Day 1: Phnom Penh Departure

The ship is moored at the tourist Jetty in Sisowath Quay at walking distance to the Royal Palace. The check-in time should be no later than 13.30 hrs. as we need your passport to process the immigration formalities for the border crossing.

Afternoon and Evening Free at Leisure to discover the city on your own
Phnom Penh has a lively night life, and some passengers choose to dine ashore and try one of the capital’s many watering holes; a favorites being the Foreign Correspondents’ Club. Otherwise you can have your dinner on board.

Day 2: Cruising the Mekong / Border Crossing

We cast off early in the morning for a day cruising in the main Mekong channel, an international shipping route. Today we stop at Prek Touch, a jungle village, to visit fruit orchards, and then set off for the Vietnamese border for the usual formalities. Day 3: Chau Doc– Cu Lao Gien

We travel from the main Mekong channel to Chau Doc jetty where we transfer to small boats to visit a Cham tribal village and a cat fish farm. We make a trishaw ride round this fascinating town of fine French-colonial buildings and bustling market. We return to the ship for lunch and cast off for Sadec. Stopping on the way at Cu Lao Gien island, we visit a Catholic monastery called “La Providence” built in 1875 by the French nuns of “Saint Paul de Chartres”. Cu Lao Gien became an important Catholic centre with mission, an orphanage, school, hospice and leprosy centre that can treat 1,000 people. During the Japanese invasion the monastery was abandoned; operations were resumed after 1945 until 1977. Nowadays Cu Lao Gian serves as a retreat for 180 retired nuns taken care of by novices.

Day 4: Sadec – (Vinh Long) - Cai Be

Half day cruise excursion on board traditional sampan boats to Cai Be via Vinh Long, along small canals and back waters. Sa Dec is a little “Venice” with numerous narrow canals and various kinds of traditional activities on the banks. You will disembark at the local market for a visit, then proceed to the splendid ancient house of Mr. Huyn Thuy Le, the “lover” of Marguerite Duras, famous French novelist and inspiration for the film L'Amant-The Lover directed by Jean-Jacques Annaud.
Back on board your sampan, we will drift down the Tien River. On the way we visit a traditional brick and tile factory. Proceeding further we see water hyacinths, an important Mekong delta product used for furniture and baskets.
Traveling from Vinh Long water to Dong Hoa Hiep islet on sampan we explore the rural life and the daily activities of the delta inhabitants seeing palm tree leave weaving, traditional wooden boat factories and fruit orchard plantations. We visit a Mandarins house dating from late 19th century. Reaching Cai Be, we will cruise through its colorful floating market which takes place daily in front of the catholic church.

After lunch on board the Pandaw, continue by Sampan deep into the country backwaters, passing traditional wood and bamboo bridges and suspended fishing nets. On the banks, you will be able to see large rice fields, fruit markets, plantations and visit local houses to see how people in the Delta live.

Day 5: Mytho / Saigon (Ho Chi Minh City)

Early morning sail from Cai Be for My Tho, where we disembark at 0830 for coach transfer to Hotel Sofitel Plaza Saigon (17 Le Duan Boulevard, District 1, Ph +84 8 38241555) arriving approximately at 10:30.

Tour Prices

Trip includes:

• Entrance fees, guide services (English language),
• Tips & gratuities to crew
• Main meals
• Locally made soft and alcoholic beverages
• Jugged coffee and selection of teas and tisanes
• Mineral water.
• Transfer to the meeting point in Saigon from the ship at the end of a voyage.

Trip excludes:

• International flights,
• Port dues ,
• Laundry,
• All visa costs,
• Fuel surcharges (see terms and conditions),
• Imported beverages such as wines,
• Premium spirits and liqueurs,
• Fancy soft drinks like Perrier,
• Espressos and cappuccinos at bar.
• Transfer to the ship in Phnom Penh at the start of a voyage