The cruise

HO CHI MINH CITY
Welcome on board of RV La Marguerite located in Ho Chi Minh City , (formerly Saigon), Vietnam 's biggest city. Check-in at noon followed by port and immigration formalities. After checking-in the tastefully appointed cabins, enjoy the fascinating view of Saigon River from your cabin or from the sundeck. Around 2:00 PM ship departs Saigon . We sail by Saigon River on the international route to the sea and cruise up the broad Mekong Tributary. Welcome Dinner on board.

CAI BE - SA DEC
Arrival at Cai Be in the morning. After breakfast we take a morning junk trip around Cai Be to see a floating market, go ashore to visit the French Gothic Cathedral and colorful port area with its colonial buildings, delightful flower gardens and local rice paper manufacturers. We cruise past Vinh Long Province to arrive at Sa Dec for an afternoon walk. French writer Marguerite Duras spent some of her childhood in Sa Dec, a sprawling busy town in the Mekong Delta. In Sa Dec, director Jean-Jaques Annaud shot much of his film « The Lover ». Not a lot has changed in Sa Dec since Duras' day. Warehouses, mostly old Chinese shophouses, bulge with merchandise. Ancient riverboats load and unload at the wharves built almost to the shop doors. Both the school where Duras' mother taught and the small house behind it where the family must have lived still stand. We see the house of the Chinese Lover of Marguerite. The house now is little museum of « The Lover » in Sadec. Night navigation through the Mekong Delta.

TAN CHAU, BORDER CROSSING
Arrival in the morning at Tan Cha, a remote small town on the main Mekong River . After breakfast, transfer to small boats, visit a cat fish farm and rice-polishing factory. We go ashore to visit mat making workshop, and take a short walk in the village to visit a silk weaving workshop. A rickshaw ride round this fascinating town takes you back to the pier for lunch. Cast off for the Cambodian border for the usual formalities. Evening cruise up the broad Mekong River to Phnom Penh .

PHNOM PENH
Arrival in Phnom Penh in the morning. The capital city of Cambodia still retains its old French colonial architecture in riverside streets. The city has several impressive Wat's, including Wat Ounalom, Wat Phnom and Wat Lang Ka. Visit the Royal Palace , the Silver Pagoda. The National Museum is another highlight, with outstanding displays of Khmer crafts. Lunch on board. Afternoon excursion is arranged to the former High School « S21 », converted to a detention centre under the Red Khmer's rule between 1975 and 1979. Then stop at the former detention camp of Choeung Ek, better known under the name of « Killing Fields ». Dinner on board.

KOH CHONG – PEAM CHI KANG
Early morning, departure from Phnom Penh , heading for Kampong Cham. Stop at Koh Chong silk, weaving village for a morning walk at leisure. We cruise past the Mekong 's timeless villages and river life with extensive fishing activities. Lunch on board. In the afternoon, stop at Peam Chi Kang village to visit the Wat or Monastery and a school. Passengers are at leisure to explore this peaceful and friendly community. Anchor mid-stream near Kampong Cham for the night.

KAMPONG CHAM AREA
Morning journey upriver to the hilltop pre- Angkorian temple of Wat Hanchey . Dating from the eighth century, its ancient brick structures characterize the architecture of the Chenla Empire, which preceded the glory of Angkor . Back on board and sailing back downstream over lunch for an exploration of the Kampong Cham Area. In the afternoon, travel by bus to the 12th century Angkorian temple of Wat Nokor . This colorful temple is unique in Cambodia , as a modern Wat set within the ruins of an ancient temple. We continue to the eco village of Cheungkok , which has since 2005 a voluntary international program aimed at developing local and sustainable education, health, food, but also energy and local economy.

KAMPONG CHHNANG
Morning sailing on the Tonle Sap River , which connects the Mekong River to the Tonle Lake . Arrival at Kampong Chhnang, located at approximately 90 km from Phnom Penh . This is a busy rural port town with bustling markets. After mooring mid-stream, motorboat excursion into the lakeside wetlands that form the mouth of the river. Here a stunning variety of birdlife may be seen and of considerable interest are the great fish traps whose length can reach 500 meters long.

TONLE LAKE - SIEM REAP
Crossing of the lake early in the morning. The great lake dominates Cambodia and is over 150 km in length. Here bird life is profuse. Because the water levels of the lake and river vary a great deal according to the time of year and rainfall, we will then either cross the Tonle Lake at dawn and disembark at Siem Reap Port or, in low waters, transfer by coach from Prek Kdam on the Tonle River to Siem Reap. Disembarkation.