Travel by sampan through mangroves and bamboo groves to Ben Tre’s fruit orchards. Local artisans are hard at work and would gladly welcome you into their homes for tea, vegetables, and honey products. This is a bird-rich place, and your return journey will be by local transportation through the lush countryside.

Following lunch, the ship moors off Cho Lach island for more glimpses of Delta life, fishing, and local Vietnamese hospitality, including a culinary lesson in making traditional Banh Xeo.

After breakfast, take a brief coach ride to the Gao Giong “green oasis,” which includes a bird sanctuary. A wide range of water and egrets congregate in their tens of thousands around the Dong Thap Muoi, or “Plain of Reeds.” Rowing boats navigate the canals, taking you to the main spawning sites. You will return to the boat and cruise upstream to Con Phuoc Island. Moor in a shallow canal off Con Phuoc Island and go ashore to explore the island by Xi Loi, visiting a 100-year-old Catholic Church and nearby woodworking artisans.

Explore the labyrinthine canal system around Tan Chau in the afternoon to visit a Taoist temple where the monks can recite fortunes. Continue through local villages by Xi Loi, stopping to assist locals in tending their fields before visiting a fish farm and earning merit by releasing fish back into the Mekong. Border crossing formalities take up most of the day, and there is an optional tour of the working ship and fruit carving workshops on deck at this period.

Morning cyclo tour of Phnom Penh, including the Royal Palace and Silver Pagoda, accompanied by the National Museum, which houses a magnificent collection of Angkorian statuary. Afternoon optional visit to the Killing Fields and Genocide Museum, or take a tuk-tuk along the riverfront, finishing with High Tea at Raffles Hotel. Overnight at the port of Phnom Penh, with its vibrant pubs, restaurants, and nightlife.

Sail up the Mekong/ Tonle River convergence to visit Koh Okhna Tey, or “silk island” to study the entire silk-making process from worms to weavers. There will be a demonstration of the ancient Khmer martial art of Bokator. Return to the ship and cruise upstream towards Kampong Cham. Evening lecture on Angkor and Khmer culture.

Sunrise cruise to Wat Hanchey, an important center of worship during the Chenla era situated on a hill above the mighty Mekong River with some of Cambodia’s best Mekong views. Visit buildings from the eighth century, some of which were demolished by American bombings during the Vietnam War. It is well-known for its strange Fruit and Animal sculptures.

Return downstream to Kampong Cham. After lunch, you’ll take a bus to the nearby OBT Chiro Village, where local children’s education is a top priority. Pre-Hospitality training classes, plastic recycling, beekeeping, gardening, and handicraft skill programs are being developed to help local children develop their skill set. Then you go to Wat Nokor Bachey, which dates back to the reign of Jayavarman VII. Constructed entirely of Black Sandstone, it stands out from other temples constructed during this time period. Many stories surround this complex, one of which is that it was founded by a king who, according to Greek mythology, accidentally killed his father and then married his mother. In retaliation for his crime, he had this temple constructed.

Sail downstream to Kampong Cham, where you can disembark and take a road switch to Siem Reap.