THE MEKONG FROM VIETNAM TO CAMBODIA

1. Arrive

2. Day 1 My Tho, Vietnam

   You will be driven the 1 ½ hour journey from Ho Chi Minh City to My Tho, where you will board the Aqua Mekong. Settle into your air-conditioned suite and the relax and watch the daily life of the Mekong Delta go by from the Observation Deck.

   Overnight: Aqua Mekong

3. Day 2 Sa Dec - Gieng Islet

   Enjoy a tour of Sa Dec town on foot, wandering through the local market with its fresh produce and exotic spices and ending at the colonial house once occupied by French writer, Marguerite Duras. It was here in Sa Dec that she began the affair with a rich merchant inspiring her most famous work, The Lover. After lunch on board the Aqua Mekong, cruise by skiff to Gieng Islet, a 40sq kms riverine island around which you can walk or cycle, visiting the 1875 Cu Lao Gieng Church and interacting with the Sisters of Father at the Covent of the Providence Order and Catholic Church. As you return back to the boat you will see indigenous pagodas and wooden houses built in the early twentieth century in traditional Vietnamese design.

   Overnight: Aqua Mekong

4. Day 3 My An Hung - Chau Doc - Sam Mountain

   This morning you have the opportunity to enter a local’s home in the typical Mekong Delta village of My An Hung, where you will sample deliciously fresh fruit whilst the villagers perform traditional folk songs and dances. Enjoy the abundant array of plantation flora before heading before heading back to the Aqua Mekong to cruise on to Chau Doc. On arrival, head to shore by skiff and drive up to the 230m high Sam Mountain which is the highest point in the Mekong Delta and home to dozens of pagodas on the mountainside and in caves. Enjoy panoramic views of Cambodia's rice fields from the summit and enjoy a private audience with the Mahayana Buddhist monks at Long Son Tu Temple. Gourmets might like to accompany the chef to the local market on the way back to the boat to inspect the copious baskets of the day's catch, crisp vegetables and luscious tropical fruit.

   Overnight: Aqua Mekong

5. Day 4 Southern Cambodia

   Cruise on towards the Cambodian capital of Phnom Penh, pausing en route to visit the area known for a series of "silk islands" along the river and home to the intricately carved Prek Bongkong Pagoda. Witness the process of silk weaving before heading back to the boat for the border crossing into Cambodia.

   Overnight: Aqua Mekong

6. Day 5 Arrive Phnom Penh

   Leave the sleepy countryside behind as you sail into the political and economic capital, Phnom Penh. Say goodbye to the crew on board and disembark into Tuk Tuks to explore the historic city's highlights which include the Royal Palace, Silver Pagoda and the National Museum of Cambodia which is home to the world's largest collection of Khmer art. Your Red Savannah guide will then escort you to your hotel for the night.

7. Depart

SUGGESTED EXTENSION: Continue your journey through Southeast Asia by extending your cruise on board the Aqua Mekong to Siem Reap via the floating villages of the Tonle Sap lake. Take a charter flight on to Thailand for four nights in a Bayview Pool Villa at Soneva Kiri and three nights at the Bill Bensley-designed Siam in Bangkok. From £9,843 / $13,120 per person based on two people sharing, excluding flights to Vietnam / from Thailand, but including charter flight to and from Soneva Kiri.