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October 5–17, 2015
Haimark RV Mekong Princess
Exotic. Eye-opening. Extraordinary. From its source high up in the Tibetan Plateau, the powerful Mekong River courses 3,000 miles through Asia, providing a lifeline for millions of people. Immerse yourself in fascinating cultures and ancient traditions as you embark on an inspiring journey through Cambodia and Vietnam. It's also home to temples, fishing villages, Buddhist monasteries, floating markets, and rain forests. Along the way, learn more about the history of each country, marvel at spectacular scenery, and interact with the friendly locals.
Your adventure begins in Siem Reap, Cambodia, at the exquisite Belmond La Residence d'Angkor, located close by Anghkor Wat, a UNESCO World Heritage Site considered one of the man-made wonders of the world. With its dramatic silhouette and crown of towering stone pinnacles, Angkor Wat is one of the most famous and recognizable monuments in the world.
After 3 nights in Siam Reap, you'll board the brand new luxurious 12-suite Mekong Princess for an extraordinary 7 night cruise on the Mekong River. With a better than one-to-one, guest-to-staff member ratio, it will redefine every concept of small luxury river cruising. Experience sumptuous French Indochine and gourmet Cuisine options, along with an included complimentary spa treatment, together lead you to a path of education, relaxation, and rejuvenation
The opportunity to experience the mighty Mekong from such an intimate and up-close perspective is truly a rare experience even for the most intrepid traveler. We've sought to reveal a truly authentic side of the Mekong by including the most fascinating and unique ports of call in areas of the Mekong and Bassac Rivers virtually unknown to tourists.
You'll sail on the Mekong Princess directly into the Saigon, where you'll spend 2 nights at the 5-star Hyatt Saigon located in the heart of the city.
We hope you'll join us on this amazing and truly once in a lifetime journey on a vessel unlike any other afloat.
Vietnam, Cambodia and the Treasures of the Mekong River
All-Gay Cruise Tour Itinerary
Day 1 - Monday, October 5, 2015
Siem Riep, Cambodia
 Arrive Siem Reap where you'll stay at the Belmond La Redience D'Angkor, an intimate hotel on the banks of a tree-lined river, which is built in natural woods in traditional Kmer style. Located close by Angkor Wat, a UNESCO World Heritage Site considered one of the man-made wonders of the world, it is ideally placed to explore this breathtaking complex of temples. Also near at hand are the town's busy craft markets, restaurants and galleries. Source Events will be hosting a welcome dinner.
Day 2 - Tuesday, October 6, 2015
Siem Riep, Cambodia
 You'll begin your day at Angkor Wat, the most recognizable landmark in Cambodia and the largest religious monument in the world. The temple boasts the longest continuous bas-relief sculpture in existence. In the morning explore the temple at leisure. Then tour the city center of Siem Reap by remork (motocycle rickshaw), passing charming open-air markets. The tour will introduce you to Siem Reap's many dining and shopping options, which you will have plenty of time to explore later in the day.
Day 3 - Wednesday, October 7, 2015
Siem Riep, Cambodia
 Today, you'll visit Banteay Srey—considered to be the pinnacle of artistic achievement at Angkor—and Banteay Samre. In the afternoon, you'll see the temple of Ta Prohm, which has been overtaken by the jungle; tentacle-like tree roots spill over millennium-old roofs, enveloping the entire structure.
Day 4 - Thursday, October 8, 2015
Siem Riep - Preak Kdame - Embarkation
 Early this afternoon, guests transfer from Siem Reap to Preak Kdame and embark the RV Mekong Princess for a welcome reception and safety briefing, followed by a Khmer theme dinner.
(Welcome Reception/Welcome Dinner)
Day 5 - Friday, October 9, 2015
Tonle Sap River Cruise - Kampong Chhnang
 After an early morning of sailing along the Tonle Sap, guests board a private excursion boat and experience a panoramic cruise of the floating village at Kampong Chhnang. Villagers live, work, shop, and even attend church and school on the river. The return sail down the Tonle Sap provides a rare, up-close view of rural life in Cambodia, where children run down to the river to wave at the passing ships. Tonight we dock in Phnom Penh, and enjoy a demonstration and performance from a local shadow puppet theater.
(B/L/D)
Day 6 - Saturday, October 10, 2015
Phnom Penh, Cambodia
 After breakfast on board this morning, local cyclo drivers will meet guests for an exciting city tour of Phnom Penh. Guests will ride along the riverfront to the Royal Palace, where they will enjoy a leisurely walk through the grounds, with opportunities to visit the Throne Hall and Moonlight Pavilion. Upon crossing into the second section of the complex, guests will walk amongst enormous stupas, spirit houses, and potted flowers, on the way to the famous Silver Pagoda, home of Cambodia's Emerald Buddha and Maitreya Buddha, encrusted with more than 9,000 diamonds. Following a short break where guests may choose to walk through the Elephant Room, guests return to their cyclos for the ride to the National Museum. Housing the largest pre-Angkorian and Angkorian holdings in Cambodia, the National Museum ends the morning tour with a comprehensive look at many of the artifacts excavated around the Angkor Archeological Area in Siem Reap.  After a return cyclo ride to the ship, guests may wish to take some time to have lunch at a local restaurant, walk along the quay, or visit some of Phnom Penh's famous markets or lovely boutiques. This afternoon, guests learn more about the darkest days of Cambodian history. After a scenic 45-minute drive from the ship, they arrive at Choeung Ek, the killing fields depicted in the movie. Guests will walk through the fields, visit the small museum and Memorial Stupa, and learn more about the atrocities committed during the Khmer Rouge regime. On the return drive to Phnom Penh, guests stop at Tuol Sleng (infamously known as S-21), which was converted by the Khmer Rouge from a large school to a prison and torture headquarters. Before dinner, children from a local orphanage entertain guests on our Sun Deck with a cultural performance including Apsara, Cambodia's national dance, as well as several traditional folk dances.
(B/L/D)
Day 7 - Sunday, October 11, 2015
Border Crossing - Hong Ngu, Vietnam
 This morning, the RV Mekong Princess will cross the border into Vietnam, and continue downstream to Hong Ngu. This afternoon, guests will be presented with the unique opportunity to visit a local island village, not far from the Vietnam-Cambodia border that produces the traditional, Khmer scarves for export to Cambodia. Produced by many families, and in many homes around the village, guests will have the opportunity to see the weaving process under several families' homes. Several people in the village are also embroidery artists, and display their art in and around the homes. The villagers of this area had only encountered one western visitor prior to the arrival of the Mekong Princess, and are especially friendly and welcoming. Before returning to the sampans, guests will visit the local temple dedicated to a unique religion founded in Vietnam, Hoa Hoa.
(B, L, D)
Day 8 - Monday, October 12, 2015
Long Xuyen - Thot Not, Vietnam
 This morning, guests will board sampans that will take them into Long Xuyen City. After a short walk around the river town, and through the market, they will visit the Cao Dai temple and learn about this fascinating, Vietnamese religion that was founded as an amalgam of several different religions, in an effort to stop the infighting between the various followers. The morning excursion continues at a local crocodile farm, where guests will view and learn about the crocodiles that once inhabited the Mekong River, and how the farm raises and conserves this remarkable Asian wildlife. Guests will also be invited to sample a few of the restaurant's crocodile dishes. Later this afternoon, guests will board a lovely sampan and sail to the village of Thot Not, where guests will ride a Vietnamese xe loi (motorized trishaw) through the village, where they will begin to hear the cacophony of a bird sanctuary. Guests will have a short walk into the sanctuary, and be able to climb the steps up to the viewing platform, from where there is an incredible view over the treetops and down on the nesting area of protected egrets.
(B/L/D)
Day 9 - Tuesday, October 13, 2015
Can Tho - Tam Binh , Vietnam
 Our sampans return this morning before breakfast for a cruise through the fascinating Cai Rang floating market near Can Tho. The sampan will weave in and out of the many boats that sail into the market each morning to sell produce and other items residents of the Mekong Delta need in their daily lives. As they weave through the market, guests will have many opportunities for amazing photographs of life in this river market, while enjoying the Vietnamese "anti-aging drink," fresh coconut water.
After the market visit, guests will stop at a local factory to see the amazing process of making instant noodles; then tour a large, family-owned fruit orchard, where they will see fruits native to Vietnam in various stages of maturity on the vine, then enjoy a fresh fruit tasting before returning to the ship on their sampans. This afternoon, guests sail through an area of the Mekong Delta barely touched by tourism to see Ky Son, an ancient Khmer pagoda and interact with the Khmer monks who fled to Vietnam during the Cambodian civil war.
(B/L/D)
Day 10 - Wednesdday, October 14, 2015
Ben Tre, Vietnam
 Today, guests will sail on traditional, Vietnamese sampans through a channel lined with mangroves to visit a local coconut candy maker. After watching the candy-making process and walking through the family's orchard, a horse cart will take guests on a 15-minute ride to a pier where they will board small, local boats (two guests per boat) for a trip through the narrow creeks lined with Nipah palm before returning to the ship.
(B/L/Farewell Dinner)
Day 11 - Thursday, October 15, 2015
Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon), Vietnam
 After breakfast this morning, guests disembark in the heart of Ho Chi Minh City and check into the centrally located luxurious Park Hyatt Saigon Hotel. Enjoy a tour of the city's incredible French Colonial architecture, followed by a visit to the Reunification Palace and War Remnants Museum. Touring includes visits to the beautiful Notre Dame Cathedral and City Hall.
Day 12 - Friday, October 16, 2015
Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon), Vietnam
 After breakfast, Enter the astonishing system of underground passages that stretch to the Cambodian border, and speak with a Viet Cong veteran. Visit the famous Benh Thanh Market and enjoy a cooking class with lunch. Optional evening outing to the Observation Deck at the Bixteco Tower and an exquisite French-Vietnamese theme dinner.
Day 13 - Saturday, October 17, 2015
Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon), Vietnam - Home
Transfers to the Airport
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Vietnam, Cambodia and the Treasures of the Mekong River
