Cruise to Cambodia and Vietnam – BD608
Cruise to Cambodia and Vietnam - BD608
Cruise to Cambodia and Vietnam for 8 days in low water. This program includes more time on the Cambodia stretch of the Mekong and along the Tonle Sap River. Joining us for the full 7-night Mekong Expedition Cruise allows us to share with you all the mysteries and wonders we have discovered between the Mekong and Tonle Sap River and among the diverse cultures thriving in our midst.
COUNTRIES:
WATERWAYS:
7 NIGHT CRUISE
Itinerary ~ Cruise to Cambodia and Vietnam
Day 1 Friday
Mekong River - Phnom Penh - Cambodia
To begin your Cruise to Cambodia and Vietnam we meet at the Phnom Penh TS1 Port for check-in to your 3-story, five star Mekong abode. Welcome aboard. We’ll leave you to settle into your floating retreat, with its window wall conferring an endlessly captivating panorama. Enjoy these private Mekong moments on your California king bed, terrace or daybed. Together we celebrate the onward journey towards the heart of this mighty river with a Khmer apsara performance, an indigenous tradition memorialized on the temple walls at Angkor Wat.
Day 2 Saturday
Mekong River - Koh Oknha Tey - Preah Prosop - Cambodia
On this river of time we admire dexterous Khmer artisans dyeing and weaving kroma, the ubiquitous item no Khmer lives without. Explore the riverbank on two wheels if you wish, past Buddhist temples and thatch houses perched on spindly wooden stilts while white oxen wade just offshore. After lunch, we board our marine-grade aluminum skiffs and head towards the tamarind trees of Preah Prosop, a remote village little changed over several lifetimes.
Day 3 Sunday
Tonle Sap River - Koh Chen - Kampong Prasat - Cambodia
In the silversmith village of Koh Chen, we watch artisans producing the magnificent silverware favored by Khmer royalty. We continue to Udong, the royal capital from the 17-19th centuries, where we learn about a uniquely challenging Buddhist practice at the Vipassana Dhura Mandala, a meditation center. In the afternoon, a walking tour of Kampong Prasat offers a close up perspective on local lives and their riverside environment.
Day 4 Monday
Tonle Sap River - Kampong Chhnang - Kampong Tralach - Cambodia
In the cooler hours, we head into the lush countryside to visit traditional potters and palm-sugar producers, astride mountain bikes or chauffeured by shaded tuk-tuk. Into the rice paddies we pedal to watch wizened masters scale sky-piercing palms towering over us. Cruise across the glassy water and disembark among the lotuses for an ox-cart ride along the Tonle Sap riverbanks, past lacquered wooden houses where during these dry months residents take refuge in the relative cool of these outdoor impromptu living rooms.
Day 5 Tuesday
Mekong River - Phnom Penh - Cambodia
We show off the Cambodian capital to our passengers by motorized tuk-tuk, the Royal Palace, Silver Pagoda and the National Museum of Cambodia, home to the world’s largest collection of Khmer art. For those who wish, we visit the Tuol Sleng Museum of Genocide and the Killing Field or shopping at Russian Market. We bid farewell to 4-night guests who are disembarking in Phnom Penh.
Welcome our 3-night passengers over custom sundowners like the Salted Watermelon Crush with Thai basil. Together we celebrate the onward journey towards the heart of this mighty river with a Khmer Apsara performance, an indigenous tradition memorialized on the temple walls at Angkor Wat.
Day 6 Wednesday
Mekong River - Ka´Om Samnor-Vinh Xuong Border Crossing - Chau Doc - My An Hung - Vietnam
Say ‘Good Morning, Vietnam’ while we cross the border and sail towards Tan Chau, a vibrant border town where we take the local rickshaw called xe loi for a trip around town or pedal 18 kilometers on the peaceful island of Long Khanh. In the afternoon, we visit a typical Mekong Delta village called My An Hung where we will walk through verdant plantations. We will be invited to a local's home to taste local fruits while hearing traditional folk songs performed by villagers, followed by a unique Unicorn dance. Biking option is also available for those who wish to explore on wheels.
Day 7 Thursday
Mekong River - Binh Thanh/Sa Dec - Cai Be - Vietnam
Begin the day at Binh Thanh mat weaving village or opt to visit Sa Dec where we will peruse the vibrant market and see the famous house of Marguerite Duras' legendary lover, Mr. Huynh Thuy Le. We continue downstream for Cai Be, zigzagging in our sampan past lone fishermen on their long tail boats. Later, our skiffs moor at a wooden pier. Here in Cai Be, walk or bike ride among high-roofed open courtyard houses, some dating back more than 100 years, and currently inhabited by gracious locals who will invite us to glimpse their property.
Day 8 Friday
Mekong River - My Tho – Ho Chi Minh - Vietnam
Today is the end of the Cruise to Cambodia and Vietnam. Disembarkation. En route to Ho Chi Minh, we stop at Vinh Trang Pagoda, one of the largest Mahayana Buddhist temple in the region. You will notice the mixed architectural style and see three large buddha statues plus an impressive collection of bonsai trees.
Pricing ~ Cruise to Cambodia and Vietnam
2020
2021
Winter Rates
| 2020 Winter Rates: Jan 3 - Apr 30 & Aug 7 - Dec 29 | 1st Deck Suite | 2nd Deck Suite | Charter Rates Up to 32 Pax |
|---|---|---|---|
| 7 Nights - Friday Departures | 9.450 | 9.800 | 278,000 |
| 4 Nights - Monday Departures | 5,400 | 5,600 | 159,000 |
| 3 Nights - Friday Departures | 4,050 | 4,200 | 119,000 |
Summer Rates
| 2020 Summer Rates (May 1 - Aug 6) | 1st Deck Suite | 2nd Deck Suite | Charter Rates Up to 32 Pax |
|---|---|---|---|
| 7 Nights - Friday Departures | 6,615 | 6,860 | 194,600 |
| 4 Nights - Monday Departures | 3,780 | 3,920 | 111,300 |
| 3 Nights - Friday Departures | 2,835 | 2,940 | 83,300 |
Price Per Person in USD
- Low Water Season: From January 1st to Aug 13th, 2020, and from December 4th to 31st , 2020
- The route Saigon - Phnom Penh goes from Saigon to Phnom Penh (4 nights) and from Phnom Penh along the Tonle Sap River then back to Phnom Penh (3 nights)
- The route Phnom Penh - Saigon goes from Phnom Penh to Phnom Penh (4 nights) along the Tonle Sap River and the Mekong River then from Phnom Penh to Saigon (3 nights)
Supplements and Discounts
- Single supplement: 25% in addition to the adult rate
- Child under 12 years old will receive a 20% discount
- Third person sleeping on sofa bed will receive a 20% discount
- Third person being a child under 12 years old sleeping on sofa bed pays US $500 per night
Features ~ Cruise to Cambodia and Vietnam
Included
- All meals while onboard
- Beverages (premium non-alcoholic, house wine and beer)
- All shore excursions
- Laundry
- Bike use
- Internet with intermittent connection
- Group transfers
Excluded
- All air tickets
- Visas
- Private transfers
- Spa services
- Boutique purchases
- Guide and crew gratuities
The Ship ~ Cruise to Cambodia and Vietnam
Aqua Mekong
The 62.4 meter (205 feet) Aqua Mekong was designed by Saigon-based architects at Noor Design to embody the aesthetic of a sophisticated five star hotel. Local sustainable materials and artisanal touches of the Mekong’s multifaceted cultures round out these generous interior spaces designed to welcome guests in the utmost comforts between on and off shore excursions along this fascinating river, and to Chinese wing tipped pagoda temples and remote Buddhist monasteries.
Spacious and indulgent, yet intimate enough to feel entirely exclusive, the Aqua Mekong incorporates relaxed yet refined lounging and dining areas and can accommodate a maximum of 40 guests plus crew. Modern navigation technologies and the highest cruise ship standards as well as our experienced river pilot and crew ensure smooth travel and safety on the water.
Gallery ~ Cruise to Cambodia and Vietnam
