Southeast Asia · River Cruise
Mekong River, Siem Reap to Saigon
Siem Reap · Phnom Penh · Sa Dec · Saigon · 9 nights
Nine nights on board and ashore, from Siem Reap to Ho Chi Minh City.
The Journey
Nine nights by ship, with days ashore at Siem Reap, Phnom Penh, Tan Chau, Sa Dec, Cai Be and Ho Chi Minh City. Shore days are planned with private guides where shown, and you can always stay on board instead.
The days are built around Angkor Wat and Angkor Thom, To Phnom Penh and Embarkation, Into Vietnam and Tan Chau and Sa Dec. Each one is set out below with what you will see, how you get there and which meals are included.
The defining moment of this route: sunrise at Angkor Wat with a private guide. Your travel specialist can add a night, swap a day or change the order before you book.
Signature Highlights
- Sunrise at Angkor Wat with a private guide
- Angkor Wat and Angkor Thom, Siem Reap
- Ta Prohm and Banteay Srei, Siem Reap
- To Phnom Penh and Embarkation
- Phnom Penh
- Into Vietnam and Tan Chau
Your Experiences
Moments shaped just for you
Angkor Wat and Angkor Thom, Siem Reap
Sunrise at Angkor Wat with a private guide, then the Bayon's carved faces and the Terrace of the Elephants inside Angkor Thom.
Ta Prohm and Banteay Srei, Siem Reap
The root-wrapped temple of Ta Prohm, then Banteay Srei's fine pink sandstone carving, about 40 minutes out.
Phnom Penh
The Royal Palace and Silver Pagoda, the National Museum's Khmer sculpture, and for those who wish, the Tuol Sleng genocide museum. The ship sails downstream in the evening.
Day by day
Your Itinerary
- 01Day 1 · Siem Reap, Cambodia
Arrival in Siem Reap
Private transfer into town, about 45 minutes, and an evening at the Old Market.
- Private airport transfer
- Hotel night in Siem Reap
- Old Market in the evening
- 02Day 2 · Siem Reap, Cambodia
Angkor Wat and Angkor Thom
Sunrise at Angkor Wat with a private guide, then the Bayon's carved faces and the Terrace of the Elephants inside Angkor Thom.
- Sunrise at Angkor Wat
- The Bayon
- Terrace of the Elephants
Meals:B - 03Day 3 · Siem Reap, Cambodia
Ta Prohm and Banteay Srei
The root-wrapped temple of Ta Prohm, then Banteay Srei's fine pink sandstone carving, about 40 minutes out.
- Ta Prohm
- Banteay Srei
- Afternoon at leisure
Meals:B - 04Day 4 · Phnom Penh, Cambodia
To Phnom Penh and Embarkation
A short flight or a five-to-six-hour drive to Phnom Penh, then board your river ship on the riverfront where the Mekong meets the Tonlé Sap.
- Flight or private road transfer
- Boarding on the Phnom Penh riverfront
- Welcome dinner on board
Meals:BD - 05Day 5 · Phnom Penh, Cambodia
Phnom Penh
The Royal Palace and Silver Pagoda, the National Museum's Khmer sculpture, and for those who wish, the Tuol Sleng genocide museum. The ship sails downstream in the evening.
- Royal Palace and Silver Pagoda
- National Museum
- Tuol Sleng, optional
Meals:BLD - 06Day 6 · Tan Chau, Vietnam
Into Vietnam and Tan Chau
Border formalities on board, then a sampan to the floating houses and fish farms of Tan Chau and a silk-weaving village.
- River border crossing
- Floating houses by sampan
- Silk-weaving village
Meals:BLD - 07Day 7 · Sa Dec, Vietnam
Sa Dec
The flower nurseries, the covered market and the house of Huynh Thuy Le, the merchant immortalised in Marguerite Duras's The Lover.
- Sa Dec flower village
- Huynh Thuy Le's house
- Local market
Meals:BLD - 08Day 8 · Cai Be, Vietnam
Cai Be
A sampan through narrow canals to Cai Be's market and workshops making rice paper and coconut candy, with a farewell dinner on board.
- Sampan through the delta canals
- Rice paper and coconut candy workshops
- Farewell dinner on board
Meals:BLD - 09Day 9 · Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam
My Tho to Ho Chi Minh City
Disembark at My Tho and drive about two hours to Ho Chi Minh City for the War Remnants Museum, the Reunification Palace and the Central Post Office.
- Morning disembarkation
- War Remnants Museum
- Reunification Palace and Central Post Office
Meals:B - 10Day 10 · Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam
Departure from Ho Chi Minh City
A last Vietnamese coffee before the private transfer to Tan Son Nhat airport.
- Morning at leisure
- Private airport transfer
- Optional beach extension
Meals:B
Inclusions
- Handpicked luxury accommodations across the journey
- Daily breakfast; select lunches and dinners as noted
- Private airport transfers and inter-city ground movement
- Curated experiences and reserved access as listed
- 24×7 on-trip concierge from our India desk
Not included
- International airfare unless explicitly mentioned
- Visa fees, travel insurance and personal expenses
- Meals and experiences not listed in the itinerary
- Gratuities for guides, drivers and hotel staff
- Anything of a personal nature (spa, minibar, laundry)
Transfers
- Private arrival and departure transfers with a named driver
- Moves between stops by private car, rail, ferry or domestic flight, as shown day by day
- Timings reconfirmed with you the evening before each transfer
Visa & Documentation
- Visa guidance provided by our documentation desk
- Recommended to hold passport valid for 6+ months
- Digital pre-arrival forms handled on your behalf where possible
Common Questions
When is the best time for the Mekong?+
November to March is dry and comfortable. From about August to November the river runs high and green; in the driest months some ships start further downstream.
What paperwork do Cambodia and Vietnam need?+
Indian passport holders need a visa for each country, and both offer online e-visas. Not every e-visa is accepted at every land or river crossing, so we confirm which form suits this border before you apply; the crew handle the formalities on board.
How many days do we spend at Angkor?+
Two full days, enough for sunrise at Angkor Wat, the Bayon, Ta Prohm and Banteay Srei without rushing.
How far in advance should we book?+
Three to four months ahead gives the widest choice of rooms and guided days, and more for school holidays, festivals and peak season. Shorter notice is often possible; ask and we will check live availability.
Can the itinerary be customised?+
Yes. Every journey is a starting point: add or remove nights, swap a day's plan, change hotels or reorder the route, and your travel specialist re-plans the whole trip around it.
What is the payment schedule?+
Your quote sets out the deposit that confirms the booking and the date the balance is due. Both depend on the hotels, airlines and guides involved, so they are agreed with you before you pay anything.
Speak to a Curator
Let's shape this journey around you.
Share a few details and one of our curators will get in touch, usually within a working day, with a bespoke proposal and pricing.
Prefer to talk?
+91 98117 66362
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