Avalon Waterways Mekong Discovery (Southbound) (WSH)
8 Day River Cruise Phnom Penh to Ho Chi Minh City
On this unique and inspiring Southeast Asia river cruise through Cambodia and Vietnam, you’ll be immersed in the cultures and ancient traditions as you sightsee and spend time with locals in interesting places along the mighty
Mekong River.In the enchanting Cambodian countryside, go on an ox cart ride amongst rice paddy fields and witness the daily lives of farmers. In a Silversmith Village, see craftsmen making silver artwork using ancient techniques. French influences are still apparent in the lovely capital of Cambodia,
Phnom Penh. Here you’ll tour the National Museum and Royal Palace with its striking Silver Pagoda and enjoy a song and dance performance by children at a local orphanage. On a hilltop at the site of the 8th-century temple of
Wat Hanchey, take in the stunning views before walking through the rural village of
Angkor Ban to visit with welcoming schoolchildren. Continue your river cruise into Vietnam where you’ll walk through a colorful market as the locals are busy with their daily routine of buying and selling produce. See firsthand how handcrafted sampans are built at the home of a family in Cu Lao Gieng. Via sampan, cruise into Vinh Long and experience Vietnamese culture with a visit to a workshop to learn how rice wine and traditional candies are made. This once-in-a-lifetime Southeast Asia river cruise vacation is sure to create lasting memories!
Ships: Saigon
Avalon Waterways Promotions & Special Offers
- Single supplement waived on select 2023 Avalon Mekong or Ganges river cruise departures*
Promotion Depatures (Land): 12/07/23
Restrictions May ApplyAvalon Highlights & Sightseeing
Day 1 Phnom Penh (Embarkation): Onboard welcome reception
Day 2 Wat Hanchey–Angkor Ban: Visit
Wat Hanchey and partake in a traditional water blessing by local monks; walking tour in
Angkor Ban with school visit
Day 3 Kampong Tralach–Konpong Louang–Phnom Penh: Ox cart ride through the countryside and visit a local farmer’s home in Kampong Tralach; visit the silversmith village of Konpong Louang; visit the Tuol Sleng Museum and one of the Killing Fields in Phnom Penh, or visit the lively central market
Day 4 Phnom Penh: Sightseeing by private cyclo, including the Royal Palace, Silver Pagoda, and the National Museum; show by children from local orphanage
Day 5 Border Crossing–Chau Doc: Visit a local market and the religious sites at Sam Mountain in Chau Doc
Day 6 Long Khanh A–Cu Lao Gieng: Walking tour of Long Khanh A with cotton-weaving demonstration; interact with sampan-making and conical hat making families in Cu Lao Gieng
Day 7 Vinh Long: Visit a local garden and a local workshop to see how rice wine and traditional candy are made
Day 8 Ho Chi Minh City (Disembarkation): Your vacation ends with breakfast this morning
Related Avalon Tours
WSH - Mekong Discovery (Southbound)
WHS - Mekong Discovery (Northbound)
WSHI - Fascinating Vietnam, Cambodia & the Mekong River (Southbound)
WSII - The Heart of Cambodia & Vietnam (Southbound)
Itinerary (2024)
| Day 1 | PHNOM PENH, CAMBODIA (EMBARKATION) |
| | Welcome to Cambodia. Your intimate Suite Ship® Awaits!Get acquainted with the ship and relax before your welcome reception this evening. AFTERNOON/EVENING CRUISE TO WAT HANCHEY(L,D) |
| Day 2 | WAT HANCHEY–ANGKOR BAN |
| | Water Blessings and Back-to-School Adventures DISCOVERY Visit Wat Hanchey, a hilltop temple dating back to the 8th century. Climb or be driven to the top where you will enjoy stunning views of the surrounding area and partake in a traditional water blessing given by local monks.DISCOVERY After lunch, enjoy a Walking Tour through the rural village of Angkor Ban. Here, you will visit a traditional Khmer house and interact with children at a local school.EVENING/OVERNIGHT CRUISE TO KONPONG LOUANG(B,L,D) |
| Day 3 | KAMPONG TRALACH–KONPONG LOUANG–PHNOM PENH |
| | Calm in the Cambodian CountrysideDISCOVERY Your Guided Sightseeing starts in Kampong Tralach with an Ox-Cart Ride through the beautiful Cambodian countryside. Along the way, stop to meet a local farmer and learn about his daily life. At the silversmith village in Konpong Louang, see talented craftsmen use age-old techniques to turn pure silver into works of art.Sail to the capital city of Phnom Penh this afternoon. PHNOM PENHA Dark History or Market DynamicsCLASSIC After lunch, join a Guided a Visit to the Tuol Sleng Genocide Museum and one of the Killing Fields for a glimpse into the atrocities inflicted on the Cambodian people by the Khmer Rouge regime, OR: DISCOVERY Visit the lively Central Market by tuk-tuk to see its unique Art Deco design.This evening, spend some free time to explore the city on your own. Perhaps follow the riverfront promenade to the historic Foreign Correspondents Club (FCC).OVERNIGHT DOCKING IN PHNOM PENH(B,L,D) |
| Day 4 | PHNOM PENH |
| | The Royal TreatmentCLASSIC Join a Guided Tour of the city by private cyclo with visits to the Royal Palace with the spectacular Silver Pagoda, and the National Museum, featuring an outstanding display of Khmer artifacts.The remainder of the day is yours to enjoy at your leisure, Consider a Guided Optional Tour of a local brewery with free flowing local beer! Just before dinner, children from a local orphanage will perform a show, featuring local song and dance.EVENING/OVERNIGHT CRUISE TO VIETNAM/CAMBODIA BORDER (B,L,D) |
| Day 5 | BORDER CROSSING–CHAU DOC, VIETNAM |
| | Good Morning Vietnam! DISCOVERY Take a Village Walk through the Chau Doc market, and absorb the atmosphere as locals are busy buying and selling fish, meat, and produce. After lunch, embark on a Guided Excursion down the backwaters of the Mekong. Along the way, see traditional floating homes, speedboat merchants, religious sites, a market selling dried goods, and more.EVENING CRUISE TO LONG KHANH A(B,L,D) |
| Day 6 | LONG KHANH A–CU LAO GIENG |
| | Cotton Weaving, Conical Hats, and Handcrafted SampansDISCOVERY This morning, a sampan brings you to the village of Long Khanh A, for a Cotton-Weaving Demonstration of this well-preserved tradition.DISCOVERY This afternoon, enjoy scenes of daily life on Cu Lao Gieng Island via sampan and local motor cart. Your Guided Excursion starts with a stop at one of Vietnam’s oldest Catholic churches. Then, visit the home of a local family that makes Vietnamese conical hats, or “Non la,” from materials available to them such as palm leaves and bamboo. These iconic hats are primarily used as protection from the sun and rain but you may also see them used as a basket to carry home goods from the market. Lastly, visit a local workshop where a skilled family hand-crafts sampan boats.EVENING CRUISE TO VINH LONG(B,L,D) |
| Day 7 | VINH LONG |
| | Sweets and Rice Treats DISCOVERY Board a sampan this morning to visit a Local Workshop in Vinh Long where you will see how rice paper, rice wine, and traditional candies are made.This afternoon, enjoy time on board the ship as we sail to exciting Ho Chi Minh City.AFTERNOON CRUISE TO HO CHI MINH CITY(B,L,D) |
| Day 8 | HO CHI MINH CITY (DISEMBARKATION) |
| | Your vacation ends with breakfast this morning. (B) |
Avalon Pricing Details
Gratuities for Local Guides & drivers are included (excludes extensions which are to be paid locally). Avalon offers the opportunity for solo travelers to sail with no single supplement (subject to availability).