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.
Day 1 - Arrive Bangkok, Thailand
Arrive in Bangkok, the capital of Thailand, and transfer to
your luxurious 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 Khmer-style hotel and enjoy a welcome dinner.
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.
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 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 to enjoy a
professional exhibition of traditional folk dances.
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 to explore the city on
your own.
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 hundreds 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 family in their home. 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, as you observe 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 to see the fourth-century Phuoc Hau
Pagoda, where you interact with local monks to learn about
their daily life and practices.
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 an intimate, two-seater 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.
Sample Local Specialties, experiencing the culinary
treasures to be found on a Saigon street-food tour.
Stroll Ben Thanh Market & Craft Boutiques to
discover the latest in trendy shops and local market life.
Tonight, gather for a special farewell dinner.
Day 12 - Depart Ho Chi Minh City
After breakfast, transfer to the airport to depart.