Siemreap Downstream Cruise Holiday to Saigon by RV Pandaw

*BRIEF ITINERARY
Day 1: Cruising on Tonle Sap Lake
Day 2: Crusing to Kampong Chnang 
Day 3: Cruising to Kampong Cham
Day 4: Cruising to Phnom Penh
Day 5: Phnom Penh Cruising Tour to Chau Doc
Day 6: Chau Doc
Day 7: Cai Be Floating Market
Day 8: My Tho Cruising to Saigon

Day 1 – Siemreap Downstream Cruise Holiday to Saigon by RV Pandaw: Tonle Sap (lunch/dinner)

The great lake dominates Cambodia and is over 150 Km in length. Here bird life is profuse, and from the middle of the lake one cannot even see the shores. There is a great stillness and tranquility as we pass floating fishing villages. Because of seasonal high winds and varying water levels, we will start our journey one of the following ways:

Day 2 – Siemreap Downstream Cruise Holiday to Saigon by RV Pandaw: Kampong Chhnang (breakfast/lunch/dinner)

High Water: Early morning sailing with a brief stop at Kampong Chhnang after breakfast. Cruise all day passing Phnom Penh to enter the Mekong River. Proceed upstream and stop for an afternoon walk at a rural village.

Low Water: Kampong Chhnang is a busy rural port town with bustling markets. Mooring mid-stream, we make a truly wonderful motor boat excursion into the lakeside wetlands that form the mouth of the river. Here a stunning variety of birdlife may be seen, and of considerable interest are the great fish traps. We touch the capital Phnom Penh in the afternoon to change pilots and enter the Upper Mekong bound for Kampong Cham and stop for an afternoon walk at a rural village.

Day 3 – Siemreap Downstream Cruise Holiday to Saigon by RV Pandaw: Kampong Cham (breakfast/lunch/dinner)

Morning journey upriver to the hilltop pre-Angkorian temple of Wat Hanchey. Dating from the 8th century, these ancient brick structures characterize the architecture of the Chenla Empire which predated the glories of Angkor. Sail back downstream over lunch for an exploration of the Kampong Cham Area. This charming city is the best place to get a feel of the “real” Cambodia. The remnants of French colonial rule are here, as are modern improvements to this one poor area’s infrastructure. We travel by bus to the 12th century Angkorian temple of Wat Nokor. We continue to the eco village of Cheungkok supported by the French-Cambodian NGO AMICA and the Kampong Cham orphanage, supported by the Pandaw ProBono programme. We make a late afternoon departure from Kampong Cham heading for Phnom Penh. Overnight mid-stream.

Day 4 – Siemreap Downstream Cruise Holiday to Saigon by RV Pandaw: Phnom Penh (breakfast/lunch/dinner)

The capital of Cambodia retains its French charm. The city has several impressive wats, including Wat Ounalom, Wat Phnom and the newly-painted Wat Lang Ka. Pride of place goes to the Royal Palace and to the spectacular Silver Pagoda, one of the few places in Cambodia where artifacts embodying the brilliance and richness of Khmer culture were preserved by the Khmer Rouge. The National Museum is another highlight, with outstanding displays of Khmer crafts. An afternoon excursion is arranged to the Killing Fields and the Khmer Rouge’s grim Tuol Sleng or S21 detention centre situated in the suburbs of the city then shopping at the Russian market or Central market.

More happily, Phnom Penh has a lively night life, and some passengers choose to dine ashore or try one of the capital’s many watering holes; a favorites being the Foreign Correspondents’ Club.

Day 5 – Siemreap Downstream Cruise Holiday to Saigon by RV Pandaw: Cruising the Mekong – Border Crossing (breakfast/lunch/dinner)

We cast off for a day cruising in the main Mekong channel, an international shipping route. Today we stop at Prek Touch, a jungle village, to visit fruit orchards, and then set off for the Vietnamese border for the usual formalities. You can discover so many interesting things here.

Day 6 – Siemreap Downstream Cruise Holiday to Saigon by RV Pandaw: Chau Doc (breakfast/lunch/dinner)

We travel from the main Mekong channel at Tan Chau down the canals and backwaters by local ferry boat. At Chau Doc we visit a Cham tribal village and a cat fish farm. We make a trishaw ride round this fascinating town of fine French-colonial buildings and bustling market. We return to the ship for lunch and cast off for Cai Be- The mouth of one of Asia’s great rivers which has many openings and the area is home to millions of people, but of the busy towns and markets in between. The longtail boats that shoot up and down the Mekong at break-neck speed are burbling single-gear, car-engine affairs, and you’ll swear you’re involved in some kind of drag race when your captain has you belting up the water way, hair swept back and tears ripping from your eyes.

Day 7 – Siemreap Downstream Cruise Holiday to Saigon by RV Pandaw: Cai Be (breakfast/lunch/dinner)

We take a morning junk trip to Dong Hoa Hiep Island to Cai Be to see a floating market, and go ashore to visit the French Gothic Cathedral and colorful port area, with its colonial buildings, delightful flower gardens and local rice paper manufacturers. We explore evergreen islands and visit the former Imperial residence the An Kiet House. In the afternoon, we continue our sightseeing by boat to Vinh Long to visit the Bonsai Gardens and see brick works.

Day 8 – Siemreap Downstream Cruise Holiday to Saigon by RV Pandaw: My Tho – Saigon (breakfast)

Early morning sail from Cai Be for My Tho, where we disembark at 0830 for coach transfer to Renaissance Hotel in Ho Chi Minh City (8-15 Ton Duc Thang Street, District 1) arriving approximately at 10: 30.

 ***End of Service***

[include] • Transfers to and from Pandaw Cruise at start and end of voyage.
• Accommodation in luxury AC en-suite cabin with twin/double basic on the Pandaw Cruise.
• English speaking guides.
• All meals, coffee and tea, mineral water.
• Admission fees for all sightseeing places. [/include]

[exclude] • All visa cost.
• Personal expenses.
• Drinks at bar, laundry.
• Tips and gratuities.
• Port tax  Pandaw Cruises Pandaw’s Schedule [/exclude]