CF Mekong by CroisiEurope

Siem Reap to Saigon (9D/8N)

9 Days

Charter Only

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Cruise

CFM, CFM Cruise, Mekong River Cruise, CF Mekong, SIEM REAP TO SAIGON Discovery program (9D/8N), Mekong cruise

Cruise Route

SIEM REAP - KAMPONG CHHNANG - KAMPONG TRALACH - KOH CHEN - PHNOM PENH - CHAU DOC - SA DEC - VINH LONG - CAI BE - MY THO - HO CHI MINH CITY

From the heights of the Himalayas to the southern coasts of the South China Sea, winding over 2,700 miles, the Mekong is much more than just irrigation for Indochina—everywhere it flows, it fascinates men and shapes their lives. Come take an expedition on this grand and plentiful “water snake,” from Ho Chi Minh City, still largely influenced by the French colonial days, to Phnom Penh, Tonle Sap Lake and Siem Reap, following the footsteps of Henri Mouhot. Our meditative trip takes you along the Mekong River on board a ship combining charm and colonial-style comfort.

EXCURSIONS INCLUDED:

THE CFMEKONG DIFFERENCE

Route

Discover your itinerary day by day

CFM, CFM Cruise, Mekong River Cruise, CF Mekong, Toum Tiou II

Day 1

SIEM REAP

Meeting at a Hotel in Siem Reap. Transfer by bus to Koh Chen (5-6 hours). After comfortably settling into your cabins, we’ll introduce our crew at a welcome cocktail and have dinner on board. We’ll spend the night on board.

CFM, CFM Cruise, Mekong River Cruise, CF Mekong, Toum Tiou II

Day 2

KAMPONG CHHNANG

Breakfast and lunch on board as we sail to Kampong Chhnang. Visit Kampong Chhnang, one of the largest fishing ports on Tonle Sap Lake. Fish farming is abundant here. The region is also known for its traditional pottery combining ancient knowledge with modern techniques — Chhnang itself means “pot.” We’ll enjoy a tasting of regional products before returning on board and beginning to cruise to Kampong Tralach. We’ll have dinner and spend the night on board.

Day 3

KAMPONG TRALACH - KOH CHEN - PHNOM PENH

We will set out to visit the beautiful Vihara at the Wat Kampong Tralach Leu pagoda. To access the pagoda we need to cross the village of Kampong Tralach in ox carts, moving along a small road that runs perpendicular to the river in the middle of magnificent rice fields. After a short navigation, we’ll arrive in Koh Chen. You can explore this small village where craftspeople specialize in silver and copper work. After returning on board, we’ll have lunch while cruising towards Phnom Penh, arriving in the afternoon. We’ll return to the ship and enjoy a performance of classical Khmer dancing and music and have dinner.

Day 4

PHNOM PENH

We’ll enjoy a tour of the fabulous Royal Palace, one of the most impressive examples of Cambodian architecture, and its Silver Pagoda. Onward to visit the National Museum and Wat Phnom. After lunch in town, you can pay a visit to the Tuol Svay Prey School, a former detention, torture, and execution center run by the Khmer Rouge during the civil war. Afterwards, enjoy some free time at the market. We’ll return on board for dinner in the evening and start sailing towards Vietnam.

Day 5

CHAU DOC

Located on the border between Cambodia and Vietnam, the prosperous city of Chau Doc has developed around fish and fish farming. Visit Cham minority village by local boat. Bamboo fish drying racks are set up a meter above the water’s surface. The bourgeoning downtown area features some charmingly rustic colonial buildings, squeezed in by the marketplace – the colorful, vibrant heart of the city.

Day 6

SA DEC - VINH LONG - CAI BE

Visit the former house of Huynh Thuy Le, the man who Marguerite Duras based her book The Lover on. Short panoramic tour and transfer to Trung Vuong primary school.

Continuing to Kien An Cung Pagoda. Stroll around Sa Dec Market along Sa Dec River bank. This small city of 30,000 inhabitants is fascinating in its unspoiled authenticity and undisturbed by tourists.

Day 7

MY THO - HO CHI MINH CITY (Saigon)

Arrival at My Tho – Toum Tiou II drops anchor on river in the proximity of Thoi Son Island
Local boats come alongside the Toum Tiou II to pick up passengers to the mainland for a short panoramic tour of My Tho town and visit Vinh Trang pagoda, stop for a visit of My Tho market. On the banks of a northern arm of the Mekong, My Tho, which translates as “fragrant herb”, where tourists come to discover the beauty of the delta.

Day 8

HO CHI MINH CITY (Saigon)

After breakfast, we’ll leave by coach for the Cu Chi tunnels, an immense network of underground tunnels that were used by Viet Cong soldiers as hiding spots during combat, as well as serving as communication and supply routes, hospitals, food and weapon caches. After our excursion, we’ll return on board our ship. Lunch will be served on board.

Day 9

HO CHI MINH CITY (Saigon)

Enjoy breakfast on board before disembarking. We’ll spend the morning visiting Cholon, the Chinese- influenced section of the city, including its hectic market. After lunch in town, we’ll bid you farewell at approximately 2:00 p.m. Please do not book your flight before 5:00 p.m.

Disclaimer: Please email us for a precise itinerary as programs differ from ship to ship.

Date & Price

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* Prices are per person and are based on Double/Twin cabins located on the lower deck

For Reservation conditions: please contact us at office@cfmekong.com

What’s included

What's Covered and What's Not on Your Cruise Tour

  • Full board accommodation, including meals mentioned in the program, coffee, tea & drinking water
  • French or English speaking guide
  • Visits mentioned in the program
  • Entrance fees
  • Transportation from departure port to arrival port
  • Port fees
  • Wifi
  • Personal Travel Insurance
  • Visas if needed
  • Tours & meals other than those mentioned in the program
  • Transfers from/to airport and hotels
  • Personal expenses
  • Gratuities for the crew/guides

Ships

Several ships available for this cruise

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Toum Tiou II

Non-EU nationals are requested to consult their embassy or consulate.

HEALTH FORMALITIES

Vaccines are not mandatory for this trip. However, it is advisable to be up to date with all vaccinations (tetanus, polio, hepatitis A and B, diphtheria, and typhoid fever). Your doctor will prescribe an antimalarial drug if necessary. Mosquito repellent is strongly recommended.

WEATHER

The dry season lasts from December to April, but the air remains humid (temperature: 77° to 95°F). The rainy season, from May to November, can present very strong but brief storms that generally take place at the end of the afternoon.

METHODS OF PAYMENT – CURRENCY EXCHANGE

  • The currency accepted on board is the US dollar. You can pay in dollars or using an international credit/debit card (Visa and MasterCard) at the end of the cruise. In Cambodia, it is recommended to have some US dollars in cash with you. In Vietnam, if you wish to buy souvenirs, we recommend that you change about £20 or $20 into dongs on arrival.
  • For the current exchange rates for the Vietnamese dong and the Cambodian riel, please consult websites such as www.xe.com or www.oanda.com/currency/converter/.

NATIONAL HOLIDAYS

  • “Pchum Ben” from September 16th to 18th
  • “Water and Moon Festival” from October 30th to November 1st

During these days, some sites can be closed without warning.

TIME DIFFERENCE

You can consult www.worldtimezone.com to see the time difference between your home and your destination.

Enquiry

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Day 3: MY THO - CAI BE


Breakfast on board and cruise the magnificent Chao Gao canal, where you will experience the lively and vibrant canal full of ships activity, yet still feel close to the life on shore. A must-see part of the cruise and that we’re the only cruise line offering this unique passage. Arrival in My Tho.

09:00 Upon disembarking from TT2, you will board a sampan and transfer to a local ferry station. Here, you will meet your cycling team who will accompany you for the next three exciting days of cycling in the Mekong Delta. Your cycling journey will begin on small countryside paths, passing by rambutan and star apple farms. This scenic route will allow you to immerse yourself in the rural surroundings and witness the agricultural activities of the region. Along the way, you will encounter local ferries, providing an opportunity to engage in conversations with the local villagers. This will give you insights into their way of life and the unique aspects of their communities.
Your cycling route will lead you through the lush greenery of the Mekong Delta, passing by sapodilla gardens and chicken farms. This will offer you a diverse and picturesque experience as you traverse the region.
You will enjoy a delicious lunch at a simple, authentic local restaurant. The meal will feature Mekong Delta cuisine, allowing you to savor the flavors and specialties of the region. After lunch, you will continue your cycling journey and take local ferries to Tan Phong island. Along the way, you will pass through durian gardens and eventually arrive at Cai Be handicraft workshops, where traditional coconut candy, pop-rices, and other local products are made. To conclude today’s cycling adventure, you will board a sampan that will take you back to the ship. The estimated arrival time is around 04:00 PM
Cycling distance: 25KM

Ship leaves Cai Be for Sa Dec. Dinner during cruising and night on board.

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Day 5: CHAU DOC


Located on the border between Cambodia and Vietnam, the prosperous city of Chau Doc has developed around fish and fish farming. Visit Cham minority village by local boat. Bamboo fish drying racks are set up a meter above the water's surface. The bourgeoning downtown area features some charmingly rustic colonial buildings, squeezed in by the marketplace - the colorful, vibrant heart of the city. As always, these busy parts of town, despite their sometimes strong odors, offer wonderful photo opportunities...

Short panoramic tour of the city. This is the perfect timing to discover the effervescence of the local market. We’ll have dinner and spend the night on board.

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Day 6: SA DEC - VINH LONG - CAI BE


Visit the former house of Huynh Thuy Le, the man who Marguerite Duras based her book The Lover on. Short panoramic tour and transfer to Trung Vuong primary school.

Continuing to Kien An Cung Pagoda. Stroll around Sa Dec Market along Sa Dec River bank. This small city of 30,000 inhabitants is fascinating in its unspoiled authenticity and undisturbed by tourists. We’ll have lunch on board and cruise to Vinh Long. We’ll set out in smaller boats and travel through canals and orchards before arriving in Cai Be. We’ll discover a brick and pottery factory as well as a traditional factory producing puffed riced, rice-paper wrappers used to make nems, and rice alcohol*. We’ll return on board our ship and begin to cruise. We’ll have dinner and spend the night on board.

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Day 7: MY THO - HO CHI MINH CITY (Saigon)


Arrival at My Tho – Toum Tiou II drops anchor on river in the proximity of Thoi Son Island
Local boats come alongside the Toum Tiou II to pick up passengers to the mainland for a short panoramic tour of My Tho town and visit Vinh Trang pagoda, stop for a visit of My Tho market. On the banks of a northern arm of the Mekong, My Tho, which translates as "fragrant herb", where tourists come to discover the beauty of the delta. It's a quiet, prosperous city of about 100,000 inhabitants, famous for its many fruit orchards, gardens and the huge rice fields that surround it. The climate is warm and pleasant year round. The surrounding countryside is home to one of the most luxuriant gardens of Vietnam, with its coconut palms, banana and mango trees. Lunch will be served on board. We’ll then set out to cross the very narrow Cho Gao Canal, heading for Ho Chi Minh City. We’ll have dinner and remain in port overnight in the downtown area.

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Day 8: HO CHI MINH CITY (Saigon)


After breakfast, we’ll leave by coach for the Cu Chi tunnels, an immense network of underground tunnels that were used by Viet Cong soldiers as hiding spots during combat, as well as serving as communication and supply routes, hospitals, food and weapon caches. After our excursion, we'll return on board our ship. Lunch will be served on board. Ho Chi Minh City was heavily influenced by French colonialism in the 19th century. After lunch, we’ll enjoy a tour of the city to see the Reunification Palace, Notre Dame Cathedral, and the Saigon Central Post Office, and visit the Museum of Vietnamese History. Tonight we’ll have our farewell cocktail and dinner. We'll remain in port overnight.

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