Mighty Mekong Cruise

Fly overnight to Siem Reap. Depending on your time of arrival the rest of the day is yours to start soaking up the local culture.

This morning, travel by coach from Siem Reap to Kampong Chham where you’ll enjoy lunch. Embark the Victoria Mekong, meet your crew for the next seven nights and enjoy your first sunset on the Mekong River.

Enjoy a morning excursion to explore the village of Angkor Ban with its wooden stilt houses. After having lunch on the ship, travel by three wheeled tuk tuk to Silk Island where you will learn about the process of silk weaving, from worm to loom, with the chance to observe local families weaving the iconic Cambodian krama.

Take a walking tour of the village of Koh Chen where the highlight is meeting a local copper and silversmith. Afterward travel by coach to Oudong, the ancient capital of Cambodia. After lunch on board arrive in Phnom Penh and hop on a pedal powered cyclo to the elegant Raffles Hotel Le Royal for a signature cocktail at the famed Elephant Bar.

Explore the majestic Royal Palace and Silver Pagoda complex and walk to the nearby National Museum, a beautiful sandstone building that showcases the world’s largest collection of Khmer art. Pay your respects at Choeung Ek, one of the mass grave sites of the Killing Fields before returning to the ship to enjoy a lively Apsara dance performance before dinner.

As the ship begins cruising towards the Cambodia Vietnam select from the many onboard activities including a ship’s tour, mini golf tournament, or simply enjoy the scenery. Tender sampans take you ashore to visit a local temple, see fish farms and stilt houses, and get your first glimpse of the Vietnamese countryside. Return on board for a traditional Vietnamese lion dance before dinner.

Tender ashore at Phu Tan to visit a craft village famed for handmaking Ca Rang clay stoves. After lunch on board, head ashore by sampan and explore Tiger Island by 3 wheeled xe loi learning about cottage industries such as plant pot making and incense making. Visit a site locally known as “Mr Tiger’s Temple” and hear the story that won the island its name.

Travel by tender to witness the mesmerizing Long Xuyen floating market and tour the An Giang Museum, with fascinating exhibits on Kinh Chinese, Khmer and Cham cultures in the region. Enjoy lunch on board as we cruise towards the village of Dinh Yen where we’ll observe colourful straw mats being woven on mechanized looms. This evening enjoy a traditional Southern Vietnamese folk music performance known as Đờn ca tài tử followed by a final farewell dinner.

Enjoy breakfast on the terrace of Claypot Restaurant with time to enjoy the view from the pool or from your private balcony before disembarkation. Drive to Cai Be where lunch is served at the elegant Le Longanier Restaurant, set amidst lush fruit trees by the river. Continue to Ho Chi Minh City, arriving mid-afternoon and transfer to your flight to Australia arriving the same or next day.