Timeless Treasures of the Mekong

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Itinerary

1. 1

   Day 1 London to Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam.

   Fly by scheduled indirect flight to Ho Chi Minh City.

2. 2

   Day 2 Ho Chi Minh City.

   Arrive this morning into Ho Chi Minh City (formerly known as Saigon) and transfer to the centrally located Park Hyatt hotel for a two night stay. Enjoy an afternoon at leisure and tonight meet your fellow travellers for dinner at the hotel. (D)

3. 3

   Day 3 Ho Chi Minh City.

   After breakfast, join a guided tour of the city which was built by the French in 1850. We begin our day with a visit to the Central Post Office and along the way we will also view the Saigon Opera House, constructed by the French in 1898. We visit Independence Palace, also known as Reunification Palace, which was designed by the architect Ngo Viet Thu. The palace was the home and former workplace of the president of South Vietnam during the Vietnam War. We also visit the War Remnants Museum which primarily contains exhibits relating to the Vietnam War. Later today there will be the option to either learn how to make a traditional Vietnamese dish in a cooking class or alternatively take an optional tour to the Cu Chi Tunnels, a massive tunnel network on the outskirts of the city, which were used by the Viet Cong soldiers to house troops and move supplies during the Vietnam War. (B, L)

4. 4

   Day 4 Ho Chi Minh City.

   This morning there will be some free time after breakfast before we transfer to the RV Mekong Princess. Enjoy lunch on board with breathtaking views as we set sail for our journey along the Mekong. Join your fellow travellers this evening for the welcome reception and dinner on board. (B, L, D)

5. 5

   Day 5 Ben Tre & Can Tho.

   This morning we sail on traditional Vietnamese sampans through a channel lined with mangroves to visit a local coconut candy maker. After watching the candy-making process we will walk through the village to visit an orchard where fruits native to Vietnam can be seen in various stages of maturity on the vine. After a fresh fruit tasting, we continue to a pier where we board small, local boats for a trip through the narrow creeks lined with Nipah palm before returning to the ship. This afternoon we sail through an area of the Mekong Delta barely touched by tourism to Can Tho city, the riverside capital city of the Mekong Delta. On arrival enjoy a welcome unicorn dance before we continue with our walking tour of Can Tho. The tour will include a visit to the Zihuang Pagoda. There will be some time at leisure to explore this charming city and visit the street food market before dinner is served on board. (B, L, D)

6. 6

   Day 6 Can Tho & Phu Tan.

   We begin our morning before breakfast aboard the sampans for a cruise through the fascinating Cai Rang floating market near Can Tho. The sampans will weave in and out of the many boats that sail into the market each morning to sell produce and other items the residents of the Mekong Delta need in their daily lives. As they weave through the market, there will be many opportunities for amazing photographs, while enjoying fresh fruit and the Vietnamese “anti-aging drink,” fresh coconut water. Before returning to the ship for breakfast, we stop at a local noodle factory, where we witness the amazing process of how they are made. After lunch, board a traditional sampan for a visit to Phu Tan Village, where lush vegetable gardens and expansive rice fields offer a glimpse into the region's enduring agricultural traditions. Meet local artisans and discover the skills of traditional carpentry and antique restoration. Our tour concludes at Ca Rang Village, where you can witness the meticulous art of handcrafting traditional clay stoves—a delicate craft passed down through generations. (B, L, D)

7. 7

   Day 7 Gieng Island & Hong Ngu - Border Crossing.

   This morning we board sampans that will take us into Gieng Island. After a short walk around the local sampan village, where sampans are produced daily by local families, we take a canal drive to explore the untouched floating area with duck farms, monkey bridges, and tropical orchards along the riverside. We drive through the island on local transport “xe loi” to visit a Catholic monastery, built around the same time as the Notre Dame Cathedral in Saigon in the 1870s. This afternoon we visit the local island village of Hong Ngu, not far from the Vietnam-Cambodia border. Hong Ngu produces a large number of the traditional Khmer scarves exported to Cambodia and we will have the opportunity to see the weaving process in several of the homes as well as displays of embroidery. The inhabitants of this area had only encountered one western visitor prior to the arrival of the RV Mekong Princess and are especially friendly and welcoming. Also visit the local temple dedicated to a unique religion founded in this area of Vietnam, Hoa Hoa. In the late afternoon, the RV Mekong Princess will cross the border into Cambodia and continue up the Mekong River. (B, L, D)

8. 8

   Day 8 Phnom Penh, Cambodia.

   This morning the RV Mekong Princess sails towards Phnom Penh. After lunch on board join local cyclo drivers for an afternoon city tour of Phnom Penh. We ride along the riverfront to the Royal Palace, where we enjoy a leisurely walk through the grounds, with opportunities to visit the Throne Hall and moonlight Pavilion. Upon crossing into the second section of the complex, we walk amongst enormous stupas and spirit houses. We continue to the famous silver pagoda, home of Cambodia's Emerald Buddha and Maitreya Buddha, encrusted with more than 9000 diamonds. Following some free time we return to the cyclos for a ride to the National Museum which houses the largest pre- Angkorian and Angkorian holdings in Cambodia. (B, L, D)

9. 9

   Day 9 Phnom Penh.

   After breakfast we drive to Tuol Sleng (infamously known as S-21), which was converted by the Khmer Rouge from a large school to a prison and torture headquarters. We continue to Choeung Ek, the ‘Killing Fields'. Here we visit the small museum and Memorial Stupa and learn about the atrocities committed during the Khmer Rouge regime. Return to the vessel for lunch and enjoy the afternoon at leisure to relax on board or perhaps explore the city independently. Before dinner this evening there will be a performance of traditional folk dance on board. (B, L, D)

10. 10

    Day 10 Angkor Ban.

    Enjoy the morning sailing. After lunch on board, we visit the charming town of Angkor Ban. Here, we witness the daily life of the local people, starting with a brief stop at a local monastery complex to experience a water blessing ceremony. We continue through the village with an opportunity to visit a family's home, to meet the family and discuss their lifestyle. Afterwards, we continue to the local school where we join the children in their classroom and experience what their typical school day is like. There will be opportunities to take photos during our return journey to the vessel. (B, L, D)

11. 11

    Day 11 Kampong Cham to Siem Reap.

    After breakfast we disembark the RV Mekong Princess in Kampong Cham and transfer to the Park Hyatt Siem Reap for a three night stay. The Park Hyatt Siem Reap is the city's most prestigious address, located in the heart of the city. The remainder of the day will be at leisure to enjoy this beautiful city independently. Enjoy dinner at the hotel this evening. (B, D)

12. 12

    Day 12 Siem Reap.

    This morning we visit the famous Angkor Wat complex, situated 5.5 kilometres north of the modern town of Siem Reap and built during the reign of King Suryavarman II in the early 12th century. The modern name Angkor Wat means ‘Temple city' or 'City of Temples' in Khmer. After lunch at a local restaurant we ride on Tuk Tuks to visit the walled city of Angkor Thom, the last capital of the great Khmer Empire under the reign of Jayavarman VII. Bayon Temple is located at the end of the south gate entrance and is regarded as a 12th century masterpiece. Inside the city we will see impressive stone carvings. (B, L)

13. 13

    Day 13 Siem Reap.

    Today, we travel to the gem of the Angkor area and the pretty temple of Banteay Srey. The so-called “Citadel of the Women” remains the best preserved temple in Cambodia. Next we visit Ta Prohm; it has been largely left as it was found, overgrown by jungle trees and vines, making it one of the most picturesque of the Angkor temples. This afternoon, we visit the Roulous temple group, the site of the ancient centre of the Khmer civilisation known as Hariharalaya. Enjoy dinner this evening at a local restaurant. (B, D)

14. 14

    Day 14 Siem Reap to London.

    After breakfast at the hotel, transfer to the airport for the scheduled indirect flight to London. (B)

15. 15

    Day 15 London.

    Arrive this morning.

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Mekong Princess

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