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.