Mekong 7 Night Cruise w/AMAWaterway

Day One

LAND TOUR: SIEM REAP; KAMPONG CHAM; PHNOMPROS - Transfer via motorcoach from Siem Reap to the AmaDara in Kampong Cham for your seven-night cruise. Your afternoon excursion takes you to the Twin Mountains, known as Phnom Pros and Phnom Srei (male and female mountains). In the annals of Khmer legend, the twin mountains were formed as the result of a competition between the men and women of an ancient Cambodian kingdom to resolve which gender would be responsible for wedding.

Day Two

ANGKOR BAN - During the morning, go on a walking tour to Angkor Ban, one of the few villages in Cambodia that were not destroyed under the Khmer Rouge regime in the 1970s. Here people still live in their traditional wooden abodes and keep their old cultural traditions alive. Hundreds of wooden houses stand intact on stilts, shaded with banana trees, among the hustle and bustle of the daily agricultural on-going of the local villagers. After visiting here, the ship sails to Oknha Tey or "Silk Island", located on the lush banks of the Mekong River. This island is known for its rich tradition of silk weaving. While here, you'll visit a local elementary school and observe the traditional silk weaving that has been preserved for centuries. Your ship moors in Oknhatey village. (B,L,D); Note: Based on seasonality, the port of Angkor Ban may be inaccessible from August–September. During this time, Wat Hanchey will replace Angkor Ban as the port of call.
KOH OKNHA TEY - Explore this village by tuk-tuk to get a real sense of the native culture. Koh Oknha Tey is renowned for its weavers and silk.

Day Three

PREK KDAM; OUDONG; KAMPONG TRALACH-OUDONG; PHNOM PENH - Your cruise continues to sail to Phnom Penh, the capital of Cambodia. The morning excursion takes you to Oudong, Cambodia's former royal capital from the early 17th century until 1866. Today, Oudong is a place of pilgrimage for Cambodians. While here, be treated to a memorable Buddhist Blessing Ceremony at a monastery. After visiting Oudong, be treated to a truly authentic excursion, an oxcart ride through a local village of Kampong Tralach. Later in the day, experience Phnom Penh via a tuk-tuk ride and be enchanted by the city's French Colonial architecture and tree-lined boulevards set amidst monumental Angkorian architecture. After returning to the ship, enjoy Khmer folk dancing performed by local children in the Saigon Lounge.

Day Four

PHNOM PENH - This morning's excursion takes you to Cambodia's infamous Killing Fields and the Khmer Rouge's grim Tuol Sleng S21 detention center (Genocide Museum). Alternatively, you may wish to shop for unique treasures at the bustling yellow-colored Central Market. After lunch onboard, you'll explore the highlights of the city, followed by a visit to the Royal Palace, the spectacular Silver Pagoda, and the National Museum, which has an outstanding collection of Khmer crafts.

Day Five

TAN CHAU - Spend the day cruising the Mekong River as your ship crosses the border into Vietnam. Tân Châu borders Tân Biên District to the west, Hòa Thành District to the southwest, Duong Minh Châu District to the south, and Bình Long to the east. The Saigon River runs along the eastern boundary of the district, and is also the division between Tay Ninh and the provinces of Binh Duong and Binh Phuoc to the east. Several waterfalls and springs, the Ngô, Dây among others, are in the district and flow into the Saigon River.

Day Six

TAN CHAU - Visit Tân Châu, a small Mekong River town unspoiled by tourism. You will have the opportunity to enjoy an authentic experience via a traditional "xe loi" (trishaw) ride around the town, with stops at silk-making and rattan mat workshops, followed by a boat ride through the narrow channels of the Mekong River to "Evergreen Island". Alternatively, take a boat ride to Evergreen Island and return to Tân Châu, where you will visit a rattan mat workshop. Later in the day, cruise to Sa Ðéc.

Day Seven

SA DEC - Once ashore in Sa Ðéc, tour the town where French writer Marguerite Duras spent many years in her youth. Visit a colorful local market and the 19th-century house of Mr. Hunh Thy Lê, Duras' Chinese paramour, on whom her prize-winning novel "The Lover" is said to be based. Later, board a motorcoach for Xo Quýt, once used as a military base during the French war and now an important ecological site. You will have an opportunity to visit candy and rice paper making workshops, and the historic Anh Kiet Old House. In Cái Bè, cap the day off with a festive Farewell Dinner onboard.
CAI BE - Cai Be is the gateway to the city of Vinh Long in the Mekong Delta region of Vietnam. In Cai Be visitors are encouraged to set off by motor boat to visit the floating market and watch locals trading food and and goods on board their vessels. This region is rich in agriculture and travellers can visit orchards, fruit plantations, and flower gardens. There are also a number of French colonial buildings, Gothic churches and other fascinating architecture to explore.

Day Eight

MY THO: LAND TOUR: CRUISE ENDS (DEBARKATION); LAND TOUR: HO CHI MINH CITY (SAIGON) - Your cruise concludes in MY Tho Port, where you'll disembark, My Tho is the capital of the Tien Giang province of Vietnam. It was founded in the 1680s by Chinese refugees fleeing Taiwan after the fall of the Southern Ming dynasty. It's a town easily explored by foot and provides for a taste of Vietnamese river life.