Avalon Saigon, Mekong Discovery ex Phnom penh to Ho chi minh city (saigon)

On this unique and inspiring Southeast Asia river cruise through Cambodia and Vietnam, you’ll be immersed in the cultures and ancient traditions as you sightsee and spend time with locals in interesting places along the mighty Mekong River.

In the enchanting Cambodian countryside, go on an ox-cart ride amongst rice paddy fields and witness the daily lives of farmers. In a Silversmith Village, see craftsmen making silver artwork using ancient techniques. French influences are still apparent in the lovely capital of Cambodia, Phnom Penh. Here you’ll tour the National Museum and Royal Palace with its striking Silver Pagoda and enjoy a song and dance performance by children at a local orphanage. On a hilltop at the site of the 8th-century temple of Wat Hanchey, take in the stunning views before walking through the rural village of Angkor Ban to visit with welcoming schoolchildren.

Continue your river cruise into Vietnam where you’ll walk through a vibrant market as the locals are busy with their daily routine of buying and selling produce. See firsthand how handcrafted sampans are built at the home of a family in Cu Lao Gieng. Via sampan, cruise into Vinh Long and experience Vietnamese culture with a visit to a workshop to learn how rice wine and traditional candies are made. This once-in-a-lifetime Southeast Asia river cruise holiday is sure to create lasting memories!

Day 1
Welcome to Cambodia. Your Intimate Suite Ship Awaits!
Get acquainted with the ship and relax before your welcome
reception this evening.
AFTERNOON/EVENING CRUISE TO WAT HANCHEY (L,D)

Day 2
Water Blessings and Back-to-School Adventures
DISCOVERY - Visit Wat Hanchey, a hilltop temple dating back to the 8th century. Climb or be driven to the top where you will enjoy stunning views of the surrounding area and partake in a traditional water blessing given by local monks.
DISCOVERY - After lunch, enjoy a Walking Tour through the rural village of Angkor Ban. Here, you will visit a traditional Khmer house and interact with children at a local school.
EVENING/OVERNIGHT CRUISE TO KAMPONG TRALACH (B,L,D)

Day 3
Calm in the Cambodian Countryside
DISCOVERY - Your Guided Sightseeing starts in Kampong Tralach with an Ox-Cart Ride through the
beautiful Cambodian countryside. Along the way, stop to meet a local farmer and learn about his
daily life. At the silversmith village in Konpong Louang, see talented craftsmen use age-old
techniques to turn pure silver into works of art. Sail to the capital city of Phnom Penh this afternoon.
PHNOM PENH
A Dark History or Market Dynamics
CLASSIC - After lunch, join a Guided Visit to the Tuol Sleng Genocide Museum and one of the Killing Fields for a glimpse into the atrocities inflicted on the Cambodian people by the Khmer Rouge regime, OR:
DISCOVERY - Visit the lively Central Market by tuk-tuk to see its unique Art Deco design.
This evening, spend some free time exploring the city on your own. Perhaps follow the riverfront promenade to the historic Foreign Correspondents Club (FCC). (B,L,D)

Day 4
The Royal Treatment
CLASSIC - Join a Guided Tour of the city by private cyclo with visits to the Royal Palace with the spectacular Silver Pagoda, and the National Museum, featuring an outstanding display of Khmer artifacts. The remainder of the day is yours to enjoy at your leisure,
Consider a Guided Optional Tour of a local brewery with free flowing local beer!
Just before dinner, children from a local orphanage will perform a show, featuring local song and dance.
EVENING/OVERNIGHT CRUISE TO VIETNAM/CAMBODIA BORDER (B,L,D)

Day 5
Good Morning Vietnam!
DISCOVERY - Take a Village Walk through the Chau Doc market, and absorb the atmosphere as locals are busy buying and selling fish, meat, and produce. After lunch, embark on a Guided Excursion down the backwaters of the Mekong. Along the way, see traditional floating homes, speedboat merchants, religious sites, a market selling dried goods, and more.
EVENING CRUISE TO LONG KHANH A (B,L,D)

Day 6
Cotton Weaving, Conical Hats, and Handcrafted Sampans
DISCOVERY - This morning, a sampan brings you to the village of Long Khanh A, for a Cotton-Weaving Demonstration of this well-preserved tradition.
DISCOVERY - This afternoon, enjoy scenes of daily life on Cu Lao Gieng Island via sampan and local motor cart. Your Guided Excursion starts with a stop at one of Vietnam's oldest Catholic churches.
Then, visit the home of a local family that makes Vietnamese conical hats, or "Non la," from materials available to them such as palm leaves and bamboo. These iconic hats are primarily
used as protection from the sun and rain but you may also see them used as a basket to carry
home goods from the market. Lastly, visit a local workshop where a skilled family hand-crafts
sampan boats.
EVENING CRUISE TO VINH LONG (B,L,D)

Day 7
Sweets and Rice Treats
DISCOVERY - Board a sampan this morning to Visit a Local Workshop in Vinh Long where you will see how rice paper, rice wine, and traditional candies are made.
This afternoon, enjoy time on board the ship as we sail to exciting Ho Chi Minh City.
AFTERNOON CRUISE TO HO CHI MINH CITY (B,L,D)

Day 8
Your holiday ends with breakfast this morning. (B)