8 Days CLASSIC MEKONG Cruise Tour from SAIGON to SIEM REAP

ITINERARY
Upstream
DAY 1 SAIGON – MY THO – BEN TRE
Transfer from Saigon to the river port for embarkation. After lunch, we journey by sampans through mangroves and bamboo forests to the fruit orchards of Ben Tre. This is an area rich in birdlife which we will explore via local transport before transferring to a local rowboat. We will journey slowly through the bamboo covered canals before arriving at a village specialising in making local products. In the evening you will be entertained by a Vietnamese dance troupe on deck.

More about Saigon
Saigon – My Tho – Ben TreSaigon – My Tho – Ben Tre
DAY 2 GAO GIONG
Sailing through the delta offers a real insight into life along this vast waterway. After lunch, a short coach journey through the lush countryside to Gao Giong ‘green oasis’, a 1,000-acre eucalyptus forest and listed wildlife sanctuary. Here a diverse selection of water birds and egrets gather in their tens of thousands across the Duong Tharp Muoi or ‘Plain of Reeds’. Rowboats traverse the canals to take us to view the principal nesting areas where photo opportunities abound.

DAY 3 CHAU DOC – VIETNAM/CAMBODIA BORDER
We go alongside at the picturesque border town of Chau Doc where we visit the floating markets & fish farms by sampan. We make a stop at a Chham Village and observe the lives of Vietnamese Muslims before taking minivans for a short drive to Sam Mountain, location of Phuoc Dien Tu or the Hang Pagoda. We climb the 400 steps to the top to visit the pagoda. Upon return to ship, we navigate a web of canals before dropping anchor on the Vietnam/Cambodia border to undergo Immigration formalities.

Chau Doc – Vietnam/Cambodia BorderChau Doc – Vietnam/Cambodia Border
DAY 4 PHNOM PENH
Morning orientation of Phnom Penh by cyclo visiting the Royal Palace and Silver Pagoda followed by the National Museum with its marvelous collection of Angkorian statuary. In the afternoon we visit the Killing Fields and Genocide museum to learn more about the brutal Khmer Rouge regime. Overnight in Phnom Penh city port with its lively bars, restaurants and night life.

More about Phnom Penh
DAY 5 KAMPONG TRALACH
Morning at leisure in Phnom Penh with its café life and many smart boutiques. After lunch, we sail up the winding channels of the Tonle Sap river to Kampong Tralach. We travel by ox-cart around the river-side villages, markets and temples to get a sense of life along the river. In the evening cocktails are round a village fire pit where we will be joined by village folk keen to show us their traditional dancing show us more of the delightful Khmer culture.

Kampong TralachKampong Tralach
DAY 6 OUDONG – SILK ISLAND
In the morning, travel by coach to the ancient capital of Cambodia, Oudong. On the way we stop to visit the Vipassana Dhura Meditation Centre before taking a drive around the old capital. We re-join our ship at Prek Kdam before returning to the Mekong. After lunch we sail to Koh Nghe Tei (Silk Island) to study the entire silk-making process from worms to weavers. We visit silk makers and can buy from them their lovely silk scarves and other fabrics. This village is a centre of the ancient martial art of L’bokator which roughly translates as ‘pounding a lion’. It includes weapons techniques and is one of the oldest combat techniques in Cambodia and believed to date back to the Angkor empire.

DAY 7 WAT HANCHEY & ANGKOR BAN VILLAGE VISIT
Sunrise cruise to Angkor Ban village to see how local villagers live and visit the library which was donated by Pandaw to Angkor Ban secondary school.

NOTE: if you want to donate books, please bring along some Children’s books in English language (suitable for age 8 to 15 yrs) which you can personally gift to the library.

In the afternoon we sail north to Wat Hanchey, an important centre of worship during the Chenla period located on top of a hill above the mighty Mekong River with some of the best Mekong views in Cambodia. Visit 8th century structures some destroyed by American bombings during the Vietnam War.

Wat Hanchey & Angkor Ban Village VisitWat Hanchey & Angkor Ban Village Visit
DAY 8 SIEM REAP
Disembark and travel by coach from Kampong Cham through stunningly lovely countryside to reach Siem Reap, adjacent to Angkor Wat.

Downstream
DAY 1 SIEM REAP – KAMPONG CHAM
Travel by coach from Siem Reap to Kampong Cham for embarkation. Enjoy an sunset cruise on the Mekong and meet your crew for the next 7 nights

More about Siem Reap
Siem Reap – Kampong ChamSiem Reap – Kampong Cham
DAY 2 ANGKOR BAN VILLAGE WALKS – SILK ISLAND
In the morning we visit Angkor Ban and a local Cambodian school where the local library was built with the support of Pandaw and our guests. Guests are encouraged to bring books to donate to the library for children to read. After luch, we study the entire silk making process from worms to weavers as we visit ‘Silk Island’. After learning about the silk process there will be a demonstration of the ancient Khmer martial art of Bokator.

DAY 3 OUDONG – KAMPONG TRALACH
In the morning, travel by coach to the ancient capital of Cambodia, Oudong. On the way we stop to visit the Vipassana Dhura Meditation Centre before taking a drive around the city. Rejoin your ship in Kampong Tralach for lunch abaord. In the afternoon we travel by ox-cart around the river-side villages, markets and temples. In the evening cocktails are round a village fire pit where we will be joined by village folk keen to show us their traditional dancing and more of the delightful Khmer culture.

Oudong – Kampong TralachOudong – Kampong Tralach
DAY 4 PHNOM PENH
Morning orientation of Phnom Penh by cyclo visiting the Royal Palace and Silver Pagoda followed by the National Museum with its marvelous collection of Angkorian statuary. In the afternoon we visit the Killing Fields and Genocide museum to learn more about the brutal Khmer Rouge regime. Overnight in Phnom Penh city port with its lively bars, restaurants and night life.

More about Phnom Penh
DAY 5 CAMBODIA/VIETNAM BORDER – CHAU DOC
We up anchor early morning and cruise downstream along the Mekong River to the Vietnam border with Vietnam for immigration formalities. We go alongside at the picturesque border town of Chau Doc where we visit the floating markets & fish farms by sampan. We make a stop at a Chham Village and observe the lives of Vietnamese Muslims before taking minivans for a short drive to Sam Mountain, location of Phuoc Dien Tu or the Hang Pagoda. We climb the 400 steps to the top to visit the pagoda.

Cambodia/Vietnam Border – Chau DocCambodia/Vietnam Border – Chau Doc
DAY 6 GAO GIONG
Sailing through the delta offers a real insight into life along this vast waterway. After lunch, a short coach journey through the lush countryside to Gao Giong ‘green oasis’, a 1,000-acre eucalyptus forest and listed wildlife sanctuary. Here a diverse selection of water birds and egrets gather in their tens of thousands across the Duong Tharp Muoi or ‘Plain of Reeds’. Rowboats traverse the canals to take us to view the principal nesting areas where photo opportunities abound.

DAY 7 BEN TRE
After lunch, we journey by sampans through mangroves and bamboo forests to the fruit orchards of Ben Tre. This is an area rich in birdlife which we will explore via local transport before transferring to a local rowboat. We will journey slowly through the bamboo covered canals before arriving at a village specialising in making local products. In the evening you will be entertained by a Vietnamese dance troupe on deck.

Ben TreBen Tre
DAY 8 MY THO – SAIGON
Morning disembarkation and travel by coach from My Tho to Saigon.

WHATS INCLUDED
Cruise Price Includes: Entrance fees, guide services (English language), gratuities to crew, main meals, local mineral water, jugged coffee, teas & tisanes. Transfers between the meeting point and the ship at the start and end of a voyage.

Cruise Price Excludes: International flights, port dues (if levied), laundry, all visa costs, fuel surcharges (see terms and conditions), all beverages except local mineral water, jugged coffee, teas & tisanes and tips to tour guides, local guides, bus drivers, boat operators and cyclo drivers.

TRANSFERS & JOINING
DAY 1 SIEM REAP – KAMPONG CHAM
Registration Details
FCC Angkor by Avani
Registration is at 09.00.
Pokambor Ave (next to Royal residence),
Siem Reap,
Kingdom of Cambodia.
Tel: +855 63 760 280

Morning transfer by coach from the FCC Angkor by Avani hotel to your Pandaw moored at Kampong Cham. Transfer will depart 10:00. and takes approx. 4 hours.

DAY 8 MY THO – SAIGON
Early morning group transfer to your hotel in Saigon, arriving around 10.30am.

Please note transfers are only available for central Saigon hotels and surcharges will apply for private transfers or transfers from hotels outside of District 1 and District 3.

VISA INFORMATION
Upstream
E-visa for Cambodia are not accepted at the river border. Visa on arrival for Cambodia will be arranged for you by the crew. Please bring 1x passport photo and fee of $35 USD.
Click here for full visa information.

Downstream
E-visa for Vietnam are now accepted at the river border. On your application, please enter SONG TIEN LANDPORT as your arrival port.
Click here for full visa information.