Saigon to Siem Reap (8D/7N)

The ship departs at the break of dawn. Begin the day with a sumptuous breakfast whilst the ship navigates delicately along the marvellous canal of Cho Gao. We arrive at My Tho. The ship drops anchor close to Thoi Son Island on the banks of a northern arm of the Mekong. My Tho, which means ‘fragrant herb’ draws thousands of tourists each year, eager to embrace the untouched beauty of the Mekong Delta. It is a prosperous city of some 100,000 inhabitants and is famous for its myriad fruit orchards, gardens and vast rice fields. The climate is warm and pleasant throughout the year. The surrounding countryside is home to one of the most verdant gardens of Vietnam, encircled by coconut palms, as well as banana and mango trees. Visit Vinh Trang pagoda. 

Local boats are sent to the ship to transfer you to the mainland. 

We embark on a short panoramic tour of My Tho, stopping halfway for a visit to its colourful market. We return to the pier and cruise by local boat to Dragon Island where we enjoy a glimpse of everyday life.  

Passengers re-embark the ship. She departs My Tho for Cai Be. A special lunch spread is served before the ship drops anchor at Cai Be.  

Vinh Long, Vietnamese for ‘Majestic Dragon’ sits merrily in the middle of the delta, protected by the two great arms of the Mekong. The soil of Vinh Long is enriched by silt deposits, making it ideal for growing mandarins and other citrus fruit. Visit the handicraft village where workers produce rice paper, rice wine, popped rice etc. in a traditional way.  

Continuing for Vinh Long - 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.  

Life here centres on the water. Houses are perched precariously on stilts that cling to the river banks. Hawkers peddle knick-knacks from their boats. Hundreds of small boats traverse the river every day. The unbridled warmth of the locals makes this a destination par excellence. We return to the ship and depart for Sa Dec. The ship drops anchor at Sa Dec and a delectable dinner awaits. 

The day begins with a sumptuous breakfast. You take in a short tour of Sa Dec before we transfer to Trung Vuong Primary School. We then continue our cruise to the Kien An Cung Pagoda.

We stroll around the bustling Sa Dec Market. The small city of 30,000 inhabitants is fascinating in its unspoiled beauty and authenticity. We return to the ship and depart for Chau Doc. Lunch is served on board. We arrive at Chau Doc where local boats ferry us to visit rafts and the Cham Village, home to an ethnic minority group of both Vietnam and Cambodia.

If times permits, we will be able to see the spectacular sunset on the Sam Mountain which peaks at 237 metres. Its well-known Buddhist sanctuaries offer an unobstructed view over the mosaic of glistening rice paddies below. To your left is Cambodia, with the flow of the Mekong on the horizon breaking into an infinity of silver ribbons. Midway, we visit the Lady Chua Xu Temple and Tay An Pagoda. We return to the ship where dinner is served. The ship moors overnight.