Mekong River Cruise (11 days – 10 nights)

You’ll receive cordial welcome upon arrival at Saigon’s international airport and transfer to the hotel for check-in and tour briefing. This evening you’re honored guests at the Welcome Dinner at a decent restaurant – an interesting introduction to Vietnam.

Our morning tour takes in the most outstanding sights in the very centre of Saigon such as the former Presidential Palace, Notre Dame Cathedral, the Central Post Office, the Opera House, the City Hall, Saigon’s waterfront, and Ben Thanh market.

Early afternoon we journey 50 km out of town to Cu Chi to explore the amazing tunnel system built by Communist guerillas during the Vietnam War. Known as the “Iron Triangle” during the war of the 60’s, the story of Cu Chi is one of struggle, determination against all odds, and eventual victory. Late afternoon we return to town for the night.

We have time to further explore Siem Reap on own before transferring to Sofitel Plaza hotel for cruise registration between 11:00 – 12:00. Transfer overland by motor coach to My Tho port for embarkation aboard the Indochina Sails’ ship for the journey from the Mekong Delta to Holy Angkor. Embark ship at 13:30. Welcome drinks served in Saigon Lounge. Short briefing is conducted before adjourning for lunch in Mekong restaurant. The cabins are ready for check-in after lunch. After port clearance formalities, captain raises the anchor and cruises towards Cai Be. Join the Cruise Director at Saigon Lounge for safety demonstration and briefing at 18:00, followed by Captain’s Cocktails. Enjoy the first gourmet dinner onboard with fellow travelers. Enjoy folk performances of the Mekong Delta from 21:00 to 21:45 in Saigon Lounge The ship moors overnight midstream at Cai Be.

After breakfast take a morning junk trip around Cai Be. See floating market, go ashore to visit French Gothic Cathedral and colorful port area, filled with colonial buildings, delightful flower gardens and local rice paper manufacturers. Return to the boat at noon. After enjoying lunch while ship sails toward Vinh Long – the second largest city on the Mekong Delta. In the afternoon, take a short boat ride to get ashore for a walking tour of Vinh Long and visit a bustling market. Return to the ship at 17:00. Cocktail and briefing with Cruise Director at 18:00. After dinner, ship sails to and arrives in Sadec around 23:00. The ship moors overnight midstream at Sadec.

This morning, follow guides to the hometown of Marguerite Duras’ lover, Sadec, a quaint little city. Visit the old house of Huynh Thuy Le, partake in the bantering of local markets along the paved river banks, pagoda and the Fujian Temple, build and donated to the city by the late Le family. Pass by the home of Marguerite Duras from across the riverbanks. Re-board ship at 11:00 for lunch. After that, ship sets sail to Tan Chau. In the afternoon, Vietnamese tour guides will give a lecture about Vietnam – the Past and the Present in the Saigon Lounge at 16:00. Cocktails and briefing at 18:00 followed by dinner at 19:00. Ship arrives at Tan Chau around 18:30. After dinner, join the crew show in the Saigon Lounge. More music, more dancing afterwards. Tonight the ship moors midstream at Tan Chau.

Today’s highlight is a visit of Tan Chau – a small town untouched by tourism. In the morning, the excursion starts with sightseeing by local boats, navigating narrow channels to visit an evergreen island. Chance to visit floating fish farm and travels along the tiny tributaries where slit houses are haphazardly leaning on each other. Afterwards, go ashore and tour the town on rickshaw. Visit rattan mats and slippers making factories. Return to the ship and enjoy lunch while the ship departs for border. In the afternoon, enjoy Fruits Carving and Vietnamese Fresh Spring Rolls demonstration by Executive Chef at Saigon Lounge. Border formalities are carried out concurrently. Cocktail hour from 18:00 – 19:00, dinner at 19:00. After dinner catch movie “The Killing Fields” in the Saigon Lounge. In the evening, sail overnight up the broad Mekong River, an international shipping route and moor mid-stream just outside of Phnom Penh.

A busy day with many interesting sightseeing and activities, in the morning, sightsee Phnom Penh by bus. Visit Royal Palace, the spectacular Silver Pagoda and the National Museum where outstanding Khmer crafts are exhibited. Afternoon excursion facilitates understanding of a crucial part of the Cambodia’s history: the Khmer Rouge’s grim Toul Sleng (S21 detention center) and the Killing Fields. (For a free and easy afternoon, please inform Cruise Manager). Cocktail hours are served from 18:00 to 19:00. Dinner is served from 19:30 to 21:00. After dinner, join the Khmer folk dances and songs at the Saigon Lounge. Before midnight, opt to chill in one the bars located across the road from the pier.

Early in the morning the ship sails towards little known village Chong Koh. After breakfast, take leisurely morning stroll through Chong Koh silk weaving village. Visit a school, some home workshops manufacturing traditional silk and cotton handicrafts and buy some local products. Return to the ship at 10:00.Enjoy a hearty lunch onboard at 12:30 as the ship sails to PrekK’dam. Interesting afternoon tour starts with a bus ride to visit Oudong – the second capital city of Cambodia. Visit a Buddhist Center here and join a blessing. After that, take another bus ride to Kampong Tralach, see Kampong TralachPleu temple and take a 20-minute ox-cart ride back to the ship. Re-board ship in Kampong Tralach. Ship sails to Kampong Chhnang afterwards. Cocktail hour from 18:00 to 19:00, dinner is served at 19:00. After dinner, join together in the Saigon Lounge with Cruise Director for a “Nasty Quiz” night. Ship arrives at Kampong Chhnangaround 23:00 and moors midstream overnight.

Kampong Chhnang is a busy rural port town with bustling markets. Mooring mid-stream, take a truly wonderful motorboat excursion into the lakeside wetlands that form the mouth of the river. Here a stunning variety of birdlife may be seen, and of considerable interest are local life and floating village. Return to the boat and cast off towards PrekK’dam – a small village that is around 35km away from Phnom Penh. Join a lecture on general information of Cambodia with Cambodian tour guides in the Lounge. In the afternoon, join the “Towels and napkin folding demonstration” with the housekeeping and restaurant staff in the Lounge. Time for packing and prepare for Farewell Cocktail this evening. The ship docks overnight in PrekK’dam.

Enjoy breakfast onboard. Bid farewell to the crew and guides. Disembark around 8:30 and take motorized boats to local jetty approximately 5 to 6 km away from the middle of the lake. Transfer by motor coach to the meeting point in Siem Reap and on to the hotel. This afternoon we start exploring the wonders left by a highly complex civilization that controlled the greater part of Southeast Asia for four centuries.Enter the Great City of Angkor Thom through the South Gate and traverse to admire Baphoun and Phimeanakas temples, Terraces of Elephant and Leper King, and especially the mysterious smiling Bayon. Hike up Phnom Bakheng to behold the magnificent sunset into the land of temples.

We continue the exciting quest of Siem Reap’s famous Archeology Park. Visit the fascinating temples of Ta Prohm, Banteay Kdei, Takeo, Thommanon, Chau Say Thevoda, and the Royal Bath of Sras Srang. This afternoon we’ll be touring the epic temples of Angkor Wat – a vast rambling complex of diverse temple structures dating from the 9th to the 13th centuries. Many are adorned with exquisite carvings and bas-reliefs; some are so entwined with trees and vines that they almost returned to the jungle.