DURATION
7 Nights
PRICE FROM
$ 8219
WHEN
Aug-Nov 2022
DESTINATION
Vietnam & Cambodia
TYPE
SMALL SHIP CRUISE
Mekong River Cruise
Aqua 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: Home to the UNESCO-listed Angkor Wat temple complex at Siem Reap, Cambodia is a treasure trove of cultural relics from the Khmer empire.
- Culture: Peace and prosperity in the life-giving cradle of the Mekong basin has led to a distinctive culture and many art forms that continue to flourish today.
- Active Excursions: The Aqua Mekong offers excursion and activity options that run concurrently, so guests get to choose between an active outing or a more laid-back option according to their preferences.
- Expert Guides and Crew: Our full-time, English-speaking guides grew up along the Mekong river and know its stories by heart. They’ve also built a solid rapport with local communities, which makes excursions pleasant, seamless and immensely insightful.
- Luxury: As the premier river cruise line sailing the Mekong river, Aqua Expeditions is committed to delivering best-in-class personalized luxury hospitality on the 20-suite Aqua Mekong.
The beauty of the Galapagos can’t be explained. Only experienced.
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Itinerary in Brief
Day 1
Friday: Mekong River – My Tho – Ho Chi Minh – Vietnam
We will collect you 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
Saturday: 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
Sunday: 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
Monday: 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
Tuesday: 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
Wednesday: 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
Thursday: 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
Embark on a cultural odyssey through Cambodia and Vietnam aboard the finest of river cruise ships in Asia
Aqua Mekong guarantees utmost safety, comfort, and exclusivity for off-shore excursions, as Aqua Expeditions owns and operates the only private fleet of launch boats on the Mekong river. The four ergonomically designed launch boats bring guests on highly personalized day trips to explore the Mekong delta. Cruise your Mekong riverboat to landmarks, temples, and villages where tradition, spirituality, and craftsmanship reside.
Departure Dates & Rates
DEPARTURE
15 Sep 2021
PRICE
$9950
Single Supplement
$1782
STATUS
OPEN
MORE INFO
RESERVATION
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