Charming Vietnam, Cambodia & Mekong River Cruise 13 Days/11 NightsSaigon - My Tho - Caibe - Sa Dec - Tan Chau - Phnom Penh - Koh Chong - Oudong - Kampong Tralach - Kampong Chhnang - Siem Reap

4569$

Day1 Canada-SaigonBoard your flight to Saigon.

Day2 Saigon Arrival (D)Welcome to Ho Chi Minh City - formerly known as Saigon.Upon your arrival, your tour guide and driver will welcome you at the air-port then escort you to hotel and tour brief-ing. If time permits, we take an orientation tour around the very centre of Saigon to ac-climatize ourselves. This evening, we sample Vietnamese cuisine for Welcome Dinner, an interesting introduction of Vietnam.

Day3 Saigon City Tour – Cu Chi Tunnel (Optional tour) (B)This morning enjoy a city tour including Re-unification, Notre Dame Cathedral, City Hall, Central Post Office, and Ben Thanh Mar-ket.

Tour Code NHFMK13

Arrival at Cai Be in the morning. After breakfast we take a morning junk trip around Cai Be to visit a floating market and go ashore to see the French Gothic Cathedral. Take a stroll along the river bank and visit a local manufacturer produc-ing rice paper, and coconut sweets. Return to the ship for lunch. Cruise past Vinh Long Province to arrive at Sa Dec for an afternoon walk. We see the house of Marguerite’s Chinese Lover. The house is a small museum of « The Lover » in Sadec. Visit to a Caodaist Temple and stroll through the colorful local market.

Day6 Tan Chau – Border Crossing (B, L, D)Arrival at Tan Chau in the morning, a remote town on the main Mekong River. After breakfast, trans-fer on small boats to visit a fishing farm. We go ashore to visit a local workshop producing woven mats, and take a short walk in the village to visit

Immerse yourself in enchanting cultures and ancient traditions as you embark on a splendid journey through Vietnam and Cambodia. Start your cruise on the Mekong River from Saigon, visit a lively local market, a sampan builder, and a local establishment to see how rice wine and candy are made. In Phnom Penh, take a tour of the city by private cyclo, with visits to the National Museum and the Royal Palace with the stunning Silver Pa-goda. Walking tours through the rural villages of Prek Bang Kong and Angkor Ban and an ox cart ride through the countryside at Kampong Tralach will grant you a memorable inside look at life along the river and interactions with the local people. You’ll witness, scenes of incredible beauty will delight the eye, from dazzling religious sites like the richly-detailed Angkor Wat to timeless glimpses of everyday life along the Mekong River.

4399$ Maindeck

Upperdeck

Afternoon, take optional tour and travel 70km northwest to Saigon to explore the Cu Chi Tun-nels, one of the most famous battlegrounds of the Vietnam War. The secret tunnel system is 200 km long deep inside the earth, and was used for hiding in during combat, also serving as commu-nication and supply routes during the Vietnam War. Back to Saigon and check in hotel.

Day4 Saigon – My Tho in Mekong Delta – Embarkation (B, L, D)Meet at the Sofitel Plaza hotel in Saigon at 9 am for the transfer arrangement to My Tho, located 70 kilometers away. The transfer includes a stop at the Cholon Market and visit to a lacquer factory. Arrival in My Tho and welcome on board the RV MEKONG PRESTIGE II. Lunch on board. Departure in the afternoon. Welcome Dinner on board & tra-ditional Music Show.

Day5 Cai Be – Sa Dec (B, L, D)

a silk weaving workshop. A rickshaw ride round this fascinating town takes you back to the pier for lunch. Depart for the Cambodian border. Eve-ning cruise up the broad Mekong River to Phnom Penh.

Day7 Phnom Penh (B, L, D)Arrival in Phnom Penh in the morning. The cap-ital city of Cambodia still retains its old French colonial architecture in riverside streets. Visit the Royal Palace and the Silver Pagoda. The National Museum is another highlight, with outstanding displays of Khmer crafts. Lunch on board. After-noon excursion to the former High School « S21 », converted to a detention center under the RedKhmer’s rule between 1975 and 1979, followedby a visit to Wat Phnom after which the city wasnamed. Dinner on board. Traditional KhmerApsara Dancing Show on board.

Day8 Koh Chong – Phnom Penh (B, L, D)Early morning sailing from Phnom Penh to Chong Koh or Oknathey (both located in Silk Island). Vis-it this silk weaving village for a morning walk at leisure and a visit to the local workshop. The ex-cursion includes a visit to a Pagoda and a meeting in a primary school. We cruise past the Mekong’s timeless villages and River life with extensive fish-ing activities. Return to Phnom Penh and after-noon at leisure. Dinner on board.

Day9 Kampong Tralach (B, L, D)Morning journey upriver heading towards Oud-ong. Arrival at Prek Dam in the early afternoon, 40 kilometers from Phnom Penh. Excursion by coach to reach Oudong, the former capital city of Cambodia, between 1618 and 1866, Visit of the Vipassana Dhura Pagoda, located at the foot of a hill on the top of which were erected numer-ous Stupas dating of the last Khmer Kings. This is a place of meditation for Buddhist Monks. After the visit buses depart for Kampong Tralach to vis-it the very charming Vihara of the Wat Kampong Leu Pagoda dating back to the last century to see the beautiful wall paintings. Return to the ship by

ox-drawn carriage. Dinner on board.

Day10 Kampong Chhnang (B, L, D)Morning sailing on the Tonle Sap River, which con-nects the Mekong River to the Tonle Lake. Arrive at Kampong Chhnang, located approximately 90 km from Phnom Penh. This is a busy rural port town with bustling markets. Then board local boats to visit the authentic floating village. The life of the entire population is connected to the river with local people using the canal system which crisscross this little town. We go ashore to stroll through the scenic market. Lunch & Dinner on board.

Day11 Tonle Sap – Siem Reap – Disembarkation (B, L, D)We cross the lake early in the morning* (Please note that when there is low water, the transfer to Siem Reap will be made by coach or speed boat). The great lake dominates Cambodia and is over 150 km in length, with interesting and varied bird life resulting from the varied the water levels in the lake and river depending on the time of year and rainfall. Disembarkation after breakfast and transfer to Siem Reap. Afternoon, free at leisure. Enjoy dinner at restaurant with Apsara Dance Per-formance.

*Important notice: it may not be possible to cross LakeTonle if the water is low. Alternative arrangements willbe made to cross the lake either by bus or speed boat to meet the pier. Passengers will be informed of details be-fore departure.The cruise schedule and program timingare indicative and subject to modification.

Day11 Siem Reap – Angkor Tour (B)Breakfast at hotel. Free day at leisure for your own activities.

Or take the optional tour:Begin with Angkor Thom’s imposing South Gate, topped with the four serenely smiling faces of Avalokiteshvara. Next, visit Bayon temple, the El-ephant Terrace and the Terrace of the Leper King. Then visit the jungle-entwined temple, Ta Prohm.

*indicates reverse itinerary from Siem Reap to Saigon

Price Guide

• Prices are per person based on twin share accomodationin main deck and upper deck

• Air ticket from Halifax with taxes• Tour price are subject to change without prior notice. Please check

with your travel agent or our website for the latest information.

Price Includes

• International airfare from Toronto/Vancouver in economy class • Deluxe 7-night cruise from Ho Chi Minh City to Siem Reap (or reverse)

with private balcony. Enjoy an intimate river cruise experience with a maximum of 64 guests on board

• Pre and Post Cruise total 4-night hotel accommodations with daily breakfast

• Ground transportation by air-conditioned vehicle • Sightseeing with admission fees as indicated in the itinerary• Cruise Excursions, boat trips with English-speaking guide• Meals as indicated in the itinerary• Drinks on board Mekong Prestige: Mineral Water, non-alcoholic

beverages, local beers (all day) and local wine during meals• On board tips/gratuities• All taxes $580pp (airport taxes and fuel surcharge, port taxes etc.)

Price Does Not Include

• Gratuities for land services (suggested US$8 per day per person)• Vietnamese and Cambodian Visa fee• Travel Insurance• Personal expenditure such as laundry services and telephone calls

Hotel List: Saigon Paragon Saigon Hotel 4*Mekong River Cruise Mekong Prestige II 5*Siem Reap Somadevi Angkor Hotel & Spa 4*

Junior SuiteJunior Suite

In the afternoon, visit the magnificent Angkor Wat - the largest Khmer temple and finest example ofAngkorian art and architecture. Enjoy sunset atAngkor Wat Temple before return hotel.

Day12 Siem Reap Departure (B)Enjoy the morning at your own leisure before your flight back to Canada.