Vietnam & Cambodia: Cruising the Mekong River

Starting at Dong Khoi Street, follow your local guide on a walking tour of Saigon’s historic attractions. See the restored exteriors of the Saigon Municipal Opera House and the Notre-Dame Cathedral Basilica of Saigon. Admire the city’s French colonial architecture as you visit famous buildings, including the Central Post Office, the Reunification Palace and the elegant Saigon City Hall. Listen to anecdotes of Saigon’s daily life, especially its street coffee culture. In the afternoon, head to the War Remnants Museum that offers a Vietnamese perspective of the American War, and conflicts with France and China. You can browse through highly graphic exhibits and war artefacts. Later, make your way to the 19th century Thien Hau Temple in Chinatown. A local Cantonese custom involves making a wish on a card and attaching it to incense coils. Lastly, drop by the FITO Museum of Traditional Vietnamese Medicine, which offers an insight into the use of traditional remedies, influenced by Chinese philosophy. (Duration: Full Day; Time: Morning/Afternoon; Private Activity & Transfers; Meals Not Included; Fitness Level: Easy; Kindly note that the Notre-Dame Cathedral Basilica of Saigon can be seen only from the outside due to renovations until 2023)

Explore the emerald and gold land of the Mekong Delta on this extensive week-long cruise trip down the mighty Mekong from Saigon to Siem Reap. Day 1: Enjoy a welcome drink in the lounge in Saigon and start your drive to My Tho on road, where you will board your luxury cruise vessel that will be home for the next week. Check into your staterooms before tiy set sail on the meandering Mekong. Enjoy a lunch buffet in the restaurant following which you can familiarize yourself with the ship. Relax on your private balcony or enjoy sipping tea in the open air bar as you watch a golden sunset. Around dinner time, the ship will reach the town of Cai Be, famous for its Catholic French church and manufacturing of traditional crafts and food products. Day 2: Begin your day with an invigorating Tai Chi class on the sun deck. After a sumptuous breakfast, head out to explore Cai Be. Take in the sights and sounds of the floating market, after which you can learn about the manufacturing of rice paste, rice paper, rice cookies or rice wine in a workshop on the shore. Cruise through the lush and green canal network on a local boat and and observe farmers working in the fields. After lunch on board, you can spend some time at leisure, before the ship reaches Sa Dec. Head out on a traditional sampan towards Binh Thanh Island. Marvel at the scenic beauty of the island and also learn about the process of mat making. Get a glimpse into its life and culture when you speak to the locals. Back on board, you can rejuvenate by taking a dip in the pool, relaxing on the sun deck or indulging in a spa treatment. Enjoy dinner on board after which you can watch a movie during the nightly cinema session. Day 3: After a hearty breakfast, explore Tan Chau, a pleasant, slow-paced town, known for its fish farming, on “xelois” or local taxis. Visit markets, admire the local temples and head to a floating fish farm on a local boat and understand how the process works. Head back to the ship for a fascinating and leisurely cruise through the deep Cambodian countryside towards Phnom Penh. Enjoy the afternoon at your leisure – you could simply relax or partake in a cooking class before savoring afternoon tea. Enjoy dinner, before you can head out to explore Phnom Penh on your own. Day 4: Spend your morning exploring the history and culture of Phnom Penh. You can be part of a guided tour that takes you the major historical landmarks or explore the city on your own before you rejoin the group. After lunch in town, immerse yourself in the cultural sights of the city. End your tour with a cycle ride back to the ship. Rest awhile in your room before you head to savor cocktails at the sun deck or the open bar. Enjoy an illuminating lecture followed by a barbeque dinner and a traditional dance performance. Day 5: The ship will depart early to the Angkor Ban village up the Mekong River. After breakfast, visit the village, known for its unspoiled community and beautiful, traditional houses. Post lunch, visit a local school to understand more about the education of the young Cambodian generation (the project is funded by an NGO). Travel by road to the enchanting pre-Angkorian temple of Wat Hanchey and the tiny colorful monastery of Wat Nokor. Day 6: During breakfast, the ship will sail to the island of Koh Oknha Tey, known for its high class silk products. Explore the island on tuk tuk and learn all about silk making at a workshop. After lunch on board, participate in the Monks’ blessing ceremony. The ship will then pass through the confluence of the Mekong and Tonle River towards Kampong Tralach to reach Kampong Tralach. Day 7: After a buffet breakfast take a local boat to the shore to explore Kampong Chhnang, Cambodia’s “water world”, where everything is on sticks balanced on water rich soil. Go on a walking tour in a village and learn about Khmer style pottery and the making of palm sugar. After lunch on board, the ship will cruise into the Great Tonle Lake – the biggest freshwater lake in Asia – and make its way towards Siem Reap. Enjoy a farewell dinner with drinks, music and dancing. Day 8: Disembark the ship and take a local boat to the shore, passing a vast floating community. You will arrive at the Siem Reap pier around 0900 hrs and will be transferred to the drop-off point in the city center. (8 Days/7 Nights; All meals included; Fitness level: Easy).

Explore the Mekong Delta on this leisurely weeklong cruise from Saigon to Siem Reap, via Cai Be, Tan Chau, Phnom Penh, Kampong Cham and Kampong Chhnang. Your river cruise begins from My Tho, near Saigon. Settled into your spacious cabin, wake up to Tai Chi sessions every morning, followed by a sumptuous breakfast spreads. Each day brings new opportunities to explore and discover charming villages on the riverbank, including Cai Be, famous for its ‘floating market’ of boats that ply the town’s dense network of canals. Along the way, hop aboard traditional sampans (boats) and visit local workshops that make rice paper, wine and rattan furniture, fish farms, markets, temples and picturesque villages. In your free time, pamper yourself with spa treatments, swim in the open air pool, enjoy high tea or sign up for cooking lessons from the chef. Your evenings are spent with watching movie screenings and enjoying romantic al fresco dinners on the deck. Once you dock at Phnom Penh, board a tour bus and set out to discover historic sites, glittering architecture as well as the avant-garde restaurant. Back on board, you’ll be regaled with a fascinating talk on Cambodian history by an eminent professor from the Royal University, followed by a classical music and dance performance during dinner. As you drop anchor at the untouched village of Angkor Ban, discover authentic Khmer culture and architecture, or sail further to visit a local school and ancient monasteries perched along the Mekong. Also, on your itinerary are visits to Cambodian silk workshops as well as a blessing ceremony by monks who come onboard for a while. Further upriver, the ‘water world’ of Kampong Chhnang offers a spectacular floating kingdom you can explore on boat. On your final evening, savor a special farewell dinner with music and dance as you drop anchor near Siem Reap, the gateway to Angkor Wat.

Explore the ancient wonders of Khmer temples within the Angkor Archaeological Park in Siem Reap. Visit the temple of Ta Phrom, many parts of which have been taken over by the surrounding jungle, thus creating an eerie atmosphere. It was popularized by the Hollywood movie Tomb Raider. A short drive away is the 11th century Ta Keo, an unfinished mountain temple built completely out of sandstone. It has five sanctuaries on top that offer fantastic panoramas of the surroundings. Continue on to the sprawling walled city of Angkor Thom, highlighted by the mesmerizing Bayon temple, adorned with smiling faces, with maze tunnels. You can admire well-preserved intricate carvings at the Terrace of the Elephants and Terrace of the Leper King. Later, following a leisurely lunch break in your hotel, enter the rear gate of the famed 12th century Angkor Wat. Considered to be the world’s largest religious building, this grand structure represents the universe with its central tower symbolizing Mount Meru. (Duration: Full Day; Private Activity & Transfers; Fitness Level: Easy; Please wear comfortable walking shoes)