Join Botanica World Discoveries' and cruise along the vital and bustling Mekong River in Vietnam and Cambodia. Discover this region at the height of spring time when tropical plants are flowering and the weather is at its coolest and driest.
Day 1. Arrive Saigon, Embark Cruise
On arrival in Saigon, be met at the airport and transferred to My Tho Port to embark your ship. After settling in to your suite, enjoy lunch on board followed by an introductory lecture on the tropical plants of the region by Ross McKinnon. Tonight, get to know your fellow travellers at a Welcome Dinner.
Day 2. Cai Be, Vinh Long
A local boat will take you to Cai Be today, an intriguing river-land town. Visit the floating markets then go ashore to visit the French Gothic Cathedral as well as the colourful port area, which is filled with colonial buildings and delightful flower gardens. Enjoy a short walk through narrow streets to view local potted gardens and see what the innovative locals do with limited resources. Then take part in a brief workshop on the manufacture of Vietnamese rice paper, popped rice, Mekong whiskey and coconut sweets. Next, visit one of the nine ancient houses of Vietnam, Ba Kiet House, and explore its harmonious-styled garden. During lunch back on board, you’ll cruise to Vinh Long, the second biggest city by the Mekong River. Here, visit a Tropical Fruit Garden and Nursery to taste some of the local fruits. Later, tour a basket weaving workshop before returning to your ship.
Day 3. Sa Dec
After breakfast this morning, enjoy a small boat ride past floating markets to Sa Dec, the home town of French novelist Marguerite Duras who found fame with her award-winning book ‘The Lover’. Once ashore, visit a local flower garden before a short coach ride into town. Here, go for a wander through the local market and see the ‘Lovers House’ then board a local tender and set off to see some unique Cactus and Bonsai gardens. Back on board your ship this afternoon, Jenny Phillips will give a lecture on her life as a Botanical Artist. As you cruise discover lush plant life from your Botanical guide.
Day 4. Tan Chau, Border Crossing
This morning, transfer to a small boat and travel along the tiny tributaries where stilt houses are haphazardly leaning on each other. Step back in time during a visit to a remote evergreen island, and see rural Mekong life untouched by tourism. See a floating fish farm, then step ashore for a tour of Tan Chau by rickshaw. The remainder of today is then spent on board. This afternoon, perhaps attend a fascinating fruit-carving demonstration by the ship’s executive chef while the border formalities are carried out and you cross into Cambodia. Your river ship will continue cruising overnight, heading for the Cambodian capital, Phnom Penh.
Day 5. Phnom Penh, Freedom of Choice Touring
On arrival in Phnom Penh today, a tour will take you to visit the Royal Palace and the Silver Pagoda as well as the National Museum of Cambodia, home to one of the world’s largest collections of Khmer art. After lunch, choose from two activities. You may like to embark on a tour taking in a variety of the city’s botanical highlights including both private and public gardens. Or perhaps take an excursion to the infamous Killing Fields and the Tuol Sleng Genocide Museum, on the site of the Khmer Rouge’s notorious Security Prison 21 (S-21). After dinner this evening, perhaps step out to take a leisurely stroll around this fascinating capital.
Day 6. Chong Koh, Oudong, Kampong Tralach
After breakfast, enjoy a walk around the little-known silk-weaving village of Chong Koh. Then continue cruising to Prek K’dam, where you’ll disembark and set off by coach on an afternoon tour of Oudong, the royal capital of Cambodia from 1618 until 1866. Afterwards, continue to Kampong Tralach for a visit to Wat Kapong Tralach Pleu before an ox-cart ride takes you through rice fields and a small village to rejoin your ship on the Tonle River. This evening Jenny Phillips will entertain us with ‘Sex in the Garden’, exploring natures fascinating reproductive abilities.
Day 7. Kampong Chhnang, Tonle Sap
Enjoy a boat excursion into the wetlands near Kampong Chhnang this morning. Then return to your ship and cast off towards the lake of Tonle Sap, measuring more than 150 kilometres in length. Absorb the tranquillity of the lake as you cruise past floating fishing villages. This evening, enjoy a Farewell Dinner on board.
Day 8. Disembark Cruise, Depart Siem Reap
After breakfast this morning, a short boat ride will take you past floating villages to port. Once ashore, transfer to the airport in Siem Reap for your onward flight.
