8 Days Downstream Siem Reap Saigon on RV Bassac Pandaw Cruise: In the morning, we took a cyclo around Phnom Penh and saw the Royal Palace, the Silver Pagoda, and the National Museum, which had a great collection of Angkorian statues. In the afternoon, you can go to the Killing Fields and Genocide Museum or take a tuk-tuk to see the riverfront.
Table of Contents
Day 1: Siem Reap – Kampong Cham
Activities: Embark on your Pandaw at Kampong Cham
Embark on your Pandaw at Kampong Cham following a road transfer from Siem Reap (Angkor). The vessel will proceed upstream to moor midstream for cocktails and to meet key crew.
REGISTRATION DETAILS
VICTORIA ANGKOR RESORT & SPA
Registration is at 11.00am
Central Park,
Siem Reap Town,
Kingdom of Cambodia.
Meals: Dinner
Overnight: RV Bassac Pandaw Cruise
Day 2: Wat Hanchey – OBT Chiro Village – Wat Nokor Bachey
Activities: Visit the dolphin grounds
Sunrise cruise to Wat Hanchey, which was an important place of worship during the Chenla period and is on a hill above the mighty Mekong River with some of the best views of the river in Cambodia.
You can see buildings from the 8th century, some of which were destroyed by American bombs during the Vietnam War. It is known for its strange statues of animals and fruits.
We sail back downriver to Kampong Cham, where we have lunch. After lunch, we take a bus to the nearby OBT Chiro Village, where educating the local children is a top priority. To help local kids learn new skills, there are projects to teach them how to recycle plastic, keep bees, farm, and make crafts. Then, we go to the Wat Nokor Bachey, which dates back to the time of Jayarvaman VII. It is made entirely of Black Sandstone, which makes it different from other temples built at the same time. Greek legend says that this complex was built by a king who killed his father by accident and then married his mother. As punishment for his crime, he built this temple.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Overnight: RV Bassac Pandaw Cruise
Day 3: Koh Oknha Tey
Activities: Up the Tonle River and past Phnom Penh to get to our expedition ship
We sailed past Phnom Penh and up the Tonle River all morning while listening to lectures and watching films. We then boarded our expedition ship, the Pandaw Explorer, to go to Koh Okhna Tey, or “silk island,” to learn about the whole process of making silk from worms to weavers. Bokator, an ancient Khmer martial art, will be shown off in a show. Return to the ship and go back down the Tonle River to where it meets the Mekong. Evening talk about Angkor and the culture of the Khmer.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Overnight: RV Bassac Pandaw Cruise
Day 4: Phnom Penh
Activities: Visit the National Museum after seeing the Royal Palace and Silver Pagoda.
In the morning, we took a cyclo around Phnom Penh and saw the Royal Palace, the Silver Pagoda, and the National Museum, which had a great collection of Angkorian statues. In the afternoon, you can go to the Killing Fields and Genocide Museum or take a tuk-tuk to see the riverfront. After that, you can have High Tea at the Raffles Hotel. Spend the night in Phnom Penh City Port, which has lots of bars, restaurants, and things to do at night.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Overnight: RV Bassac Pandaw Cruise
Day 5: Tan Chau
Activities: Early in the morning, sail to the Vietnam border and visit a Taoist temple in the maze of canals around Tan Chau.
Early in the morning, the ship heads to the Vietnam border for paperwork. While the ship is stopped, you can take a tour of how the ship works or take a class on fruit carving on the deck. In the afternoon, you can explore the confusing network of canals around Tan Chau and go to a Taoist temple where the monks will tell you your future. Continue through Xi Loi’s local villages, stopping to help people take care of their fields. Then, stop at a fish farm and earn merit by releasing fish into the Mekong.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Overnight: RV Bassac Pandaw Cruise
Day 6: Con Phuoc Island
Activities: Sail up a small canal to Con Phuoc Island and dock there. From there, take a tuk-tuk around the island to see how baskets are made and to see a Catholic church that is 100 years old.
In the morning, sail up a small canal to Con Phuoc Island and dock there. Then, take a tuk-tuk to explore the island and see how baskets are made, as well as a 100-year-old Catholic church and woodworkers.
In the afternoon, after a short trip downriver, we take a short coach ride to Gao Giong, a “green oasis” with a bird sanctuary. Here, tens of thousands of water birds and egrets gather in the Duong Tharp Muoi, also known as the “Plain of Reeds.” We can get to the main nesting areas by rowing boats through the canals.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Overnight: RV Bassac Pandaw Cruise
Day 7: Ben Tre
Activities: To get to the fruit orchards of Ben Tre, you can take sampans through mangroves and bamboo groves.
After breakfast, the ship stops near Cho Lach island so that people can learn how to make pots and see more of Delta life, agriculture, and local Vietnamese hospitality, such as a cooking lesson on how to make traditional Banh Xeo.
When we get back to the boat, we head down river to Ben Tre. Where we take sampans through mangroves and bamboo groves to get to Ben Tre’s fruit orchards. Local artists are making things in these shops, and they invite people into their homes for tea, fruit, and honey products made from their own honey. This area has a lot of birds, and on the way back, we take a horse-drawn cart through the green countryside.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Overnight: RV Bassac Pandaw Cruise
Day 8: My Tho – Saigon
Activities: Sail from Cai Be to My Tho, check out your cabin, and get a ride back to Saigon where you can get off the boat.
Stop at My Tho to get to Saigon by road.
Early in the morning, you’ll take a bus to the InterContinental Asiana Saigon Hotel. You’ll get there between 9:30 and 10:00.
Meals: Breakfast
