Cruise : From the Mekong Delta to the Temples of Angkor

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1 Réf : 13C_4HPP Cruise : From the Mekong Delta to the Temples of Angkor HO CHI MINH CITY - MY THO - CAI BE - SA DEC - VIHN LONG- CHAU DOC - PHNOM PENH - KAMPONG TRALACH - KAMPONG CHHNANG - TONLE SAP - SIEM REAP - ANGKOR Reasons to book with us A 8-day / 7-night cruise on the Mekong A 4-star ship with much comfort and charm All visits and excursions included Wonderful navigation in Chao Gao Canal Drinks on board the ship (1 soda or 1 beer or 1 mineral water and 1 coffee or tea) From the heights of the Himalayas to the southern coasts of the South China Sea, winding over 2,700 miles, the Mekong is much more than just irrigation for Indochina? everywhere it flows, it fascinates men and shapes their lives. Cruise up this great and generous "water snake" beginning in the French-influenced Ho Chi Minh City, taking you through Phnom Penh and the Tonle Sap Lake and River, and following the footsteps of legendary explorer Henri Mouhot to the ruins in Angkor. We offer a meditative journey, allowing you to experience the rhythm of the Mekong River eight days aboard a ship combining charm and comfort. DAY 1 : Paris - HÔ-CHI-MINH VILLE (Saigon) Meet at the airport of PARIS. Scheduled flight with stopover to Hô-Chi-Minh City. Dinner and flight night. DAY 2 : HO CHI MINH CITY (Saigon) Discover Ho Chi Minh City and the sites at Angkor This program is based on your arrival in Ho Chi Minh City. If your flight arrives between 09 :00 am and 11 :00 am, the program will follow the route below. Lunch in town. In the afternoon, tour of the city. Dinner and overnight at the Grand Hotel 4 NL (or similar). DAY 3 : HO CHI MINH CITY (Saigon) One dinner with traditional shows in Siem Reap Full board. Visit Cholon, we visit a local market and the Thien Han pagoda dedicated to the goddess of the sea. The Afternoon, visit of the National History museum and visit to a lacquer-ware factory. Free time in a local market. Return on board and set sail to My Tho. Welcome cocktail and presentation of the crew. Overnight on board. DAY 4 : CHAO GAO - MY THO - VINH LONG - CAI BE - SA DEC

2 Full board. Cruise to My Tho along the magnificent Chao Gao Canal, which passes from the Saigon River to the Mekong Delta. Departure by coach to visit the Vin Trang pagoda, short panoramic city tour. Visit of a local market in My Tho. Back on board. We sail aboard local boats in order to visit the island of the dragon. Back on board and navigation to Cai Be. Lunch. We set off in small boats to visit the floating market of Cai Be. Afterwards, we discover Vihn Long : a brick factory and its pottery, a nursery of fruit trees, a traditional house and an exhibition room of traditional farming tools. Back on board and navigation to Sa Dec. Night on board. DAY 5 : SA DEC - CHAU DOC Full board. Visit of Sa Dec : visit of a local market and panoramic tour of the city, primary school of Trung Vuong and the Kien An Cung pagoda. Back on board and navigation to Chau Doc. Lunch on board. If the weather allows it, we admire the sunset from the hill Sam Nui, which rises to 231 meters and offers some famous Buddhist shrines, with stunning views on the rice fields. On your left, you can discover Cambodia and the Mekong River. Stopover on the road to the Chua Xu temple and the Tay An pagoda. Night on board. DAY 6 : CHAU DOC - PHNOM PENH Full board. We spend the day afloat today, first heading for the Cambodian border, where we complete customs during the morning and continue our journey. Arrival in Phnom Penh, passengers are free to discover the Cambodian capital. We moor for the night in the port of Phnom Penh. Free evening. DAY 7 : PHNOM PENH Full board. In Phnom Penh, visit the Royal palace, one of the finest examples of Cambodian architecture in classical Khmer style and the Silver Pagoda, and the Russian Market. Back on board. In the afternoon, visit of the Tuol Sleng museum, former centre of detention, torture and execution from 1975 to Then we visit the National museum. Return on board to enjoy an Apsara dance show of 45 minutes by student dancers and musicians. Night on board. DAY 8 : KAMPONG TRALACH - KAMPONG CHHNANG Full board. Lunch on board and arrive in Kampong Tralach to visit the beautiful Vihara of the Wat Kampong Tarlach Leu Pagoda. Return on board and continue our cruise to Kampong Chhnang. Overnight stop. DAY 9 : KAMPONG CHHNANG - CHNOK TRU Full board. Visit Kampong Chhnang. Back on board. Arrival in Chnok Tru. Navigation on the Tonle Sap Lake aboard small local boats, largest freshwater lake in Southeast Asia. Back on board. Goodbye dinner. Overnight stop. DAY 10 : CHNOK TRU - SIEM REAP - ANGKOR Full board. Spend the morning cruising to take advantage of the lake crossing (depending on the water level).we arrive in the port of Siem Reap and are welcomed by our local guide. We transfer to our hotel and check-in before taking lunch. In the afternoon, visit the famous temple of Angkor Wat, masterpiece of Khmer architecture. We return to Siem Reap. Overnight in the hotel TARA 4 NL or similar.

3 DAY 11 : SIEM REAP Full board. Visit the jewel in the crown of classic Khmer art - the temple at Banteay Srei. Then we visit the temple at Ta Prohm. Lunch in town. This afternoon we explore Angkor Thom. This evening we have dinner with a show of Khmer royal dancing (the Apsara dances). After dinner, free time to stroll through the Angkor Night Market and perhaps do some shopping. Overnight in the hotel TARA 4 NL or similar. DAY 12 : SIEM REAP- Paris (with stopover) Breakfast. Visit of the Senteurs d Angkor (or perfume workshop). Afterwards, we visit the workshops of the Artisans d Angkor. After lunch in the hotel, end of our services. DAY 13 : Paris Arrival at the airport in Paris. End of our services.

4 TRANSPORTATION Flights PARIS-HO-CHI MINH VILLE /SIEM REAP - PARIS included. (airport taxes excluded) FORMULA This offer includes : The cruise in the category of cabin chosen at booking stage - accommodation in a 1st class hotel in Siem Reap (based on two people sharing) - all meals throughout the tour - flights - transfers from aiprort to the boat/hotel or inverse - visits and excursions as listed in the itinerary - English-speaking national Vietnamese and Cambodian guides for the visits to Ho Chi Minh City and Angkor and during the cruise - our cruise director on bord the ship - water and tea and coffee during the cruise - emergency and repatriation insurance This offer does not include : Airport taxes - drinks that are not listed - all personal expenses - cancellation and baggage insurance - compulsory Vietnamese and Cambodian Visas - tips for crew - tips for guides and drivers of buses boats during the 11 days (around 45$) PRACTICAL INFORMATION Currency and means of payment : The currency aboard the RV Indochine ship is the US dollar (preferably in small denominations). During embarkation, you could leave your credit card imprint so as to account for and pay all your on board expenses at the end of the cruise. You will be able to pay them by Us Dollars or Credit card (Visa or Mastercard). As of 17/12/2014 : 1$ = VND (Vietnamese Dong) 1= VND 1$ = KHR (Cambodians Riel) 1 = KHR (please note the exchange rates fluctuate widely) Climate : The dry season lasts from December to April, but the atmosphere remains humid (25 C to 35 C). During the rainy season which runs from May to November, there are frequent violent but short rainstorms which usually occur towards the end of the afternoon. The best season is from November to March Jet lag : Vietnam +5 hours in summer time (France time) + 6 hours in winter time Meals : this journey is offered full board. Fresh products (fish, vegetables, fruits) are cooked on board. Breakfast and buffet dinner are served at the table, Asian and Western cuisine. ADDITIONAL INFORMATION These cruises are not recommended for people with reduced mobility Crossing the Tonle Sap Lake : when water levels are high, from August to the end of December, the RV Indochine crosses the lake. When water levels are low, from December to February, we cross the lake with speedy boats to join the RV Indochine at Koh Chan (around 4 hours). Finally, when water levels are very low, from February to April, transfer between Siem Reap and Koh Chen would be organized by air-conditioned coach (around 5 hours). The banks of the river on which we travel can be very steep and slippery, depending on the water levels. The itinerary, ports of call and visits are subject to modification by the ship owner and/or our representatives on the spot. The excursions may be amended or completed in the reverse order if it is deemed necessary. The ship s captain reserves the right to modify the cruising itinerary to ensure the safe navigation of the vessel. There are no compulsory vaccinations for this destination. However, it is strongly recommended that you ensure that your inoculations for the following diseases are up-to-date : Tetanus, Polio, Hepatitis A and B, Diphtheria and Typhoid. It is not recommended that you drink tap water, and prefer to drink bottled mineral water only (watch the seal being broken before accepting the bottle) and tea. It is important that you bring with you any of your usual medication (aspirin, anti-diarrhoea tablets, etc). Mosquito repellent is strongly recommended A river cruise in Asia is an unforgettable, spectacular experience and one which is full of adventure

5 FORMALITIES Depending on nationality : national identity card or passport and Vietnamese and Cambodian visa compulsory. Each nationality is requested to consult their embassy or consulate.