RV Mekong Navigator Cruise

ActivitiesLeave Siem Reap for Kampong Cham, check in cabin, and enjoy dinner.

MealLunch/ Dinner

IncludedTour guide, transportation, cabin on board

This morning, pick you up from the hotel and then transfer from Siem Reap to Kampong Cham, Cambodia. Upon arrival, embark the Mekong Navigator and enjoy a Welcome Reception on the Sun Deck. Following the informative Welcome Briefing and meeting with our friendly crew, a Cambodian theme dinner is served in the Le Marché Dining Room.

ActivitiesDiscover Wat Hanchey

MealB/L/D

IncludedTransportation, tour guide, accommodation, entrance fee

Take a morning excursion to the local, secondary school, which serves eight surrounding district. Following a tour of the school and an interesting Q&A opportunity with the principal and students. Continue to walk up the hill to the Wat Hanchey, and receive a traditional Buddhist Water Blessing from the monastery and the amazing views of the Mekong River valley, then return to the ship for lunch.
Following lunch, enjoy a drive through the city of Kampong Cham to visit the hills of Phnom Pros (man hill) and Phnom Srei (woman hill), the incredible Stupa, the 10-meter long reclining Buddha, and the 13-meter tall preaching Buddha. Today’s final visit is to the 12th century, Angkorian-period complex of Wat Nokor Bacey, which features several original statues of Buddha and stone inscriptions. Return to the ship, then sail downstream and overnight in RV Mekong Navigator Cruise.

ActivitiesTransfer to Kampong Chhnang along the beauty of Tonle Sap River

MealB/L/D

IncludedTransportation, accommodation, tour guide, sightseeing ticket

The ship sails slowly on the Tonle Sap River, enjoy the rural river life in Cambodia. Upon reaching the floating village of Kampong Chhnang, board a private excursion boat for a scenic cruise, where you observe the locals living, working, and even shopping on the river. Enjoy a beautiful sunset while sailing back to the Mekong, watching local children on the riverbanks bidding us farewell as we continue our journey. Lecture today: from Powerful Khmer Empire, through Genocide, to the Rebuilding of a Nation
Please note during certain high and low water conditions, government authorities will not allow us to sail to Kampong Chhnang. During these departures, a visit to the silk weaving village of Preak Bang Kong will be substituted. Preak Bang Kong is a traditional village, famous for their woven silk products. Take a walking tour to a local home “farm,” where the worms are raised, the silk is hand spun and dyed, then women weave the silk thread into fabrics on traditional looms. The homes selected are an excellent place for a little shopping.

ActivitiesPhnom Penh sightseeing

MealB/L/D

IncludedAccommodation, sightseeing ticket, tour guide, entrance fee

After breakfast on board this morning, the cyclo driver pick you up from the pier for an exciting morning city tour of Phnom Penh. Gently transport along the riverfront to the Royal Palace complex. Here enjoy a leisurely walk through the grounds viewing Throne Hall and Moonlight Pavilion, before visiting the famous Silver Pagoda, home of Cambodia’s Emerald Buddha and Maitreya Buddha encrusted with more than 9,000 diamonds. Then return to their cyclos for the short ride to the National Museum ending the morning with a comprehensive tour of the many Angkorian-preiod artifacts excavated at the Angkor Temple complex at Siem Reap.
Free at your leisure to explore Phnom Penh in the afternoon with a variety of optional excursions which to pick from, or simply enjoy their time independently shopping or at one of the many wonderful restaurants and pubs nearby.
Before dinner, children entertain guests on our Sun Deck with a cultural performance including Apsara, Cambodia’s national dance as well local traditional folk dances.

ActivitiesVisit Choeung Ek Killing Field

MealB/L/D

IncludedTransportation, tour guide, cabin on board, entrance fee

Today, learn more about the darkest days of Cambodian history. After a scenic 45-minute drive from the ship is the Choeung Ek killing fields, where will walk through the fields, visit the small museum during the Khmer Rouge regime. Before returning to the ship, tour Toul Sleng (also known as S-21), the former school that was converted to the main prison and torture headquarters of the Khmer Rouge. Enjoy one last free afternoon in Phnom Penh, before we set sail this evening to the border of Cambodia & Vietnam.

ActivitiesCruise to border crossing and arrive Vietnam

MealB/L/D

IncludedAccommodation, tour guide, transportation, entrance fee

Following clearing formalities crossing the border, guests witness a fascinating change in the architecture along the riverfront as they are now in Vietnam. After lunch, board beautiful sampans for a panoramic cruise of Chau Doc harbor with its traditional Vietnamese floating market. After visiting the mail town of Chau Doc and the colorful Tay An Pagoda, guests continue their panoramic tour aboard sampans to visit a local family’s fish farm. Here we will learn about various types of fish being caught and farm-raised in this region and the importance of this industry to Vietnam’s economy.

ActivitiesVisit Sa Dec and pass to cai Be

MealB/L/D

IncludedTransportation, sightseeing ticket, accommodation, entrance fee

Following hearty breakfast this morning, board sampans to navigate the narrow canals of the Mekong. Take time to observe daily routines of the villagers en route to the historic town as Sa Dec. Stop en-route at a local brick factory, view the complete process of brick-making by local men and women utilizing clay form the Mekong River.
We continue to the town as Sa Dec, where a short visit will be made to the home of Mr. Hyun Thuy Le, who inspires Marguerite Duras’ novel, L’Amant (The Lover) as well as a fascinating walk through the town’s market experiencing the sights and smells of the colorful fresh produce, meat, live fish and seafood being sold.
After get back to the ship for lunch, then enjoy an afternoon cruise to Cai Be. Pass the city’s beautiful French gothic Cathedral then tour the historic An Kiet House with its beautiful surrounding gardens. Following we board our sampans to visit a traditional rice factory where workers produce rice paper, rice wine, popped rice, and many varieties of traditional candies. We then set sail towards My Tho to enjoy a Reception and elegant Vietnamese theme dinner as we bid farewell to the magnificent Mekong.

ActivitiesAnchor in My Tho port for disembarkation

MealBreakfast

IncludedTransportation, tour guide

After buffet breakfast, time to say goodbye to the crew as you disembark the vessel and transfer to Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam. Learn more about the north of Viet Nam in the lecture during the transfer: Ho Chi Minh City from Khmer Seaport to Booming Metropolis.