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Vietnam and Cambodia: Along The Mekong River, Including Angkor and Saigon

Vietnam and Cambodia: Along The Mekong River, Including Angkor and Saigon

From $ 17,940 AUD

Description

Sail through the heart of the countryside, exploring Vietnam and Cambodia along the Mekong River. Gain access to traditional villages as well as bustling cities for a panoramic and immersive experience of these two very different countries. Spend seven nights aboard The Jahan, an extraordinary riverboat that offers her 48 guests a level of luxury previously unavailable on the Mekong.

Trip Name
Vietnam and Cambodia: Along The Mekong River, Including Angkor and Saigon
Days
12
Overview
Vessel Type: River Boat Length: 70 metres Passenger Capacity: 48 (in 24 cabins) Built: 2011 Plying the slow, swirling waters of the Mekong, The Jahan is Heritage Line’s most romantic cruise liner. Considered the brother of The Jayavarman in Heritage Line’s “family” of cruise ships, this magnificent vessel was named after the Indian emperor Shah Jahan, who ruled the Mughal Empire from 1628 to 1658. A great patron of architecture and the arts, Shah Jahan oversaw the construction of many legendary sites, including India’s dazzling Red Fort, and the famed 777 gardens of Kashmir. This cultured monarch is a fitting namesake for The Jahan, which evokes the opulent vessels of British India. No expense has been spared in the interior or exterior decorations, which showcase the talents of local woodworkers, weavers and artists. When guests aren’t relaxing in their luxurious cabins they can meet friends in the atmospheric East India Club; soak in the Jacuzzi on the Pool Deck; challenge a new friend to a game of chess in the Observatory Lounge; or enjoy a pampering massage in the Apsara Spa. With three decks, this vessel offers all the amenities of a fine resort, including comfortable in- and outdoor lounges, an outdoor bar, a small boutique, dining room, fitness equipment and a steam room, as well as an excellent spa. Stretching 70 meters/230 feet from bow to stern, The Jahan features 26 beautifully-designed cabins on two decks, each with its own private balcony. Discover the bygone elegance of travel aboard the majestic Jahan. Just as Indian art and architecture influenced the Khmer and Cham cultures in the Mekong Delta, the stunning artistry of The Jahan will inspire you, as will the delta’s vibrant beauty. THE RAJ OF INDIA The boutique British-Indian lobby lounge is the perfect place to kick-back and grab a magazine from our library. WiFi is available as well. The tranquil atmosphere with white, crème and golden tones, wide sofas, comfy chairs, Indian lamps and the Old England styled reception are a throwback to the days of Colonial India. VICEROY DINING HALL The Jahan’s elegant Viceroy Dining Hall is located next to the bar on the Terrace Deck and offers al-fresco dining with free style seating. Ascetically designed, the Viceroy Hall is day light flooded with many high windows. The hall in azure side walls, white ceiling with golden borders and elegant finished chairs and tables shows its full royal shine in the evening when British styled luster bathes the room in decent light. EAST INDIA CLUB The East India Club is an open funnel bar and lounge which recreates a British-India feel with camel bone in-lays and a unique oriental lamp, replete with Sanskrit carvings, hanging down the middle of the bar. The East India Club is the perfect place to unwind and quaff a drink whilst savoring the splendors of the setting sun. OBSERVATORY The Observatory is an elegant, tasteful and welcoming Indian lounge with wide cozy styled diwans. It is the ideal place to “observe” life on the Mekong through the panoramic windows. Play the antique chess game or simply relax after spa whilst munching on some fruit snacks. The Observatory is also used for private functions – candle light dinners. APSARA SPA Enjoy exquisite romance and privacy as the Apsara Spa has two treatment rooms. With more than 20 different aroma oils to choose from as well as a variety of fine treatments, our packages are guaranteed to keep you coming back for more. POOL DECK The large pool – constructed with intricate Turkish Mosaic floor tiles is an oasis to refresh. Soak in the rays of the sun on restful sun beds. Then, jump into our splendid Jacuzzi and allow the bubbles to caress you. GYM AND STEAM BATH Burn away all those extra calories at our gym and steam bath. The bath is a marvelous way to relax with your partner in steamy privacy.

Itinerary



Day 1 - DAY 1 Siem Reap, Cambodia
Arrive in Siem Reap and settle into our outstanding Khmer style hotel, La Résidence d’Angkor, on the banks of the Siem Reap River, or the luxurious Sofitel Angkor Phokeethra Resort with its French-colonial elegance and manicured gardens.
Day 2 - DAYS 2-3 Angkor
Rise early to watch the sunrise over Angkor Wat. This 12th-century Khmer temple, one of the world’s largest religious monuments, is adorned with elaborate bas-reliefs and sculptures. Ride a tuk-tuk, or motorized rickshaw, to the walled city of Angkor Thom. Discover the shrines of Ta Prohm and the temple of Banteay Srei. Visit a workshop where local youth are trained in age-old Khmer arts. Enjoy traditional Cambodian music and dance at a beautifully lit private dinner at one of Angkor’s temples. Breakfast, lunch, and dinner are included on Day 2; breakfast and dinner are included on day 3.
Day 3 - DAY 4 Kampong Cham / Embark Ship
Drive to the bustling town of Kampong Cham and embark The Jahan, our riverboat home for the next seven nights. Step out onto your balcony to watch as we set sail on a journey along the Mekong River.
Day 4 - DAY 5 Wat Hanchey or Koh Dach / Angkor Ban
At Wat Hanchey, see a variety of temples, including an eighth-century temple from the pre-Angkor Chenla period, or see the silk weaving village of Koh Dach. Continue to the village of Angkor Ban, with its traditional houses and friendly residents.
Day 5 - DAY 6 Kampong Chhnang / Kampong Tralach
Visit a village where artisans make traditional pottery, and board local boats to see the clustered houses and shops that float in midstream. At Kampong Tralach, take an oxcart ride through rice paddies to a local school.
Day 6 - DAY 7 Phnom Penh
Explore the Cambodian capital by cyclo (bicycle taxi), and visit the Royal Palace and the National Museum of Cambodia. Learn about the reign of the Khmer Rouge on a visit to the Tuol Sleng Genocide Museum. This evening, enjoy an Apsara dance performance.
Day 7 - DAY 8 Cruising the Mekong
Take in views of everyday life along the river, attend talks by our experts, and join our chefs to learn how to cook regional dishes. Cross the border into Vietnam.
Day 8 - DAY 9 Chau Doc or Tan Chau, Vietnam
Chau Doc has one of Vietnam’s most interesting markets, with an astonishing variety of tropical fruits, vegetables and other goods. We continue to a floating market on the river and a fish farm, where we see fish being fed through trap doors in the floating platforms. In the afternoon, we continue sailing the Mekong.
Day 9 - DAY 10 Sa Dec / Cai Be
Take a local boat to experience rural life in the Mekong Delta. See the floating market of Cai Be, step into a rice “factory” to watch rice-based candies being made, and cruise among floating markets and fish farms. Tonight, enjoy a farewell dinner aboard The Jahan.
Day 10 - DAY 11 My Tho / Disembark Ship / Saigon
Disembark in My Tho and visit the Vinh Trang Pagoda, originally built in 1850. Then journey to Saigon (Ho Chi Minh City) and, on arrival, visit the landmarks of Saigon including a visit to the Bitexco Tower, post office, and the Reunification Palace followed by lunch. Continue to the Park Hyatt Hotel to check in. Early this evening meet with a local expert on Vietnam’s modern development, and then enjoy dinner at a local restaurant.
Day 11 - DAYS 12-13 Saigon
This morning visit the Cu Chi tunnel, part of a huge network of tunnels used by the Viet Cong during the Vietnam War. If you wish, visit the War Remnants Museum, which gives a strong view of the war through the eyes of the Vietnamese. The rest of the afternoon and lunch are at leisure. In the evening we'll take in a performance of water puppetry—a distinctive Vietnamese folk art, practiced here for over 300 years. Dinner is at leisure. Depart Saigon on Day 13, arriving home the same day.
Day 12 - Please Note:
Itineraries are subject to change.

Trip Dates

StartEndPrice FromRoom Type

Inclusions

    • Sail the Mekong River in comfort on a seven-night journey aboard The Jahan riverboat
    • Spend two days exploring the legendary religious sites of Angkor in the company of our experts and local guides
    • Visit communities and learn the ways of life along the Mekong River, including subsistence fishing and small industries
    • Explore Phnom Penh and Saigon, touring sites important to the cities’ 20th-century histories
    • Enjoy special dining experiences, including a private dinner with traditional music and a dance performance at one of Angkor’s temples

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