Mekong Wait!
As this blog is being published I will be fortunate to be sailing down the Mekong River from Ho Chi Minh City to Siem Reap for 7 nights on the RV AmALotus with APT. Back in May I was very fortunate to win this fantastic river cruise, with the opportunity of also taking my wife on this once in a lifetime trip. However, there was a few obstacles in our way when given this fantastic opportunity. Firstly annual leave for both and my wife as the majority had be use to cover school holidays, child care for our nine year old daughter and finally letting our daughter know she would not be coming with us.
Our trip will start on Saturday the 01st December where we will fly overnight from Manchester via Dubai to Ho Chi Minh City, where we stay overnight in a hotel before meeting up with the tour. We will then be doing the following for the next 7 nights.
DAY 1
Ho Chi Minh City,My Tho, Embark Cruise
FREEDOM OF CHOICE™- Sightseeing
Perhaps enjoy a leisurely walking tour of Ho Chi Minh City, visiting the Reunification Palace and the Central Post Office. Or jump on the back of a motorbike for an exciting city tour. Alternatively, tour the Ky Long Art Villa where you’ll learn about Vietnamese lacquer art and see artist workshops. You may like to try out your culinary skills with a fun cooking class at GRAIN by Luke Nguyen cooking studio, or delight in an exciting shopping tour.
Choose from an extensive range of Freedom of Choice Sightseeing activities today. This afternoon, transfer to My Tho to embark your ship. Settle in to your suite before an exclusive Luke Nguyen Welcome Dinner.
Stay: Seven Nights: Mekong River, RV AmaLotus
Daily :
DAY 2
Cai Be, Sa Dec
A local boat will take you to the town of Cai Be. Step ashore to explore before visiting a local rice paper manufacturer. This afternoon, cruise to Sa Dec. On arrival, tour Huynh Thuy Le’s old house and learn the story behind Marguerite Duras’ best-selling novel, The Lover. Afterwards, visit a traditional Cao Dai temple.
Daily :
DAY 3
Tan Chau, Evergreen Island, Border Crossing, Phnom Penh
Travel by small boat to Tan Chau, followed by a rickshaw tour. Later, visit an evergreen island and witness rural Mekong life. The remainder of today is left free for you to relax on board as you cross the border into Cambodia and cruise towards Phnom Penh.
Daily :
DAY 4
Phnom Penh
FREEDOM OF CHOICE™ – Sightseeing
Perhaps enjoy a guided tour of the dazzling white and gold Royal Palace and Silver Pagoda, which is located on the south side of the palace complex and houses many national treasures. Alternatively, you may wish to discover some of Cambodia’s sobering history with a moving excursion to the infamous Killing Fields.
After breakfast on board, disembark and join your chosen activity. Afterwards, visit the Tuol Sleng Genocide Museum, located on the site of the Khmer Rouge’s notorious Security Prison 21 (S-21). Here, you’ll learn of the atrocities inflicted upon Cambodians during Pol Pot’s Khmer Rouge regime in the mid-to-late 1970s. Your other options are a visit to the National Museum of Cambodia, or a guided city tour in a tuk tuk providing an exciting way in which to take in a range of city sights, including the Independence Monument and Wat Phnom.
Daily :
DAY 5
Phnom Penh, Koh Chen
Enjoy free time in Phnom Penh. This afternoon, continue sailing to the village of Koh Chen for a walk to visit the copperware workshops.
Daily :
DAY 6
Oudong, Kampong Tralach
Take a coach to Oudong, calling in on a local monastery to be met by Buddhist monks, before receiving a special blessing. Afterwards, continue to Kampong Tralach for a visit to the Wat Kampong Tralach Pleu pagoda, before taking an exciting ox cart ride.
Daily :
DAY 7
Kampong Chhnang
Today, jump aboard a small boat and head into the lush wetlands near Kampong Chhnang. Afterwards, return to your ship and cast off towards Prek K’dam. Enjoy a Farewell Dinner with your fellow travellers.
Daily :
DAY 8
Prek K’dam, Disembark Ship, Siem Reap
FREEDOM OF CHOICE™ – Dining
Let the many flavours of Cambodia excite your tastebuds. This evening you’ll indulge in a Freedom of Choice dining experience, selecting from a range of hand-picked restaurants for dinner.
Disembark at Prek K’dam and transfer back to Siem Reap
As I am writing this blog I am so excited and cannot wait for what’s ahead of us. I will be taking lots of photos and videos on this trip, so if you have any questions about the ship or trip please leave your comments.
About Me
Ahoy there! Welcome to 'Set Sail with Sean.' I feel lucky that I have been able to combine my passion with my career for the past 20 years in the travel industry. It's been a privilege to have visited some amazing places and experienced once in a lifetime moments through the…
Read more
Thank you for subscribing!