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The Mekong between tradition and exoticism: from Saigon to Phnom Penh in four days

Looking for a holiday with a change of scenery, relaxation, exclusivity and a wealth of cultural visits?

By Marie Le Saint expert of your cruises
Where will you sleep?
Unique holidays
Who is cabin cruising for?
more+
Main features
Boat model: Traditional ship
Type: Yacht / Motoryacht > 24 m
Number of cabins: 27
Maximum capacity: 54 travelers

Cabin

Superior
Superior cabins are located on the ship's main deck. Each has a private balcony with chairs ideal for admiring the Mekong River. An elegant bathroom features an antique vanity and a large, comfortable shower. Chic white wood furnishings, art paintings and subtle art deco accents underline the room's brightness and vibrancy.
Deluxe
Deluxe cabins are located on the upper deck and feature a private balcony with chairs and side table, accessible via a large sliding glass door.
Signature suite
The Signature suites are both located in a coveted spot at the front of the ship. This suite is an artistic abode housing a solid wood king-size four-poster bed. both suites have a magnificent balcony facing the direction of travel and are served by a dedicated butler.
NB : The pictures, information, and visuals presented are not contractually binding. The itinerary and program indicated may be modified without notice for technical reasons (captain's decision).

Itinerary

Hô Chi Minh My Tho Cai Be
We greet our guests in the morning at our welcome lounge in Saigon. Kick back with a second coffee... more+ as our staff collects your details for boarding. We bid farewell to the hustle and bustle of Saigon and travel 70 kilometres south over land towards My Tho to embark on our vessel. After checking into your luxurious floating “home” for the next several days, your first inclination may be to step on your balcony to watch the ship set sail on its fascinating Mekong River voyage. A lunch buffet is served in the restaurant while the vessel steadily glides upstream. Now it is time to get acquainted with one of the largest streams in Asia, which runs an estimated length of 4,909 km (3,050 mi) and discharges 475 cu km (114 cu mi) of water annually. Millions of people – from China, Laos, Myanmar, Thailand, Cambodia, and Vietnam – pay tribute to this mighty river which provides sustenance and protection over its inhabitants. Let your soul float and your eyes wander while the boat makes its way upstream. It is often stated that “nautical air” makes you hungry, so you are cordially invited to our afternoon tea in the open-air bar as twilight bathes the Mekong Delta in a golden haze. Get to know your fellow travellers while enjoying some tasty treats. The rest of this cruising day is fully yours to relax on your private balcony or be pampered by our therapists at the Apsara Spa. While you savour your delightful dinner, the ship reaches Cai Be. This historic town was established in the 19th century by Vietnam’s last ruling family, the Nguyen dynasty, on the Mekong River where three provinces meet: Tien Giang, Vinh Long, and Ben Tre. Cai Be would later become the surrounding region’s predominant waterbased trading hub, as we will see in tomorrow’s visit to the floating market. We anchor mid-stream near Cai Be and moor there overnight. If you are in the mood for some evening entertainment, there is a cinema in the lounge showcasing classic movies and interesting documentaries on a nightly basis. 
Breakfast
Lunch
Diner
Cai Be Sa Dec Tan Chau
Wake up early to witness the spectacular scenery at the break of dawn. To make the experience... more+ complete, join our daily morning Tai Chi class. Afterwards, a rich breakfast buffet awaits, or if you prefer, we can serve breakfast directly to your room. We arrive at Cai Be, a charming market town which is famous for its Catholic French church and the manufacturing of traditional crafts and food products. The once enormous floating market of Cai Be gets smaller year by year since trading on the water is continually shifting towards modern markets. However, you can still see boat-to-boat trading of local goods, such as fruits and agricultural products and imagine what this must have looked like on a larger scale. We learn from our guide about the longlasting trading culture and how each boat has a special marker to let buyers know what goods they are selling. By local boat, we sail along the green canal network and watch the farmers working in the fields. A visit ashore of a workshop shows us the manufacturing of rice paste, rice paper, rice cookies and rice wine. Cai Be’s surrounding areas are covered by palm trees, which is why the region is also famous for the production of coconut candy. While the vessel continues sailing upstream, you can enjoy time to yourself or head to the bar to and enjoy a true Vietnamese coffee as you watch the life on the riverbanks float by. In the afternoon, the vessel reaches the area of Sa Dec and arrives at one of the larger islands in the vast stream of the Mekong, Binh Thanh Island. Several communities have settled here and make their living by growing water hyacinths. We exclusively visit one of these untouched areas. By wandering through the village, we get a deep understanding of native life. One of the local artisans, for example, demonstrates the entire process of traditional mat making. You can try weaving yourself. We also meet a local elderly couple who share their story of living on this island. They are always happy to chit-chat with our guests. Back on board, you may take a dip in the pool on the sun deck. In the evening, our expert guide offers a presentation on life on the Mekong Delta as the ship continues sailing to Tan Chau, a pleasant, slow-paced border town near the Cambodian border with a sizeable Chinese, Kinh and Khmer community. We moor near the city with views on the riverbanks. 
Activities: Including: Stroll through the island village of Binh Thanh, Visit a workshop ashore to learn how rice is made, more+
Breakfast
Lunch
Diner
Tan Chau Phnom Penh
Welcome to the fish sanctuary of Vietnam. Once on shore, we see Tan Chau’s vibrant town-life as... more+ we hop on “xelois”, which are local vehicles still used as a taxi in this area. Your personal xeloi driver slowly navigates through the streets to observe all the workshops, houses and shops while feeling the laid-back vibe of this place. We stop at the colourful, local market near one of the town’s temples. This is a great opportunity to interact with the vendors of this friendly town and try your hand at bargaining with them. To see what Tan Chau is famous for, we board local boats and head to a floating fish farm. You are about to get an exclusive look into the world’s largest inland aquaculture industry. Each of the floating structures has netting hanging down into the water to enclose the fish, which are raised and fed on a daily basis. The region’s specialties are tilapia and the Basa catfish, or Pangasius, which is unique to the Mekong River basin and rapidly gaining popularity on the international seafood market. Back on board our “home”, we sail towards the VietnameseCambodian border. Get ready for a fascinating and leisurely cruise through the deep Cambodian countryside towards Phnom Penh. The whole afternoon is at your own disposal. From here, even the last passenger turns on their cruise mode and hopefully experiences the relaxing influence this mighty river emanates. The afternoon is perfect for massages, relaxation on a terrace deck sunbed or private balcony kick-backs. Conjure up a spell to merge with the river and float into a state of mild bliss.You also may like to visit the bridge as the captain always has a little story to share about “his” river. Or, if you are curious to learn more about Khmer gastronomy, join a culinary workshop to sharpen your knowledge about local cuisine. After our relaxing cruise during the whole afternoon into the evening hours, the boat arrives at Phnom Penh (docking mid-stream or at the pier). Enjoy your time onboard with our onboard entertainment, social at our public venues or relay in the privacy or your cabin (due to immigration regulation passengers may not be allowed to go on land this evening). 
Activities: Including: Outing by local "xeloi" cab, more+
Breakfast
Lunch
Diner
Phnom Penh
Welcome to Phnom Penh - the city once named Paris of the East. Despite its rapid development, it... more+ has retained a lot of its rustic charm and elegance. It is an amazing town with centuries of incredible history and culture which can still be felt at many street corners. Enjoy your last breakfast aboard your floating home before disembarking the ship. We hope that you liked this fascinating river cruise along the Might Mekong, as much as our crew does every time. Please take along with you enchanting memoirs and friendship and share the stories of this amazing river. Heritage Line and our crew wishes you a wonderful onward journey and we looking forward to see you back on board with us. 
Breakfast
Lunch
Diner

included

The price includes
Visits and entrance fees as per program
All transfers from the boat to tourist sites
English speaking tour manager
Transfer from meeting point to ship and vice versa
Welcome drink
Mineral water available
Unlimited tea and coffee on board
Passenger liability insurance
Internet on board (subject to cellular network signal)
River pilots
Fuel
Taxes
A French-speaking guide
Activities included in the program
Meals included in the program
The price does not include
Tips for crew and guides
Visa fees
Personal expenses
Beverages other than those listed
Spa
Shipping costs
Meals not included in the program
Optional services
Flights not included in the programme are available on request

Activities

included
included
included
Marie
With Marie expert of your cruises

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