Day 1: Saigon ‐ Soai Rap
Level of Difficulty: 0
Summary of Excursion: Register for cruise from 10:30 to 12:00 at Sofitel Plaza Saigon Hotel. At 12:00, take motor coach transfer to Saigon Port. At 12:15, embark onto the luxurious vessel where iced mineral water and cold towels will be served. At 13:00, proceed to the Mekong Restaurant for a tasty buffet lunch. Lunch ends at 15:00. The captain will commence port formalities from 12:30 to 15:00. Thereafter, the purser will distribute your cabins keys at 15:00. At 15:15, the captain raises the anchor, sound the horns and sails leisurely towards Soai Rap, 10 kilometers from the river mouth. At 18:00, adjourn to the Saigon Lounge for briefing. At 19:30, proceed to the Mekong Restaurant and enjoy the first dinner onboard. Dinner ends at 21:00. The boat sails towards Cai Be around 1:00.
What you will see: Pockets of river villages, children playing in the river, mothers preparing for early dinners along the Mekong
Day 2: Soai Rap ‐ Sadec
Time of Excursion: 10:30 to 12:30, 16:00 to 18:00
Length of Tour: 4 hours
Level of Difficulty: 1‐2
Summary of Excursion: At 7:30, a hearty breakfast will be served as the journey continues towards Cai Be, scheduled to arrive around 10:00. At 10:30, get ready for the first excursion. Explore the hidden treasures through the canals on riverboats and partake in late morning bantering with floating markets vendors before going ashore to visit traditional candies making factory and rice paper mills. Return to boat for lunch at 12:30. Lunch from 13:00 to 15:00. At 13:00, depart for Sadec, hometown of Marguerite Duras’ lover. At 16:00, follow the guide to this quaint city. Visit the old house of Huynh Thuy Le’s now known as The Lovers Museum, local markets along the paved riverbanks, the ancient Pagoda and the Chinese deities at the Fujian Temple. Pass by the school where Marguerite's mother's taught and view the home of Marguerite from across the riverbank. The excursion ends at 18:00. At 18:30 to 19:30, cultural dancers take center stage at Saigon Lounge. At 19:30, proceed to the restaurant for themed dinner. Dinner ends at 21:00.
What you will see: Cai Be Floating market, rice paper village, coconut candies home factory, boat ride in the canals, ancient house, local market, Marguerite's home and school, Pagoda, Fujian Temple
Day 3: Tan Chau – Phnom Penh
Time of Excursion: 8:30 to 11:30
Length of Tour: 3 hours
Level of Difficulty: 1
Summary of Excursion: At 2:00, the boat arrives in Tan Chau, a remote small town on the main Mekong River. Rise and dressed for a wonderful breakfast served from 7:00 to 8:30. At 8:30, transfers to small boats, visit a floating fish farm and navigate along the tiny tribunals where slit houses are haphazardly leaning on one another. Go ashore and make a city tours on Xe Loi where stops will be made at traditional silk making factory and rattan mats and slippers making factory. At 11:30, return to the boat and prepare for lunch. At 12:00, cast off for the Vietnamese/Cambodian borders for port and immigration formalities. The border in Vietnam is Song Tien and the border in Cambodia is Ka Orm Samnor. Lunch is served from 12:30 to 14:00. At 14:00, commence border‐crossing procedures. At 17:45, start the second part of the journey into Cambodia and heads towards Phnom Penh. Dinner is served from 19:30 to 21:00. Enjoy the first night in Cambodia.
What you will see: Silk making, stilt houses on canals, floating fish farms, rattan mats and slippers making factory
Day 4: Phnom Penh
Dock midstream near Phnom Penh Port around 2:00. At 7:00, the boat will continue to sail towards Phnom Penh Port around 7:30. Breakfast will be served from 7:00 to 8:30. Disembark at Phnom Penh Port (near the Post Office) after immigration is completed. Disembarkation expected to be around 10:30.
