Victoria Mekong Cruise: 8D7N SIEM RIEP – HO CHI MINH CITY

This morning, travel by coach from Siem Reap to Kampong Chham, set off for lunch before embarkation. Meet your crew for the next 7 nights and enjoy your first sunset on the Mekong River.
Before dinner, enjoy an interesting pre-dinner lecture about Cambodia as well as learn some basic Khmer phrases.

Morning excursion to explore the village of Angkor Ban with its wooden stilt houses and local vibe.

After having lunch on the ship, travel by three-wheeled tuk tuk to Silk
Island where you will learn about the process of silk weaving, from
worm to loom, with the chance to observe local families weaving the
iconic Cambodian karma.

After breakfast, go on a walking tour of the village of Koh Chen where
the highlight is meeting a local copper- and silversmith. Afterward,
travel by coach to Oudong, the ancient capital of Cambodia with a
stop at the fascinating Vipassana Dhura Meditation Center.

Enjoy lunch on board with time to relax in your cabin afterward. In the
late afternoon, hop on a pedal-powered cyclo to the elegant Raffles
Hotel Le Royal for a signature cocktail at the famed Elephant Bar.
Return to the ship for dinner and entertainment activities onboard.
Overnight in Phnom Penh.

This morning, explore the majestic Royal Palace and Silver Pagoda
complex. Admire the elaborately constructed palace buildings, some
of the 5,000 silver floor tiles that give the Silver Pagoda its name, as
well as spectacular gold and bejeweled Buddha statues that are
considered national treasures. Walk to the nearby National Museum, a beautiful sandstone building that showcases the world’s largest
collection of Khmer art. Set off for lunch afterward before driving to
Choeung Ek, one of the mass grave sites of the Killing Fields where the Khmer Rouge executed over a million men, women, and children
between 1975 and 1979. Today, Choeung Ek is a memorial with a
Buddhist stupa filled with skulls and bones to honor the victims.

Back to the cruise taking in a lively performance of Khmer Apsara
dancing with the opportunity to meet the performers afterward.
Overnight in Phnom Penh.

As the ship cruises towards the Cambodia-Vietnam border, start the
day with early exercise on the Sky Deck, followed by breakfast. Choose from onboard activities like a ship tour, mini-golf, or simply enjoy the scenery as we cross the border.

After lunch on board, the ship sails into Vietnamese waters and
anchors near Tan Chau. Tenders sampans to cruise through the
floating village to watch a special way the people in the Mekong Delta raising freshwater fish under their stilts. Get your first glimpse of the Vietnamese countryside. Return to the ship for a traditional
Vietnamese lion dance, followed by dinner and evening entertainment. Overnight in Tân Châu

Start your day with a leisurely breakfast in Phu Tan, the provincial
capital of An Giang in the Mekong Delta. Tender ashore to explore a
craft village renowned for its handmade Ca Rang clay stoves. These
traditional stoves, used for centuries by southern Vietnamese, feature a unique design that blocks wind, retains heat, and prevents ash from dispersing.

During lunch, the ship continues its journey before anchoring near
Tiger Island. Cruise onward to the Island and take a scenic walking tour through lush rice fields and vegetable gardens. Stopover to discover the local craftsmanship of making plant pots and finally visit the famed "Mr. Tiger’s Temple" to hear the intriguing story behind the island's name. Return to the ship just in time for a spirited cocktail competition and a night of entertainment.

Enjoy a relaxed breakfast as the ship cruises towards the provincial
capital of Long Xuyen. Wandering by sampan around Long Xuyen
floating market with meeting habitants on floating houses, learning
about their life story on the water.

Enjoy lunch onboard as we cruise towards the village of Dinh Yen
where we’ll observe colorful straw mats being woven on mechanized
looms.

Return to the ship and cruise towards Can Tho, the beating heart of
the Mekong Delta. Enjoy a traditional Southern Vietnamese folk music
performance known as “Đờn ca tài tử”. Overnight in Can Tho.

Enjoy breakfast on the terrace of Claypot Restaurant with time to enjoy the view from the pool or from your private balcony before
disembarkation.

Accompanied by your local guide, board a coach for Cai Be where
lunch is served at the elegant Le Longanier Restaurant set amidst lush fruit trees by the river.
Continue to Ho Chi Minh City, arriving mid-afternoon at ÊMM Hotel
Saigon, 157 Pasteur Street, District 3.