Cruise the Mekong through Vietnam and Cambodia, discovering ancient traditions, rural villages and historic temples
Mekong River cruise through Vietnam and Cambodia with seven nights aboard
Visits to Buddhist monasteries, silk workshops, markets and historic pagodas
Included tours to rural villages, artisan workshops and cultural heritage sites
Trip Details
Departs
Mon 4 Jan 2027
Returns
Mon 11 Jan 2027
Embarks
My Tho
Disembarks
Kampong Cham
Ship
AmaMaya
Operator
AMA Waterways
Lively Ho Chi Minh City, once known as the “Pearl of the Orient,” offers a vibrant mix of old and new and provides the perfect start to your incredible journey through Vietnam and Cambodia. Cruise along the mighty Mekong, discovering a glimpse into another era; one where people still happily honor the timeless traditions passed down through the centuries from their ancestors. Throughout your trip, immerse yourself into the culture and heritage with visits to rural villages, historic pagodas and colorful markets. Be treated to a special blessing by monks in Buddhist monastery, and witness skilled artisans who create exquisite handicrafts and delicacies. Experience all this and more on this life-enriching cruise along the Mekong.
This river cruise journeys through Vietnam and Cambodia, calling at Ho Chi Minh City, Cai Be, Tan Chau, Phnom Penh, Oudong, Oknhatey Village, Angkor Ban and Kampong Cham.
You'll sail aboard the AmaWaterways river ships AmaMaya and AmaDara.
On these itineraries, you will enjoy an extensive lineup of included tours. We include a large variety of activities so that you can choose how you want to explore. No matter your preference, your days will be full of discovery and wonder.
Life in transit
Your transportsAmaMaya
Details · AmaWaterways
AmaDara
Deck plans
3
AmaDara · Deck plans
Tonle (Main Deck)
Source: AmaWaterways, captured 10 October 2026.
Deck plans are provided by the cruise line and are subject to change at any time.
Details · AmaWaterways
AmaMaya
Deck plans
3
AmaMaya · Deck plans
Tonle (Main Deck)
Source: AmaWaterways, captured 10 October 2026.
Deck plans are provided by the cruise line and are subject to change at any time.
Day by day
Itinerary
1
Ho Chi Minh City
Mon 4 Jan
HO CHI MINH CITY, VIETNAM – MY THO – EMBARKATION. Transfer via motorcoach from Ho Chi Minh City to AmaDara at My Tho Port for your 7-night river cruise and then meet fellow travelers at a Welcome Dinner as the ship cruises to Cai Be. All cruise only guests should meet us at The Reverie Saigon Hotel at 11:30am in Ho Chi Minh City on Embarkation day to join the transfer to the ship in My Tho Port. We recommend that you fly into Ho Chi Minh at least one day prior to embarkation; please inquire about important arrival arrangements prior to your cruise.
2
Cai Be
Tue 5 Jan
CAI BE – SA DEC. Take a local boat to Cai Be. You will have an opportunity to visit candy and rice paper making workshops, or you may instead choose to add an active walking tour to the historic Kiet House, followed by a visit to candy and rice paper workshops. Later in the day, journey to Sa Dec, a sprawling town on the Mekong Delta, where French writer Marguerite Duras spent part of her youth. Once ashore in Sa Dec, visit a fascinating local market and a colorful Cao Dai Temple, home to the unique religion of Caodaism in Southern Vietnam, a fusion of Buddhism, Christianity, Islam, Hinduism and Confucianism. Alternatively, you may wish to tour the house of Mr. Huynh Thuy Le, Duras’s Chinese paramour, on whom her prize-winning novel “The Lover” is said to be based. The house itself now serves as a small museum showcasing a blend of architectural styles, original furniture and family memorabilia. In the evening, your ship cruises to Tan Chau.
3
Tan Chau
Wed 6 Jan
TAN CHAU – BORDER CROSSING. Enjoy a visit to Tan Chau, a small Mekong River town unspoiled by tourism. Be treated to an authentic experience on a traditional “xe-loi” (trishaw) ride around the town, with stops at silk-making and rattan mat workshops. You may also choose the trishaw ride with visits to craftsmen’s workshops, followed by an active walking tour to “Evergreen Island.” As a third alternative, explore the stunning Mekong Delta on an intimate tour through Vietnam's Tra Su Forest and Sanctuary. Board a traditional sampan boat and glide through this diverse ecosystem that includes more than 70 species of birds, including the painted stork and oriental darter, and lush greenery encompassing majestic cajuput trees, lotuses, water lilies and a carpet of bright green moss in the rainy season that appears to glow as you gently drift through it. Later in the day, cruise from Vietnam to the Cambodian border en route to Phnom Penh. Please Note: Tra Su Forest visit is capacity controlled.
4
Phnom Penh
Thu 7 Jan
PHNOM PENH, CAMBODIA. This morning, you will visit the Royal Palace, the spectacular Silver Pagoda and National Museum, which has an outstanding collection of Khmer crafts. Alternatively, you may wish to shop for unique treasures at the bustling, yellow colored Central Market after you visit to Royal Palace. After lunch on board, the excursion takes you to Cambodia’s infamous Killing Fields and the Khmer Rouge’s grim Tuol Sleng S21 detention center (Genocide Museum). After returning to the ship, enjoy Khmer folk dancing performed by local children in the Saigon Lounge.
5
Oudong
Fri 8 Jan
OUDONG – KAMPONG TRALACH – PHNOM PENH. Visit Oudong, Cambodia’s former royal capital from the early 17th century until 1866. Today, Oudong is a place of pilgrimage for Cambodians. While here, be treated to a memorable Buddhist Blessing Ceremony at a monastery. You may walk around Oudong’s monastery or take an active walking tour to see panoramic views of the Oudong plain. Later in the day, experience Phnom Penh via a tuk tuk ride and be enchanted by the city's French Colonial architecture and tree-lined boulevards set amidst monumental Angkorian architecture.
6
Oknhatey Village
Sat 9 Jan
OKNHATEY - ANGKOR BAN. In the morning, set sail for Oknhatey Village. Oknhatey is the “Silk Island,” located on the lush banks of the Mekong River and known for its rich tradition of silk weaving. While here, you will visit a local elementary school and observe the traditional silk weaving, an art that has been preserved for centuries. Your cruise continues to sail to Angkor Ban.
7
Angkor Ban
Sun 10 Jan
ANGKOR BAN – KAMPONG CHAM. Go on a walking tour of Angkor Ban, one of the few villages in Cambodia that was not destroyed under the Khmer Rouge regime in the 1970s. Here people still live in their traditional wooden abodes and keep their old cultural traditions alive. Hundreds of wooden houses stand intact on stilts, shaded with banana trees, among the hustle and bustle of the daily agricultural on-going of the local villagers. After visiting here, the ship sets sail for Kampong Cham, where you will go on an afternoon excursion to Wat Nokor, perhaps the most treasured monument within the ancient complex of Banteay Prey Nokor. Fusing the Old-World with the “new,” this centuries-old temple now boasts a contemporary pagoda within its walls, delighting guests with colorful depictions of the Buddha’s life. Alternatively, visit the Twin Mountains, known as Phnom Pros and Phnom Srei (the male and female mountains). Cap the day off with a festive Farewell Dinner on board.
8
Kampong Cham
Mon 11 Jan
DISEMBARKATION – KAMPONG CHAM – SIEM REAP. Your cruise concludes in Kampong Cham, where you disembark and motorcoach transfer to Siem Reap. Guests booking cruise only will be transferred from the ship to Sofitel Angkor hotel in Siem Reap. We recommend that you schedule your onward flight to depart Siem Reap after 4:00pm today to avoid potential missed connections.
What you get for the price
Inclusions & exclusions
What’s included
Transfer to My Tho.
Local boat ride.
Visit local workshops.
local workshops and active walking tour to historic Kiet House.
Local boat ride to Sa Dec.
Visit to local market and Cao Dai Temple.
Where you’ll stay
Accommodation
Accommodation is aboard the AmaWaterways river ships AmaMaya and AmaDara.
Stateroom categories available
Luxury Suite
Suite
Category A
Category B
Category C
Riches of the Mekong stateroom
From the operator
Common questions about this voyage
How long is this journey?
This itinerary runs for 8 days and 7 nights.
When can I travel?
Departures are currently scheduled between 04 Jan 2027 and 03 Jan 2028, subject to live availability.
Are there different departure options?
Yes, multiple departures may be available depending on your preferred travel period.
What is generally included?
Inclusions typically cover guided touring and selected experiences, with exact details listed in the itinerary.
What style of accommodation is used?
Accommodation is pre-arranged as part of the journey, with specific properties shown in the trip details.
Ready to lock in?
Book this cruise
Send us an enquiry and a consultant will be in touch, or call 1300 414 198 for personal help choosing a departure.
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