Published on November 29, 2017
Boat ride in My Tho. Image ©Mack MaleCreative Commons
What You’ll Get
A 14-day sojourn through Laos, Viet Nam, and Cambodia mostly on board a luxurious boutique cruise ship along the Mekong River.
Highlights
Before sailing aboard the comfortable RV Mekong Prestige II to discover old world charm, idyllic life in remote villages, and Southeast Asian hospitality, you’ll spend five days in Luang Prabang and Vientiane.
Lose your sense of time in the World Heritage city of Luang Prabang where you will delight in the panoramic view atop Phousy Hill, gape at Vat Xieng Thong and other exquisite temples, and visit local villages of Lao ethnic minority groups on the way to the must-see Kuangsi Waterfalls.
In Vientiane, you will see the highlights of the vibrant capital with a visit to its temples and a stroll along its riverside promenade.
Next, fly off to Viet Nam where you get to stay the night at Ho Chi Minh City, take in the sights at your own leisure before leaving the following day to the gateway into the Mekong, My Tho.
From My Tho, you’ll ride a cruise ship heading to different villages along the Mekong (and getting to know what river life is like): the charming small town of Cai Be for its floating market and French Gothic Cathedral; the sprawling town of Sa Dec, where French writer Marguerite Duras spent parts of her childhood; to the remote town of Tan Chau for a visit in a silk weaving workshop.
When the cruise reaches Cambodia, you’ll stop at the capital city of Phnom Penh for the Royal Palace and other historic and cultural sights; the craft village of Koh Chong, known for its silk weaving; the former capital city of Oudong for its numerous hilltop stupas; the ancient Wat Kampong Leu Pagoda at Kampong Tralach; the rural port town of Kampong Chhnang to visit its authentic floating village and scenic marketplace.
In between boarding the cruise ship, you’ll also get to experience riding small local boats to navigate the river’s smaller canals and rides on a rickshaw and ox-drawn carriage
Meals during the cruise will all be on board.
Temple in Oudong, Cambodia. Image © Julien Texier/Creative Commons
