Cambodia – Vietnam Cruise Vacation

Pick you up from meeting point and followed by a quick transfer to the boutique ship. The ever-smiling crew welcomes us with unbridled warmth and a refreshing welcome drink, then sumptuous lunch will be served on the Ship.
Lazy afternoon as the ship glides along the Tonle Sap ( maybe named the Great Lake) – the flowing heart of Cambodia, giving love and life to this nation. The Tonle Sap has more fish than any other lake in the world and is home to an incredible variety of birds, including rare – and endangered – feathered life. Dinner is at dining Hall. Enjoy a spectacular experience on the sun deck as we bathe in the glow of the moon and the radiance of the stars. The ship moors overnight in the river or on the lake.

Start the day with an invigorating Tai Chi lesson on the sun deck, just as the sun begins its slow rise. Coffee and tea awaits the early bird. Before dawn, the ship sets sail across the Tonle Lake. As the ship is about to exit the lake, we see spectacular marshlands floating along the river banks of Kampong Chhnang province.
The afternoon cruise continues with a languid meander along the Tonle River, which narrows through leafy swaths of the Southeast Asian jungle. Here, the river is very narrow and we are greeted by kids waving enthusiastically at us from the banks. Follow a short bus trip to the see the Khmer-styled pottery at the Aundaung Russey village. We then embark on a truly marvellous motorboat excursion from Kampong Chhnang to see the wetlands, floating houses and fish farms in the region before reaching Kampong Cham in the evening. Further down the river we take part in an ox cart rally before being introduced to the Heritage Line pro bono “literacy project”. Overnight in Kampong Cham.

Wake up in the small hours of the morning, truly energized to embark on a land journey to the pre-Angkorian temple of Wat Hanchey. Take a motor-taxi or climb 291 steps to the top. Located at the top of a hill overlooking the river, this is one of the most breath-taking views in Cambodia. Built in the 8th century, this ancient structure, together with a bigger and newer addition underscores the superb architecture of the Chenla Empire which predates the mighty Angkor temple complex. Get to engage in light banter with some of the monks in the area. We will return to the Ship to witness a blessing ceremony performed by orange-clad local monks.
Cruise towards Kampong Cham to visit Wat Nokor, a wat built within the ruins of an ancient temple which holds a timeless story. On the way back to the Ship, we will visit an orphanage. Along the way, we will have to maneuver a 2-kilometer rickety bamboo bridge. Our sense of balance lies in the balance and overnight midstream near Phnom Penh.

Known as the Paris of the East. Despite its rapid development, Phnom Penh has retained a lot of its rustic charm and elegance.
After breakfast, we will be captivated by a comprehensive lecture on Cambodia’s modern history through a city tour, visiting the dazzling white and gold edifice of the Royal Palace and the Silver Pagoda, and witnessing exceptionally beautiful Khmer craft at the National Museum.
After lunch at a typical restaurant, continue to the Genocide Museum and the Killing Field in town to understand more about the magnanimous history during Cambodia’s Khmer Rouge regime.
After our museum visit, get back to the Ship and take a rest on your cabin balcony or the lounge and get prepared for an exciting evening event. The evening starts with a variety of cocktails served on the sun deck. Take a seat and enjoy the following Apsara dance performance. Experience the brilliance and richness of this culture, the soothing sounds of traditional music, the calming scent of incense sticks and a barbeque on the sun deck. It is indeed a truly marvellous experience, dining in the open with the stars and the moon as our companions. Overnight on the Jahan Cruise.

In the morning, the cruise liner sets sail for a lazy day of cruising along the main Mekong Channel, an international shipping route, you will witness large commercial ships plying this route. Later, in the afternoon, we set off to the Vietnamese border for the requisite cross border paperwork. As the process tends to take some time, we bask in the glow of the afternoon sun on the sun deck, pamper ourselves silly at the Spa, or sharpen our culinary skills with the Heritage Line’s Cambodian and Vietnamese cuisine cooking class. The ship moors midstream overnight.

After a hearty breakfast, take a short excursion in Chau Doc, a pleasant town near the Cambodian border with sizable Chinese, Kinh and Khmer communities. We will also visit the colorful local market near an ancient temple. This is followed by a trip to the quay, where we will be feted to a boat excursion to the floating villages and rustic catfish farms.
After enjoy watching schools of basa fish being fed by hand, get back to the ship for a lunch. In the mid afternoon, we will set off for My An Hung Village. Walk to the family house through the vegetable garden to see the boat building yard, canals, then cross a monkey bridge and see chili, corn and beetle nut plantations among other vegetable fields. Then gather at the family’s house to taste tea with honey with local delicacies and fruits before back to the ship to set off for Sa Dec. In the late afternoon cast off and overnight in Sa Dec.

In the morning, embark a traditional sampan (a flat bottomed traditional Vietnamese wooden boat) to tour Binh Thanh Island and its man-made canals. Here, every villager is involved in the process of growing and processing water hyacinths into natural fibre floor mats and rattan baskets.
After lunch onboard, the ship arrives in Cai Be. The tour starts with a visit to Cai Be’s boisterous and colorful floating market where traders gather in a cacophonous congregation. During the languid ride, we discover breathtaking landscapes along the river and quaff the rustic life on the Mekong Delta. The evergreen islands along the Mekong River remains unknown to many people. The cruise allow us to observe how rice paste, rice cookies and coconut candies are made, along with the Longan fruit drying process. After touring the canals, we head to an ancient house surrounded by fruit orchards before heading to the ship for dinner. Board the ship for a tranquil evening cruise towards My Tho. A wonderful farewell party awaits us on the terrace deck. Overnight on the Jahan Cruise

The cruise on the magnificent cruiser comes to an end as the ship winds its way to My Tho, approximately 70km south of Saigon on the upper Mekong river in Vietnam. We bid farewell to the cruise as our journey comes to a close. Disembark at around 8:30 am and then transfer to madding crowd of Saigon. Drop off will be at the meeting point in Saigon, comes to an end as the ship arrives at My Tho Port. Disembarkation in the early morning for a coach transfer to InterContinental Asiana Saigon Hotel. Arrive at the hotel late morning.