Journey downstream

This morning, travel by coach from Siem Reap to Kampong Chham, set off for lunch before embarkation. Meet your crew for the next 7 nights and enjoy your first sunset on the Mekong River.

Before dinner, enjoy an interesting pre-dinner lecture about Cambodia as well as learn some basic Khmer phrases.

Morning excursion to explore the village of Angkor Ban with its wooden stilt houses and local vibe.

After having lunch on the ship, travel by three-wheeled tuk tuk to Silk Island where you will learn about the process of silk weaving, from worm to loom, with the chance to observe local families weaving the iconic Cambodian karma.

After breakfast, go on a walking tour of the village of Koh Chen where the highlight is meeting a local copper- and silversmith. Afterward, travel by coach to Oudong, the ancient capital of Cambodia with a stop at the fascinating Vipassana Dhura Meditation Center.

Enjoy lunch on board with time to relax in your cabin afterward. In the late afternoon, hop on a pedal-powered cyclo to the elegant Raffles Hotel Le Royal for a signature cocktail at the famed Elephant Bar. Return to the ship for dinner and entertainment activities onboard. Overnight in Phnom Penh.

This morning, explore the majestic Royal Palace and Silver Pagoda complex. Admire the elaborately constructed palace buildings, some of the 5,000 silver floor tiles that give the Silver Pagoda its name, as well as spectacular gold and bejeweled Buddha statues that are considered national treasures. Walk to the nearby National Museum, a beautiful sandstone building that showcases the world’s largest collection of Khmer art. Set off for lunch afterward before driving to Choeung Ek, one of the mass grave sites of the Killing Fields where the Khmer Rouge executed over a million men, women, and children between 1975 and 1979. Today, Choeung Ek is a memorial with a Buddhist stupa filled with skulls and bones to honor the victims.

Back to the cruise takng in a lively performance of Khmer Apsara dancing with the opportunity to meet the performers afterward. Overnight in Phnom Penh.

As the ship cruises towards the Cambodia-Vietnam border, start the day with early exercise on the Sky Deck, followed by breakfast. Choose from onboard activities like a ship tour, mini-golf, or simply enjoy the scenery as we cross the border.

After lunch on board, the ship sails into Vietnamese waters and anchors near Tan Chau. Tenders sampans to cruise through the floating village to watch a special way the people in the Mekong Delta raising freshwater fish under their stilts. Get your first glimpse of the Vietnamese countryside. Return to the ship for a traditional Vietnamese lion dance, followed by dinner and evening entertainment. Overnight in Tân Châu

Start your day with a leisurely breakfast in Phu Tan, the provincial capital of An Giang in the Mekong Delta. Tender ashore to explore a craft village renowned for its handmade Ca Rang clay stoves. These traditional stoves, used for centuries by southern Vietnamese, feature
a unique design that blocks wind, retains heat, and prevents ash from dispersing.

During lunch, the ship continues its journey before anchoring near Tiger Island. Cruise onward to the Island and take a scenic walking tour through lush rice fields and vegetable gardens. Stopover to discover the local craftsmanship of making plant pots and finally visit the famed “Mr. Tiger’s Temple” to hear the intriguing story behind the island’s name. Return to the ship just in time for the cocktail competition and a night of entertainment

Enjoy a relaxed breakfast as the ship cruises towards the provincial capital of Long Xuyen. Wandering by sampan around Long Xuyen floating market with meeting habitants on floating houses, learning about their life story on the water.

Enjoy lunch onboard as we cruise towards the village of Dinh Yen where we’ll observe colorful straw mats being woven on mechanized looms.

Return to the ship and cruise towards Can Tho, the beating heart of the Mekong Delta. Enjoy a traditional Southern Vietnamese folk music performance known as “Đờn ca tài tử”. Overnight in Can Tho.

Enjoy breakfast on the terrace of Claypot Restaurant with time to enjoy the view from the pool or from your private balcony before disembarkation.

Accompanied by your local guide, board a coach for Cai Be where lunch is served at the elegant Le Longanier Restaurant set amidst lush fruit trees by the river.

Continue to Ho Chi Minh City, arriving mid-afternoon at ÊMM Hotel Saigon, 157 Pasteur Street, District 3.