Saigon – Siem Reap Discovery – 8 Days

General Information

Tour Code:
Tour Route: Ho Chi Minh – Cai Be – Chau Doc – Phnom Penh – Kampong Cham – Wat Hanchey – Kampong Chhnang – Tonle Sap – Siem Reap
Duration: 8 Days
Start/ End: Ho Chi Minh/ Siem Reap
River Cruise Name: Jayavarman
Cruise Line: Heritage Line

Full itinerary

Day 1: Saigon – My Tho – Cai Be (D)

Upon arrival at Saigon, you will be welcomed by the guide who will escort you around Saigon to witness how bustle and hustle the city is. Then, head to the next place of My Tho, it takes about 70-km drive in the south to get. When reach My Tho, you can embark the luxury boat to delve into the Mighty Mekong.

Step on board with a warmly welcome from the crew and then head to your room. After that, your journey is really started. There is a nice lunch buffet in the restaurant right on the cruise ship.
After lunch, you have some entertainment such as relaxing at the private balcony or savoring tea at the open-air bar when the sun slowly goes down.
The ship reach Cai Be whilst enjoy dinner on the sundeck. Overnight on cruise at mid-stream in Cai Be Floating market.

Day 2: Cai Be – Sa Dec – Tan Chau (B, L, D)

Good morning by an exciting Tai chi class on the sundeck. After that, have a wonderful breakfast before the discovery in Mekong Delta.
The guide leads you to visit Cai Be in the morning. In Cai Be, people are using small floating market to transfer and purchase local goods such as fruits and other agricultural products. While meet the locals with their work, the guide will explain the culture and geography for us.
Coming to Cai Be, you will be mesmerized by the criss-crossed canals system in a rustic town. Meet the locals, see their daily activities and earn more knowledge about the method to make some stable product here as rice paste, rice papar, or rice wine. Have lunch on boat.

In the afternoon, we visit Sa Dec by a traditional sampan to forward Binh Thanh Island, which is an ideal place for those who want to explore the mighty Mekong. Be overwhelmed by the violet water which are grown for living by locals. strolling around the village to see and learn more about the local life. Better still, come and see the weaving factory. Although we have many modern machines, the weaving still done by manual, thus you can try it yourself.
To help you understand more about this land, the guide will present about “Mekong Delta’s life’ whilst the boat is sailing toward Tan Chau which borders on Cambodia. The boat will moor in the middle of stream nearby Tan Chau.

Day 3: Chau Doc border crossing (B, L, D)

Welcome to Chau Doc, the circus of fish. Let the Tai Chi lesson makes your day powerful.
Today we first visit the local Muslim Cham community. Take a ride through the splendid town of the myriad of French colonial architecture and witness the bustling market flooded with tropical fruits in full display by women in cone shaped palm leaf hats. Observe splendid textiles being woven on old wooden looms; a tradition that has been passed from generation to generation. In the mid-afternoon, the Jayavarman river cruise casts off for the border towards Phnom Penh.

Day 4: Phnom Penh (B, L, D)

Today morning, we will see the indescribable scene while approaching Phnom Penh’s river promenade. After breakfast, start your city tour in the capital of Cambodia. Visit the Royal Palace where is famous with the dazzling white and golden architecture, then visit the outstanding displays of Khmer crafts at National Museum & the temple of Wat Phnom. Have lunch at a local restaurant.
In the afternoon, ease the nerves a plenty of cocktails while watching the traditional Apsara dance of Cambodia. Experience the richness of the culture and soothing sounds of traditional music, melting with the calming scent of incense sticks and a savory delicious Khmer food.

Day 5: Phnom Penh – Kampong Cham (B, L, D)

Depart from the break dawn of Phnom Penh with the first stop at Chong Koh silk weaving village for a walk. Cruising pass the peaceful villages in Mekong and river life of the fishermen on duty.
Next, stop at Wat Nokor, built within the ruins of an antique temple that holds a hidden story. Then, visit Cheung Kok Ecotourism Village, a small village with a lot of activities to experience village life.

 

Day 6: Kampong Cham – Wat Hanchey (B, L, D)

Be the early bird to join in a journey upriver to the pre-Angkorian temple of Wat Hanchey. It’s located at the top of hill overlooking the river offering the best views in Cambodia. The historic site brings people back from the 8th century with the ancient structures and architecture of the Chenla Empire. Relish in the stunning views of the surrounding with rice paddy plains and peaceful moment here.

Day 7: Kampong Cham – Kampong Chhnang – Tonle Sap (B, L, D)

The Jayavarman sets sail to Kampong Chhnang via Prek K’dam along the meandering Tonle Sap River in the very early morning. Stroll around Kampong Louang, one of the last silversmith villages. Upon arrival in the village, you have chance to witness the entire community involved in making various silver items to sell. Later, back to the ship for lunch.
After lunch, hop on a motorboat excursion from Kampong Chhnang to see the wetlands, floating houses and fish farms. Make a stop at a floating school to interact with the children and participate in teaching them English. Today is truly experience rural Khmer life.
In the evening, enjoy a scrumptious farewell dinner on the sundeck.

Day 8: Tonle Sap – Siem Reap (B)

Tonle Sap is a great lake in Cambodia with the length of 150 km. The birdlife is situated from the middle of the lake one cannot even see the shores. Witness stillness and tranquility on the way to Siem Reap.
The water level is a great deal according to the time of the year and the amount of rainfall recorded. Therefore the changes may occur for the different seasons.