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The Mekong in a different way

( 5 Star )

Visit: Ho Chi Minh City - My Tho - Cai Be - Sa Dec - Chau Doc - Phnom Penh - Kampong Tralach - Kampong Chhnang - Koh Chen - Siem Reap

We are thrilled to present our latest program, designed to combine exploration, cultural immersion, and light activities for a memorable cruising experience on-board the Toum Tiou 2. Our charming vessel offers personalized service in an intimate environment, perfect for small groups who seek an authentic and dynamic Mekong River journey. Our itinerary includes a range of activities like biking, kayaking, sampan rides and walking tours that provide opportunities to discover the hidden treasures of the Mekong River, including traditional village visits and climbing the stunning Udong Hill. Moreover, we'll take you on a motor & rowing boat tour of the magnificent Tra Su Forest, where you'll witness incredible flora and fauna of this beautiful natural environment. Experience the perfect balance of cultural immersion and light adventure, while enjoying the authentic Mekong River charm. With an emphasis on personalized service, cultural exploration, and a touch of adventure, our program promises to deliver an unforgettable cruising experience.

Meet at the Hotel in Saigon between 12:30 p.m. and 13:30 p.m. Transfer to local restaurant for lunch. After lunch, we will explore the local Chinatown and experience the daily life of the people. we will also visit the Giac Lam Pagoda, which is over 300 years old and is the oldest pagoda in Ho Chi Minh City. Lastly, we will visit the Flower Market and Binh Tay market for a 15-minute walking tour to explore how locals buy and sell local food and products. Transfer to the ship. After comfortably settling into your cabins, we will introduce our crew at a welcome cocktail, have dinner and spend the night on board downtown. "Saigon After Dark" is a part night excursion, part street/local food adventure from 6pm to 10pm. Guests experience the nightlife of Saigon the way locals do. An evening excursion with a culinary adventure. On 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. After this, the tour will bring you to a live music venue to enjoy the drinks with live music.

Enjoy a tasty breakfast onboard before our Ho Chi Minh tour. Take a short downtown drive to the city. Walking tour commences and stop for some 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. Enjoy the vibrancy of this city by foot and explore the city's green space enjoying the beautyof nature in the middle of this dynamic city. Experience the local coffee scene - Vietnam is famous for producing high-quality coffee and coffee shops are a common sight in the downtown. Transfer back to ship for lunch. After lunch we will then proceed to the War Museum to learn more about the history of Vietnam before returning to the ship. Ship leaves Saigon for My Tho and dinner on board. Night on board.

Breakfast on board and cruise the magnificent Chao Gao canal, where you will experience the lively and vibrant canal full of ships activity, yet still feel close to the life on shore. A must-see part of the cruise and that we're the only cruise line offering this unique passage. Arrival in My Tho. In My Tho we will kick off with a local boat pick-up that will take us on a boat 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 to see firsthand how the local people live and to admire the magnificent fruit orchards in the area. This is the perfect chance to connect with the locals and witness their way of life. Back to ship. Ship leaves for Cai Be and we will enjoy lunch whilst cruising. Arrival at Cai Be. Start Cai Be with a local boat trip to cruise along the Mekong River. Disembark to visit the craft village where you can witness how the local products are made. Continue cruising on the boat. Get off at the fruit orchards comprising of many kinds of fruits such as: jack-fruit, durian, guava, rambutan, longan etc... drink hot tea, eat fresh fruits and enjoy a live local music performance. We will then enjoy a kayaking adventure. Don't worry if you are a first-time paddler, it is not difficult. This is a unique experience in the Mekong Delta providing a unique aquatic perspective of the surrounding natural beauty. Then there is the opportunity 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. Ship leaves Cai Be for Sa Dec. Dinner during cruising and night on board.

Breakfast on board. Local boat pick-up for a short panoramic tour of Sa Dec, including a visit to the Trung Vuong primary school (will close on Saturday, Sunday, holiday and New Year) where you will get a chance to learn more about the local education system. Afterward, we will enjoy a promenade at Sa Dec market on the riverbank. (Local market will be closed on Lunar New Year) where you can experience local commerce. This is a perfect opportunity to immerse yourself in the local culture and enjoy the charming river surroundings. Ship leaves Sa Dec for Chau Doc, lunch and dinner on board during cruising.

Breakfast on board. Located on the border between Cambodia and Vietnam, the prosperous town of Chau Doc has developed around fishing and fish farming. You'll board a small boat to visit a village belonging to the Cham minority. Bamboo fish dryers are installed one meter above the surface of the water. The booming town center still boasts colonial-style houses in the lively and colorful market square. As always, these lively neighborhoods, beyond their strong smells, offer wonderful photo opportunities. Return to the boat for lunch. Continuation to the Vinh Xuong border. Arrival at Vinh Xuong border. Customs clearance and entry formalities into Cambodia. Set sail for Pnom Penh, which you will reach in the evening. Dinner on board, overnight at anchor.

Breakfast on board.We will enjoy a tour of the fabulous Royal Palace, one of the most impressive examples of Cambodian architecture, and its Silver Pagoda. Onward to visit the National Museum. Enjoy an afternoon tour of the area by "tuk-tuk," for an authentic and immersive experience like no other. Visit the beautifully renovated Art Deco Central Market and experience the local shopping scene firsthand. Known as "Phsar Thmei" locally the market is a bustling hub for clothing, food and souvenir shopping. After exploring the market, we will stroll through the city"s off-the-beaten-path alleyways, where you will have a chance to engage with the locals and see how they live their daily lives in the city. Observe and experience the locals enjoying their coffee while playing Cambodian-style chess and see the local food in its most authentic form, learning about the way of live in this vibrant city. Continue your 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 will 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). As we get back on board, we will enjoy an Apsara dance show. Dinner and overnight on board, in the port of Phnom Penh. Free evening.

Breakfast on board. The ship then departs to Udong, Cambodia's former capital. We will dock at Koh Chen and transfer by van to Udong. On arrival, first we visit the colorful Vipassana Dhura Buddhist Meditation Center where you will hear about the school of Vipassana or Insight Meditation. After that walk up the steps to the various temples and the three large stupas where the ashes of three former kings are preserved. You will be rewarded by wonderful views of the plains below. After returning on board, start cruising towards Kampong Tralach. Lunch on board. We will visit the beautiful Vihara at the Wat Kampong Tralach Leu pagoda. To access the pagoda, we need to cross the village of Kampong Tralach in ox carts, moving along a small road that runs perpendicular to the river in the middle of magnificent rice fields. We then offer clients the choice to either return to the ship by oxcart or enjoy a mountain biking experience through the stunning countryside to witness the beauty of the rice fields surrounding the area before returning to the ship. Set sail to Kampong Chhnang and dinner and night on board.

Breakfast on board. Visit Kampong Chhnang, one of the largest fishing ports on the Tonle Sap Lake. Here they also have many fish farms. The region is also known for its traditional pottery combining ancient knowledge with modern techniques - Chhnang itself means "pot." We will enjoy a tasting of regional products before returning on board. Option: For those seeking more activity, there will be an option at Kampong Chhnang to cycle alongside the riverside and then to the pottery village to explore this area. Return to the ship, lunch on board whilst cruising to Koh Chen. We will have a farewell dinner and spend the night on board.

Breakfast on board. After breakfast, passengers will be transferred by air-conditioned coach from Koh Chen to the hotel Lotus Blanc(1) in Siem Reap (5-6 hours bus ride). Drop off at the meeting point. End of our journey. Please do not book your flight before 3:00 p.m.

Inclusion

FOR DEPARTURES FROM JANUARY TO MAY 2024

Your cruise in the cabin category of your choice - transfer of the boat to downtown Siem Reap - all meals - drinks at all meals (1 soft drink or 1 beer* or 1 mineral water + 1 tea or coffee per person for each meal) - unlimited tea, coffee and mineral water during the cruise - visits and excursions mentioned in the program - the services of an english-speaking local tour guides and onboard GGTS tour director - travel assistance and repatriation insurance - tips (excluding tips for crew members on board the ship).

Tips: To make your vacation worry-free, the equivalent of AUD 83 per passenger will be given to service providers for your destination country as tips. We feel this amount is appropriate in consideration of local customs and practice.

FOR DEPARTURES FROM AUGUST TO DECEMBER 2024

Your cruise in the cabin category of your choice - transfer of the boat to downtown Siem Reap - all meals - on board drinks included (except for drinks from our special lists) - visits and excursions mentioned in the program - the services of an english-speaking local tour guides and onboard GGTS tour director - travel assistance and repatriation insurance - tips.

Tips: To ensure our customers more pleasant stay, we've included AUD 83 per passenger for tips which will be entirely paid to the personnel from the countries to be visited and AUD 107 per passenger for crew members. This amount was determined while taking into consideration the local customs and etiquette.

Exclusion

FOR DEPARTURES FROM JANUARY TO MAY 2024

International flights and their taxes - transfers not mentioned in the program - Cambodian and Vietnamese visas - cancellation and baggage insurance - tips for crew members on board the ship (for informational purposes, daily tips per passenger amount to AUD 11) - drinks other than those mentioned.

FOR DEPARTURES FROM AUGUST TO DECEMBER 2024

International flights and their taxes - transfers not mentioned in the program - Cambodian and Vietnamese visas - cancellation and baggage insurance - drinks on board from our special lists - drinks other than those mentioned.

Note

*Price based on double occupancy.

Ship available for this cruise is RV Toum Tiou II.

Accommodation available for Pre and Post Cruise on request.

For other amazing cruise itineraries and destinations, please contact our Destination specialists.

Non-EU nationals are requested to consult their embassy or consulate.

Useful Information:                                                                                                    
HEALTH FORMALITIES                                                                   
Vaccines are not mandatory for this trip. However, it is advisable to be up to date with all vaccinations (tetanus, polio, hepatitis A and B, diphtheria, and typhoid fever). Your doctor will prescribe an antimalarial drug if necessary. Mosquito repellent is strongly recommended.

WEATHER                                                                                           
The dry season lasts from December to April, but the air remains humid (temperature: 77° to 95°F). The rainy season, from May to November, can present very strong but brief storms that generally take place at the end of the afternoon.

NATIONAL HOLIDAYS
"Pchum Ben" in September
"Water and Moon Festival" in November

During these days, some sites can be closed without warning.

Cruise Highlights
Crossing through the splendid Cho Gao canal
EXCURSIONS INCLUDED
Discover historical cities: Phnom Penh and Ho Chi Minh City
Meet the locals and learn about their daily lives in Sa Dec, Cai Be...

THE GGTS DIFFERENCE
All meals included
Refined local cuisine
Headsets are included for excursions
Official welcome from the captain and crew
Tour leader or cruise director on board
Onboard activities and/or lectures
Travel assistance and repatriation insurance
All port fees included

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