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 11am: Built by the French in 1859, at the beginning of the colonial era, Ho Chi Minh Cityt has retained some of its French atmosphere which characterises it. We will tour the city: Reunification palace, Notre Dame cathedral and Central Post office. Lunch in a local restaurant between 11:30 a.m. and 12:30 p.m.. We’ll visit Cholon, the Chinese-influenced section of the city, including its hectic market. After comfortably settling into your cabins, we’ll introduce our crew at a welcome cocktail, have dinner and spend the night on board.
Day 2: Ho Chi Minh City
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. Lunch will be served on board. Visit the Museum of Vietnamese History. We’ll 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
We continue our cruise to My Tho along the magnificent Chao Gao Canal. Visit of a bee farm and enjoy some honey tea and exotic fruit. Lunch. 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*. Night on board.
Day 4: Sa Dec - Chau Doc
Visit of Sa Dec and discovery of 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 return on board our ship and have lunch. Sailing towards Cambodia. Night on board.
Day 5: Chau Doc - Phnom Penh
Breakfast on board. 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. Lunch on board. Arrival in the evening in Phnom Penh. Dinner on board. We'll remain in port overnight.
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. As we get back on board, we will enjoy an Apsara dance show. Dinner and overnight on board, in the port of Phnom Penh. Free evening.
Day 7: Koh Chen - Kampong Tralach - Kampong Chhnang
Visit of Koh Chen, a small village where craftspeople specialize in silver and copper work. Lunch.Visit of 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. Our 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. 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. 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. Our ship will remain anchored overnight.
Day 9: Siem Reap - Angkor
We'll spend the morning cruising, having breakfast on board. Depending on the water levels, we'll spend the morning cruising and cross Tonlé Sap. We'll arrive in Phnom Krom, in the port of Siem Reap. Or, transfer by road between Phnom Krom and Siem Reap. We’ll bid you farewell at approximately 11:30 a.m. Please do not book your flight before 3:00 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 a French-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 a French-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.
