Victoria Mekong Cruise Upstream 8 days: Saigon - Siem Reap

Morning & Afternoon

ÊMM Hotel Saigon is our first meeting point, located at 157 Pasteur Street, District 3. That is where we start the journey and make our way towards Can Tho. We say goodbye to modern Ho Chi Minh City to embark on a new destination in the heart of the Mekong Delta.

En route, the Victoria will make a stop at Cai Be, where we will have lunch at the classic Le Longanier Restaurant, set amidst lush fruit trees by the river.

By 16:00, the Victoria Mekong Cruise is ready for passengers to step on. Then the ship slowly begins its route to Long Xuyen. During that time, guests should settle their luggage and enjoy the landscape of the sunset on the Hau River.

A "Don ca tai tu" live stage is prepared. We can sit back and enjoy it, with a cocktail if preferred.

Evening

After dusk, everyone is invited to an official welcome meal. Following that, you can either take a rest in your own cabin or join the entertainment activities onboard.

The ship docks near Long Xuyen overnight.

Morning

After breakfast, we tender ashore to explore the real Long Xuyen Floating Market and An Giang Museum, which feature intriguing cultural displays on Kinh, Chinese, Khmer, and Cham demonstrations in the region.

The ship cruises on throughout lunch before anchoring at Tiger Island.

Afternoon

Arrive by sampan and tour Tiger Island by 3-wheeled "xe loi," stopping at small enterprises like plant pot and incense production. Visit "Mr. Tiger's Temple" and learn about the legend that gave the island its name.

Evening

Return to the ship for the cocktail competition and the evening's entertainment as the cruise heads for the overnight anchor in Vam Nao.

Morning

This morning, we would watch the sunrise and enjoy breakfast while sailing across Phu Tan, the provincial capital of An Giang in the Mekong Delta. 

The first attraction is a craft village where the most unique clay stoves are made and well-maintained for decades to block the wind, keep the ash from scattering, and most importantly, increase heat retention.

Afternoon

We will purposely have lunch while on the way cruising to Tan Chau to get ready for another expedition of the day. At Tan Chau village, explore vibrant local markets and the regional temples, and engage with friendly locals by rickshaw.

Evening

When the ship docks in Tan Chau, passengers will enjoy a delightful dinner on board. 

Following the meal, a variety of engaging onboard activities are suggested for you, and you can cherish the tranquil ambiance of the cruise as you prepare for the adventures that await the next day.

Morning

Wake up at breaking dawn, and you will be able to enjoy the morning panorama on the sky deck as the ship sets sail for the Vietnam-Cambodia border. 

Shortly after breakfast in the Claypot restaurant, you can choose something from a variety of onboard activities to take part in, such as a ship tour, a mini-golf competition, or simply have a break.

Meanwhile, the cruise continues to cross the border between Vietnam and Cambodia and sail on to Phnom Penh.

Afternoon

We arrive in Phnom Penh in the late afternoon, a rustic city previously renowned as the "Pearl of Indochina" for its French colonial architecture.

Evening

Before a fascinating supper, a pre-dinner presentation about Cambodia is prepared. Afterward, you will have the chance to witness the performance of Khmer Apsara dancing.

Morning

Embark on a three-wheeled cyclo to the spectacular Royal Palace, an intricately built royal building with its magnificent 5,000 silver floor tiles, and beautiful national treasures of gold and bejeweled Buddha sculptures. 

Then we would stop at the National Museum. Admire the stunning sandstone structure housing the world's greatest collection of Khmer art.

Afternoon

Afterwards, make our way to Choeung Ek, one of the Killing Fields mass burial sites between 1975 and 1979. Choeung Ek is now a monument with a Buddhist stupa containing skulls and bones to memorialize the victims.

Evening

Finish the afternoon at Raffles Hotel Le Royal, where you may have a drink of a specialty cocktail at the renowned Elephant Bar. 

Wrap up the day by returning to the ship for a vibrant Khmer Apsara performance, followed by the opportunity to meet the performers.

Morning

Before the walking tour, we prepared ourselves with breakfast aboard. Our destination is the village of Koh Chen, where we will encounter a local coppersmith and silversmith. 

Transferring by coach to Oudong, the ancient capital of Cambodia, we stop at the glamorous Vipassana Dhura Meditation Center.

Afternoon

After savoring lunch, we hop on a three-wheeled tuk-tuk to continue the trip. 

Reaching the Silk Island, you have the opportunity to learn about silk weaving from worm to loom, then witness the whole process of how they produce a beautiful traditional Cambodian krama.

Morning

Today’s schedule includes exploring the village of Angkor Ban, which is famous for its wooden stilt houses and local tranquility. Afterward, when the ship cruises towards Kampong Cham, you will be onboard and enjoy lunch.

Afternoon & Evening

We will spend the afternoon discovering the magnificent ruins and cultural values of Wat Nokor Bachey. That is an ideal place to watch the sunset.

Then return to the cruise for dinner and evening’s entertainment.

Morning

The cruise disembarks at Kampong Cham. You will be transferred to Siem Reap and admire the beautiful rustic sites on the way. Here, the final lunch will be served before bidding farewell to the trip.