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8 Day Avalon Waterways River Cruise from Ho Chi Minh City to Phnom Penh 2025(WHS)
River Cruise Description
On this unique and inspiring Southeast Asia river cruise through Vietnam and Cambodia, you'll be immersed in the cultures and ancient traditions as you sightsee and spend time with locals in the most interesting places along the mighty Mekong River.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. See firsthand how handcrafted sampans are built at the home of a family in Cu Lao Gieng. Walk through a colorful market as the locals are busy with their daily routine of buying and selling produce. In the capital of Cambodia, Phnom Penh, tour the National Museum and Royal Palace with its striking Silver Pagoda. Enjoy a song and dance performance by children from 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 this diverse river cruise and stop in a Silversmith Village to see craftsmen making silver artwork using ancient techniques. Go on an ox cart ride amongst rice paddy fields in the enchanting Cambodian countryside and witness the daily lives of farmers. This once-in-a-lifetime Southeast Asia river cruise vacation is sure to create lasting memories!Thanks for your interest!
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I'm sorry, but an error has occurred. Try Again| Departure Date | Ship | Priced From (per person) | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan 9, 2025 | Avalon Saigon | Waitlist | Call Us! |
| Jan 23, 2025 | Avalon Saigon | Waitlist | Call Us! |
| Mar 6, 2025 | Avalon Saigon | $4,689 | Call Us! |
| Apr 3, 2025 | Avalon Saigon | $4,359 | Call Us! |
| Apr 17, 2025 | Avalon Saigon | $3,919 | Call Us! |
| Aug 7, 2025 | Avalon Saigon | $3,179 | Call Us! |
| Aug 21, 2025 | Avalon Saigon | $3,419 | Call Us! |
| Sep 4, 2025 | Avalon Saigon | $3,689 | Call Us! |
| Sep 18, 2025 | Avalon Saigon | $3,689 | Call Us! |
| Oct 2, 2025 | Avalon Saigon | $3,919 | Call Us! |
| Oct 16, 2025 | Avalon Saigon | $3,919 | Call Us! |
| Oct 30, 2025 | Avalon Saigon | $4,919 | Call Us! |
| Nov 13, 2025 | Avalon Saigon | $4,919 | Call Us! |
| Nov 27, 2025 | Avalon Saigon | $4,919 | Call Us! |
Avalon has designed included activities with a choice of experiences. We invite you to select the tours, activities, and events that interest you most, so you can experience your cruise your way. There are 3 types of included shore excursion on every Europe cruise:
Classic
Your local expert is ready to guide you through the history and heritage of local destinations. You'll marvel at the legends, lore, and spectacular architecture of iconic and historic sites.
Discovery
We've found inspiring and interactive activities to speak to your interests — from cooking classes, to painting workshops — to immerse yourself in each culture you explore.
Active
Embark on energetic excursions to keep you in motion and on the go — from a guided jogging tour of Amsterdam, to biking, paddling, and hiking your way through scenic locales.
- Plus independent exploration options and use of Avalon's exclusive AvalonGO APP.
River Cruise Itinerary
Day 1 HO CHI MINH CITY (EMBARKATION)
Your Suite Ship® is Ready for Boarding
Transfer to the port in the heart of Ho Chi Minh on the Saigon River for embarkation. Get acquainted with the ship and relax before your welcome reception this evening. AFTERNOON/EVENING CRUISE TO VINH LONG
(D)
Day 2 VINH LONG–CU LAO GIENG
Sweets, Sampans, and Sun Hats
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.
Discovery
This afternoon, enjoy scenes of daily life on Cu Lao Gieng Island via sampan and local motor cart. Your Guided Excursion starts at a local workshop, where a skilled family hand-crafts sampan boats. 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, stop at one of Vietnam’s oldest Catholic churches.
AFTERNOON/EVENING CRUISE TO CHAU DOC
(B,L,D)
Day 3 CHAU DOC–LONG KHANH A–BORDER CROSSING, CAMBODIA
Colorful markets, Charming Locals, and Cotton Weavers
Discovery
In Chau Doc take a Guided Walk through the local market and absorb the atmosphere as locals are busy buying and selling fish, meat, and produce. Then embark on a River 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.
Discovery
After lunch, a sampan brings you to the village of Long Khanh A for a Cotton-Weaving Demonstration of a well-preserved artisan’s tradition.
EVENING/OVERNIGHT CRUISE TO PHNOM PENH
(B,L,D)
Day 4 PHNOM PENH
The Royal Treatment
Classic
Take a City Tour by private cyclo to visit the Royal Palace with the spectacular Silver Pagoda, and the National Museum featuring an outstanding display of Khmer artifacts.
(B,L,D)
Day 5 PHNOM PENH
A Dark History or Bright Markets
Classic
This morning, a Guided Visit of the Tuol Sleng Genocide Museum and one of the Killing Fields offers a glimpse into the atrocities inflicted on the Cambodian people by the Khmer Rouge regime, OR:
After lunch, depart Phnom Penh and enjoy some time at leisure on the ship.
AFTERNOON/EVENING CRUISE TO WAT HANCHEY
(B,L,D)
Day 6 WAT HANCHEY–ANGKOR BAN
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 KONPONG LOUANG
(B,L,D)
Day 7 KONPONG LOUANG–KAMPONG TRALACH
Calm in the Cambodian Countryside
Discovery
Start your Guided Sightseeing at the silversmith village in Konpong Louang. Here, see talented craftsmen use age-old techniques to turn pure silver into works of art. In Kampong Tralach board an ox cart for a ride through the beautiful Cambodian countryside. Along the way, stop to meet a local farmer and learn about his daily life.
EVENING CRUISE TO PHNOM PENH
(B,L,D)
Day 8 PHNOM PENH (DISEMBARKATION)
Your vacation ends with breakfast this morning.(B)
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