Cruising the Mekong: Siam, Saigon & Angkor Wat

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Cruising the Mekong: Siam, Saigon & Angkor Wat



Tour Description:

Discover astonishing Angkor Wat and cruise for
seven nights on an exclusive charter along the
Mekong River to experience its varied cultures
in rural settings not easily reached by land, on a
journey that includes vibrant Bangkok and Ho Chi
Minh City, the former Saigon.

Map for Cruising the Mekong: Siam, Saigon & Angkor Wat
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Dates & Pricing

Monday 16 Dec 24 — Friday 27 Dec 24Starting at $10,470 Get a Quote
Sunday 21 Sep 25 — Friday 03 Oct 25Starting at $10,795 Get a Quote
Sunday 05 Oct 25 — Friday 17 Oct 25Starting at $10,795 Get a Quote
Sunday 30 Nov 25 — Friday 12 Dec 25Starting at $10,795 Get a Quote


ITINERARY

Day 1 - Bangkok, Thailand
Arrive in Bangkok, the capital of Thailand, and transfer to your hotel.

Day 2 - Bangkok
Discover Wat Pho temple, with its massive Reclining Buddha statue, and listen to the musical sound of coins dropping into brass offering bowls. Then, travel by tuk-tuk to the sprawling Grand Palace to view the royal Siamese court, home to Thailand’s most important shrine, the green-jade Emerald Buddha. Next, gather for a light lunch aboard a traditional wooden rice barge. Cruise the Chao Phraya River in a relaxed atmosphere, taking in sights along the waterfront, including glittering Wat Arun. Later, fly to Siem Reap, Cambodia, where you transfer to your hotel.

Day 3 - Siem Reap, Cambodia
Set off to explore the extraordinary temples of Angkor, a breathtaking city lost in the jungle and Cambodia’s most prized national treasure. Enter the monumental gates of Angkor Thom and visit the Bayon Temple, with its 172 large-scale faces wearing enchanting smiles. Continue to Ta Prohm Temple to see crumbling towers embraced by massive tree roots. This afternoon, visit magnificent Angkor Wat, where you stay until sunset, marveling as the diminishing, moody light washes over this unforgettable, faraway world. Enjoy a welcome dinner this evening.

Day 4 - Cruising the Mekong
Drive through the lush and scenic Cambodian countryside to Kampong Cham, where you board A&K’s private charter of all-suite ‘Mekong Princess,’ your boutique river cruiser for the next seven nights. Tonight, enjoy a Khmer-inspired dinner.

Day 5 - Cruising the Mekong
Explore the charming town of Angkor Ban, where you enjoy glimpses into the lives of local people, starting with a visit to a family home. Stroll through a small market frequented by locals and stop briefly at a monastery complex. Then, board Mekong Princess and cruise to Phnom Penh, where you Ride Like a Local through Cambodia’s lush and alluring capital city on an engaging cyclo tour. Discover the ornate Royal Palace, and wander past huge stupas (Buddhist monuments) and spirit houses en route to the Silver Pagoda, home of Cambodia’s Emerald Buddha and the diamond-encrusted Maitreya Buddha. Visit the National Museum before returning to the ship.

Day 6 - Cruising the Mekong
This morning, learn about Cambodia’s darker days as you visit the Tuol Sleng Genocide Museum, and then walk the notorious killing fields of Choeung Ek, one of history’s most infamous places. Your afternoon is free for you to relax on your own. On board this evening, enjoy a professional exhibition of traditional folk dances.

Day 7 - Cruising the Mekong
Cruise into Vietnam early this morning and continue downstream to little-known Hong Ngu, which nimble ‘Mekong Princess’ can enter with ease. In this place where few Westerners have ever been, experience an especially friendly welcome, followed by a visit to a local family home, where you watch the weaving of kromas (traditional Khmer scarves). Later, explore a local temple dedicated to Hoa Hao, a unique Vietnamese religion. In the afternoon, board a sampan (wooden boat) to Gieng Island, where dozens of the vessels are built each day. Cruise a canal past orchards and rice fields. Continue to a historic Christian monastery built by the French in 1879.

Day 8 - Cruising the Mekong
Disembark at the village of Hoa An, well known for its floral and craft industries. See how locals grow and use flowers, and meet a local family. Later, reboard the ship and cruise downstream toward Can Tho, where you disembark to visit Zihuang Pagoda. Back on board, relax on a Scenic Sundowner this evening, observing local life at the close of day along the delta.

Day 9 - Cruising the Mekong
Rise early for a sampan cruise through a fascinating floating market near Can Tho, weaving between boats that sell goods and produce. Fresh coconut water, the Vietnamese “anti-aging drink,” refreshes you before a stop at a local factory to see the making of traditional noodles. Back on board Mekong Princess, cruise deeper into parts of the Mekong Delta rarely touched by travellers.

Day 10 - Cruising the Mekong
Today, board a sampan to wend your way through a channel lined with mangroves, whose tangled roots provide a sheltered habitat for the smallest denizens of the river’s ecosystem. Pause to see an artisan produce coconut candy, a favorite local snack. Next, board a small boat for a cruise through lush, narrow creeks lined with nipa palms, a native species and the only one of its kind adapted to the mangrove habitat. Participate in a Chef’s Table cooking demo this afternoon led by your onboard chef.

Day 11 - Ho Chi Minh City
Unlike other river ships that are forced to dock outside of Saigon, Mekong Princess takes you right into the heart of this lively, evocative metropolis, now known as Ho Chi Minh City. Disembark your river cruiser to enjoy one of these Design Your Day activities. Visit the War Remnants Museum to view photographs by Bunyo Ishikawa, a Vietnam War photojournalist, and then explore Reunification Palace. Explore the City’s Bustling Culinary Scene, sampling traditional dishes prepared by local street-food vendors. Cycle the Countryside, exploring the nearby Thanh Da Peninsula. Tonight, gather for a special farewell dinner.

Day 12 - Ho Chi Minh City
After breakfast, transfer to the airport to depart.