Mekong Discovery (Southbound) 2026 - 8 Day River Cruise Phnom Penh to Ho Chi Minh City

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Mekong Discovery (Southbound) 2026

8 Day River Cruise Phnom Penh to Ho Chi Minh City



Tour Description:

On this unique and inspiring 7-night Southeast Asia river cruise through Cambodia and Vietnam, you’ll be immersed in the cultures and ancient traditions as you sightsee and spend time with locals in interesting places along the mighty Mekong River.

In the enchanting Cambodian countryside, go on an ox-cart ride amongst rice paddy fields and witness the daily lives of farmers. In a Silversmith Village, see craftsmen making silver artwork using ancient techniques. French influences are still apparent in the lovely capital of Cambodia, Phnom Penh. Here you’ll tour the National Museum and Royal Palace with its striking Silver Pagoda and enjoy a song and dance performance by children at a local orphanage. On a hilltop at the site of the 8th-century temple of Wat Hanchey, take in the stunning views before walking through the rural village of Angkor Ban to visit with welcoming schoolchildren.

Continue your river cruise into Vietnam where you’ll walk through a vibrant market as the locals are busy with their daily routine of buying and selling produce. See firsthand how handcrafted sampans are built at the home of a family in Cu Lao Gieng. Via sampan, cruise into Vinh Long and experience Vietnamese culture with a visit to a workshop to learn how rice wine and traditional candies are made. This once-in-a-lifetime Southeast Asia river cruise vacation is sure to create lasting memories!

Map for Mekong Discovery (Southbound) 2026 - 8 Day River Cruise Phnom Penh to Ho Chi Minh City
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Dates & Pricing

Wednesday 11 Feb 26 — Thursday 19 Feb 26Starting at $5,429 Get a Quote
Wednesday 11 Mar 26 — Thursday 19 Mar 26Starting at $4,949 Get a Quote
Wednesday 22 Apr 26 — Thursday 30 Apr 26Starting at $4,179 Get a Quote
Wednesday 12 Aug 26 — Thursday 20 Aug 26Starting at $3,009 Get a Quote
Wednesday 26 Aug 26 — Thursday 03 Sep 26Starting at $3,679 Get a Quote
Wednesday 09 Sep 26 — Thursday 17 Sep 26Starting at $3,949 Get a Quote
Wednesday 23 Sep 26 — Thursday 01 Oct 26Starting at $3,949 Get a Quote
Wednesday 21 Oct 26 — Thursday 29 Oct 26Starting at $5,179 Get a Quote
Wednesday 04 Nov 26 — Thursday 12 Nov 26Starting at $5,179 Get a Quote
Wednesday 18 Nov 26 — Thursday 26 Nov 26Starting at $5,179 Get a Quote
Wednesday 02 Dec 26 — Thursday 10 Dec 26Starting at $5,429 Get a Quote


Destination & Sightseeing

Day 1 Phnom Penh (Embarkation): Onboard welcome reception
Day 2 Wat Hanchey–Angkor Ban: Visit Wat Hanchey and partake in a traditional water blessing by local monks; walking tour in Angkor Ban with school visit
Day 3 Kampong Tralach–Konpong Louang–Phnom Penh: Ox-cart ride through the countryside and visit a local farmer’s home in Kampong Tralach; visit the silversmith village of Konpong Louang; visit the Tuol Sleng Museum and one of the Killing Fields in Phnom Penh, or visit the lively central market
Day 4 Phnom Penh: Sightseeing by private cyclo, including the Royal Palace, Silver Pagoda, and the National Museum; show by children from local orphanage
Day 5 Border Crossing–Chau Doc: Visit a local market and the religious sites at Sam Mountain in Chau Doc
Day 6 Long Khanh A–Cu Lao Gieng: Walking tour of Long Khanh A with cotton-weaving demonstration; interact with sampan-making and conical hat making families in Cu Lao Gieng
Day 7 Vinh Long: Visit a local garden and a local workshop to see how rice wine and traditional candy are made
Day 8 Ho Chi Minh City (Disembarkation): Your vacation ends with breakfast this morning

ITINERARY

Day 1
PHNOM PENH, CAMBODIA (EMBARKATION) Welcome to Cambodia. Your intimate Suite Ship® Awaits! Get acquainted with the ship and relax before your welcome reception and dinner this evening. AFTERNOON/EVENING CRUISE TO WAT HANCHEY

Day 2
WAT HANCHEY–ANGKOR BAN Water Blessings and Back-to-School Adventures DISCOVERY Visit Wat Hanchey, a hilltop temple dating back to the 8th century. Climb or be driven to the top where you will enjoy stunning views of the surrounding area and partake in a traditional water blessing given by local monks. DISCOVERY After lunch, enjoy a Walking Tour through the rural village of Angkor Ban. Here, you will visit a traditional Khmer house and interact with children at a local school. EVENING/OVERNIGHT CRUISE TO KAMPONG TRALACH
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Day 3
KAMPONG TRALACH–KONPONG LOUANG–PHNOM PENH Calm in the Cambodian Countryside DISCOVERY Your Guided Sightseeing starts in Kampong Tralach with an Ox-Cart Ride through the beautiful Cambodian countryside. Along the way, stop to meet a local farmer and learn about his daily life. At the silversmith village in Konpong Louang, see talented craftsmen use age-old techniques to turn pure silver into works of art. Sail to the capital city of Phnom Penh this afternoon. PHNOM PENH A Dark History or Market Dynamics CLASSIC After lunch, a Visit to the Tuol Sleng Genocide Museum and one of the Killing Fields provides a glimpse into the atrocities inflicted on the Cambodian people by the Khmer Rouge regime, OR: DISCOVERY Visit the lively Central Market with its unique Art Deco design by tuk-tuk. This evening, spend some free time exploring the city on your own. Perhaps follow the riverfront promenade to the historic Foreign Correspondents Club (FCC)

Day 4
PHNOM PENH The Royal Treatment CLASSIC Join a Guided Tour of the city by private cyclo with visits to the Royal Palace with the spectacular Silver Pagoda, and the National Museum featuring an outstanding display of Khmer artifacts. The remainder of the day is yours to enjoy at your leisure. Just before dinner, children from a local orphanage will perform a show, featuring local song and dance. On board, we cross the border at Kaam Samnor in Cambodia and Vinh Xuong International Land and River Border Gate in Vietnam. EVENING/OVERNIGHT CRUISE TO VIETNAM/CAMBODIA BORDER
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Day 5
BORDER CROSSING–CHAU DOC, VIETNAM Good Morning Vietnam! DISCOVERY Take a Village Walk through the Chau Doc market and absorb the atmosphere as locals are busy buying and selling fish, meat, and produce. After lunch, embark on a Guided Excursion down the backwaters of the Mekong. Along the way, see traditional floating homes, speedboat merchants, religious sites, a market selling dried goods, and more. EVENING CRUISE TO LONG KHANH A
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Day 6
LONG KHANH A–CU LAO GIENG Cotton Weaving, Conical Hats, and Handcrafted Sampans DISCOVERY This morning, a sampan brings you to the village of Long Khanh A, for a Cotton-Weaving Demonstration of this well-preserved tradition. DISCOVERY This afternoon, enjoy scenes of daily life on Cu Lao Gieng Island via sampan and local motor cart. Your Guided Excursion starts with a stop at one of Vietnam’s oldest Catholic churches. Then, visit the home of a local family that makes Vietnamese conical hats, or “Non la,” from materials available to them such as palm leaves and bamboo. These iconic hats are primarily used as protection from the sun and rain, but you may also see them used as a basket to carry home goods from the market. Lastly, visit a local workshop where a skilled family hand-crafts sampan boats. EVENING CRUISE TO VINH LONG
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Day 7
VINH LONG Sweets and Rice Treats DISCOVERY Board a sampan this morning to Visit a Local Workshop in Vinh Long where you will see how rice paper, rice wine, and traditional candies are made. This afternoon, enjoy time on board the ship as we sail to exciting Ho Chi Minh City. AFTERNOON CRUISE TO HO CHI MINH CITY
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Day 8
HO CHI MINH CITY (DISEMBARKATION) Your vacation ends with breakfast this morning

Accommodations

Ho Chi Minh City
Park Hyatt Saigon
Deluxe



2 Lam Son Square Ho Chi Minh City Vietnam

Discover urban luxury with a combination of sophisticated design, handcrafted details, and modern-day comforts at Park Hyatt Saigon. Enjoy world-class dining, tranquil spa, and refreshing pool all on site. French-colonial inspired room rooms combine elegant, traditional comfort with the latest technology and desired amenities.

FAQ Avalon Cruises Frequently Asked Questions FAQ

Pavlus Travel tells you there's a wide World out there just waiting to be explored on river cruises by you, and Avalon Waterways like Pavlus Travel knows there is more than a river cruise for you and your family to see it all. Why not experience local cities, villages, and countrysides your way with a wide selection of active excursions and activities brought to you by Avalon River Cruises that put you right in the middle of it all. Borrow a bike to ride through the streets of Amsterdam, grab a Nordic walking stick to capture the castle with a hike up the vineyard off the Rhine River, or paddle a canoe along Austria’s river shores. Pavlus makes it easy to turn sightseeing into doing your adventure in real time. You’ll find all the guidance and gear you from Avalon Waterways staff to embark on an expedition of your own. From a complimentary yoga class aboard your Avalon River Cruise to a jogging tour of Vienna or an optional kayaking excursion. Know that Pavlus Travel discounts Avalon River Cruises be they in Europe or the Far East. You'll enjoy every Avalon River Cruises Ship.