and the guide's excellent commentary, it was captivating and so interesting to see how people lived. We had the usual warm friendly welcome as we boarded the Viking Saigon. In the evening we were welcomed by the manager, Enrico. He was charming with an excellent sense of humour. We also looked forward each night to the chef's recommendations for dinner, and were never disappointed. The menu is designed to suit everyone. We were so impressed with the knowledge and charm of the waiters and staff. We were now in Phnom Penh. Infamously known for The Killing Fields and the S21 Prison and museum. This was an incredibly moving experience, and we were privileged to meet the only living survivor. A charming gentleman of 91, who, via our guide, relayed some of his experiences during his four months and 12 days of being tortured and confined in a tiny cell. He relayed how he was only spared from being sent to his death at The Killing Fields because his captors realised he had a use, he was a mechanic and could repair their typewriters. Truly remarkable! We also enjoyed tuk tuk and rickshaw rides exploring Phnom Penh. That evening's meal "A Taste of Cambodia" was a gastronomic experience in itself. Another highlight was a trip along the Mekong Delta in a sampan. It was fantastic sailing along and being able to visit farmlands and houses and even a fish farm. We also visited a wholesale market, observing the locals selling their produce, which covered almost everything imaginable from rice to snakes. We sadly had to leave our ship, but there were lots more experiences to follow. We travelled to Ho Chi Minh City, another very lively, bustling city, visiting the tunnels used in the Vietnam War on the way. Quite an experience. It really makes you think as you crawl through the tunnels how terrifying it must have been for the soldiers trying to survive in the jungle. Saigon (Ho Chi Minh City) was electric. The noise, lights and atmosphere were mind blowing. We got a feel of the place through the excellent tours but also explored on our own. We enjoyed bartering in the markets, which were so colourful and vibrant. We finally had a superb farewell dinner and show and prepared to leave. Our flight was late at night so Viking said they would take us for a meal on the way to the airport. Excellent service right to the end. We used our free time on this last day to visit the War Remnants Museum. Our taxi driver told us on the way to the airport that the local people were so pleased to see tourists back in their country, after what must have been a very difficult time. The Cambodians and Vietnamese were so genuinely welcoming and friendly. People explained to us that their main sources of income were agriculture and tourism, the latter obviously suffering a massive blow over the last couple of years. It's good to think that in our own small way we are helping these countries to restore one of their main industries. To sum up, this holiday was a carefully balanced mix of top class hotels, city sightseeing, observing and mixing with local people, and learning how they live, and a superb, luxurious journey on one of the most fascinating rivers of the world. Viking excels in covering an extensive range of experiences in a relatively short time. We all agreed we could never realise all these experiences without the first-class local, and incredibly knowledgeable, tour guides. They not only relay information, but make everything enlightening and entertaining. Their enthusiasm and wit was second to none. Someone said you don't go on a Viking journey for a rest. Everything is optional, but if you want to learn about and experience the culture of an area, Viking do this exceptionally well. Talking to other travellers most had travelled with Viking before, the general consensus of opinion seemed to be "If you choose Viking, you know it will be good". And we most definitely agree. Roll on our next trip. Clockwise from above: Mekong River; tuk-tuk; Siem Reap; street vendors, Vietnam; monkey

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