8 Days Downstream Siem Reap Saigon on Heritage Line Jayavarman Cruise: We arrive to Kampong Tralach by gliding over lush patches of this jungle-like area. Children waving raucously as they bring their animals for a wash in the winding river. By taking a native ox cart trip, you may live to experience all of this life, which is so very different from ours. To see the breathtaking countryside at the crack of dawn, get up early. The ideal way to start the day is with our Tai Chi class in the morning. The breakfast buffet is thereafter provided in the dining room.
Table of Contents
Day 1: Siem Reap – Tonle River
Activities: Visiting the Tonle Sap, embarking on the ship, and taking leisurely excursions
High Water: Siem Reap – Tonle River
We will meet together in the morning in our Siem Reap welcome lounge. While our team gathers your information for the boarding, you may relax with a drink.
We will say adieu to the famous Angkor landmarks before traveling a short distance to the Tonle Sap Lake dock. We will go to our opulent “home” for the next several days by local boat. As you settle into your ready bedrooms, the ship will set sail, beginning your interesting voyage on the Mighty Mekong.
While the ship softly gliding across the Tonle Sap Lake, we will have lunch on board. Only high water may be used to traverse the lake (roughly August to mid-November). While the boat travels over, we’ll let your mind roam and your spirit float.
We’ll offer high tea in the bar in the afternoon. We will take advantage of your day at sea as you cruise, unwind on your balcony, or indulge in a spa treatment before supper. Additionally, our knowledgeable guide will deliver on the “Geography of the Mekong and Tonle Sap Lake.” On the Tonle River, the boat will moor. You may attend our nightly evening movie screening, which features a number of great films.
Low Water: Siem Reap – Kampong Cham
At our Siem Reap welcome lounge, we meet in the morning. While our team gathers your information for the boarding, relax with a drink. We next say goodbye to the famous Angkor landmarks and drive by road south to Kampong Cham, where our ship is waiting for us. Snacks and drink are offered for the roughly 4.5-hour journey.
When you arrive, you check into your immaculate cabins. Lunch is provided at a buffet in the dining room. Get comfortable with all of the amenities aboard and then relax.
We learn more about the schooling of the young Cambodian generation in the afternoon (NGO project). The kids come on board with us, always eager to demonstrate their musical and artistic prowess. Make sure your applause is met with smiles.
We board a bus and depart the ship for an afternoon trip following the play. We get the opportunity to observe a bamboo bridge that links the mainland to an island during the low water season. When the water level drops, the local communities rebuild the bridge every year. We proceed on foot to the magnificent Wat Hanchey pre-Angkorian temple (7th century). With a breathtaking view of the Mekong, this modest complex is perched on a hill near the beach.
You may have some alone time after you get back to the ship before supper is served in the dining room. Selected vintage films are shown in our lounge theater (every night).
Meals: Lunch, Dinner
Overnight: Heritage Line Jayavarman cruise
Day 2: Kampong Chhnang – Kampong Tralach – Kampong Cham
Activities: Arrive in Kampong Chhnang, take in the scenery, tour the area’s wetlands and floating villages, and then travel to Kampong Tralach.
High Water: Kampong Chhnang – Kamp. Tralach – Kampong Cham
To see the breathtaking countryside at the crack of dawn, get up early. The ideal way to start the day is with our Tai Chi class in the morning. The breakfast buffet is thereafter provided in the dining room.
We are in Cambodia’s “water wonderland” of Kampong Chhnang, where everything is perched on sticks above water-rich ground. It could be Cambodia’s most interesting sailing location. To go to the coast, we board a nearby boat. We go by minibus to a neighboring rural community for a walking tour. Our guides present us to the village’s specialties, including palm sugar production and ceramics made in the Khmer manner. Definitely bring some home with you. We see the local marshes and floating towns before heading back to the boat.
Back on board, lunch is served as we resume our leisurely meandering cruise up the Tonle River in the direction of Kampong Tralach. On board, a monks’ blessing ritual sends good vibes and prayers for everyone’s health and happiness.
We arrive to Kampong Tralach by gliding over lush patches of this jungle-like area. Children shouting incessantly wave as they bring their animals to the winding river for a bath.
We’ll make a stop at the Heritage Line-supported “Green School.” Take a native ox cart trip to see the whole river life, which is quite distinct from our own.
Once back on board, we continue traveling downstream, reaching the Tonle and Mekong Rivers’ confluence. While you have supper in the dining hall, the boat sails.
Low Water: Kampong Cham – Oknha Tey – Kampong Chhnang
You’ll feel energized for the day ahead after our Tai Chi lesson on the sun terrace every morning. Served in the dining room is breakfast. On the Mekong River, the ship makes its way upstream toward the tiny Angkor Ban town. The Angkor Ban hamlet is well-known for its pristine neighborhood and exquisite traditional homes. It gives the impression of going back in time a century to a time when modernism had not yet arrived. Villagers are known for their unrestrained warmth. A monks’ blessing ceremony will bring spirits and wishes for everyone’s health and prosperity back on board. As we set sail along the Mekong, enjoy your meal.
Our team is eager to demonstrate the range of traditional Khmer clothing to you during the afternoon High Tea that is provided. We reach the Koh Oknha Tey Island. This region along the Mekong River is well known for producing high-end silk goods. By tuk tuk, we travel the island’s workshops and discover how silk is produced, from the tiny silkworms that serve as its source to the final, premium product made of genuine Cambodian silk.
The boat anchors close to Kampong Chhnang after continuing to cruise for a while and reaching the Mekong and Tonle Rivers’ confluence. Before supper, have a refreshing beverage while seeing the magnificent marshlands of this lovely region.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Overnight: Heritage Line Jayavarman cruise
Day 3: Kampong Cham – Koh Oknha Tey – Phnom Penh
Activities: Visit the pre-Angkorian temple Wat Hanchey, take in a blessing ritual, observe Mekong riverside life, tour the island’s workshops, discover how silk is made from the ground up, etc.
High Water: Kampong Cham – Okhna Tey – Phnom Penh
After a delicious breakfast, we take a bus to a nearby school to learn more about the education of the next generation of Cambodians (the project is funded by an NGO). These kids are always eager to demonstrate their musical and artistic talents, and they will beam at you when you applaud them. We go farther on the road till we reach the beautiful pre-Angkorian temple of Wat Hanchey (7th century). With breathtaking views of the Mekong, this modest complex is perched on a hill just a short distance from the water.
We offer lunch back aboard the ship after a little period of relaxation. Our team is eager to demonstrate the range of traditional Khmer clothing to you in the afternoon. As the cruise makes its way to its next destination, have high tea while seeing the Mekong’s riverside inhabitants. We reach the Koh Oknha Tey Island. This location in the Mekong River’s center is well known for producing high-end silk goods. By tuk tuk, we travel the island’s workshops and discover how silk is produced, from the tiny silkworms that serve as its source to the final, premium product made of genuine Cambodian silk.
The boat comes and docks at the Phnom Penh port after even more cruise time. After supper, feel free to go on your first solo adventure. Drink at one of the many pubs or stroll along the river promenade and see the residents chatting and selling trinkets (kindly inform our crew once you are leaving the ship on your own).
Low Water: Kampong Chhnang – Kamp. Tralach – Phnom Penh
Get up early to see this amazing water park as it breaks down. The setting is ideal for our morning Tai Chi lesson today. The restaurant offers a breakfast buffet. We are now in Kampong Chhnang, or the “water world,” where everything is perched on sticks above water-rich ground.
To go to the coast, we board a nearby boat. We go by minibus to a neighboring rural community where we do a walking tour. The production of palm sugar and Khmer-style ceramics are two of the local specialties that our guides highlight. You should most definitely bring some home. We see the nearby marshes and floating towns before heading back to the boat.
When everyone is back on board, lunch is served while the boat makes its leisurely way down the Tonle River into Kampong Tralach. On board, a monks’ blessing ritual will provide good vibes and prayers for everyone’s health and happiness.
We arrive to Kampong Tralach by gliding over lush patches of this jungle-like area. Children waving raucously as they bring their animals for a wash in the winding river. By taking a native ox cart trip, you may live to experience all of this life, which is so very different from ours.
The boat arrives at the Phnom Penh dock after some more cruise time. After supper, feel free to go on your first solo adventure. Drink at one of the many pubs or stroll along the river promenade and see the residents chatting and selling trinkets (kindly inform our crew once you are leaving the ship on your own).
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Overnight: Heritage Line Jayavarman cruise
Day 4: Phnom Penh
Activities: Tour the city of Phnom Penh, view the sights, travel to the Royal Palace and Silver Pagoda, see Khmer crafts, go to the Genocide Museum and the Killing Fields, and take part in a variety of activities to experience Cambodian culture.
Welcome to Phnom Penh, once known as the Eastern Paris. It has kept much of its rustic elegance and charm despite its fast expansion. It’s a fantastic town with a rich history and culture that are still felt on many street corners.
After breakfast, we said goodbye to our Serenity Cruise companions (3-nights).
After breakfast, our full sightseeing trip begins. We go by bus to the Killing Fields outside the city and then to the “S21” jail in the middle of the city. The tragic and horrible period of Khmer history when the Khmer Rouge governed the nation with fear and repression is shown in these historical sites. It may be really upsetting to see how little certain sites have changed since that terrible period in the early 1970s. Alternately, you may spend the morning by yourself in the city before rejoining the group.
We have lunch at a classy establishment in the city. Our investigation of Phnom Penh’s intriguing cultural legacy is still ongoing. Our afternoon highlights include the magnificent Khmer crafts at the National Museum and the golden Royal Palace with its Silver Pagoda. The day tour concludes with a “cyclo” ride through the busy streets of downtown Phnom Penh returning to the ship.
Before our engaging evening activities begin, take a nap in your roomy cabin or meet up with other travelers for a drink at the bar.
A BBQ supper is started early in the evening on the sun terrace. An Apsara dance performance takes place before supper.
You must see this dance to experience its brightness and richness, as well as the calming tones of the traditional music.
Enjoy your dinner and a nice bottle of wine as the evening winds down while taking in Phnom Penh’s cityscape and the soothing Tonle River’s flow.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Overnight: Heritage Line Jayavarman cruise
Day 5: Phnom Penh – Tan Chau
Activities: Cruise the Mekong Channel, go to the Vietnamese border to complete the necessary papers for crossing, and choose from a variety of extra activities.
We meet in the lounge for a fantastic talk after breakfast.
After breakfast, we said goodbye to our Serenity Cruise companions (4-nights).
We greet our Pearl of the Orient Cruise guests at 8 o’clock (3-nights).
The Royal University of Phnom Penh lecturer is delivering a fascinating talk on modern history of Cambodia in the lounge. Receiving information firsthand from our speaker, who has personally and thoroughly researched the topic, is undoubtedly one of the cruise’s highlights.
You make your own plans for the whole afternoon. Even the last passenger will now switch to cruise mode and perhaps feel the healing energy that this powerful river emanates. It’s time to rest on the sunbed, get a massage, and unwind on your own private balcony. It’s time to become one with the river. Some people may like going to the bridge since the captain usually has a funny river tale to tell. Float into a pleasant blissful state. Don’t forget to have lunch about noon before completely losing track of time.
In the afternoon, you may take a cooking lesson to improve your understanding of regional food. Join our High Tea with coffee and nibbles if you’d like to before taking a sleep.
Finally, we cross the border and enter Vietnam. Tan Chau, a beautiful, leisurely border town with a sizable Chinese, Kinh, and Khmer population, is just a short drive away from here. With views of the riverbanks and close to the city, we moor.
Dinner will shortly be served, and you are welcome to stay for our evening screening of a different great film.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Overnight: Heritage Line Jayavarman cruise
Day 6: Tan Chau – My An Hung – Sa Dec
Activities: Arrive in Tan Chau, tour the local market, go to the quay, stop by the floating market and the catfish farms, then depart for My An Hung hamlet, investigate boat construction techniques, take in the surrounding landscape, and travel to Sa Dec.
Welcome to the Vietnamese fish sanctuary. Start your day off well with a substantial breakfast in the dining hall or the seclusion of your balcony.
Prepare for a leisurely tour of Tan Chau, a charming town with a sizable Chinese, Kinh, and Khmer population close to the Cambodian border. We board the “Xelois” as soon as we reach land to explore Tan Chau. In this area, a native car known as a “xeloi” is still utilized as a taxi. To visit all the businesses, homes, and abodes, we leisurely circle the streets. Experience the relaxed atmosphere of this location. We make a pit break at the vibrant, neighborhood market next to a shrine. The finest opportunity to engage with the local merchants in this welcoming community and create your own shopping adventure is now.
We take our neighborhood boats and go past floating residences till we come at a floating fish farm. A fish production that is marketed all over the globe originates in this area. We are given a unique look into the operation of fish aquaculture.
Before lunch is served, before you return to the ship, you may want to treat yourself to some spa services or cool down in the pool on the sun deck. As the ship travels to My An Hung, which is close to the province of Sa Dec, one of our knowledgeable guides gives a lecture on “Life on the Mekong Delta.” Meet other travelers and exchange tales before we arrive.
We’re going to go to My An Hung Village. In the village, we are given fascinating glimpses inside a local family’s private home. We are permitted to explore their vegetable garden and cross a monkey bridge to go to the seasonal vegetable fields. We’re also welcomed to their home for a sampling of Vietnamese tea. The natives in Vietnam frequently add honey to their tea to make it less harsh. The family makes the honey, which is a genuine delicacy in this area. Fruits that are ripe, fresh, and straight off the tree are provided to us. While we snack on those organic “vitamin bombs,” a local artist group performs a typical traditional dragon dance.
We decide to have a drink party beside the riverside as the sun sets and everything becomes golden.
We board the ship once again and sail down the Mekong. Prepare for supper while you rest. Amid the river, close to Sa Dec, the ship moors.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Overnight: Heritage Line Jayavarman cruise
Day 7: Binh Thanh Island – Cai Be – My Tho
Activities:
Sampan to Binh Thanh Island, arrive at Cai Be, see the floating market and the breathtaking Mekong River scenery, and then cruise to My Tho
We reach the island of Binh Thanh at breakfast time.
We go to Binh Thanh Island on a traditional sampan. One of the largest islands in the enormous Mekong River is this one. It is home to certain populations that depend on the cultivation of water hyazinths for their livelihood. We only go to one of those uninhabited places. We get a thorough insight of local culture by ambling about the hamlet. In addition, we can see the whole process of creating ratts. Even if weaving is still done manually, you may give it a try. We’ll also run across several elderly locals who are delighted to engage with us and tell us about their life on the island.
After lunch is served on board, you have some time to relax in your favourite cruise mode.
Early in the afternoon, we reach Cai Be. A quaint little hamlet called Cai Be is well-known for its Catholic French church as well as for producing local crafts and cuisine. Since more and more trade is moving into contemporary central markets, the Cai Be floating market is shrinking yearly. There is still some boat-to-boat commerce going on for local items including fruits and agricultural supplies.
The unique features of this long-standing trading culture are explained by our guide. Each boat has a distinctive marking that informs customers of the things it is selling. We go ashore to a workshop where we learn about and get to see how products like rice paste, rice paper, rice biscuits, and rice wine are made. Because Cai Be and the neighboring regions are palm-covered, the area is renowned for producing coconut candy. There are several water canals that transect the city. We continue to go through the verdant canel network in our local boat, where we can see farmers at work in the fields.
Our team extends a welcome to a goodbye celebration as the sun sets. You may dance and listen to music with the staff before to supper.
My Tho is where the ships moor.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Overnight: Heritage Line Jayavarman cruise
Day 8: My Tho – Saigon
Activities: Arrive at My Tho, bid the ship adieu, and join the throngs of people in Saigon.
Onboard our floating house, enjoy your last breakfast.
After breakfast, we will depart the ship and travel by bus from My Tho to the Saigon drop-off location. On the highway, it is just around 70 kilometers. Mid-morning finds you in Saigon.
As our team does every time, we hope you liked this wonderful river. Additionally, we hope that you will leave with many happy memories and new friendships to go along with your tales of this incredible river, the Mighty Mekong.
Meals: Breakfast
