Mekong River - Upstream

Upon arrival, you are welcomed at the lounge in Saigon, where you may enjoy a second morning coffee before transferring to My Tho to board the vessel. After embarkation, the crew guides you to your stateroom and provides a short introduction to the cabin facilities. Once you have settled in, lunch is served in the restaurant, followed by a welcome and safety briefing in the lobby with the cruise director.

In the afternoon, the ship begins sailing along the Mekong River, giving you time to relax on deck and take in the scenery. As the sun sets, the cruise director invites you to a small gathering with canapés and prosecco, offering a chance to meet fellow travelers. Dinner is then served while the ship sails toward the Cai Be area, anchoring near Tan Phong Island for the night. To end the day, you may choose to watch a film in the indoor lounge.

Begin your day early to see the morning activity in the Delta. Join a Tai Chi session, then have breakfast from the buffet. Take a local boat to Tan Phong Island, located in the middle of the Mekong River’s tributaries, and explore the area.

Default Excursion: During a visit to a workshop in the town of Cai Be, you have the opportunity to observe the production of rice paper, rice cookies, rice wine and coconut candies. This is a very interesting manual process involving manual labor and special production techniques. After the workshop you are heading to Tan Phong Island, a smaller island in the middle of the vast Mekong. You are visiting a local family and their fruit garden offering you various kind of tropical fruits to taste. A buggy ride through the island let you have a glimpse of the local day to day life as it unfolds. You stop at another family’s house. They are specialized in weaving of water hyacinth plants into artistic crafts by hand.

Optional Morning Excursion:
Culinary: After a short buggy ride through lush fruit orchards, a local family welcomes you as a cooking apprentice to master the art of traditional Jackfruit Leaf Cakes. From picking fresh leaves and extracting their juice to shaping and steaming the cakes in their natural casings, experience every step of the process. You can also learn to prepare a perfect coconut dipping cream before savoring your creation with hot ginger tea.

Cycling (extra cost): This cycling tour offers a ride over the scenic Tan Phong Island. Cycle along well-maintained and flat concrete paths winding through orchards of rambutan, longan, and jackfruit. You stop and visit a local family business producing charming handicrafts from water hyacinths. The tour continues for 3 km along a canal to a local temple for a refreshing break under a banyan tree before continuing the ride to a tropical fruit farmer's home for a tasting.
Distance: 12km / Duration: approx. 90 min / Terrain: flat on concrete path

Default Excursion: Relax and enjoy some time on your private balcony or at the bar as you continue your voyage upstream. In the afternoon, you arrive at Sa Dec, a charming riverside town in Dong Thap Province. This town reveals a graceful blend of colonial elegance and everyday Mekong life. Begin with a walk through the lively central market, where an abundance of fresh produce, seafood, and local delicacies reflects the region’s rich agricultural rhythm. The cultural layers deepen with a visit to the historic home of Huynh Thuy Le, closely tied to Marguerite Duras’ The Lover. Stepping inside offers a glimpse into a narrative that has left its mark on both literature and the town itself. The journey continues to Kien An Cung Pagoda, a century-old temple of Chinese heritage. With its ornate details and tranquil riverside setting, it provides a peaceful contrast to the town’s lively streets before returning on board.

Optional Afternoon Excursion:
Cycling (extra cost): Once on shore, the cycling discovery around the town begins at a lively local market, followed by a visit to Huynh Thuy Le Ancient House, a well-preserved French-Chinese residence tied to the love story behind The Lover. The cycling tour leads to Sa Dec Flower Village, with stops at family-run gardens where growers explain their traditional methods amid rows of colorful blooms. After a refreshing drink at the Pink House, the ride ends at Cao Dai Holy See, a striking religious landmark with distinctive architecture.
Distance: 15 km / Duration: approx. 90 min / Terrain: flat on concrete path

Before dinner, witness a presentation about life on the Mekong Delta as the ship sails toward your mooring spot for the night near Gieng Island.

After the morning Tai Chi session and a delightful breakfast, you embark on an exploration revealing a vibrant kaleidoscope of the diverse activities bringing the Mekong Delta to life.

Default Excursion: Gieng Island, also known locally as Mango Island, is perfect to stroll through under the shades of flourishing mango groves that shape the island’s landscape. A visit to a small incense workshop introduces you to the careful process of crafting these fragrance incense sticks by hand, another local highlight is a traditional boat-building workshop, where generations of families assemble wooden vessels that are essential to life along the river. Before departing, you surely are going to taste some of these delicious and freshly picked mangoes with a local tea in the courtyard of century-old local home. This is the moment when you understand the rhythms and resilience of life on the Mekong - so simple, so joyful.

Optional Morning Excursion:
Culinary: Conclude your morning excursion with a culinary twist: Prepare with a local family an authentic “Banh In”, a soft, sweet treat made from glutinous rice flour and sugar. Always served with jasmine tea, the ‘Banh In’ is popular during Vietnamese national festivals such as Tet.

Cycling (extra cost): The island’s flat terrain makes this ride so pleasurable and easy along lush green paths with many mango farms. Enjoy local Mekong Delta life at its best, left and right, with locals waving friendly. You ride along many fruit gardens, and there is always something to stop and see on the way, like a traditional incense workshop or a local boat-building workshop.
Distance: 15 km / Duration: approx. 90 min / Terrain: flat on concrete path

After lunch, the afternoon unfolds at a gentle pace as the ship glides towards the border. You are invited to join a hands-on cooking class, where you’ll learn a Vietnamese dish simple enough to recreate at home later. Alternatively, the time is yours to unwind on deck as the landscapes drift by, or retreat to the spa for a soothing treatment that restores both body and mind.

Once in Cambodia, the journey continues with an overnight sail into Cambodia, en route to the country’s capital.

Welcome to Phnom Penh - the city once named Paris of the East. Despite its rapid development, it has retained a lot of its rustic charm and elegance. It is an amazing town with centuries of incredible history and culture which can still be felt at many street corners.

Enjoy your last breakfast aboard your floating home before disembarking the ship. The team hopes you enjoyed this fascinating river cruise, just as the crew does every single time. Moreover, take the enchanting memories and friendships along with you and share the stories of this amazing river - the Mighty Mekong.