Vietnam to Cambodia: the Aqua Mekong Cruise

Enjoy Ho Chi Minh, with its pretty streets, buzzy atmosphere and rich history. We can arrange private guides and specialist excursions, restaurant recommendations and suggest the best places to go to simply watch the world go by.

Discover Vietnam's commercial centre of Ho Chi Minh on this interesting half day tour. While it is a busy, vibrant city, this tour will also show how Ho Chi Minh is steeped in history with stops at historic landmarks including the former Presidential Palace where Saigon's government ruled from throughout the American war. This tour will also take you to sights such as the Notre Dame Cathedral, which is based on Paris' original monument, the Central Post Office plus the War Remnants Museum. Here at the war museum you will have the chance to gain an intense insight into the war through the eyes of the local people.

During this private tour you will explore the Cu Chi tunnels complex alongside a VC veteran who once lived here. Dug in 1948, you will learn how this complex was created to hide the guerrillas from French air and ground sweeps, becoming both their living quarters and hospitals during the American war. As you explore the underground villages, which also served as communication routes and food and weapon caches, your VC veteran will offer an insight into the history and experiences that took place here, from the lack of air, food and water to the Vietnamese's strength during the war. Your private English speaking guide will also be on hand to translate conversations between you and the veteran.

An in-depth journey of discovery along the Mekong River, this seven night Mekong River Discovery Cruise brings you in style from Saigon in Vietnam to Angkor Wat, Cambodia.

After transferring from Saigon to My Tho, check in to our elegantly appointed, river facing suite aboard the Aqua Mekong.

Following a safety briefing, climb aboard a sampan, a traditional flat bottomed boat, to paddle through Cai Be floating market. Each boat has one bamboo stick on the front to display that vendor’s product, be it Vietnamese fish sauce, rice paper for dumplings, or colourful sweet confectionery. Continue exploring the area on foot or by bicycle for more up-close glimpses of the daily life of Mekong Delta dwellers including a visit to a local family home to try traditional Cambodian food.

Today, discover the French colonial architecture and bustling local market of Sa Dec, including the colonial house once occupied by French writer Marguerite Duras.

Further up river, visit the small riverine island, Gieng Islet, to walk or cycle around the peaceful religious enclave and see Cu Lao Gieng Church, built in 1875 with materials imported from France.

Leaving the Aqua Mekong behind, today journey by sampan into the Tra Su Cajuput Forest, floating deep into the acacia flooded forest under dense tree canopy. The 845 hectare preserve is a colony for 70 bird species including the rare painted stork and Oriental darter, as well as bats, snakes and endangered turtles.

Back on board the Aqua Mekong, sail onward to the village of Chau Doc, which sits along the Hâu River, a tributary of the Mekong. Venture inland a short distance by road to the 230 meter (755 feet) high Sam Mountain, the highest point in the Mekong Delta, and home to dozens of pagodas that dot its slopes. At its peak, sit with the venerable Mahayana Buddhist monks at Long Son Tu Temple for a private audience. Enlightened, head back down at the foot of Sam Mountain, stopping to visit the Temple of Lady Xu, one of the major religious sites of the Mekong Delta.

In the cooler morning time, cruise closer to the Cambodian capital of Phnom Penh. En route, head by skiff towards the shore for a visit to the intricately carved Prek Bongkong Pagoda. This area is also known for its ‘silk islands’, where the weavers allow guests to wander among their looms, admiring their skills and learning about the process from worm to finished garment.

Returning to the boat, to continue to the Vinh Xuong-Kaam Samnor border for the crossing into Cambodia.

Sail into Phnom Penh where Art Deco buildings still stand in the shadows of ever-rising skyscrapers and vintage cyclos cruise alongside imported European sports cars.


Disembark the Aqua Mekong to discover the city in a tuk-tuk that will take you to this historic city’s most important sites including the 1866 Royal Palace that is still home to the reigning monarch and its Silver Pagoda. Just next door, the National Museum of Cambodia houses the world’s largest collection of Khmer art, much of it removed from Angkor Wat to prevent looting.

Return aboard for sundowners and evening entertainment of an Apsara dance.

This morning, embark by skiff to visit Koh Chen, or ‘Chinese Island’ in Khmer. The inhabitants of this riverside village are renowned throughout the region as silver and coppersmiths. They purchase the precious metals in Phnom Penh and return here to make ornamental items such as the cups, boxes and delicately engraved tropical fruits used in Buddhist ceremonies and marriage blessings.

Later in the day, continue exploring Khmer riverside life in the floating village of Kampong Chhnang, meaning Port of Pottery. Archaeological findings here link this now sleepy area as far back as the Dvaravati kingdom, dating to the 6th through 11th centuries when Kampong Chhnang was an important trade centre.

Continue exploring remote communities around the Tonle Sap River, an ecological hot spot designated as a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve in 1997. Travel by skiff to the the first village of the day, Chnok Tru, as photogenic as it is remote and thus completely self-sufficient, where you will get the chance to interact with the locals with the help of an expert guide.
?Back on board the Aqua, next sail to Moat Kla. Moat Kla is the last village in Siem Reap Province on the southeastern end of the lake and only accessible by water. The community is largely of Vietnamese descent, owing to its settlement long before the nuances of international borders. Here you can choose to attend a blessing ceremony conducted at Moat Kla’s Buddhist temple, home to only four monks.

One the last day of your adventure, head by skiff after breakfast into the 22,000-hectare Prek Toal Core Bird Reserve on Tonle Sap Lake, one of the largest freshwater bodies in Asia and the last refuge in Southeast Asia for large waterbirds like the spot-billed pelicans, milky stork, black-headed ibis and the elusive masked finfoot. Along the way, we visit floating houses and fish farms, and learn about sustainable development initiatives like Saray, a cooperative of women who weave water hyacinth into 100% organic mats and home accessories for some of Southeast Asia’s finest hotels.

Return to the Aqua Mekong to pack up then disembark for the road journey to Siem Reap.

During your time in Siem Reap we can arrange privately guided specialist tours to show you the best of city, Angkor Wat and the Khmer temples in the region.

The largest religious monument in the world, spend time exploring this vast and iconic temple complex.

Spend some time exploring the bustling market area, vibrant pub street and surrounding countryside of Siem Reap.

Begin with an early start today as you are taken to the picturesque Ta Prohm which has a haunting yet exotic atmosphere and a ‘forgotten city’ feeling. You will then be taken to Preah Kahn temple. Explore this magnificent structure before moving to the jewel of the Khmer Empire; Angkor Wat. Admire the sheer size of the temple and learn how the Khmer Empire prospered between the 9th and 13th centuries from your renowned scholar guide. After this intriguing visit, lunch is served at a local restaurant. Then continue to Angkor Thom, the ancient city where you will visit the Terrace of the Elephants. Round off the day with a visit to the Ancient Royal City’s centerpiece; the Bayon temple. Later you will return to your hotel in Siem Reap.