The Mekong River rises from the Tibetan Plateau and passes through China, Burma, Thailand, Laos, Cambodia and Vietnam. Over 60 million people depend on it for food, water and transport and intriguingly, only the Amazon basin boasts a higher biodiversity. Our journey explores the waterborne worlds along its banks: the floating villages, stilt houses and the thousands of local boats all plying its mud-coloured waters.
Itinerary
Trip Highlights
To complement your tours and shore excursions, take part in Cultural Highlights—immersive learning and enhancement activities both on board and ashore:
• Visit the renowned Tonle Sap Lake
• Tour the magnificent ruins of Angkor
• Enjoy traditional Apsara temple dancing and other folkloric performances
• Visit colorful floating markets on the banks of the Mekong
• View onboard film screenings that will enhance your journey These in-depth experiences are included as an essential part of discovering more about the places through which you cruise, and each activity is planned specifically to illuminate each itinerary.
Note
In case of low waters, it may happen that navigation on the Tonle Sap Lake is impossible for the RV Mekong Prestige. If that occurs, a fast boat or a coach will assure the link with the other bank of the lake where the embarkation on the RV Mekong Prestige will take place. Furthermore, all the aforementioned cruising schedule and program timing are indicative and subject to modification
Day 1 : Saigon - My Tho - Embarkation
Meeting at Sofitel Plaza hotel in Saigon at 9 am for the transfer arrangement to My Tho, located at 70 kilometers away. Arrival in My Tho and welcome on board of RV MEKONG PRESTIGE and settling into the cabins. Lunch on board. Start of sailing in the afternoon.
Welcome Dinner an overnint on the RV Mekong Prestige
Accommodation : RV Mekong Prestige
Day 2 : Cai Be - Sa Dec
Arrival at Cai Be in the morning. After breakfast we take a morning junk trip around Cai Be along a floating market, go ashore to see the French Gothic Cathedral. Walking along the bank river and sightseeing of the rice paper manufacturer and coconut sweets. We cruise past Vinh Long Province to arrive at Sa Dec for an afternoon walk. French writer Marguerite Duras spent some of her childhood in Sa Dec, a sprawling busy town in the Mekong Delta. In Sa Dec, Director Jean-Jacques Annaud shot much of his film « The Lover ». Ancient riverboats load and unload at the wharves built almost to the shop doors. Both the school where Duras’ mother taught and the small house behind it where the family must have lived still stand. We see the house of the Chinese Lover of Marguerite. The house now is little museum of « The Lover » in Sadec. Night navigation through the Delta. Overnight in the RV Mekong Prestige
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Day 3 : Tan Chau - Border crossing
Arrival in the morning at Tan Chau, a remote small town on the main Mekong River. After breakfast, transfer to small boats to visit a fishing farm. We go ashore to visit mat’s making workshop, and take a short walk in the village to visit a silk weaving workshop. A rickshaw ride round this fascinating town takes you back to the pier for lunch. Cast off for the Cambodian border for the usual formalities. Evening cruise up the broad Mekong River to Phnom Penh. Overnight in the RV Mekong Prestige.
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Day 4 : Phnom Penh
Arrival in Phnom Penh in the morning. The capital city of Cambodia still retains its old French colonial architecture in riverside streets. Visit the Royal Palace, the Silver Pagoda. The National Museum is another highlight, with outstanding displays of Khmer crafts. Lunch on board. Afternoon excursion is arranged to the former High School « S21 », converted to a detention center under the Red Khmer’s rule between 1975 and 1979. Then stop at the former detention camp of Choeung Ek, better known under the name of « ». Dinner on board. Overnight in the RV Mekong Prestige
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Day 5 : Kok Chong - Phnom Penh
Early morning, sailing from Phnom Penh to Koh Chong. Stop at this silk weaving village for a morning walk at leisure. We cruise past the Mekong’s timeless villages and river life with extensive fishing activities. Lunch on board. Return to Phnom Penh and afternoon at leisure for a discovery of the city on your own. Overnight in the RV Mekong Prestige
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Day 6 : Oudong - Kampong Tralach
Morning journey upriver heading for Oudong. Lunch on board. Arrival at Oudong in the early afternoon, distant of 40 kilometers from Phnom Penh. Between 1618 and 1866, Oudong was the capital city of Cambodia. Erected at a hilltop, this place counts numerous Stupas dating of the last Khmer Kings. After the visit, departure in bus to Kampong Tralach. You will visit there the very charming Vihara of the Wat Kampong Leu Pagoda dating back from the last century and which has retained beautiful wall paintings. Return to the ship and Dinner on board. Overnight in the RV Mekong Prestige
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Day 7 : Kampong Chhnang
Morning sailing on the Tonle Sap River, which connects the Mekong River to the Tonle Lake. Arrival at Kampong Chhnang, located at approximately 90 km from Phnom Penh. This is a busy rural port town with bustling markets. Then, boarding on local boats to visit the authentic floating village. The whole village is floating. The life of the entire population is connected with the river and all people evolve in boats through the canal system which criss-cross this little town. Overnight in the RV Mekong Prestige
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Day 8 : Tonle Sap Lake - Siem Reap
Crossing of the lake early in the morning. The great lake dominates Cambodia and is over 150 km in length. Here bird life is profuse. Because the water levels of the lake and river vary a great deal according to the time of year and rainfall. Disembarkation after breakfast and transfer either to hotel in Siem Reap or to the airport
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