Avalon Waterways Mekong Discovery (Northbound) (WHS)
8 Day River Cruise Ho Chi Minh City to Phnom Penh
On this unique and inspiring Southeast Asia river cruise through Vietnam and Cambodia, you’ll be immersed in the cultures and ancient traditions as you sightsee and spend time with locals in the most interesting places along the mighty
Mekong River.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. See firsthand how handcrafted sampans are built at the home of a family in Cu Lao Gieng. Walk through a colorful market as the locals are busy with their daily routine of buying and selling produce. In the capital of Cambodia,
Phnom Penh, tour the National Museum and Royal Palace with its striking Silver Pagoda. Enjoy a song and dance performance by children from 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 this diverse river cruise and stop in a Silversmith Village to see craftsmen making silver artwork using ancient techniques. Go on an ox cart ride amongst rice paddy fields in the enchanting Cambodian countryside and witness the daily lives of farmers. This once-in-a-lifetime Southeast Asia river cruise vacation is sure to create lasting memories!
Ships: Saigon
Avalon Highlights & Sightseeing
Day 1 Ho Chi Minh City (Embarkation): Onboard welcome reception
Day 2 Vinh Long–Cu Lao Gieng: Visit a local workshop to see how rice paper, rice wine, and traditional candy are made in Vinh Long; interact with sampan-making and conical hat making families in Cu Lao Gieng
Day 3 Chau Doc–Long Khanh A–Cambodian Border Crossing: Visit a local market and the religious sites at Sam Mountain in Chau Doc; walking tour of Long Khanh A with cotton-weaving demonstration
Day 4 Phnom Penh: Sightseeing by private cyclo, including the Royal Palace, Silver Pagoda, and the National Museum; afternoon at leisure; show by children from a local orphanage
Day 5 Phnom Penh: Visit the Tuol Sleng Genocide Museum and visit one of the Cambodian Killing Fields, or visit the lively central market
Day 6 Wat Hanchey–Angkor Ban: Visit
Wat Hanchey and partake in a traditional water blessing by local monks; walking tour in
Angkor Ban with school visit
Day 7 Konpong Louang–Kampong Tralach: Visit the silversmith village of Konpong Louang; ox cart ride through the countryside, and visit a local farmer’s home in Kampong Tralach
Day 8 Phnom Penh (Disembarkation): End of vacation
Related Avalon Tours
WHS - Mekong Discovery (Northbound)
WSH - Mekong Discovery (Southbound)
WHSI - Fascinating Vietnam, Cambodia & the Mekong River (Northbound)
WISI - The Heart of Cambodia & Vietnam (Northbound)
Itinerary (2024)
| Day 1 | HO CHI MINH CITY (EMBARKATION) |
| | Your Suite Ship® is Ready for Boarding Transfer to the port on the Saigon River for embarkation. Get acquainted with the ship and relax before your welcome reception this evening. AFTERNOON/EVENING CRUISE TO VINH LONG(D) |
| Day 2 | VINH LONG–CU LAO GIENG |
| | Sweets, Sampans, and Sun HatsDISCOVERY 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. DISCOVERY This afternoon, enjoy scenes of daily life on Cu Lao Gieng Island via sampan and local motor cart. Your Guided Excursion starts at a local workshop, where a skilled family hand-crafts sampan boats. 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, stop at one of Vietnam’s oldest Catholic churches.AFTERNOON/EVENING CRUISE TO CHAU DOC(B,L,D) |
| Day 3 | CHAU DOC–LONG KHANH A–BORDER CROSSING, CAMBODIA |
| | Colorful markets, Charming Locals, and Cotton WeaversDISCOVERY In Chau Doc take a Guided Walk through the local market and absorb the atmosphere as locals are busy buying and selling fish, meat, and produce. Then embark on a River 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.DISCOVERY After lunch, a sampan brings you to the village of Long Khanh A for a Cotton-Weaving Demonstration of a well-preserved artisan’s tradition.Return to the ship to set sail for the Cambodian border.EVENING/OVERNIGHT CRUISE TO PHNOM PENH(B,L,D) |
| Day 4 | PHNOM PENH |
| | The Royal TreatmentCLASSIC Take a City Tour by private cyclo to visit 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 the city 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.(B,L,D) |
| Day 5 | PHNOM PENH |
| | A Dark History or Market Dynamics CLASSIC This morning, a Guided Visit of the Tuol Sleng Genocide Museum and one of the Killing Fields offers 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.After lunch, depart Phnom Penh and enjoy some time at leisure on the ship. AFTERNOON/EVENING CRUISE TO WAT HANCHEY(B,L,D) |
| Day 6 | WAT HANCHEY–ANGKOR BAN |
| | 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) |
| Day 7 | KONPONG LOUANG–KAMPONG TRALACH |
| | Calm in the Cambodian CountrysideDISCOVERY Start your Guided Sightseeing at the silversmith village in Konpong Louang. Here, see talented craftsmen use age-old techniques to turn pure silver into works of art. In Kampong Tralach board an ox cart for a ride through the beautiful Cambodian countryside. Along the way, stop to meet a local farmer and learn about his daily life.This afternoon, enjoy scenic cruising on the Tonle River. EVENING CRUISE TO PHNOM PENH(B,L,D) |
| Day 8 | PHNOM PENH (DISEMBARKATION) |
| | Your vacation ends with breakfast this morning.(B) |
Avalon Pricing Details
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).