Day
1: Arrive in
Ho Chi Minh
City
Our
representative/tour
guide will
meet and
greet you at
the airport
in Ho Chi
Minh City,
which is
formerly
known as
Saigon, Ho
Chi Minh
City is a
sprawling
metropolis.
Check-in
hotel and
relax.
Overnight at
hotel
Day
2: City
Touring
(Meals: B)
The tour
guide will
pick you up
at the
airport and
transfer to
hotel to
refresh for
a while and
today you
will visit
all
interesting
sites and
landmarks in
Saigon City.
First stop
is Notre
Dame
Catholic
Cathedral
and short
visit to
French built
Post Office
nearby, and
then we will
proceed to
see the
Reunification
Palace,
formerly the
Presidential
Palace
governed by
the US-pro
government
of Republic
of Vietnam.
Touring the
building and
then we will
visit the
War Remnants
Museum,
which
primarily
contains
exhibits
relating to
the American
phase of the
Vietnam War.
Rest of time
you will be
free at your
own leisure.
Overnight at
hotel in
Saigon City
Day
3: Cu Chi
Tunnels and
Tay Ninh Cao
Dai Church
(Meals: B)
Depart
in the
morning
to head
towards
Cao Dai
Temple,
home to
a unique
religion
combining
the
disciplines
of
Christianity,
Buddhism,
Taoism,
Islam,
Confucianism,
Hinduism
and
Geniism.
The aim
of this
sect is
to
achieve
a
synthesis
of all
religions.
Followers
consider
Joan of
Arc,
Rene
Descartes,
William
Shakespeare,
Victor
Hugo,
Winston
Churchill
and
Napoleon
Bonaparte
their
respected
saints
or
spirit
intermediaries.
You will
arrive
at the
temple
in time
for the
midday
service giving
you the
chance
to
listen
to
chanting
devotees.
The
temple’s
exterior
is
decorated
with
multi-coloured
dragons
of all
shapes
and
sizes.
After
lunch,
you will
enjoy a
scenic
drive
through
idyllic
paddy
flatlands
and
countryside.
Arrive
to Cu
Chi
tunnels
for a
fascinating
guided
tour of
this
amazing
three-floor
labyrinth
of
underground
passages
stretching
a
staggering
250kilometres
from
Saigon
to the
Cambodian
border.
The
network
included
innumerable
trap
doors,
specially
constructed
living
areas,
storage
facilities,
weapons
factories,
field
hospitals,
command
centers
and
kitchens.
Today
the
remaining
tunnels
have
become a
major
tourist
attraction
giving
the
visitor
a unique
experience
and a
feel of
what
underground
life in
war was
like.
Day
4: Free
shopping
(Meals: B)
Free at
leisure to
make your
own
exploration
or go
shopping in
the city or
market.
Overnight at
hotel in
Saigon City.
Day 5: Ho
Chi Minh -
Cai Be - RV
The
Jayavarman
(Meals: B,
L, D)
Bid farewell to the hustle and bustle of Saigon while
settling into your cabin. The ship will begin by
meandering along busy ports and waterways. Soon
after, the change is abrupt and you’ll find yourself
in the UNESCO listed Mangrove Biosphere Reserve of Can
Gio which had been destroyed during the Vietnam War by
toxic chemicals. Amazingly, the 75 hectares of forest
has come back to life through a reforestation.
Enjoy a cocktail reception at the Funnel Bar and
Lounge followed by a Welcome Dinner on the Sun Deck.
Drop anchor just outside of Cai Be for the night.
Day 6: Cai Be – Chau Doc (Meals: B,
L, D)
Today’s tour starts with the visit of Cai Be’s
colorful floating market. Cruise among local sampans
coming from all provinces of the delta full of fruits
and vegetables. Proceed to Dong Hoa Hiep island
located between Vinh Long and Cai Be. During a 40
minute cruise, discover beautiful landscapes along the
river and observe the typical Mekong Delta rural life.
These evergreen islands among the Mekong River still
remain unknown to many people.
Back on the sampans, we will lead to you to observe
the activity of the biggest rice stock market in Cai
Be. Further stops will allow you to see traditional
brick and tile factories and how locals use palm
leaves for houses. Cruise 20 minutes further to Phu An
hamlet passing by Cai Be’s beautiful cathedral.
Visit some interesting home factories to see how rice
paste, rice cookies and coco candies, are made, along
with the longan fruit drying process.
Lunch will await you at Le Longanier, a superb
Indochinese villa located in a lush tropical garden by
the river, surrounded by fruit orchards. After lunch,
group 1 takes a stroll along the canals to experience
the local environment first hand while group 2
explores the edges of the canals on bicycle. After
touring the canals, head to the An Kiet ancient house
to have tea with the descendants of the former
imperial residents. Board the Jayavarman for a
relaxing evening cruise towards Chau Doc. Moor
midstream overnight.
Day 7: Chau Doc- border crossing (Meals:
B, L, D)
Welcome to the circus of fish. The early birds will be
treated to Thai Chi lessons on the Sun Deck. Brace
yourself for a boat excursion to the exciting floating
villages and catfish farms witnessing masses of bassa
fish being fed, hand in hand with a shore excursion to
the village of the local Muslim Cham community.
Take a ride through this fascinating town of rich
French colonial architecture and see its bustling
market flooded with tropical fruits in full display by
women in cone shaped palm leaf hats. Observe beautiful
textiles being woven on old wooden looms; a tradition
that has been passed from generation to generation.
By mid-afternoon, The Jayavarman casts off for the
border towards Phnom Penh.
Day 8: Phnom Penh (Meals: B, L, D)
Off we go early in the morning to witness a truly
indescribable scene while approaching Phnom Penh’s
river promenade. After breakfast, embark on a city
tour in this dynamic, historical capital of Cambodia
which has retained its French colonial charm.
Sightseeing in the morning will include the dazzling
white and gold architecture of the Royal Palace,
outstanding displays of Khmer crafts at the National
Museum and the temple on a hill - Wat Phnom.
After lunch in a local restaurant, examine the
painful, heart wrenching reminders of Cambodia’s
ugly past under the Khmer Rouge regime with an
excursion to the infamous “Killing Fields”; the
former detention, torture and execution centers during
the Cambodian civil war. Introduction and onsite
lecture by a local history professor.
Thereafter, to ease the nerves a variety of cocktails
will be at your disposal, followed by Cambodia’s
traditional Apsara dance performance. Experience the
brilliance
and richness
of the
culture, the
soothing
sounds of
traditional
music, the
calming
scent of
incense
sticks and a
delicious
Khmer food
buffet.
Day 9: Phnom Penh – Kampong Cham (Meals:
B, L, D)
Depart before the break of dawn from Phnom Penh with a
stop at the little known Chong Koh silk weaving
village for a leisure walk. We cruise past the
Mekong’s tranquil villages and mind blowing river
life with scores of fishermen on duty. Visit Wat Nokor,
a wat built within the ruins of an ancient temple that
holds a timeless story. Then, travel to the Cheung Kok
Ecotourism Village, a small village developed with
support from Assistance Médiation Internationale (AMICA).
Travelers can visit the village and take part in
activities to experience village life. Profits from
tourism go towards re-investment into long-term
projects.
Day 10: Kampong Cham – Wat Hanchey
(Meals:
B, L, D)
Wake up in the wee hours of the morning, truly
energized to embark on a journey upriver to the
pre-Angkorian temple of Wat Hanchey. Located at the
top of a hill overlooking the river, it offers some of
the best views in Cambodia. Dating from the 8th
century, these ancient structures do justice to the
architecture of the Chenla Empire which predated the
glories of the mighty Angkor. Enjoy spectacular views
of the surrounding well organized rice paddy plains,
as well as a travelers blessing performed by the local
monks.
Day 11: Kampong Cham - Kampong Chhnang - Tonle Sap
Meals: B, L,
D
Before the sun rises, The Jayavarman sets sail to
Kampong Chhnang via Prek K’dam along the meandering
Tonle Sap River, which narrows through leafy swaths of
the South East Asian jungle. Take a walk through
Kampong Louang, one of the last silversmith villages,
to see the entire community involved in making various
silver items to sell. Get back aboard The Jayavarman
to eat lunch while cruising towards Kampong Chhnang.
After lunch, take a motorboat excursion from Kampong
Chhnang to see the wetlands, floating houses and fish
farms in the region. Make a stop at a Heritage Line
sponsored floating school to interact with the
children and teach them some English! This is the day
to truly experience rural Khmer life. In the evening,
a mouth watering Farewell Dinner will be served on the
Sun Deck.
Day 12: Tonle Sap – Siem Reap
(Meals: B)
This great lake dominates Cambodia and is over 150 km
in length. The birdlife is profuse and from the middle
of the lake one cannot even see the shores. Witness
stillness and tranquility on the way to Siem
Reap. Check-in hotel and rest of the morning will be
at your own leisure. In the afternoon,
you will explore
the
impressive
Royal City
of
Angkor Thom,
where you
will find
the
Bayon,
a temple
famed for
its many
gigantic
carved faces
smiling
beguilingly
down at you.
You will
also visit
other
important
sites in
this immense
walled city,
including
the pyramid
of
Baphuon,
Phimeanakas,
and the
royal
viewing
stands known
as the
Terrace of
the
Elephants
and the
Terrace of
the Leper
King.
If you have
the time
your guide
will take
you to an
excellent
spot for
watching a
mesmerizing
Angkor Wat
sunset. The
evening is
free at your
leisure.
Overnight at
hotel in
Siem Reap.
Day
13: Angkor
Wat temples
ruins
(Meals: B)
You may
choose to
rise early
today to
catch the
sun rising
from behind
Angkor Wat’s
five carved
towers -
after being
awed you
return to
your hotel
for
breakfast.
After
breakfast it
is time to
further
discover the
magnificent
Angkor Wat,
the world’s
largest
religious
building.
You will
return to
town for
lunch. In
the
afternoon,
we will
start
exploring
the Small
Circuit.
This tour
includes the
huge pyramid
of
Takeo,
and the
jungle-clad
Ta Prohm,
made famous
by the
Hollywood
blockbuster
‘Tomb
Raider’. You
continue to
visit
Sras Srang,
known as the
King's
bathing
pond, and
Banteay Kdei,
before
exploring
Prasat
Kravan,
an elegant
brick temple
Day 14:
Depart Siem
Reap (Meals:
B)
Transfer you
to the
airport for
your own
departure
flight. End
of service.
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