By combining shipboard life, in elegant French colonial luxury, with discreet and fascinating shore excursions, this is the most intimate way to be ‘up close and personal’ with the people and culture of Southern Vietnam. The ultimate journey of exploration, along the lower Mekong, is to cruise from Saigon Port through the waterways of the famous Mekong Delta and then head north into Cambodian waters.
DAY 1: SAIGON PORT EMBARKATION
Our guide awaits you at the Meeting Point, Park Hyatt Saigon, then transfer to the Mekong Princess docking at Saigon Port. Once aboard, you will be welcomed by your Vietnamese and Cambodian ship’s crew, before embarking on the most extraordinary journey of discovery. We sail at midday through the famed Mekong Delta on our way to the ‘Mighty Mekong River’. Lunch, with highly attentive oriental hospitality, will be served soon after departure, as we cruise along the Saigon River. Having settled into your luxurious suites, you can relax and enjoy the new scenes and watch the world pass by.Late in the day we anchor in the heart of the Mekong Delta, where cocktails are served as sun sets, and sampans pass by. A traditional Vietnamese dinner is soon ready, embracing a subtle fusion of dishes for the most eclectic tastes.DAY 2: BEN TRE, TRA ON
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 (two guests per boat) 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 see Phuoc Hau historic pagoda and a local handicraft village.
DAY 3: CAN THO, HOA AN
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, continue excursion by boat to Hoa An village, where is untouched and well- known with flower growing and handmade craft. Our first stop at flower gardens where we will see many different kinds of flowers and learn how to grow and take care of them. Then, a short walking to a local house and chat with the host to see how they live and work in their daily life.After a short break, continue our excursion on motor cart to another village. We stop by at the conical hat-making and mat weaving families, have memorable time chatting with local family members and learning how to create products though hands-on experience. Enjoy your walk in the peaceful village with rice fields, fruit trees...in between visiting 2 local families. Then, we say goodbye and go back to the ship by boat.DAY 4: GIENG ISLAND
This morning we board sampans that will take us into Gieng Island. After a short walk around the local sampan village, where hundreds of 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 will try one of most popular local transportation named “xe loi” (motor trishaw) driving through this island to visit a Catholic Church, built around the same time as the Notre Dame Cathedral in Saigon in the 1870s.
DAY 5: HONG NGU BORDER CROSSING
Today 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. Woven in many homes around the village, here we have the opportunity to see the weaving process under several homes. Some villagers are also embroidery artists, displaying their art in and around thehomes. The inhabitants of this area had only encountered one western visitor prior to the arrival of the Mekong Princess, they are especially friendly and welcoming. Guests will also visit the local temple dedicated to a unique religion founded in this area of Vietnam, Hoa Hao. This afternoon, the Mekong Princess will cross the border into Cambodia and continue up the Mekong River.DAY 6: PHNOM PENH- WELCOME TO COMBODIA
After breakfast this morning, local cyclo drivers meet you for an exciting city tour of Phnom Penh. You begin your ride along the riverfront to the Royal Palace, where a leisurely walk takes you through the grounds, with opportunities to visit the Throne Hall and Moonlight Pavilion. Upon crossing into the second section of the complex, you walk amongst enormous stupas and spirit houses, on the way to the famous Silver Pagoda, home of Cambodia’s Emerald Buddha and Maitreya Buddha, encrusted with more than 9,000 diamonds. Following a short break, your cyclos take you to the National Museum. Housing the largest pre-Angkorian and Angkorian holdings in Cambodia, the National Museum ends the morning tour with a comprehensive look at many of the artifacts excavated around the Angkor Archeological Area in Siem Reap, as well as other areas around the former Khmer Empire. After a return cyclo ride to the ship, you may wish to take some time to have lunch at a local restaurant, walk along the quay, or visit some of Phnom Penh’s famous markets and lovely boutiques.This afternoon, private motor-coach take you on a scenic 45-minute drive from the ship, arriving at Choeung Ek, the killing fields depicted in the movie, and the center of the darkest days of Cambodian history. You may walk through the fields, visit the small museum and Memorial Stupa, and learn more about the atrocities committed during the Khmer Rouge regime. On the return drive to Phnom Penh, a stop is made at Tuol Sleng (infamously known as S-21), which was converted by the Khmer Rouge from a large school to a prison and torture headquarters.Before dinner, children from a local orphanage entertain guests with a cultural performance including Apsara, Cambodia’s national dance, as well as several traditional folk dances.DAY 7: ANGKOR BAN
Today we start the day with a visit to the charming town of Angkor Ban. Here, we witness the daily life of the local people, starting with a visit to a family’s home, to meet the family and discuss their lifestyle. We continue through the village to the local school where we join the children in their classroom and experience what their typical school day is like.
DAY 8: KAMPONG CHAM DISEMBARKATION
After breakfast we disembark the Mekong Princess in Kampong Cham. Transfer by motor-coach to Siem Reap. Arrive Meeting Point at the Park Hyatt Siem Reap Hotel at noon.
- Full board welcome and farewell diner
- Cruise Itinerary and Program
- Entrance and Sightseeing Fees
- In-house English-speaking Tour Guide
- Superb dining with all meals included
- 7-night cruise accommodation in an outside stateroom and all port taxes included
- Services of an experienced cruise director throughout the cruise
- Cabin amenities included infotainment system & 24/7 hotline support
- Airfares, and Hotels
- Visa Arrangements & Port tax per passenger
- Crew gratuities, Tips and personal expenses
- Beverages at bar other than mentioned
- All the meals which does not mentioned clearly above
- Peak season or Public holidays surcharge if any
- Compulsory Gala dinner on X-Mas or New Year if any
- All other services not clearly mentioned above
