8 days and 7 nights

Upriver Cruising

The classic among the Mekong River Cruises is the 8 day cruise "The Lost Civilization". It combines places rarely visited with opulent world heritage sites on board the luxury boutique cruiser "The Jayavarman" - the unforgettable cruise experience.

Day 1: Ho Chi Minh City - Embarkation

Register for cruise from 11:00 to 12:00 at Sofitel Plaza Saigon Hotel. At 12:30,  and transfer overland to My Tho Port. At 13:30, embark onto the luxurious vessel where iced mineral water and cold towels will be served. At 14:00, proceed to the Mekong Restaurant for a tasty buffet lunch before checking into your cabins. The captain will commence port formalities from 14:00 to 16:00. At 15:00, adjourn to the Saigon Lounge for briefing. At 19:30, proceed to the Mekong Restaurant and enjoy the first dinner on board. Pianist performs on Saigon Lounge from 21:00 to  23:00.

Day 2: Cai Be Floating Market

At 7:00 to 9:00, a hearty breakfast will be served. At 10:00 to 11:30, a seminar on The Life on Mekong River. Lunch from 12:30 to 14:00. At 14:30, get ready for the first excursion at Cai Be. Explore the hidden treasures through the canals on riverboats and partake in late morning bantering with floating markets vendors before going ashore to visit traditional candies making factory and rice paper mills. Return to boat at 17:00. Enjoy Mekong Folk Dances at 18:30 followed by cocktail & briefing at 19:15. At 19:30 dinner is served and pianist plays from 21:00 to 23:00. Night cruising to Sadec.

Day 3: Sadec - Tan Chau

Enjoy breakfast from 7:00. At 8:30, follow the guide to this quaint city of Marguerite Duras. Visit the old house of Huynh Thuy Le’s now known as The Lovers Museum, local markets along the paved river banks, the ancient Pagoda and the Chinese deities at the Fujian Temple. Pass by the school where Marguerite's mother's taught and view the home of Marguerite from across the river bank. The excursion ends at 11:30. At noon, cruise to Tan Chau. From 12:30 lunch is served. You will enjoy another interesting session on Vietnam History - The Past & Present. At 18:30 to 19:30, daily cocktail hours and briefing. At 19:30, proceed to the restaurant for dinner. Pianist performs from 21:00 to 23:00.

Day 4: Tan Chau and Border Crossing

Breakfast from 7:00 to 8:30. At 8:30, transfers to small boats, visit a floating fish farm and navigates along the tiny tribunals where stilt houses are haphazardly leaning on one another. Go ashore and make a city tours on Xe Loi where stops will be made at traditional silk making factory and rattan mats and slippers making factory. At 11:30, return to the boat and prepare for lunch. At 12:00, cast off for the Vietnamese/Cambodian borders for port and immigration formalities. Lunch is served from 12:30 to 14:00. At 14:00, commence border-crossing procedures. From 15:00 to 16:30 enjoy a seminar session on Indochina - The Past & Present. At 17:00, start the second part of the journey into Cambodia and heads towards Phnom Penh. Cocktail and briefing is scheduled at 18:30. Dinner is served from 19:30 to 21:00. Pianist performs from 21:00 to 23:00. Enjoy the first night in Cambodia.

Day 5: Phnom Penh

Breakfast will be served from 7:00 to 8:30. Visit Phnom Penh city from 8:30. Travel around by motor coach/bus and visit the Royal Palace, Silver Pagoda and National Museum. At 12:00 return to the boat for a re-energizing power lunch to prepare for the second part of the excursion today. At 14:30, take motor coach/bus and visit the Killing Fields and Tuol Sleng (S21) detention center.  This excursion ends at 17:30. At 18:30 to 19:30, meet guide for cocktail & briefing. Dinner is served from 19:30 to 21:00. After dinner, a special Khmer folk performance awaits at the Saigon Lounge. The performance will starts at 21:00 and ends at 22:00. Pianist performs from 22:00 to 23:00. Night cruising to Kampong Cham.

Day 6: Kampong Cham

Breakfast from 7:00 to 8:30. At 9:00, follow guides and explore Wat Hanchey, a hilltop pagoda overlooking the Mekong. At 11:45, return to the boat and cast off for Kampong Cham around 12:00. Enjoy lunch at 12:30. Go ashore from 15:30 to 17:30. The upland regions near Kampong Cham are rich in timbers, including Ceylon ironwood, rosewood, bean trees, teak, and rubber trees. Visit 12th century Angkorian temple of Wat Nokor and Cheung Kok Eco village. Cocktails and briefing at 18:30, followed by dinner from 19:30. Pianist entertains from 21:00 to 23:00. Night cruise to Kampong Chhnang.

Day 7: Tonle River - Kampong Chhnang - Tonle Lake

At 7:00 to 8:30, enjoy breakfast. At 8:30 to 11:00, follow guides enjoy a quintessential river excursion through the floating houses to get a glimpse of the local lifestyles in the Tonle Sap River. Moor safely along the banks and go ashore and enjoy a leisurely walk through the city and walk around local market. At 12:30 lunch is served. At 15:00 to 16:30 a lecture on Cambodia - The Past & Present. At 18:30 briefing and farewell Cocktails are hosted. Farewell dinner and drinks from 19:30 to 21:00. 21:00 to 23:00 Pianist performs.

Day 8: Siem Reap - Disembarkation*

Enjoy breakfast onboard from 7:00 to 8:30. At 9:00, reach Siem Reap. Bid farewells to the crew and guides and disembark around 9:00. At 9:30 take motorized boats and arrive at local jetty approximately 5 to 6 km away from the middle of the lake. Transfer to motor coach/bus to Le Meridien Angkor Hotel at 10:30.

Important Note:

• For low water level, approximately from December to January/February, passengers will disembark RV La Marguerite and transfer onto a 3 hours speedboat at Kampong Chhnang and transfer to Siem Reap Jetty.

• For very very low water level, approximately from January/February to May/June, passengers will disembark RV La Marguerite and transfer onto a 5 hours coach ride at Preak Kdam at 07:00 and transfer to Siem Reap city, stopping en route at Kampong Thom mid morning. Expected time of arrival at Le Meridien Angkor is 12:15.

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