8-Day Mekong River Cruise from South Vietnam to Cambodia: From Ho Chi Minh to Phnom Penh

Upon arrival at Tan Son Nhat International Airport, Sonasia’s guide & driver will pick you up and transfer directly to the hotel in the center of Ho Chi Minh City.

Ho Chi Minh City (HCMC) is Vietnam at its most dizzying: a high-octane city of commerce and culture that has driven the country forward with its pulsating energy. A chaotic whirl, the city breathes life and vitality into all who settle here, and visitors cannot help but be hauled along for the ride.

Free to stroll around the town for your own exploration.

Overnight in Ho Chi Minh City.

Depart the hotel for a full day Ho Chi Minh City tour. Head to Cholon, the Chinatown district, to discover the area’s markets, shops, and the Cantonese Thien Hau Pagoda - dedicated to the goddess of the Sea.

Visit Vietnam's first traditional medicine museum, the FITO Museum, with an amazing collection of 3,000 items relevant to the development of traditional Vietnamese medicine. Implements used to prepare indigenous herbs, and objects commonly found in traditional pharmacies can be seen in the galleries as well as ancient books and documents on traditional Vietnamese medicine.

Head back to the city center to visit Ben Thanh Market where an incredible display of fresh produce is offered. Simply stroll through the market exploring the variety of goods for sale.

This afternoon visit the War Remnants Museum,  History Museum (closed Mondays) or the former Presidential Palace, Stroll to the major sights of colonial Ho Chi Minh City: the Old Saigon Post Office, Dong Khoi Street (formerly Rue Catinat), Continental Hotel, Opera House and City Hall (a vehicle will be waiting at all times). At the end of the afternoon head back to the hotel to have a short refresh.

Shortly, our guide will pick you up to continue with an evening of cultural indulgence. Walk from the hotel to the Municipal Theatre of Ho Chi Minh City, also known as the Saigon Opera House. Built in 1898 by the French architect Ferret Eugene, and restored in 1998, is now certified as a ‘National Relic’. Take a closer look at the building’s intricate features and hear about its colourful past.

After the lights dim, the stage comes alive for an hour-long AO Show. Performed by enthusiastic local dancers and artists, the show displays Vietnamese heritage and culture through contemporary choreography and traditional music. Be amazed by the stunning blend of acrobatic acts and contemporary dance.

Following this vibrant spectacle, step out into the streets and join the guide for a stroll back to the hotel. Enjoy the ambiance of Ho Chi Minh City at night, seeing street vendors selling fresh snacks, motorbikes carrying young couples and locals out for their evening exercise.

Overnight in Ho Chi Minh City.

Leave the busy streets of Ho Chi Minh City and drive deep into the Mekong Delta on this Cai Be day tour. Upon arriving in Cai Be, disembark the boat when reaching Tan Phong Island and start a very interesting cycling tour surrounded by nature through small villages and narrow roads. Ride along the pathways and take the opportunity to visit local families making traditional products such as handicraft items made from water hyacinth, roofs made from palm leaves, hammocks made from coconut ropes, and rice papers.

Enjoy lunch with specialties of the Mekong Delta in the ambience of an ancient house.

After lunch, walk through narrow lanes of a local market to enjoy the hustle and bustle before getting on board and continue cruising on the Mekong River, witness everyday life in the watery world passing by while sampling local fresh fruits. Leave the boat for a while to visit local businesses such as family-run rice wine making and rice mill factory and interact with the host learning about their daily lives.

Following the cruise, in the late afternoon, continue by vehicle and drive to Can Tho. 

Overnight in Can Tho City.

Wake up early for a breakfast cruise to the colorful Cai Rang floating market which bustles with wholesalers on big boats. Here, during the early morning market hours, larger sized boats anchor and create lanes that smaller boats weave in and out of.

The main items sold here are fruit and vegetables and every boat has a long upright pole at its bow from which samples of the goods for sale are hung. The waterway becomes a maze of hundreds of boats packed with mango, bananas, papaya, pineapple, and even floating pho vendors.

Following the visit to Cai Rang and Can Tho depart for the 3-hour drive to Chau Doc.

The rest of the evening at leisure.

Overnight in Chau Doc.

After breakfast visit Chau Doc’s local market which overlooks the confluence of three rivers, and later take a boat to Chau Giang District where a tiny mosque serves the local Cham community. The Cham minority who dominated coastal Vietnam from the 2nd to the 9th centuries were originally Hindu, but became Muslim as a result of contact with Arab seafarers and merchants in the Middle Ages.

In Southeast Asia Islam was disseminated primarily by merchants who, following the monsoon winds, lived in various coastal towns for months at a time. The Chams also practice silk weaving and have the opportunity to see them at work. The architecture here is rather distinctive.

Visit a beautiful Khmer temple, and later the floating houses that double as catfish farms, now a huge industry for the country.

Late this afternoon visit Sam Mountain, an important pilgrimage site that is frequently visited by pilgrims from all over the Mekong Delta. There are dozens of pagodas and temples around Sam Mountain and reaching the peak is the highlight of the visit. The views from the top are spectacular (weather permitting) and can easily look out over Cambodia.

Overnight in Chau Doc.

This morning, get an early start to the pier for a memorable speedboat ride to Phnom Penh. The journey takes about 5 hours.

Arrive in Phnom Penh at around noon. Meet your guide and transfer to your hotel to freshen up.

Phnom Penh, once known as the “Pearl of Asia” and was known as one of the loveliest cities in French Indochina. Even after years of war and internal troubles, it still retains a distinct colonial charm. The Cambodian capital is strategically located at the confluence of the Mekong and Tonlé Sap rivers, so it is a bustling center of trade. The French installed wide tree-lined boulevards and left behind many fading colonial-era buildings. The overall effect leaves travelers amazed by the city’s fascinating blend of Western and Asian influences.

Meet your driver and embark on a charming ride around the city by traditional Cyclo to help get your bearings.

Pay your respects at the spot where the city was founded – the small hilltop temple Wat Phnom. From there it’s a short ride to the riverside, where you can visit the Royal Palace, built in 1866. The complex also houses the famous Silver Pagoda, named for numerous heavy silver tiles covering the floor. The temple also houses a collection of priceless Buddhas in gold, silver, crystal, and bronze.

At the National Museum, built by the French in a very Khmer style, get a deeper understanding of Khmer arts and history through artifacts dating from prehistory to the 17th century. The museum’s collections are a huge repository of the cultural wealth of Cambodia. The rafters also house a secret – a large colony of bats!
As the sun begins to set, sip a beverage on a river cruise to enjoy the townscape as dusk settles in and the city begins to light up.

Phnom Penh has an eclectic selection of restaurants and can suit all tastes. Tonight, enjoy dinner at the renowned Foreign Correspondents’ Club located on the Riverside. The building is a colonial gem with great views of the confluence of the Upper Mekong, Lower Mekong, Bassac, and Tonlé Sap rivers. Enjoy an à la carte dinner with a good selection of both Western and Asian dishes.

This morning, gain insight into Cambodia’s recent dark history on a visit to the remarkable Tuol Sleng Genocide Museum, housed in the former school that was taken over by the Khmer Rouge and used as its main detention and torture center named ‘S-21’.  

Spend the rest of the morning browsing through the colorful markets of Phnom Penh. Visit the Russian Market, the best place in the city for wood and stone carvings, jewellery, clothes and Cambodian silk souvenirs.

Spend the afternoon at leisure.

This evening, get picked by remork, a Cambodian tuktuk, for a night to remember. On this Phnom Penh night tour, there is the chance to experience Cambodian cuisine, delicious cocktails, and local beer, while experiencing the unique nightlife that this vibrant capital city has to offer.

Start off the night at a chic riverside bar for cocktails, get to know the tour guide and kick off an evening of dining and exploring Phnom Penh. After cocktails, hop back into the remork and join the locals in the bustling street traffic.

The next stop is a popular local restaurant with a charming atmosphere and welcoming Khmer hospitality. Try some delectable local cuisine, including lemongrass chicken and eggplant with pork, sharing the dishes Khmer style with a beer or soft drink.

After enjoying the meal, hop back in the remork and visit a fresh market where locals pick up their groceries for the following day’s meals. Before walking through the market, stop at a shop selling herb-infused rice whiskey. There are several varieties, each of which offers a different medicinal remedy.

Along the way to the elegant after-dinner cocktail venue, ride past some of the famous sights of French-colonial Phnom Penh and stop at a beautiful monument for a brief story about the history of the city. Next up: drinks at one of Cambodia’s most legendary watering holes. (Note: while there is no dress code, guests may feel more comfortable wearing a smart-casual top over a singlet/tank-top.)

Zoom through the city lights once again, headed for a popular spot amongst locals for live music and late-night dining. With a mix of top Cambodian songs and foreign rock hits, one is bound to stay entertained while sampling some exotic local delicacies, such as spicy frog and beef with ants. After stopping off at one more iconic city landmark along the way, finish the evening at a charming street of small, hip bars for cocktails or a cold beer.

Overnight in Phnom Penh.

Enjoy the day at leisure. Transfer to the airport for the onward departure flight.