Destinations: Ho Chi Minh City - Cai Be - Chau Doc - Phnom Penh - Jahan Cruise
Duration: 4 days / 3 nights

The 4 days cruise "Pearl of the Orient" might be a great alternative for cruise aficionados with less time at their hands connecting the "Pearl of the Orient" with the "Paris of the East" giving you some awe inspiring moments underway - deep in the Mekong Delta

 

Brief Itinerary
Upstream: Saigon - Phnom Penh (4 Days/3 Nights upstream)

Day 1: Saigon - Cai Be
Day 2: Cai Be - Chau Doc
Day 3: Chau Doc- border crossing
Day 4: Phnom Penh

 
Downstream : Phnom Penh - Saigon (4 Days/3 Nights downstream)

Day 1: Phnom Penh - border crossing
Day 2: Chau Doc - Cai Be
Day 3: Cai Be
Day 4: Saigon

 

Program Details

Upstream: Ho Chi Minh City - Phnom Penh

Day 1: Ho Chi Minh City - Cai Be

Bid farewell to the hustle and bustle of Ho Chi Minh City while settling into your cabin. The ship will begin by meandering along busy ports and waterways. Soon after, the change is abrupt and you'll find yourself in the UNESCO listed Mangrove Biosphere Reserve of Can Gio which had been destroyed during the Vietnam War by toxic chemicals. Amazingly, the 75 hectares of forest has come back to life through a reforestation.

Enjoy a cocktail reception at the Funnel Bar and Lounge followed by a Welcome Dinner on the Sun Deck. Drop anchor just outside of Cai Be for the night.

Day 2: Cai Be - Chau Doc

Today's tour starts with the visit of Cai Be's colorful floating market. Cruise among local sampans coming from all provinces of the delta full of fruits and vegetables. Proceed to Dong Hoa Hiep island located between Vinh Long and Cai Be. During a 40 minute cruise, discover beautiful landscapes along the river and observe the typical Mekong Delta rural life. These evergreen islands among the Mekong River still remain unknown to many people.

Back on the sampans, we will lead to you to observe the activity of the biggest rice stock market in Cai Be. Further stops will allow you to see traditional brick and tile factories and how locals use palm leaves for houses. Cruise 20 minutes further to Phu An hamlet passing by Cai Be's beautiful cathedral. Visit some interesting home factories to see how rice paste, rice cookies and coco candies, are made, along with the longan fruit drying process.

Lunch will await you at Le Longanier, a superb Indochinese villa located in a lush tropical garden by the river, surrounded by fruit orchards. After lunch, group 1 takes a stroll along the canals to experience the local environment first hand while group 2 explores the edges of the canals on bicycle. After touring the canals, head to the An Kiet ancient house to have tea with the descendants of the former imperial residents. Board The Jayavarman for a relaxing evening cruise towards Chau Doc. Moor midstream overnight.

Day 3: Chau Doc- border crossing

Welcome to the circus of fish. The early birds will be treated to Thai Chi lessons on the Sun Deck. Brace yourself for a boat excursion to the exciting floating villages and catfish farms witnessing masses of bassa fish being fed, hand in hand with a shore excursion to the village of the local Muslim Cham community.

Take a ride through this fascinating town of rich French colonial architecture and see its bustling market flooded with tropical fruits in full display by women in cone shaped palm leaf hats. Observe beautiful textiles being woven on old wooden looms; a tradition that has been passed from generation to generation.

By mid-afternoon, The Jayavarman casts off for the border towards Phnom Penh.

Day 4: Phnom Penh

Off we go early in the morning to witness a truly indescribable scene while approaching Phnom Penh's river promenade. Sadly, after breakfast, it is time to disembark the cruise and transfer to the hotel at 10:00 AM

Downstream : Phnom Penh - Ho Chi Minh City (4 Days/3 Nights)

Day 1: Phnom Penh - border crossing

Board The Jayavarman at 8:00. The Jayavarman then casts off for a day of cruising the main Mekong Channel. This is pretty much an international shipping route. Psyche yourself up for Pre-K Touch, a lively jungle village. After that, visit well laid out fruit orchards.

Late afternoon we set off to the Vietnamese border for the usual formalities, which in this part of the world takes a bit of time. During the afternoon cruise, take the time to relax on the Sun Deck, get a massage in the Spa, or take part in Jayavarman Vietnamese cooking class. In the evening enjoy a welcome cocktail in the Funnel Bar and Lounge.

The ship moors midstream overnight.

Day 2: Chau Doc - Cai Be

Welcome to the circus of fish. Brace yourself for a boat excursion to the exciting floating villages and catfish farms witnessing masses of Bassa fish being fed, hand in hand with a shore excursion to the village of the local Muslim Cham community. Stroll through a silk waving village and observe beautiful textiles being woven on old wooden looms; a tradition that has been passed from generation to generation.

Take a ride through this fascinating town of rich French colonial architecture and see its bustling market flooded with tropical fruits in full display by women in cone shaped palm leaf hats.

By late-afternoon, The Jayavarman casts off, heading towards Cai Be. Wheel house biking class will be held in the early evening.
Chau Doc Vietnam

Day 3: Cai Be - Sa Dec - My Tho

We arrive in Sa Dec late at night and the following morning, we embark a traditional sampan* to tour Binh Thanh Island and its man-made canals. Here, every villager is involved in the process of growing and processing water hyacinths into natural fibre floor mats and rattan baskets.

After lunch onboard, the ship arrives in Cai Be. The tour starts with a visit to Cai Be's boisterous and colorful floating market where traders gather in a cacophonous congregation. During the languid ride, we discover breathtaking landscapes along the river and quaff the rustic life on the Mekong Delta.

The evergreen islands along the Mekong River remains unknown to many people. The cruise will halt intermittenly to allow us to observe how rice paste, rice cookies and coconut candies are made, along with the Longan fruit drying process. After touring the canals, we head to an ancient house surrounded by fruit orchards before heading to the ship for lunch.

We then board the Ship for a tranquil evening cruise towards My Tho. A wonderful farewell party awaits us on the cruise.

*sampan - a flat bottomed traditional Vietnamese wooden boat
Including Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner.

Day 4: My Tho - Ho Chi Minh City

Our cruise on the magnificent ship comes to an end as the ship winds its way to My Tho, approximately 70km south of Saigon on the upper Mekong river in Vietnam. We bid farewell to the cruise as our journey comes to a close. But the memories - and the friendships made on board - linger on for a lot longer.

We disembark at around 9:00 am and we join the transfer to madding crowd of Saigon.

Including Breakfast.