RV Mekong Princess Cruise Upstream 8 days: Saigon - Siem Reap

Morning

To begin your journey, our motor coach and guide will take you by transfer service from your hotel from 10:00 to 11:00. Then we will head to the Saigon Port - 05 Nguyen Tat Thanh St, Ward 13, District 4, Ho Chi Minh City, where the RV Mekong Princess is waiting for you.

Once aboard, our hospital Vietnamese and Cambodian crew will welcome you warmly with a welcome drink and a safety briefing in the Ramvong Lounge. You will go through the check-in process and then start sailing from midday through the Mekong Delta.

Lunch, with top-notch oriental hospitality, will be served soon after departure as we cruise leisurely through the Saigon River, Soai Rap River, Nuoc Man Canal, Vam Co River, and Cho Gao Canal to the “Mighty Mekong River”.

Afternoon

You will have a free midday to settle into your luxurious suite and watch the world pass by. We also have crafted cocktails by skilled bartenders on board for all the guests to enjoy while watching the sunset and sampans passing by.

Evening

At the end of the day, the cruise will anchor overnight in the very center of the Mekong Delta.

In the Indochine Restaurant, a typical Vietnamese "A La Carte" supper will be offered, which embraces a nuanced mix of foods for even the most delicate palates.

Morning

After enjoying the new day with breakfast onboard, we'll move to the sampans and travel through a channel line and mangroves for a day of exploration. 

When reaching the land, we'll try one of the most popular local transportation named “xe lam” (three-wheeler) to visit a local coconut candy workshop. Coming here, you will witness the process of making coconut candy and learn how to make them. You also can taste some and buy them if you want. 

After that, we will walk through the village to admire different kinds of Vietnamese fruits and taste sweet fruits in the orchard.

We get back to the pier and board a small boat trip to sail through the narrow creeks lined with Nipah Palm. A short glimpse of the charming Mekong Delta will open. After that, lunch will be ready at the Dining Hall as soon as we are back on board.  

Afternoon

The cruise continues its journey through the Mekong Delta and stops at Hoang Dieu Habor, next to Can Tho City.

Guests will take a short and oriented city tour, visiting the Zihuang Pagoda (Chua Ong) and enjoying the welcome unicorn dance. This place creates a diverse cultural environment and draws visitors from all over the world, in addition to some breathtaking natural sights. 

Afterward, you will have spare time for yourself. Getting on a walk to explore the charming city before coming back to the ship is a great idea.

Evening

For the night, you will have an early dinner. The ship will dock overnight in Can Tho.

Morning

As the sun rises over the Mekong Delta, set out by sampan toward Cai Rang floating market. Watch local vendors trade fresh produce and everyday goods from their boats, with goods displayed on tall bamboo poles to show what each boat has for sale.

Along the way, enjoy refreshing coconut water and sample fresh tropical fruits as the Delta awakens around you. Continue to a family-run noodle workshop to see how traditional rice noodles are made by hand. The morning ends with a visit to a local wet market, offering a glimpse into the daily life of the Mekong Delta.

Afternoon

After lunch, continue by sampan past local rice mills, where grain is processed before being distributed across the region. Visit a family workshop to see traditional conical hats being made by hand, then continue by sampan to the peaceful village of Hoa An.

On land, board a local xe loi (motorcart) and travel through quiet country lanes, passing fields and orchards. Enjoy a leisurely walk along village paths surrounded by fruit trees and rice paddies before continuing your journey.

As the sun lowers over the Delta, we return to the Mekong Princess to enjoy a satisfying dinner before retiring to our comfortable cabins for a peaceful night's rest.

Morning

First off, we head to Gieng Island on sampans after breakfast. This is a wonderfully peaceful countryside, which does not only attract tourists because of the serenity but also because of many historical attractions.

After a short walk around the local sampan village to see how the locals make sampans, we join a canal journey and stroll through the mango gardens along the riverbanks.

We'll try one of the most popular local transportation named "xe loi" (motor trishaw) through the island to visit the Phanxico Monastery.

Afternoon

We visit the local island village of Hong Ngu, where many traditional Khmer scarves are made and exported to Cambodia. Here, you can see the weaving process in several home workshops and communicate with the locals to get more knowledge of their daily lives.

Lastly, we will get off to a local temple dedicated to the authentic Vietnamese religion - Hoa Hao.

Evening

Later in the day, we will return to the board. During the time aboard back to Tan Chau, we prepare you for an entertaining pastime as well. 

After that, all the guests will have dinner and relax. The ship sets off for Tan Chau and anchors there the whole night.

Morning

You will have breakfast while enjoying the fascinating scenery on both sides of the river.

During the onboard activity, you will be treated to an informative lecture focusing on Cambodia's geography and providing insights into the vibrant life along the Mekong River.

Afternoon

Complete exit procedures and continue upstream to the capital of Cambodia. Once you arrive in Phnom Penh, local cyclos will pick you up for the half-day city tour.

The first destination is the Royal Palace with Throne Hall and Moonlight Pavilion. Strolling around the ground with the wonderful garden, which is perfectly manicured, will give you an overview of the Palace of the Cambodian Royal with its delicate structure. 

Next, we'll visit the Silver Pagoda, where the rare Buddha statues are made of thousands of precious jewels.

After a short break, the tour will end in the afternoon by taking you to the National Museum. Numerous of the artifacts discovered throughout the Angkor Archeological Area in Siem Reap, as well as various locations near the former Khmer Empire, will be on display. 

Evening

After the city tour, we'll return to the ship and have some leisure time before having dinner. The ship docks in Phnom Penh for the night.

Morning

To get started, a private motor coach transports you on a scenic 45-minute drive to Choeung Ek - the Killing Fields. Over 17,000 individuals lost their lives and were buried in this area. The location is a former orchard and a somber reminder of the Khmer Rouge regime's atrocities. You can take a stroll around the fields and see the modest museum and memorial stupa. 

On the way back to Phnom Penh, we will make a quick stop at Tuol Sleng, which the Khmer Rouge had transformed from a sizable school into a prison and center for torture.

Afternoon & Evening

You will have the afternoon free to explore the city on your own. To get closer to Cambodian culture, let’s join the Apsara dance show performance before dinner aboard. Spend the night on board while the ship moors in Phnom Penh.

Morning

The morning kicks off by enjoying a hearty breakfast in the dining room while the cruise says goodbye to Phnom Penh and leaves for Angkor Ban.

Afternoon

On arrival, we start our tour around the town and discover the daily life of the locals. First, begin with a visit to the local pagoda with a special blessing ceremony with local monks. This is a form of praying for peace and happiness in Asian culture in general and Buddhism in particular.

Then we move forward to a local family's home to meet them to learn more about their customs and way of life. Following that, we spend time at the local school, where we become part of the students in their classroom and observe a typical school day. 

Evening

You will be welcomed with a cozy and classic dinner in the evening. The ship sails to Kampong Cham and docks overnight while everyone stays overnight onboard.

Morning

After breakfast time, we'll pack our package and prepare to say goodbye to RV Mekong Princess. We'll disembark in Kampong Cham.

The last ride of the journey is a motor coach that takes you to Siem Reap. You will arrive at your hotel by noon.