DURATION
7 Nights
PRICE FROM
$ 9625
WHEN
Sep – Dec 2022
DESTINATION
Vietnam & Cambodia
TYPE
SMALL SHIP CRUISE
Mekong River Cruise
Throughout history, magnificent rivers have fostered the growth of culture and civilization, and the Mekong is no different. The Mekong river cruise is one of Asia’s most epic and worthwhile ocean voyages because it offers the chance to discover the rich heritage and cultures enriched by 2,000 years of human history.
Travelers who are cruising the Mekong are closely pursuing a glorious past and recreating outstanding achievements in human history and cultural peaks. This is one of the few cultural locations on Earth that is best visited on a river cruise, from the thriving Khmer kingdom from the 9th to the 15th century to the prominence of Theravada Buddhism in modern Cambodia and Vietnam.
Mekong’s 7-night itineraries depart from Ho Chi Minh City (Vietnam) and, depending on the month of the year, from Phnom Penh (Cambodia) and Siem Reap (Cambodia).
WHAT MAKES THIS TRIP EXTRAORDINARY
- Tonle Sap: Cambodia is a treasure trove of Khmer cultural artifacts and is home to the Angkor Wat temple complex in Siem Reap, inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List.
- Culture: Explore the Mekong basin, home of a distinctive culture and several art forms that are still in full bloom today.
- Active Excursions: Our cruise offers a wide variety of activities that can be selected by each customer.
- Expert English speaking guides and crew 24/7
- Luxury: Mekong Cruise is dedicated to providing best-in-class personalized luxury hospitality on the 20-suite cruise as the leading river cruise on the Mekong river.
“Live with no excuses and travel with no regrets” ~ Oscar Wilde
QUESTIONS?
If you have any questions, please let us know. We are here to help you!
Itinerary in Brief
Day 1
Mekong River – My Tho – Ho Chi Minh – Vietnam
An NPE representative will pick you up at the Ho Chi Minh meeting point and transfer you by air-conditioned coach to My Tho dock where we will welcome you aboard the Aqua Mekong. Settle into your floating retreat, with its window wall unveiling an endlessly captivating panorama. Enjoy these private Mekong moments on your California King bed, terrace or daybed.
Day 2
Mekong River – Binh Thanh/ Sa Dec – My An Hung – Vietnam
Begin the day at Binh Thanh mat weaving village or opt to visit Sa Dec where we will peruse the vibrant market and see the famous house of Marguerite Duras’ legendary lover, Mr. Huynh Thuy Le. In the afternoon, visit a typical Mekong Delta village called My An Hung where we will walk through verdant plantations. We will be invited to a local’s home to taste local fruits while hearing traditional folk songs performed by villagers followed by a unique unicorn dance. A 17-kilometer biking option is also available.
Day 3
Mekong River – Chau Doc – Vinh Xuong – Ka’Om Samnor Border
Travel by skiff along Bassac Canal to Chau Doc floating market then head off by van to Long Son Pagoda atop Sam Mountain. Ask the monks about their age-old Buddhist practices. Return via the bustling morning market. Optional 18-kilometers bike ride on Long Khanh Island or take a rickshaw ride to visit Tan Chau Market with our chef. After lunch, relax by the pool, try a traditional Khmer massage or learn to cook Mekong-inspired dishes while we cross the border.
Day 4
Mekong River – Koh Okhna Tey – Preah Prosop – Cambodia
On this river of time we admire dexterous Khmer artisans dyeing and weaving kroma, the ubiquitous fabric no Khmer lives without. Explore the riverbank on two wheels if you wish, past Buddhist temples and thatch houses perched on spindly wooden stilts while white oxen wade just offshore. After lunch, we board our marine- grade aluminum skiffs and head towards the tamarind trees of Preah Prosop, a remote village little changed over several lifetimes.
Day 5
Phnom Penh, Cambodia
We show off the Cambodian capital to our passengers by motorized tuk-tuk, the Royal Palace, Silver Pagoda, and the National Museum of Cambodia, home to the world’s largest collection of Khmer art. For those who wish, we visit the Tuol Sleng Museum of Genocide and the Killing Field or shopping at Russian Market. We bid farewell to 4-night guests who are disembarking in Phnom Penh.
Return to welcome our 3-night passengers over custom sundowners like the Salted Watermelon Crush with Thai basil. Together we celebrate the onward journey towards the heart of this mighty river with a Khmer Apsara performance, an indigenous tradition memorialized on the temple walls at Angkor Wat.
Day 6
Tonle Sap River – Koh Chen – Kampong Chhnang – Cambodia
This morning, we visit Koh Chen, a silversmith village known for its fine craftsmanship. Keep an eye out for their famous silver bowls, regularly chosen by Cambodia’s king as gifts for visiting dignitaries. In the afternoon, we continue learning about Khmer riverside life in Kampong Chhnang, the ‘Port of Pottery’ so called because archaeological findings here date to the 6th century. Bike option is available.
Day 7
Mouth of the Tonle Sap Lake – Chhnok Tru – Moat Khla – Cambodia
Continue exploring the remote communities around the Tonle Sap Lake, designated as a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve in 1997. In Chhnok Tru, we “slide” into an ice factory and learn from locals what it’s like to live in a town where schools, churches, pagodas, and even the karaoke bar and police station all float. After lunch, we visit the floating village of Moat Khla, accessible only by water, and attend a Buddhist blessing ceremony.
Day 8
Friday: Tonle Sap Lake – Prek Toal – Siem Reap – Cambodia
Set off by skiff into the 22,000-hectare Prek Toal Core Bird Reserve, one of the largest freshwater bodies in Asia and the last refuge in Southeast Asia for large waterbirds like the spot-billed pelicans, milky stork, black-headed ibis, and the elusive masked finfoot. Disembarkation.
The Ship
Aqua Mekong
In the 2015 Asia Hotel Design Awards’ Architecture/New Build category, Aqua Mekong also won the Gold Award. Aqua Mekong continues to be the industry leader in luxury cruises to Cambodia and Vietnam, thanks to its dedication to safety and comfort.
With a dining experience designed by Michelin-starred consulting chef David Thompson, passengers on board the Aqua Mekong embark on a fantastic tour of local delicacies as it makes a luxury trip through Cambodia and Vietnam. A similar locally-focused attitude is reflected in the ship’s bar menu, devised by renowned spirit specialists and cocktail creators Proof & Co.
As the only privately-owned fleet of launch boats on the Mekong river, Aqua Mekong promises the utmost in safety, comfort, and exclusivity for off-shore adventures. The Mekong delta can be explored on fully customized day outings with the help of the four ergonomically constructed launch boats.
Departure Dates & Rates
DEPARTURE
Sep – Dec 2022
PRICE
$9625
Single Supplement
Request a quote
STATUS
OPEN
MORE INFO
RESERVATION
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