Characteristics
River Cruise. Local english-speaking guides for all destinations. Meals included (see “Price includes”)
Itinerary
Day 1 — Long Xuyen
Departure by coach from the EMM Saigon Hotel to Can Tho, the vibrant heart of the Mekong Delta. Stop in the rustic riverside town of Cai Be, where lunch is served at the elegant Le Longanier Restaurant, surrounded by lush fruit trees along the river. Board the Victoria Mekong Cruise at the Victoria Can Tho Pier at 4:00 PM. Set sail for Long Xuyen and have the opportunity to admire the sunset over the Hau River. Enjoy a traditional southern Vietnamese folk music performance, known as "Don Ca Tai Tu," while sipping a cocktail. As day turns into night, enjoy a welcome dinner that officially greets you aboard the Victoria Mekong Cruise, accompanied by onboard entertainment activities. Overnight near Long Xuyen.,
Day 2 — Long Xuyen → Vam Nao
After breakfast, tender ashore to visit the authentic Long Xuyen Floating Market and the An Giang Museum, with fascinating exhibits on Kinh, Chinese, Khmer and Cham cultures in the region. During lunch the ship sails on before anchoring near Tiger Island. Head ashore by sampan and explore Tiger Island by 3-wheeled “xe loi”, visiting cottage industries such as plant pot and incense making. Visit a site locally known as “Mr. Tiger’s Temple” and hear the story that won the island its name. Return on board in time for the cocktail competition and the evening’s entertainment as the ship continues cruising to Vam Nao where we anchor and overnight.,
Day 3 — Vam Nao → Tan Chau
Wake up to another leisurely breakfast in Phu Tan, the provincial capital of An Giang in the Mekong Delta. Tender ashore to visit a craft village famed for handmaking Ca Rang clay stoves. Used for hundreds of years by the southern Vietnamese, these stoves have a unique design which allows them to block the wind, retain heat, and keep ash from dispersing. Enjoy lunch onboard as we cruise towards the village of Tan Chau where we’ll travel by local rickshaw to visit the local market and colorful temple which is the spiritual center for local residents. Return to the ship in time for a traditional Vietnamese lion dance, followed by dinner and the evening’s entertainment. Overnight in Tan Chau.,
Day 4 — Tan Chau → Phnom Penh
Enjoy early morning scenery on the Sky deck while the ship begins cruising towards the Vietnam – Cambodia border. After the leisurely breakfast in the Claypot restaurant, select from the many onboard activities including a ship’s tour, mini-golf tournament, or simply enjoy the scenery as we cross the border between Vietnam and Cambodia and sail on towards Phnom Penh. We arrive late afternoon in the charming capital of Phnom Penh, once known as the “Pearl of the Orient” for its French colonial buildings, tree-lined boulevards and scenic river walk. Before dinner, enjoy an interesting pre-dinner lecture about Cambodia as well as learn some basic Khmer phrases. Overnight in Phnom Penh.,
Day 5 — Phnom Penh
This morning, hop on a three-wheeled cyclo and be driven to the majestic Royal Palace and Silver Pagoda complex. Admire the elaborately constructed palace buildings, some of the 5,000 silver floor tiles that give the Silver Pagoda its name, as well as spectacular gold and bejeweled Buddha statues that are considered national treasures. Walk to the nearby National Museum, a beautiful sandstone building that showcases the world’s largest collection of Khmer art. Set off for lunch afterward before driving to Choeung Ek, one of the mass grave sites of the Killing Fields where the Khmer Rouge executed over a million men, women, and children between 1975 and 1979. Today, Choeung Ek is a memorial with a Buddhist stupa filled with skulls and bones to honor the victims. Finish off the afternoon in style at Raffles Hotel Le Royal, sipping on a signature cocktail at the famed Elephant Bar. Return to the ship and take in a lively performance of Khmer Apsara dancing with the opportunity to meet the performers afterward.,
Day 6 — Phnom Penh → Angkor Ban
After breakfast, go on a walking tour of the village of Koh Chen where the highlight is meeting a local copper and silversmith. Afterward, travel by coach to Oudong, the ancient capital of Cambodia with a stop at the fascinating Vipassana Dhura Meditation Center. After having lunch on board, travel by three-wheeled tuk tuk to Silk Island where you will learn about the process of silk weaving, from worm to loom, with the chance to observe local families weaving the iconic Cambodian krama.,
Day 7 — Angkor Ban → Kampong Cham
This morning, explore the village of Angkor Ban with its wooden stilt houses and local vibe. Enjoy lunch on board as the Victoria Mekong sails to Wat Hanchey. Walk up the steps to this 7th-century hilltop temple built under the Chenla Empire, and take in gorgeous panoramic views over the Mekong River.,
Day 8 — Kampong Cham
Disembark from the ship at Kampong Chham and travel through the lush Cambodian countryside. Upon arrival to Siem Reap, gateway to the mystical Angkor Complex, sit down to a final lunch where the cruise program ends.,
Notes
ROOMS: Triple rooms are double rooms plus an extra bed, typically smaller than the other two. Triple rooms are subject to availability at the time of reservation. Special requests for smoking, communicating, adjoining, high floor, low floor rooms etc. are always upon request and the service is never to be intended as guaranteed. TRAVEL DOCUMENTS: before the start of the tour, all the participants must make sure they possess the required documents to enter the destination countries, and that such documents are comprehensive and valid. FINAL HOTEL LIST: as in the travel documents HOTEL, CHECK-IN: rooms are usually assigned starting from 3pm. Earlier check-in is at the hotel’s discretion. If you request earlier assignation, you must book an extra night at the beginning of your stay. HOTEL, CHECK-OUT: rooms must be left in the morning (the exact time will be provided by the hotel). Supplements for late check-out amount to 50% of an extra night if you check-out by 6pm, and to a full extra night if you check-out after that HOTEL / ITINERARY, CHANGES: The Organizing Body reserves the right to substitute the itinerary and/or the hotels to alternative of a similar or superior category in the event of unplanned circumstances, and if the safe and normal proceeding of the tour is threatened. Furthermore, when in the impossibility for all of the travellers to stay at the same hotel, the group will be split amidst several hotels of the same category. TIMETABLES: departure times are indicative, depending on the number of hotel pick-ups per day. Tourists are kindly asked to be in the lobby at the indicated time. Depending on which hotel you are staying at, you may have to wait 15 minutes or more. The return times are indicative and subject to change depending on a number of factors, including traffic and duration of the visits. PUNCTUALITY: you are advised to be punctual. No refund is issued to passengers failing to meet at designated time. TIPS: not included; at your discretion MEALS: not included when not specified REFUNDS: If the tour or any part thereof cannot be conducted due to Force Majeure or Vis Majeure, the Company shall not be responsible to give any refund; also, no refund will be given for any portions of the tour unused by the traveler TRANSFERS: not included when not specified. When included, transfers operate only from/to the hotels included in the tour, and only on the first and last day of the tour. A supplement is charged for transfers from/to different hotels; in the event of a longer stay; and in the event of arrival/departure at/from other airports. A supplement is always charged to individual passengers. Requests for unscheduled transfers from/to different hotels must be issued at least 3 weeks before departure; otherwise, an additional urgency surcharge will be applied.,
Starts from
8 days / 6 nights – from Long Xuyen to Kampong Cham,
Meals
Key: B breakfast, L lunch, D dinner
Price includes
Local english-speaking guides for all destinations, admissions, visits and excursions: as scheduled, meals: breakfasts, lunches, dinners,
Price does not include
Administration fees and “no-risk” coverage, trip cancellation, medical expense & baggage coverage, meals that have not been specified; beverage; any extra, tips, porterage, air travel and taxes, everything not expressly mentioned in "The fee includes"
Important notes
It is necessary to plan at least one overnight stay at Saigon before the departure of the tour., on the last day, flight from Siem Reap (not included): book a flight leaving after 20.00, the timetable in the travel plan is indicative. The definite timetable will be confirmed on site by your guides, Visiting Vietnam: starting from July 2015, an entry visa is no longer required. The exemption is valid for stays not exceeding 15 days (45 days starting from August 15, 2023)., Cambodia visa is mandatory: 35 USD, it can be obtained on site (further details will be provided upon booking)., Tips: although not mandatory, tips are recommended for all those who provide a service such as guides, drivers of any means of transportation used, porters. It is a sign of appreciation that makes them proud and gratifies them for the work done. As an indication, the amount to consider per person per day is about 5 USD for the tour guide and 3 USD for the driver of the vehicle used for transportation. For the rest of the services provided, the amount of the tip is at the discretion of the traveler.,
