CroisiCruise: 9HC_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 - a soft drink, wine or beer included with meals with meals
- 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
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EXCURSIONS INCLUDED:
- Discover historical cities: Ho Chi Minh City and Phnom Penh
- Meet the locals and learn about their daily lives in Koh Chen, My Tho...
- Crossing through the splendid Cho Gao canal
- Itinerary
Day 1: Ho Chi Minh City
Program depending on your time of arrival in Ho Chi Minh City. Program as follow if your flight lands beetween 6am and 10am: Meet at the Liberty Central Riverside Hotel restaurant between 11:30 a.m. and 12:30 p.m. Lunch at the hotel.
Built by the French in 1859, at the beginning of the colonial era, Ho Chi Minh City has retained some of its French atmosphere which characterises it. In the afternoon, tour the city: Reunification palace, Notre Dame cathedral and Central Post office. Visit Cholon, the Chinese-influenced section of the city, including its hectic market and Ba Thien Hau Pagoda dedicated to the sea goddess Mazu. After comfortably settling into your cabins, you will be introduced to the crew at a welcome cocktail, have dinner and spend the night on board downtown.
Day 2: Ho Chi Minh City
Depart by coach for the Cu Chi tunnels, an immense network of underground tunnels that were used by Viet Cong soldiers as hiding spots during combat, as well as serving as communication and supply routes, hospitals, food and weapon caches. Lunch will be served on board. Visit the Museum of Vietnamese History, then set out to cross the very narrow Chao Gao Canal. Night on board.
Day 3: Chao Gao - My Tho - Vinh Long - Cai Be - Sa Dec
Continue your cruise to My Tho along the magnificent Chao Gao Canal. Visit of a bee farm and enjoy some honey tea and exotic fruit. Lunch on board. This afternoon discover a brick and pottery factory as well as a traditional factory producing puffed riced, rice-paper wrappers used to make nems, and rice alcohol. Night on board.
Day 4: Sa Dec - Chau Doc
Visit the former house of Huynh Thuy Le, the man who Marguerite Duras based her book The Lover on. After the excursion there will be some free time in Sa Dec. Return on board your ship and have lunch before sailing towards Cambodia. Night on board.
Day 5: Chau Doc - Phnom Penh
Located on the border between Cambodia and Vietnam, the prosperous city of Chau Doc has developed around fish and fish farming. Visit the Ba Chua Xu Temple and the Tay An Pagoda. Lunch on board. Arrival in the evening in Phnom Penh. Dinner on board. The ship will remain in port overnight.
Day 6: Phnom Penh
Depart on a tour of the fabulous Royal Palace, one of the most impressive examples of Cambodian architecture, and its 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. As you return on board, we will experience an Apsara dance show. Dinner and overnight on board, in the port of Phnom Penh. Free evening.
Day 7: Koh Chen - Kampong Tralach
Visit of Koh Chen, a small village where craftspeople specialize in silver and copper work. Lunch on board then visit the beautiful Vihara at the Wat Kampong Tralach Leu pagoda. To access the pagoda you 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. Your ship will remain anchored overnight.
Day 8: Kampong Chhnang - Lake Tonle
Visit of Kampong Chhnang, one of the largest fishing ports on the Tonle Sap Lake. Here they also have many fish farms. The region is best known for its fine traditional pottery which is a major source of revenue for the entire country. Tasting of some local products. Lunch on board then continue your cruise on Tonle Sap Lake, the largest freshwater lake in southeast Asia which forms the heart of the hydraulic system of the Mekong. Cocktail and gala dinner tonight. Your ship will remain anchored overnight.
Day 9: Siem Reap - Angkor
Disembark and transfer to the hotel Lotus Blanc(1) (ships RV Indochine and RV Lan Diep) and the hotel Sofitel Angkor(1) (ship RV Indochine II). We bid you farewell at approximately 12.00pm. Please do not book your flight before 3:00 p.m.
(1) Or Similar hotel, meeting points are confirmed in final travel documentation.
INCLUSIONS:
- Your cruise in the cabin category of your choice - double-occupancy accommodations in a first-class cabin
- Transfer frm the boat to downtown Siem Riep
- All meals
- Drinks at all meals (1 soft drink or 1 beer or 1 mineral water + 1 tea or coffee per person for each meal)
- Unlimited tea, coffee and mineral water during the cruise on board
- vsits and excursions mentioned in the program
- The services of english-speaking local tour guides and onboard CroisiEurope tour director
- Travel assistance and repatriation insurance
- Tips (excluding tips for crew members on board the ship).
Tips: To make your vacation worry-free, the equivalent of €35 per passenger will be given to service providers for your destination country as tips. We feel this amount is appropriate in consideration of local customs and practice.
EXCLUSIONS:
- International flights and their taxes
- Transfers
- Cambodian and Vietnamese visas
- 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.
Trip prices and dates are correct at the time of the website going live, however all offers are subject to reconfirmation at the time of booking. All featured tour itineraries and offers maybe subject to change due to seasonal variations without notice, or due to local conditions or other conditions. Please confirm all details at time of booking. Travel insurance is mandatory for all Innovative Travel bookings. All passports must be valid for 6 months prior to your return to your home country. Visas are the responsibility of the traveller. For full terms and conditions, please refer to our Booking Conditions page.
