DAY 1: HO CHI MINH (SAIGON) – CAI BE – VINH LONG – SA DEC (L, D)
Pick up from your hotel in Saigon and depart for Mekong Delta
Arrival Mekong Delta we will board our sampan for an exploration of lush vegetation of Mekong Delta and the lively Cai Be floating market. Walking for visit the handicraft village of the local people. Sightseeing the old house and sample various tropical fruits. Return to our boat. Our boat sets sail and cruise through zigzag canals and river heading out to Can Tho via Cho Lach while we enjoy lunch on board.
Our boat sets sail and cruise through zigzag canals and river heading out to Sa Dec and moor midstream for the night. Diner and overnight on board board Le Cochinchine in Sa Dec.
DAY 2: SA DEC – LONG XUYEN (B, L, D)
We start our day with a rising up early we contemplate sunrise while having breakfast on board. Visit the Sa Dec local market, following the tracks of French novelist Marguerite Duras. Walks/ Cycle amongst the ever blossoming Sa Dec flower village and local cottage industries. Visit bricks and tiles kilns and the manufacture of earthenware pots on a bank of river Back to boat and enjoy welcome back drink while lunch is served.
The Le Cochinchine set sails through the canals of Lap Vo with a magnificent landscape that come along the river banks: rural walks, farming, nursering farm, fishing, boating, smiling school children all in full swing.
Enjoy traditional herbal foot massage on boat.
Diner and while Le Cochinchine cruises towards Long Xuyen
DAY 3: LONG XUYEN – CHO MOI – HOA HOA (B, L, D)
Rising up early for another nice day we contemplate sunrise while having breakfast on board. Visit Longxuyen floating market by small boats intermingled through the water as vendors buy and sell their fruit. Visit a crocodile farm and promenade on OngHo island, see daily life of the local people who live on both sides of the Mekong (Bassac river), and small arroyos on the island. Noon approaching we return to Le Cochinchine boat and carry on our journey to Hoa Hao village. Lunch on board. Disembark and head to Chau Doc. Tonight we stay overnight at Victoria Chau Doc hotel in Chau Doc.
DAY 4: CHAU DOC – PHNOM PENH (B, L, D)
This morning we will have a boat ride from Chau Doc to Phnom Penh departing at 8am. The boat takes us along the Mekong River. It continues on to the Vietnamese (Vinh Xuong) – Cambodian (Kaom Samnar) border and then to Phnom Penh, capital of Cambodia. The journey takes approximately 4 hours. Arrival transfer our hotel in Phnompenh, the capital of Kingdom of Cambodia. A visit to Phnom Penh is a very interesting experience indeed. It is a city with an interesting pulse and it gives you a very true taste of Asia. We will visit the Wats Phnom, National museum, silver Pagoda and Royal Palace. Overnight at Sunway hotel in Phnom Penh.
DAY 5: PHNOM PENH – CRUISE TO SIEM REAP (B, L, D)
This morning there will be a transfer to Phompenh port for the boat ride to Siemriep. The boat winding our way on Tonlesap river, taking in such spectacular view of rural life on water. Arrival Siemriep, transfer to the hotel .Visit Prasat Kravan with its unique brick sculptures and Ta Prohm. One of the area’s most beautiful temples, Ta Prohm has been relatively untouched since it was discovered and retains much of its mystery. Its appeal lies in the fact that, unlike the other monuments of Angkor, it was abandoned and swallowed by the jungle, looking very much the ways most of the Angkor temples appeared when European explorers first stumbled upon them. Visit as well Takeo, Chau Say Tevoda and Thommanon.
Dinner and overnight at Prince d’Angkor hotel.
DAY 6: ANGKOR TEMPLES (B, L, D)
Breakfast at hotel.
In the morning, visit the most famous of all the temples on the plain of Angkor: Angkor Wat. The temple complex covers 81 hectares and is comparable in size to the Imperial Palace in Beijing. Its distinctive five towers are emblazoned on the Cambodian flag and the 12th century masterpiece is considered by art historians to be the prime example of classical Khmer art and architecture. Angkor Wat’s five towers symbolize Meru’s five peaks – the enclosed wall represents the mountains at the edge of the world and the surrounding moat, the ocean beyond.
Lunch at local restaurant. Afternoon visit the ancient capital of Angkor Thom (12th century). See the South Gate with its huge statues depicting the churning of the ocean of milk, the Royal Enclosure, Phimeanakas, the Elephants Terrace, the Terrace of the Leper King and Bayon Temple (unique for its 54 towers decorated with over 200 smiling faces of Avolokitesvara), until sunset. Dinner local restaurant and accommodation at hotel. Tonight we will enjoy diner with traditional Khmer folk performance of Apsara. Overnight at Prince d’Angkor hotel. in Siem Reap.
DAY 7: SIEM REAP DEPRTURE (B)
At leisure to visit the market or “Les Artisans d’Angkor – Chantiers Ecoles” of Siem Reap (if time permits). Transfer to Siem Reap International Airport for departure flight to the next destination.
Each cabin has its own air-conditioning unit, which can be adjusted for your comfort. We recommend you do not over- cool your cabin as the sudden change from the outside temperature to a chilled cabin can bring on colds, respiratory illnesses and even stomach upsets. When you go out, we recommend you turn the setting to ‘Lo Cool’, set at about 4, and then when you return you can readjust the temperature to your preference without having to wait for cool air. At night you may prefer to use the fan only, and have the windows open. Insect netting covers the windows to enable you to do this. Please do not leave your air-conditioner on with the window open – this results in energy loss (the equivalent of switching on the heating and opening the windows in a cold country!
Dining
Meals on board Le Cochinchine are taken at one sitting. It is not necessary to sit at the same table each time and we have tables for individuals, couples right up to larger groups. We offer a mixture of local cuisine with richly flavor and taste and there are always vegetarian dishes offered. Passengers requiring special diets, such as vegetarian, low salt & low cholesterol meals, may make their requests to the chef when onboard. The chef will try to honor all requests. Exotic fruit, fresh organic vegetables, locally caught fish and prawns are the preference of most of our passengers.
The bar
The cruise bar is always open, it offers while selection of drinks including famous wine French, Australian, Italian wine.
