Jayavarman Mekong Cruise (Heritage Line) | Saigon - Phnom Penh 4 days 3 nights

We greet our guests in the morning at our welcome lounge in Ho Chi Minh City. Relax with a second coffee while our staff collects your details. We then leave the hustle and bustle of Saigon behind, traveling 70 kilometers south overland towards My Tho to board our vessel. After checking into your luxurious floating "home," the journey along this major Asian waterway begins.

A lunch buffet is served in the restaurant as the vessel steadily glides upstream. As twilight bathes the Mekong Delta in a golden haze, take the opportunity to get to know your fellow travelers and join our official welcome with canapés and prosecco.

During dinner, the ship will likely reach the Tan Phong Island area near Cai Be, where we anchor midstream. This is your first glimpse of the bustling area where we will begin our Mekong adventure on land tomorrow. Join us for some late-night entertainment in the evening cinema, featuring classic movies or thrilling documentaries.  

Wake up early to embrace the stunning dawn scenery, a time when the Delta's inhabitants have already been active for hours. Start your day with our invigorating morning Tai Chi class, followed by a lavish breakfast buffet. We'll then board a local boat to access the secluded island of Tan Phong, nestled in one of the expansive Mekong River tributaries flowing toward the sea.

During our visit to a workshop in the town of Cai Be, you'll have the opportunity to observe the production of rice paper, rice cookies, rice wine, and coconut candies. This fascinating process involves manual labor and specialized techniques.

After the workshop, we'll head to Tan Phong Island, a smaller island in the middle of the vast Mekong. We'll visit a local family and their fruit garden, offering us a variety of tropical fruits to taste. A buggy ride through the island will give us a glimpse of local daily life. We'll also stop at another family’s house, where they specialize in weaving water hyacinth plants into artistic crafts by hand.

Relax and enjoy some time on your private balcony or at the bar as we continue our voyage upstream.

In the afternoon, we arrive in the Sa Dec region and anchor near Binh Thanh, one of the larger islands in the Mekong. 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. You'll also have the opportunity to meet a local elderly couple who have spent their entire lives on this island and enjoy engaging in conversations with foreign visitors.

Before dinner, join us in the lounge for a presentation about life on the Mekong Delta as the ship sails toward our mooring spot for the night in Tan Chau.  

Upon disembarking, we immerse ourselves in the vibrant town life of Tan Chau by boarding "xeloi" (Vietnamese rickshaws). Your personal xeloi driver leisurely navigates through a network of streets, allowing you to observe workshops, street vendors, shops, and the intriguing day-to-day activities of the locals.

Our journey takes us to the local market, where we mingle with residents as they go about their morning shopping routines.

Continuing on, we visit a Cao Dai temple and meet with one of the priests, who enlightens us about the unique beliefs and spirit of Cao Dai.

Our final destination is a fish farm that has been operated for many years by a local family, who make their livelihood from this distinctive business. Here, we gain insight into the essential knowledge required to manage such an enterprise in this region.

Back on board our “home,” we sail towards the Vietnamese-Cambodian border. Get ready for a fascinating and leisurely cruise through the deep Cambodian countryside towards Phnom Penh.

The whole afternoon is at your disposal. By this point, even the last passenger should be fully in cruise mode, enjoying the relaxing influence of this mighty river. The afternoon is perfect for massages, relaxing on a terrace deck sunbed, or kicking back on your private balcony. Conjure up a spell to merge with the river and float into a state of mild bliss.

You might also like to visit the bridge, where the captain always has a story to share about “his” river. Or, if you’re curious to learn more about Khmer gastronomy, join a culinary workshop to sharpen your knowledge about the local cuisine.

After our relaxing cruise throughout the afternoon and into the evening, the boat arrives in Phnom Penh (docking mid-stream or at the pier). Enjoy your time onboard with our entertainment options, socializing at our public venues, or relaxing in the privacy of your cabin. Due to immigration regulations, passengers may not be allowed to go ashore this evening.  

Welcome to Phnom Penh, once known as the Paris of the East. Despite its rapid development, the city has retained much of its rustic charm and elegance. It is a remarkable town with centuries of incredible history and culture that can still be felt on many street corners.

Enjoy your final breakfast aboard your floating home before disembarking. We hope you enjoyed this fascinating river cruise as much as our crew does every time. Take the enchanting memories and newfound friendships with you, and share the stories of the amazing Mighty Mekong River.