A Holistic & Creative Upstream Journey (Updated 24 Jul 2009)
Perfect for connoisseurs, a soul-enriching cruise along the Mekong Delta with RV La Marguerite stimulates the mind and enriches the physical well-being. Cruising the Mekong with this unique concept sets it apart from the rest. This week long cruise offers a distinctive way of experiencing the Mekong as seen through the passionate French Novelist Marguerite Duras, who glamorized the Mekong with a unique cross cultural love epic “The Lover”. The guided tours to historic and cultural sites, local attractions, museums and galleries are developed with personal enrichment in mind.

Day 1, Saigon - Soai Rap
Level of Difficulty: 0

Summary of Excursion
Register for cruise from 10:30 to 12:00 at Sofitel Plaza Saigon Hotel. At 12:00, take motor coach transfer to Saigon Port. At 12:15, embark onto the luxurious vessel where iced mineral water and cold towels will be served. At 13:00, proceed to the Mekong Restaurant for a tasty buffet lunch. Lunch ends at 15:00. The captain will commence port formalities from 12:30 to 15:00. Thereafter, the purser will distribute your cabins keys at 15:00. At 15:15, the captain raises the anchor, sound the horns and sails leisurely towards Soai Rap, 10 kilometers from the river mouth. At 18:00, adjourn to the Saigon Lounge for briefing. At 19:30, proceed to the Mekong Restaurant and enjoy the first dinner onboard. Dinner ends at 21:00. The boat sails towards Cai Be around 1:00.

What you will see:
Pockets of river villages, children playing in the river, mothers preparing for early dinners along the Mekong

Day 2, Soai Rap - Sadec
Time of Excursion: 10:30 to 12:30, 16:00 to 18:00
Length of Tour: 4 hours
Level of Difficulty: 1-2

Summary of Excursion
At 7:30, a hearty breakfast will be served as the journey continues towards Cai Be, scheduled to arrive around 10:00. At 10:30, get ready for the first excursion. Explore the hidden treasures through the canals on riverboats and partake in late morning bantering with floating markets vendors before going ashore to visit traditional candies making factory and rice paper mills. Return to boat for lunch at 12:30. Lunch from 13:00 to 15:00.

At 13:00, depart for Sadec, hometown of Marguerite Duras’ lover. At 16:00, follow the guide to this quaint city. Visit the old house of Huynh Thuy Le’s now known as The Lovers Museum, local markets along the paved river banks, the ancient Pagoda and the Chinese deities at the Fujian Temple. Pass by the school where Marguerite's mother's taught and view the home of Marguerite from across the river bank. The excursion ends at 18:00. At 18:30 to 19:30, cultural dancers take centerstage at Saigon Lounge. At 19:30, proceed to the restaurant for themed dinner. Dinner ends at 21:00.

What you will see:
Cai Be Floating market, rice paper village, coconut candies home factory, boat ride in the canals, ancient house, local market, Marguerite's home and school, Pagoda, Fujian Temple

Day 3, Tan Chau – Phnom Penh
Time of Excursion: 8:30 to 11:30
Length of Tour: 3 hours
Level of Difficulty: 1

Summary of Excursion
At 2:00, the boat arrives in Tan Chau, a remote small town on the main Mekong River. Rise and dressed for a wonderful breakfast served from 7:00 to 8:30. At 8:30, transfers to small boats, visit a floating fish farm and navigates along the tiny tribunals where stilt houses are haphazardly leaning on one another. Go ashore and make a city tours on Xe Loi where stops will be made at traditional silk making factory and rattan mats and slippers making factory. At 11:30, return to the boat and prepare for lunch. At 12:00, cast off for the Vietnamese/Cambodian borders for port and immigration formalities. The border in Vietnam is Song Tien and the border in Cambodia is Ka Orm Samnor. Lunch is served from 12:30 to 14:00.

At 14:00, commence border-crossing procedures. At 17:45, start the second part of the journey into Cambodia and heads towards Phnom Penh. Dinner is served from 19:30 to 21:00. Enjoy the first night in Cambodia.

What you will see:
Silk making, stilt houses on canals, floating fish farms, rattan mats and slippers making factory

Day 4, Phnom Penh
Time of Excursion: 8:30 to 12:00, 14:30 to 17:30
Length of Tour: 6 hours 30 minutes
Level of Difficulty: 2-3

Summary of Excursion
Dock midstream near Phnom Penh Port around 2:00. At 7:00, the boat will continue to sail towards Phnom Penh Port around 7:30. Breakfast will be served from 7:00 to 8:30. Visit Phnom Penh city from 8:30. Travel around by motor coach/bus and visit the Royal Palace, Silver Pagoda and National Museum. At 12:00 return to the boat for a re-energizing power lunch to prepare for the second part of the excursion today. At 14:30, take motor coach/bus and visit the Killing Fields and Tuol Sleng (S21) detention center. This excursion ends at 17:30. Shopping is optional.

At 18:30 to 19:30, meet guide for briefing. Dinner is served from 19:30 to 21:00. After dinner, a special Cambodia performance awaits at the Saigon Lounge. The performance will starts at 21:00 and ends at 22:00.

What you will see:
Royal Palace, Silver Pagoda, National Museum, Killing Fields, Tuol Sleng (S21) detention center

Day 5, Phnom Penh – Kampong Cham
Time of Excursion: 9:30 to 11:00, 16:00 to 17:30
Length of Tour: 3 hours
Level of Difficulty: 1-2

Summary of Customized Excursion
At 7:00, the ship sails towards Kampong Cham and breakfast is served from 7:30 to 9:00. Arrive at Chong Koh Village at 9:00. Pack excursion gear and visit Chong Koh Silk Weaving Factory from 9:30 to 11:00. At 11:15, the boat sails towards Peam Chi Kang. Lunch is served at 12:30 to 14:00. At 16:30, arrive at Peam Chi Kang. Visit the Peam Chi Kang Village, the Wat/Monastry and its schools from 16:00 to 17:30.

At 18:30, join guides for briefing. The boat will depart for Kampong Cham at 17:45. Another wonderful themed dinner is served from 19:30 to 21:00. At 21:30, arrive at Kampong Cham.

What you will see:
Chong Koh Silk Weaving Factory, Peam Chi Kang Village, Wat and its schools

Day 6, Kampong Cham – Phnom Penh
Time of Excursion: 9:15 to 11:30, 14:30 to 18:00
Length of Tour: 5 hours 45 minutes
Level of Difficulty: 2-3

Summary of Excursion
RV La Marguerite will sails towards Wat Hanchey at 6:00. Breakfast from 7:00 to 8:30. At 9:15, follow guides and explore Wat Hanchey, a hilltop pagoda overlooking the Mekong. At 11:45, return to the boat and cast off for Kampong Cham around 12:00. Enjoy lunch from 12:30 to 14:00. At 14:00, arrive at Kampong Cham. Go ashore from 14:30 to 18:00. The upland regions near Kampong Cham are rich in timbers, including Ceylon ironwood, rosewood, bean trees, teak, and rubber trees. Visit 12th century Angkorian temple of Wat Nokor and Eco village.

What you will see:
Wat Hanchey, 12th century Angkorian temple of Wat Nokor, Eco village

High Water Level

Day 7, Phnom Penh – Kampong Chhnang
Time of Excursion: 10:30 to 12:30
Length of Tour: 2 hours
Level of Difficulty: 1

Summary of Excursion
At midnight, sail from Phnom Penh arriving Prek Kdam at 3:00. Breakfast served from 7:30 to 9:00. By 11:00, arrive at Kampong Chhnang and visit Kampong Chhnang. Enjoy a quintessential river excursion through the floating houses to get a glimpse of the local lifestyles in the Tonle Sap River. Moor safely along the banks and go ashore for leisurely walk through the city and perhaps find a good bargain at the market. At 12:30 return to the boat and enjoy lunch from 13:30 to 14:30. At 16:00 to 17:00, have a cultural forum on Cambodia at Saigon Lounge. Farewell dinner & cocktail from 19:30 to 21:00. Spend the night in the middle of Tonle Sap Lake.

What you will see:
River excursion, floating villages, Tonle Sap River, local markets

Day 8, Siem Reap
At 5:00, depart for Siem Reap and enjoy breakfast onboard from 7:00 to 8:30. At 9:00, reach Siem Reap. Bid farewells to the crew and guides and disembark around 9:30. Take local boats and arrive at local jetty approximately 5 to 6 km away from the middle of the lake. Transfer to motor coach/bus to Le Meridien Angkor Hotel at around 10:30.

Low Water Level

Day 7, Phnom Penh – Kampong Chhnang
Time of Excursion: 14:00 to 16:00
Length of Tour: 2 hours
Level of Difficulty: 1

Summary of Excursion
At midnight, sail from Phnom Penh arriving Kampong Chhnang around 7:00. Breakfast served from 7:30 to 9:00. Lunch is served from 12:30 to 13:30. By 13:30, arrive at Kampong Chhnang and guides will show you Kampong Chhnang onboard local boats from 14:00 to 16:00. Enjoy a quintessential river excursion through the floating houses to get a glimpse of the local lifestyles in the Tonle Sap River. Moor safely along the banks and go ashore and enjoy a leisurely walk through the city and walk around local market. At 16:15 return to the boat. At 17:00 to 18:00, attend cultural forum on Cambodia at Saigon Lounge. Farewell dinner and drinks from 19:30 to 21:00. Enjoy the night’s stay in Prek Kdam.

What you will see:
River excursion, floating, Tonle Sap River, local markets

Day 8, Siem Reap
Early breakfast onboard from 6:00 to 7:00. Bid farewells to the crew and disembark with guide at 7:00. Transfer by motor coach/bus for Siem Reap. Arrive at Le Meridien Angkor Hotel at 12:30.