General Information
Tour Route: Saigon – My Tho – Cai Be – Sa Dec – Tan Chau – Border crossing – Phnom Penh
Duration: 4 Days
Start/ End: Sai Gon/ Phnom Penh
River Cruise Name: The Jayavarman
Cruise Line: Heritage Line
Full Itinerary
Day 1: Saigon – My Tho – Cai Be
At our welcome lounge in Saigon, we receive visitors in the morning. Your first instinct might be to head out to your balcony after settling into your opulent floating “home” for the next several days to watch the ship leave on its exciting Mekong River journey.
The restaurant serves a lunch buffet while the boat slowly travels upstream. Millions of people from China, Laos, Myanmar, Thailand, Cambodia, and Vietnam appreciate this powerful river because it feeds and protects the locals.
While the canoe moves upstream, let your mind wander and your spirit float. The remainder of this sailing day is entirely yours to enjoy. You may unwind on your private balcony or let our therapists pamper you in the Apsara Spa.
Your delicious meal is being enjoyed as the ship approaches Cai Be. Cai Be would subsequently develop into the primary water-based commerce center for the surrounding area, as we shall witness in tomorrow’s visit to the floating market.
There is a cinema in the lounge where you can find nightly showings of classic films and thought-provoking documentaries if you’re looking for some evening amusement.
Meals: Lunch, Dinner
DAY 2: Cai Be – Sa Dec – Tan Chau
To see the breathtaking countryside at the crack of dawn, get up early. Participate in our regular morning Tai Chi lesson to round off the experience. After that, a delicious breakfast buffet is ready for you to enjoy, or if you’d like, we can bring breakfast right to your room.
Our destination was Cai Be, a quaint market town well-known for its Catholic French church and the production of local crafts and foods. Still, you can see local things being traded from boats to boats, such as fruits, and agricultural products, and you can see what this must have looked like on a much greater scale.
We travel the network of lush canals on a native boat while seeing the farmers at work in the fields. A visit to a workshop on land demonstrates to us how rice paste, rice paper, rice biscuits, and rice wine are produced.
The boat arrives at Binh Thanh Island, one of the bigger islands in the great Mekong stream, in the afternoon as it enters the Sa Dec region. We only go to one of these uninhabited places. For instance, one of the regional craftspeople walks viewers through the full process of creating a traditional mat.
In the evening, as the ship makes its way to Tan Chau, a lovely, leisurely border town close to the Cambodian border with a sizable Chinese, Kinh, and Khmer minority, our knowledgeable guide gives a presentation on life on the Mekong Delta.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
DAY 3: Tan Chau – Border crossing – Phnom Penh
Once on land, we board “xelois,” which are neighborhood cars that are still used as taxis in this region, and we can view Tan Chau’s bustling town life. Your private xeloi driver carefully drives through the streets so you can see all the businesses, residences, and factories while taking in the relaxed atmosphere of the area.
We board local boats and travel to a floating fish farm to explore what Tan Chau is well known for. You are going to get an inside glimpse into the biggest inland aquaculture sector in the whole world.
The entire day is yours to use as you like. Every passenger now shifts to cruise control in an effort to experience the relaxing effects that this mighty river has to offer.
Also, stop by the bridge; the captain frequently has an interesting story to share about “his” river. Or, if you’re curious about Khmer cuisine, enroll in a cooking class to increase your knowledge of local delicacies. After some more time spent sailing back on board, the boat arrives at the harbor in Phnom Penh and docks there. Feel free to go exploring on your own after dinner.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
DAY 4: Phnom Penh
Despite its quick expansion, Phnom Penh has managed to keep much of its rustic appeal. It’s a fantastic town with a rich history and culture that are still felt on many street corners.
Before leaving the ship, take one last breakfast on board your floating residence. We hope you had a pleasant journey as our crew did on this amazing river excursion. For more tours and information, visit our websites.
