Our tour begins in Siem Reap where we explore the marvelous temples at Angkor and its surrounding. Then we embark the 7 days cruise through Tonle Sap and the mighty Mekong River. We follow the footsteps of Heri Mouhot down to Ho Chi Mine city, a city which still highly steeped in French colonial presence. Discover Phnom Penh and then head out into Vietnam’s Mekong Delta. Visit tucked-away villages to see temples and pagodas, and watch villagers pursue the age-old craft tradition of mat weaving. Cruise the Mekong waterways and shop at floating markets, and visit the Mekong cities of Chau Doc and Can Tho.
Tour Itinerary
Day 1: Siem Reap arrival (L/D)
Upon arrival at Siem Reap, meet and transfer to hotel. Lunch at city restaurant. Then, start visit to the South Gate of Angkor Thom, famous Bayon which is known for the 216 giant mysterious faces carve on the 54 towers; each posing a differing mysterious smile; keeping watch of each compass point , Bapuon temple, Terrace of Elephants and Leper King, and Phimean Akas temple. Dinner at city restaurant. Overnight at hotel in Siem Reap.
Day 2 : Siem Reap (B/L/D)
Breakfast in hotel. Morning, start exploring the World Heritage “Angkor Wat Temple”, the world largest religious monument and a masterpiece that showcases the pinnacle of Khmer Art. Lunch at city restaurant. Afternoon, visit to Prasat Krovan , Neak Poan and Preah Khan temple and view sunset from atop of Phnom Bakheng hill. Dinner at city restaurant and overnight at hotel in Siem Reap.
Day 3 : Siem Reap - Chnok Tru (B/D)
Breakfast at the hotel then free at your own leisure until time for transfer to start cruising.
13:30 Meeting in front of FCC hotel in Siem Reap. Transfer by local tour agent for Phnom Krom boat-pier. Transfer from the pier by local boat to the Toum Tiou II.
14:30 Check-in at the boat docked near Phnom Krom in Siem Reap. Security briefing. Cruise towards Chnok Tru.
19:00 Welcome drink and info meeting about cruise, crew introduction during navigation.
Welcome dinner. Overnight onboard.
Day 4: Chnouk Tru- Kampong Chhnang (B/L/D)
07:00 Breakfast on board.
08:00 Local boats are coming along the Toum Tiou II and picking passengers for the visit of the biggest floating village on the Tonlé Sap River.
10:00 Passengers re-embark the Toum Tiou II. Lunch on board on the way to Kampong Chnang.
14:30 Arrival to Kampong Chnang.
Located some 56 miles from Phnom Penh, the town of Kampong Chnang is one of the largest fishing ports on the Tonlé Sap. Fish farming is also widely practiced in the area. The area is famous for its pottery ware, unchanged in style for centuries, which is produced in sufficient quantities to supply the entire country. And not to be overlooked are the products of the Thnot tree (sugar palm – a real national symbol) that abounds in the area: a mellow tasting, caramel-colored sugar sold in large cakes and palm wine.
18:00 Passengers re-embark. The Toum Tiou II drops anchor few miles away.
19:00 Dinner and overnight onboard.
Day 5: Kampong Tralach - Phnom Penh (B/L/D)
07:45 Departure of the Toum Tiou II early in the morning. Sail to Kampong Tralach, breakfast during navigation.
08:30 Arrival at Kampong Tralach to visit its wonderful Vihara belonging to Wat Kampong Tralach Leu pagoda. To get to it, we cross Kampong Tralach Krom village along a small road perpendicular to the river, crossing some gorgeous stretches of emerald rice paddy as we leave the river behind. The Vihara dates back to early last century. It was probably built on an older site, as indicated by the latérite foundations, and is home to some outstanding mural paintings. These, however, are starting to suffer from weathering. They remain one of the last survivors of cultural destruction that continues unabated due to widespread indifference. Standing by itself in the middle of rice fields, it is a modest pagoda that receives very few visitors. Its isolation may well be its undoing, as was the case last May for Wat Tani Pagoda in the province of Kampot.
10:30 Passengers re-embark the Toum Tiou II. Lunch on board on the way to Phnom Penh.
14:00 Arrival in Phnom Penh. - Tuol Sleng Museum, old center of detention, of torture and execution between 1975 and 1979. The visit of this place is essential to understand what could be the fatal madness perpetrated by the Khmer Rouges. Visit Russian market after museum.
17:00 Return to the boat.
19:00 Local group performs on board traditional “APSARA” show for 45 minutes. Dinner onboard.
Day 6: Phnom Penh (B/L/D)
08:00 Breakfast, departure for the Half -day city sightseeing tour including the Royal Palace and the National Museum.
12.00 Return to Phnom Penh, lunch in a local restaurant.
13:00 Balance of the day free exploration on own. Suggestions can be made up on the interest of passengers. FCC, Russian market, other boutiques (antiques), etc.
18:00 Departure for the Vietnamese border, dinner onboard.
Day 7: Navigation to Chao Doc (B/L/D)
08:00 Breakfast on board. Toum Tiou II arrives at Immigration check point in Kaam Samnaar. Clearance of departure formalities (2 to 4 hours).
12:00 Arrival at Chau Doc. Lunch onboard. Chau Doc straddles both banks of the Mekong which fans out to the dimensions of a river mouth here. Floating fish farms have sprung up everywhere. Bamboo fish drying racks are set up a meter above the water's surface. The bourgeoning downtown area features some charmingly rustic colonial buildings, squeezed in by the marketplace - the colorful, vibrant heart of the city. As always, these busy parts of town, despite their sometimes strong odors, offer wonderful photo opportunities...
14:30 Short panoramic tour of the city. This is the perfect timing to discover the effervescence of the local market. Back to the pier, departure for fish raising rafts and Cham minority village by local boat.
18:00 Toum Tiou II leaves Chau Doc for Sa Dec. Dinner during navigation.
Day 8: Sa Dec – Vinh Long (B/L/D)
07:30 Breakfast during navigation.
09:00 Arrival at Sa Dec – Short panoramic tour of Sa Dec and transfer by bus to Trung Vuong primary school. Continuing to Kien An Cung Pagoda. Stroll around Sa Dec Market along Sa Dec River bank. This small city of 30,000 inhabitants is fascinating in its unspoiled authenticity and undisturbed by tourists. It provides a glimpse of the delta where a few colonial houses still remain, including the "Chinaman's house" (from Duras' novel "The Lover", also made into a movie).
12:00 Return to the boat, for lunch. Departure for Vinh Long.
14:30 Arrival at Vinh Long, local boats pick up passengers for visiting a brick and pottery factory, the Binh Hoa Phuoc Islet Nursery of Fruit Trees as well a typical house and a show room of traditional farming tools. Vinh Long, which translates as "Majestic Dragon", is right in the middle of the delta, between two arms of the Mekong. The soil of Vinh Long is enriched by silt deposits, making it ideal for growing mandarins and other citrus fruits. Life is organized around the water. Houses on stilts, hawkers in boats, hundreds of small craft crisscross in all directions. The hospitality of the locals makes it a tourist destination par excellence. Departure for Cai Be Floating Market – going across the Mekong River en route.
18:30 Passengers re-embark at Cai Be, Toum Tiou II leaves Cai Be for My Tho, dinner during navigation.
Arrival at My Tho – Toum Tiou II drops anchor on river in the proximity of Thoi Son Island.
Day 9 : Cai Be- Mytho (B/L/D)
08.00 Local boats come alongside Toum Tiou II to pick up passengers and transfer to the mainland.
Departure for Vinh Trang Pagoda by car - Short panoramic tour of My Tho town on the way.
On the banks of a northern arm of the Mekong, My Tho, which translates as "fragrant herb", where tourists come to discover the beauty of the delta. It's a quiet, prosperous city of about 100,000 inhabitants, famous for its many fruit orchards, gardens and the huge rice fields that surround it. The climate is warm and pleasant year round. The surrounding countryside is home to one of the most luxuriant gardens of Vietnam, with its coconut palms, banana and mango trees.
11:30 Return at the pier - you will cruise on the river to Thoi Son Island by local boat to visit the island, explore local people’s daily life and enjoy locally seasonal fruits.
12:30 Re-embarking the Toum Tiou II that leaves My Tho for Saigon. Lunch and leisure on board while navigating on the marvelous canal of Cho Gao.
19:00 Farewell cocktail (1 glass of local liquor or juice) with Master of Ship & Cruise Manager. Captain’s farewell dinner. Toum Tiou drops anchor on river en route. Overnight on board.
Day 10 : Mytho – Saigon (B/L/D)
07:00 Departure for Saigon, breakfast and leisure on board.
11:00 Toum Tiou II arrives at Saigon port . Then you will be met and transferred (8 Km) to city center for check in hotel. Lunch at local restaurant then start the sightseeing tour with some major sights of the city. We pass the now-demolished wartime American Embassy before we visit the Reunification Palace which was the former residence of the President of South Vietnam until end of April 1975, and some French colonial structures including the Notre Dame Cathedral, the Old Saigon Post Office. After seeing the Jade Emperor Pagoda and the War Remnant Museum, we continue our trip on to the Cho Lon, Saigon’s Chinatown, which is crammed with fascinating temples and mysterious, narrow lanes. Enjoy dinner at local restaurant and overnight in Saigon.
Day 11: Ho Chi Minh City Tour – Cu Chi Tunnels – Tay Ninh(B/L/D)
After breakfast, drive to Tay Ninh, the holy land of Cao Dai religion and witness the ceremony at Cao Dai temple. Lunch at local restaurant then back to Hochiminh city. Stop over at Cu Chi Tunnels, an incredible underground tunnel network of approximately 200 kilometres constructed by Vietnamese fighters during the long struggle for independence. On the way back the hotel; stop at Lacquewares factory for shopping. Lunch and Dinner at city restaurant. Overnight in Ho Chi Minh.
Day 12: Ho Chi Minh - Departure (B)
After breakfast this morning, free at your own leisure until time transfer to airport for your departure flight. Trip ends when group arrive at Tan San Nhat airport.
Tour Schedule 2013
13th -24th July 2013 ( Siem Reap- Saigon)
15th -26th August 2013 ( Siem Reap-Saigon)
30th August 2013- 10th September 2013 ( Siem Reap- Saigon)
14th -25th September 2013( Siem Reap- Saigon)
For more information, please contact our sales team or visit our www.apsaratours.com.kh
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