Réf : 13R_AIPP Cruise : From the Angkor Temples to the Mekong Delta SIEM REAP - ANGKOR - TONLE SAP - KAMPONG - CHHNANG - KAMPONG TRALACH - KOH CHEN - PHNOM PENH - CHAU DOC - SA DEC - CAI BE - MY THO - HO-CHI-MINH CITY Reasons to book with us A 9-day / 8-night cruise on the Mekong Personalized service from a CroisiEurope tour leader throughout the tour A comfortable and charming cruise boat with 4-star accommodation *** All visits and excursions included *** From the heights of the Himalayas to the coast of the China Sea, over the course of its almost 2800-mile journey, the Mekong River passes through much more than just Indochina. Wherever it flows, it fascinates people and shapes their lives. From the Delta and Saigon (Ho Chi Minh City), a town still filled with souvenirs of the French colonial presence, right to the great lake of Tonlé Sap and Siem Reap, a city at the foot of the Angkor Sites, the Mekong today has to work hard to maintain suitable water levels, with many dams along its course and subject to more and more extraordinary monsoons. Drinks included with meals on board the ship *** Tips are included during the cruise Discover Ho Chi Minh City and the sites at Angkor A dinner with traditional entertainment in Siem Reap DAY 1 : SIEM REAP - ANGKOR Program according to your arrival time in Siem Reap. If your flight land between 6 :00 am and 11 :00 am : Lunch at the hotel Lotus Blanc 4* NL between 11 :30 am and 12 :30 am. Rooms will be available starting at 2 :00 p.m. In the afternoon, we ll visit the "Senteurs d Angkor" perfume workshop. Here you ll discover weaving of sugar palm leaves, as well as the manufacture of soaps and candles, and the preparation of aromatic spices. You ll then continue on to visit the most famous and most imposing of all the monuments in Angkor. We ll have dinner and stay the night at the Hotel (4 stars), or a hotel of similar standing. DAY 2 : SIEM REAP - ANGKOR After breakfast, we ll set off very early to visitbanteay Srei, the crown jewel of classic Khmer art, and thetemple at Ta Prohm dating back to 1186, dedicated to the mother of Jayavarman II. The site was cleared from vines and the forest in 1924 by H. Parmentier. Banteay Srei, which means the citadel of women or citadel of beauty, is known for the intricacy of its fine carvings. The detail of the sculptures on every corner of this small temple built in pink sandstone and laterite is a joy to behold. Next we ll visit Ta Prohm. Today nature has taken over the site, and the result is stunning : trees spring out from the temple buildings and thick roots now cover the temple. When we return, we ll stop in a local village. After lunch we ll explore Angkor Thom in the
afternoon. It is a huge architectural masterpiece, accessible through five monumental gates with the mountain temple of Bayon at its center. Bayon temple is famous for its towers with 172 faces of Buddha. We ll wander in the heart of the ancient Royal Palace where the sanctuary of Phimeanakas is located, then we ll visit the terrace of the Elephants and the terrace of the Leper King. After dinner, you ll have free time to stroll through the Angkor Night Market and perhaps do some shopping. It s a very pleasant place for a stroll in the cool night-time temperatures (open from 4 :00 p.m. until midnight), with over a hundred shops and stalls selling souvenirs, handicrafts, clothes, books, etc. We ll return to the hotel for the night. DAY 3 : SIEM REAP - TONLE SAP After breakfast at the hotel this morning, we ll leave very early to visit the Angkor Wat Temple. After lunch in the hotel, transfer from the hotel to the mooring point at Phnom Krom where we board small local boats to take us to the RV INDOCHINE. After you ve comfortably settled in your cabin, we ll introduce our crew during our welcome cocktail party. We ll then have dinner. We ll stay in port overnight, close to the flooded forest. DAY 4 : TONLE SAP - KAMPONG CHHNANG - KAMPONG TRALACH You ll enjoy breakfast on board, and we ll spend the morning cruising to take advantage of the lake crossing (1). After lunch on board, we arrive in the early afternoon in Kampong Chhnang. Located about 56 miles from Phnom Penh, the town of Kampong Chhnang is one of the largest fishing ports on the Tonlé Sap. There are also many fish farms here. The region is best known for its fine traditional pottery, a major source of revenue for the entire country. The region s very name Kampong Chhnang means the port of pottery in Khmer. You ll have a chance to taste palm sugar from the Thnot sugar palm (a national symbol) before going around the village on small local boats. We ll then return on board and continue our cruise to Kampong Tralach. We ll enjoy dinner on board. We ll drop anchor for the night near Kampong Tralach. DAY 5 : KAMPONG TRALACH - KOH CHEN - PHNOM PENH We ll have breakfast on board this morning before we visit the beautiful Vihara of the Wat Kampong Tralach Leu pagoda. We ll get there by crossing through the village of Kampong Tralach by oxcart, to reach the pagoda on a small path running perpendicular to the river amidst a magnificent landscape of rice fields. The Vihara dates back to the beginning of the last century and has many magnificent wall paintings which are starting to suffer the ravages of time. Completely isolated in the middle of the rice fields, the pagoda is quite unassuming and does not receive many visitors. Its isolation makes it a truly magnificent spot. We ll return on board for lunch and cast off. We ll arrive into Koh Chen during the afternoon and visit this small village, where the inhabitants are experts in etched and silvered copper work. The ornaments and decorations used during traditional ceremonies in the pagoda or for weddings are made here. We ll visit the private school of Mr. Thom Umson, a bright mathematics teacher who speaks French. He always seems to need more pencils and notebooks for his students. We ll return on board, and continue our cruise to Phnom Penh, arriving late in the afternoon. You ll get to take a tuk tuk trip, a motorized tricycle which is the traditional mode of transport in Phnom Penh. We ll then return on board and enjoy an Aspara dance show and dinner. We ll stay in port in Phnom Penh for the night. DAY 6 : PHNOM PENH Founded in 1434, the capital of Cambodia retains much of its colonial charm, thanks to the rehabilitation of part of its architectural heritage. We llvisit the Silver Pagoda, a wooden construction from 1892, and subsequently rebuilt in 1962, and the Royal Palace, the symbolic heart of the nation and one of the finest examples of Cambodian architecture in classical Khmer style. Then we ll visit the National Museum built in 1917 by the French in traditional Khmer architectural style. The museum exhibits beautiful gems, with the sublime statue of Javayarman VII sitting with the head slightly tilted in a meditative posture. We ll have lunch in a local restaurant and this afternoon we ll have the option to visit the Tuol Svay Prey school S21, a former detention, torture and execution center used by the Khmer Rouge during the civil war. You ll have free time in the market, overflowing with all types of businesses. We ll then return on board and have dinner as we continue our cruise through the night to Vietnam.
DAY 7 : CHAU DOC - PHNOM PENH You ll enjoy breakfast on board, and we ll spend the morning afloat. We ll pass through customs at the border and into Vietnam. You ll have lunch on board, and we ll arrive early in the afternoon in Chau Doc, a town at the border between Cambodia and Vietnam which became part of Vietnamese territory some 300 years ago. Situated in the heart of a gigantic grid of rice fields, the city of Chau Doc embraces both banks of the Mekong, and the floating farms overspill into the waters. It is a very prosperous town that developed around fishing and farming. Inside the town, you can still see a few colonial buildings with their old-fashioned charm. The market surrounding them is the vibrant heart of the city and offers a multitude of colors. We ll transfer by small boat to visit a fish farm. Weather permitting, we ll visit the top of Sam Mountain. We ll then return to Chau Doc and visit the Phat Thay Tay An Pagoda and the Ba Chua Xu Temple. We ll return on board and continue our cruise towards Sa Dec. You ll have dinner, and we ll moor overnight on the river bank. DAY 8 : SA DEC - VINH LONG - CAI BE We ll have breakfast and continue our journey to Sa Dec, where a few colonial mansions still remain. You ll discover the local market and visit the former home of Huynh Thuy Le, who was French novelist Marguerite Duras lover (Duras spent part of her childhood in Sa Dec). Famous for its horticulture, Sa Dec was known as the Garden of Cochin-China in colonial times. We ll return on board for lunch and continue our cruise towards Vinh Long, located in the middle of the delta region, between two arms of the Mekong and where life is organized around the water. We ll see houses built on stilts and hundreds of small boats that criss-cross in all directions. We ll set off in boats through the orchards that lead to Caï Be. Here you ll discover brick makers and potters, fruit tree nurseries on the island of Binh Hoa Phuoc and also the local traditional craft of puffed rice and rice paper for making spring rolls. Other products include rice wine and coconut sweets, and all of these products are produced by the unique family businesses of the Delta s economy. We ll return on board and continue our cruise. We ll have dinner on board and stay overnight at our mooring point near My Tho. DAY 9 : MY THO - HO CHI MINH CITY (SAIGON) We ll have breakfast on board early in the morning before we visit the islands close to My Tho in small local boats. It is known for its many vegetable gardens and fruit orchards. The climate here is hot and pleasant all year long. The surrounding countryside includes one of the most luxuriant gardens in Vietnam with coconut, banana, mango and longan trees. Along the maze that makes up the network of small canals, pretty country villages appear and we ll see the local craftsmen at work. On the largest of the islands, (Thoi Son) we will visit a beekeeping farm where we will taste honey tea and exotic fruits. We ll then return on board for lunch and continue with our magnificent cruise, taking the Chao Gao canal and heading for Ho Chi Minh City. We ll return on board for dinner, and stay in port overnight. You ll have a free evening after dinner. DAY 10 : HO CHI MINH CITY We ll have breakfast this morning before we depart for an guided visit of Ho Chi Minh City, originally named Saigon, and built by the French in 1850 at the beginning of French colonial times. It is the principal port of Vietnam. You ll discover : Reunification Palace, Notre Dame Cathedral and Central Post Office. We ll have lunch in town before our afternoon visit of the National History Museum then a visit to a lacquer-ware factory. You ll have free time to stroll around the Ben Thanh markets. We ll then return to the boat for our farewell cocktail and gala dinner. We ll stay in port overnight. You ll have a free evening after dinner. DAY 11 : HO CHI MINH CITY After one last breakfast on board, we ll disembark and devote our morning to visiting Cholon, the major center of Chinese trade in the capital city. After lunch, end of our services.
Do not plan your flight before 5 :00 pm.
TRANSPORTATION For more information about flights and transfers, please contact our call center by clicking on Request a quote and filling out the form, or by calling 1-800-768-7232. FORMULA This offer includes : cruise in the cabin category of your choice - double-occupancy accommodations in a first-class hotel in Siem Reap - all meals - visits and excursions mentioned in the program - English-speaking Vietnamese and Cambodian tour guides for the visits to Ho Chi Minh City and Angkor - local tour guides during the cruise - the services of our onboard CroisiEurope tour director - drinks at all meals (1 soft drink or 1 beer or 1 mineral water + 1 tea or coffee per person for each meal) - unlimited tea, coffee and mineral water during the cruise - travel assistance and repatriation insurance - tips (for the crew during the cruise, and the guide and the driver in Siem Reap). This offer does not include : Flights between Paris and Siem Reap and Ho Chi Minh City and Paris (or inversely) - transfers between the airport and hotel and the ship and airport - Airport taxes for economy class travel (currently e460) - drinks other than those mentioned - personal expenses - cancellation and baggage insurance (4.5% of the cost of the trip ; per person) - Cambodian visa for European Union citizens (currently e70 ; add e100 per person for express visa service) - tips for local guides, bus drivers and boat captains during the 9-day cruise (approximately e30 per person). PRACTICAL INFORMATION HEALTH FORMALITIES 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. This type of tour/cruise is not recommended for passengers with limited mobility. CLIMATE The dry season lasts from December to April, but the atmosphere remains humid (25 C to 30 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. CURRENCY 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).
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION HEALTH CONCERNS There are no compulsory vaccinations for this destination. However, it is strongly recommended that you ensure that your vaccinations are up-to-date for the following diseases : Tetanus, Polio, Hepatitis A and B, Diphtheria and Typhoid. Drinking tap water is not recommended. Bottled mineral water is preferred (you should take care to watch the seal being broken before accepting the bottle), as well as tea. You should make sure to bring any of your usual medication with you (aspirin, anti-diarrhea tablets, etc.). Mosquito repellent is strongly recommended. This type of tour/cruise is not recommended for passengers with limited mobility. CLIMATE The dry season lasts from December to April, but the atmosphere remains humid (77 to 86 F). During the rainy season, 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. CURRENCY The currency aboard the RV Indochine ship is the US dollar (preferably in small denominations). During embarkation, you have the option of providing your credit card to run a tab (imprint) so that your expenses on board can be paid at the end of the cruise. Cash (US dollar) or credit cards (Visa or Mastercard) are accepted on board. CABIN INFORMATION : In our system : The cabins beginning with the number : 1 correspond to those on the Main Deck - On board the boat, please remove the number 1 to obtain the number of your cabin. The cabins beginning with the number : 2 correspond to those on the Upper Deck - On board the boat, please remove the number 2 to obtain the number of your cabin. FORMALITIES valid passport compulsory. Non-EU nationals are advised to consult their embassy or consulate. Please note : Your passport must be valid for six months beyond the last day of your travels. The itinerary, ports of call and visits are subject to modification by the boat owner and/or our representatives on location. The excursions may be amended or completed in the reverse order if deemed necessary. For the safety of our passengers, the captain and crew of the boat may decide to modify the navigational itinerary. The banks of the river on which we travel can be very steep and slippery, depending on the water levels. (1) 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 January to Mid-March, we cross the lake via speed boats to join the RV Indochine at Koh Chen. Finally, when water levels are very low, around Mid-March, transfer between Siem Reap and Koh Chen would be organized by air-conditioned coach. Alcohol can be harmful to your health. Please drink in moderation.