Mekong Discovery

5.0/5 Based on 2 Reviews No Booking FeesDedicated Cruise Advisor
Suite
$2,739
* Port charges, taxes and fees included
 Cruise Length
8 Days
 Cruise Starts
Phnom Penh
 Cruise Finishes
Ho Chi Minh City
8 Day Mekong Discovery Itinerary (Avalon)
Countries Explored: Cambodia, Vietnam
Cruise Line
Avalon
Ship
Departures
Passengers
36
Crew
24
Launched
2018
Cruise Code
WSH

Overview

On this unique and inspiring Southeast Asia river cruise through Cambodia and Vietnam, you’ll be immersed in the cultures and ancient traditions as you sightsee and spend time with locals in interesting places along the mighty Mekong River.



In the enchanting Cambodian countryside, go on an ox-cart ride amongst rice paddy fields and witness the daily lives of farmers. In a Silversmith Village, see craftsmen making silver artwork using ancient techniques. French influences are still apparent in the lovely capital of Cambodia, Phnom Penh. Here you’ll tour the National Museum...read more and Royal Palace with its striking Silver Pagoda and enjoy a song and dance performance by children at a local orphanage. On a hilltop at the site of the 8th-century temple of Wat Hanchey, take in the stunning views before walking through the rural village of Angkor Ban to visit with welcoming schoolchildren.



Continue your river cruise into Vietnam where you’ll walk through a vibrant market as the locals are busy with their daily routine of buying and selling produce. See firsthand how handcrafted sampans are built at the home of a family in Cu Lao Gieng. Via sampan, cruise into Vinh Long and experience Vietnamese culture with a visit to a workshop to learn how rice wine and traditional candies are made. This once-in-a-lifetime Southeast Asia river cruise holiday is sure to create lasting memories!

Itinerary

Welcome to Cambodia. Your Intimate Suite Ship Awaits! Get acquainted with the ship and relax before your welcome reception this evening.

AFTERNOON/EVENING CRUISE TO WAT HANCHEY (L/D)

Water Blessings and Back-to-School Adventures

  • Discovery: Visit Wat Hanchey, a hilltop temple dating back to the 8th century. Climb or be driven to the top where you will enjoy stunning views of the surrounding area and partake in a traditional water blessing given by local monks.
  • Discovery: After lunch, enjoy a Walking Tour through the rural village of Angkor Ban. Here, you will visit a traditional Khmer house and interact with children at a local school.

EVENING/OVERNIGHT CRUISE TO KAMPONG TRALACH (B/L/D)

Calm in the Cambodian Countryside

  • Discovery: Your Guided Sightseeing starts in Kampong Tralach with an Ox - Cart Ride through the beautiful Cambodian countryside. Along the way, stop to meet a local farmer and learn about his daily life. At the silversmith village in Konpong Louang, see talented craftsmen use age-old techniques to turn pure silver into works of art. Sail to the capital city of Phnom Penh this afternoon.

PHNOM PENH: A Dark History or Market Dynamics

  • Classic: After lunch, join a Guided Visit to the Tuol Sleng Genocide Museum and one of the Killing Fields for a glimpse into the atrocities inflicted on the Cambodian people by the Khmer Rouge regime, OR:
  • Discovery: Visit the lively Central Market by tuk-tuk to see its unique Art Deco design.

This evening, spend some free time exploring the city on your own. Perhaps follow the riverfront promenade to the historic Foreign Correspondents Club (FCC). (B/L/D)

The Royal Treatment

  • Classic: Join a Guided Tour of the city by private cyclo with visits to the Royal Palace with the spectacular Silver Pagoda, and the National Museum, featuring an outstanding display of Khmer artifacts. The remainder of the day is yours to enjoy at your leisure, Consider a Guided Optional Tour of a local brewery with free flowing local beer!

Just before dinner, children from a local orphanage will perform a show, featuring local song and dance.

EVENING/OVERNIGHT CRUISE TO VIETNAM/CAMBODIA BORDER (B/L/D)

Good Morning Vietnam!

  • Discovery: Take a Village Walk through the Chau Doc market, and absorb the atmosphere as locals are busy buying and selling fish, meat, and produce. After lunch, embark on a Guided Excursion down the backwaters of the Mekong. Along the way, see traditional floating homes, speedboat merchants, religious sites, a market selling dried goods, and more.

EVENING CRUISE TO LONG KHANH A (B/L/D)

Cotton Weaving, Conical Hats, and Handcrafted Sampans

  • Discovery: This morning, a sampan brings you to the village of Long Khanh A, for a Cotton-Weaving Demonstration of this well-preserved tradition.
  • Discovery: This afternoon, enjoy scenes of daily life on Cu Lao Gieng Island via sampan and local motor cart. Your Guided Excursion starts with a stop at one of Vietnam's oldest Catholic churches.

Then, visit the home of a local family that makes Vietnamese conical hats, or "Non la," from materials available to them such as palm leaves and bamboo. These iconic hats are primarily used as protection from the sun and rain but you may also see them used as a basket to carry home goods from the market. Lastly, visit a local workshop where a skilled family hand - crafts sampan boats.

EVENING CRUISE TO VINH LONG (B/L/D)

Sweets and Rice Treats

  • Discovery: Board a sampan this morning to Visit a Local Workshop in Vinh Long where you will see how rice paper, rice wine, and traditional candies are made.

This afternoon, enjoy time on board the ship as we sail to exciting Ho Chi Minh City.

AFTERNOON CRUISE TO HO CHI MINH CITY (B/L/D)

Your holiday ends with breakfast this morning. (B)

Life Onboard Avalon Saigon

Avalon Saigon
Avalon Saigon

Float along Asia's most famous waterway in relaxed luxury aboard Avalon's Mekong Suite Ship - Avalon Saigon. Read more

Exclusive Meets Inclusive
Exclusive Meets Inclusive

Avalon features all the right inclusions which compliment your luxurious rivercruise experience. Read more

Our Vision. Your View.
Our Vision. Your View.

Avalon have mastered the art of blending luxury with comfort, and now - blurring the line between outside and in. Read more

Feel At Home
Feel At Home

Avalon's attentive staff aboard each vessel will make you feel right at home. You'll be taken care of every step of the way. Read more

Avalon Choice
Avalon Choice

Personalise your cruise to make it your own with Avalon Choice. Select whichever included excursions interest you the most. Read more

From View to Table
From View to Table

Savour regional cuisine and familiar favourites using the freshest local ingredients throughout your river cruise. Read more

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Trip Reviews (2) Most Recent 'Mekong Discovery' Reviews

5.0
AVG. RATING 5.0 / 5
2 Reviews
5 Star
100%
4 Star
3 Star
2 Star
1 Star
Culturally inspiring tour made possible by proficient Global Journeys staff 1 , NSW, Australia, Sep 2019
The tour itself lived up to the advertising. Culturally inspiring with fabulous Avalon support staff. Special thanks though to the adept travel agent Tracey of Global Journeys as I tasked her with the impossible: Book a cruise 1 week from departure. This was no problem for her, with all tasks managed proficiently and expertly given the challenging timeline. ...read more Thanks!
Mekong Magic 14 , New Zealand, Jul 2017
The Avalon Mekong Siem Reap to Ho Chi Minh City ranks at the top of 45 years of travel and adventures. I can't praise it enough. I've traveled to over 90 countries - mostly independently - but have used tours more in the last 15 years, and have been on 7 including a Nile tour that like this, was cities with a cruise in between. This was better. Booking ...read more through Leanne at Global Journeys over the internet as as easy as being in a travel agent's office. Great communication. What the Mekong trip offered was a tick on our bucket list for the temples of Angkor Wat and a bit of relaxation afterwards. We had no expectations beyond that.

What we got - along with the pleasant company of 30 mostly retired people and 6 much younger ones - was an amazing mix of excursions (morning and afternoon offerings daily), modes of transport, and evening entertainment; all in 5 star luxury. The tour director was Phiem. I can't praise him enough. He really understood the clientele / demographic and our needs. He headed a star lineup of people that made everything a pleasure. They had plan A ready for the day, but with the slightest hitch it became apparent Phiem had plan B and plan C too. For example on a morning excursion to a riverside village, the transport was ox cart. Me and several others have knee or hip problems so when it was apparent we couldn't get on, he conjured up a tuk tuk, and he had a back up plan if that hadn't helped. To my delight and surprise I loved the tuk tuks and sanpans (life jackets provided. Really, they have thought of everything!) Cambodia and Vietnam each had a local guide accompany us. Both were hugely knowledgeable and one was a real raconteur too which helped make us his Avalon family, not just a collection of tourists.

29 Staff on the absolutely 5-star Siem Reap ship anticipated your needs. Several of these were specialist chefs and the buffet cold and hot food at breakfast and lunch was excellent plus the evening meal was a la carte. I need to stop but I could go on. In summary if you want to see Angkor Wat this tour goes to the right temples over 2 days. After that you get to choose your pick of excursions (they are all-included) to riverside villages, local craft makers, temples, museums and markets; some dark stuff linked to Pol Pot in Cambodia and the war in Vietnam, or stay on the ship for spa treatment or a nap. I loved it. Can you tell?

Brochure

Avalon River Cruises (2025-26) Brochure

Avalon River Cruises (2025-26)

Avalon Waterways has redefined cruising by going against the current and away from the ordinary. Delivering unparalleled experiences and boundless exploration, Avalon puts guests in the captain’s seat to navigate their journey, fuel their passions, and steer clear of the usual while cruising on the world’s most memorable and mesmerizing waterways. One...more step aboard our modern, luxurious Suite Ships with the grandest views in cruising and it’s easy to see how the tides are changing. Welcome to a new wave in cruising. Welcome aboard Avalon Waterways.

Availability USD USD Port charges, taxes and fees included.

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Note
Tour & cruises prices are per person. Prices shown have savings applied, are subject to availability and may be withdrawn at any time without notice. Pricing and trip details are correct at this point in time, however are subject to confirmation at the time of booking and are subject to change by Avalon. For cruise itineraries, cabin images are sourced from Avalon. These should be treated as indicative only. Cabin inclusions, upholsteries and room layout may differ to the image(s) shown depending on the ship selected and your sailing dates.

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