River Cruise Itinerary

On this unique and inspiring Southeast Asia river cruise through Cambodia and Vietnam, you’ll be immersed in the cultures and ancient traditions as you sightsee and spend time with locals in interesting places along the mighty Mekong River.In the enchanting Cambodian countryside, go on an ox cart ride amongst rice paddy fields and witness the daily lives of farmers. In a Silversmith Village, see craftsmen making silver artwork using ancient techniques. French influences are still apparent in the lovely capital of Cambodia, Phnom Penh. Here you’ll tour the National Museum and Royal Palace with its striking Silver Pagoda and enjoy a song and dance performance by children at a local orphanage. On a hilltop at the site of the 8th-century temple of Wat Hanchey, take in the stunning views before walking through the rural village of Angkor Ban to visit with welcoming schoolchildren. Continue your river cruise into Vietnam where you’ll walk through a colorful market as the locals are busy with their daily routine of buying and selling produce. See firsthand how handcrafted sampans are built at the home of a family in Cu Lao Gieng. Via sampan, cruise into Vinh Long and experience Vietnamese culture with a visit to a workshop to learn how rice wine and traditional candies are made. This once-in-a-lifetime Southeast Asia river cruise vacation is sure to create lasting memories!

1. Day 1
   PHNOM PENH, CAMBODIA (EMBARKATION)

   Thu, Jul 15, 2021

   Welcome to Cambodia. Your intimate Suite Ship® Awaits!
   
   Get acquainted with the ship and relax before your welcome reception this evening.
   
   AFTERNOON/EVENING CRUISE TO WAT HANCHEY
   
   (L,D)
2. Day 2
   WAT HANCHEY—ANGKOR BAN

   Fri, Jul 16, 2021

   Water Blessings and Back-to-School Adventures
   
   DISCOVERY Visit Wat Hanchey, a hilltop temple dating back to the 8th century. Climb or be driven to the top where you will enjoy stunning views of the surrounding area and partake in a traditional water blessing given by local monks.
   
   DISCOVERY After lunch, enjoy a Walking Tour through the rural village of Angkor Ban. Here, you will visit a traditional Khmer house and interact with children at a local school.
   
   EVENING/OVERNIGHT CRUISE TO KONPONG LOUANG
   
   (B,L,D)
3. Day 3
   KAMPONG TRALACH—KONPONG LOUANG—PHNOM PENH

   Sat, Jul 17, 2021

   Calm in the Cambodian Countryside
   
   DISCOVERY Your Guided Sightseeing starts in Kampong Tralach with an Ox-Cart Ride through the beautiful Cambodian countryside. Along the way, stop to meet a local farmer and learn about his daily life. At the silversmith village in Konpong Louang see talented craftsmen use age-old techniques to turn pure silver into works of art.
   
   Sail to the capital city of Phnom Penh this afternoon.
   
   PHNOM PENH
   
   A Dark History or Market Dynamics
   
   CLASSIC After lunch, join a Guided a Visit to the Tuol Sleng Genocide Museum and one of the Killing Fields for a glimpse into the atrocities inflicted on the Cambodian people by the Khmer Rouge regime, OR:
   
   DISCOVERY Visit the lively Central Market by tuk-tuk to see its unique Art Deco design.
   
   This evening, spend some free time to explore the city on your own. Perhaps follow the riverfront promenade to the historic Foreign Correspondents Club (FCC).
   
   OVERNIGHT DOCKING IN PHNOM PENH
   
   (B,L,D)
4. Day 4
   PHNOM PENH

   Sun, Jul 18, 2021

   The Royal Treatment
   
   CLASSIC Join a Guided Tour of the city by private cyclo with visits to the Royal Palace with the spectacular Silver Pagoda, and the National Museum, featuring an outstanding display of Khmer artifacts.
   
   The remainder of the day is yours to enjoy at your leisure, Consider a Guided Optional Tour of a local brewery with free flowing local beer!
   
   Just before dinner, children from a local orphanage will perform a show, featuring local song and dance.
   
   EVENING/OVERNIGHT CRUISE TO VIETNAM/CAMBODIA BORDER
   
   (B,L,D)
5. Day 5
   BORDER CROSSING—CHAU DOC, VIETNAM

   Mon, Jul 19, 2021

   Good Morning Vietnam!
   
   DISCOVERY Take a Village Walk through the Chau Doc market, and absorb the atmosphere as locals are busy buying and selling fish, meat, and produce. After lunch, embark on a Guided Excursion down the backwaters of the Mekong. Along the way, see traditional floating homes, speedboat merchants, religious sites, a market selling dried goods, and more.
   
   EVENING CRUISE TO LONG KHANH A
   
   (B,L,D)
6. Day 6
   LONG KHANH A—CU LAO GIENG

   Tue, Jul 20, 2021

   Cotton Weaving, Conical Hats, and Handcrafted Sampans
   
   DISCOVERY This morning, a sampan brings you to the village of Long Khanh A, for a Cotton-Weaving Demonstration of this well-preserved tradition.
   
   DISCOVERY This afternoon, enjoy scenes of daily life on Cu Lao Gieng Island via sampan and local motor cart. Your Guided Excursion starts with a stop at one of Vietnam’s oldest Catholic churches. Then, visit the home of a local family that makes Vietnamese conical hats, or “Non la,” from materials available to them such as palm leaves and bamboo. These iconic hats are primarily used as protection from the sun and rain but you may also see them used as a basket to carry home goods from the market. Lastly, visit a local workshop where a skilled family hand-crafts sampan boats.
   
   EVENING CRUISE TO VINH LONG
   
   (B,L,D)
7. Day 7
   VINH LONG

   Wed, Jul 21, 2021

   Sweets and Rice Treats
   
   DISCOVERY Board a sampan this morning to Visit a Local Workshop in Vinh Long where you will see how rice paper, rice wine, and traditional candies are made.
   
   This afternoon, enjoy time on board the ship as we sail to exciting Ho Chi Minh City.
   
   AFTERNOON CRUISE TO HO CHI MINH CITY
   
   (B,L,D)
8. Day 8
   HO CHI MINH CITY (DISEMBARKATION)

   Thu, Jul 22, 2021

   Your vacation ends with breakfast this morning.
   
   (B)

Inclusions

Gratuities for Local Guides & drivers are included (excludes extensions which are to be paid locally).

Avalon offers the opportunity for solo travelers to sail with no single supplement (subject to availability).

Please call for single accommodation details and prices. Triples not available.

All prices are per person based on double room occupancy. Cruise price based on Category B in a Panorama Suite on Mekong Deck. To upgrade to a Category A on the Tonle Deck, add $400 per person in double occupancy or $800 in single occupancy.

Additional accommodations before or after your tour may be available.

Health and Safety Protocols for Avalon Waterways

Ship Information

Cabins

Life on Board

Questions & Answers