11 Days DEEPER AND FURTHER ON THE MEKONG RIVER Cruise from SIEM REA to Ho Chi Minh City

EXPLORE THE MEKONG FURTHER

DEEPER AND FURTHER ON THE MEKONG RIVER
10 NIGHTS FROM US$4,800.00 – MEMBERS FROM US$4,320.00
NO SINGLE SUPPLEMENT ON SELECTED DATES
New ten night Mekong itinerary

Go deeper into the Mekong Delta and further up the main Mekong River than any other river cruises on offer. This pioneering route is very much aimed at Pandaw club members who seek more immersive experiences in the countries Pandaw ships ply and wish to spend more days in the comfort and lively atmosphere of our beautifully crafted ships. Our first departure will be on a member’s first basis.

No ship could be more appropriate for this expedition than the much-loved Mekong Pandaw that was the first ship to pioneer the river in 2002 and historically open the river border between Vietnam and Cambodia. With 24 staterooms she has been refitted with a sumptuous spa, library and gym this ship, built in Burma from golden teak. This is the most spacious of all Pandaw’s nineteen ships with broad promenades running around each deck and a vast sun deck of over 600 square meters on top. With a draft of only one meter the Mekong Pandaw can go further upstream than other ships and with a lower air draft pass under the many new bridges that likewise prevent other ships on the Mekong from going very far.

Upstream
DAY 1 SAIGON – MY THO – BEN TRE
Transfer from Saigon hotels to embark ship at My Tho Port. Set sail for lunch on board and an afternoon sampan trip to explore the canals and back waters of Ben Tre.

Saigon – My Tho – Ben TreSaigon – My Tho – Ben Tre
DAY 2 CAI BE TO SA DEC
Early sailing and morning sampan visit to the Cai Be floating market with a walk ashore to see workshops and crafts production. Then on to Sa Dec which has an interesting market and the traditional Vietnamese house of Mr Huyn Thuy Le, the ‘lover’ of Marguerite Duras, a famous French novelist whose book was immortalised in the film L’Indochine. There is a fine catholic church here too.

DAY 3 GAO GIONG
After a short sail upstream, travel a short distance by coach to the Gao Giong ‘green oasis’ with its bird sanctuary. Here a diverse selection of water birds and egrets that gather in the tens of thousands across the Duong Tharp Muoi or ‘Plain of Reeds’. Rowing boats traverse the canals to visit the principal nesting areas. In the afternoon visit Con Phuoc Island and go ashore to explore by tuk-tuk to see basket production and visit a 100-year old Catholic Church and local carpentry shops.

Gao GiongGao Giong
DAY 4 TAN CHAU
Explore the labyrinthine canal system around Tan Chau to visit a Taoist temple where the monks will read fortunes. Continue through local villages by Xi Loi stopping off to help locals tend their fields before stopping off to visit a fish farm and earn merit by releasing fish back into the Mekong.

DAY 5 CHAU DOC – VIETNAM/CAMBODIA BORDER – TONLE RIVER
Visit a Moslem Cham tribal village and a catfish farm in Chau Doc with a guide or do your own thing and take one of our mountain bikes and explore the local market or visit the splendid Catholic Church. Return to the ship by boat for lunch and cast off for the Cambodian border for the usual formalities.

Chau Doc – Vietnam/Cambodia Border – Tonle River Chau Doc – Vietnam/Cambodia Border – Tonle River
DAY 6 OUDONG – KAMPONG CHHANANG
After a morning cruise along the Tonle River disembark at Prek Kdam and travel by coach to a former capital, Oudong. On the way visit the Vipassana Dhura Meditation Centre for a morning of relaxation & meditation before taking a drive around the old capital. Continue up the Tonle river to Kampong Chhanang where the river is at its most beautiful and heaving with life. Then explore the wetlands around the lake’s mouth rich in birdlife.

DAY 7 PHNOM PENH
All passengers will be provided with their own private cyclo. The Cyclo Centre Phnom Penh, which provides the cyclos is a charity that provides basic welfare and medical services to cyclo drivers. You will visit the Royal Palace, Silver Pagoda and National Museum. In the afternoon we visit the Killing Fields and Genocide museum to learn more about the brutal Khmer Rouge regime.

More about Phnom Penh
Phnom PenhPhnom Penh
DAY 8 ANGKOR BAN – KAMPONG CHAM
Morning walk at Angkor Ban a typical Khmer village with a library donated by Pandaw passengers. Continue upstream to Kampong Cham and travel by bus to Chiro Village with an extensive education centre offering vocational training. Other activities here include plastic recycling, bee keeping, farming and handicraft making projects. On to the Wat Nokor Bachey dating back to the Jayarvaman VII period. Built completely from a black sandstone unlike other temples of this period.

DAY 9 CHHALONG – KOH TRONG ISLAND
Morning walk to explore this former French provincial centre with its many splendid belle epoch mansions and lively market. Overnight on the delightful Koh Trong island where passengers can plant their own trees. Sandbank dinner.

Chhalong – Koh Trong Island Chhalong – Koh Trong Island
DAY 10 KRATIE AND THE DOLPHINS (SUBJECT TO SEASONAL WATER LEVELS)
From Kratie travel further upstream by a rustic bus to view the dolphin grounds from local boats in a national park protected area. Return downstream and in late afternoon go ashore to see Wat Hanchey an important centre of worship on top of a hill above the Mekong with good river panoramas. Of great interest are the Chenla Period temples dating from the 8th century, some destroyed by American bombing during the Vietnam War. Overnight Wat Hancheay.

DAY 11 KAMPONG CHAM – SIEM REAP
Early morning sail to Kampong Cham and coach transfer to hotels in Siem Reap with a refreshment stop at Kampong Thom along the way. Arrive at Siem Reap early afternoon.

Downstream
DAY 1 SIEM REAP – KAMPONG CHAM AND WAT HANCHEAY
Transfer from hotels in Siem Reap to Kampong Cham with a refreshment stop at Kampong Thom along the way. Board ship in the afternoon and cruise upstream on the Mekong. Late afternoon go ashore to see Wat Hanchey an important centre of worship on top of a hill above the Mekong with good river panoramas. Of great interest are the Chenla Period temples dating from the 8th century, some destroyed by American bombing during the Vietnam War. Overnight Wat Hancheay.

Siem Reap – Kampong Cham and Wat HancheaySiem Reap – Kampong Cham and Wat Hancheay
DAY 2 CHHALONG – KOH TRONG ISLAND
Morning walk to explore this former French provincial centre with its many splendid belle epoch mansions and lively market. Overnight on the delightful Koh Trong island where passengers can plant their own trees. Sandbank dinner.

DAY 3 KRATIE AND THE DOLPHINS (SUBJECT TO SEASONAL WATER LEVELS)
From Kratie travel further upstream by a rustic bus to view the dolphin grounds from local boats in a national park protected area.

Kratie and the dolphins (subject to seasonal water levels)Kratie and the dolphins (subject to seasonal water levels)
DAY 4 KAMPONG CHAM – ANGKOR BAN
Downstream to Kampong Cham and travel by bus to Chiro Village with an extensive education centre offering vocational training. Other activities here include plastic recycling, bee keeping, farming and handicraft making projects. On to the Wat Nokor Bachey dating back to the Jayarvaman VII period. Built completely from a black sandstone unlike other temples of this period. Evening walk at Angkor Ban a typical Khmer village with a library donated by Pandaw passengers.

DAY 5 PHNOM PENH
All passengers will be provided with their own private cyclo. The Cyclo Centre Phnom Penh, which provides the cyclos is a charity that provides basic welfare and medical services to cyclo drivers. You will visit the Royal Palace, Silver Pagoda and National Museum. In the afternoon we visit the Killing Fields and Genocide museum to learn more about the brutal Khmer Rouge regime.

Phnom PenhPhnom Penh
DAY 6 OUDONG – KAMPONG CHHANANG
After a short morning cruise along the Tonle River disembark at Prek Kdam and travel by coach to a former capital, Oudong. On the way visit the Vipassana Dhura Meditation Centre for a morning of relaxation & meditation before taking a drive around the old capital. Continue up the Tonle river to Kampong Chhanang where the river is at its most beautiful and heaving with life. Then explore the wetlands around the lake’s mouth rich in birdlife.

DAY 7 CAMBODIA/VIETNAM BORDER – CHAU DOC
After crossing the border into Vietnam in the morning. Visit a Moslem Cham tribal village and a catfish farm in Chau Doc with a guide or do your own thing and take one of our mountain bikes and explore the local market or visit the splendid Catholic Church.

Cambodia/Vietnam Border – Chau DocCambodia/Vietnam Border – Chau Doc
DAY 8 TAN CHAU
Explore the labyrinthine canal system around Tan Chau to visit a Taoist temple where the monks will read fortunes. Continue through local villages by Xi Loi stopping off to help locals tend their fields before stopping off to visit a fish farm and earn merit by releasing fish back into the Mekong.

DAY 9 GAO GIONG
After a short sail downstream, travel a short distance by coach to the Gao Giong ‘green oasis’ with its bird sanctuary. Here a diverse selection of water birds and egrets that gather in the tens of thousands across the Duong Tharp Muoi or ‘Plain of Reeds’. Rowing boats traverse the canals to visit the principal nesting areas. In the afternoon visit Con Phuoc Island and go ashore to explore by tuk-tuk to see basket production and visit a 100-year old Catholic Church and local carpentry shops.

Gao GiongGao Giong
DAY 10 SA DEC – BEN TRE
Sail early to Sa Dec which has an interesting market and the traditional Vietnamese house of Mr Huyn Thuy Le, the ‘lover’ of Marguerite Duras, a famous French novelist whose book was immortalised in the film L’Indochine. There is a fine catholic church here too. Afternoon sampan exploration of the Delta’s backwaters and labyrinthine canal system.

DAY 11 MY THO – SAIGON
Early morning sail to My Tho Port and disembark after breakfast for transfers to hotels in Saigon.
WHATS INCLUDED
Cruise Price Includes: Entrance fees, guide services (English language), gratuities to crew, main meals, local mineral water, jugged coffee, teas & tisanes. Transfers between the meeting point and the ship at the start and end of a voyage.

Cruise Price Excludes: International flights, port dues (if levied), laundry, all visa costs, fuel surcharges (see terms and conditions), all beverages except local mineral water, jugged coffee, teas & tisanes and tips to tour guides, local guides, bus drivers, boat operators and cyclo drivers.

TRANSFERS & JOINING
DAY 1 SIEM REAP – KAMPONG CHAM AND WAT HANCHEAY
Registration Details
FCC Angkor by Avani
Registration is at 09.00.
Pokambor Ave (next to Royal residence),
Siem Reap,
Kingdom of Cambodia.
Tel: +855 63 760 280

Morning transfer by coach from the FCC Angkor by Avani hotel to your Pandaw moored at Kampong Cham. Transfer will depart 10:00. and takes approx. 4 hours.

DAY 11 MY THO – SAIGON
Early morning group transfer to your hotel in Saigon, arriving around 10.30am.

Please note transfers are only available for central Saigon hotels and surcharges will apply for private transfers or transfers from hotels outside of District 1 and District 3.

VISA INFORMATION
Upstream
E-visa for Cambodia are not accepted at the river border. Visa on arrival for Cambodia will be arranged for you by the crew. Please bring 1x passport photo and fee of $35 USD.
Click here for full visa information.

Downstream
E-visa for Vietnam are now accepted at the river border. On your application, please enter SONG TIEN LANDPORT as your arrival port.