MEKONS ON THE MEKONG NORTHBOUND
THE MEKONS ON THE MEKONG!
NORTHBOUND ITINERARY
JANUARY 27 – FEBRUARY 6, 2027
NORTHBOUND ITINERARY
JANUARY 27 – FEBRUARY 6, 2027
Day 1: HO CHI MINH CITY (formerly Saigon). Arrival in Ho Chi Minh City. Take the day to catch your breath and maybe do some light exploration. Hotel overnight.
Day 2: HO CHI MINH CITY. We gather for lunch at the hotel, then set out for the local Chinatown and then a visit to the 300 year-old Giac Lam Pagoda, the oldest pagoda in Ho Chi Minh City. Lastly, we will visit the Flower Market and Binh Tay market for a brief walking tour to explore how locals buy and sell local food and products. Then we board our ship! After comfortably settling into our cabins, we will introduce our crew with a welcome cocktail.
Following our first dinner onboard the truly adventurous can sign up for the "Saigon After Dark" experience -- part night excursion, part street/local food adventure from 6pm to 10pm. From the the back of a vintage Vespa scooter, you'll enter the heart of Saigon's nightlife. From stop to stop, you'll sample local flavors, including cocktails, seafood tastings, cold drinks and Vietnamese creperies. We’ll have a little late-night music on board before settling into our comfy cabins.
Day 3: HO CHI MINH CITY AND SETTING SAIL FOR MY THO. We’ll enjoy a tasty breakfast on board before heading out into the city, stopping for photographs at notable sites like Reunification Palace, Notre Dame Cathedral, Municipal Post Office, City Square and the Opera House all of which were heavily influenced by French colonialism in the 19th century. Fueled by local coffee, we’ll explore the city's green space, enjoying the beauty of nature in the middle of this dynamic urban environment. We’ll transfer back to ship for lunch, then following lunch we’ll head to the War Museum to learn more about the history of Vietnam before returning to the ship to set sail for My Tho. Following dinner on board, we’ll have evening music.
Day 4: MY THO – CAI BE. We’ll enjoy breakfast on board as we cruise the magnificent Chao Gao canal, a lively and vibrant canal full of ship activity. Arriving in My Tho, we’ll be picked up by local boats for a cruise to Thoi Son Island where we will have the opportunity to explore the daily lives of the local people and enjoy seasonal fruits. We will also take a Sampan ride along the scenic canals for a closer look at the Mekong Delta and its unique features. Later we will go biking on our own and explore the village. Upon returning to the ship, we’ll set sail for Cai Be, enjoying lunch underway. Our arrival at Cai Be begins with a local boat trip to cruise along the Mekong River, disembarking to visit a craft village and fruit orchards to sample jackfruit, durian, guava, rambutan, longan and whatever else is in season while enjoying a live local music performance. Then we’ll have the opportunity to do a bit of kayaking, providing us with a unique aquatic perspective of the surrounding natural beauty. Following kayaking, there is the option to explore the countryside by mountain bike providing another view of the local scenery. Whichever of the activities you do, you will get a distinctive glimpse into the beauty and authenticity of the Mekong River. We return to the ship and set sail for Sa Dec, enjoying dinner and evening music underway.
Day 5: SA DEC. We’ll have breakfast on board before a local boat pick-up for a short panoramic tour of Sa Dec, including a walk around the local market along the river. This small town of 30,000 inhabitants is fascinating for its preserved authenticity. A few colonial houses remain, including the former residence of Huynh Thuy Lê, the main character in the famous novel "The Lover" by Marguerite Duras, which we will visit. Returning to the ship, we depart Sa Dec for Chau Doc, enjoying a leisurely afternoon of lunch and dinner on board while cruising. Evening music, as always.
Day 6: CHAU DOC - PHNOM PENH. Located on the border between Cambodia and Vietnam, the prosperous town of Chau Doc has developed around fishing and fish farming. Following breakfast on board, we'll transfer to Tra Su Forest for exploration by small local boats to witness the incredibly diverse flora and fauna. Back to the ship for lunch, then in the afternoon, we’ll board a cable car and embark on an unforgettable journey to Sam mountain and its breathtaking panoramic views. We’ll visit the Ba Chua Xu Temple before heading back to the ship where we’ll continue on to the Vinh Xuong border and go through Customs clearance and entry formalities into Cambodia. We’ll continue sailing onward to Phnom Penh where we’ll dock and enjoy dinner and spend the night at anchor.
Day 7: PHNOM PENH. Following breakfast on board, we'll have the option of taking a tour of the Royal Palace, one of the most impressive examples of Cambodian architecture, and its Silver Pagoda and a visit to the National Museum or striking out for some independent exploring. This afternoon offers the opportunity for a tour of the area by "tuk-tuk," for an authentic and immersive experience like no other. We’ll have local guides to lead us through the beautifully renovated Art Deco Central Market, known as "Phsar Thmei" -- a bustling hub for clothing, food and souvenir shopping. After exploring the market, we’ll dive into the city's off-the-beaten-path alleyways, where we'll have a chance to engage with the locals and see how they live their daily lives in the city -- enjoying their coffee while playing Cambodian-style chess and enjoying the local food in its most authentic form.
Day 2: HO CHI MINH CITY. We gather for lunch at the hotel, then set out for the local Chinatown and then a visit to the 300 year-old Giac Lam Pagoda, the oldest pagoda in Ho Chi Minh City. Lastly, we will visit the Flower Market and Binh Tay market for a brief walking tour to explore how locals buy and sell local food and products. Then we board our ship! After comfortably settling into our cabins, we will introduce our crew with a welcome cocktail.
Following our first dinner onboard the truly adventurous can sign up for the "Saigon After Dark" experience -- part night excursion, part street/local food adventure from 6pm to 10pm. From the the back of a vintage Vespa scooter, you'll enter the heart of Saigon's nightlife. From stop to stop, you'll sample local flavors, including cocktails, seafood tastings, cold drinks and Vietnamese creperies. We’ll have a little late-night music on board before settling into our comfy cabins.
Day 3: HO CHI MINH CITY AND SETTING SAIL FOR MY THO. We’ll enjoy a tasty breakfast on board before heading out into the city, stopping for photographs at notable sites like Reunification Palace, Notre Dame Cathedral, Municipal Post Office, City Square and the Opera House all of which were heavily influenced by French colonialism in the 19th century. Fueled by local coffee, we’ll explore the city's green space, enjoying the beauty of nature in the middle of this dynamic urban environment. We’ll transfer back to ship for lunch, then following lunch we’ll head to the War Museum to learn more about the history of Vietnam before returning to the ship to set sail for My Tho. Following dinner on board, we’ll have evening music.
Day 4: MY THO – CAI BE. We’ll enjoy breakfast on board as we cruise the magnificent Chao Gao canal, a lively and vibrant canal full of ship activity. Arriving in My Tho, we’ll be picked up by local boats for a cruise to Thoi Son Island where we will have the opportunity to explore the daily lives of the local people and enjoy seasonal fruits. We will also take a Sampan ride along the scenic canals for a closer look at the Mekong Delta and its unique features. Later we will go biking on our own and explore the village. Upon returning to the ship, we’ll set sail for Cai Be, enjoying lunch underway. Our arrival at Cai Be begins with a local boat trip to cruise along the Mekong River, disembarking to visit a craft village and fruit orchards to sample jackfruit, durian, guava, rambutan, longan and whatever else is in season while enjoying a live local music performance. Then we’ll have the opportunity to do a bit of kayaking, providing us with a unique aquatic perspective of the surrounding natural beauty. Following kayaking, there is the option to explore the countryside by mountain bike providing another view of the local scenery. Whichever of the activities you do, you will get a distinctive glimpse into the beauty and authenticity of the Mekong River. We return to the ship and set sail for Sa Dec, enjoying dinner and evening music underway.
Day 5: SA DEC. We’ll have breakfast on board before a local boat pick-up for a short panoramic tour of Sa Dec, including a walk around the local market along the river. This small town of 30,000 inhabitants is fascinating for its preserved authenticity. A few colonial houses remain, including the former residence of Huynh Thuy Lê, the main character in the famous novel "The Lover" by Marguerite Duras, which we will visit. Returning to the ship, we depart Sa Dec for Chau Doc, enjoying a leisurely afternoon of lunch and dinner on board while cruising. Evening music, as always.
Day 6: CHAU DOC - PHNOM PENH. Located on the border between Cambodia and Vietnam, the prosperous town of Chau Doc has developed around fishing and fish farming. Following breakfast on board, we'll transfer to Tra Su Forest for exploration by small local boats to witness the incredibly diverse flora and fauna. Back to the ship for lunch, then in the afternoon, we’ll board a cable car and embark on an unforgettable journey to Sam mountain and its breathtaking panoramic views. We’ll visit the Ba Chua Xu Temple before heading back to the ship where we’ll continue on to the Vinh Xuong border and go through Customs clearance and entry formalities into Cambodia. We’ll continue sailing onward to Phnom Penh where we’ll dock and enjoy dinner and spend the night at anchor.
Day 7: PHNOM PENH. Following breakfast on board, we'll have the option of taking a tour of the Royal Palace, one of the most impressive examples of Cambodian architecture, and its Silver Pagoda and a visit to the National Museum or striking out for some independent exploring. This afternoon offers the opportunity for a tour of the area by "tuk-tuk," for an authentic and immersive experience like no other. We’ll have local guides to lead us through the beautifully renovated Art Deco Central Market, known as "Phsar Thmei" -- a bustling hub for clothing, food and souvenir shopping. After exploring the market, we’ll dive into the city's off-the-beaten-path alleyways, where we'll have a chance to engage with the locals and see how they live their daily lives in the city -- enjoying their coffee while playing Cambodian-style chess and enjoying the local food in its most authentic form.
We’ll continue our visit to the city's namesake, Wat Phnom. Founded in 1373, the pagoda was built to house Buddhist relics washed ashore by the river. From there, we will enjoy a short walk to the French Quarter, where you'll get a glimpse of the city's colonial era while admiring the beautiful architecture. The area boasts a number of Belle Époque and Art Deco houses and public buildings dating from the French Protectorate (1863-1953). We'll return on board for dinner and music in the evening.
Day 8 : KAMPONG TRALACH – UDONG. Following breakfast on board we’ll set sail toward Kampong Tralach. We’ll visit the beautiful Vihara of the Wat Kampong Tralach Leu pagoda, accessed by crossing the village via a small road perpendicular to the river, surrounded by a magnificent landscape of rice fields. The Vihara dates back to the early 20th century and was probably built on an older site, as suggested by the laterite foundations. On the return, you have the option of biking through the stunning countryside, admiring the beauty of the rice fields surrounding the area before reaching the boat. We’ll have lunch on board then depart for Oudong, formerly the royal residence and capital of Cambodia for over 250 years. We’ll visit the Vipassana Dhura Pagoda, located at the foot of a hill where many stupas from the last Khmer kings are found. It is also a meditation place for Buddhist monks. Then, you will have the opportunity to discover Oudong Hill --the ascent, featuring MANY steps, may seem a bit tough but our efforts will be rewarded at the top with a wonderful view of the surrounding countryside, rice fields, and Tonlé Sap Lake. Returning to the ship, we’ll depart for Kampong Chhnang while enjoying dinner, evening music, and overnight on board.
Day 9: KAMPONG CHHNANG - KOH CHEN. We’ll have breakfast on board then head out for a visit to Kampong Chhnang, one of the largest fishing ports on the Tonle Sap Lake. The region is also known for its traditional pottery combining ancient knowledge with modern techniques - Chhnang itself means "pot." We'll enjoy a tasting of regional products before returning on board and beginning to cruise to Kampong Tralach. Option: For those seeking more activity, there will be an opportunity at Kampong Chnang to cycle alongside the river and to the pottery village to explore this area. We'll have dinner and, following more musical merriment, spend our last night on board.
Day 10: ARRIVAL SIEM REAP. We’ll bid a fond farewell to our ship’s crew then board a comfortable, air-conditioned coach for our transfer to Siem Reap. We’ll visit the Angkor Wat temple, the epitome of Khmer architectural art and the most famous and imposing of all the monuments in Angkor. We’ll check in to our Siem Reap hotel, enjoy dinner, then a stroll through the Angkor Night Market.
Day 11: SIEM REAP. We’ll enjoy a boat trip on Tonlé Lake to discover the floating villages and the traditional life of its inhabitants. Following lunch, we’ll visit the Senteurs d'Angkor, a local business with a diverse collection of silk and carvings, as well as a superb range of traditional beauty products and spices, all made locally. We’ll end the day with Phare, the Cambodian circus, and spend the night at the hotel.
Day 12 : SIEM REAP, ANGKOR TEMPLES. Following breakfast at the hotel, we’ll tour Ta Prohm, a Cambodian temple dedicated to the family of Jayavarman VII. We’ll then explore Angkor Thom, strolling among the enigmatic faces of the Bayon Temple and discover the Terrace of the Elephants and the Terrace of the Leper King. We’ll return to the hotel for a farewell lunch before “officially” bidding you farewell at 2 pm. Those planning on flying out this afternoon/evening are advised not to book any flights that depart before 5 pm. Additional hotel nights can be arranged.
Day 8 : KAMPONG TRALACH – UDONG. Following breakfast on board we’ll set sail toward Kampong Tralach. We’ll visit the beautiful Vihara of the Wat Kampong Tralach Leu pagoda, accessed by crossing the village via a small road perpendicular to the river, surrounded by a magnificent landscape of rice fields. The Vihara dates back to the early 20th century and was probably built on an older site, as suggested by the laterite foundations. On the return, you have the option of biking through the stunning countryside, admiring the beauty of the rice fields surrounding the area before reaching the boat. We’ll have lunch on board then depart for Oudong, formerly the royal residence and capital of Cambodia for over 250 years. We’ll visit the Vipassana Dhura Pagoda, located at the foot of a hill where many stupas from the last Khmer kings are found. It is also a meditation place for Buddhist monks. Then, you will have the opportunity to discover Oudong Hill --the ascent, featuring MANY steps, may seem a bit tough but our efforts will be rewarded at the top with a wonderful view of the surrounding countryside, rice fields, and Tonlé Sap Lake. Returning to the ship, we’ll depart for Kampong Chhnang while enjoying dinner, evening music, and overnight on board.
Day 9: KAMPONG CHHNANG - KOH CHEN. We’ll have breakfast on board then head out for a visit to Kampong Chhnang, one of the largest fishing ports on the Tonle Sap Lake. The region is also known for its traditional pottery combining ancient knowledge with modern techniques - Chhnang itself means "pot." We'll enjoy a tasting of regional products before returning on board and beginning to cruise to Kampong Tralach. Option: For those seeking more activity, there will be an opportunity at Kampong Chnang to cycle alongside the river and to the pottery village to explore this area. We'll have dinner and, following more musical merriment, spend our last night on board.
Day 10: ARRIVAL SIEM REAP. We’ll bid a fond farewell to our ship’s crew then board a comfortable, air-conditioned coach for our transfer to Siem Reap. We’ll visit the Angkor Wat temple, the epitome of Khmer architectural art and the most famous and imposing of all the monuments in Angkor. We’ll check in to our Siem Reap hotel, enjoy dinner, then a stroll through the Angkor Night Market.
Day 11: SIEM REAP. We’ll enjoy a boat trip on Tonlé Lake to discover the floating villages and the traditional life of its inhabitants. Following lunch, we’ll visit the Senteurs d'Angkor, a local business with a diverse collection of silk and carvings, as well as a superb range of traditional beauty products and spices, all made locally. We’ll end the day with Phare, the Cambodian circus, and spend the night at the hotel.
Day 12 : SIEM REAP, ANGKOR TEMPLES. Following breakfast at the hotel, we’ll tour Ta Prohm, a Cambodian temple dedicated to the family of Jayavarman VII. We’ll then explore Angkor Thom, strolling among the enigmatic faces of the Bayon Temple and discover the Terrace of the Elephants and the Terrace of the Leper King. We’ll return to the hotel for a farewell lunch before “officially” bidding you farewell at 2 pm. Those planning on flying out this afternoon/evening are advised not to book any flights that depart before 5 pm. Additional hotel nights can be arranged.