RV Mekong Prestige Cruise

This tour will help passengers to learn about daily life of local people along river bank, the vicissitudes of Khmer empire, the archeological excavations at Pre Angkor, history and culture of the Cham people and other ethnic groups, local Vietnamese or Khmer cooking class on board, and hidden peaceful villages in remote rural area along The Mekong River.

Day 1 – Saigon – My Tho

After checking in RV Mekong Prestige’s desk at the Sofitel Saigon Plaza Hotel in Ho Chi Minh City at 9:00, passengers will be transferred to My Tho Town by bus, about 70km from the city center. On the way to My Tho Town, you will drop by Cholon and the lacquer factory. At noon, you reach My Tho and get on the RV Mekong Prestige ship. After listening about the tour and safety onboard, you are served lunch while cruising steadily along the Mekong River in the afternoon. In the evening, after having dinner, you can enjoy Vietnamese traditional music show.

Day 2 – Cai Be – Sa Dec

The cruise will reach Cai Be in the early morning. After having breakfast, you will take a morning junk trip around Cai Be Floating Market and visit the most famous French Gothic Cathedral here. Then, you can take a walk along the river bank and pop in some local manufacturers producing rice paper and coconut candies. At noon, you come back to the ship and have lunch.

In the afternoon, the cruise takes you to Vinh Long and you have tour in Sa Dec. You will visit a house of Marguerite Duras, a French writer. The house is one of the most attractive sites in Sa Dec, it is a small museum of “The Lover”. Besides, you will visit the Holy See Temple in Tay Ninh, and go strolling through bustling local market. In the evening, you have dinner and overnight onboard.

Day 3 – Tan Chau – Border Crossing

After having breakfast onboard, you will visit a fishing farm in Tan Chau on the Ban Sac River. Here, you have a chance to understand more about the real life of Vietnamese people’s life along Mekong River. Then, you will come over some handicraft villages of making woven mat and raw silk. Then, you will have funny moment with rickshaw ride around the beautiful town. At lunch, you will come back to the cruise to have lunch. After that, you prepare to sail up the Mekong River to Phnom Penh.

Day 4 – Phnom Penh Sightseeing Tour

In the fourth day’s morning, you will have tours around Phnom Penh which used to be the Paris of Oriental. In spite of rapidly being developed, the city remains its rustic but luxury charm. After having breakfast, you will be introduced Cambodian history, and then visit the bustling and fascinating city. You will pop in Royal Palace and Silver Pagoda where you have a chance to contemplate the outstanding Khmer craft at National Museum. Then, you have lunch onboard.

In the afternoon, you will visit the former High School “S21”, and then drop by Wat Phnom. In the evening, you can relax in your cabin balcony, or sip a cocktail on the sundeck. Later, there is an Apsara dance performance. You have the opportunity to understand more about the brilliance and richness of the culture with soothing sounds. You will have dinner on the sundeck and overnight onboard.

Day 5 – Koh Chong – Phnom Penh

Early morning, the cruise sails from Phnom Penh to Koh Chong. It stops at a silk weaving village for a morning walk. The cruise passes the Mekong’s timeless villages and river life with extensive fishing activities. You have lunch on board, and then return to Phnom Penh. In the afternoon, it is time for leisure and discovery of the city on your own. Overnight in the RV Mekong Prestige

Day 6 – Oudong – Kampong Tralach

After having breakfast onboard, you will travel to Oudong, admire the wonderful views along the river bank, and have lunch onboard. In the early afternoon, you will approach Oudong, about 40 km from Phnom Penh. Coming here, you will visit Vipassana Dhura Pagoda, and then get on bus to visit Wat Kampong Leu Pagoda in Kampong Tralach. Then, return to the ship by ox drawn carriage in the late afternoon, and have dinner onboard in the evening.

Day 7 – Kamong Chhnang

After having buffet breakfast on board, you then sail on the Tonle Sap River which connects the Mekong River to the Tonle Lake – the biggest fresh water lake in Asia. You arrive at Kampong Chhnang, located approximately 90 km from Phnom Penh. This is a busy rural port town with bustling markets. We will take a motor boat to visit real Khmer villagers. The life of the entire population is connected to the river with local people using the canal system which crisscross this little town. You will go ashore to stroll through the scenic market. Overnight onboard

Day 8 – Tonle Lake – Siem Reap

We cross the lake early in the morning (Please note that when there is low water, the transfer to Siem Reap will be made by coach or speed boat). The great lake dominates Cambodia. It is over 150 km in length, with interesting and varied bird life resulting from the varied the water levels in the lake and river depending on the time of year and rainfall. You will disembark after breakfast and transfer to hotel in Siem Reap.

This tour will help passengers to learn about daily life of local people along river bank, the vicissitudes of Khmer empire, the archeological excavations at Pre Angkor, history and culture of the Cham people and other ethnic groups, local Vietnamese or Khmer cooking class on board, and hidden peaceful villages in remote rural area along The Mekong River.

Day 1 – Siem Reap – Tonle Sap

Check in RV Mekong Prestige’s desk at Apsara Hotel in Siem Reap, and then transfer by bus to Phnom Krom in the morning (Please note that in case of low waters, the transfer to ship will be done by bus or seed boat). You will be welcomed onboard with drinks, safety, and briefing introduction by the cruise manager. Lunch will be served on board during sailing through Tonle Sap Lake. In the afternoon, the ship glides along the Mekong River. In the evening, you have dinner is at dining hall. You can enjoy a relaxing time on the sun deck with cool breeze and fresh air.

Day 2 – Kampong Chhnang – Kampong Tralach – Oudong

You have breakfast with coffee and tea on the sundeck when the ship is about to exit the lake. Spectacular marshlands float along the river banks of Kampong Chhnang province, approximately 90 km from Phnom Penh. Here, you will be lured in to a busy rural port town with bustling markets. You will go ashore to stroll through the scenic market. Then, you return on board for lunch while sailing towards Kampong Tralach. In Kampong Tralach, you travel by bus to discover the attractive Vihara of the Wat Kampong Leu Pagoda. You come back by ox-drawn carriage and bus transfer to Oudong, 40 kilometers from Phnom Penh. Also, you visit the Vipassana Dhura Pagoda, a place of meditation for Buddhist Monks.

Day 3 – Kok Chong – Phnom Penh

Early morning, you arrive Koh Chong. Here, you will visit famous for silk weaving village. Then come back to the cruise to sail to Phnom Penh. In the afternoon, when arriving in Phnom Penh, you will drop by Wat Phnom, the first capital of Cambodia. In the evening, you enjoy Khmer Aspara Dance Show and have dinner onboard.

Day 4 – Phnom Penh

In the fourth day’s morning, you will have tours around Phnom Penh which used to be the Paris of Oriental. In spite of rapidly being developed, the city remains its rustic but luxury charm. After having breakfast, you will be introduced Cambodian history, and then visit the bustling and fascinating city. You will pop in Royal Palace and Silver Pagoda where you have a chance to contemplate the outstanding Khmer craft at National Museum. Then, you have lunch onboard.

In the afternoon, you will visit the former High School “S21”, and then drop by Wat Phnom. In the evening, you can relax in your cabin balcony, or sip a cocktail on the sundeck. Later, there is an Apsara dance performance. You have the opportunity to understand more about the brilliance and richness of the culture with soothing sounds. You will have dinner on the sundeck and overnight onboard.

Day 5 – Phnom Penh – Border Crossing

The cruise liner sets sail for a lazy day of cruising along the main Mekong River. As this is an international shipping route, you will witness large commercial ships plying this route. Later, in the afternoon, you arrive Vietnamese border for the requisite cross border paperwork. As the process tends to take some time, you can entertain on the sun deck, Spa, or sharpen our culinary skills with the Mekong Prestige’s Cambodian and Vietnamese cuisine cooking class. The ship moors midstream overnight.

Day 6 – Tan Chau Town

After having breakfast, you have time to contemplate the real life of Vietnamese people along the Mekong River by popping in a fishing farm in Tan Chau on the Ban Sac River. Then, you continue to visit handicraft villages of making woven mat and raw silk, have funny time with rickshaw ride. Coming back to the cruise, you have lunch and revitalize by spa, massage or relax on the sundeck. During the rest time of the day, you stay on board.

Day 7 – Sa Dec – Cai Be

You then will visit a house of Marguerite Duras, a French writer. The house is one of the most attractive sites in Sa Dec, it is a small museum of “The Lover”. Besides, you will visit the Holy See Temple in Tay Ninh. The cruise sails to Vinh Long Province and approach Cai Be Floating Market. Later, in the afternoon, you visit the most famous French Gothic Cathedral, take a tour to local factories of producing rice paper, coconut candies, and come back to the cruise and sail towards My Tho.

Day 8 – My Tho – Saigon

Arrive at My Tho, disembark after having breakfast and transfer by bus to Saigon city center.

Price inclusions:

- 2 time transfers: Sofitel Plaza hotel in Saigon to the ship in My Tho (vice versa) and the ship to Apsara Hotel in Siem Reap
- Full board in the selected category on the R/V Mekong Prestige
- All meals on board from Lunch on Day 1 until Breakfast on Day 8
- Drinks on board (Mineral Water, non-alcoholic beverages, local beers and local wine during the meals)
- Tipping on board
- All excursions and entrance fees with English speaking guide as per descriptive program
- Assistance of an English speaking Cruise Director
- Port taxes

Price exclusions:

- Overseas flights
- Beverages other than mentioned
- Ashore tipping
- Visa arrangements
- Insurances

Departure Date

Notes: low season sailing 26 March 2014, 02 April 2015, 09 April 2015, 16 April 2015

Day 1 – Saigon arrival

Arrive Tan Son Nhat International Airport, leisure and overnight in Saigon

Day 2 – Saigon tour

Begin your city tour in bustling Ho Chi Minh City which is the commercial center of Vietnam and home to a growing number of upscale restaurants and shops. You will visit famous attractions in Saigon as Chinatown, Thien Hau Pagoda, Reunification Palace, Opera House and City Hall. You also can visit War Remnants Museum. In addition, you have the opportunity to explore colorful markets and streets in the city with shops selling clothes and accessories, hill tribe crafts, high quality linens and housewares. Overnight in Saigon

Day 3 – Cao Dai Temple – Cu Chi Tunnels

In the morning, you drive to Cao Dai Temples in Tay Ninh to observe the midday service. Following lunch you will drive to the Cu Chi Tunnels and then return to HCMC at around 6 pm.

Day 4 – RV Mekong Prestige – Embarkation

Have breakfast at your hotel, and then the guide and driver will pick you up to Meeting Point of RV Mekong Prestige, enjoy the Might Mekong River Cruise

HOTEL PROPOSAL

The price hotel categories:

- 3 Star hotels and resorts from US$ 45 - US$ 65 per room/night with breakfast

- 4 star hotels and resorts from US$ 80 - US$ 120/ per room/night with breakfast

- 5 Star hotels and resorts from US$ 135 - US$ 180 ++/ per room/night with breakfast

TOUR INCLUSIONS:

- Private door-to-door pick-up & drop-off services
- All private sedan car (Ford, Toyota)
- Sharing double room with daily breakfast
- Private English Speaking Guides and driver
- Meals include 3 breakfast
- All sightseeing tickets
- Tissues and water on car
- Services charges and government tax
- No extra charge after confirmation
- 24/7 hotline support guaranteed

Day 1 – Siem Reap – Ta Prohm – Apsara Dance Show

- Arrive Siem Reap in afternoon flight, Siem Reap
- Continue to visit the fabulous Ta Prohm embraced by the roots of enormous fig trees and gigantic creepers
- Welcome dinner with Apsara Dance show at local restaurant
- Enjoy 'Apsara Dance'

Day 2 – Angkor Thom – Bayon – Angkor Wat

It is an exciting day, as you will explore some of Angkor’s most beautiful temples. You will drop by the West Gate of Angkor Thom, and then see the South Gate, Bayon Temple, Royal Enclosure, Phimeanakas, Elephant Terrace, and the Terrace of Leper King.

Day 3 – Sunrise – Banteay Srei – Kbal Spean

In the early morning, you will enjoy the sunrise at Angkor Wat, which will be unforgettable moment in your journey. After that, you visit Banteay Srei and Kbal Spean.

Day 4 – RV Mekong Prestige Cruise – Embarkation

You have breakfast at your hotel, then the guide and driver will accompany you to Apsara Hotel at 9 AM for check in The RV Mekong Prestige. Enjoy your wonderful journey on the mighty Mekong River Cruises.

HOTEL PROPOSAL

The price hotel categories:

- 3 Star hotels and resorts from US$ 45 - US$ 65 per room/night with breakfast

- 4 star hotels and resorts from US$ 80 - US$ 120/ per room/night with breakfast

- 5 Star hotels and resorts from US$ 135 - US$ 180 ++/ per room/night with breakfast

TOUR INCLUSIONS:

- Private door-to-door pick-up & drop-off services
- All private sedan car (Ford, Toyota)
- Sharing double room with daily breakfast
- Private English Speaking Guides and driver
- Welcome Apsara Dinner show and 3 breakfast
- All sightseeing tickets
- Tissues and water on car
- Services charges and government tax
- No extra charge after confirmation
- 24/7 hotline support guaranteed