La Marguerite Cruises

Day 1:Saigon – Soai Rap
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 – Sa Dec
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 riverbanks, 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 riverbank. The excursion ends at 18:00. At 18:30 to 19:30, cultural dancers take center stage 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
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 navigate along the tiny tribunals where slit 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.

Day 4: Phnom Penh
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. Disembark at Phnom Penh Port (near the Post Office) after immigration is completed. Disembarkation expected to be around 10:30.bid farewell to fellow travelers and crew members. Tour ends. Far East Tour awaits to serve you next time. Inclusions

• Tour programs as in the itinerary
• Entrance fees
• Transportation and English-speaking tour guides’ services
• Taxes, fuel, pilot, port dues, passenger levies, full board during the itinerary
• Welcome and Farewell Dinners, daily breakfast, lunch and dinner including local beers, local brand spirits and local wines served during meals; coffee, selection of teas, selection of herbal infusions, local mineral water, local canned soft drinks served free through the day.
• Transfers between the ship and the to meeting points at the start and end of the voyage

Exclusions

• Airfares & airport taxes.
• Personal expenses (drinks, laundry, telephone…)
• Tips & gratuities
• Vietnam  and Cambodia Visa (Visa fee on arrival at Cambodia border: 25USD, 1 photo 3x4cm)
• Other not mentioned

Day 1: Phnom Penh (L, D)
Embarkation at 11:30 for port clearance, lunch at noon and check into cabin at 14:00. At 14:30, take motor coach/bus to
visit the Killing Fields and Tuol Sleng (S21) detention center. Excursion ends around 17:30. Shopping is optional. 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 21:15 and ends at 22:00.

Day 2: Phnom Penh – Tan Chau (B, L, D)
Summary of Excursion: At 7:00, enjoy a hearty breakfast as the ship departs for border. En route, stop at Preak Dach
Village, a jungle village to visit fruit orchards from 10:30 to 12:00. Continue towards the border as lunch buffet is being served from 12:30 to 14:00. Between 14:00 and 17:30, border formalities are being carried out. The border in Cambodia is Ka Orm Samnor and Vietnam is Song Tien. At 17:45, depart for Tan Chau. Enjoy themed dinner from 19:30 to 21:00.

Day 3: Tan Chau ‐ Sa Dec (B, L, D)
Summary of Excursion: Rise and dressed for a wonderful breakfast served from 7:00 to 8:30. At 9:00, transfers to
small boats visit a floating fish farm and navigates along the tiny tribunals where slit houses are haphazardly leaning on one another. Go ashore and make a city tours on Xe Loi. Stop and visit silk making factory, rattan mats and slippers
making factory. At 11:30, return to the boat and prepare for lunch. At 12:30, cast off for Sa Dec. Lunch is served from
12:30 to 14:00. At 16:00 to 16:45, a cultural forum on Vietnam. Dinner at 18:30 to 19:30 followed by a culturally enriching ethnic dance performance. At 21:00, arrive in Sa Dec and moored midstream overnight.

Day 4: Sa Dec – Cua Tieu (B, L, D)
Summary of Excursion: Breakfast served from 7:00 to 8:30. At 9:00, follow guides to the hometown of Marguerite Duras’ lover, quaint little city. Visit the old house of Huynh Thuy Le’s "The Lovers Museum", partake in the bantering of local markets along the paved river banks, pagoda and the Fujian Temple, build and donated to the city by Le’s family. You will pass by the homes of Marguerite Duras from across the riverbanks and also visit the school where Margeurite's mom taught. Back to the boat at 12:00. Lunch served from 12:30 to 14:00. At 12:15, depart for Cai Be and at 15:30, the boat sails towards Cua Tieu. Explore the hidden treasures through the canals on riverboats and partake in afternoon bantering with floating markets vendors before going ashore to visit traditional candies making factory and rice paper mills. Return to the boat for briefing at around 16:30 before adjourning to the restaurant for a grand farewell dinner and drinks from 19:30 to 21:00.

Day 5: Saigon (B)
At 2:00, the boat sails towards Saigon. Breakfast served from 7:00 to 8:30. Bid farewells to crew and disembark with guides. Tour ends. Far East Tour awaits to serve you next time. Inclusions

• Entrance fees
• Transportation and English-speaking tour guides’ services
• Taxes, fuel, pilot, port dues, passenger levies, full board during the itinerary
• Welcome and Farewell Dinners, daily breakfast, lunch and dinner including local beers, local brand spirits and local wines served during meals; coffee, selection of teas, selection of herbal infusions, local mineral water, local canned soft drinks served free through the day.
• Transfers between the ship and the to meeting points at the start and end of the voyage

Exclusions

• Airfares & airport taxes.
• Personal expenses (drinks, laundry, telephone…)
• Tips & gratuities
• Vietnam  and Cambodia Visa (Visa fee on arrival at Cambodia border: 25USD, 1 photo 3x4cm)
• Other not mentioned

Day 1:Sai Gon (L, D)
Welcome onboard the RV La Marguerite where the vessel moored at the Saigon port. Saigon, now known as Ho Chi Minh City, is peppered with old French colonial architecture along the riverside. Check-in is at 12h00 where port and immigration formalities will be conducted. After checking in, freshen up and enjoy the fascinating views of the Saigon River either from your private balcony or from the sun deck. At 14h00, the ship departs Saigon sailing through the international waterways, up the broad Mekong Tributary. Tonight join fellow passengers onboard for Welcome Dinner at the Mekong Restaurant.

Day 2: Cai Be – Sa Dec (B, L, D)
Arriving at Cai Be in the morning, early risers could enjoy crimson sunrise on the sun deck. After breakfast, sail through Cai Be's floating market, go ashore to visit the French Gothic Cathedral, colorful flower gardens and local rice paper manufacturers. Cruise past Vinh Long Province and 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 Sa Dec, director Jean-Jaques Annaud shot much of his 1992 film "The Lover". Aside from the fact that the French have long departed, not a lot has changed in Sa Dec since Duras' day. Warehouses, mostly old Chinese shop-houses, 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 lived still stand. Spend time in the house of Mr Huynh Thuy Le, Duras' Chinese lover. The house is now the "The Lover Museum" in Sadec. In the evening, cruise through the Mekong Delta to Tan Chau.

Day 3: Tan Chau – Boder Crosing (B, L, D)
Tan Chau is a remote small town on the main Mekong River. After breakfast, transfer to small boats visit a catfish farm, rice-polishing factory, mat making workshop and a silk weaving workshop. Take a round trip trishaw ride around this fascinating town. We return to the ship by boat for lunch and cast off for the Cambodian border for port and immigration formalities. In the evening, cruise up the broad Mekong River, an international shipping route and moor overnight mid-stream just outside of Phnom Penh.

Day 4: Phnom Penh (B, L, D)
Early morning cruise into Phnom Penh and dock at the passenger port terminal. This capital of Cambodia retains its French charm with old colonial architecture framing busy cafes. The city has several impressive Wats, including Wat Ounalom, Wat Phnom and the newly painted Wat Lang Ka. Visit the Royal Palace, the spectacular Silver Pagoda, one of the few places in Cambodia where the Khmer Rouge preserved artifacts embodying the brilliance and richness of Khmer culture. The National Museum is another highlight, with outstanding displays of Khmer crafts. An afternoon excursion is arranged to the Killing Fields and the Khmer Rouge's grim Tuol Sleng or S21 detention center.
 
Day 5:Phnom Penh – Kampong Cham (B, L, D)
Early morning departs from Phnom Penh and stop at secluded Chong Koh silk weaving village for a leisurely walk. Cruise past the Mekong's timeless villages with extensive fishing activities. The scenery is serene, and in the distance, forested hills rise. On the river above Phnom Penh there is real Cambodian life. In the afternoon, stop at Peam Chi Kang village to visit the Wat or Monastery and its school. Explore this peaceful and friendly community at your own pace. In the Wat, splendid village racing boats are stored. Anchor mid-stream at Kampong Cham.
 
Day 6: Kampong Cham Area (B, L, D)
In the morning, journey upriver to the hilltop. Pre-Angkorian temple of Wat Hanchey. Dating back to the 8th century, these ancient brick structures characterize the architecture of the Chenla Empire, which predated the glories of Angkor. Sail back downstream for an exploration of the Kampong Cham Area. Travel by bus to the 12th century Angkorian temple of Wat Nokor. This colorful temple is unique in Cambodia, as a modern Wat, it is set within the ruins of an ancient temple. Continue to the Eco Village of Cheungkok. There are many pagodas and shrines on the hilltops.
 
Day 7: Tonle River (B, L, D)
Sail along Tonle River, which connects Tonle Lake with the Mekong and Bassac Rivers at Phnom Penh. Winding through the jungles, coming up close with local river folks. Temples abound along the riverbanks at Kampong Chhnang and we witness a rich tapestry of Cambodian rural life. This is a busy rural port town with bustling markets. Mooring mid-stream, visit lakeside wetlands that form the mouth of the river. Here a stunning variety of bird life are seen and be amazed at the schools of fish migrating from the lake into the Tonle River.
 
Day 8: Tonle Lake – Siem Reap (B, L)
The great lake over 150 km long, dominates Cambodia. Here bird life is profuse. From the middle of the lake, enjoy the stillness and tranquility along the floating fishing villages. And we will either cross Tonle Lake at dawn and disembark at Siem Reap Port or transfer by coach from Prek Kdam on the Tonle River to Siem Reap stopping for a short rest at Kampong Thom, depending on the water levels. Arrive at Siem Reap and bid farewell to fellow travelers and crew members.. Arrive at Siem Reap and bid farewell to fellow travelers and crew members. Tour ends. Far East Tour awaits to serve you next time.

Downstream Route: Siem Reap – Saigon
Departure dates in 2010: 11, 25 July; 8, 22 Aug; 5, 19 Sep; 3, 17, 31 Oct: 14, 28 Nov; 12, 26 Dec
Departure dates in 2011: 9, 23 Jan; 6, 20 Feb; 6, 20 Mar; 3, 17 Apr Inclusions

• Tour programs as in the itinerary
• Entrance fees
• Transportation and English-speaking tour guides’ services
• Taxes, fuel, pilot, port dues, passenger levies, full board during the itinerary
• Welcome and Farewell Dinners, daily breakfast, lunch and dinner including local beers, local brand spirits and local wines served during meals; coffee, selection of teas, selection of herbal infusions, local mineral water, local canned soft drinks served free through the day.
• Transfers between the ship and the to meeting points at the start and end of the voyage

Exclusions

• Airfares & airport taxes.
• Personal expenses (drinks, laundry, telephone…)
• Tips & gratuities
• Vietnam  and Cambodia Visa (Visa fee (Visa fee on arrival at Cambodia border: 25USD, 1 photo 3x4cm)
• Other not mentioned