DAY1: HO CHI MINH - ARRIVAL

DAY2: HO CHI MINH

DAY3: HO CHI MINH - MY THO

DAY4: CAI BE / SA DEC

DAY5: LONG KHANH ISLAND

DAY6: BORDER - PHNOM PENH

DAY7: PHNOM PENH

DAY8: PHNOM PENH - SIEM REAP

DAY9: SIEM REAP

DAY10: SIEM REAP

DAY11: SIEM REAP - DEPARTURE

Arrival at Ho Chi Minh Intl’ Airport, you will be warmly welcomed by your tour guide and driver and transferred to the city center for hotel check in.

 

Welcome Dinner at a finest Vietnamese restaurant tonight. 

 

After breakfast, journey 1.5 hours north of Ho Chi Minh City to experience one of the most powerful symbols of the city and its recent history, the Cu Chi Tunnels. The tunnels were built during the Vietnam–American war by North Vietnamese troops to combat better-supplied American and South Vietnamese forces. 

After lunch, the afternoon will be spent visiting the War Remnants Museum with a quick stop at the former Presidential Palace, which can be viewed from the outside only.

End the day by visiting colonial Saigon with stops at the photogenic Old Saigon Post Office, Ben Thanh Market, Dong Khoi Street (formerly known as Rue Catinat), the Continental House, City Hall, and of course, the Opera House. 

 

Breakfast at hotel, free at your won leisure then transfer to meeting poit. Depart Ho Chi Minh City in the afternoon on a scenic drive to the port of My Tho to embark the luxurious Mekong Navigator and settle into your elegant suite. As your upstream journey commences towards Cai Be, experience our cordial hospitality on the Sun Deck at a welcome reception and introduction to our friendly and professional crew who will present a safety briefing. In the evening a ‘Mekong Delta’ themed dinner offers a cultural and innovative introduction to Vietnamese cuisine. 

 

After a short sail to Cai Be, the English-speaking guide will accompany you on the tapestry of waterways by sampan, passing a colourful collection of local boats from the delta provinces, larger boats selling their goods and the characterful stilted houses of Cai Be. Continuing into the narrower canals of Cai Be, a stop is made to visit Ba Duc House, a traditional Vietnamese home and garden.  Back onboard the sampans, it’s a short paddle through the canals to reach a traditional rice factory where industrious artisans produce rice paper, rice wine and popped rice. There’s a selection of postcards, souvenirs, and beautiful oil paintings on sale. On return to the ship an elegant buffet lunch is served while sailing upstream through tranquil riverine scenery towards Sa Dec. 

On arrival at Sa Dec port the traditional sampan is again used to navigate the tapestry of Mekong canals, giving guests the opportunity to observe traditional village life before arriving at the historic town of Sa Dec. A visit here would not be complete without a visit to the former home of Mr. Hyunh Thuy Le, who was the inspiration for Marguerite Duras’ famous novel, L’Amant (The Lover), as well as the Chinese Temple called Kien An Cung,  built in honor of the Huynh Thuy Le Family, where you will be warmly welcomed by traditional Chinese Lion Dances. Guests return to the ship on foot through the town's market which is a bustling, extraordinary and colourful experience, providing many wonderful photo opportunities of the fresh and unusual produce of meat, live fish and seafood for sale.

 

In the morning, guests make the short journey from ship to shore by traditional sampan, landing on the charming island of Cu Lao Gieng to visit a local village where hundreds of sampans and rowing boats are made daily. An enchanting sampan cruise circumnavigating the island ends with a visit to the Cu Lao Gieng Cathedral, which was built in 1879, shortly after the Notre Dame Cathedral in Saigon in 1863. There may be an opportunity to interact with a local priest at the Cathedral (subject to his availability).  The peaceful villages are surrounded by flourishing orchards and verdant green lawns, far removed from the hustle and bustle of city life.

 

Mid-afternoon your sampans take you to the local island village of Hong Ngu in the Mekong Delta, close to the Vietnam-Cambodia border. Here, a large number of traditional Khmer scarves are woven in many village homes and exported to Cambodia. Guests have the opportunity to observe the weaving process passed down many generations. Some villagers are also embroidery artists and display their art for visitors to enjoy. The inhabitants of this rural area have only recently become familiar with western travellers and always offer a friendly welcome. Before returning to the sampans guests can enjoy a walk around the beautiful evergreen island, stopping for a visit at the home of a local war veteran. 

 

After border formalities, relax and enjoy leisure time on the sundeck, in the lounge, library or wonderful La Vie spa until mooring close to the city of Phnom Penh late evening. Guests observe a fascinating transformation in the riverfront architecture. Exciting cultural activities will take place on board. 

 

DAY7: DISEMBARK – EXPLORE THE PEARL OF ASIA BY CYCLO       

Disembarkation & check in at hotel.

Today, you have a chance to explore the Capital city serves as a heart and business center of Kingdom of Cambodia.

You experience on Cyclo (it is an old traditional during the French colonial) departs from hotel, rides for small city tour high-light where customer will visit.

The Royal Palace, located between 184th and 240th street, built in 1866. The entry is at the Samdech Sothearos Boulevard, formerly Lenin Boulevard, not far from banks of the Tonle Sap River. Among various buildings within the walls the Throne Hall ranks as most important. This Khmer-style building was erected only in 1917. It is used only on special occasions. Attached to the Throne Hall is a tower 59 meters high.

Silver Pagoda or Temple of Emerald Buddha formerly a wooden building rebuilt in 1962 in concrete ad marble. The pagoda is floored with over 5000 silver tiles each weighing 1 kilo. It is famous for its 90 kg solid gold Buddha made in 1907 and an emerald Buddha said to be made of baccarats crystal. 

Afterward, continue to visit National Museum with several of 5000 original artifacts of Khmer arts, especially different dating sculptures, with its Khmer-style architecture building.

Toul Sleng Museum school buildings served as opened-window prison in PolPot Regime with its thousands skulls and punished material.

Your day will be ending by walking around The Central Market, is a large market constructed in 1937 in the shape of a dome with four arms branching out into vast hallways with countless stalls of goods.

 

Enjoy you breakfast, today you are met and transferred to board for departure to Siem Reap.

 

Welcome to The capital of Siem Reap Province, Siem Reap serves as Cambodia‘s hip epicenter, Filled with an impressive array of colonial and Chinese- style architecture, not to mention a gateway to the magnificent temples of Angkor. Siem Reap town features notable boutiques, multicultural dining, enriching museums and relaxation-ready spas, though it’s most revered site is iconic Angkor Wat situated in the heart of a UNESCO World Heritage Site. A symbol of Khmer genius, its imposing grandeur gives way to breathtaking bas reliefs depicting historical mythology.  A city just waiting to be explored, culturally rich Siem Reap brims with treasures for history buffs and modern- minded traveler alike. 

 

Upon arrival at Siem Reap Domestic Airport, you are met and greeted by your experienced guide and transfer to hotel check in. 

In the afternoon, visit Les Artisans D’Angkor a complete visit of the arts and crafts school will take you through the various training and production workshops of the les Artisans D’ Angkor. Discover the traditional techniques used for wood sculpting, stone carving, lacquer work, polychrome and stone patina work with the explanation of a guide. 

 

Walking around the World Heritage Conservation Site – Old Market, French Quarter, and end up the Lively Pub Street.

 

Siem Reap’s best chefs, authentic Cambodian cuisine, progressive dinner

 

Highlights of our Fine Dining Siem Reap food tour:

- Visit 3 of most highly rated restaurants in town. Enjoy a progressive dinner with starter, main course and dessert in three different Siem Reap restaurants.

- The very best of authentic Cambodian cuisine.

- The top chefs in Siem Reap who between them have Michelin star training, worked with Anthony Bourdain, Luke Nguyen and Gordon Ramsay and hold the title of Cambodia’s only Master Chef.

What’s included:

- Starter, main course and dessert (at 3 different locations), the food is pre-ordered based on the signature dishes of each place.

- 3 drinks per person (one at each location), based on a choice of cocktails, wine, beer, juice or soft drinks.

- Private tuk tuk and driver for the evening. Pick up and drop off from your hotel. 

- Welcome information pack.

 

Enjoy breakfast hotel your hotel. Take Tuk Tuk to visit South Gate of Angkor Thom, Bayon, Baphoun, Royal Palace, Terrace of Elephant and Terrace of Leper King. Discover Angkor Thom a heavily fortified city built in the 12th century by the greatest of the Khmer rulers King Jayavarman VII (1181-1201). With a population in excess of one million inhabitants Angkor Thom was larger than any city in Europe at the time. 

Proceed to the Bayon Temple also constructed during the reign of King Jayavarman VII This Temple complex marks the exact center of Angkor Thom Making it the most venerated of the city’s temple the structure is considered by  most Angkor  specialists to be one of the finest examples of classical Khmer architecture situated on front of the east entry tower of the enclosing wall at the Royal palace is the Terrace of the Elephants It’s has three platforms and shows sing of having been rebuilt and added to The Terrace of the leper king is supported by a base 80 feet long The sides are faced in sandstone and decorated with bas-reliefs which are divided into several registers  The original statue of the leper King can be found in the courtyard of the National Museum in Phnom Penh.

Leaving the Bayon temple, stop at the Royal Enclosure to see the Elephant terrace and the Terrace of the Leper King. The last Royal balance at Angkor Thom, a little to the north of Bayon and Baphoun. It was constructed in light materials- wood and tiles and these have long since rotted away leaving only the terraces that face out onto a plaza Which were originally the platform for the palace buildings the east-facing wall is taken up with a near-life-size frieze of elephant with their mahouts behind are the remains of the courtyards and pond A little north of the main terrace is another Known as the Terrace of the Leper King after a statue found above it. 

 

After lunch time continue to explore Banteay Srei, Which in some obvious aspects, stands apart from the other monuments of the Angkor region Relatively isolated 13 miles northeast of the main temple group Banteay Srei is built in pink sandstone rather than the more usual gray and is one of the very few temple that was not endowed by royalty. It was in fact built by Yajnavarha, a Brahmin Priest and key figure at court in the 10th century. 

 

Tucked away at the eastern edge of the Angkor complex, is the small and somewhat isolated temple of Banteay Samre named after the Samre, a tribe that lived around Phnom Kulen the temple’s distinctive lotus –flower tower gives immediate temple complexes Banteay Samre is nevertheless more peaceful than many. 

 

This evening you have the chance to enjoy an energetic evening of theatre dance contortion and acrobatics set to a musical score that transcends traditional and contemporary Cambodian music. Phare (which translates to Brightness of Art’s) was established by the pare Ponleu Selpak Association, a NGO founded by eight refugees from Anchanh Village in Battambang. A big promoter of maintaining Khmer culture the non-profit organization give disadvantaged youth the opportunity to develop careers in the arts the hour-long  show allows you to witness some stunning scenes of traditi0nal and modern Cambodian entertainment during exhilarating set- piece performances that require hours of dedicated practice Please note this activity is from 8:00-9:00 p.m.

 

Early this morning, you are met and greeted by your experience guide in your hotel lobby to witness the sunrise over Angkor Wat 

 

Watch the sunrise over the main temple of Angkor Wat an unforgettable and quintessential Southeast Asia experience. Then walk amid the moss – peppered pathways, gazing up at the intricately carved tower tops or climb the steep narrow temple steps that lead to wide courtyards contemplate the temple’s spiritual power while you walk in the cool shade of its hallways, stopping to take in the perfume of burning incense Once the seat of the mighty Angkor Empire it was from here that kings  ruled over a vast territory that extended from the tip of what is now southern Vietnam northward to Yunnan in china and westward to the bay of Bengal. 

 

After returning to your hotel for breakfast, go on to see the fascinating Ta Prohm Temple, Which for the many is the most romantic experience of Angkor One of the most spectacular effects of the forest’s encroachment on Ta Prohm is the way trees have grown into and around the towers and galleries seeds carried by bird and dropped onto the Temple roofs spouted aerial roofs that trailed to the ground , where they took root and grew into the monument and paradoxically for supporting them as long as the trees live. 

 

Late afternoon, to explore the Great Lake Tonle Sap, Khmer fishing & floating villages.

 

Tonle Sap Lake, Embark on the luxury and exclusive traditional wooden boat and depart from Chong Kneas to visit floating village on the great lake of Tonle Sap. You will go through the floating houses with small private boats. The natural wonder of Tonle Sap offers an insight into the old tradition of riparian life and the natural splendors of the countryside.

 

Followed by The Private Sunset Cruise with A bottle of Champagne, beer, solf drinks, Canapé on board.

 

 

Enjoy your breakfast, free at your own leisure. Transfer to airport for departure to other destinations.

 

Or

 

Beach Extension to our luxury resort @ Koh Song Saa/ Koh Krabey/Koh Rong /Koh Russey Island or Kep, one of the most beautiful beach member in the world.

 

 

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-       Song Saa Private Island  https://www.songsaa.com/

-       Six Senses Koh Krabey Island    https://www.sixsenses.com/en/resorts/krabey-island

-       The Royal Sand Koh Rong Island www.theroyalsandskohrong.com

-       Alila Villas Koh Russey Island  https://www.alilahotels.com/kohrussey

 

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