RV Indochine II Cruise 9 days

Participation in today‘s activities will be according to your arrival time in Ho Chi Minh Ville. If you arrive between 6:00 a.m. and 11:00 a.m., your program will be:

At noon we have lunch at Majestic Hotel (or similar). Built by the French in 1850, at the beginning of the colonial era, the town has retained some of its French atmosphere which characterizes it. City Tour of the city: Reunification Palace, Notre Dame Cathedral and Saigon Central Post Office. We board our ship and then have a welcome cocktail and dinner. Overnight on board in Ho Chi Minh City.

• 
• Notre dame cathedral

After breakfast, we devote our morning to visiting Cholon - Saigon China Town, the major centre of Chinese trade in the capital city. We visit the Ben thanh markets and the Thien Hau pagoda dedicated to the goddess of the sea. We have lunch on board before our afternoon visit of the National History museum then a visit to a lacquer-ware factory. We return on board and set sail for the navigation channel of Cho Gao. Dinner and overnight on board at anchor.

• 
• Chinatown

Early in the morning, we continue our cruise to My Tho along the magnificent Cho Gao Canal, which passes from the Saigon River to the Mekong Delta. The Delta is made up of four main arms and thousands of canals, both large and small. We have breakfast as we arrive in My Tho. Known for its many vegetable gardens, and its fruit orchards, the climate here is hot and pleasant all year long. The surrounding countryside includes one of the most luxuriant gardens in Vietnam with coconut, banana mango and longan trees. We visit the near islands of My Tho. On the Thoi Son Island, we will visit a beekeeping farm where we will taste honey tea and exotic fruits. We return on board for lunch and continue our cruise to Vinh Long, and Caï Be. The town is located in the middle of the delta region, between two arms of the Mekong. We set off in small boats through the arroyos and gardens which lead to Caï Be here discover the bricks, pottery and chinaware, we see the fruit trees nursery on the island of Binh Hoa Phuoc and also the local traditional craft of rice popcorn, rise wafers for the production of spring rolls, rice alcohol and coconut sweets. Vinh Long, a land made rich by alluvium, is the country of mandarins and oranges. We set sail for Sa Dec. Diner and overnight stop at our mooring point.

• 
• Local Girl

Early morning, we visit Sa Dec, famous for its horticulture and known as the “Garden of the Cochin Chine” in colonial times. We have a tour of the small town where a few colonial mansions are still in existence. Discover the local market and visit the ancient houseof Mr. HuynhThuy Le, former lover of the French novelist Marguerite Duras who spent part of her childhood in Sa Dec. We return on board for a hearty breakfast and continue our cruise to Chau Doc, a town at the border between Cambodia and Vietnam which became part of Vietnamese territory some 300 years ago. We have lunch on board and arrive in Chau Doc in the early afternoon. Situated in the heart of a gigantic grid of rice fields, the city of Chau Doc embraces both banks of the Mekong and the floating farms overspill into the waters. Chau Doc is a very prosperous town which developed around fishing and farming. Inside the town, a few colonial buildings with their old fashioned charm still remain. The market which surrounds them is the vibrant heart of the city. We set off by minibus and visit the top of the Sam hill, where we can admire the Phat Thay Tay pagoda and the Ba Chua Xu temple, an important place of pilgrimage for the Vietnamese where it overlooks the vastness of the Delta and its rice fields. By local boat, navigation through the floating-village. Diner and overnight stop in Chau Doc.

• 
• Ancient House Of Huynh Thuy Le

We spend the day afloat today, first heading for the Cambodian border, where we complete customs during the morning and continue our journey. Lunch and dinner are taken on board as we arrive towards the end of the day in Phnom Penh. Before dinner we have a “tuk tuk” trip, a motorized tricycle which is the traditional mode of transport in Phnom Penh. During this trip we can discover the more emblematic monuments of the city as the Cambodia's Royal Palace. We moor for the night in the port of Phnom Penh.

• 
• Phnom Penh

Founded in 1434, the capital of Cambodia retains much of its colonial charm, thanks to the rehabilitation of part of its architectural heritage. Visit the Cambodia's Royal Palace, symbolic heart of the nation and one of the finest examples of Cambodian architecture in classical Khmer style and the Silver Pagoda paved over 5000 silver tiles which it owes its name. Constructed in wood in 1892 then rebuilt in 1962. Then we visit the National museum housing the Fine Arts museum, built in 1917 by the French in traditional Khmer architectural style. Beautiful lapidary museum, which the sublime statue of Javayarman VII sits with the head slightly tilted in a meditative posture. We have lunch in a local restaurant and this afternoon visit of the Tuol Svay Prey S21 School, former centre of detention, torture and execution used by the Khmer Rouge during the civil war. There is free time in the “local market” - crammed full with all types of businesses. This evening we have a Apsara dance show by student dancers and musicians. Dinner and overnight on board, in the port of Phnom Penh.

• 
• Private Apsara Performance 1

We set sail early morning, have breakfast on board before we visit Koh Chen, a small village where the inhabitants are experts in silverwork and copper work. Here are made the ornaments and decorations used during traditional ceremonies in the pagoda or for weddings. Visit the school of the village. We have lunch on board and arrive in Kampong Tralach to visit the beautiful Vihara of the Wat Kampong Tralach Leu. We cross through the village of Kampong Tralach by ox-cow to reach the pagoda on a small path running perpendicular to the river amidst a magnificent landscape of rice fields. The Vihara dates back to the beginning of last century and has many magnificent wall paintings which are starting to suffer from the effects of time. Completely isolated in the middle of the rice fields, the pagoda is quite unassuming and does not receive many visitors, so its isolation makes it a truly magnificent spot. We return on board and continue our cruise to Kampong Chhnang. Dinner and overnight stop.

• 
• Local In Koh Chen

We have breakfast on board and then visit Kampong Chhnang. Located some 90km from Phnom Penh, the town of Kampong Chhnang is one of the largest fishing ports on the Tonle Sap. Here they also have many fish farms. The region is best known for its fine traditional pottery which is a major source of revenue for the entire country, and the region's very name Kampong Chhnang means “the port of the pottery” in Khmer. Taste some palm sugar from the Thnot sugar palm (a real national symbol) before going around the floating village on small local boats. Cocktail and gala dinner tonight. Overnight stop.

• 
• Floating Villages Of Kampong Chhnang

Breakfast on board and spend the morning cruising to take advantage of the lake crossing.We arrive in the port of Siem Reap. End of our services.

• 
• Angkor Wat Front With Buddhist Monk 2

Join the pier of Siem Reap, transfer to Indochine II Cruise. Welcome on board and cocktail. Settle into our cabins Introduction to the crew, then we have dinner. Night at anchor.

• 
• Cambodia

Breakfast on board and spend the morning cruising to take advantage of the lake crossing. After lunch on board, we arrive in the early afternoon in Kampong Chhnang. Located some 90km from Phnom Penh, the town of Kampong Chhnang is one of the largest fishing ports on the Tonle Sap. Here they also have many fish farms. The region is best known for its fine traditional pottery which is a major source of revenue for the entire country, and the region's very name Kampong Chhnang means “the port of the pottery” in Khmer. Taste some palm sugar from the Thnot sugar palm (a real national symbol) before going around the village afloat small local boats. We return on board and continue our cruise to Kampong Tralach. Dinner on board. Night at anchor.

• 
• Floating Villages Of Kampong Chhnang

We have breakfast on board this morning before visiting the beautiful Vihara of the Wat Kampong Tralach Leu. Cross through the village of Kampong Tralach by ox-cow to reach the pagoda on a small path running perpendicular to the river amidst a magnificent landscape of rice fields. The Vihara dates back to the beginning of last century and has many magnificent wall paintings which are starting to suffer from the effects of time. Completely isolated in the middle of the rice fields, the pagoda is quite unassuming and does not receive many visitors, so its isolation makes it a truly magnificent spot. We return on board for lunch and cast off. Arrive into Koh Chen during the afternoon and visit this small village where the inhabitants are experts in silverwork and copper work. Here they make the ornaments and decorations used during traditional ceremonies in the pagoda or for weddings. Visit school of the village. We return on board and cruise to Phnom Penh where we arrive late in the afternoon Take a “tuk tuk” trip, a motorised tricycle which is the traditional mode of transport in Phnom Penh. During this trip we can discover the more emblematic monuments of the city as the Royal Palace.We return on board and enjoy an Aspara dance show and dinner on board. Night alongside in Phnom Penh.

• 
• Apsara Performance

Founded in 1434, the capital of Cambodia retained much of its French colonial charm, thanks to the rehabilitation of part of its architectural heritage. Visit the Cambodia's Royal Palace, symbolic heart of the nation and one of the finest examples of Cambodian architecture in classical Khmer style, the Silver pagoda, paved over 5000 silver tiles which it owes its name. Constructed in wood in 1892 it was then rebuilt in 1962, and. Then we visit the National museum housing the Fine Arts museum, built in 1917 by the French in traditional Khmer architectural style. Beautiful lapidary museum, which the sublime statue of Javayarman VII sits with the head slightly tilted in a meditative posture. Lunch in a local restaurant and this afternoon visit the Tuol Svay Prey School S21, former center of detention, torture and execution used by the Khmer Rouge during the War. There is free time in the “local market” - crammed full with all types of businesses. Return on board and have dinner as we continue our cruise through the night to Vietnam.

• 
• Phnom Penh

Have breakfast on board and spend the morning afloat. We cross into Vietnam and complete customs formalities at the border. Lunch on board. Arriving in the early afternoon in Chau Doc, a town at the border between Cambodia and Vietnam which became part of Vietnamese territory some 300 years ago. Situated in the heart of a gigantic grid of rice fields, the city of Chau Doc embraces both banks of the Mekong and the floating farms overspill into the waters. Chau Doc is a very prosperous town which developed around fishing and farming. Inside the town, a few colonial buildings with their old fashioned charm still remain. The market which surrounds them is the vibrant heart of the city. We set off by minibus and visit the top of the Sam hill, where we can admire the Phat Thay Tay pagoda and the Ba Chua Xu temple, an important place of pilgrimage for the Vietnamese where it overlooks the vastness of the Delta and its rice fields. By local boat, navigation through the floating-village. We return on board and continue our cruise towards Sa Dec. Dinner and night at anchor.

• 
• Mekong Delta

We have breakfast and continue our journey to Sa Dec, where a few colonial mansions are still in existence. Discover the local market and visit the former dwelling ancient house of Huynh Thuy Le, former lover of the French novelist Marguerite Duras who spent part of her childhood in Sa Dec. Famous for its horticulture, Sa Dec was known as the “garden of the Cochin Chine” in colonial times. Return on board for lunch and continue our cruise towards Vinh Long, located in the middle of the delta region, between two arms of the Mekong and where all of life is organized around the water. Hundreds of boats criss-cross in all directions between houses built on stilts. Set off in boats through the orchards that lead to Caï Be. Here discover the bricks, pottery and chinaware, we see the fruit trees nursery on the island of Binh Hoa Phuoc and also the local traditional craft of rice popcorn, rise wafers for the production of spring rolls, rice alcohol and coconut sweets. All in family context to Delta's economy. Return to the ship and continue our cruise. Dinner and overnight on board at anchor.

• 
• Ancient House Of Huynh Thuy Le

Early morning, breakfast on board before we visit the near islands of My Tho in small local boats. Renowned for its many vegetable gardens, fruit orchards, the climate here is hot and pleasant all year long. The surrounding countryside includes one of the most luxuriant gardens in Vietnam with coconut, banana, mango and logan trees. On Thoi Son Island, we will visit a beekeeping farm where we will taste honey tea and exotic fruits. Very nice navigation onboard local boat (sampans) through the country. We return on board for lunch and continue with our magnificent cruise, taking the Cho Gao canal and heading for Ho Chi Minh City. Dinner and overnight on board in the port of Ho Chi Minh City.

We have breakfast this morning before our visit of Ho Chi Minh City, originally named Saigon and built by the French in 1850 at the beginning of French colonial times and the principal port of Vietnam. Take a tour of the city: Reunification palace, Notre Dame Cathedral, Saigon Central Post Office and the National History museum. We have lunch on board and in the afternoon, we visit a traditional lacquer-ware factory, and we have free-time in Ben thanh market. Return to the ship for our farewell cocktail and gala dinner. Moor for the night in the port of Ho Chi Minh City.

• 
• Notre dame cathedral

After breakfast, we disembark our ship and devote our morning to Cholon (Saigon's Chinatown), the major center of Chinese trade in the capital city. Visit of market and the Thien Hau pagoda dedicated to the goddess of the sea. After lunch: End of our services around 02.00PM. Not to provide flight before 18:00PM.

• 
• Chinatown