Mekong Navigator – MN240303 – UPSTREAM – 4 nights

After breakfast, board the sampan cruising through small canals with water coconut palm trees and apple mangrove trees on 2 sides. After getting on shore, we walk through tropical fruit plantations. After that hop on a Lambro 550 for a trip to a local house which is a local coconut candy factory and observe handicrafts shaped from the coconut. Later on, take our time to observe the local beekeepers tending their hives. Take the chance to try fresh honey, partake in fresh honey tea and fresh tropical fruits while enjoying “Don Ca Tai Tu” folk music. Then make a slow walk to the canals where we board hand-rowing boats and cruise along the canals observing birdlife and local life before taking sampan ride back to the cruise.

After a nice lunch, board our sampan for a short journey to Cho Lach where we will observe and learn how to make planter pots, from making the moulds to the finished painted items. Then make our walk through the local countryside and talk to the local farmers working in the fields and learn how to graft tropical trees. Continue our leisurely stroll through the village before visiting a local house to learn how bamboo fish traps are made and see how the villagers use them to catch fish and shrimp. Then board the sampan back to the cruise.

Cu Lao Gieng, known as “The Mango Island”, is a small and lovely island along the upper Mekong River, untouched by tourism, famous for mango farms.
Touring this serene island would give people an interesting insight into its nature, architecture and local life. The sightseeing partly by sampan and partly by remork will include 4 stops: bamboo basket making village, an ancient French-designed house, mango farm, and a Catholic church of Gieng island.

The island tour begins with a visit to bamboo basket making village to learn about the age-old craftwork which has been preserved for generations. Continue sightseeing into shady mango roads with photo opportunities. Another stop is made at a mango farm to enjoy the fresh mango and see the secret of the local farmers using techniques to change the mango color naturally. The next stop is at the most beautiful colonial Catholic church on the island.
Before returning to the cruise, guests will have a chance to visit one of the oldest houses on this island which is still remaining with French architecture.

In the afternoon, board the sampan cruising on small canal with hundreds of fish farm along the canal in Long Thuan village. You will walk to the Taoism temple where we will voluntarily make a donation and have our fortunes told by local Taoist monks. After visiting the temple, you will explore the beautiful and peaceful countryside. Before returning to the sampan, guests visit local house to learn how to make a Unicorn and enjoy a Unicorn Dance Performance.

This morning we sail upstream to enjoy a leisurely cruise and taking in the sights along the Mekong River reaching Phnom Penh in late afternoon. Some cultural activities are planned on board (introduction of tropical fruitS and fruit tasting, demonstration of Vietnamese spring roll making, introduction of traditional Cambodian costumes).

In the evening, before dinner, there is a cocktail and sabering time hosted by our Captain.

Following breakfast, the crew bid farewell as guests are invited to disembark in Phnom Penh, Cambodia.