10-Day Upstream Mekong River Cruise Tour From Vietnam To Cambodia

Brief itinerary:

Day 1: Ho Chi Minh City – Arrival

Day 2: Saigon City Tour + Cu Chi Tunnels (B)

Day 3: Ho Chi Minh City – Cai Be

Day 4: Cai Be – Can Tho (Overnight on Mekong Eyes)

Day 5: Can Tho – Chau Doc (Overnight on Mekong Eyes)

Day 6: Chau Doc – high speed boat to Phnom Penh

Day 7: Phnom Penh City Tour

Day 8: Phnom Penh – Bus to Siem Reap

Day 9: Angkor Tour

Day 10: Siemreap – Arrival

DAY 01: ARRIVAL – HO CHI MINH CITY

Warmly welcome at Tan Son Nhat International airport, you are met by our driver and then transferred direct to hotel for check in.

In the evening, you will be free to go out for dinner and visit the market.

O/N at hotel in Ho Chi Minh City.

DAY 02: SAIGON HALF-DAY CITY TOUR + CU CHI TUNNELS IN PRIVATE (B/-/-)

Today we spend a half day exploring the captivating Ho Chi Minh City. The most places of interest are located near the town center. We pass by the now-demolished wartime American Embassy on our way to the Reunification Palace. This famous edifice was a former residence of the President of Southern Vietnam until end of Maril 1975. Close to the palace are some striking French colonial structures including the Notre Dame Cathedral and the Old Sai Gon Post Office. We follow these with a visit to the Jade Emperor Pagoda and the War Remnant Museum with a wealth of images from the notorious conflicts. The sightseeing ends up with a walk around the retail Ben Thanh Market where anything and everything is for sale!

Afternoon: Transfer about 30km north-west of Ho Chi Minh City to Cu Chi town. Cu Chi tunnels were used as the base from which the Vietnamese mounted their operations of the Tet Offensive in 1968. The incredible underground network in Cu Chi stretched over 200 kilometres and became legendary during the American war. The extensive tunnels have been specially constructed with living areas, weapon factories, filed hospitals, command centres, plus accommodation. Today we have an excursion to Cu Chi Tunnels to visit an exposition hall and a widened section of the tunnels to get a feel of the underground life. There are also possibilities to fire off rounds from an AK47 or MK16 at the nearby rifle range.

O/N in Ho Chi Minh City.

DAY 03: SAI GON – CAN THO – CAI BE – OVERNIGHT ON MEKONG EYES (B/L/D)

 07.00-07.30        Pick-up at the hotel in Saigon (district 1 and parts of district 3) – (Shuttle bus service// Land transfer)

11.30 Boarding of the cruise vessel and check-in

12.00 Panorama cruise and lunch on board around 13.00

16.00 Guided walk to a rural village or through the lush greens of orchards and rice paddies

17.30 Return to the boat for refreshment and to enjoy the sunset on the top deck

19.00 Dinner on board, night on board

DAY 04:     CAI BE – CAN THO – OVERNIGHT ON MEKONG EYES (B/L/D)

07.00 Morning tea break served on board

08.00 Excursion on rowing sampan to explore small canals, enjoy “Đờn ca tài tử” (Folk Music) and visit home-made handicrafts family on Tan Phong islet.

10.00 Bicycle ride on back roads or walk in a small village along the Mekong Canal

12.00 Panorama cruise and lunch on board around 13.00

16.00 Afternoon walk to a rural village

19.00 Dinner on board, night on board

DAY 05: CAN THO – CHAU DOC (B/L)

07.00 Morning tea break served on board

08.00 Check out of cabin. Excursion on a long sampan to Cai Rang floating market and noodle producing family

11.00 Drive to Chau Doc (Shuttle bus service// Land transfer)

12.30 Lunch en route

15.30 Arrival in Chau Doc, check in hotel

Evening at free disposal

O/n in Chau Doc

DAY 06: CHAU DOC – PHNOM PENH (B)

 07.00 Departure of speed boat to Phnom Penh

~ 12.00-13.30     Arrival at Sisowath quay International Port Phnom Penh (arrival time may vary due to current and immigration formalities). Drop off at your hotel in Phnom Penh

Note: Shuttle service from/to hotels in Phnom Penh within 5km from Sisowath pier is free of charge. Fee for other drop-off locations in Phnom Penh will be advised upon booking.

DAY 07: PHNOM PENH – CITY TOUR IN PRIVATE (B/-/-)

In the morning, head out to the Choeung Ek Memorial, where a stupa made up of some 8,000 human skulls marks the site of the infamous Killing Fields. This was the execution ground for the torture victims of Tuol Sleng and standing in this peaceful setting it’s almost unthinkable to imagine that to date nearly 9000 corpses have been exhumed from the area.

Confront Cambodia’s tragic past on a guided tour of the TuolSleng Genocide Museum, a former school which served as a Khmer Rouge torture centre. It’s estimated that more than 20,000 people were held and tortured here.Lunch not includedIn the afternoon, visit the National Museum. Housed in a beautiful traditional building, it contains many outstanding examples of Khmer craftsmanship. Learn about a brighter period in Cambodian history with a visit to the Royal Palace and Silver Pagoda.

Explore Wat Phnom, a peaceful temple situated on a hill for which the city is named. According to legend, a 14th-century woman named Penh found sacred Buddhist objects in the nearby river and placed them here on the small hill.

O/N in Phnompenh.

DAY 08:  PHNOM PENH – SIEM REAP BY BUS (B)

Breakfast at hotel, you will be picked up by our driver then transferred to the bus station to Siem Reap.

On arrival Siem Reap, you will be met and transferred to the hotel.

O/N in Siem Reap.

DAY 09: SIEM REAP – ANGKOR GROUP TOUR (B/L/-)

Breakfast at hotel, you’ll be at leisure a bit and then:

08:00 hrs : Our shuttle bus with tour guide will pick you up from your hotel and transfer to South Gate of Angkor Thom.

Walk through the South Gate of Angkor Thom via the Naga Bridge, taking some photos.

Walk from South Gate of Angkor Thom to Bayon temple via the big trees, play with monkeys (be careful with your things as monkey might try to take it away from you)

Visit to Bayon Temple and walk to Baphuon, Elephant Terrance, Leper King Terrace and the Royal Enclosure

13:00 hrs: You’ll be driven to ANGKOR WAT Temple area

Visit to Angkor Wat Temple until sunset

17:30 hrs: Our shuttle bus with guide will bring you back to hotel for the night.

O/N in Siem Reap.

DAY 10: SIEM REAP – DEPARTURE (B)

Breakfast at hotel, you will be free till our guide & driver come to pick you up to the airport for your flight back home.

—End of Services!!!—

INCLUSIONS:

+ Transportation in private with air-condition

+ Accommodation in Double/Twin shared room

+ Local English Speaking Guides

+ Bus from Phnompenh – Siemreap

+ Speed boat Chau Doc – Phnom Penh

+ Entrance fee at indicated sights

+ Some Excusions: Angkor Wat Tour IN GROUP, Phnompenh City PRIVATE Tour, 2 Nights MEKONG EYES CRUISE, Saigon & Cu Chi Tunnels PRIVATE Tour

+ Meals as indicated in the itinerary: B = Breakfast, L = Lunch & D = Dinner

+ Gov’t tax and service charge

+ Luggage handling and drinking water

EXCLUSIONS:

+ Visa stamping fee on arrival

+ Travel Insurance in all kinds

+ Single room (quoted separately)

+ Other foreign language guide

+ Peak tourist season or special event rates

+ Tip, drinks and other personal expenses

 * List of 3-star hotels in use:

-Siem Reap: Angkor Panoramic hotel (superior) https://www.angkorpanoramic.com/ or similar ones

– Phnom Penh: Okey Boutique Hotel (superior) http://www.okay-boutiquehotel.com/ or similar ones

– Can Tho: Mekong Eyes Cruise https://www.mekongeyes.com/boats/the-mekong-eyes-river-cruiser/

– Saigon: Avanti Hotel (deluxe room) https://avantihotel.vn/ or similar ones

* List of 4-star hotels in use:

– Siem Reap: tara ANGKOR HOTEL (Superior room) https://www.taraangkorhotel.com/   or similar ones

– Phnom Penh: Harmony hotel (Deluxe room) https://harmonyphnompenhhotel.com/  or similar ones

– Can Tho: Mekong Eyes Cruise https://www.mekongeyes.com/boats/the-mekong-eyes-river-cruiser/

– Saigon: Ramanda Encore hotel (Junior deluxe room) https://www.wyndhamhotels.com/ramada/ho-chi-minh-vietnam/ramada-encore-saigon/overview similar ones

* List of 5-star hotels in use:

– Siem Reap: FCC Angkor Hotel by Avani (deluxe)

https://www.avanihotels.com/en/angkor-siem-reap  or similar ones

– Phnom Penh: The Palace Gate hotel (deluxe room) https://palacegatepp.com/  or similar ones

– Can Tho: Mekong Eyes Cruise https://www.mekongeyes.com/boats/the-mekong-eyes-river-cruiser/

– Saigon: Hotel Majestic Saigon (Colonial city deluxe) https://www.majesticsaigon.com/  similar ones