7 night Majestic Mekong Cruising - Vietnam & Cambodia

Your journey begins today amid the vibrant bustle of Ho Chi Minh City. Upon arrival in the city, be met at the airport and transferred to My Tho Port where you will board your boutique river ship, the RV La Marguerite. Enjoy a welcome drink before adjourning for lunch in the Mekong Restaurant as your ship sets off. Tonight, enjoy a delectable Welcome Dinner on board and get to know your crew and fellow travellers. Later, marvel at folk performances that are inspired by the mighty Mekong as your ship glides along the river.

Visit Cai Be and its surrounds by tender boats, admiring the colours and buzzing atmosphere of the floating markets. After, go ashore to see the town’s striking French Gothic cathedral. You’ll then visit a manufacturer of rice paper to learn how it’s made. Afterwards, take a boat ride to the charming town of Sa Dec for a guided tour. Voyage by small boat to the old house of Huynh Thuy Le, once the lover of French writer Marguerite Duras, the namesake of our vessel. Later, return to your ship for a delicious dinner accompanied by the soothing melodies of the on board pianist.

Go ashore for a rickshaw tour of Tan Chau, a sleepy town almost untouched by tourism. One of the largest silk-weaving centres in Vietnam, you can observe how silk is woven in the local workshops. Take a small-boat ride to discover rural life on Evergreen Island. Later, navigate narrow channels by local boats and pass by floating fish farms and stilt houses that defy gravity and lean haphazardly upon each other. The rest of today is then spent on board. This afternoon, perhaps attend a fruit-carving demonstration or learn the art of creating Vietnamese spring rolls while border formalities are carried out. Cross into Cambodia and cruise overnight towards the capital, Phnom Penh.

Today begins your exploration of the city of Phnom Penh. After breakfast, learn of the atrocities inflicted upon Cambodians during Pol Pot’s Khmer Rouge regime in the 1970s. During this time Cambodia was sent back into the Middle Ages, when city workers were forced to work on communal farms with the goal of an agrarian utopia. Explore the Killing Fields, where you’ll find the Memorial Stupa, a glass monument erected in memory of the thousands of Cambodians who lost their lives and Tuol Sleng Genocide Museum, which recalls one of the darkest moments of the 20th century. After lunch on board, disembark and visit the spectacular Royal Palace, delighting in its dazzling white and gold architecture. Then head to the glorious Silver Pagoda, set on the southern side of the palace complex.

Enjoy leisure time today to explore Phnom Penh. Venture out to discover more of the city’s sights, perhaps choosing to enjoy a guided tuk tuk tour or gain insight into Cambodia’s ancient traditions through an enthralling Apsara arts tour. Later, cruise to Koh Chen, a village specialising in intricate handmade silver and copperware. As you approach the village the sounds of hammering by the copper workers may reach you first. Many of the locals grew up surrounded by the craft, and have spent years cultivating their skills. Traditionally, men would perform the forging and the women would create the intricate engravings on the surface.

Receive a traditional Buddhist blessing by monks, sure to be a memorable highlight of your Mekong River cruise. Get a taste of living just like the locals do with a ride on what is coined the ‘Khmer limousine’, an ox-cart. After breakfast, take a short coach ride to Oudong and enjoy an Insider Experience. Once the capital of Cambodia between 1618 and 1866, the hilly landscape here is made up of stupas and shrines in varying degrees of ruin. Continue to Kampong Tralach for a visit to the fascinating Wat Kampong Tralach Pleu. During your time here delight in an Insider Experience before heading back to your ship.

Enjoy a serene motorboat excursion into the wetlands near Kampong Chhnang this morning for a glimpse at the variety of bird-life in the area. Kampong Chhnang is a bustling rural port with a lively local market. The interesting local life and floating villages that represent a different way of life can be observed from our small boat expedition. Afterwards, return to your ship and journey to Prek K’dam, the final destination of the cruise. This evening, enjoy a Farewell Dinner on board and reflect on the adventures you have shared with your crew and friends.

Disembark in Prek K’dam after breakfast in the Mekong Restaurant and transfer to the airport in Siem Reap for your flight home.