Cambodia-Vietnam: The Temples and the River

After landing in the Ancient Capital of Cambodia, Siem Reap there will be a transfer and a guide waiting to take you to check into your hotel. Once settled and checked in enjoy your lunch before setting out to see the National Museum which will give you the perfect introduction needed before uncovering one of the seven wonders of the world, Angkor Wat. After checking out the museum head back to the hotel and have the rest of the day to yourself. We can recommend and book a Secret Table for you, if you like.

After having breakfast, your guide will come and pick you up via a tuk-tuk where you will begin your journey exploring the ancient ruins. Your first stop will be the massive South Gate guarded by humungous statues depicting churning oceans of milk, then to the Angkor Thom which was built in the twelfth century, the look upon the fifty-four huge faces of Avalokiteshvara towering in the Bayon Temple, uncover the Royal Enclosure, the Phimeankas, hang out at the Elephant Terrace, the Terrace of the Leper King and the Baphuon Temple. In the afternoon, continue to drive around the massive Angkor Wat Complex to get a general overview before visiting the Preah Kha, Pre Rup, and the mysterious Ta Prohm. You will definitely need to come back and relax at the hotel after a long day exploring one of the biggest temple complexes on Earth.

Wake up to leave and catch the sun rise over the skyline of Angkor Wat. After catching the sunrise you will get a guided tour of the Temple Complex covering over eighty-one hectares and is comparable to the size of the Imperial Palace in Beijing. You will get to see the distinctive five towers that are emblazoned on the Cambodian Flag. This twelfth-century temple is considered to be the prime example of classical Khmer art and architecture. After your early morning tour of Angkor Wat, you will be brought back to the hotel to have breakfast. At around ten in the morning, a driver will come and pick you up to discover the sandstone Banteay Srei temple, known as the beautiful lady temple. You might get the chance to interact and communicate with the local people in the area after which you will take another excursion to explore Beng Mealea temple, a beautiful temple overcome by roots and moss. Head back to the hotel after exploring to relax. At seven thirty in the evening, you will have dinner at Banlle Vegetarian restaurant, where you will get to eat the finest and most creative meals designed by the very talented Chef Pola who will serve a unique iteration of Khmer and Western fused flavors. With your stomach full and your content head back to the hotel and relax.

Today you will have breakfast and check out to be ready to meet your guide who will take you to Siem Reap Pier, where you will take a private local boat to Battambang. As you take the boat, you will get to visit local floating villages on the Tonle Sap Lake, the biggest lake in Cambodia, one of the wonders of Asia. You will have the opportunity to visit Prek Toal, all the life in this village depends on fishing and the people live in floating houses that move around using paddles. You will truly get to see how local people have adjusted to living on the huge stretch of freshwater, that is the Tonle Sap. Take a moment to visit the Saray Water Hyacinth Handicraft Center, a funded community project to help support the local people in making crafts out of Hyacinth. After exploring the waters, enjoy some lunch on the boat as you float down towards Battambang. As you arrive in Battambang, a driver will be waiting for you to take your hotel, Les Maisons Wat Kor. After checking, you can relax and enjoy the rest of the day to yourself and please note that there will be dinner prepared for you at the hotel this evening.

Enjoy some breakfast, before being picked up by a guide at eight in the morning. Your tour will begin with exploring Battambang, a really provincial town, and the rice granary of Cambodia. You will visit the suspension bridge that crosses the Sangke River before stopping by a local Kramas seamstress, to see how traditional Khmer scarves are made. Stop by and have a conversation with an old woman from Battambang who used to manufacture natural Tobacco cigarettes. She will tell you about her life and the obstacles she has overcome. Your next stop would be a wood sculptor’s workshop where you will get to see woodworking magic happen. After the sculptures, you will get to watch how people make rice noodles by hand and how much artistry is involved in making it. Once you have learned about noodle making, head to another location where you will see how they make rice alcohol. During your tour of Battambang, you can stop at any point to have some lunch at your own pace. At this point, you will come to a place where you get to watch how the people of Battambang make their special treat, rice cakes. Stop by the town’s market, explore the governor’s house where the city is located, and the Provincial Museum which houses many beautiful artifacts that are found in local temples in the region. At this, the tour will conclude and you will get to return to your hotel in the early evening. You will get the rest of the night to yourself to do as you wish.

Have some breakfast before checking out. There will be a personal driver ready to take you on your long drive to Sihanoukville via Kampong Speu which will take around 6 hours. Once at the pier, you will wait for your speed boat to depart at three in the afternoon to Koh Rong. Once you have docked you can head to your hotel. Check in and enjoy the island at your own pace for you will have the rest of the day to yourself.

There will be no arrangements for these two days. You will have the freedom to do as you please and explore the island at your own pace. You can relax on the white sandy beaches and party at the many spots along Police Beach. Use these days to take a good breather, sunbathe, and frolic in the ocean.

Have some breakfast, then proceed to check out so that you can catch your boat at nine in the morning to Sihanoukville. Your driver will be waiting for you when you dock. Once you have met your driver, you will head onwards to Phnom Penh. You can stop for lunch along the way if you wish. Once you have arrived in the capital city of Phnom Penh, you can check in at your Iroha Garden, a hotel that used to be the residence of the first ambassador of China in Cambodia in the fifties. After a long drive, you can relax and have the day to yourself. With the capital city at your doorstep.

Wake up in the capital city of Phnom Penh and have some breakfast. A guide will be waiting for you in the lobby to give you a tour of his city. You will begin your tour of the capital with the National Museum, which is also known as the Museum of Fine Arts. Then you will go to explore the Royal Palace, which was built in the late eighteen hundreds by King Norodom where you will get to learn about the royal history of Cambodia. You can also get to see The Silver Pagoda which is located on the premises. Once you have finished at the palace around the afternoon you will get to check out the Russian market that is opposite the Toul Sleng Genocide Museum. After the Russian market, you can visit the local central market to enjoy some more food and shopping. After all the shopping and market head to the Hill of Wat Phnom considered to be the heart of the capital. You will be able to see all the locals coming to pay respects to the temple. Head back to the hotel to rest and relax.

Be sure to have your breakfast and check out before your transfer comes to pick you to drop you off at the pier where the The Jahan cruise ship will be moored. Once you have reached the cruise ship, board and settle in your cabin. Welcome on board with Heritage Line for your Mekong River adventure. After you have checked in, we invite you to come to the lobby lounge for your safety briefing. Before bidding farewell to Phnom Penh, join a captivating testimony held also in the lounge. Having endured the S21 imprisonment and later taking an active part in the Khmer Rouge tribunal, Mr. Sum Rithy continues to bear witness to a difficult chapter of Cambodia’s history. Guests have a once-in-a-lifetime chance to talk, question, and discuss with a living witness of this dark Cambodian era. Once the ship departed, the rest of the day is at your own disposal. Switch into cruise mode and experience the relaxing cadence this mighty river emanates. The afternoon is perfect for spa, relaxation on a terrace deck, or private balcony kick-backs. Conjure up a spell to merge with the river and float into a state of mild bliss. A visit to the bridge might be a pleasant amusement, as the captain always has a little story to share about “his” river. Or, learn more about Khmer gastronomy: join a local culinary workshop held by our head chef.
As you sip drinks and nibble on treats during afternoon tea, we approach the border and arrive in Vietnam. From here, we continue sailing into the heart of the bustling Mekong Delta, mooring near Gieng Island.

After a morning Tai Chi session and a delightful breakfast, we embark on an exploration of the unknown Gieng Island, offering a wonderful and vibrant kaleidoscope of life in the Mekong Delta.
Default Excursion: Gieng Island, also known locally as Mango Island, is perfect to stroll through under the shades of flourishing mango groves that shape the island’s landscape. A visit to a small incense workshop introduces us to the careful process of crafting these fragrance incense sticks by hand, another local highlight is a traditional boat-building workshop, where generations of families assemble wooden vessels that are essential to life along the river. Before departing, we surely are going to taste some of these delicious and freshly picked mangoes with a local tea in the courtyard of century-old local home. This is the moment when we all understand the rhythms and resilience of life on the Mekong - so simple, so joyful.
Optional morning excursion: Culinary (Ship 'Jayavarman' only):Conclude your morning excursion with a culinary twist: Prepare with a local family an authentic “Banh In”, a soft, sweet treat made from glutinous rice flour and sugar. Always served with jasmine tea, the ‘Banh In’ is popular during Vietnamese national festivals such as Tet.
After a post-lunch siesta, our expert guide offers a presentation about life in the Mekong Delta as the ship continues to My An Hung in Sa Dec province. My An Hung Village is another wonderful example of a real local village in the Mekong Delta, where time stood still. We receive wonderful insights into the private household of a local family and visit the seasonal vegetable fields to understand what the farmers are currently cultivating. A Vietnamese tea tasting at a local family’s house is accompanied by a presentation of a variety of fruits that are grown nearby, freshly cut from the tree. An artistic group performs the traditional dragon dance, whilst we can snack on the “vitamins bombs”.
Back on board, the ship sails into the sunset towards the destination of the next day. A complimentary cocktail hour and alfresco snacks accompanied by music and dance vibes are offered to enjoy the blue hour before dinner is served.

Wake up early to embrace the stunning dawn scenery, a time when the Delta's inhabitants have already been active for hours. Energize yourself with our daily morning Tai Chi class before indulging in a lavish breakfast buffet. By local boat, we head out to one of the larger islands in the Mekong known as Binh Thanh. This island is home to several communities that sustain themselves by cultivating water hyacinths. Strolling through the village, you'll gain profound insights into local life and witness the complete traditional mat-making process. Additionally, you'll have the opportunity to meet a local elderly couple who have spent their entire lives on this island. They enjoy engaging in conversations with foreign visitors.
During a visit to a workshop in the town of Cai Be, guests have the opportunity to observe the making of distinct products of the Mekong Delta, such as rice paper, rice cookies, rice wine and coconut candies. Get to know the very interesting manual processes involving manual labour and special production techniques. After the workshop, we head to Tan Phong Island, a smaller island in the middle of the huge Mekong, to visit a local family and their fruit garden. Whilst Gieng Island was the paradise of mangos, this island showcases many other kinds of tropical fruits to taste. A buggy ride through the island gave us a glimpse of the local day-to-day life as it unfolds. We stop at another family’s house. They specialize in the weaving of water hyacinth plants into artistic crafts – all by hand.
Once everyone is back on board, the ship makes its final journey to My Tho, offering some little farewell party vibes along the way.

Enjoy your last breakfast aboard the ship before disembarking to be met by your driver at the pier who will drive to your next stay on Unicorn Island called The Island Lodge. The river island sits in the middle of the river which flows in the middle of the My Tho city. You will have the rest of the day to yourself and to do as you wish whether it be just enjoying, relaxing on the island’s resort or going into the city to explore deeper.

Today you will have the day to yourself. Enjoy your breakfast and explore the area at your own pace. We do recommend you explore the local villages on the island and visit the local fish market to see how the locals live off the river. You will be able to see the people’s way of life and see how the river is so important to them. You can explore the island with a bicycle and go around the whole island which is only 13km to go around. Other than that recommendation it is entirely up to you how you want to go about your day.

Enjoy your breakfast on the island before checking out. A driver will be waiting for you for a transfer to the airport in Saigon for your departure flight (Flight TBA).

******
End of service.