Mekong River – Fascinating Vietnam and Cambodia

Welcome to Ho Chi Minh City, still known as Saigon to many. Hotel rooms are available for mid-afternoon check-in. Meals: (none)

Extra nights may be added on to your cruise program in Ho Chi Minh City. Pricing is available on request.

Take a Walking Tour of Ho Chi Minh City’s historic landmarks, including a stop at the Rex Hotel for a refreshing drink at the rooftop bar where the U.S. Military held the infamous “Five O’Clock Follies” during the war. Then visit the War Remnants Museum and bustling Ben Thanh Market. For lunch, participate in a hands-on Vietnamese Cooking Class. Learn to prepare several local dishes and how to recreate them at home. Last, but not least, sample your delicious creations!

Explore the city further during free time this afternoon. This evening join your traveling companions for a special welcome dinner at a local restaurant. Meals: (B, L, D)

Drive out of the city for a Guided Visit to the Cu Chi Tunnels—an extraordinary network of tunnels more than 120 miles in length—used as a hideout and secret village by the Viet Cong. Enjoy free time this afternoon and evening. Consider stopping for a drink at the famous rooftop bar at the Caravelle Hotel. Meals: (B)

This morning, transfer to the port on the Saigon River and board your river cruise vessel to start your cruise up the Mekong River through Vietnam and Cambodia. Get acquainted with the ship and relax before your welcome reception this evening. Meals: (B, L, D)

Board a sampan this morning to Visit a local workshop in Vinh Long where you will see how rice paper, rice wine, and traditional candies are made.  This afternoon, enjoy scenes of daily life on Cu Lao Gieng Island via sampan and local motor cart. Your Guided Excursion starts at a local workshop, where a skilled family hand-crafts sampan boats. Then, visit the home of a local family that makes Vietnamese conical hats, or “Non la,” from materials available to them such as palm leaves and bamboo. These iconic hats are primarily used as protection from the sun and rain but you may also see them used as a basket to carry home goods from the market. Lastly, stop at one of Vietnam’s oldest Catholic churches.

Afternoon/evening cruise to Chau Doc. Meals: (B, L, D)

In Chau Doc take a Guided Walk through the local market and absorb the atmosphere as locals are busy buying and selling fish, meat, and produce. Then embark on a River Excursion down the backwaters of the Mekong. Along the way, see traditional floating homes, speedboat merchants, religious sites, a market selling dried goods, and more. After lunch, a sampan brings you to the village of Long Khanh A for a Cotton-Weaving Demonstration of a well-preserved artisan’s tradition.

Return to the ship to set sail for the Cambodian border. Evening/overnight cruise to Phnom Penh. Meals: (B, L, D)

Take a City Tour by private cyclo to visit the Royal Palace with the spectacular Silver Pagoda, and the National Museum featuring an outstanding display of Khmer artifacts.

The remainder of the day is yours to enjoy the city at your leisure. Consider a Guided Optional Tour of a local brewery with free-flowing local beer! Just before dinner, children from a local orphanage will perform a show featuring local song and dance. Meals: (B, L, D)

Visit Wat Hanchey, a hilltop temple dating back to the 8th century. Climb or be driven to the top where you will enjoy stunning views of the surrounding area and partake in a traditional water blessing given by local monks. After lunch, enjoy a Walking Tour through the rural village of Angkor Ban. Here, you will visit a traditional Khmer house and interact with children at a local school. Meals: (B, L, D)

Start your Guided Sightseeing at the silversmith village in Konpong Louang. Here, see talented craftsmen use age-old techniques to turn pure silver into works of art. In Kampong Tralach board an ox cart for a ride through the beautiful Cambodian countryside. Along the way, stop to meet a local farmer and learn about his daily life. This afternoon, enjoy scenic cruising on the Tonle River.

This evening cruise back to Phnom Penh. Meals: (B, L, D)

Fly to Siem Reap, home to the Temples of Angkor, considered by many to be the most spectacular architectural ruins on Earth! After lunch, begin your Sightseeing Tour by tuk-tuk to explore the temples. Start at the best preserved and most famous of all the temples: Angkor Wat. Featuring five trademark towers, it is the symbol of Cambodia. Then, visit Angkor Thom, where you will explore Bayon Temple with its 200 striking faces carved in 54 towers and impressive bas-relief sculptures. Or, visit Angkor Wat, Angkor Thom, and Bayon Temple by bike.

The evening is yours to explore charming Siem Reap, stay to witness the sunset at Angkor Wat, or consider a Guided Optional Excursion to the Cambodian circus. Meals: (B, L)

Continue your Guided Sightseeing of the Angkor Temples at Ta Prohm. Tree roots cover the ruin walls, allowing you to experience the temple with the same wonder as early explorers. Then visit Banteay Srei, a unique temple built on a small scale from red sandstone, which can be carved like wood. En route stop at a local village famous for making Khmer noodles by hand.

Spend the afternoon at your leisure. You may choose a Guided Optional Excursion to further explore Siem Reap or the temple complex by tuk-tuk. This evening, a private Apsara Dance Performance brings ancient Khmer culture to life through music, song, and dance. Meals: (B, D)

Your vacation ends with breakfast this morning. Meals: (B)

Extra nights in Siem Reap may be added on to your cruise program. Please ask us for pricing details.

The all-suite ships used for these river cruises were specifically designed to offer the best river cruise experience on the Mekong River. They are the only two ships in the industry cruising from Ho Chi Minh City to Phnom Penh (or vice versa) eliminating hours of motor coach travel time (depending on water levels), which means you enjoy more cruising along the Mekong River!

The ships have been meticulously crafted to offer all the modern features you expect, yet retain the colonial charm fitting to Vietnam and Cambodia. While the number of guests on the ships may be small, the ships aren’t. Built as long and wide as other ships that carry twice as many guests, the public spaces never feel congested. From the air-conditioned lounges to the open-air observation lounges, there is plenty of seating and spots to relax. Plus, our lounges are located at the front of the ship, not the back, so no matter where you sit you’ll always have a great view.

Our crew embodies the spirit of “you first”, no matter what. From the reception staff and bartender to wait staff and room attendant, we always deliver exquisite service that’s comfortable and friendly, never stuffy! Our ships become your home away from home.

Here are some of the features you’ll enjoy on-board the Siem Reap or the Saigon, two purpose-built, river cruise ships.