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Asia Stay | 13 days | Mekong River Cruise

2023-02-22T11:32:02.943Z


FIGARO VOYAGE SÉLECTION - Explore the Mekong River on a cruise with Voyages d'exception from €5,390. Voyages d'exception offers you a unique cultural stay on one of the most beautiful boats that sails on the Mekong: the RV Indochine II. You will be accompanied by Quentin Dupouey, who will share his knowledge with you during conferences on board. You will discover the fabulous sculpted temples of Angkor, an exceptional archaeological site, listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, which houses the r


Voyages d'exception offers you a unique cultural stay on one of the most beautiful boats that sails on the Mekong: the RV Indochine II.

You will be accompanied by Quentin Dupouey, who will share his knowledge with you during conferences on board.

You will discover the fabulous sculpted temples of Angkor, an exceptional archaeological site, listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, which houses the remains of the capitals of the former Khmer Empire.

Along the river, you will cross Cambodia and Vietnam, appreciating the traditions still intact, the colorful markets, the royal palace of Phnom Penh.

You will walk in the footsteps of Marguerite Duras in Sa Dec and succumb to the colonial charm of old Saigon, the current Ho Chi Minh City.

An exciting cultural cruise not to be missed on the

Travel dates

Friday 17 to Wednesday 29 November 2023

Other dates available with different itineraries:

Sunday 12 to Saturday 25 November 2023

Wednesday 17 to Tuesday 30 January 2024

Thursday 8 to Wednesday 21 February 2024

Extensions:

Optional post-stay, Imperial Cities, from €2790

Return on December 5, 2023

Trip price

Take advantage of a reduction of -€400 on your cruise on the Mekong and leave from €5390 instead of €5790.

Program

Day 1 -

City of departure/Siem Reap: Depending on your city of departure, you will take off on scheduled flights with a stopover to Siem Reap where you will meet our support team.

You will have dinner and spend the night in flight.

* The fixed prices published in the Rates and Conditions leaflet depend on your country and city of departure (France or Abroad).

Depending on the flight plans that will be offered, your departure and/or your return from Geneva could be done early for the outward journey and delayed for the return, the price would then be readjusted.

If you are leaving from another city, we can offer you a routing solution at an additional cost (contact us).

The departure and return city must be the same.

Mekong River Cruise Shutterstock

Day 2 –

Siem Reap: You will arrive at Siem Reap airport, be welcomed by your French-speaking guide and transferred to the Sofitel Angkor Phokeetra, your 5* hotel (local standards or similar) where you will have lunch.

In the afternoon you will visit the Banteay Srei temple, also known as "the woman's temple".

Located about 20 kilometers outside the city, this Hindu temple of pink sandstone dedicated to Shiva was built during the 10th century.

Banteay Srei is often said to be the "jewel of Khmer art" due to all of its intricate carvings.

You will dine at the restaurant before returning to your hotel for the night.

Day 3 -

Siem Reap: You will go to the site of Angkor and visit the Ta Prohm temple, invaded by tropical vegetation creating a breathtaking setting.

You will continue with the exploration of Angkor Thom, a vast architectural complex, sheltering in its center the temple-mountain of Bayon, famous for its towers with the 172 faces of Buddha.

You will walk along the enclosure of the former royal palace, which has now disappeared, where the sanctuary of Phimeanakas is located, then discover the terrace of the Elephants and that of the Leper King.

In the evening, you will attend the colorful spectacle of Cirque Phare and have dinner in Siem Reap, before strolling through the night market.

Mekong River Cruise Shutterstock

Day 4 –

Siem Reap/Tonle Sap: You will continue exploring the site of Angkor with a visit to the temple of Angkor Wat, a masterpiece of Khmer architecture.

It is the most famous and imposing of all the monuments of Angkor, whose five towers, which have become the emblem of Cambodia, appear on the flag.

After lunch, you will board the RV Indochine II.

Day 5 -

Tonle Sap/Kampong Chhnang/ Kampong Tralach: During your morning navigation on the lake, you will be invited to an exciting conference.

You will reach Kampong Chhnang, one of the largest fishing ports in Tonle Sap.

Fish farming is mainly practiced there.

The region is also known for its pottery from which the city takes its name: Kampong Chhnang meaning "pottery port" in Khmer.

You will taste palm sugar from Thnot, a sugar palm, then sail along the floating village aboard small local boats.

Mekong River Cruise Shutterstock

Day 6 -

Kampong Tralach/Koh Chen/ Phnom Penh: You will go by ox cart to the Wat Kampong Tralach Leu pagoda.

You will visit the Vihara which dates from the beginning of the last century and preserves magnificent murals.

You will then discover Koh Chen, a small village of craftsmen specialized in the work of engraved and silvered copper.

Then, you will sail to Phnom Penh where you will take a tuk-tuk ride to discover the city and its monuments.

Back on board, you will watch a traditional performance of Apsara dances.

Day 7 –

Phnom Penh: Arrived in the Cambodian capital, you will visit the Royal Palace, the symbolic heart of the nation and one of the finest examples of Cambodian architecture inspired by the classical Khmer style.

You will continue by the Silver Pagoda, paved with more than 5,000 silver slabs to which it owes its name.

You will continue by the National Museum built in 1917 by the French in the style of traditional Khmer architecture, you will see a sumptuous statue of Javayarman VII.

Then you will go to the Tuol Svay Prey S21 school, a former Khmer Rouge detention, torture and execution center during the civil war.

Mekong River Cruise Shutterstock

Day 8 –

Chau Doc/Sa Dec: In the morning you can attend the conference that will be offered to you, then you will arrive in Chau Doc, a town located on the border between Cambodia and Vietnam.

Located in the heart of a gigantic grid of rice fields, Chau Doc is very prosperous thanks to fishing and fish farming.

You will be transferred to small boats and visit Phat Thay Tay An Pagoda and Ba Chua Xu Temple.

Day 9 –

Sa Dec/Vinh Long/Cai Be: You will arrive at Sa Dec, nicknamed in colonial times “the garden of Cochinchina”.

You will appreciate its superb market and visit the former home of Huyn Thuy Lê, who was the lover of Marguerite Duras.

The writer spent part of his childhood in Sa Dec. Then you will sail towards Vinh Long, located between two arms of the Mekong.

You will take a boat trip through the arroyos and orchards that lead to Cai Be, and you will discover a brickyard as well as a workshop for the artisanal production of cakes and rice alcohol.

Mekong River Cruise Shutterstock

Day 10 –

My Tho / Ho Chi Minh City: You will discover the islands near My Tho known for their many orchards and fruit gardens.

The surrounding countryside is one of the most luxuriant gardens in Vietnam (coconut trees, banana trees, mango trees, longan trees).

On the largest of the islands, Thoi Son, you will visit a beekeeping farm and taste honey tea and delicious exotic fruits.

It is on board small sampans that you will glide on the canal lined with water palm trees which let you see the life of the villagers.

You will continue your magnificent navigation through the very narrow Chao Gao canal towards Ho Chi Minh City.

Day 11 –

Ho Chi Minh City: The morning will be devoted to visiting Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon) built by the French in 1859 and Vietnam's first port.

You will see the Reunification Palace, the Cathedral, Notre-Dame and the Central Post Office, you will visit the National History Museum.

After lunch you will go to the Cu Chi tunnels and discover the survival techniques of the Viet Cong during the war.

Back on the boat you will attend the farewell dinner with your whole team.

Mekong River Cruise Shutterstock

Day 12 –

Ho Chi Minh City: After disembarking from the RV Indochine II, your morning will be devoted to visiting Cholon, the major Chinese trading center in the economic capital of Vietnam.

You will have lunch in town and enjoy free time until your departure for Ho Chi Minh City airport from where you will take your return flight* (flight with layover).

You will have dinner and spend the night on the plane.

If you choose the extension, you will extend the adventure "In the heart of the imperial cities" from Ho Chi Minh City to Hanoi.

Day 13 –

City of return*: You will arrive at the airport during the day.

*The departure and return city must be the same

The price includes

  • The cruise in the chosen category

  • One-way Paris/Siem Reap and return Ho Chi Minh City/Paris flights on regular lines with stopovers (Thai Airways, Thai Smile, Vietnam Airlines or Singapore Airlines)

  • Transfers from the airport to the boat, from the boat to the hotel and from the hotel to the airport

  • Accommodation in Siem Reap in a 5* hotel (local standards or similar)

  • Full board throughout the trip

  • Visits and excursions mentioned in the program

  • The conferences

  • Drinks with meals based on 1 soda or 1 beer or 1 mineral water and coffee and tea with meals

  • Unlimited tea, coffee and mineral water during the cruise

  • Tips for guides, bus drivers and pilots of local boats during the stay

  • Readjustable airport taxes (€210/pers. on 25/07/2022)

Source: lefigaro

All news articles on 2023-02-22

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