CroisiCruise: 1R3_PP
11 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 the ruins of Angkor to Tonle Sap Lake following the footsteps of Henri Mouhot, to Phnom Penh and Ho Chi Minh City, still largely influenced by the French colonial days. 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 3 historical cities: Ho Chi Minh City, Phnom Penh and Siem Reap
- Crossing through the splendid Cho Gao canal
- Visit 4 major temples in Angkor
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Meet the locals and learn about their daily lives in Koh Chen, My Tho...
- Itinerary
Day 1: Siem Reap - Angkor
Your program will begin according to your time of arrival in Siem Reap. If your flight arrives between 6:00 a.m. and 11:00 a.m., your program will be: Accommodations will be at either a 4-star or 5-star hotel according to the cruise you choose. Lunch will be served at the hotel between 11:30 a.m. and 12:30 p.m., and you’ll be able to check into your room at 2 p.m. This afternoon, we’ll visit the Senteurs d'Angkor: a diverse collection of silk and carvings, as well as a superb range of traditional beauty products and spices, all made locally. We’ll also visit Artisans Angkor, which states its goal as "the ambitious belief that it is possible to revive ancient Cambodian arts & crafts while improving the lives of thousands of people living in rural areas." Enjoy a stroll through the Angkor Night Market. We’ll have dinner and spend the night at the hotel.
Day 2: Siem Reap - Angkor
We’ll explore Angkor Thom, the monumental temple of Bayon—famous for its towers and 172 faces of Avalokitesvara, and Ta Prohm. After lunch in town, we’ll leave for a visit of Banteay Srei. This evening, we’ll have dinner in a restaurant in town before ending the day with Phare, the Cambodian circus, and spending the night at the hotel.
Day 3: Siem Reap - Tonle Sap Lake
We'll visit the Angkor Wat temple: the epitome of Khmer architectural art. It is the largest religious monument in the world and an architectural masterpiece. Lunch will be served at the hotel. In the early afternoon, you’ll be transferred from the hotel to the ship. After comfortably settling into your cabins, we’ll introduce our crew at a welcome cocktail and have dinner on board.
Day 4: Tonle Sap Lake - Kampong Chhnang - Kampong Tralach
Enjoy breakfast as we cruise across the lake. After lunch, we’ll visit Kampong Chhnang, one of the largest fishing ports on Tonle Sap Lake. Fish farming is abundant here. The region is also known for its traditional pottery combining ancient knowledge with modern techniques—Chhnang itself means "pot." We'll enjoy a tasting of regional products before returning on board and beginning to cruise to Kampong Tralach. We’ll have dinner and spend the night on board.
Day 5: Kampong Tralach - Koh Chen - Phnom Penh
We will set out to visit the beautiful Vihara at the Wat Kampong Tralach Leu pagoda. To access the pagoda we 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. After lunch, we'll arrive in Koh Chen. You can explore this small village where craftspeople specialize in silver and copper work. After returning on board, we'll spend the afternoon cruising towards Phnom Penh, arriving in the early evening. Enjoy a brief tour of the area by "tuk-tuk," the easiest way to get around the city. We’ll return to the ship and enjoy a performance of classical Khmer dancing and music and have dinner.
Day 6: Phnom Penh
We’ll enjoy 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. We'll return on board for dinner in the evening and start sailing towards Vietnam.
Day 7: Chau Doc - Sa Dec (Vietnam)
Located on the border between Cambodia and Vietnam, the prosperous city of Chau Doc has developed around fish and fish farming. We’ll pay a visit to the Ba Chua Xu Temple and the Tay An Pagoda. Once we are back on board, we’ll begin to cruise toward Sa Dec. We’ll have dinner and spend the night on board.
Day 8: Sa Dec - Vinh Long - Cai Be
Once we arrive in Sa Dec, discover the local market and visit the former house of Huynh Thuy Le, the man who Marguerite Duras based her book The Lover on. We’ll have lunch on board and cruise to Vinh Long. We’ll set out in smaller boats and travel through canals and orchards before arriving in Cai Be. We’ll 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*. We’ll return on board our ship and begin to cruise. We’ll have dinner and spend the night on board.
Day 9: My Tho - Ho Chi Minh City (Formerly Saigon)
We'll visit a bee farm and enjoy some honey tea and exotic fruit. We'll then take a ride in small sampans along the canal lined with mangrove palms. Lunch will be served on board. We’ll then set out to cross the very narrow Chao Gao Canal, heading for Ho Chi Minh City. We’ll have dinner and remain in port overnight.
Day 10: Ho Chi Minh City
Ho Chi Minh City was heavily influenced by French colonialism in the 19th century. We’ll enjoy a tour of the city to see the Reunification Palace, Notre Dame Cathedral, and the Saigon Central Post Office, and visit the Museum of Vietnamese History. Lunch will be served on board. In the afternoon, we’ll leave 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. After our excursion, we'll return on board our ship. Tonight we’ll have our farewell cocktail and dinner. We'll remain in port overnight.
Day 11: Ho Chi Minh City
Enjoy breakfast on board before disembarking. We’ll spend the morning visiting Cholon, the Chinese-influenced section of the city, including its hectic market. After lunch in town, we’ll bid you farewell at approximately 2:00 p.m. Please do not book your flight before 5:00 p.m.
INCLUSIONS:
FROM JANUARY TO APRIL
Your cruise in the cabin category of your choice - double-occupancy accommodations in a first-class hotel - 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 the RV Indochine and RV Indochine II - visits and excursions mentioned in the program - the services of an English-speaking local tour guides and onboard CroisiEurope tour director on board the RV Indochine and RV Indochine II - travel assistance and repatriation insurance - tips.
Tips: To make your vacation worry-free, the equivalent of €80 per passenger will be given to crew members during the cruise and to service providers for your destination country as tips. We feel this amount is appropriate in consideration of local customs and practice.
FROM AUGUST TO DECEMBER
Your cruise in the cabin category of your choice - double-occupancy accommodations in a first-class hotel - 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 the RV Indochine and RV Indochine II - visits and excursions mentioned in the program - the services of an English-speaking local tour guides and onboard CroisiEurope tour director on board the RV Indochine and RV Indochine II - 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:
FROM JANUARY TO APRIL
International flights and their taxes - transfers - Cambodian and Vietnamese visas - cancellation and baggage insurance - drinks other than those mentioned.
FROM AUGUST TO DECEMBER
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. Note prices usually display available discounted rates if any, (eg. Early Bird Deals if applicable). 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. Special VIP meet and assist offers are valid for New Zealand passport holders, for other nationalities please check at the time of booking. For full terms and conditions, please refer to our Booking Conditions page.