Mekong Discovery (Northbound)

7 nights departing Thursday 27th Jan 2022

On this unique and inspiring Southeast Asia river cruise through Vietnam and Cambodia, you’ll be immersed in the cultures and ancient traditions as you sightsee and spend time with locals in the most interesting places along the mighty Mekong River.Via sampan, cruise into Vinh Long and experience Vietnamese culture with a visit to a workshop to learn how rice wine and traditional candies are made. See firsthand how handcrafted sampans are built at the home of a family in Cu Lao Gieng. Walk through a colorful market as the locals are busy with their daily routine of buying and selling produce...

Itinerary

Map

					Arrive	Depart
	27th27	JanJan	202222	Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam, embark on the Avalon Siem Reap
Romantically referred to by the French as the Pearl of the Orient, Ho Chi Minh City today is a super-charged city of sensory overload. Motorbikes zoom day and night along the wide boulevards, through the narrow back alleys and past vendors pushing handcarts hawking goods of all descriptions. Still called Saigon by most residents, this is Vietnam's largest city and the engine driving the country's current economic resurgence, but despite its frenetic pace, it's a friendlier place than Hanoi and locals will tell you the food—simple, tasty, and incorporating many fresh herbs—is infinitely better than in the capital.This is a city full of surprises. The madness of the city's traffic—witness the oddball things that are transported on the back of motorcycles—is countered by tranquil pagodas, peaceful parks, quirky coffee shops, and whole neighborhoods hidden down tiny alleyways, although some of these quiet spots can be difficult to track down. Life in Ho Chi Minh City is lived in public: on the back of motorcycles, on the sidewalks, and in the parks. Even when its residents are at home, they're still on display. With many living rooms opening onto the street, grandmothers napping, babies being rocked, and food being prepared, are all in full view of passersby.Icons of the past endure in the midst of the city’s headlong rush into capitalism. The Hotel Continental, immortalized in Graham Greene's The Quiet American, continues to stand on the corner of old Indochina's most famous thoroughfare, the rue Catinat, known to American G.I.s during the Vietnam War as Tu Do (Freedom) Street and renamed Dong Khoi (Uprising) Street by the Communists. The city still has its ornate opera house and its old French city hall, the Hôtel de Ville. The broad colonial boulevards leading to the Saigon River and the gracious stucco villas are other remnants of the French colonial presence. Grisly reminders of the more recent past can be seen at the city's war-related museums. Residents, however, prefer to look forward rather than back and are often perplexed by tourists' fascination with a war that ended 40 years ago.The Chinese influence on the country is still very much in evidence in the Cholon district, the city's Chinatown, but the modern office towers and international hotels that mark the skyline symbolize Vietnam's fixation on the future. Your Suite Ship® is Ready for Boarding Transfer to the port on the Saigon River for embarkation. Get acquainted with the ship and relax before your welcome reception this evening. AFTERNOON/EVENING CRUISE TO VINH LONG
	28th28	JanJan	202222	Vinh Long, Vietnam
Sweets, Sampans, and Sun HatsBoard a sampan this morning to visit a local workshop in Vinh Long where you will see how rice paper, rice wine, and traditional candies are made. This afternoon, enjoy scenes of daily life on Cu Lao Gieng Island via sampan and local motor cart. Your Guided Excursion starts at a local workshop, where a skilled family hand-crafts sampan boats. Then, visit the home of a local family that makes Vietnamese conical hats, or “Non la,” from materials available to them such as palm leaves and bamboo. These iconic hats are primarily used as protection from the sun and rain but you may also see them used as a basket to carry home goods from the market. Lastly, stop at one of Vietnam’s oldest Catholic churches.AFTERNOON/EVENING CRUISE TO CHAU DOC
	29th29	JanJan	202222	Châu Đốc, Vietnam
Colorful markets, Charming Locals, and Cotton Weavers In Chau Doc take a Guided Walk through the local market and absorb the atmosphere as locals are busy buying and selling fish, meat, and produce. Then embark on a River Excursion down the backwaters of the Mekong. Along the way, see traditional floating homes, speedboat merchants, religious sites, a market selling dried goods, and more. After lunch, a sampan brings you to the village of Long Khanh A for a Cotton-Weaving Demonstration of a well-preserved artisan’s tradition. Return to the ship to set sail for the Cambodian border.EVENING/OVERNIGHT CRUISE TO PHNOM PENH
	30th30	JanJan	202222	Phnom Penh, Cambodia
The Royal Treatment Take a City Tour by private cyclo to visit the Royal Palace with the spectacular Silver Pagoda, and the National Museum featuring an outstanding display of Khmer artifacts. The remainder of the day is yours to enjoy the city at your leisure. Consider a Guided Optional Tour of a local brewery with free-flowing local beer! Just before dinner, children from a local orphanage will perform a show featuring local song and dance.
	31st31	JanJan	202222	Phnom Penh, Cambodia
A Dark History or Market Dynamics This morning, a Guided Visit of the Tuol Sleng Genocide Museum and one of the Killing Fields offers a glimpse into the atrocities inflicted on the Cambodian people by the Khmer Rouge regime, OR:Visit the lively Central Market by tuk-tuk to see its unique Art Deco design.After lunch, depart Phnom Penh and enjoy some time at leisure on the ship. AFTERNOON/EVENING CRUISE TO WAT HANCHEY
	1st01	FebFeb	202222	Angkor Ban, Cambodia
Water Blessings and Back To School Adventures Visit Wat Hanchey, a hilltop temple dating back to the 8th century. Climb or be driven to the top where you will enjoy stunning views of the surrounding area and partake in a traditional water blessing given by local monks. After lunch, enjoy a Walking Tour through the rural village of Angkor Ban. Here, you will visit a traditional Khmer house and interact with children at a local school. EVENING/OVERNIGHT CRUISE TO KONPONG LOUANG
	2nd02	FebFeb	202222	Kampong Tralach, Cambodia
Calm in the Cambodian Countryside Start your Guided Sightseeing at the silversmith village in Konpong Louang. Here, see talented craftsmen use age-old techniques to turn pure silver into works of art. In Kampong Tralach board an ox cart for a ride through the beautiful Cambodian countryside. Along the way, stop to meet a local farmer and learn about his daily life. This afternoon, enjoy scenic cruising on the Tonle River. EVENING CRUISE TO PHNOM PENH
	3rd03	FebFeb	202222	Phnom Penh, Cambodia, disembark the Avalon Siem Reap
Your vacation ends with breakfast this morning.

Avalon Siem Reap

Launch Year

2015

Tonnage

1,000

Capacity

Cabins

Accessible

Deck 1- Tonle Deck

The images shown are for illustration purposes only and may not be an exact representation of what you find on the ship.

Stateroom Cat A & B

All Staterooms are furnished with hotel beds- either “Comfort Collection” two twin beds or one king size bed, along with deluxe bedding consisting of a premium mattress, deluxe Egyptian cotton linens, duvets and woollen blankets, and soft/firm pillows. Guests are also provided with terry bathrobes, slippers, 3-door closet with shelves, under beds storage space, bedside tables with lamps, individual climate control, and 220V voltage outlets.

Each of the staterooms has a large full bathroom (WC/sink) with separate glass-door shower, hair dryer, premium bath amenities, seating area, mini-bar/fridge, writing desk/vanity with a chair, alarm clock, safe, complimentary bottled water- this is supplied daily and also on all land tours and excursion.

Guests are given complimentary Wi-Fi in their Staterooms as well as complimentary laundry service, room service and a nightly turndown service.

The images shown are for illustration purposes only and may not be an exact representation of what you find on the ship.

Dining Room

The menu at the Dining Room features a selection of Southeast Asia cuisine and local specialties, based on season and made with fresh local ingredients as well as popular Western dishes. Breakfast and lunch here are buffet-style, the 4-course dinner is served with complimentary wine, beer and soft drinks.

The images shown are for illustration purposes only and may not be an exact representation of what you find on the ship.

Panorama Lounge

For some casual relaxation and discussion guests can visit the Panorama Lounge, with floor-to-ceiling panoramic windows for a stunning view.

The Panorama Lounge is the Ship's entertainment venue, with stylish furniture, full-service bar and a self-serve beverage station. Here guests can watch a live evening show program by local performers, including dancers and musicians.

Depending on the visited ports along the Avalon Siem Reap itinerary on Mekong river, the Panorama Lounge also hosts Cambodia and Vietnam culture and history related lectures and multimedia presentations by local speakers. Another entertainment options at the Lounge are the Afternoon Tea service, cocktail hours and movie nights.

Observation Lounge

Observation Lounge, up on the Top Deck, gives guests a prime view to enjoy with a drink in hand

The images shown are for illustration purposes only and may not be an exact representation of what you find on the ship.

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Holiday Summary

	7 nights cruising on the Mekong
	Beer, wine & soft drinks at lunch & dinner
	One complimentary shore excursion In every port
	Free Wi-Fi Included
	Exclusive special events
	Speciality wine pairing meal @ Panorama Bistro
	Bikes for passenger use
	Port Taxes and Fees
	ABTA and ATOL Protection*

	Balcony
	(All prices are £GBP per person)
Thu 10th Feb 202210 Feb 22	Please call for availability
Thu 24th Feb 202224 Feb 22	Please call for availability
Thu 10th Mar 202210 Mar 22	Please call for availability
Thu 24th Mar 202224 Mar 22	Please call for availability