Deluxe Lotus Mekong Expedition Cruise (Ho Chi Minh to Siem Reap or Reverse) 8D7N

Arrive in Vietnam, a vibrant cultural hub and home to a rich tapestry of ancient culture and modern wonders. Admire the details that make up this bold and complex location, our adventure’s starting point.

We enjoy a scenic drive in the afternoon around 14:00, exposing more of Vietnamese scenery, from Ho Chi Ming city to My Tho Port, South Vietnam. Here we will begin our journey aboard the luxurious Mekong Navigator cruise ship. This breathtaking vessel is a haven of comfort and elegance boasting 34 stately suites outfitted with premium amenities including spacious balconies. The cruise ship also has the exotic La Vie Spa, a library, a fitness centre and a cosy lounge amongst other posh amenities.

After settling into your well-appointed suite/cabin, as the upstream journey continues towards Cai Be, experience warm hospitality on the sun deck at a welcome reception and an introduction to the friendly and professional crew with an essential safety briefing.

In the evening, we gather to enjoy a delicious Vietnamese “Mekong Delta” theme dinner in the exquisite Le Marche Dining Room. After eating to our fill, we’re lulled to sleep by the Mekong river’s tranquility before embarking on the adventures that await tomorrow.

The Mekong River cruise ship departs My Tho after everyone is on board around 17:00.

You’ll overnight mid-river Cai Be area.

This morning after breakfast, we arrive in Cai Be around 8 am. The English speaking guide will accompany you to board the sampans we will use to explore the breathtaking canals of the Mekong Delta. We pass a colourful collection of local boats from the delta provinces, larger boats selling their goods and the characterful stilted houses of Cai Be. We continue into the narrower canals and stop at Ba Duc house, a traditional Vietnamese home and garden, to admire its beauty.

We hop back on the sampans and paddle through the canals to our nearby destination, a traditional rice factory, where industrious artisans produce rice paper, rice wine and popped rice. You can also explore the fine selection of postcards, souvenirs, and beautiful oil paintings on sale. We continue towards Cau Xeo which brings us photo opportunities of rice barges, rice husking mills, water palm thatching cottages, temples, etc. along the cruise. Upon returning to the ship, we sit to relish an elegant lunch buffet while sailing upstream through the calm riverine scenery towards Sa Dec.

The Mekong Navigator cruise ship departs the Cai Be area after we are back around 11:00. The ship arrives in the Sa Dec area around 14:00

This afternoon, upon arrival in Sa Dec, we hop on our traditional sampans for traversal once again to navigate the tapestry of the Mekong canals, where you will have an insight into the daily life of the villagers before arriving at the historic Sa Dec town. A highlight here is the former home of Mr. Huynh Thuy Le, the inspiration for Marguerite Duras’ novel, L’Amant (The Lover). We will then head on to the Chinese temple, Kien An Cung, built in the honour of the Huynh Thuy Le family. From there, you begin a leisure walk through the town’s market, where you get to experience the sights, sounds, smells and have wonderful photo opportunities of the colourful fresh produce, meat, live fish and seafood for sale.

The cruise ship leaves Sa Dec after everyone has boarded around 17:00.

You’ll overnight mid-river My An Hung Area.

Wake up to the calming aura of the river in your elegant suites and to a hearty breakfast. After fueling, we go on a short journey from ship to shore by traditional sampan to visit an evergreen farming village on the Mekong Delta, My An Hung. We go through the verdant village, interact with the friendly villagers, enjoy fresh coconut in the garden. A local family would invite us for some honey tea and fruit while we enjoy live entertainment; the “don ca tai tu” folk music, followed by an impressive VOVINAM Vietnam Martial Arts performed by the teenagers in the village.

The ship will depart the My An Hung area after everyone is back on board around 11:00. The Mekong Navigator will arrive at Long Khanh A island area around 15:00

In the afternoon, you’ll ride your sampans once again to the local village close to the Vietnam/Cambodia border, Hong Ngu. Here, a large number of Khmer scarves are woven in many village homes and are exported to Cambodia. You’ll have the opportunity to witness the weaving process that has been passed down for many generations. Some of the villagers are also embroidery artists and they display their art in and around the homes for you to admire. The locals have recently become familiar with western travelers and they are always friendly and welcoming. Before returning to the sampans, we will walk around this evergreen island and visit the home of a local war veteran.

Afterwards, we head back to the ship, which is set to depart Long Khanh Island around 15:00 after we are all back on board.

You’ll overnight at the border area.

Border formalities will take place around 07:00

The ship will depart the the border around 09:30

This morning, after border formalities and a lovely breakfast, relax and enjoy a leisure cruise on your ship. Sit back on the loungers on the sun deck and take in the calming energy of the river. Book a restorative session in the La Vie spa to pamper your muscles from all the exploring. Order a soothing drink in the lounge. Engage your mind with an interesting book in the library. Pass time in any way you wish before reaching Phnom Penh city later in the evening.

You’ll observe a fascinating transformation in the riverfront architecture. Exciting cultural activities will also take place on board. Enjoy the last dinner aboard the luxury Mekong Navigator and cheers to a wonderful adventure.

The ship will arrive at Phnom Penh around 20:00.

You’ll overnight docking at Phnom Penh Port.

Enjoy another delightful breakfast, before learning more about the darkest days of Cambodian history and the gaping loss that still haunts its people. We enjoy a scenic 45-min ride from the ship to Choeung Ek killing fields. Here, you may walk through the fields where more than one million people were killed and buried in mass grave sites by the Khmer Rouge regime between 1975 and 1979. Then visit the small museum and Buddhist Memorial Stupa and learn more about the unspeakable acts committed during the Pol Pot’s era. Lastly, we head to tour Tuol Sleng (also known as S-21), the former school converted to the main prison and torture headquarters of the Khmer Rouge.

You have the option to take the coach accompanied by your local guide from the port to central markets to explore the city of Phnom Penh in the afternoon. Shop to your fill, dine at any of the stunning restaurants or go for more sightseeing around the city at your pace.

Before indulging in another mouth-watering dinner, we convene at the sun deck to watch live Cambodian cultural performances including the national dance and an Apsara blessing dance performed by local children.

You’ll overnight at Phnom Penh Port.

After a lovely breakfast on board, you will meet Tuk drivers who will be waiting at the pier for a thrilling morning tour of Phnom Penh. You will be swiftly transported along the riverfront to the Royal Palace complex, the official residence of the king of Cambodia. It comprises several beautiful buildings with the main palace being the most important, set in perfectly manicured and colourful gardens. Take a leisure walk through the grounds to see the Throne Hall and Moonlight Pavillion. Then visit the famous Silver Pagoda, home to Cambodia’s Emerald Buddha and the Maitreya Buddha, which is encrusted with over 9000 diamonds.

Your Tuk Tuk will be waiting for you outside to take you to the open-air National Museum, Cambodia’s largest museum of cultural history with one of the world’s largest collections of Khmer art and ceramics as well as Angkorian artefacts, excavated at the Angkor Temple complex in Siem Reap and other areas in Cambodia. In the afternoon, you’re free to explore Phnom Penh or join the optional excursion (additional cost)

Optional Afternoon Excursion: Tour to visit a local silk weaving village. Board a local boat and cruise for about 40 minutes around the Head-lands from the Tonle Sap River back into the Mekong River reaching the Silk weaving area. Learn useful information about the processes, from silkworm raising to weaving marvellous silk products like Sarong, Phamuong, Hol and silk karma. You return to the boat the same way, cruising along Sisowath Quay and the Royal Palace, as the sun sets in the background, giving you the perfect photo opportunity.

The Mekong Navigator departs Phnom Penh around 16:15.

You’ll overnight mid river at Roka Kong.

This morning, our adventure begins with a visit to a historical temple complex. Based on archaeologists’ claims, this temple was built in 1840. Some parts of the building were made of wood and were renovated in 1998. An emerald was found during the renovation, believed to be over 180 years old and given this Wat its second name, Wat KeoMoni Chort (Emerald). In front of the two Golden Buddhist Columns (53 metres tall), where two temples, the north temple called Preah Keo Preah Kor and the south temple called BakSei Chamkrong, destroyed by a landslide in 2020. Enjoy exploring this temple complex and then proceed to the main pagoda.

Upon entering the awe-inspiring and colourful main pagoda, we receive a water blessing from the local monks.

The Mekong Navigator departs Wat Rakoang after everyone is on board around 11:00 to arrive in Opopel village around 14:00.

In the afternoon, we will visit the rural and charming Opopel village, with its stilted houses and grazing Brahim cows seeking the shades of banana trees. Here, everything feels timeless as you witness the rhythms of rural life. We head on to the home of a local family who discusses their lifestyle, then onto the local school to join children in their classroom exposing you to a typical Cambodia school day. Take photos of this time-forgotten land as you leisurely stroll the village. On our way back, we stop at a local monastery to see what it has in store for us.

The Mekong Navigator arrives Kampong Cham port around 19:00.

In the evening, we gather on the sun deck in front of Le Salon lounge this evening for a farewell reception with the entire crew, before enjoying a Cambodian farewell dinner in Le Marche Dining Room.

You’ll overnight docking at Kampong Cham.

After a tranquil night's rest and a delicious breakfast, bid farewell to your lovely crew as you disembark your luxury ship in Kampong Cham. You will transfer from Kampong Cham via coaches around 08:30 to Siem Reap, Cambodia. There will be a lunch stop en route to your hotel in Cambodia in the afternoon.

NOTE: This itinerary is provided as an example only – prevailing conditions and local arrangements may cause variation.