Date

Itinerary

03 May 20

Ho Chi Minh City

Welcome Dinner at 7.30pm.  Hotel: Central Palace Hotel (D)

04 May 20

Cu Chi Tunnel and Board RV Lan Diep

Own arrangements until lunch in a local restaurant, after lunch we visit Cu Chi Tunnel: On arrival we will watch a short introductory video before exploring the Cu Chi Tunnels, the most famous battlegrounds in the world. We will explore the complex tunnel system and view may craters left from B52 bombing raids. After that we can travel try firing real bullets at the shooting range or go souvenir shopping before your return transfer back to Ho Chi Minh City and boarding RV Lan Diep. (B/L/D)

05 May 20

Ho Chi Minh City - Chao Gao

After breakfast, we devote our morning to visiting Cholon, whose name means “Great market”, a district crawling with people, where almost half the population of the city lives and where trade reigns supreme. We visit the market and the Thien Hau Pagoda, dedicated to the Goddess of the Sea. We have lunch onboard before our afternoon visit of the National History museum then a visit to a lacquer-ware factory. We return on board and set sail for the navigation channel of Chao Gao. Dinner and overnight on board and we drop anchor and moor for the night at Nha Be. (B/L/D)

06 May 20

Very early this morning, we continue our cruise to My Tho along the magnificent Chao Gao Canal, which passes from the Saigon River to the Mekong Delta. We have breakfast as we arrive in My Tho. The town is named after the river My Tho which means “beautiful reed”, and it is peaceful and prosperous. We visit My Tho islands in small boats. Along the maze that makes up the network of small canals, pretty country villages appear and we see the local craftsmen at work. We return on board for lunch and continue our cruise to Vinh Long, and Caï Be.  We then set sail for Sac Dec. Dinner and overnight stop at our mooring point. (B/L/D)

07 May 20

Sa Dec

Early this morning we visit Sa Dec, famous for its horticulture and known as the “Garden of the Cochin Chine” in colonial times. We have a tour of the small town where a few colonial mansions are still in existence. Discover the local market and visit the former dwelling place of Huynh Thuy Le, former lover of the French novelist Marguerite Duras who spent part of her childhood in Sa Dec. We return on board for a hearty breakfast and continue our cruise to Chau Doc, a town at the border between Cambodia and Vietnam which became part of Vietnamese territory some 300 years ago. We have lunch on board and arrive in Chau Doc in the early afternoon. Situated in the heart of a gigantic grid of rice fields, the city of Chau Doc embraces both banks of the Mekong and the floating farms overspill into the waters. Inside the town, a few colonial buildings with their old fashioned charm still remain. The market which surrounds them is the vibrant heart of the city and a multitude of colours. Transfer by small boat to visit a Cham village, a village of silk weavers and fish farms. Dinner and overnight stop in Chau Doc.(B/L/D)

08 May 20

Chau Doc - Phnom Penh

We spend the day afloat today, first heading for the Cambodian border, where we complete customs during the morning and continue our journey. Lunch and dinner are taken on board as we arrive towards the end of the day in Phnom Penh. After dinner we have a “tuk tuk” trip, a motorised tricycle which is the traditional mode of transport in Phnom Penh. We moor for the night in the port of Phnom Penh. B/L/D)

09 May 20

Phnom Penh

Founded in 1434, the capital of Cambodia retains much of its colonial charm, thanks to the rehabilitation of part of its architectural heritage. Visit the Silver Pagoda, constructed in wood in 1892 then rebuilt in 1962, and the Royal palace, symbolic heart of the nation and one of the finest examples of Cambodian architecture in classical Khmer style, the National museum housing the Fine Arts museum, built in 1917 by the French in traditional Khmer architectural style. Lunch in a local restaurant and this afternoon we have the option to visit the Tuol Svay Prey S21 school, former centre of detention, torture and execution used by the Khmer Rouge during the civil war. There is free time in the “Central Market” - crammed full with all types of businesses. This evening we have a Apsara dance show by student dancers and musicians. Dinner and overnight on board, in the port of Phnom Penh.(B/L/D)

10 May 20

Koh Chen - Kampong Tralach - Kampong Chhnang

We set sail early morning, have breakfast on board before we visit Koh Chen, a small village where the inhabitants are experts in silverwork and copper work. Here are made the ornaments and decorations used during traditional ceremonies in the pagoda or for weddings. We have lunch on board and arrive in Kampong Tralach to visit the beautiful Vihara of the Wat Kampong Tarlach Leu Pagoda. We return on board and continue our cruise to Kampong Chhnang. Dinner and overnight stop.(B/L/D)

11 May 20

Kampong Chhnang - Lake Tonle

We have breakfast on board and then visit Kampong Chhnang. Located some 90km from Phnom Penh, the town of Kampong Chhnang is one of the largest fishing ports on the Tonle Sap. Here they also have many fish farms. We visit a traditional grove of palm trees and taste some palm sugar before a visit to a traditional pottery. Next we visit a floating village using small local boats. All the buildings here are afloat - the school, the shops and so on, and life develops along the canal network. We return on board for lunch then continue our cruise to lake Tonle Sap, the largest freshwater lake in southeast Asia which forms the heart of the hydraulic system of the Mekong. Cocktail and gala dinner tonight. Overnight stop.(B/L/D)

12 May 20

Siem Reap - Disembark RV Lan Diep

We spend the morning cruising, taking breakfast on board. Depending on the water levels, we cross the Tonle Sap lake on board the RV Lan-Diep. We arrive in the port of Siem Reap. You will be Transfer to Hotel. (B/L/D)

13 May 20

Siem Reap - Angkor Wat Tour

After breakfast, you will visit The Southern Gate of Angkor Thom, the famous Bayon, Baphuon, and Phimeanakas temples, plus Terraces of the Elephant and leper King. Lunch at a famous local restaurant. Afternoon: Visit Ta Prohm then explore the Angkor Wat temple, the 7th Wonder of the Ancient World. You will climb up to Bakheng Hill to watch the sunset over Angkor Wat and the surrounding area. Enjoy Buffet-Dinner with performance of Cambodia Traditional APSARA dance show. Dinner at a famous restaurant. Overnight in Siem Reap Hotel.(B/L)

14 May 20

Siem Reap 

Today you will check out your hotel at 12 noon and our driver will transfer to the airport for your flights home.(B)