(14:00) In the afternoon, enjoy a scenic drive from Ho Chi Minh City to My Tho Port, South Vietnam. From there, you will begin your journey aboard the luxurious Mekong Navigator cruise ship. After settling into your well-appointed suite/cabin, that evening, following a welcome reception, safety briefing, and introduction to key members of our crew, a delicious Vietnamese ‘Mekong Delta’ Welcome Dinner is served in Le Marche Dining Room. The Mekong Navigator cruise ship departs My Tho after all guests are on board about 17:00 Overnight mid-river Cai Be area 

(08:30) On arrival in Cai Be, board the rowing boats for an enjoyable excursion along the beautiful canals of the Mekong Delta with beautiful scenes. After finishing the rowing, we will go to a cottage factory where industrious artisans produce rice paper, rice wine and popped rice. There’s a selection of postcards, souvenirs, and beautiful oil paintings on sale. Continue into the long and narrow canals of Cai Be towards Cau Xeo with many photo opportunities of rice barges, rice husking mills, water palm thatching cottages, temples, etc. along the cruise. On return to the ship, an elegant buffet lunch is served while sailing upstream through tranquil riverine scenery towards Sa Dec. The Mekong Navigator cruise ship departs Cai Be area after all guests are back on board about 11:00 The Mekong Navigator cruise ship arrives Sa Dec area about 14:00 (14:00) This afternoon, your sampans return for a leisurely, scenic navigation of the narrow canals of the Mekong, where you will observe daily routines of the villagers en route to the historic town of Sa Dec. In the town of Sa Dec you visit the home of Mr. Huynh Thuy Le, the inspiration of Marguerite Duras' novel, L'Amant (The Lover), as well as the Chinese Temple - Kien An Cung which was built in honor of the Huynh Thuy Le Family. From there, you will begin a walk through the town's market, where you experience the sights, sounds, smells and provides you wonderful photo opportunities of the colorful fresh produce, meat, live fish and seafood for sale. The Mekong Navigator cruise ship departs Sa Dec area after all guests are back on board about 17:00 

(08:30) This morning, we make a short journey from ship to shore by traditional sampan, visiting a typical evergreen farming village on the Mekong Delta, the My An Hung village. We walk through the verdant village, interact with villagers, enjoy fresh coconut in the garden…

A local family would invite us for some honey tea and fruit while we enjoy the “don ca tai tu” folk music, followed by an impressive VOVINAM Vietnam Martial Arts performed by the teenagers of the village. The Mekong Navigator cruise ship departs My An Hung area after all guests are back on board about 11:00

The Mekong Navigator cruise ship arrives Long Khanh A Island area about 15:00 (15:00)

In the afternoon, your sampans will bring you to the local island village of Hong Ngu, not far from the Vietnam- Cambodia border. Hong Ngu produces a large number of the traditional, Khmer scarves exported to Cambodia. Woven in many homes around the village, you will have the opportunity to see the weaving process at several homes. Some villagers are also embroidery artists, displaying their art in and around the homes. The inhabitants of this area had only encountered one western visitor prior to the arrival of the Mekong Navigator, and are especially friendly and welcoming. Before returning to the sampans, we will walk around this evergreen island and visit the home of a local War Veteran.

The Mekong Navigator cruise ship departs Long Khanh Island area after all guest back on board about 17:30

 

Border Formalities about 07:00 The Mekong Navigator cruise ship departs the Border about 09:30 This morning we sail upstream to enjoy a leisurely cruise and taking in the sights along the Mekong River reaching Phnom Penh in the evening. Some cultural activities are planned on board. The Mekong Navigator cruise ship arrives at Phnom Penh about 20:00.

Overnight docking at Phnom Penh Port

(08:30) In the morning, learn more about the darkest days of Cambodian history. After a scenic 45minute drive from the ship, you arrive at the Choeung Ek killing fields, where you may walk through the fields, visit the small museum and Memorial Stupa, and learn more about the atrocities committed during the Khmer Rouge regime. Before returning to the ship, tour Tuol Sleng (also known as S-21), the former school converted to the main prison and torture headquarters of the Khmer Rouge. After returning to the ship from the Killing Fields, enjoy a free afternoon in Phnom Penh - shopping, dining at one of the many wonderful restaurants, or exploring the city independently. (There is a scheduled shuttle coach with your local guide provided from the Port to the Central Market for your shopping time.) Before dinner, join us on the Sun Deck to watch Cambodian cultural performances including Cambodian’s national dance as well as Apsara blessing dance.

Overnight docking at Phnom Penh Port

(08:30) After breakfast on board this morning, Tuk drivers meet you on the pier for an exciting morning tour of Phnom Penh. You are gently transported along the riverfront to the Royal Palace complex, where you enjoy a leisure walk through the grounds. After viewing Throne Hall and Moonlight Pavilion, you visit the famous Silver Pagoda, home of Cambodia's Emerald Buddha and the Maitreya Buddha, which is encrusted with more than 9,000 diamonds. Your Tuk Tuk is waiting outside to take you on the short ride to the open-air National Museum, housing the largest collection of Angkorian and pre-Angkorian artifacts excavated at the Angkor Temple complex at Siem Reap, as well as other areas around Cambodia. After returning to the ship, another free afternoon in Phnom Penh or join the optional Excursion with an additional cost.

(08:30) Based on archaeologists’ statements this Temple complex was built in 1840. Some parts of the building were made by wood and have been renovated 1998. An emerald statue was found during the renovation believed to be over 180 years old and given this Wat its second name Wat KeoMoni Chort (Emerald). In front of the two Golden Buddhist Columns (53meter tall), where two temples, the north temple called Preah Keo Preah Kor and the south temple called BakSei Chamkrong. Unfortunately, Baksei Chamkrong temple was destroyed by a landslide in 2020. Enjoy wandering around this temple complex and then proceed to the Main Pagoda. 25Upon entering the beautiful and colourful Main Pagoda, we receive a traditional water blessing from the local monks. The Mekong Navigator cruise ship departs Wat Rokakong after all guests on board about 11:00 Arriving Opopel Village about 14:00 (14:00) This afternoon we have a visit to the rural and charming village of Opopel, with its stilted houses and grazing Brahim cows seeking the shade of banana trees. You feel a sense of timelessness here, witnessing the rhythm of rural life. A visit is made to the home of a local family who discusses their lifestyle, then onto the local school to join children in their classroom giving you a glimpse a typical Cambodian school day. A leisurely stroll through the village offers an opportunity to take photos of this place that time has forgotten. On your way back we make a brief stop at the local monastery. The Mekong Navigator cruise ship departs Opopel after all guests on board about 17:30 In the evening, you gather in the Sun Deck in front of the Le Salon Lounge this evening for a Farewell Reception with the entire crew, before enjoying a Cambodian Farewell Dinner in Le Mache Dining Room. The Mekong Navigator cruise ship arrives Kampong Cham port at about 19:00 

Following breakfast, you say goodbye to the crew as you disembark the cruise ship and transfer from Kampong Cham to Siem Reap, Cambodia, with a lunch stop, arriving at your hotel in Siem Reap, Cambodia in the afternoon. Coaches departs Kampong Cham to Siem Reap about 08:30