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EXPLORE THE MEKONG FURTHER

DEEPER AND FURTHER ON THE MEKONG RIVER

10 NIGHTS FROM US$5,280.00

New ten night Mekong itinerary

Go deeper into the Mekong Delta and further up the main Mekong River than any other river cruises on offer. This pioneering route is very much aimed at Pandaw club members who seek more immersive experiences in the countries Pandaw ships ply and wish to spend more days in the comfort and lively atmosphere of our beautifully crafted ships. Our first departure will be on a member's first basis.

No ship could be more appropriate for this expedition than the much-loved Mekong Pandaw that was the first ship to pioneer the river in 2002 and historically open the river border between Vietnam and Cambodia. With 24 staterooms she has been refitted with a sumptuous spa, library and gym this ship, built in Burma from golden teak. This is the most spacious of all Pandaw’s nineteen ships with broad promenades running around each deck and a vast sun deck of over 600 square meters on top. With a draft of only one meter the Mekong Pandaw can go further upstream than other ships and with a lower air draft pass under the many new bridges that likewise prevent other ships on the Mekong from going very far.

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or call TOLL FREE 1-877-872-6329
represented by Sayang Holidays
10 NIGHTS FROM US$5,280.00

New ten night Mekong itinerary

IMAGES

EXPEDITION MAP

YOUR SHIP

OPTIONAL EXTENSIONS

PRE CRUISE EXTENSIONS

Pre Tour Saigon & Surroundings (Hotel Des Arts)

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Pre Tour Saigon & Surroundings (The Myst Dong Khoi)

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5 Night Vietnam's Heritage Road: Hue, Hoi An & Saigon Pre Tour

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POST CRUISE EXTENSIONS

Exploring Angkor (Jaya House Riverpark) Post Tour

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Exploring Angkor (FCC Angkor) Post Tour

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OPTIONAL PACKAGE ADDONS

Private Dining

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Pre-Bookable House Wine Package

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Free Flow Drinks

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Free Flow Drinks & Wine Package

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Language Guides (Classic Mekong cruise portion only)

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ITINERARY

Upstream      Downstream

DAY 1 SAIGON - MY THO - BEN TRE

Transfer from Saigon hotels to embark ship at My Tho Port. Set sail for lunch on board and an afternoon sampan trip to explore the canals and back waters of Ben Tre.

Saigon - My Tho - Ben Tre
Saigon - My Tho - Ben Tre

DAY 2 CAI BE TO SA DEC

Early sailing and morning sampan visit to the Cai Be floating market with a walk ashore to see workshops and crafts production. Then on to Sa Dec which has an interesting market and the traditional Vietnamese house of Mr Huyn Thuy Le, the 'lover' of Marguerite Duras, a famous French novelist whose book was immortalised in the film L'Indochine. There is a fine catholic church here too.

DAY 3 GAO GIONG

After a short sail upstream, travel a short distance by coach to the Gao Giong ‘green oasis’ with its bird sanctuary. Here a diverse selection of water birds and egrets that gather in the tens of thousands across the Duong Tharp Muoi or ‘Plain of Reeds’. Rowing boats traverse the canals to visit the principal nesting areas. In the afternoon visit Con Phuoc Island and go ashore to explore by tuk-tuk to see basket production and visit a 100-year old Catholic Church and local carpentry shops.

Gao Giong
Gao Giong

DAY 4 TAN CHAU

Explore the labyrinthine canal system around Tan Chau to visit a Taoist temple where the monks will read fortunes. Continue through local villages by Xi Loi stopping off to help locals tend their fields before stopping off to visit a fish farm and earn merit by releasing fish back into the Mekong.

DAY 5 CHAU DOC - VIETNAM/CAMBODIA BORDER - TONLE RIVER

Visit a Moslem Cham tribal village and a catfish farm in Chau Doc with a guide or do your own thing and take one of our mountain bikes and explore the local market or visit the splendid Catholic Church. Return to the ship by boat for lunch and cast off for the Cambodian border for the usual formalities.

Chau Doc - Vietnam/Cambodia Border - Tonle River
Chau Doc - Vietnam/Cambodia Border - Tonle River

DAY 6 OUDONG - KAMPONG CHHANANG

After a morning cruise along the Tonle River disembark at Prek Kdam and travel by coach to a former capital, Oudong. On the way visit the Vipassana Dhura Meditation Centre for a morning of relaxation & meditation before taking a drive around the old capital. Continue up the Tonle river to Kampong Chhanang where the river is at its most beautiful and heaving with life. Then explore the wetlands around the lake’s mouth rich in birdlife.

DAY 7 PHNOM PENH

All passengers will be provided with their own private cyclo. The Cyclo Centre Phnom Penh, which provides the cyclos is a charity that provides basic welfare and medical services to cyclo drivers. You will visit the Royal Palace, Silver Pagoda and National Museum. In the afternoon we visit the Killing Fields and Genocide museum to learn more about the brutal Khmer Rouge regime.

More about Phnom Penh
Phnom Penh
Phnom Penh

DAY 8 ANGKOR BAN - KAMPONG CHAM

Morning walk at Angkor Ban a typical Khmer village with a library donated by Pandaw passengers. Continue upstream to Kampong Cham and travel by bus to Chiro Village with an extensive education centre offering vocational training. Other activities here include plastic recycling, bee keeping, farming and handicraft making projects. On to the Wat Nokor Bachey dating back to the Jayarvaman VII period. Built completely from a black sandstone unlike other temples of this period.

DAY 9 CHHALONG - KOH TRONG ISLAND

Morning walk to explore this former French provincial centre with its many splendid belle epoch mansions and lively market. Overnight on the delightful Koh Trong island where passengers can plant their own trees. Sandbank dinner.

Chhalong - Koh Trong Island
Chhalong - Koh Trong Island

DAY 10 KRATIE AND THE DOLPHINS (SUBJECT TO SEASONAL WATER LEVELS)

From Kratie travel further upstream by a rustic bus to view the dolphin grounds from local boats in a national park protected area. Return downstream and in late afternoon go ashore to see Wat Hanchey an important centre of worship on top of a hill above the Mekong with good river panoramas. Of great interest are the Chenla Period temples dating from the 8th century, some destroyed by American bombing during the Vietnam War. Overnight Wat Hancheay.

DAY 11 KAMPONG CHAM - SIEM REAP

Early morning sail to Kampong Cham and coach transfer to hotels in Siem Reap with a refreshment stop at Kampong Thom along the way. Arrive at Siem Reap early afternoon.

Kampong Cham - Siem Reap
Kampong Cham - Siem Reap

WHATS INCLUDED

Cruise Price Includes: Entrance fees, guide services (English language), gratuities to crew, main meals, local mineral water, jugged coffee, teas & tisanes. Transfers between the meeting point and the ship at the start and end of a voyage.

Cruise Price Excludes: International flights, port dues (if levied), laundry, all visa costs, fuel surcharges (see terms and conditions), all beverages except local mineral water, jugged coffee, teas & tisanes and tips to tour guides, local guides, bus drivers, boat operators and cyclo drivers.

TRANSFERS & JOINING

DAY 1 SAIGON - MY THO - BEN TRE

Transfer from your hotel in Saigon to the port of My Tho by small group transfer to embark cruise.

Pick up will be between 10:30am and 11:00am. Our representative will call you on the evening before or leave a message with the hotel to reconfirm the exact pick-up time.

Please note transfers are only available for central Saigon hotels and surcharges will apply for private transfers or transfers from hotels outside of District 1 and District 3.

DAY 11 KAMPONG CHAM - SIEM REAP

Early morning coach transfer to the FCC Angkor by Avani hotel in Siem Reap, arriving mid-afternoon (approx. 13.30). Transfer by coach from Kampong Cham to Siem Reap takes approx 4 hours.

VISA INFORMATION

Upstream
E-visa for Cambodia are not accepted at the river border. Visa on arrival for Cambodia will be arranged for you by the crew. Please bring 1x passport photo and fee of $35 USD.
Click here for full visa information.

Downstream
E-visa for Vietnam are now accepted at the river border. On your application, please enter SONG TIEN LANDPORT as your arrival port.
Click here for full visa information.

TESTIMONIALS

Have you been on this expedition? Send us a testimonial of your experience by Clicking Here.

TRAVEL BLOGS

Kindness defeats the Killing Fields: Falling in love with Cambodia and its determination to escape the horrors of the past

By Nigel Planer For The Mail On Sunday 21:01 30 Jun 2018   I'm in a village square in the middle of Cambodia ; a teenager is showin.... read more

 

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