Jeep meets Mekong Princess Boat

Ho Chi Minh City, the dynamic heart of Vietnam, seamlessly blends ancient traditions with modern allure. This captivating metropolis boasts a rich history, stunning French colonial architecture, and a skyline punctuated by towering skyscrapers. Immerse yourself in the city's vibrant culture, savor exquisite cuisine influenced by French, Chinese, and Vietnamese flavors, and unwind at rooftop bars offering breathtaking panoramic views.
Your journey begins with a convenient airport transfer to your luxurious 5-star hotel. As you navigate the city's bustling streets, prepare to be mesmerized by the iconic sea of motorbikes.
Later this evening, embark on a romantic Saigon River cruise aboard the elegant Saigon Princess. As the sun dips below the horizon, casting a golden glow over the city, indulge in a delectable four-course dinner accompanied by a glass of wine. Witness the city transform as night falls, illuminating the skyline with a dazzling array of lights. Your enchanting evening concludes with a leisurely cruise back to your hotel.

Today, we delve into the heart and soul of Ho Chi Minh City. From the dramatic chapters of its past to its vibrant present, this metropolis offers a captivating tapestry of experiences. Morning begins at the iconic Reunification Palace, a tangible reminder of the Vietnam War's tumultuous end. A short distance away, the War Remnants Museum presents a sobering reflection on the conflict's human cost. The city’s French colonial legacy shines through at the Notre Dame Cathedral and the Old Post Office, architectural marvels that transport you to a bygone era. A taste of authentic local cuisine will recharge you for the afternoon. Discover the spiritual side of Saigon at the ancient Giac Lam Pagoda, where serene ambiance and intricate details offer respite from the bustling city. Cholon, the city’s Chinatown, is a vibrant melting pot of cultures, with the Thien Hau Pagoda standing as a testament to its Chinese heritage. As the sun begins its descent, the city transforms. Tonight, Saigon is yours to explore. Immerse yourself in the electric atmosphere, savor delectable street food, or simply wander through the city’s labyrinthine streets.

Step back in time and explore the intricate network of Cu Chi tunnels, a testament to the ingenuity and resilience of the Viet Cong. Learn how these underground fortifications played a crucial role in the Vietnam War as you witness firsthand the living conditions, command centers, and deadly booby traps. For the adventurous, a crawl through the tunnels offers an unforgettable perspective. As the sun begins its descent, embark on a culinary and cultural adventure through the heart of Saigon. Begin your evening with a tantalizing taste of local cuisine at a hidden gem, where the sizzling creation of bánh xèo will awaken your senses. Next, immerse yourself in the lively atmosphere of 5KU, a trendy hotspot where locals gather to unwind and socialize. Enjoy delicious food and refreshing drinks as you mingle with the city's young and dynamic crowd. This is your chance to experience authentic Saigon nightlife and soak up the city's vibrant energy.

After breakfast your driver will pick you up and bring you to the port where you will board the luxury Mekong Delta cruise. Our guide awaits you at the RV Mekong Princess docking at Saigon Port - 05 Nguyen Tat Thanh St, Ward 13, District 4, HCMC. Once aboard, you will be welcomed by your Vietnamese and Cambodian ship’s crew, before embarking on the most extraordinary journey of discovery. We sail at midday through the famed Mekong Delta on our way to the ‘Mighty Mekong River’.
Lunch, with highly attentive oriental hospitality, will be served soon after departure, as we cruise along the Saigon River. Having settled into your luxurious suites, you can relax and enjoy the new scenes and watch the world pass by.
Late in the day we anchor in the heart of the Mekong Delta, where cocktails are served as sun sets, and sampans pass by. A traditional Vietnamese dinner is soon ready, embracing a subtle fusion of dishes for the most eclectic tastes.

This morning, sampans take you through a channel lined with mangroves to visit a local coconut candy maker. After watching the candy-making process, walking through the village to visit an orchard where fruits native to Vietnam can be seen in various stages of maturity on the vine. After a fresh fruit tasting, you continue to a pier where you board small, local boats (two guests per boat) for a trip through the narrow creeks lined with Nipah palm before returning to the ship.

This afternoon, the ship sails through an area of the Mekong Delta barely touched by tourism to Can Tho city, the capital riverside city of Mekong Delta of Vietnam. Guests will take a short and orientated city tour with visiting to the Zihuang Pagoda (Chua Ong) and enjoying the welcome unicorn dances. Explore yourself on own around the charming city before having dinner onboard. The ship docks in Can Tho overnight.

We begin our morning before breakfast aboard the sampans for a cruise through the fascinating Cai Rang floating market near Can Tho. The sampans will weave in and out of the many boats that sail into the market each morning to sell produce and other items the residents of the Mekong Delta need in their daily lives. As they weave through the market, there will be many opportunities for amazing photographs, while enjoying fresh fruit and the Vietnamese “anti-aging drink,” fresh coconut water. Before returning to the ship for breakfast, we stop at a local noodle factory, where we witness the amazing process of how they are made.
After lunch, continue excursion by boat to Hoa An village, where is untouched and well-known with flower growing and handmade craft. Our first stop at flower gardens where we will see many different kinds of flowers and learn how to grow and take care of them. Then, a short walking to a local house and chat with the host to see how they live and work in their daily life.

After a short break, continue our excursion on motor cart to another village. We stop by at the conical hat-making and mat weaving families, have memorable time chatting with local family members and learning how to create products though hands-on experience. Enjoy your walk in the peaceful village with rice fields, fruit trees in between visiting few local families.

The Princess sails and anchors near Gieng Island.

This morning we board sampans that will take us into Gieng Island. After a short walk around the local sampan village, where hundreds of sampans are produced daily by local families, we take a canal drive to explore the untouched floating area with duck farms, monkey bridges, and tropical orchards along the riverside. We will try one of most popular local transportation named “xe loi” (motor trishaw) driving through this island to visit a Catholic Church, built around the same time as the Notre Dame Cathedral in Saigon in the 1870s.

This afternoon, we visit the local island village of Hong Ngu, not far from the Vietnam-Cambodia border. Hong Ngu produces a large number of the traditional, Khmer scarves exported to Cambodia. Woven in many homes around the village, here we have the opportunity to see the weaving process under several homes. Some villagers are also embroidery artists, displaying their art in and around the homes. The inhabitants of this area had only encountered one western visitor prior to the arrival of the Mekong Princess, they are especially friendly and welcoming. Guests will also visit the local temple dedicated to a unique religion founded in this area of Vietnam, Hoa Hoa. This late afternoon, the RV Mekong Princess will cross the border into Cambodia and continue up the Mekong River.

Our Princess arrives Phnom Penh this morning and docks at the center port.
After lunch, local cyclo drivers meet you for an exciting city tour of Phnom Penh. You begin your ride along the riverfront to the Royal Palace, where a leisurely walk takes you through the grounds, with opportunities to visit the Throne Hall and Moonlight Pavilion. Upon crossing into the second section of the complex, you walk amongst enormous stupas and spirit houses, on the way to the famous Silver Pagoda, home of Cambodia’s Emerald Buddha and Maitreya Buddha, encrusted with more than 9,000 diamonds. Following a short break, your cyclos take you to the National Museum. Housing the largest pre-Angkorian and Angkorian holdings in Cambodia, the National Museum ends the morning tour with a comprehensive look at many of the artifacts excavated around the Angkor Archeological Area in Siem Reap, as well as other areas around the former Khmer Empire.

The ship docks overnight in Phnom Penh.

This morning, private motor-coach take you on a scenic 45-minute drive from the ship, arriving at Choeung Ek, the killing fields depicted in the movie, and the center of the darkest days of Cambodian history. You may walk through the fields, visit the small museum and Memorial Stupa, and learn more about the atrocities committed during the Khmer Rouge regime. On the return drive to Phnom Penh, a stop is made at Tuol Sleng (infamously known as S-21), which was converted by the Khmer Rouge from a large school to a prison and torture headquarters.
This afternoon is free at leisure for your own exploration the charming city of Phnom Penh.
This evening before dinner, enjoying the entertainment onboard with a cultural performance including Apsara, Cambodia’s national dance, as well as several traditional folk dances.
The ship docks in Phnom Penh overnight.

The Princess leaves Phnom Penh and sails to Angkor Ban. We start the afternoon tour with a visit to the charming and authentic town of Angkor Ban. Here, we witness the daily life of the local people, starting with a visit to the pagoda with a special blessing ceremony for our guests by local monks, then we keep going on visiting to a local family’s home, to meet them and discuss their lifestyle. We continue through the village to the local school where we join the children in their classroom and experience what their typical school day is like. Ship sails to Kampong Cham and docks overnight.

After breakfast we disembark the Mekong Princess in Kampong Cham. Transfer by motor-coach to Siem Reap. Arrive Meeting Point at the Park Hyatt Siem Reap Hotel at noon. From here we will transfer you to Yaya River Park. This is an environmentally-conscious, award-winning luxury hotel, peacefully located alongside the Siem Reap River, surrounded by fully grown trees,

Tongiht you will get an exclusive fine dining experience unparalleled in Siem Reap and headed by our own local legends, Executive Chefs Pol & Sok, the "Kimsan Twins". Their experience has taken them to different continents and under the mentoring of a Michelin starred Chef. They bring with them to Embassy Restaurant a five-star quality, "Active" seasonal Khmer gastronomy menu that's regularly changed

You will have an early start when you are picked up from your hotel in a vintage open top jeep. You will be driven directly to the magnificent Angkor Wat temple. Here you will watch the sun rise over the majestic ruins as it gradually illuminates the temple’s stunning five towers. After this beautiful experience, you will enjoy a magical walk through the temple in the soft morning light and cool temperatures. After you have fully taken in all this UNESCO World Heritage Site has to offer, a delicious breakfast awaits a short jeep ride away so you can regain your energy and reflect on the morning so far. We drive back to your hotel for breakfast and a rest. After breakfast, you will ride around the hidden trails of the Angkor complex in the jeep. Our years of experience here in Cambodia have allowed us to research and discover the paths less travelled, allowing you to experience this beautiful tour away from the crowds. You will travel along dirt roads and through the jungle to visit some of the park’s best-kept secrets as well as the iconic temples. The giant, magical faces of the Bayon Temple, the mystical temple of Ta Prom where nature has sought to reclaim the ruins, as well as the intricate and stunning Elephant Terrace are just some of the highlights you will experience. After this awe-inspiring tour, we will return you back to your hotel . Tonight you will have a free evening and you can discover Siem Reap by your own.

In the foothills of beautiful Kulen Mountain lies the Bos Thom Community Forest, 1100 acres of pristine, protected forest inhabited by the 14 elephants of Angkor. For 22 years, these elephants were used as tourist attractions, giving rides to visitors in the temples of the world heritage site. Today, thankfully, they roam free in their natural habitat and are a living testimony of a changing world. The name of it: Kulen Elephant Forest.

The journey to the Kulen Elephant Forest is almost as spectacular as seeing the majestic elephants themselves. Travelling in one of our restored vintage jeeps makes this trip more adventurous, allowing you to travel on small dirt roads through the forest, giving you a truly unique view of nature at its best.

In the morning, you will have a magical experience of helping feed the elephants their breakfast, and watch them get ready for their day before heading into the forest together. Experiencing the elephants’ mornings is a fantastic way to gain a better understanding of how to care for these majestic creatures. At noon, you will retire to base camp and enjoy a delicious traditional meal at the same time as our large residents, before bidding them adieu and heading out for your afternoon activity.

Not too far from the Elephant Kulen Forest there is a small pagoda at the foot of a hill. You will take the stairs uphill and once at the pagoda you will be able to experience a truly beautiful view over the surrounding countryside. It is also possible to cool yourself down by taking a dip in the “pool” of the pagoda.

On the way back you will get back into your trusted vintage jeep and explore the country roads and small villages as you wind your way through beautiful vistas back to Siem Reap.

First, you will visit Theams's Gallery. This is the home, studio and gallery of Cambodian master artist Lim Muy Theam. As you step from one breathtaking pavilion to another, you will experience a sanctuary of serenity and a true viewing pleasure. This lavish space invites you to explore Khmer culture at its best and immerse yourself in Theam's impressive private collection of local artifacts.
Second, you will visit Apopo. Here you will experience the reality of humanitarian mine clearing and how they train rats to save lives. Take the opportunity to learn more about landmines, Cambodia, APOPO and African-born HeroRATs. See a HeroRAT in action! This is truly a unique experience.
The third experience for today is quite lordly. Prepare your meal together with a Cambodian family. It is not a cooking class but together with your hosts you can prepare 3 different dishes together. But you can also just watch how the food is made by a local family. Of course you sit down and enjoy this Cambodian lunch together with the family.

The rest of the afternoon is for leisure. You can do some shopping at the many markets or relax at the beautiful pool of your hotel.
We end the day with another very special experience.
At 7pm you will be picked up and taken to Phare. Phare tells unique Cambodian stories using modern circus arts and music, with themes from Cambodian tradition, ethos and spirit. The performances are a mix of theater, music, dance, acrobatics, juggling and an explosion of virtuosity and energy. During the one-hour shows, the Phare performers share their emotions and excitement and blow the audience away with a dazzling show. A "must see" in Siem Reap.

Your adventure concludes with a private transfer to Siem Reap International Airport, ensuring a seamless end to your extraordinary journey. We hope these past days have been filled with unforgettable experiences, creating cherished memories that will last a lifetime. Cruising the Mekong River aboard the Mekong Princess and exploring the vibrant cities of Saigon and Siem Reap by vintage jeep is a truly unique combination.

Yet, the magic doesn’t have to end here. Perhaps the allure of Siem Reap's ancient temples lingers, or the dream of a tropical island paradise beckons. Let us extend your vacation with a customized itinerary. Whether you desire to delve deeper into Cambodia's rich history or relax on pristine beaches, we can craft the perfect ending to your adventure.