From Siem Reap to the Mekong Delta (port-to-port cruise)

CroisiCruise: 9SR PP

9 Days

From the heights of the Himalayas to the southern coasts of the South China Sea, winding over 2,700 miles, the Mekong is much more than just irrigation for Indochina—everywhere it flows, it fascinates men and shapes their lives. Come take an expedition on this grand and plentiful “water snake," from Ho Chi Minh City, still largely influenced by the French colonial days, to Phnom Penh, Tonle Sap Lake and Siem Reap, following the footsteps of Henri Mouhot. Our meditative trip takes you along the Mekong River on board a ship combining charm and colonial-style comfort.

THE CROISIEUROPE DIFFERENCE

- All meals included - DRINKS INCLUDED with meals and at the bar
- Refined local cuisine
- Headsets are included for excursions
- Official welcome from the captain and crew
- Tour leader or cruise director on board
- Onboard activities and/or lectures
- Travel assistance and repatriation insurance
- All port fees included

HIGHLIGHTS

- EXCURSIONS INCLUDED:

- Crossing through the splendid Cho Gao canal
- Discover historical cities: Ho Chi Minh City and Phnom Penh
- Meet the locals and learn about their daily lives in Koh Chen, My Tho..s - cancellation and baggage insurance - tips for crew members on board the ship (for informational purposes, daily tips per passenger amount to US$5) - drinks other than those mentioned.

- Itinerary Day 1: Siem Reap

Please arrive at the Siem Reap pier at 2 p.m. (approximately 30 minutes between downtown and the port) to board your cruise ship. After comfortably settling into your cabins, we’ll introduce our crew at a welcome cocktail and have dinner on board. We’ll spend the night on board. Day 2: Tonle Sap Lake - Kampong Chhang - Kampong Tralach

We'll cruise across the lake. After lunch, we’ll visit Kampong Chhnang, one of the largest fishing ports on Tonle Sap Lake. Fish farming is abundant here. The region is also known for its traditional pottery combining ancient knowledge with modern techniques. We'll enjoy a tasting of regional products before returning on board and beginning to cruise to Kampong Tralach. We’ll spend the night on board. Day 3: Kampong Tralach - Koh Chen - Phnom Penh

We will set out to visit the beautiful Vihara at the Wat Kampong Tralach Leu pagoda. To access the pagoda, we need to cross the village of Kampong Tralach in ox carts, moving along a small road that runs perpendicular to the river in the middle of magnificent rice fields. Lunch. Once we arrive in Koh Chen, you can explore this small village where craftspeople specialize in silver and copper work and where ornaments used in traditional ceremonies at the pagoda or for marriages are fashioned. After returning on board, we'll spend the afternoon cruising towards Phnom Penh, arriving in the early evening. Enjoy a brief tour of the area by "tuk-tuk," the easiest way to get around the city. We’ll return to the ship and enjoy a performance of classical Khmer dancing and music. The ship will remain in port overnight. Day 4: Phnom Penh

We’ll enjoy a tour of the fabulous Royal Palace and visit his Silver Pagoda. Onward to visit the National Museum. After lunch in town, you can pay a visit to the Tuol Svay Prey School, a former detention, torture, and execution center run by the Khmer Rouge during the civil war. Afterwards, enjoy some free time at the market. Return on board and have dinner as we continue our cruise through the night to Vietnam. Night on board. Day 5: Chau Doc - Sa Dec

We’ll arrive in Chau Doc. The now-prosperous area has developed around fish and fish farming and the town is a busy, lively place with few tourists and several charming colonial buildings. We’ll pay a visit to the Ba Chua Xu Temple and the Tay An Pagoda. Once we are on board, our ship will begin to cruise toward Sa Dec. We’ll spend the night on board. Day 6: Sa Dec - Vinh Long - Cai Be

Discover the local market of Sa Dec and visit the former house of Huynh Thuy Le, the man who Marguerite Duras based her book The Lover on. We’ll have lunch on board and cruise to Vinh Long—located in the middle of the delta, between two distributaries of the Mekong River. We’ll set out in smaller boats and travel through canals. We’ll discover a brick and pottery factory, a fruit tree nursery in Binh Hoa Phuoc, puffed riced and the rice-paper wrappers used to make nems, and rice alcohol. We’ll return on board our ship and begin to cruise. We’ll spend the night on board. Day 7: My Tho - Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon)

We will visit a beekeeping farm where we will taste honey tea and exotic fruits. Lunch. We return on board for lunch and continue with our magnificent cruise, taking the narrow Chao Gao canal and heading for H