There can be no tapestry of river life as fascinating and varied as the River Mekong. Indeed there can be no more striking a cultural contrast as that between the bustling Vietnam delta and the tranquility of Cambodia. We pass from the vibrant French colonial port of Saigon, through the vast delta so rich in human life and endeavour, to travel along the main channel into the rich countryside of Cambodia.  With a full day in charming Phnom Penh we then explore remoter waterways as we progress to the great monuments of Angkor.

In 2003, with the RV Mekong Pandaw, we were the first ship to attempt this extraordinary journey, surmounting complex bureaucratic and navigational obstacles. We now have five ships plying this amazing waterway.

Asia King Travel has decided to increase the discount on selected dates bellows:

Saigon to Siem Reap Upstream between 01 Oct to 08 Oct   –  Pandaw  ------------20% off
Saigon to Siem Reap Upstream between 15 Oct to 22 Oct   –  Pandaw  ------------20% off

Siem Reap to Saigon Downstream between 08 Oct to 15 Oct   –  Pandaw  ------------20% off

Siem Reap to Saigon Downstream between 15 Oct to 22 Oct   –  Pandaw  ------------20% off

Cost in USD per person based on twin sharing

-       Saigon to Siem Reap Upstream between 01 Oct to 08 Oct   –  Pandaw  ------------20% off

-       Siem Reap to Saigon Downstream between 08 Oct to 15 Oct   –  Pandaw  ------------20% off

-      Saigon to Siem Reap Upstream between 15 Oct to 22 Oct   –  Pandaw  ------------20% off

-       Siem Reap to Saigon Downstream between 15 Oct to 22 Oct   –  Pandaw  ------------20% off 

Upstream:

Day 1 : Ho Chi Minh - MY THO embark SHIP - CAI BE (B/L/D)

Registration is at 10.30am  at RENAISSANCE RIVERSIDE HOTEL SAIGON (8 -15 Ton Duc Thang Street, District 1, Ho Chi Minh City,Vietnam/ Tel: (+84) 8 3822 0033 Fax: (+84) 8 3823 5666) and transfer to the Delta Port of My Tho by coach arriving for check in followed by port and immigration formalities.  My Tho is the hub of the Delta, but not of great cultural interest, so once on board we set sail at 1300 and have lunch. In the afternoon we moor near Cai Be and make a fascinating trip by traditional junk to explore evergreen islands and at the former Imperial residence, the An Kiet House. Surviving members of the Kiet family will welcome us with tea and we can wander in the fruit orchards around the house. Overnight moor mid-stream Cai Be.

Day 2 Cai Be/Chau Doc (B/L/D)
In the morning, visit the floating market of Cai Be with local boats. Stop and tour the French Gothic Cathedral and colourful port area. Then tour several small riverside villages to see locals hand make coconut candy and rice paper. Return to the ship for lunch and continue sailing to Chau Doc to arrive in the early evening. Overnight onboard.

Day 3 Chau Doc/Border (B/L/D)
Enjoy a morning rickshaw ride around this French style town. Then board smaller boats to visit a local Cham Minority Tribal village and a cat fish farm. Return to the ship for lunch and sail on towards the border with Cambodia for border formalities. End the day moored near Phnom Penh. Overnight onboard.

Day 4  PHNOM PENH (B/L/D)
The capital of Cambodia retains a French colonial charm. The crumbling colonial architecture makes an attractive backdrop to lively cafes and the redeveloped river front promenade. Your morning tour will highlight several impressive Wats (temple-monasteries) and the magnificent Royal Palace. Return to the ship for lunch. In the afternoon you may wish to join an optional excursion to the infamous Killing Fields. The evening is free to explore Phnom Penh on your own. Overnight onboard.

Day 5  Phom Penh - Kampong Cham (B/L/D)
Your first stop is at the Chong Koh silk weaving village for a morning walk at leisure. Then continue cruising this less travelled part of the Mekong. In the afternoon stop at Peam Chi Kang village to visit the local monastery and school (educational gifts, pens, crayons will be appreciated by the kids). Return to the ship and continue sailing. Overnight onboard.

Day 6 Kampong Cham Area  (B/L/D)
Morning journey upriver to the hilltop pre-Angkorian temple of Wat Hanchey. Dating from the 8th century, these ancient brick structures characterise the architecture of the Chenla Empire which predated the glories of Angkor. Sail back downstream over lunch for an exploration of the Kampong Cham Area. We travel by bus to the 12th century Angkorian temple of Wat Nokor. This colourful temple is unique in Cambodia, as a modern wat is set within the ruins of an ancient temple. We continue to the twin holy mountains of Phnom Pros and Phnom Srei, or Man and Woman Hills. Legends abound about the origins of these hills, and there are many pagodas and shrines on the hilltops. Overnight onboard.

Day 7 Tonle River (B/L/D)

We glance by the capital Phnom Penh in the early morning to change pilots, and then sail the Tonle River which connects Tonle Lake with the Mekong and Bassac Rivers that merge at Phnom Penh. This river journey is a highlight of the trip. We wind our way through jungle, and as the river narrows we feel we can almost reach out and touch the houses and people who come out to cheer our ship on. Temples abound along the river banks at Kampong Chhnang, and we see the rich tapestry of Cambodian rural life. This is a busy rural port town with bustling markets. Mooring mid-stream, we make a truly wonderful motor boat excursion into the lakeside wetlands that form the mouth of the river. Here a stunning variety of birdlife may be seen and of considerable interest are the great fish traps, some half a kilometre long, which net a huge tonnage of fish after each monsoon as the fish migrate from the falling lake into the Tonle River. Overnight onboard.

Day 8 Siem Reap - Angkor (B)
Early morning coach transfer to the Victoria Angkor Resort & Spa in Siem Reap. Refreshments will be provided and we will stop at Kampong Thom along the way. Arrive at Siem Reap mid afternoon.

Note :  Port tax 65 USD/pax is applicable for all customers for the booking

Or Downstream:

Day 1: Tonle Sap  (L,D)

The great lake dominates Cambodia and is over 150 Km in length. Here bird life is profuse, and from the middle of the lake one cannot even see the shores. There is a great stillness and tranquillity as we pass floating fishing villages. Because of seasonal high winds and varying water levels, we will start our journey one of the following ways:

1. High water, approximately July - November. At 1200 Victoria Angkor Resort & Spa to transfer to the ship at Siem Reap Port. lunch at 1330. At 1500 we take a motor boat excursion to the floating villages of Tonle Sap. Moor overnight on the lake.

2. Low water, approximately November -March. At 1200 REGISTER at Victoria Angkor Resort & Spa to transfer by coach to Siem Reap Port, enjoying a picnic lunch on board a speed boat while crossing the great Tonle Lake. Mid-afternoon board the ship at mouth of Tonle River and cruise to Kampong Chhnang for overnight mooring.

3. No water, possibly late-March to July. At 1200 REGISTER at Victoria Angkor Resort & Spa in Siem Reap by coach stopping for sight seeing at Angkor Thom and Prem Srei Kuk temples. Packed lunch provided with refreshments and embark the ship at Phumi Prek Chik Village in early evening on the Tonle River, cruising to Kampong Chhnang for overnight.

IN ALL SITUATIONS THE SERVICE COMMENCES AT ANGKOR CENTURY HOTEL 1200

Day 2 : Kampong Chhnang  (B,L,D)

Low and No Water: This is a busy rural port town with bustling markets. Mooring mid-stream, we make a truly wonderful motor boat excursion into the lakeside wetlands that form the mouth of the river. Here a stunning variety of birdlife may be seen, and of considerable interest are the great fish traps, some half a kilometre long, which net a huge tonnage of fish after each monsoon as the fish migrate from the falling lake into the Tonle River. We touch the capital Phnom Penh in the afternoon to change pilots and enter the Upper Mekong bound for Kampong Cham and stop for an afternoon walk at the village of Peam Chikang.

High Water: we cruise from 0400 across the great Tonle Lake with a brief morning stop at Kampong Chhanang and then cruise all day passing Phnom Penh to enter the Mekong River and proceed upstream.

Day 3 : Kampong Cham  (B,L,D)

We continue upstream past Kampong Cham for a morning walk up the Wat Hanchai hill with its ancient Cham shrines. Cruise through lunch and in afternoon travel by minivan (not always airconditioned) to the 12th century Angkorian temple of Wat Nokor and the twin holy mountains of Phnom Pros and Phnom Srei, or Man and Woman Hills. Late afternoon departure from Kampong Cham heading for Phnom Penh. Overnight mid-steam.

Day 4 : Phnom Penh  (B,L,D)

The capital of Cambodia retains its French charm. The old colonial architecture makes an attractive backdrop to busy cafes, and the renovated river "corniche" is full of life. The city has several impressive wats, including Wat Ounalom, Wat Phnom and the newly-painted Wat Lang Ka. Pride of place goes to the spectacular Silver Pagoda, one of the few places in Cambodia where artefacts embodying the brilliance and richness of Khmer culture were preserved by the Khmer Rouge. The National Museum is another highlight, with outstanding displays of Khmer crafts. An afternoon excursion is arranged to the Killing Fields and the Khmer Rouge’s grim Tuol Sleng or S21 detention centre situated in the suburbs of the city. More happily, Phnom Penh has a lively night life, and some passengers choose to dine ashore or try one of the capital’s many watering holes; a favourite being the Foreign Correspondents’ Club.

Day 5 : Cruising the Mekong / Border crossing  (B,L,D)

We cast off for a day cruising the main Mekong channel, an international shipping route. Today we will stop for a jungle village walk to visit fruit orchards, and then set off for the Vietnamese border for the usual formalities, which in this part of the world, take time. Overnight mid-stream.

Day 6 : Chau Doc (B,L,D)

We travel from the main Mekong channel at Tan Chau down the canals and backwaters by local ferry boat. At Chau Doc we visit a Cham tribal village and a cat fish farm. We make a trishaw ride round this fascinating town of fine French-colonial buildings and bustling market. Return to the ship by boat for lunch and cast off for Cai Bei.

Day 7 : Cai Be (B,L,D)

We take a morning junk trip to Dong Hoa Hiep Island to Cai Be to see a floating market, and go ashore to visit the French Gothic Cathedral and colourful port area, with its colonial buildings, delightful flower gardens and local coconut candy and rice paper manufacturers. We explore evergreen islands and visit the former Imperial residence the An Kiet House, where surviving members of the Kiet family will welcome us with tea, and we can wander in the fruit orchards around the house. In the afternoon we continue our sightseeing by traditional junk to Vinh Long to visit the Bonsai Gardens and see boat yards, brick works and traditional roofers. We rejoin the Pandaw and cruise past Vinh Long City and the Evergreen Islands. Overnight moor mid-stream Cai Be.

Day 8 : My Tho / Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon) (B)
Early morning sail from Cai Be for My Tho, where we disembark for coach transportation to the Renaissance Riverside Hotel, Ho Chi Minh City

Cruise includes:

• English / French speaking guide
• All transfer and transport by private coach
• 7 nights in double / twin cabin of The RV Mekong Pandaw or The RV Tole Sap Pandaw
• Meal as indicated( B = breakast; L= lunch, D= dinner)
• Admission fees and permits where applicable
• Government taxes & service charge

Cruise excludes:

• Airfares & airport taxes
• Port tax : $ 65 /pax
• Pre/post trip arrangement
• Visa and visa arrangement
• Travel insurance
• Other personal expenses

Asia King Travel has decided to increase the discount on selected dates bellows:

Saigon to Siem Reap Upstream between 01 Oct to 08 Oct   –  Pandaw  ------------20% off
Saigon to Siem Reap Upstream between 15 Oct to 22 Oct   –  Pandaw  ------------20% off

Siem Reap to Saigon Downstream between 08 Oct to 15 Oct   –  Pandaw  ------------20% off

Siem Reap to Saigon Downstream between 15 Oct to 22 Oct   –  Pandaw  ------------20% off

Cost in USD per person based on twin sharing:

-       Saigon to Siem Reap Upstream between 01 Oct to 08 Oct   –  Pandaw  ------------20% off

-       Siem Reap to Saigon Downstream between 08 Oct to 15 Oct   –  Pandaw  ------------20% off

-      Saigon to Siem Reap Upstream between 15 Oct to 22 Oct   –  Pandaw  ------------20% off

-       Siem Reap to Saigon Downstream between 15 Oct to 22 Oct   –  Pandaw  ------------20% off