Indochina Rivers Odyssey

The homeland of giant rivers including: Irrawaddy and Mekong Rivers enjoys the nature favors of them that bring unique water lifestyle. Our tour will ensure the exotic experience over each day on water ways

Tour duration: 21 Days 20 Nights
Places to visit: Sai gon – Chau Doc – Phnom Penh – Siem Reap – Angkor Complex – Ta prohm – Yangon – Bagan – Mandalay – Inwa – Amarapura – Yangon
Tour starts in: Sai Gon (Tan Son Nhat airport)
Tour complete in: Yangon (Myanmar)
Tour Types: Private and Customized Tour

Day by Day Tours

Tour Prices (US$/person)

Group of 02 persons  : OnRequest
Group of 04 persons  : OnRequest

Important notes:
Surcharge in Peak Times eg: Christmas, New Year Eve, and Water festival may be applicable.

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DETAILED ITINERARY:

Day 01: Sai gon (D)

Arriving at Tan Son Nhat Airport, welcomed by our tour guide and driver and transferred to the city. Free at leisure, have a welcome diner. Overnight in a hotel in Saigon.

Accommodation: Hotel in Sai gon. Meal: Welcomed Dinner

Day 02: Cu Chi Tunnels – Sai gon (B)

Leaving the city, we’ll travel our way through the meandering countryside roads and rubber plantations to the area that once attracted the attention from the whole World: The Tunnels of Cu Chi. At Cu Chi, we’ll have an opportunity to learn about the war through the documentary film and through creeping in the claustrophobic tunnels that once were home to the local fighters for some 20 years in the Second Indochina War. Then we’ll travel back to a local restaurant in Saigon for lunch.

In the afternoon, we’ll have a tour of the biggest and busiest city of Vietnam. We’ll start with a visit to the War Remnants Museum and the Re-unification Palace where you’ll have time to learn further about the war and the history of Vietnam. Then we’ll travel further to China Town and visit the hectic Binh Tay Market and the Thien Hau Temple. Traveling back to the center of Sai Gon, we’ll visit the Notre Dame Cathedral, the General Post Office, the Municipal Theater and the busy Ben Thanh Market. Dinner is on our own. Overnight in Saigon.

Accommodation: Hotel in Sai gon. Meal: Breakfast 

Day 03: Saigon – My Tho (B, L, D)

Toum Tiou is open for embarking. Clearance of departure formalities.

Departure for My Tho, security briefing. Welcome drink and info meeting about cruise, crew introduction. Overnight onboard.

Accommodation: Cabin on Toum Tiou Cruise. Meal: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 04: My Tho – Cai Be – Vinh Long (B, L, D)

Breakfast during navigation on the marvelous canal of Cho Gao.

Arrival at My Tho – Toum Tiou drops anchor on river in the proximity of Thoi Son Island.

On the banks of a northern arm of the Mekong, My Tho, which translates as “fragrant herb”, where tourists come to discover the beauty of the delta. It’s a quiet, prosperous city of about 100,000 inhabitants, famous for its many fruit orchards, gardens and the huge rice fields that surround it. The climate is warm and pleasant year round.

The surrounding countryside is home to one of the most luxuriant gardens of Vietnam, with its coconut palms, banana and mango trees. Local boats are coming alongside Toum Tiou to pick up passengers and transfer to the mainland.

Departure for short panoramic tour of My Tho town on the way, stop for a visit of My Tho market. Return at the pier – Passengers cruise on the river to dragon Island by local boat to visit the island, explore local people’s daily life and enjoy locally seasonal fruits

Passengers re-embark Toum Tiou and leaves My Tho for Cai Be. Lunch and leisure on board.

Toum Tiou drops anchor at Cai Be. Local boats are coming alongside Toum Tiou, picking up the passengers and cruise around Cai Be Floating Market.

Continuing for Vinh Long – a brick and pottery factory, the Binh Hoa Phuoc Islet Nursery of Fruit Trees as well a typical house and a show room of traditional farming tools.

Vinh Long, which translates as “Majestic Dragon”, is right in the middle of the delta, between two arms of the Mekong. The soil of Vinh Long is enriched by silt deposits, making it ideal for growing mandarins and other citrus fruits. Life is organized around the water. Houses on stilts, hawkers in boats, hundreds of small craft crisscross in all directions. The hospitality of the locals makes it a tourist destination par excellence.

Return on the Toum Tiou, departure for Sa Dec.

Arrival at Sa Dec, Toum Tiou drops anchor on the river. Dinner and overnight on board.

Accommodation: Cabin on Toum Tiou Cruise. Meal: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 05: Sa Dec – Chau Doc (B, L, D)

Short panoramic tour and transfer to Trung Vuong primary school. Continuing to Kien An Cung Pagoda. Stroll around Sa Dec Market along Sa Dec River bank. This small city of 30,000 inhabitants is fascinating in its unspoiled authenticity and undisturbed by tourists. It provides a glimpse of the delta where a few colonial houses still remain, including the “Chinaman’s house” (from Duras’ novel “The Lover”, also made into a movie).

Passengers re-embark; Toum Tiou leaves Sa Dec for Chau Doc, lunch and leisure on board.

Arrival at Chau Doc.

Departure for fish raising rafts and Cham minority village by local boat.

Accommodation: Cabin on Toum Tiou Cruise. Meal: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 06: Vinh Xuong – Phnom Penh (B, L, D)

Toum Tiou leaves early in the morning for Vinh Xuong (Vietnamese border). Breakfast during navigation. Arrival at Vinh Xuong check-point – Formalities clearance for Toum Tiou to cross the border.

Toum Tiou leaves Vinh Xuong check point for Phnom Penh. Lunch during the navigation.

Arrival at Phnom Penh. Passengers free to enjoy evening in Cambodian capital.

Accommodation: Cabin on Toum Tiou Cruise. Meal: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 07: Phnom Penh (B, L, D)

Visit Royal Palace, Silver Pagoda and Russian Market.

Return to the boat, lunch onboard.

Balance of the day free exploration on own. (Suggestions can be made up on the interest of passengers. Toul Sleng old center of detention, of torture and execution between 1975 and 1979. The visit of this place is essential to understand what could be the fatal madness perpetrated by the Khmer Rouges.) Return to the boat. Local group performs on board traditional “APSARA” show for 45 minutes. Dinner at local restaurant.

Accommodation: Cabin on Toum Tiou Cruise. Meal: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 08:  Phnom Penh – Koh Chen – Kompong Tralach (B, L, D)

Breakfast. Navigate to Koh Chen.

Arrival in Koh Chen. Visit a village of handicraftsmen that specialise in silvers. Return to the boat. The Toum Tiou leaves Koh Chen for Kompong Tralach. Lunch during navigation.

Arrival at Kampong Tralach to visit its wonderful Vihara belonging to Wat Kampong Tralach Leu pagoda. To get to it, we cross Kampong Tralach Krom village along a small road perpendicular to the river, crossing some gorgeous stretches of emerald rice paddy as we leave the river behind.

The Vihara dates back to early last century. It was probably built on an older site, as indicated by the laterite foundations, and is home to some outstanding mural paintings. These, however, are starting to suffer from weathering. They remain one of the last survivors of cultural destruction that continues unabated due to widespread indifference.

Standing by itself in the middle of rice fields, it is a modest pagoda that receives very few visitors. Its isolation may well be its undoing, as was the case for Wat Tani Pagoda in the province of Kampot. Passengers re-embark. The Toum Tiou drops anchor few miles away.

Accommodation: Cabin on Toum Tiou Cruise. Meal: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 09:  Kampong Chnang – Chnok Tru (B, L, D)

Departure of the Toum Tiou early in the morning. Sail to Kampong Chnang. Breakfast during navigation.

Located some 56 miles from Phnom Penh, the town of Kampong Chnang is one of the largest fishing ports on the Tonlé Sap. Fish farming is also widely practiced in the area. The area is famous for its pottery ware, unchanged in style for centuries, which is produced in sufficient quantities to supply the entire country. And not to be overlooked are the products of the Thnot tree (sugar palm – a real national symbol) that abounds in the area: a mellow tasting, caramel-colored sugar sold in large cakes and palm wine.

Passengers re-embark the Toum Tiou. Lunch on board on the way to Chnok Tru.

Arrival at Chnok Tru.

Local boats are coming along the Toum Tiou and picking passengers for the visit. Almost totally overlooked by tourists because of its remoteness and difficult access, the village is completely self-sufficient. A floating school, factories to make ice for fish preservation, church, pagoda, service stations, pigsty, stores, boat or television repair shops, video club, karaoke bar, police station… everything is on the water. All trades are represented and everybody from children to grandparents goes by boat through the network of canals that cross this little town.

Passengers re-embark. The Toum Tiou stays overnight in the proximity of Chnok Tru. Farewell cocktail (1 glass of local liquor or juice) with Master of Ship & Cruise Manager. Captain’s farewell dinner (Enriched menu + 1 glass of wine). Overnight on board.

Accommodation: Cabin on Toum Tiou Cruise. Meal: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 10: Chnok Tru – Siem Reap (B)

Departure of the Toum Tiou early in the morning. Time to pack and relax a half a day by crossing the Tonlé Sap Lake.  Arrival at Phnom Krom pier (~5 miles from Siem Reap). Being transferred to your hotel to check in. Free at your leisure.

Accommodation: hotel in Siem Reap. Meal: Breakfast

Day 11: Siem Reap – Temples of Angkor Complex (B)

Siem Reap Angkor Wat After arriving in Siem Reap you will be welcomed by one of our tour guides who will take you to your hotel. Visiting the temples will start shortly thereafter. You will visit the South Gate of Angkor Thom, Bayon, the Bayon, is the exact centre of the town of Angkor Thom. Having to power after the burning of the capital by a Cham fleet, he rebuilt the city and surrounded it with a strong wall. Then you will go on to visit Baphuon, Royal Enclosure, Phimeanakas, and Elephant Terrace and Leper King Terrace.

Afternoon, you will visit the magnificent temple of Angkor Wat, which was built by King Suryavarman II (1113 – 1150) to dedicate to God ‘Vishnu’. Angkor Wat, the largest monument of the Angkor complex and the best preserved, is an architectural masterpiece. It is perfection in composition, balance, proportions, relief and sculptures make it one of the finest monuments in the world.

Accommodation: Cabin on Siem reap. Meal: Breakfast

Day 12: Banteay Srei – Ta Prohm (B)

Today you will departure to the north of Siem Reap to visit the citadel of woman – Banteay Srei – an indisputable jewel of Khmer art and entirely constructed by hard pink sandstone and perfectly preserved and restored. And then Ta Prohm, jungle temple which was built by king Jayavarman VII (1181-1218). The temple was built in 1186 for dedicating to his mother. Enjolina Joly, Hollywood Movie Star, took movie “Tomb Raider”.

Afternoon you will visit to Pre Rup, Eastern Mebon, and then you will continue to Preah Khan Temple which was built outside of Angkor Thom. And then you will visit to Neak Pean temple, which was the one of hospital of 102 which were built during the same king Jayavarman VII. Neak Pean situated in the middle of artificial lake “Jaya Tadaka”, 3700m by 900m, which now has been dried up. In the centre of this space is a square lake 72m along, bordered by four smaller lakes situated on the axis and lower than the embankment surrounding the main one. In the middle of it, is a small sanctuary which was formerly entwined by the trunk-roots of a giant creeper, now dead.

Accommodation: Cabin on Siem reap. Meal: Breakfast

Day 13: Siem Reap – Yangon (B) (Flight)

After breakfast, we transfer you to the airport for the flight to Myanmar. Welcome to the golden land of Myanmar! Our tour guide and driver will meet and greet you for your hotel transfer.

Accommodation: Hotel in Yangon. Meal: Breakfast

Day 14: Yangon City Tour (B)

Enjoy your orientation tour of Yangon with a walk from Sule pagoda to Strand Hotel where you will encounter numerous of British colonial buildings and Emmanuel Church. You will have chance to observe the local life on Yangon river side.

In the afternoon, we will visit Chautatkhgyi pagoda, famed for the biggest reclining Buddha statue in Myanmar, followed by a pleasant walk in royal place where you will admire Karaweik Palace and the green park of Kandawgyi.

Your highlight of this day is the visit to Shwedagon, the most outstanding pagoda, dominating the skyline of Yangon with a magical golden flash.

Accommodation: Cabin on Yangon. Meal: Breakfast

Day 15: Yangon – Bagan Heritages (B) (Flight)

Fly to Bagan in the morning. We will then pay a visit to the colorful Nyaung U Market and continue the day with visits to the most significant pagodas and temples of Bagan including Shwezigon Pagoda; the prototype for later Myanmar pagodas built by King Anawrahta, Kyansitha Umin; a tunnel with interesting paintings, Htilominlo Temple; noted for its plaster carvings and one of the largest temple of Bagan, Thatbyinnyu Temple; the highest building on the Bagan plain and Ananda temple, an architectural masterpiece resembling a Greek Cross.

After lunch, visit to one of Myanmar most treasured handicrafts, a lacquer-ware workshop.  Then continue to Manuha Temple; built in Mon style in 1059 and Nanpaya temple; a unique sandstone monument.  Next you will explore the Myingaba Gu Byaukgyi Temple; a temple noted worthy for its mural paintings of Jataka scenes under the protection of UNESCO and go to watch the sunset over the Shwesandaw Pagoda.

Accommodation: Hotel in Bagan. Meal: Breakfast

Day 16: Bagan Local Life (B)

Today we your full day is to explore the other temples of Bagan which consists of more than 2500 temples and pagodas. This archaeological site brings us to the scared history of ancient Bagan capital with the development of Buddhism. As we travel further into the land of temple spires, Gawdamgangyi, and Manuha, Kaweyai villages. We continue to visit the lacquarware factory in the afternoon.

Accommodation: Hotel in Bagan. Meal: Breakfast

Day 17: Bagan to Mandalay by cruise (B, L, D)

After breakfast, rest and unwind until our driver comes to transfer you to the ship dock. The embarkation is 11.30 hrs at Bagan Aye Yar jetty. Welcome Cocktail in the Saloon.

Accommodation: Cabin on Ayravata Cruise. Meal: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 18: Cruising to Mandalay (B, L, D)

Cruise all day with stop enroute in the morning to visit Yandabo, a typical river village specialize in Pot-Making, where the peace treaty of the First Anglo-Burmese war was signed on Feb. 24, 1826. Moor overnight nearby a village (Ywar Thit Gyi or Pauk Myaing Pauk Taw) few miles away from Ava Bridge.

Accommodation: Cabin on Ayravata Cruise. Meal: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 19: Mandalay Ancient Capitals ( Inwa & Sagaing)

Enjoy the sunrise. After an early breakfast, the passengers will disembark at Sagaing Jetty (Thursday only) or Gawein jetty (Sunday Only) at around 09.30 hrs.

Venture outside the city to the Buddha land of Sagaing. This religion hub presents the education for monks with different level. After visiting Sagaing University, we will proceed to visit Buddha cave and Kaunghmudaw Paya, Tupayon temple where you can enjoy the great view of Mandalay.This afternoon we will travel to Amarapura to discover the Maha Ganayon Kyaung lake and the nearby monastery. Enjoy a walk over U Bein bridge, the longest teak wood bridge in Myanmar.

Accommodation: Hotel in Mandalay. Meal: Breakfast

Day 20: Mandalay – Mingun – Mandalay Royal Palace – Yangon (B) (Flight)

Start your sightseeing today with a board ride upstream to Mingun, home to Uncomplete Wall, Sandamuni pagoda and Mingun ringing bell. Our local expert will be pleased to introduce you the life ofpeople who live on the banks of Irrawaddy river.

In the afternoon, we will discover the royal Mandalay vestiges and relics covering Imperial Palace, Golden Palace Monastery and Kuthodaw Pagoda also known as the world biggest book. Leave Mandalay for Yangon late in the afternoon.

Accommodation: Hotel in Yangon. Meal: Breakfast

Day 21: Yangon departure (B)

Take your time for some souvenir at Scott market, the biggest market in Yangon famed for gems, jewelry, wood products and handicrafts. Free at leisure. Being transferred to the airport for the departure flight.

Accommodation: Not available. Meal: Breakfast

Tour Prices (US$/person)

Group of 02 persons  : OnRequest
Group of 04 persons  : OnRequest

Important notes:
Surcharge in Peak Times eg: Christmas, New Year Eve, and Water festival may be applicable.

I NEED TAILOR-MADE

I’LL TAKE THIS TOUR

Essential Notes

Passports and Visas

The first thing goes first. You definitely must obtain valid VISA in order to travel into any country and so is Myanmar (Burma). Unless your country is in VISA exemption list, it is your responsibility to get valid VISA before arrival. There are two ways to get Myanmar VISA:

• Go to Myanmar Embassies and Consulates in your home country and you will be guided procedure. You may want to check the list of countries where Myanmar has embassies and consulate offices by clicking here.
• Obtain VISA On Arrival (VOA). For tourists coming from countries has no Myanmar Diplomatic Rep offices, you can obtain VOA online via www.myanmarevisa.gov.mm – the official portal for VOA by Myanmar government. The portal launched in Sep 01, 2014 and took its pilot operation for a month. Providing you encounter any issue, please contact us for support.

Climate & Clothing

Generally speaking, Myanmar is a tropical country with rather hot weather. Sometimes in year or in some Northern places, temperature cools down but not that can be called cold. Roughly saying that the best time to travel Myanmar is from Oct to March due to dry and cool season. Other months, however, you may get very nice deals of promotion.For clothing: comfortable clothes, absolutely. We suggest you should take at least one long pan, a long skirt and a sleeve top because we will visit some religious site and many of them require proper code of dress.All of temples and pagodas require you enter with bare feet. A pair of sandals is highly recommended.

Cell Phones & Calling Cards

You may wish to carry a cell phone while traveling. Check with your cell phone provider if your phone will work in the destination(s) you are visiting. Myanmar service is dominated by the GMS technology standard, while some of the world such as U.S uses the incompatible CDMA standard. We suggest that you should check carefully or you may incur high international roaming fees.We said previously “the SIM card in Myanmar is not very popular and still quite expensive”. But now, forget it! SIM cards in Myanmar now are cheap and easy to buy in any main city as cheap as about US$ 02 each. Cell phones, even smart phones are available on sales widely.

Making Telephone Calls from One Country to Another

When dialing a number from one country to another, you should proceed as follows: dial your country’s Exit Code + destination Country Code + Phone Number. Country Code of Myanmar is 95.

Wireless Internet Access

Passengers traveling with WiFi enabled devices (such as a personal computer, smartphone, tablet, or digital audio player) may be able to connect to the internet via a wireless network access point (or hotspot). Wifi is now popular in most hotels from three stars up. Most of them are supplying Free Wifi but some may incur extra charges. We suggest you should ask the receptionist before.

Cards and Currency

Myanmar’s national currency, the KYAT (pronounced chat, abbreviated in MMK) is divided into the following banknotes: K1, K5, K10, K20, K50, K100, K200, K500 and K1000.We once said “ATMs are still very hard to come” but from my latest inspection of Myanmar, the country now starts using ATMs. Most three stars hotels up often have at least one AMT machine right at their lobbies. Main hotels now accepts credit cards payment.Anyway, we suggest you should bring with some cashes just in case. Local buying there accept Burmese and US dollars widely. However please pay at attention when bring US notes with you:

• The US$ notes must be new.
• The US$ notes torn, marked, folded will not be accepted.
• The US$ notes having series before 2003 backward may not accepted.

You are allowed to bring up to US$ 5000 in cash per person to enter Myanmar.

Trip Preparation

A little pre-planning can make your trip go a lot smoother. We suggest you should taking a checklist below:

• Several weeks before your trip, make a list of what you will need to take with you.
• Make sure your personal documents (passports, visas, driver’s license) are in order.
• We suggest that you make photocopies of passports, visas, personal ID and any other important travel documents and pack them separately from the originals. If you lose the originals while traveling, you’ll have copies for easier reporting and replacement.
• You may consider bringing a small supply of over the counter medications for headaches and/or anti-diarrhea pills. Pack a list of medications including dosage and generic names.
• We recommend that you pack a portable alarm clock.
• Avoid placing valuables such as cameras in your checked luggage.

Happy Travelling with CRYSTAL HOLIDAYS ASIA!

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