Heritage Line The Jahan Cruise I 4 Days 3 Nights

We welcome our guests in the morning at our Saigon welcome lounge. Relax with a second coffee while our staff collects your details. We bid farewell to the hustle and bustle of Saigon and travel 70 kilometres south overland towards My Tho to embark on our vessel. After checking into your luxurious floating “home,” the sailing on this major Asian waterway begins.

A lunch buffet is served in the restaurant as the vessel steadily glides upstream. As twilight bathes the Mekong Delta in a golden haze, take the opportunity to get to know your fellow travellers and join in our official welcome with canapés and prosecco.

During dinner, the ship will likely reach Tan Phong Island area near Cai Be, where we anchor midstream. This is your first glimpse of the bustling area where we will begin our Mekong adventure on land tomorrow. Join us for some late-night entertainment in the evening cinema, featuring interesting classic movies or thrilling documentaries.

Dining: Lunch, Dinner

Wake early to embrace the stunning dawn scenery, a time when the Delta’s inhabitants have already been active for hours. Energize yourself with our daily morning Tai Chi class before indulging in a lavish breakfast buffet. By local boat, we gain access to the secluded island of Tan Phong, a small island situated in the midst of one of the expansive Mekong River tributaries flowing toward the nearby sea.

Default Excursion (any ship): During a visit to a local workshop, we’ll have the opportunity to observe the production of rice paste, rice paper, rice cookies, and rice wine. The region here is abundant with palm trees, making the region renowned for its coconut candy production. While the vessel continues to sail upstream, take some leisure time for yourself or visit the bar to enjoy an authentic Vietnamese coffee, all while observing the riverbanks’ vibrant life passing by.

OPTIONAL MORNING EXCURSION:

Culinary (Ship ‘Jayavarman’ only): Jump aboard a tender and head towards Tan Phong Island. Upon arrival, take a stroll to visit a workshop dedicated to weaving water hyacinths into artistic crafts, offering a hands-on experience. Further exploration of the island unfolds with a 15-minute motorized buggy ride through orchards, where guests can enjoy fruit tasting, participate in a cooking class, and engage in interactive experiences with the local family. Guests will have the opportunity to prepare their own food under the guidance of the home host, creating a memorable and immersive culinary experience.

Cycling (Ship ‘The Jahan’ only): Take a tender ride to Tan Phong Island for a scenic exploration. Cycle along well-maintained paths winding through orchards of rambutan, longan, and jackfruit. Enjoy the flat terrain under beautiful canopies, meeting friendly gardeners along the way. Visit a family skilled in weaving water hyacinths into charming handicrafts. After a bike fitting at Tan Phong elementary school, pedal 3km along the canal to a local temple for a refreshing break under a sprawling banyan tree. End the ride at a tropical fruit farmer’s home for a tasting. Return to the ship aboard the tender, concluding a rich and memorable experience.

OPTIONAL AFTERNOON EXCURSION:

Culinary (Ship ‘Jayavarman’ only): Not available

Cycling (Ship ‘The Jahan’ only): Once on the shore, you’ll be fitted with a bike and start the ride around the around the island, stopping at scenic backstreets, rice paddies, and the island’s distinctive houses on stilts for some great photo opportunities. The ride will lead us to the village of Long Ta, which is famous for its scarf weaving, for a walk around before returning to the pier and sailing back to the mother ship.

Before dinner, join us in the lounge for a presentation about life on the Mekong Delta as the ship sails toward our mooring spot for the night in Tan Chau.

Dining: Lunch, Dinner

Welcome to the fish sanctuary of Vietnam.

Once on shore, we see Tan Chau’s vibrant town-life as we hop on “xelois”, which are local vehicles still used as a taxi in this area. Your personal xeloi driver slowly navigates through the streets to observe all the workshops, houses and shops while feeling the laid-back vibe of this place. We stop at the colourful, local market near one of the town’s temples. This is a great opportunity to interact with the vendors of this friendly town and try your hand at bargaining with them.

To see what Tan Chau is famous for, we board local boats and head to a floating fish farm. You are about to get an exclusive look into the world’s largest inland aquaculture industry. Each of the floating structures has netting hanging down into the water to enclose the fish, which are raised and fed on a daily basis. The region’s specialties are tilapia and the Basa catfish, or Pangasius, which is unique to the Mekong River basin and rapidly gaining popularity on the international seafood market.

OPTIONAL GROUP EXCURSION:

Culinary (Ship ‘Jayavarman’ only): Take a tender ship and transfer to land. A brief 5-minute walk leads to the nearby market, where you’ll join the guide in selecting fresh ingredients for the cooking session. Hop on a cyclo for a charming ride to the Cao Dai temple, where a quick visit provides insights into the religion and dietary practices of Cao Dai followers. Transition to the temple kitchen, where guests, guided by the staff, engage in a hands-on cooking class, preparing special dietary dishes in an interactive and culturally enriching experience.

Cycling (Ship ‘The Jahan’ only): Take a tender ship and transfer to land. A brief 5-minute walk leads to the nearby market, where you’ll join the guide in selecting fresh ingredients for the cooking session. Hop on a cyclo for a charming ride to the Cao Dai temple, where a quick visit provides insights into the religion and dietary practices of Cao Dai followers. Transition to the temple kitchen, where guests, guided by the staff, engage in a hands-on cooking class, preparing special dietary dishes in an interactive and culturally enriching experience.

Back on board our “home”, we sail towards the Vietnamese-Cambodian border. Get ready for a fascinating and leisurely cruise through the deep Cambodian countryside towards Phnom Penh.

The whole afternoon is at your own disposal. From here, even the last passenger turns on their cruise mode and hopefully experiences the relaxing influence this mighty river emanates. The afternoon is perfect for massages, relaxation on a terrace deck sunbed or private balcony kick-backs. Conjure up a spell to merge with the river and float into a state of mild bliss.

You also may like to visit the bridge as the captain always has a little story to share about “his” river. Or, if you are curious to learn more about Khmer gastronomy, join a culinary workshop to sharpen your knowledge about local cuisine.

After our relaxing cruise during the whole afternoon into the evening hours, the boat arrives at Phnom Penh (docking mid-stream or at the pier). Enjoy your time onboard with our onboard entertainment, social at our public venues or relay in the privacy or your cabin (due to immigration regulation passengers may not be allowed to go on land this evening).

Dining: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Welcome to Phnom Penh – the city once named Paris of the East. Despite its rapid development, it has retained a lot of its rustic charm and elegance. It is an amazing town with centuries of incredible history and culture which can still be felt at many street corners.

Enjoy your last breakfast aboard your floating home before disembarking the ship. We hope you enjoyed this fascinating river cruise, just as our crew does every single time. Moreover, take the enchanting memories and friendships along with you and share the stories of this amazing river – the Mighty Mekong.

Dining: Breakfast