Cruise on Mekong River with Le Cochinchine

Description

Tour type: joining - easy

Class: superior

Duration: 7 days
Arrival/ Departure: Ho Chi Minh City / Siem Reap or reverse.
Price: from 1170USD/pax
Meals planned: B: breakfast; L: lunch; D: dinner
Group size: on request (1 - 14 pax)

Highlights: local life and floating markets along the biggest and longest river in Southeast Asia - The Mekong, Tonle Sap Lake, Cambodia's temples and pagodas, etc.

Introduction: Le Cochinchine offers overnight boat cruises along Mekong River in Vietnam & Cambodia and getting insight into Mekong Delta life. See Le Cochinchine Cruiser.

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Itinerary

Route 1: Saigon - Angkor

Depart: Tue, Thu, Sat

Day 1: Saigon - Cai Be - Vinh Long – Tra On (L, D)

Day 2: Tra On - Cai Rang Floating Market - Can Tho (B, L, D)

Day 3: Long Xuyen - Cho Moi – Hoa Hoa (B, L, D)

Day 4: Chau Doc - Phnom Penh (B, L, D)

Day 5: Phnom Penh - Siem Reap (B, L, D)

Day 6: Angkor Wat Temple (B, L, D)

Day 7: Siem Reap Departure (B)

DETAILED ITINERARY

Pick up from your hotel in Saigon and depart for Mekong Delta
Arrival Mekong Delta we will board our sampan for an exploration of lush vegetation of Mekong Delta and the lively Cai Be floating market. Walking for visit the handicraft village of the local people. Sightseeing the old house and sample various tropical fruits. Return to our boat.
Our boat sets sail and cruise through zigzag canals and river heading out to Can Tho via Cho Lach while we enjoy lunch on board.
Arrival Cho Lach village we will go for a pleasant walking or biking on the footpaths of the countryside to discover tropical fruit orchards and the local people's activities, especially some orchards (orange grove) with its farmer. Interaction with friendly people and meet with a host of smiling children. Our cruise continue to Tra On. Enjoy the magnificent sunset on the river. Leisurely cruise up the Mekong River while enjoying the beautiful scenery and the aperitifs, sunset cruise . A wonderful day with picturesque ferry crossings over Mekong River branches .Dinner and night e on board Le Cochinchine in Tra On.

The morning bobbling commotion of Mekong river life comes to life for another lovely day we breakfast and set sails to Can Tho through tributary and canals.
Enjoy the magnificent sunrise on Bassac river. A small boat will take you to Cai Rang floating market. One of the most bustling floating markets in Mekong Delta with hundreds of small boats bargaining and jostling for space as owners attempt to sell their goods. And through the palm-shaded creek  local houses and green orchards comes into your view. Leisurely cruise down the Mekong River while enjoying the beautiful scenery and the aperitifs, sunset cruise on board Le Cochinchine.
Dinner and overnight on board.

Rising up early for another nice day we  contemplate sunrise while having breakfast on board. Visit Long Xuyen floating market by small boats 
intermingled through the water as vendors buy and sell their fruit. Visit a crocodile farm and promenade on Ong Ho island, see daily life of the local people who live on both sides of the Mekong (Bassac river), and small arroyos on the island. Noon approaching we return to Le Cochinchine boat and  carry on our journey  to Hoa Hoa village. Lunch on board. Disembark and head  to Chau Doc. Tonight we stay overnight in Chau Doc.

This morning we will have a boat ride from Chau Doc to Phnom Penh departing at 8am. The boat takes us along the Mekong River. It continues on to the Vietnamese (Vinh Xuong) - Cambodian (Kaom Samnar) border and then to Phnom Penh, capital of Cambodia. The journey takes approximately 4 hours. Arrival transfer our hotel in Phnom Penh, the capital of Kingdom of Cambodia. A visit to Phnom Penh is a very interesting experience indeed. It is a city with an interesting pulse and it gives you a very true taste of Asia. We will visit the Wats Phnom, National museum, silver Pagoda and Royal Palace.

Overnight at Sunway hotel**** in Phnom Penh.

This morning there will be a transfer to Phompenh port for the boat ride to Siem Reap. The boat winding our way on Tonlesap river, taking in such spectacular view of rural life on water. Arrival Siem Reap, transfer to the hotel .Visit Prasat Kravan with its unique brick sculptures and Ta Prohm. One of the area's most beautiful temples, Ta Prohm has been relatively untouched since it was discovered and retains much of its mystery. Its appeal lies in the fact that, unlike the other monuments of Angkor, it was abandoned and swallowed by the jungle, looking very much the ways most of the Angkor temples appeared when European explorers first stumbled upon them. Visit as well Takeo, Chau Say Tevoda and Thommanon.
Dinner and overnight at Prince D’Angkor hotel.  

Breakfast at hotel.
In the morning, visit the most famous of all the temples on the plain of Angkor: Angkor Wat. The temple complex covers 81 hectares and is comparable in size to the Imperial Palace in Beijing. Its distinctive five towers are emblazoned on the Cambodian flag and the 12th century masterpiece is considered by art historians to be the prime example of classical Khmer art and architecture. Angkor Wat's five towers symbolize Meru's five peaks - the enclosed wall represents the mountains at the edge of the world and the surrounding moat, the ocean beyond.
Lunch at local restaurant. Afternoon visit the ancient capital of Angkor Thom (12th century). See the South Gate with its huge statues depicting the churning of the ocean of milk, the Royal Enclosure, Phimeanakas, the Elephants Terrace, the Terrace of the Leper King and Bayon Temple (unique for its 54 towers decorated with over 200 smiling faces of Avolokitesvara), until sunset. Dinner local restaurant and accommodation at hotel.
Tonight we will enjoy dinner with traditional Khmer folk performance of Apsara. Overnight at Prince D’Angkor hotel in Siem Reap

At leisure to visit the market or "Les Artisans D'Angkor - Chantiers Ecoles" of Siem Reap (if time permits). Transfer to Siem Reap International Airport for departure flight to the next destination.
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Route 2:  Angkor - Saigon
Depart: Mon, Wed, Fri

Contact us for detailed itinerary at mail@tuanlinhtravel.com

Quotation

Net rate in US$/person
2 - 4 pax	5 - 9 pax	10 pax up	Children (6 - 11)	Sgl Sup
1385	1245	1170	50%	475

*Validity: 31 October, 2010

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Services

Inclusion:

• All boat cruise on Le Cochinchine with meals

• Boat ride from Chau Doc to Phnom Penh-Phnom Penh -Siem Reap.

• All accommodation on the Le Cochinchine boat and at the hotels ( Sunway hotel, Prince D’Angkor hotel).

• Meals as indicated ( B= breakfast; L=Lunch; D= dinner, Admission fees and permits where applicable, Land transportation;

• Service of crew and English speaking guide on board.

See details of services we provide in our tours

Exclusion:

• Pre/post trip arrangement

• Beverages, Travel insurance

• Visa fee (Visa fee on arrival at Cambodia border: 25USD, 1 photo 3x4cm).

• Other personal expenses

• Port tax of US$65/person

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