|
Put the mythical Southeast Asian capitals of Phnom Penh and
Saigon side by side and you have a meeting of two countries
divided by an invisible line at the river. But the line becomes
real when you compare their very different cultures, landscapes
and pace of life. After the impressive pastoral riverbanks of
Cambodia, we arrive in the "Land of the Nine Dragons", the rice
granary of Vietnam. We are constantly struck by the hectic pace of
life in this country as we pass houses over fish rearing pens in
Chau Doc, the boat yards of Long Xuyen, Marguerite Duras' hometown
of Sa Dec, the aquatic gardens of Vinh Long, the floating market
in Cai Be, the temples, pagodas, brickworks, then the trawlers of
My Tho, before dropping anchor at the nostalgic port of Saigon.
Day 1
:
Phnom Penh - Koh Dek Chou
Check-in at the boat-pier in Phnom Penh at 8:00 am.
Welcome on board of R/V Toum Teav and depart for our cruise on the
Mekong River.On the way to the Vietnamese border, stop on Koh Dek
Tchou Island for a two hours walk in the village along the river.
Overnight on board
Day 2
Cambodian/ Vietnamese Boder - Chau Doc
Sail and cross the border into Vietnam in the morning.
Arrive in Chau Doc after lunch.Disembark R/V Toum Teav at Victoria
Chau Doc hotel jetty. Visit a Cham village by small boat, visit
the market and Lady Chua Xu temple.Dinner and overnight at
Victoria Chau Doc hotel.
Day 3
Chau
Doa - Long Xuyen
Sail thought small channels back to the Mekong River and
visit the Kien An Cung Pagoda. Stop at the main town along the Sa
Dec river (passing by the local house mentioned in l'Amanet, a
film based on the novel by Marguerite Duras), and visit the
market. Overnight on board
Day 4
Long
Xuyen - Sadec
Sail in the morning to Vinh Long. By small boats, we cross
Binh Hoa Phuoc Islet covered by fruit trees and special
gardens.Back to the Mekong, we cruise in the floating market of
Cai Be.Overnight on board
Day 5
Cai
be - Mytho
Sail to Mytho.Panorama tour of the city: Visit the pagoda
and the snake farm followed by an excursion by small boat to Thoi
Son Island.Overnight on board
Day 6
Mytho
- Saigon
Half day sailing through the small canals of Cho Gao and
Nha Be to Saigon.
15.00 pm- Disembark from M/V Toum Teav at Dai Lo Ton quay. Tour
Ends |
